Self Development

Nature as Medicine

Why is nature good for our physical and mental well-being? “Wilderness is not a luxury but necessity of the human spirit.” –Edward Abbey At a recent conference, I was shown a satirical commercial advertising what they called Nature Rx. “Are you feeling tired, irritable, stressed out?,”  a young man asks from a rowboat, setting the stage… Read more »

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How to Find a Good Therapist

People seek therapy to get help making an important personal change, by their choice or urged by loved ones. Maybe you are being proactive and preparing for a happy event such as a wedding or a new baby, and you want to get off to a strong start. Maybe you are struggling with a relationship,… Read more »

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5 Things We Can All Do to Help Stop Suicide

This year, taking the subject of suicide out of the shadows feels more urgent than ever. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the suicide rate in the United States increased by 24 percent in 15 years, between 1999 and 2014. Despite the efforts of many, suicide is on the rise. Yet,… Read more »

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I Hate My Body: Dealing with Poor Body Image

In the age of selfies and social media, we hear a lot about the rise of narcissism in modern society. Yet, with this increased importance placed on appearance, we need equally worry about the epidemic of poor body image. A survey by Glamour Magazine found that 97 percent of women questioned had an “I hate… Read more »

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Is Fear of Emotion Driving Our Addiction?

As human beings, the deepest, most core conflict we face is whether or not to feel. Do we seek vitality, love, passion, compassion and the unpredictable roller coaster that comes with being engaged in life and emotion? Or do we engage in behavior that detaches us from the inherent pain of the human condition? When… Read more »

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Resolving the Trauma You Didn’t Know You Had

Most of us wouldn’t use the word trauma when telling our story. We may associate trauma with natural disaster, disease, war, loss or other extreme acts of violence. Unless we’ve suffered sexual or physical abuse, or even if we have, we may tell ourselves that there was no “trauma” in our early life. Yet, a… Read more »

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What Beyoncé Got Right About Forgiveness According to Science

Unless you live under a rock, by now you’ve likely heard a lot about Beyoncé’s latest triumph Lemonade, a visual album that artfully captures a raw emotional evolution. The album is bold in its head-on dealings with themes of betrayal, each track seeming to trace a progressive path from fury to forgiveness. Throughout, Beyoncé herself appears to… Read more »

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How to Tame Your Inner Critic

There are countless quotes, mantras and entire philosophies dedicated to telling us to find and follow our “inner voice.” This is a something I agree with wholeheartedly when it’s a matter of freeing ourselves from doubt and hurtful influences to discover who we really are. However, the inner voice can be tricky. Like pretty much… Read more »

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How to Stop Anxiety

Those of us who struggle with anxiety know how it can undermine us. We feel it impair our abilities, lower our spirits and limit the very quality of our lives. Yet, most of us have a hard time challenging our anxiety. Because of its evolutionary purpose and instant, almost instinctive intrusion, we tend to trust… Read more »

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What Is Good Self-Care, and Why You Deserve It

All my life I’ve been living in the fast lane Can’t slow down, I’m a rolling freight train One more time, gotta start all over Can’t slow down I’m a lone red rover Oh how did it come to this?         ~Lyrics from “Polaroid” by Imagine Dragons From an early age many… Read more »

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