Category: Mindfulness

Holiday Peace and Stress Relief

https://youtube.com/shorts/tIKPb7edW_w?si=rJrQdgtgJ8SR9krs Do you find Christmas holidays stressful? If you’re anything like Santa, you answered yes! Santa feels the pressure too. Something I wrote about in the Drive Magazine . Including the benefits of leaning into difficult emotions. Because the more we resist discomfort, the longer it lasts. "The root of all suffering is attachment." Buddha https://youtu.be/JU1eYOWaleg?si=m1ItZDTBNHMoLdTN Stop... Continue Reading →

Laughter is the best medicine

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cFzHZ8JYVWk We live in a world weighed down by tragedy and adversity. And we have been conditioned to believe that tragedies require tragic mindsets and hardships demand hardened spirits. We also live in a world overflowing with abundance and joy. https://youtu.be/d4C0_7En6ZY But we cannot see the good from the bad when we are blinded by... Continue Reading →

Self-Talk That Lifts You Up

“Be mindful of your self-talk. It's your conversation with the universe.” As humans, we can’t help but look to the next rung on the ladder. Forgetting the 100 rungs we have already climbed. https://youtu.be/1ALCrzw_1Xo Today’s Psychology Challenge Take note of the trail behind you. The hard work. The success. The heartbreak. The soul awakenings. The... Continue Reading →

41

50 Ways to Calm Your Nervous System

https://youtu.be/MXd_bZn1lqo 50 Calming Exercises Light a candle. Notice the flicker of the flame. Open a window. Watch the trees sway in the breeze. Breathe in fresh air. Record last night’s dreams in a journal. Smile while reading this sentence. Dance to a song from your teenage years. Belt out show tunes in the shower. Burn... Continue Reading →

44

Peace Lives Here

 Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. Hot coffee. Cozy blankets. Birds singing. The sun rising. https://youtu.be/tNXR9hCHZoc?si=lNaH-DE2kxo60oYe Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. Savour the sunshine. Taste every morsel. Dance with abandon. Stroll by the moonlight. Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. https://youtu.be/zRSQw-LjU8k Breathe... Continue Reading →

Face Everything and Rise

Fight or Flight Threat Response Every time we feel threatened (threat is the fundamental definition of stress) our first instinct is to “fight or flight“. This perpetual “fight or flight” response loop eventually creates a host of secondary problems, above and beyond, the original stressor. Powerpoint Slide from Broaden and Build Leadership Event, January 2022... Continue Reading →

30

Twelve Days of Self-Care

I am a strong believer in keeping things simple. The less complicated things are, the more likely we are to repeat the behaviour. Especially when it comes to health and happiness habits. https://youtu.be/0i0tuqAmdaw Twelve Days Day 1: Mindful Mornings Add five to ten minutes of relaxation to each of your morning routines. Time expands when... Continue Reading →

Empowering Conversations About Change

The Psychology of Change During this week’s health psychology lecture, we talked about the psychology of change, including the parts of our lives that remain ‘unchanged’ during rapid and unexpected change. What Remains During Change? The Sun Still Rises Coffee Tastes Delicious Trees Greet You on Your Walk Favourite Movie Still Delights Bed is Comfie... Continue Reading →

5 Mindfulness Techniques

1. Be Here Now https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EiuTpeu5xQc&feature=emb_title Stop Take a breath Observe Proceed 2. Create Space https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fXNo7GUDizM “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our freedom.” Viktor Frankl 3. Find Your Flow https://youtu.be/mZ_bI_t_L_E In psychology, flow, also known as being in the... Continue Reading →

2020 Life Lessons: Be Strong Enough To Be Gentle

Lockdowns have us spending a lot of extra time with the ones we love. Especially during the holidays. And if you’re anything like our household, it requires a whole new level of relationship skills. A deeper level of empathy and compassion for the pressures of the people we are living with. Helpful Tips: Psychology Today... Continue Reading →

65

Catch Pause Repair (CPR): Healthy Workplace Awards Keynote Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VvwITnvrhs Healthy Workplace Awards This week I did a keynote speech at the Healthy Workplace Awards Ceremony. Given all we are collectively going through, I thought the notes and video from the keynote would be helpful to everyone. News Release: CTV News Especially as we wrap up this year. A year where we collectively experienced... Continue Reading →

27

Shine your light

https://youtu.be/pjxCsK2qudw?si=xHsV_IBAKQq47am2 I used to think of life purpose as some great big grand scheme for life, something we spend our whole life chasing after. Daunting for sure. At times overwhelming. Then one day I realized that life purpose was a series of small, fleeting events, rather than one great big span of life. Bite size... Continue Reading →

51

Enjoy Every Moment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd9TrYI75o0 Never let the things you want make you forget the things you already have. Nothing Lasts Forever. Good or Bad. Enjoy Every Moment. Embrace it. Be it. See it. Everything you appreciate is you reflecting back. Homework for Today Look Around You. Notice Things Like You Are Seeing Them for the Very First Time.... Continue Reading →

33

Anger is a sign that something needs to change

Individuals are often looking for healthier ways to express their emotions. For Example: Anger That said, it's not as simple as becoming "more calm" or "less explosive". The first step in transformation and lasting change is looking below the surface. The Kübler-Ross Model provides insight: The goal is to discover if angry thoughts, actions, or... Continue Reading →

36

Psychology Insights: Self Criticism to Self Compassion

WHY ARE WE SO HARD ON OURSELVES? Great question! One that I’m asked often. And one that I often ask myself. PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTSWhat causes this behaviour? The answer is multifaceted and includes several factors including how we were parented (when internalized superego and conscience first develops) and eventually how we parent ourselves. For example: When something... Continue Reading →

65

Rethink Time in COVID-19

I find the perception of time fascinating.Everyone experiences time differently. Because time truly is relative. Changing from situation to situation.For example: Work Week vs. Vacation Week COVID vs. Pre-COVID Bored versus in Flow Time perception also varies from person to person. For example: Teenager vs. Baby Boomer  Good Health vs. Poor Health  Type A Personality... Continue Reading →

23

Breathe

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zRSQw-LjU8k Every time we take a long deep breath, we are telling our bodies that we are safe. Each breath connecting our mind, body, and heart. Bringing us back to present time. 5 Breathing Techniques: Follow Your Breath Become aware of each inhalation and exhalation. Focus on the sensations you feel as air passes through... Continue Reading →

68

CPR: Catch Pause Repair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVfeKg78fEY Catch Pause Repair (CPR) is a Framework for Sustainable Mental Health & Resilience Habits. CPR includes three simple steps as outlined in the video. 1. Catch Catch yourself before a stress response escalates by becoming more aware of what triggers you. 2. Pause Pause and take a 60 second time out when you feel... Continue Reading →

33

5 Simple Stress Relief Techniques

Life is complicated. Stress management shouldn't be. 5 Stress Relief Techniques 1. Gratitude https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ 2. Breathwork https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zRSQw-LjU8k 3. Movement https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d4SyONPkus0 4. sur·ren·der https://youtu.be/I7YD4A900-4 5. This moment https://youtu.be/moc-AtmSSGU Repeat Daily 💕

22

FOMO ANXIETY Simple Tips for Feeling Better

This post is for anyone experiencing FOMO. Particularly on a long weekend holiday! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I2P5VhC-Ih8 Psychology Insight: Holidays heighten social anxiety of every kind. FOMO especially. Consider these questions as you explore what’s going on below the surface. 1. Do you remember the first time you experienced FOMO? 2. How did you cope with the anxiety... Continue Reading →

27

Your emotions have a message for you.

Create space for feelings to flow. Emotions are neither good or bad. Only labeling makes it so. Don't run from challenging emotions. Instead, lean in and ask: “What are you trying to tell me?" Witness. Observe. Learn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQKomXhKKbE&t=29s The best part is how small fear appears close up! We must go in — to get... Continue Reading →

Taming Your Monkey Mind

Nature is a beautiful way to stop the monkey mind in its’ tracks. What is the monkey mind? “Buddha described the human mind as being filled with drunken monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering, carrying on endlessly. Fear is an especially loud monkey -  screaming out all the things that could go wrong.” Source: HuffPost  When we’re caught... Continue Reading →

35

The deeper the breath, the deeper the peace.

The next time you are under any kind of pressure. Stuck in traffic. Rushing from class to class. Dealing with a difficult customer at work. Desperately trying to recall answers on a final exam.  Wake up to the formidable power that exists within you.  Right here. Right now. Right under your nose. Breathe https://youtu.be/zRSQw-LjU8k The deeper the breath, the deeper... Continue Reading →

Reading People: Lesson #1 Self Awareness

"The simple act of paying attention can take you a long, long way." Intrapersonal Intelligence ⇔ Interpersonal Intelligence The first lesson in reading people, using the principles of emotional intelligence, is to understand yourself more deeply. What motivates you. What excites you. What angers you. What lifts you up! As self-awareness is essential for both... Continue Reading →

50

Ordinary Joys

Simple pleasures are my favourite. Hot coffee. Cozy blankets. Birds singing. The sun rising. Fast runs. Slow walks. Long days. Warm hugs. Peaceful silences. BLT sandwiches. Tomato soup. Matinee movies. Buttery popcorn. Ice cold pop. Walking on campus. Smiling in the hallways. Laughing with students. Learning from students. Driving home. Soulful conversations. Dreaming of the future. Reminiscing about... Continue Reading →

44

Study Tip: Stay Focused

This post was inspired by the one question students ask year after year: "Why Can't I Remember Anything?" More often than not, it's a focusing and attention issue, not a memory problem. Atkinson–Shiffrin Memory Model An important distinction between attention and memory described in the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLM9VWCkeU Stay Focused You Can't Do Big Things... Continue Reading →

30

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑