Encourage Decision-Making from an Early Age So much of a child's life is made up of a routine they've had no say in. My step-grandmother Elizabeth married my grandfather after the suicide. My grandfather was in danger of losing his four children to child services due to his neglect of …

We're taught how to tie our shoelaces; It's an alien concept to lots of us that we can indeed say no without dire consequences, and even if the consequences are undesired, that we can and will get through them. That's all meditation is: a mindspace. To enter it, start by …

How to Play Wants and Don't Wants is a game that helps us get a clearer view of our desires through first highlighting what we do NOT want in our lives. It did sound like a slogan. But just because a phrase is catchy doesn't mean it can't also be …

In the recovery process this partner learns to take more ownership of her sexual desires and needs, and the addict has the opportunity to share rather than to control the experience, creating intimacy. In the past, addiction overshadowed any healthy sexual experiences, and you were likely responding to the socialization …

You explain your pathway to a positive life and share the many lessons you've learned. You instruct them on the specific steps they need to take. But, then, they ask the many what if questions. The person you arranged coffee with confronts you on the many issues overwhelming her. After …

For most people, that's too ugly of a proposition, so we go for the half-baked, easy solutions that don't work. That's what Shane concluded. He's content enough with the ridiculousness of his mediocre life to continue living as the victim of what life throws at him. And, you know what …

Success does not come without obsession. For many of you reading this article, you never wanted to be a big shot. That dream died a long time ago, or never existed. No matter who you are though, there's something itching at you. You've got some. I don't know what it …

Skill-Building Strategies There's no doubt that letting go, forgiving others, forgiving ourselves, and moving on is hard. It means accepting the reality that we and those we love have imperfections and faults. Below are tips to help you cultivate the art of letting go of life's big and small disappointments …

It helped me stay with emotions that would previously have led to food binges or alcohol or drug abuse. There are many forms of meditation, but the type I find most helpful as a regular practice is just sitting quietly and being mindful of my breath. Contrary to some popular …

But one day I had an epiphany, and just like that, me and heart rate monitoring were through. A friend of mine wanted to start doing triathlons and asked me to go running with him. I readily agreed, and we set off for a ten-mile loop around Newport Beach's Back …

While it may be a beneficial tool, social media also has its limitations. The majority of information shared online is public, so it's important that you carefully consider how much personal information you want to share online and that you be thoughtful and realistic about the risks involved with oversharing …

Investigators gradually increased the temperature under the rodents' paws until they moved away. That was each rat's pain threshold, and they made note of it. Next, they ran the experiment with two rats side by side and saw that when both rats were exposed to the heat, it could lower …

Megan felt completely blindsided. After their breakup, the two remained friends on social media, and Megan found herself in the habit of compulsively checking in on Scott's life and his new relationship. As a result, Megan was depressed and having difficulty concentrating on tasks at her new job. She was …

Yes, we instinctively want to protect ourselves, but then we begin to see that being defended--building an emotional moat and walling ourselves up inside--also isn't safe. It's a false refuge, as described by psychologist, author, and meditation instructor Tara Brach. By blocking out vulnerability, we also block out joy and …

Kayla was well on her way. She was building up her sense of self, and she was forming secure and positive relationships both online and off. If you fall into the anxiously or avoidantly attachment categories, don't despair. As I've said, attachment styles can be made to feel more secure …

As you read through each article of Logged In and Stressed-Out you will learn How to deepen virtual relationships and boost IRL relationships How our attachment style impacts our attachment to devices, technology, and social media How to turn negative feelings resulting from social-media use into opportunities for emotional growth …

When used exclusively, and during the early stages of the group's development, group-oriented reflections frequently arouse considerable resistance. This may be due to the fact that frequently not all group members perceive the same group dynamics as does the leader. Conveying Acceptance The extent to which the leader can convey …

To increase the frequency of that positive emotion, you need to reorient your thinking and train yourself to focus on times when you feel the spark of being fully invested in or lit up by something. Scan for Interest and Engagement Start with your positive intention. Say to yourself, I …

Even those of us who don't think of ourselves as traumatized go through times where our brain pattern mimics a trauma response: our prefrontal cortex goes offline and we get caught in the grip of reactivity. Fortunately, you don't have to stay stuck in these conditioned responses. You can rewire …

It has been a treasured theory that those of us who have the authority -- by virtue of title, salary, or what have you -- to make decisions, actually do make them; When these preliminaries to a decision have been well conducted, usually only one wise decision is possible. The making of …

I'd like us to dump the outdated notion that penises and vaginas define gender. Even if you're cisgender, do you really want your gender identity to be reduced to what's between your legs? Let's also dump reliance on suits, skirts, ties, makeup, or voice to determine gender identity. They're just …

If you find yourself getting sleepy well before your bedtime, get up and do something: call a friend, fold the laundry, do the dishes. This means no TV, computer, or radio while you're trying to fall asleep. These activities stimulate your brain and body and make falling asleep that much …

Thus, to ask the child whether he cares to come back would be a mockery, unless the referring agent is actually willing for the child to discontinue therapy. Within this framework of compulsion, a nondirective approach is still possible. When the child asks, the therapist can state that he himself …

I'll mash ya! Therapist: You are very mad at me and I am getting all pounded up. Bob: Off goes your head! Therapist: My head's off now. Therefore, you should not expect your life goals to be free from any stress in life. Another thing that life goals can give …

What goes on just after you take up residence on the Sticky Triangle? Awareness can allow you to take a time-out, breathe, and catch yourself so you don't go there. This is where your belief that there is enough in the universe is severely challenged. Be kind to yourself, then …

How about the feng shui of the offices; Are you making money while playing your role in this organization and its drama? What about the feng shui of your office and your living space; How well preserved is your role in this drama? Each person influences the play. Over time …

Once I decided to drink, it became a matter of desperate urgency, to me, to drink it all as fast as I could and get to the bottom. Whenever I stopped for breath, I berated myself for delaying the process. My first reaction to you, I think, was one of …

The findings of these studies will be briefly reviewed, organized in terms of the test utilized. Since the Rorschach is one of the most widely used personality tests today, the results in terms of the Rorschach may be presented first. Muench (140), in the first attempt to measure objectively the …

You think you're bad because you ----. In each of these responses the attitude as well as the phrasing is such as to indicate that it is the client's evaluation of the situation which is being accepted. Little by little the client finds that it is not only possible but satisfying …

When you are experiencing a financial whirlpool of energy, take a time-out, breathe deeply and fully, and center yourself. Take a short walk. Begin some creative movement where you don't have to get anywhere or make any decisions. Doing this gives you time and space to access and assess your …

He also discovers that even as a map, his map has contained serious errors. Therapy gives him the protected opportunity to come down from the high level abstraction of his map and to explore the territory of primary experience. By the time that he is constructing a new map, with …

Before making a decision, will it provide details based on what it suspects the decision-maker may want to review? Does it have a related research report or polling results, for example? Is the data going to be considered credible? Is it possible to consult the company or a staff member …

In general, an improved lifestyle involves changing behaviors and habits, which can potentially harm one's mind and health. In one's skills will help individuals develop managerial and leadership skills. Knowledge of techniques to help in reducing or releasing stress levels. The ability to listen and grasp essential facts effectively. Skills …

If you can look at all the horrid possibilities of life with such a clear gaze, maybe I can too? It's not as if my experience were so remote from you that it doesn't affect you at all. It can't be too remote, because you seem to understand it so …

Then I'll talk about ways to bounce back and move on from situations that have been dragging you down for a while. I'll show you how to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity gracefully and skillfully. And finally I'll cover some advice on the best way to handle a situation where …

She looked for Jesus in the dark--and she found him in the darkness experienced by other people. She found his presence in suffering. Even while in a store, they can use their phones to search for better prices or alternatives before purchasing. Some say they called friends to check on …

Usually, these people love and know perfectly how to communicate, how to make new friends and how to be the center of attention. You will not hear gossip and rumors from them, but rather you can expect genuine interest and real help. Positive people know what pain and unhappiness is …

THEY DIDN'T TAKE ANTIDEPRESSANTS Since the days of bloodletting and mental asylums, our interventions for depression have advanced significantly. Though we still have a lot to learn about the complex inner workings of the brain, we do have access to treatments for depression that can result in relief for most …