3 Ways to Bounce Forward

On March 2, 2021March 30, 2021 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Coping Strategies, Health Psychology, Mental Health Education, motivation, Personal Growth, Positive Psychology, Resilience, resources, Strengths, Stress Hardiness, Thriving, Video

The idea we have for our life rarely matches up with the life we end up with.

Plan A is fantasy. Plan B is reality.

Growth is not a straight line.

Which is often a blessing in disguise.

Yet something we seldom realize in the thick of life.

How do we bridge the gap between expectations and reality?

How do we move on from what was to what will be?

3 Ways to Bounce Forward

1. Celebrate All You Have Overcome

Honour the trials and tribulations you have been through already.

Take pride in how far you have come.

All of it preparing you for what’s happening now.

For it is in our dark times that we discover our light. And it is in our pain that we find our power.

In the video below, I share the hard lessons I learned early on as a young psychologist experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue.

And how it laid the foundation for my work in resilience and positive psychology as a psychology professor and speaker.

When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the broad spectrum of the human experience.
Jaeda DeWalt

2. Normalize Failure and Defeat

No one begins their journey at the top of the mountain.

We all have to earn our way up.

A universal human experience of try, fail, learn, repeat.

Ultimately understanding that failure is not bad, it is an opportunity to build character and strength.

In this video and article I describe all the failures that helped me discover who I was and what I was destined to become.

Failure introduced me to myself!

Some paths cannot be discovered without getting lost.
Erol Ozan

3. Adopt a Growth Mindset

Stay open to everything!

Openness shifts our mindset from fixed to growth.

One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to move on from what you cannot change.

Mantras and Affirmations

How we talk to ourselves matters tremendously. Especially during difficult times.

Re-imagine stressful moments as growth moments. Moving you one step closer to your dreams.

In this video I share my self-talk in the eye of the storm.

Chanting “I am expanding” as the rain falls.

Trust Your Journey

Stop Shrinking Yourself to Places You’ve Outgrown
Furaha Joyce

What advice would you give your younger self?

On January 20, 2021February 12, 2021 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Hope, leadership, Optimism, Peace, Reflection Question, Training and Development37 Comments

Live Zoom Conference

At a recent leadership conference, student leaders from St. Clair College’s Student Representative Council SRC had the opportunity to ask questions live during the final portion of the virtual training event.

Ask Dr. D

The student leaders raised the reflection bar high during this discussion period.

One Question Stood Out The Most

Specifically:

What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

In the video below, I share my answer.

“It All Works Out“

Even during COVID-19.

For the pandemic has not changed my optimistic perspective on life and learning.

If anything, COVID-19 has underscored my belief in posttraumatic growth and resilience.

For everybody.

Growth is the only evidence of life.
John Henry Newman

Watch 4 min Video of Post: Click Here

You are enough, just as you are.

On December 6, 2020January 2, 2021 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Hope, Inspiration, Love, Peace, Self Reflection, Video

You are enough, just as you are.💕

Mirror Exercise: Waking Up with Love

Does Your Self-Talk Energize You or Drain You?

On September 8, 2020September 24, 2020 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Inspiration, Mantra, Peace, Positive Psychology, Thriving, Video

How we talk to ourselves matters.

Especially at the start of a brand new day.

Our thoughts are the lyrics to our daily soundtrack after all.

A topic I talk about with love and laughter in this video workshop:

Psychology Homework:

The One Day at a Time Approach

Step One: Awareness

Begin by WAKING UP to your inner dialogue tomorrow morning.

Notice the first thing you think of when you look in the mirror.

Is it loving? Is it kind?

Step Two: Mirror Affirmations

Write an encouraging quote for yourself on your bathroom mirror.

At a loss for words?

Pick any one of the quotes you’ve shared with the world on social media this past year and post it for yourself on your bathroom mirror.

It only takes one thought, one word, one smile, one song, to change a life.

Begin with your own.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.

Watch Video: Click Here

May Hope Rise Within You

On May 1, 2020May 2, 2020 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, Happiness, Hope, Inspiration, Optimism

423B559B-919A-4781-8909-F70345AF496C

Wishing everyone an extra dose of hope + optimism at the start of this brand new month of May.

Paradoxically, I have never felt so close to friends, family, and strangers since social distancing began.

A Worldwide Awakening

8 billion people experiencing the same global event, at the same time – together.

May we continue to connect on new levels of compassion and curiosity.
May we bring all that COVID has awakened in us forward.
May we begin again, renewed.

B2EA456C-1211-48EB-A7B5-5673945E5AFB

Reflecting Back

This photo was taken at our first ladies night in our new house in Tecumseh, Ontario.

John and I had just gotten engaged. Just bought a house together.

And as you can tell from my big smile, I was excited to share this special moment with my friends.

Beautiful memories to be relived again.. very soon!

Always believe

Let Your North Star Guide You

On April 7, 2020April 29, 2020 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, community, Happiness, Hope, Mantra, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Peace, positivity, Reflection Question18 Comments

My Wish For You Today

May you find peace in your home.

And calm in your heart.

No matter the storm.

Psychology Thought for the Day

The goal isn’t to get rid of all our negative thoughts and emotions.

The goal is to change our response to them.

To accept them without judgement.

To transcend them when the time is right.

e·qua·nim·i·ty

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. “She accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity”.

This video may help:

Let Your North Star Guide You

How do you rise above? 💫

Watch Video of Post → Click Here

Emotional Freedom Technique for Social Anxiety & Imaginary Audience

On March 4, 2020March 14, 2020 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Freedom, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Reflection Question, resources, Stress Relief and Release, Video26 Comments

Have you ever felt like you’re being watched?

Judged and scrutinized.

Like all eyes are on you and every potential error you make?

Everyone experiences this phenomenon from time to time, especially when trying out something for the first time.

Think back to the first time you gave a dinner party, swung a golf club, wrote a college exam, or posted your first blog online.

Social Anxiety and Heightened Experiences

Individuals with social anxiety experience this sense of being watched (and thought about) significantly more than the average person.

Independent of skills and expertise.

Why is this the case?

The Imaginary Audience

One potential explanation is a psychological phenomenon called imaginary audience experienced frequently in adolescence.

A concept first introduced by social psychologists David Elkind and Erik Erikson in the 1960’s.

Think back to how easily embarrassed you were as a teenager.

If you wore the “wrong shirt” to school, it felt like everyone was gossiping about you and your entire social life would end as a result.

Resulting in perpetual self-consciousness, distorted views of how others saw you, causing in a tendency to conform for fear of sticking out.

Limiting your freedom to express outside the norm for fear of collective banishment and reprisal.

What does the research say?

Using the Imaginary Audience Scale as a Measure of Social Anxiety in Young Adults

Two studies explored imaginary audience phenomenon among college students.

Imaginary audience behavior was found to be related to measures of social anxiety, self perception, and personality.

Furthermore, imaginary audience scores were more strongly related to anxiety than abstract reasoning.

These results suggest that imaginary audience experiences that persist into early adulthood have more to do with social anxiety than with cognitive development.

Original Source: Click Here

Simple Things on Repeat

The next time you imagine you are being watched, talked about, or judged by others, remember that imaginary audience IS AN ILLUSION heightened by social media, physiology (eg., lack of sleep), and overthinking.

When in truth, people are so focused on themselves (and their phones), that there is a 99% chance that no one cares what you are up to or how you are performing.

This is a very good thing!

CARPE DIEM

Today’s Freedom Mantra

Live like nobody’s watching. Love like nobody’s watching. Succeed like nobody’s watching. Fail like nobody’s watching. Write like nobody’s watching!

Video of Post ⇒ Click Here

Uplifting Mantras for Uncertain Times.

On September 24, 2019September 25, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Hope, Inspiration, Mantra, Peace, Purpose and Meaning, Resilience, Stress Relief and Release, Thriving

Life lived backwards makes perfect sense.

You finally understand WHY the job, the partner, the degree, the house, the friendship, the ______ didn’t work out.

BUT what about in the “here and now”?

How do we make the leap of faith during the darkest of days?

MANTRAS mantras mantras.

971CAE12-79F7-46AC-A7C9-771750F0F369

Find a phrase that moves you …

t h r o u g h ..

UP AND OVER…

into a place of trust and belief.

2DAAEE33-51B4-4389-AD5E-4301E3BF052D

Respect

The

Process

Breathe and RECEIVE

4A8CADE7-219F-4614-80A7-7B666D4B62E4

Your journey is unfolding in the most magical and mysterious of ways.

Spread Your Wings 🦋

“What if I fall … oh my darling … what if you F L Y..”

Related: Optimism Bootcamp Workshop

Free Yourself 🦋

On August 24, 2019August 27, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn courage, Emotional Freedom, empowerment, Happiness, health, Inspiration, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Peace, Reflection Question, Stress Relief and Release, Video60 Comments

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE

1. What would you stop doing if you only had one year to live?

2. What would you start doing if you only had one year to live?

3. What do you need to let go of to feel a sense of happiness, well-being, and peace?

4. What and who do you no longer want to be obligated to?

5. What joy do you wish you had more time for?

27CAB6D7-2D72-410B-BC1A-85F46E779FC0

CONTEMPLATION TIME

Take a long deep breath and meditate on your answers. You’ll be surprised at what your soul has to say.

YOU GET ONE LIFE.

Make it yours.

Dear Readers:

This video is equally a note to you + me reminding us to live with discernment and wisdom. For not everyone in our life appreciates the limits of our time and energy. And that’s ok. For we are the magic wand. We have the power to make choices. We have the ability to overcome social conditioning. We have the authority to change what and who we want in our lives. What and who we give our energy to unnecessarily, repeatedly, unconsciously.

WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE.

This ^ is freedom.

EMPOWERING THOUGHTS

On August 20, 2019August 24, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, Coping Strategies, empowerment, Hope, Inspiration, Mantra, motivation, Peace, positivity, psychology45 Comments

Choose the THOUGHTS that emPOWER you today.

CDD5A68C-C62C-4313-8791-B53C30070985

It takes

one word

one thought

one mantra

to shift our mind

from pain to power.

What will your empowering thought be this week?

I’d love to know.

Share your WORD in comments below ⤵️

Related Post: Empowering Conversations

Thanks for visiting my psychology blog!

Dr. D 💖☀️

How we talk to ourselves matters.

On June 5, 2019July 21, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, courage, Hope, Peace, Personal Growth8 Comments

4C28F69F-30DC-4EEB-8EA3-B9960748303E

How we talk to ourselves matters tremendously.

Particularly in the eye of the storm.

Having a “go to” mantra in times of stress helps.

Especially in the uncomfortable (agonizing) moments between stress and strength.

Video of Blog Post ⇒ Click Here

A mantra that has helped me over the years is imagining myself:

g r o w i n g + e x p a n d i n g

during the dark times.

Chanting “I am expanding” as the rain falls.

6937F365-0513-46A8-9016-32606C5DB390

Today I wish the same for you.

May you see the blessing in every storm.

Expanding you.

Preparing you.

For the next level of your destiny.🎈

B5092702-BE8C-4FC8-B787-F5CC7001A7EB

Helpful Tips: Optimism Bootcamp

Laughter is an instant vacation.

On May 7, 2019June 10, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Flow, Happiness, health, Hope, Inspiration, Mindfulness, positivity, Stress Management

What’s your favourite stress reliever?

Laughter is mine.

We live in a world weighed down by disaster, debt, and divorce. So it’s no surprise that we’ve been conditioned to believe that tragedies require tragic mindsets.

That serious issues demand serious attitudes. That hardships necessitate hardened spirits.

What consumes your mind consumes your life.

laughterstress

Change your view.

Thankfully we also live in a world overflowing with abundance, joy, and love. Same world. But we can’t see the good when we’re overwhelmed by the bad.

From overwhelmed to OVERFLOWING.

Making the shift from stress to strength can happen in a number of ways.

Laughter = instant stress relief. Taking a long deep breath runs a close second.

7648B27E-63E4-4556-B334-FACF802B1C7B

Be kind to your mind.

Laughter breaks the panic spell. The not enough mindset. The woe is me attitude. The negativity downturn.

Laughter connects people in present time. Friends and strangers! Think of the last time you laughed out loud with a cashier in the grocery line. (For me, it was last night ;.)

Laughter is an instant vacation to a better place – without the travel bills!

D7E51C39-CBC0-490F-90D1-A3C1F5F41810

Today’s challenge / opportunity:

Today’s challenge is to lighten up. To breathe deeply into what stresses you.

To leave room for grace. To respond with a light heart and an open mind. To dance a little dance. To laugh with friends. To nourish your soul.

Ultimately to remember who you were – before life weighed you down.

For it’s in our joy that we find our voice. It’s in our abundance that we embrace our authenticity.

It’s in our laughter that we save the day.

You hold the key.

On April 27, 2019May 22, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Change and Transformation, Emotional Awareness, empowerment, Flow, Gratitude, Happiness, Hope, Inspiration, Mantra, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Optimism, Peace, positivity, Relaxation, Stress Relief and Release, Zen

give-light-and-darkness-will-fade

Even though we often have little control over the “outside forces” in our lives, we can always make a positive difference – from the inside out.

Start here. Right here. Right now. Be still. Breathe in gratitude. Be thankful for this very moment. Start small. Notice your passing thoughts. Let go.

Awareness empowers.

Notice the exact time it is right now. Say today’s date out loud. Look up at the sky. Wink at the clouds. Stomp your feet on the floor. Smile with gusto.

Slowly bring yourself back to this moment.

Grab onto the coffee mug you are holding. Inhale the rich scent of the sumatra you are drinking. Feel the warmth of each passing breath.

Feel the texture of the clothes you’re wearing. Wake up to the sound of your voice. Whisper. Sing. Shout it out!

Dance a little dance. Stand up tall. Anything and everything that shifts you from outer space to inner spirit. From not enough to overflowing.

Positive change begins within.

Come back to yourself. Back to the grace of your magnificent spirit. Into the beauty of your incredible form. Feel the rhythm of your beating heart. Sense the pulse of life itself.

Everything you need to transform yourself and the world already exists within you. You matter. You truly matter. But you have to believe it to see it. Feel it to know it. One gentle, uplifting thought at a time.

You hold the key.

universe inside.png

Originally published on March 1 2017

Catch your breath.

On January 30, 2019February 5, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Coping Strategies, empowerment, Mental Health, nature, Peace, Personal Growth, Self-Care, Stress Management, Thriving, Video55 Comments

“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, not what’s left of you.”

Pause.

Be still.

Catch your breath.

Take a rest.

Practice self-care.

As often as you can.

Pause at the end of my video ⬆️ for 30 fun self-care ideas.

Do you practice daily self-care?

Please share in the comments below.

What you seek is seeking you.

On December 7, 2018December 15, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Happiness, Hope, Inspiration, Mantra, Mindfulness, Peace, Relaxation, Self Reflection, Video, Zen20 Comments

41D872C6-F73D-46AD-BB02-F5DA0064456B

As we head into the weekend, may we all be reminded of the importance of rest in striving for success.

If only for a moment.

An hour or a day.

Be still and let your dreams find you.

“What you seek is seeking you”.

Breathe. Believe. Receive.

You hold the key. 🔑

What are you ready to let go of?

On November 15, 2018November 15, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Change and Transformation, Coping Strategies, empowerment, Flow, Mental Health, nature, Peace, Personal Growth, Rumi, Self Actualization, Self-Care, Stress, Stress Management, Stress Relief and Release, Thriving68 Comments

This post was inspired by a stressful situation that I couldn’t let go of, long beyond its solution. No matter how hard I tried. Day in day out. The worry would reappear. Then someone close to me suggested “I shed the stress”. And a lightbulb went off. Each time the repetitive thought appeared, I imagined a tree shedding its leaves. A golden leaf for every anxious thought. This visualization process made all the difference. And so did writing about it. 📝🍂

If you had a magic wand, what would you ask to disappear in your life right now?

What would you say good-bye to?

Once and for all.

It could be an emotion. Or a thought.

A relationship. Or a job.

A place or a thing.

Stress management is a shedding process ℘ Not an acquisition project

It’s time to let go of what drains you.

Let go of what holds you back.

Let go of what keeps you down.

It could be a mindset. Or a memory.

A situation. Or an attitude.

Write it down. Shout it out.

Stress management is a shedding process ℘ Not a holding pattern

It’s time to let go of what weighs you down.

Release it to the universe.

Declare your freedom.

Vow to move on and beyond.

Once and for all.

Stress management is a shedding process ℘ Not an endurance test

Shed the stress. Let. It. Fall. 🍂

You are more powerful than you’ll ever know.

On November 1, 2018November 6, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, empowerment, Inspiration, Mantra, motivation

This moment.

This day.

THIS LIFE.

Is yours for the taking.

Don’t be afraid to step into your power.

It is you.

And you are it.

Empowerment is the reason you were born.

Related Post: Face it — You’re Strong!

What’s your mantra?

On September 4, 2018September 4, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, Coping Strategies, empowerment, Flow, Gratitude, Happiness, Humanistic Psychology, Inspiration, Positive Psychology, psychology96 Comments

This is my mantra.

I write it on my bathroom mirror. I post it on my refrigerator door. I tape it to my office wall. I speak of it every time I teach.

These 4 words remind me to focus on what’s good, what’s working, what’s infinitely possible. Even (especially) when everything is going wrong.

Focus on the good.

Because if I can find one good thing in the course of a day, I have found my reason to live, to love, and to lead.

Sometimes the blessings are obvious. Sometimes they’re hidden. Sometimes it’s simply breathing. Other times “it’s the moments that take my breath away”.