Tag: self-awareness
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How to Take Hold of the Mind
Before we can calm the mind, we must first calm the body. Meditation—through simple practices like breathing, mindful walking, or body scans—creates the foundation for taking hold of our thoughts. As Dr. Christine E. Dickson explains, learning to step back and observe the mind as a “witness” helps us see thoughts as stories rather than…
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Mistakes as Teachers
Mistakes are not signs of failure—they’re feedback. Just as children learn to walk by falling, each error shows us what needs to be adjusted. As Dr. Christine E. Dickson explains, mistakes are steps toward growth, not reflections of worth or intelligence. By viewing them without shame and labeling them as “ineffective” or “unwise” rather than…
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Encouraging Words
Read from my private journal and learn what I say to myself during times of upheaval or difficulty.
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Happiness Sutras
On September 9, 2020, I woke to a blood orange sky that felt apocalyptic. In the midst of wildfire smoke, a pandemic, and unrest, my son handed me a journal with my “Happiness Sutras,” inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh. Reading those stories of joy shifted me from fear to gratitude. As Dr. Christine E. Dickson…
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What is Mindfulness?
Sometimes we get stuck thinking about a particular thought and it feels like we have no control over our mind. All of this brain chatter can be overwhelming and affect how we feel each day. But if we really tune into our thoughts, we’ll notice how much they wander. We might be: Thinking about plans…
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9 Cognitive Distortions and How to Challenge Them
Distorted thinking can fuel stress, anxiety, and perfectionism. Discover 9 common cognitive distortions—from catastrophizing to blaming—and learn practical ways to challenge them for a healthier, clearer mindset.
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People Aren’t Perfect
Unrealistic expectations can damage even the strongest relationships. In this post, you’ll learn how letting go of perfection, practicing forgiveness, and adjusting your mindset can help you build healthier connections with the people in your life.
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Emoji your Emotions
Emoji your emotions! Make therapy and mindfulness fun. For most of my life, I have thought of my emotions as people. Jealously was a green monster, sadness was a blue creature hiding under my bed, anger was a nasty spike ball, anxiety was an energetic little monster bouncing all around, and happiness was always a…
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Eating Mindfully: The Cookie Meditation
Eating mindfully is a most important practice of meditation. – Thich Nhat Hanh Today, I thought it would be nice to write a post about mindful eating. Those of us who are familiar with mindful eating have heard about the cookie meditation. However, most people are unfamiliar with the origins of this meditation. It was…
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The Power of Validation
Validating ourselves and others is critical to creating and sustaining both a healthy self concept and healthy relationships. Many people struggle with self-validation and/or validating the people in their lives. The reason for this is fairly straight forward. As children their parents or caregivers did not effectively validate them, and as a result they did…