You can feel your blood pressure rising when someone cuts you off in traffic. You lie awake at night thinking about all of the ways a particular co-worker has ruined your chances for a promotion. You cannot forgive your parents for the cruel words that were repeatedly spoken to you as a child. ... Views: 4415
"The hardest conversations are the most important ones." India Arie wrote those words in the liner notes of her album, Testimony: Volume 2 Love and Politics. India's words often connect with me at a perfect intersection of time/space.
I read those words a short time after having a very ... Views: 1047
Got sidetracked from the blog post I was writing (the magic of feeling your feelings) when I read an email about The Noticer Project.
It’s a “worldwide movement to ‘notice’ the five most influential people in your life.” (Based on the book The Noticer by Andy Andrews.)
Naturally, I started ... Views: 5301
I have witnessed people close to death with loved ones by their side, they have not spoken to in years. There appears to be a lot of pain there.
I think bonding is organic. It comes from love, it cannot be forced.
I’m sure we all have had someone we just can’t bond with, and that is okay.
... Views: 1147
If prayer is an intention that we announce to the universe in order to create a desired outcome, then our every thought is a prayer. This includes thoughts of worry as well as of hope. All thoughts are subtle creative energy. Some thoughts are more focused or repeated more often, gathering ... Views: 890
The human tongue is a thrill seeker. As it tires of one taste, it looks for another. This sensation-seeking tendency of the tongue is what accounts for the so-called sensory specific satiety.
Recall what happens in a buffet: while you might feel too full to eat another plate of roast beef and ... Views: 2426
The age in which we live is full of stressors that can build and trigger a slew of negative emotions. Anxiety and frustration are everywhere in today’s society and the way in which we choose to deal with them can have a profound impact on our lives. What we choose to do with our pain is up to ... Views: 1635
Depression is often termed ‘anger turned inwards’. In other words anger suppressed or buried within us to the point that we do not feel the anger anymore. What shows up instead is depression.
Most people might respond by saying: “I’m not angry, I do have issues with depression.” Or say, ... Views: 1011
The true purpose of anger is to stimulate us to take action. The more that we can be present in us with our feelings and express them in some way we release anger with greater ease. The best example of the expression of anger and letting it go quickly is from animals. They are direct with ... Views: 1152
I was talking with a friend who told me that he had spent his entire life either living in the past or the future. He lived in the past in resentments to what had happened to him or was in the future thinking about how he could avoid the pains of the past from reoccurring.
Our mind can do some ... Views: 1729
What are these empty hands? Where can we find them? What ... When Dogen, a great Zen Master of old, returned to Japan after many years of studying Zen in China, the people asked what he brought with him to help others who were suffering, he said, “I’ve come with nothing but empty ... Views: 9452
In my last article, I discussed the role that fear plays in our lives and introduced the idea that we can transform it into a positive force that works for us. Fear often creeps up when we are ready to pursue a compelling, juicy goal. Sometimes our fear is so big that it rears its head before ... Views: 983
Spending an entire day at an airport dealing with one flight delay after another was once a nightmare for me. I have since learned to look for the gift in every experience. My recent, and much anticipated, trip to Italy began with such an unexpected day. Instead of pouting thinking my entire ... Views: 1471
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common mental health disorders seen in childhood. Studies estimate that between 3-7% of all children have AD/HD: approximately 2 million children in the USA alone, or one child in every classroom.
The main symptoms seen in this condition are ... Views: 1834
Summary
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a lifelong, genetic disorder. (Barkley 2002) Parents of children who have been diagnosed should be screened for AD/HD. Adults with this disorder often experience difficulties in relationships, on the job and in other life areas. The ... Views: 1735
Up until the mid 1980's, it was widely believed by physicians and psychologists that ADHD was outgrown by the time a child hit adolescence.
Surprise!
Though many clinicians still hold on to this belief, it is now accepted by many in the medical community that childhood ADHD does indeed ... Views: 1832
Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to follow her pediatrician's recommendation of placing her young son on medication. His difficult behaviors had escalated in recent years and after trying behavioral strategies and food elimination diets, there simply hadn't been much ... Views: 1728
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We take one day to remember mothers and fathers, those who gave their lives for this country, the signing of The Declaration of Independence, a man who gave his life in the name of civil rights, and the day Christ was born. I have often wondered ... Views: 1057
This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD). Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a disorder characterized by a difficulty in retaining focus, especially on tasks, for long periods of time and interfering especially with academic, ... Views: 2646
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD or ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. It is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children affecting about 3 to 5% of children globally with symptoms starting before seven years of age. It is characterized by a ... Views: 2237
This book has been designated one of the "BEST BOOKS OF 2009" by the Library Journal. This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event ... Views: 2870
Post traumatic stress disorder (abbreviated PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threatened or caused great physical harm.
It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma. This stressor may involve ... Views: 1702
Since my book The LifeQuake Phenomenon was released in February, I have done a lot of interviews with journalists on a variety of topics, some with the theme of addiction - mommies who drink too much wine at play dates, men who use exercise to compensate for big appetites, screen writers who ... Views: 669
I went to the dry cleaners yesterday which is very unusual for me. As the mother of two small children, my wardrobe is mostly wash and wear (or don't wash and wear, depending on the week). When I gave the woman behind the counter my phone number, she asked if I was there to pick up. But I ... Views: 799
I'm hearing more and more every day about executives and busy professionals who are increasing their doses of anti-depressants and making very poor lifestyle choices that are only increasing their stress levels. It's a vicious circle. More stress; more depression. More depression; more ... Views: 947
There is a method that any person can use, in any situation, to overcome any addiction immediately. That is a powerful statement - one that you might have a hard time believing. The very idea seems rather ridiculous, doesn’t it?
I am not just talking about the more common addictions such as ... Views: 1443
This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Anxiety. Anxiety is distress or uneasiness, often overwhelming, of the mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. There are numerous therapeutic and psychological ways to ease anxiety and panic. Garrett Coan is the Official Guide to ... Views: 1371
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create an unpleasant feeling that is typically associated with uneasiness, fear, or worry. Anxiety is a generalized mood condition that occurs ... Views: 1311
Relationships are like shoes. Sometimes they fit, and sometimes they cause annoying, painful blisters. For example, your partner doesn't call when running late; your colleague at work taps his pencil incessantly; and a neighbor trashes your yard. Sometimes you need to confront the offender and ... Views: 6320
Conflicts arise from a variety of sources - some are avoidable, while others are not. One of the more insidious causes of conflict in the workplace is the subtle, but devastating, situation known as workplace bullying.
Workplace bullying includes all types of interpersonal harassment and ... Views: 1477
As I sat watching Dancing with the Stars tonight, the dancing was suddenly interrupted with a Breaking News Alert ... there had just been an airplane accident at Houston's Hobby airport.
I Survived an Airplane Accident:
I was immediately reminded of a similar event that happened to me ... Views: 1132
Are you amongst the "Sandwich Generation"? By that, I mean people who are both raising kids and also taking care of an elderly parent.
If so, I would guess that you're feeling a great deal of stress from the large number of competing demands placed upon you frequently by your family - and ... Views: 952
There are some great memory improvement techniques you can learn. Techniques that will help in turning numbers into words, memorizing names and remembering shopping lists. Let’s discuss how to memorize a list of grocery items. We will use 4 items only but you will see the size of the list does ... Views: 1244
“The place of absolute tranquility… the gentle water bubbles are surfacing to the blue serenity of the mountain lake… Ah… what a joy…”
“MOM!!!! WHERE IS MY DINNER??? “ “DAD!!! I AM TAKING YOUR CAR!!!” No kidding, the blue lake just popped in front of your so-called third eye and vanished into ... Views: 714
When I do workshops on marketing ...and mention that speaking is one of the most effective strategies for building a list of contacts who can’t wait to buy from them, most people in the audience look at me with that “no way in hell am I gonna do that” look.
What is it about speaking that makes ... Views: 942
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
My mother died today.
Her body finally gave up. It had enough. My mother’s liver, exhausted from working so hard to filter the toxins she put there, finally reached its limit. So, it’s over. A life of abuse found a quiet end.
There will not be a viewing of her body, ... Views: 1891
When in the world of weight gain, the problem in this whole upset of the human biology is actually rooted in the mind. Now when you start to gain weight, the reason behind this is usually psychological. Why do you eat over the limit? Hunger is a state of mind and sometimes being full is a state ... Views: 1005
When it finds a safe haven, a fox who has been chased by a predator, will stop and shake. Sometimes it will shake its body for almost an hour to free itself of the trauma of fear. Then, renewed, it moves on.
The fox came to mind last night, at a mid-way point in a Hellinger Constellation ... Views: 664
Most spouses of alcoholics or addicts have been down this road before. Something has happened. Some crisis has gotten the attention of the alcoholic/addict and now he is motivated to get clean and sober. This time he is going to AA/NA and going to counseling. Promises made by the addict to stop ... Views: 1214
I keep hearing the same old myths over and over again. And I can't help but think that others hearing these myths either believe them and give up or use them for excuses to avoid taking action on getting clean and sober.
One of the myths that I hear daily is that you can't get sober for ... Views: 1711
"Detox" is the beginning of the process of recovery. Most people need some kind of help getting through detox. Some people need medical help or additional structure and support. The kinds of difficulties that an alcoholic or addict will have with detox depend on a number of variables, including, ... Views: 1273
When friends and loved hate your significant other, it can be a major disappointment. There’s no doubt that this can be a painful issue, since conflicts are always waiting to happen. The situation can make you feel as if the people who matters most in your life are disrespecting you by ... Views: 1999
Nine million Jews lived in Europe in 1939 as World War II erupted. By 1945, six million had been slaughtered. In the most basic arithmetic, three million European Jews managed to escape the Nazi Final Solution. They fled. They hid. They resisted. The survival rate varied greatly from nation to ... Views: 2079
If we were to actually compare your life, or the life of most people all over the world to a musical track, it would be one that is slow, quite monotonous and one that is quite uninspiring. It is one that can be found in the back of CD stores, the one that nobody wants to buy and often ends up ... Views: 1849
"Mood Stabilizers" are medications which are commonly prescribed for Bipolar Disorder. They are a special class of drugs and are very serious medications with very serious health risks. Yet many times they are given to patients for "mood swings" or for "sleep". What are some of these ... Views: 2851
If anxiety is something that bothers you enough to do something about, try meditation. Meditation has a lasting impact on calming the mind down. The all consuming “chatter” that anxiety creates will dissipate, allowing you to feel and be more relaxed.
Most of us know this already but our ... Views: 1164
The terms workaholism and workaholic were coined by Wayne Oats in the first book on the subject, Confessions of a Workaholic. He describes workaholism as a compulsive and addictive behavior with work in the same way alcoholics do with alcohol. Workaholism can have a negative effect on one's life ... Views: 1349
The symptoms of A.D.D./A.D.H.D. are often triggered by environmental factors and dietary regimes. Children are being labeled with Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity and Learning Disabilities in ever increasing numbers. Drugs are being administered profusely to reduce the behavioral ... Views: 2368
Talk to a partner or friend – they could help you highlight some self-help ideas.
Try to stop drinking alcohol on weekdays and make some minor lifestyle changes like increasing your physical activity.
When you are drinking, try to substitute every second drink with water, non-alcoholic beer, ... Views: 1872
When we are talking about addictions, there are many ways to really describe it and to pin the tail on the donkey, the actual root of your addiction is actually in your mind. How so? Well this is because the five senses is closely entwined with many of the brains and the body’s function, which ... Views: 1515