I was doing some nerdy reading recently and stumbled on a scholarly publication called “The Journal of Happiness Studies.” Yes, please! Basically these scholars review and approve articles all related to Happiness. Turns out study after study has been done to try to break the code on how to make us happier.
Parents Don’t Have to Have All the Answers
It can be a humbling moment for a prideful parent to admit that he doesn’t have an answer for his children’s questions. It is inevitable though.
Coping Skills vs Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are unconscious responses to overwhelming stress in our lives. Although they serve an important purpose, if left unchecked, protective instincts from defense mechanisms can inhibit the development of healthier coping skills. We are going to dive into two common defense mechanisms: denial and regression. Denial One of our … Read More
Compassion and Our Shared Humanity
We are all human, which means that we get up on the wrong side of the bed occasionally, we have lost loved ones, we don’t always get our way, and we even argue with the ones that we love the most. This quote highlights a need to recognize that we need each other.
Self-Compassion: A Healthier Approach to Well-Being
In our highly-driven culture, the common belief is that success depends on being competitive and pushing yourself to your limits. What if this approach proved to be more harmful than helpful? Recent research shows self-criticism and a competitive attitude create obstacles to achieving goals.
Self-Care: Am I Just Being Selfish?
Self-care begins with taking care of your basic needs including eating, sleeping, bathing, and medical needs.
Self-care also includes activities to help you relax and de-stress. It is also maintaining relationships and finding balance between work life and personal life. Failure to attend to these needs could result in exhaustion, burnout, illness, and even possible hospitalization.
Grief That Doesn’t Fit In: Part 2
If you have experienced a grief that is disenfranchised or if you recognize that others in your life may have, it is vital to find a way to make space for open mourning.
Often, when grief is disenfranchised, it is a result of beliefs about the way things should work and how people are supposed to relate to their world.
Lamenting a Loss
When loss occurred, the community took the time to surround those who had suffered and allowed them the emotional space to offer a cry of sorrow and grief. Often the community itself offered a cry of sorrow for a loss. This is far from our modern day thinking about grief.
The Landscape of Loss
We are a society that loves to acquire. So when loss comes (as it inevitably will) we find ourselves generally ill-equipped to respond.
Don’t Quit Your Resolutions
You decided to make positive changes in the New Year and within a few days or even hours, you slip up and revert to your old way of doing things. This does not mean that you should give up on your resolutions.
