Tag: life lessons

3 Ways to Bounce Forward

On 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 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
Video of Post: Click Here

2020 Life Lessons: Be Strong Enough To Be Gentle

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn acceptance, Communication, Emotional Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, kindness, Mindfulness, Peace, Personal Growth, psychology, Reflection Question65 Comments

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

What worked before, doesn’t necessarily work now.

And if it does, it takes more patience, more compassion, more love.

For ourselves and others.

Emotionally Intelligent COVID Conversations

How does this show up in our home?

Emotional Intelligence: Resources

One approach that has helped tremendously is how I ask to have my needs met.

Not what I say but how I say it.

Same message.

Different Approach.

A new level of gentleness.

Power versus Force

Kindness versus Conviction

The beauty of this 2020 life lesson is that when I am strong enough to be gentle: I am heard.

What life lessons has 2020 taught you?

Watch 2 min Video of Post: Click Here

The Space Between No Longer and Not Yet

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Hope, Personal Growth, Self Reflection44 Comments
Honour the Space

The time in between is a difficult time for all of us.

Myself included.

A super organized (type A) person like me becomes a little unhinged in the space in between.

But don’t we all?

In Between

Wondering if we still have what it takes.

Hoping we can still make a difference in the world when the pandemic ends.

Which is why I wrote this post today.

Highlighting the shared challenge we all face between the old and the new.

Change is a lifelong process.

The only constant is change.

Let yourself feel what you need to feel.

Take a breath. Enjoy some rest.

Give your monkey mind a break.

In Between Quotes

It’s ok to not be ok.

What comes also goes.

Honour the space in between.

Related Post: Divine Timing

Positive psychology on campus

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn empowerment, Happiness, Mental Health Education, Positive Psychology, Psychology Class, Strengths Assessment, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Student Success, Teaching Effectiveness, Video28 Comments

What is Positive Psychology?

“While traditional psychology focused its attention on pathology and problems, in the relatively new field of positive psychology, researchers strive to explore and understand the strengths of individuals and communities that contribute to their flourishing.” Source: Psychology Guide

Strengths first.

I am passionate about what positive psychology can do for students and educators in and out of the classroom. By first focusing on what is right, before examining what is wrong, students are motivated to move beyond, and in some cases, be transformed by their current limitations, history, and circumstances.

Link to: VIA Character Strengths Inventory
Optimism Bootcamp with Student Leaders

Balance is key.

Positive psychology is not about being happy and successful all the time. Instead, happiness is aspirational like a delicious meal at a 5 star restaurant. Wonderful but not to be expected, at every meal, all the time. (Otherwise, we set ourselves up for disappointment on the Kraft Dinner days.)

Instead, the field of positive psychology helps bring out the best in us. In a balanced way. The ebb and flow of life. Negativity is to be expected. The question is – how long do you stay there.

PositivePsychologyQuote.DrAndreaDinardo

Safe uplifting atmosphere.

As a professor, I believe it is paramount to create a safe and uplifting atmosphere in the classroom. A secure and consistent milieu where students know what to expect class to class, week to week, semester to semester. A place where students are encouraged to build upon their existing strengths, while feeling supported enough to share their current struggles.

Link to: Broaden & Build Theory of Positive Emotion

As I teach mostly nursing students, it is critical that I practice what I teach in and out of the classroom. Nursing students will also be responsible for creating an encouraging and safe space for their clients one day.

The yellow t-shirts are from the Yellow Umbrella Project, an Ontario wide college campaign for battling the stigma of mental illness on campus.

YellowUmbrellaProject.DrAndreaDinardo

 Positive psychology and student empowerment.

My highest goal is to work with young Canadians in a way that empowers and encourages them to become the best version of themselves. Cultivating success in a way that is unique to them. I believe that interactive lectures combined with warmth and real-life stories is the best approach for achieving this goal.

Link to: Positive Psychology Interview

The photo below is from a leadership conference for college students where I discussed the connection between optimism and student success.

Optimism Bootcamp with Student Leaders.2

Celebrating students every chance I get.

Ultimately, I hope to remind students of their gifts. While encouraging them to embrace their challenges. For we are the sum total of all that is powerful and vulnerable – within and around us. And it’s this extraordinary combination of strong and weak, good and bad, light and dark, that makes our world and our classrooms such a fascinating place to live and thrive.

Repost from July 5 2017
DrAndreaDinardo.com

Empowering Conversations.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn empowerment, Psychology Class, resources, Strengths, Student Engagement, The Drive Magazine, Video21 Comments

Empowering Conversations

In today’s psychology class, we discussed how important it is to empower friends, family, and clients going through difficult times.

And how even if we’re an expert in psychology, medicine, or business – it does not make us the master of someone else’s life.86413B3A-117A-451E-9318-CB334FF5E5CC

Together we explored strength based techniques for uplifting and encouraging others in conversation and in daily life.

Acknowledging that we still have so much left to learn about friends and family.

And the only way to do this is to create an inviting listening space between ourselves and the people we meet to be themselves.

its ok to not be ok

Next Steps

Helpful tips for enhancing conversations with clients and family members can be found in the June article in The Drive Magazine (click here) and in the psychology video below —

The Story Behind the Story

This post was inspired by my sister Noelle.

12BB321D-E44A-4F1F-A3DF-D616562A0831“When my sister was 19, she had a brain aneurysm. Every day since, she has struggled to maintain her independence and financial security.

Despite her trauma, Noelle continues to thrive in unexpected and beautiful ways. She never gives up, no matter what comes her way. Over the years, I have discovered the difference it makes when I support Noelle from her perspective, rather than dictating what she needs.”

Excerpt from The Drive Magazine | Issue 122, p. 49

EMPOWERING

Someone with a Brain Injury

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Written with the help of my sister ❤️

Lemon Soul Podcast: Thriving Under Pressure

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn community, Coping Strategies, courage, Emotional Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, empowerment, Gratitude, Happiness, Health Psychology, Hope, Inspiration, Interview, Mental Health, Mental Health Education, Optimal Performance, Personal Growth, Positive Psychology, Resilience, resources23 Comments

The Psychology of Wellness

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed on the Lemon Soul Podcast by an engaging and bright young woman named Sierra Parr.

It was one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on and I hope you find the same value in listening to the podcast as I had co-creating it with Ms. Parr.

What is a Lemon Soul? 🍋

A lemon soul is someone who has been sweetened by the sour parts of life. Resulting in the most beautiful soul of all – “The Lemon Soul”.

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The Lemon Soul Experience 🍋

Sierra’s podcast questions are timely, thought-provoking, and well-organized.

With equal parts practicality, spirituality, and science. Wrapped up in a captivating and compassionate interview style.

So much so, that I revealed parts of my life that I have never shared publicly before.

Take a listen and let me know what resonates with you!

Lemon Soul Podcast: Episode 15

 Tap on Image Below and Press Play

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Thriving Under Pressure: Psychology of Mental Wellness

Listen on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/lemon-soul/id1386504193?mt=2&i=1000432857445

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SHOW NOTES FROM LEMON SOUL PODCAST 🍋 

Very honoured to sit down with Dr. Andrea Dinardo this week and divulge all my lemon soul questions with her. A true testament to her work as a psychologist and now psychology professor, this episode is FULL of good advice! With a deeper insight into many of our mental health struggles and the science behind how our brain is working. Furthermore diving into Dr. Dinardo’s personal life as she uncovers her fundamental inspiration for everything she does in life, her sister.

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Lemon Soul Podcast on iTunes

Topics covered on the podcast:       

From psychologist to psychology professor!
How to motivate students!
Why connection is important.
Compassion fatigue
The givers & the takers
Setting boundaries for others and ourselves.
Thriving Under Pressure!
Failure as Feedback!
Are we socialized to care?
How to train your brain
Challenge, Control, & Commitment
Honour your pain!
B r e a t h i n g s p a c e !
The universe box
Claiming your prize
GET MOVING!

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I hope this podcast interview inspires you to take the road less traveled this week.

The one you have been waiting to take for days, months, perhaps years.

If not now, when?

Listen Here: Lemon Soul Podcast

The Shadow Effect.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Psychology Class, resources, Self Actualization, Self Reflection, Teaching, Thriving, Training and Development, Video

Psychology Class

The Shadow Effect

One of the things I love to do is share what’s happening on campus in my psychology class.

Today’s topic: The Shadow Effect

Watch this short video and consider the following questions:

  1. What is your shadow?
  2. How does your shadow serve you?
  3. Where does your shadow come from?

Shadow.1

How do I bring shadow side of myself into the light?

Helpful resources and activities

  1. The Positive Power of Negative Emotions: amazon.ca/books
  2. One Minute Meditation: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ucdU7URx5g
  3. Give Pain Room to Breathe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp_QjmmCzeU
  4. Lean Into Loneliness: https://www.thedrivemagazine.com/posts/lean-into-loneliness
  5. Failure as Feedback: https://www.thedrivemagazine.com/posts/failure-as-feedback

There is transformative power in our negative emotions. The key is to create a safe, welcoming space to lean in and hear their lessons.

Failure as FEEDBACK | The Drive Magazine.

On By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Hope, Inspiration, motivation, Optimism, Personal Growth, Resilience, resources, Self Actualization, The Drive Magazine, Video

failure

There are two ways of looking at failure.

Failure as FEEDBACK.

Failure as PUNISHMENT.

⊕⊕⊕⊕⊕

One energizes.

The other paralyzes.

failure-is-success-in-progress

WHY FAILURE IS NECESSARY

I believe that failure is essential for success, at work and in our personal lives.

Failure lights our way to what we’re ultimately meant to do. Especially when we embrace it and consciously invite it into our lives. Pushing us past our comfort zones. Having the courage to take risks beyond our current circumstances.

Failure shows us what we’re good at, and equally what we are not skilled at. And how if we perceive failure as information (versus punishment) we will move on much more quickly to what we were born to do.

THE DRIVE MAGAZINE

I believe so strongly in the benefits of failure that I “pitched” failure as feedback to the editors of The Drive Magazine. And they said yes!

So here it is: A video overview of the February issue and links to the online edition of the magazine.

🔝  Psychology YouTube Channel 🔝

MAGAZINE edition
For the rest of the story, pick up a copy of The DRIVE Magazine.

ONLINE edition
My psychology article “Failure as FEEDBACK” is also available online: https://www.thedrivemagazine.com/posts/failure-as-feedback

Related: Lean into loneliness | The Drive Magazine