Learn from the Trees

We can learn a lot about our emotional and mental health by observing nature; trees, in particular. We are about to enter the fall season, in which the trees will change color, shed their leaves, and move toward their winter state. They change in their own time and at their own pace. The color of […]

Yawn?

Newberg and Waldman describe yawning as “one of the best-kept secrets in neuroscience” for both relaxation and heightened cognitive awareness.  It helps you stay focused, more introspective, and self-aware. Studies have shown that students who practiced deliberate yawning for four minutes before taking tests raised their grade point averages! C’s moved up to B’s, and […]

Feelings Vs. Judgments

I love the scientific approach of the Gottman Method for relationship therapy. They provide basic skills and tools for folks to ensure you are engaging and loving your significant other in healthy ways. On their website, you will find these tools. One of my favorites is the blog in which they discuss in more detail […]

Ease Anxiety – Consciously Relax

One of the most effective ways to handle stress is to consciously relax, pay attention to your body (it tells you what it needs…sometimes it even revolts!), and breathe.  By doing so it positively affects your brain. Breathing sends positive chemicals to the brain that it needs to regulate emotion and the survival instinct that […]

Regulate Stress and Depression

There are many thing you can do to strengthen you Anterior Cingulate, which helps you regulate emotion. Today’s blog will address one. STAY INTELLECTUALLY ACTIVE Like your muscles, your brain maintains better function when you use it.  There are more neural connections in the frontal lobe than any other part of your brain.  Regular intellectual […]

HEALTHY DIALOGUE DEVELOPS A STRONGER BRAIN

Dialogue exercises our language skills which helps to keep parts of the brain connected to other neural structures.  It requires social interaction which nurtures our brain’s social functions.  It also helps to slow the decline of cognitive abilities. SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, DEVELOP HEALTHY DIALOGUE WITH OTHERS. Here are […]

Smile – A LOT!

There are a lot of songs about smiling. One inspiring version belongs to Louis Armstrong, with his simplistic concepts and scats. Many of his songs have a charming quality to them. Here are the words to the chorus: When you’re smiling, When you’re smiling The whole world smiles with you When you’re laughing, When you’re […]

Setting Healthy Boundaries Part Two

HOW DO I SET BOUNDARIES WITH OTHERS? Last week, we worked through the importance of setting boundaries with others and self. By doing so, you will better protect yourself from people who might take advantage of you or even harm you physically or emotionally. You will also create structure in your own life to manage […]

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Most parents, teachers, and other authority figures teach children to be kind and loving. In fact, the elementary school my children attend selected the phrase, “Choose Kind” as the yearly theme not long ago. Likewise, most religions teach followers to be kind, love, sacrifice, and serve others. In some instances, placing one’s self last and […]