JUST SHOW UP The word motivation stems from the Latin word "movere" which means to move. Which is why MOMENTUM is such a powerful force when it comes to motivation. Motivation doesn’t happen before the creative act — it happens during. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWHVvKW4GY Small steps.Day by day.Week by week.Moving you forward.Closer to your dreams.Just show up.... Continue Reading →
This moment. This day. THIS LIFE. Is yours for the taking. Don't be afraid to step into your power. https://youtube.com/shorts/_kBlKrI8RQ8?feature=share It is you. And you are it. Empowerment is the reason you were born. Face It — You Are Strong!
https://youtu.be/UlkaArLVg28?si=VVI9DtIw7EIBTC1A You are resilient. You are strong. You are a diamond in the making. You sparkle. You shine. I see it every time I look at you. And one day you will too. Thriving Under Pressure TEDx Talk: Watch Here
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sucq3BluxGw&t=5s ◊ In this video clip from my “Pitch with Passion” seminar with student and community entrepreneurs, I discuss the importance of being authentic and true to oneself. ◊ Not everyone is going to like who you are. Not everyone is... Continue Reading →
FOCUS ON THE GOOD 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... Continue Reading →
Be the light. Change the world. Related Post: Good energy multiplies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUWGr_GwzhM&app=desktop The first question I ask clients wanting to make a change is “Why Now?” For there is no doubt that they (and you and I) have been wanting to transform an aspect of our lives for a very long time. But the intrinsic motivation just isn’t quite there. The kind of motivation that is... Continue Reading →
My job description as a psychology professor includes this quote: Because first you foster peace and positivity. Then you teach. 🍎 Related Post: Let peace begin with me
Happy Monday Everyone! I am excited to share my interview with The Drive Magazine on positive psychology and stress resilience. Inspired by my TEDx Talk: Thriving Under Pressure. The 3 C's of Positive Psycholog My favourite part of this photo is the story behind it.When the magazine was arranging the photo shoot, they asked where... Continue Reading →
Getting to know my students is one of my favourite parts being a professor. Accordingly, I ask students a lot of questions. So it’s only fair that students get to ask me questions too! Why did you become a psychologist? 🎥 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GSJDKR07hDw What’s most interesting about being a college professor? 🎥 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NieGvwEkkEI I would love... Continue Reading →
Don’t be fooled by fear. Look it directly in the eye. Fear distorts reality. Fear exaggerates the truth. Step back. Take a pause. Remember who you are. You have overcome great adversity. You have faced this phantom before. This wolf is a mirage. Only your strength, your courage, and your untapped powers are real. Resources to help you... Continue Reading →
What if your doctor prescribed dancing as a fitness activity instead of time on a treadmill or at the gymnasium. Would you be more likely to follow through if exercise was fun and uplifting? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=02XQw-LjrXo This doctor’s prescription for today: Dancing! Which is why I love this commercial. It's a great reminder that getting healthy... Continue Reading →
In this psychology video and article I share 5 Steps to Thriving and Growth using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyGHeBzGwUU&feature=youtu.be Read the article and watch the video, then try out the reflection questions below. https://issuu.com/sabooster/docs/thedrive_143_issuu/72 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Reflection Questions Which deficiency needs (physiological, safety) are currently met vs. unmet? Which growth needs (love... Continue Reading →
I love sharing ideas with students. I can’t imagine a better moment in life to learn about purpose and empowerment than when we are young. Which is why I embrace every opportunity to share the principles of positive psychology with students across Canada.The most recent opportunity being a conference called: “You Can Do College.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0tKO_mV7uY... Continue Reading →
“Every day might not be good, but there is something good in every day.” In psychology class this week, I teach one of my favourite subjects - Stress, Coping, and Health Psychology Chapter 11 in my psychology textbook. I purposely teach this topic during the height of midterms. Raising awareness about the healthy (and not so healthy) ways students manage... Continue Reading →
What are you most excited about in your life right now? What brings a smile to your face and makes your heart skip a beat? Each time you share your zest for life — you move the world ! Related Post: Enthusiasm is contagious.
What we believe matters as it’s our mindset that shapes our physiological and emotional response to stressful circumstances. Ultimately, determining our ability to face our fears, overcome resistance, and bounce back after adversity. Watch Video - Click Here https://youtu.be/p58APeFQEmM RELATIONSHIP: BELIEF PATTERNS For example, when a relationship ends, if we view it as a personal... Continue Reading →
I wrote this on the blackboard for my nursing students today. This is their final week of classes. Which means one final opportunity for me to encourage their success. This is my favourite part of teaching psychology. Every time I face a challenge, I imagine how I can translate it into a motivating lesson for my... Continue Reading →
TO ALL NURSING STUDENTS If I were to assign homework this week it would be to take a break. 10 minutes at a time. 5 times a day. Because you have worked exceptionally hard. And a good rest is half the work. Although things may not have gone your way. Not exactly as you had... Continue Reading →
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C. S. Lewis When was the last time you had to start over? This was a big week back at St. College College — and all colleges across Ontario. Students were returning to school after a 5 week province-wide strike. An arduous situation that was well beyond... Continue Reading →
Don’t be fooled by fear. Look it directly in the eye. Fear distorts reality. Fear exaggerates the truth. Step back. Take a pause. Remember who you are. You have overcome great adversity. You have faced this phantom before. The wolf is a mirage. And so is fear. https://youtu.be/IFjQUwtnqk0?si=jZKRn6dP7QHrTo8d Resources to help you break free: Understanding... Continue Reading →
Today I lift my eyes to the sunshine. No matter the weather. ♥️ Related Post: You hold the key.
I have the pleasure of starting each day with my husband John. Each morning begins at 6am with an hour of coffee talk weekends included. No alarm clock necessary. Having something as wonderful as hot coffee and good conversation to look forward to each day is its own wake up call. This morning I asked John... Continue Reading →
It's the first Friday in October every year. Small gesture. Big impact. I smile a lot. So much so, that one of my coworkers calls me “smiley” and almost everyone else I know (including my mom) calls me “sunshine”.☀️ What about you? Are you known as the smiler at work and in your family too?... Continue Reading →
Students, past and present, motivate me!"The future of the world is in my classroom today." One of my first year BScN nursing students (Mona on the right) asked if I would sign the psychology textbook that I co-wrote and take a photo with her after class this week. She said that an encouraging note and a picture... Continue Reading →
Psychology Class https://youtu.be/7KVHUEDYFk4?si=vXjjhNYVg2gCINkCThis post is a summary of a psychology lecture and Chapter 2 in my psychology textbook. Free Psychology Chapter If you want to learn more about this topic, you can download a free PDF of my neuroscience and behaviour chapter by clicking on this link. Understanding Individual Differences Have you ever wondered how your best friend... Continue Reading →
Shifting students positive. So many students come to class anxious and stressed out. The last thing on their minds is learning. Which is why I start each class by asking students what's the best thing that's happened to them today. Reflection ◊ Connection ◊ Motivation Their answers fascinate me. And give me insight into what motivates them.... Continue Reading →
Choice is a powerful tool when it comes to stress perception. What we give attention to grows. Which is why we must make the conscious decision to talk about our blessings more than our challenges. Our strengths more than our stressors. Our excitement more than our fears. Our possibilities more than our problems. Every day is... Continue Reading →
5 Simple 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 💕
No more futile tests. No more unrelenting trials. No more self inflicted tribulations. Lay down your burdens. Let. Them. Go. Take a breath. Take a rest. You have strengthened from your burdens. You have overcome great obstacles. You have developed. You have grown. You have earned your freedom ten times over. Trust your wisdom. Trust your wings.... Continue Reading →
Bring yourself back to the present moment. One long deep breath at a time. Herein lies the peace you've been searching for. All day long. Related Post: Just Breathe.
The kickboxing club I belong to had special gloves commissioned to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday. Which is why I'm motivated more than ever to celebrate Canada Day with my fellow boxers at the club today! How will you celebrate your country's birthday this year?
How do teachers compete with smartphones? They don't. Resistance is futile. Competing with a machine is a downhill battle. Instead, teachers must focus on what they do best - connecting with students. Rather than lamenting about students being glued to their smartphone, teachers should consider why students do it in the first place. You can't solve a problem... Continue Reading →
We all have stress. It’s a universal human experience. The key is to not let stress become our identity. Instead, with an open mindset and the right set of resilience skills we have the opportunity to reach a whole new level of purpose and well-being. How can educators help foster stress resilience in their students? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUh9qqA0x3Y&t=410s Stress... Continue Reading →
Begin your morning with love and gentle care, for the way we greet the day shapes the way we experience life. What are the daily habits and routines that uplift you and shift you each morning? Share in the comments below.
Self-awareness is the starting point for personal success. Until you know who you are, how will you know what truly motivates you? Reawaken your passion for life and enhance your self-esteem by reflecting on “Who you are“. A daily practice in self-discovery and personal responsibility. How would you describe yourself in one word? What are... Continue Reading →
The stress of waiting. The list is long when it comes to student stress. But by far, one of the greatest sources of stress is waiting! Students are always forecasting into the future. Every single moment of student life is about waiting. Waiting for grades. Waiting for summer. Waiting for graduation. Forever in a day. Students... Continue Reading →
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rUWGr_GwzhM Need help embracing change but don’t know where to start? Video In my interview on CBC-TV I share 5 positive ways to embrace change using the principles of positive psychology. Article I also... Continue Reading →
Happy International Women's Day! I am grateful for all the women in the world who paved the way. Including my mom. The first psychologist in the family. A role model, mentor, and encourager. Today & Always. Who are grateful for today?
Question your stress. It has something to teach you. Psychology Worksheet 1/ Identify a stressor / challenge in your life. Be specific. For example: Not enough money. Too busy. Lack of sleep. Pushy relative. Your Answer: ______________________________ 2/ What is this stressor / challenge trying to teach you? For Example: Slow down. Change jobs. End... Continue Reading →
Their will always be critics. Use their words as motivation. Prove them wrong. Focus on your dreams. Not their doubts. https://youtu.be/xwHAgC7AAak Use their words as fuel for inner strength and drive. The world needs your unique kind of wonderful. So don't let the critics get you down. Endurance is not just the ability to bear... Continue Reading →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J4oL093oU0 I love teaching about psychology as much as I love writing about psychology. And that's a lot! Psychology is my passion Students First Is My Philosophy Which is why I take every opportunity I have to support and encourage student success and development. Whether it be as a reference for college scholarships. Helping stressed out... Continue Reading →
What’s the one habit you have been vowing to change for good? What are you waiting for? The right time? The right place? The right person? Today I challenge you to wait no more. For now is the right time. For here is the right place. And YOU are the right person. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rUWGr_GwzhM&app=m&persist_app=1 Helpful Video:... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/AVLM9VWCkeU?si=QefaAWPnhAh9oWb3 How to focus better when you study Preparation is half the victory. 1. REIGNITE your motivation. Revisit why you are studying in the first place. To one day save someone's life as a nurse. To protect vulnerable children from abuse. To create a business that will employ displaced workers. Your future self will thank... Continue Reading →
I work hard. Too hard sometimes. And I bet you do too. On one hand, that's fantastic. You wouldn't be where you are without steadfastness and sacrifice. On the other hand, having a singular focus on work ultimately shortchanges your potential. Rest is part of the equation. Rest is critical for success. At life and... Continue Reading →
"Create a vision for your life that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning!" Why Vision Boards in the Classroom At the beginning of the semester, I ask nursing students to share their reasons "why" they want to become a nurse. Why this program? Why Nursing? This simple "WHY" question gives students... Continue Reading →
Take a long deep breath. Be still. Don't Rush. Find a safe place to challenge your fears and beliefs. Take a long walk. Eat a nourishing meal. Learn something new. Have Fun! Self-Discover. Imagine. Envision. Explore and Begin Again! Sometimes good things fall apart so great things can fall together.
In one word describe how you feel when you write. Writing makes me feel ALIVE! For me, writing is all encompassing. The words are the beat of my heart. The words are the oxygen I breathe. The words are all that I touch, feel, and see. For me, writing is all encompassing. I am the... Continue Reading →
Trust that you are exactly where you need to be. Good or bad. High or low. East or west. Be still. Have faith. Hold on. Stay strong. What you seek is seeking you. https://youtube.com/shorts/6mDigR8RVXU?si=NSu3TDp6aspumwv5
Thriving Under Pressure 