“To be motivated” is a common goal that many clients have in therapy. Whether one is deep in the trenches of anxiety or depression, grieving a loved one, or dealing with a painful heartbreak, the feeling of motivation is usually...
Wouldn’t it be nice to begin a day feeling good and continue to expand on this feeling? For most people feeling good can be fleeting and can change in an instant. It could be a simple look someone give us...
Having high standards and striving for excellence can be a good thing and help us reach our goals in life. A high achiever can find satisfaction with their performance even if their goals are not entirely met, taking...
In our patriarchal, achievement-oriented society, there is an imbalance of masculine energy – a focus on doing, rather than being. We are overly concerned with how productive we are, our achievements, and our careers. My Asian neighbour expressed his dislike...
In general, anxiety, in and of itself, is natural and adaptive; it is a normal reaction to stress, and it has its place as an essential signal for our safety. For example, it can motivate us to accomplish tasks like...
One of the most uncomfortable human experiences is the experience of being rejected. Whether it’s by a friend, a romantic partner, your own family, an employer, a school, or a random stranger, being rejected just doesn’t feel good. It can...
The way we communicate almost always has to do with how we were raised and what was modeled to us. A lot of people go through life thinking that the way they communicate and express their feelings is healthy until...
The New Year is underway which can bring inspiration and a sense of renewal. You may have made some New Year resolutions or goals for the year. However, you may have not been able stick to the goals and you...
Life is tough. Many of us have several responsibilities that we must tend to on a daily basis: work, children, household chores, elderly parents, etc. With life being so busy, and sometimes stressful, some of us tend to coast through...
Self-compassion is important
Though building and maintaining one’s self-esteem is stressed as fundamental to good mental health, I have found through my work that too few of us have spent enough time developing another trait that is fundamental to our well-being:...