Search Results for: mindfulness

nervous system

Do You Identify as an Anxious Person?

…– Why live a limited life? This conversation alone could bring a level of mindfulness or awareness to pop you out of unhealthy limiting beliefs and have an impact on your freedom and happiness. But I want to give you another exercise to help it go deeper. Identify your limiting beliefs – Take a moment to think about what this limiting belief keeps you from? What does it hold you back from engaging or even trying to do? What are you missing out on…

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From Struggles to Super-Powers: Helping Your Child Grow

…beings with lots going on inside. The capacity to reflect is supported by mindfulness, the practice of bringing attention to the moment in a non-judgmental way. This practice of observing and describing in a non-judgmental way helps decrease assumptions and interpretations that often get in the way by escalating tensions. As with anything new, reflecting and finding words to describe the elements of experience may feel awkward at first, but given…

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How to Stop Yourself from “Losing It” With Your Partner

…r words, no storming out or slamming doors should be involved. In general, mindfulness practices can help us find a way to know and observe our thoughts and feelings without allowing them to sweep us up in a storm of automated reactivity. Dr. Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach have described the acronym “RAIN” as a practice to help us mindfully deal with the instances that trigger us. The step are: 1. Recognize: pause and notice what we are feeling. 2….

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Prioritizing Yourself: Making Sure You’re On the List!

“Where are you on your to-do list?” When I ask people this question, their response is usually one of confusion. While it may feel like a foreign concept to many of us, to be happy and effective in our day-to -day lives it’s imperative that we take care of ourselves. So what can you do to start prioritizing yourself? Here are a few things to try today: Top of the list – Write out your to-do list (or if it already written out) put yourself on the…

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Quit Stressing About Meditation

I’ve always wanted to like meditation. It looks so peaceful, so picturesque—sitting cross-legged as deep breaths filter in and out of a blissfully calm face—it’s the epitome of what I imagine someone who has their life together looks like. Meditation has stepped into the spotlight as one of the more prevalent types of alternative healing practices in the past few decades. And with its ever-growing list of researched backed benefits, there is no w…

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Don’t Despair…

Are you having a hard time responding to the challenges, tragedies, and hurting in the world? As you take in the news, do you feel yourself growing numb, cynical or hopeless? If you’re impacted emotionally by world events (as many of us are) and are facing a lot of despair, first try to recognize and name the struggle you’re feeling. Try saying to yourself: “In life there are tough moments, and I am not alone in my despair. Many others are strugg…

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Experts at Home: Dr. Kristin Neff on Self-Compassion

…In this Experts at Home conversation, Dr. Lisa Firestone talks with researcher Dr. Kristin Neff about the importance of practicing Self-Compassion, especially during challenging times such as this global pandemic. Watch Now: Subscribe to PsychAlive (it’s free!) to see more Experts at Home.  …

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Confessions of a (Narrow-Minded?!) Liberal: Using Friendship to Bridge the Political Divide

…e cookouts. Perhaps they choose a charity project to do together, practice mindfulness exercises together, or help each other with home improvements. Most importantly, they do not talk about politics, at least not for a long time, until they consider themselves good friends. And then, once they’re friends, they are less inclined to judge all “liberals” or all “conservatives, and they’re more willing to give each other the benefit of the doubt. We…

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A Guide to Finding Yourself

…ur lives but to find our real selves and know our strength and ability. As mindfulness expert Dr. Donna Rockwell points out, to generate a “state of upliftedness that makes everything else possible—that creates the “go for it!” spirit we crave—is to subdue the doubting mind by disarming negative thoughts.” Read more about the critical inner voice. 6. Practice Compassion and Generosity Mahatma Gandhi once said “The best way to find yourself is to l…

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7 Ways to Increase Self-Awareness in Writing

…out to write. Here are 7 ways to practice self-awareness in your life: 1. Mindfulness training. Being mindful means being completely present in the now and seeing things are they are, rather than seeing them the way you want to see them. It means living completely in the moment. This is a perfect frame of mind for the memoir writer who aims to stay true to the story of his or her life. To remind yourself to remain mindful, breathe in and then say…

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