Have you ever had anyone tell you to pull yourself up from your bootstraps, to grit and force your way through? While having determination can be a helpful trait and sometimes even suck-it-up-buttercup can be useful in certain situations, these traits should not be your only tools. If you wanted to build something you wouldn’t […]
Should You Believe Your Emotions?
Recently, I’ve been experiencing what I would label depression. It’s been really uncomfortable and I noticed other emotions like powerlessness, despair, and hopelessness. As experienced as I am with navigating my thoughts and emotions, this sense of depression had me entertaining thoughts such as, “what’s wrong with me, I should be doing better than this, […]
Willing to Feel
When you feel good you want to continue with that feeling, don’t you? We all seek happiness, joy, love, peace in one way or another. Oftentimes in unhealthy ways, but that’s for another blog. Right now let’s talk about willingness to feel when it doesn’t feel great. You know what I mean…I’m talking about sadness, […]
Dear Diary…Why am I Suffering Today?
Hmmm…let’s see! I feel exhausted. Lyme symptoms are flaring. My son is depressed. My mini fridge is empty except for a few eggs. I could go on and on. But…BUT! Thanks to the skills I learned and implement here’s where I go with all this so I don’t create more suffering: I feel exhausted. Well, […]
What is in Your Control? An Exercise to Help
In 12-step programs there is the saying: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. I’ve started saying this as I start my day and also throughout the day. It really has helped me to learn to […]
Don’t Add to Your Suffering
Picture this…you arrive home with your carryout order. You’ve been looking forward to a relaxing evening after a busy day and to the delicious food you’ve been wanting. You settle in at your table, put on some music you enjoy, and you’re prepared to greet the evening. One by one you take the food out […]
Emotions: Why We Need Them
Can you imagine not feeling pain? It might seem like a great thing, but what would warn you of harm? How would you know not to put your hand on a hot stove, for example? Well, we need emotions to give us important information. In a previous blog we talked about the concept of “good” […]
Setting Goals: What Do You Aim For?
Imagine this…you’re playing miniature golf, you see the hole. There’s also a little rip and loose cloth of the green to the right of the hole. You’re checking your posture and grip, you look toward the hole, then you look at the ripped green. In your mind you’re thinking “don’t aim toward that rip”, and […]
Do You Judge Yourself for Your Emotions?
Emotions…good or bad. Do you try to convince yourself that you shouldn’t be feeling the way you do, or you should just suck it up? Some of us have been taught it’s not ok to feel certain feelings. You know, it’s not possible to be constantly positive. There’s nothing wrong with positivity, but if we […]
Naming Your Emotions Helps Tame Your Emotions
Do you know how you feel? Do you know what it is you feel? In this blog let’s look at the benefits of learning to name your emotions. Oftentimes, we can be reactive, responding on impulse when we have a feeling. If we don’t know what it is or where it comes from we behave […]