Tag: Psychology

Speaking and Training with Dr. Andrea Dinardo

Contact Form: Click HereArticles & Speeches: Click Here https://youtu.be/y3bWmoKule8?feature=shared https://youtu.be/6zlJDM58-a0?feature=shared Background and Overview: Dr. Andrea Dinardo is a positive psychology expert, keynote speaker, and leadership trainer who helps people thrive under pressure, build resilience, and cultivate mental health daily. She is passionate about applying positive psychology to facilitate personal growth and transformational change in individuals... Continue Reading →

Coping with Holiday Stress: Tips to Thrive

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 →

The Sweet Spot

https://youtu.be/fd9TrYI75o0?si=0gaSNLNAWVqWOAE8 The sweet spot is the moment in life when you realize you have arrived and the most interesting part is that you haven’t gone anywhere. Instead, you finally come home to the present moment. The here and now. The sweet spot. Nowhere else to be. But here and now. Right Here. Right Now. The... Continue Reading →

Delaying Gratification Doubles The Reward

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bvo0FXfS7t4?feature=shared When faced with a choice, ask yourself: Do I need to slow down? Am I being impulsive? Will I have regrets? Do I have all the information? Is it worth the wait? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXZvf2_UHJ0 Reflection Questions 1. Do you consider yourself a patient person, an impatient person, an impulsive person? Does your answer depend on... 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 →

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 →

One Word Vision for 2023

What’s your one word vision for 2023? Growth Space Peace Freedom Adventure Joy Empowerment https://youtu.be/2l6sO_77nw0

Growth Mindset in Challenging Times

https://youtu.be/ldOlNJ0ds0c 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 move on from... Continue Reading →

Emotional CPR: Catch Pause Repair

I would like to share a sustainable model of mental and emotional health called Emotional CPR: Catch Pause Repair - presented below in video and written format. Video Format https://youtu.be/KVfeKg78fEY https://youtu.be/8VvwITnvrhs https://youtu.be/DbBwCkQ9sKI?si=SRgBxAe8uX4boR0n Written Format STEP 1 CATCH What Triggers You? Catch yourself before a stress response escalates by becoming more aware of what provokes you. Take Inventory Make... Continue Reading →

Psychology Interview with Arms Bumanlag

Interview #1 https://youtu.be/qJfPHOVXEPU?si=zAPYaPMLSTS0w8yr Interview #2 https://youtu.be/xwnQthkxSq8 What psychology topics are you interested in learning about?

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=119i-Qv-ep0 The Stories We Tell Ourselves In this psychology video and article, I share concrete strategies. These strategies help in transforming painful emotional experiences. They use a model of cognitive psychology.  An A-B-C Formula for reality testing that is especially helpful during outer circumstances beyond a person’s control. What’s real? What’s distorted? A-B-C Scenario The... Continue Reading →

Positive Psychology in Education • Mental Health • School Board Speech

https://youtu.be/I08EUaQ8g9Y I had the opportunity to give a psychology speech on cultivating mental health daily at the Greater Essex County District School Board in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Audience Members The audience was comprised of education support staff and front line workers, including Education Assistants, Child and Youth Care Workers, Developmental Services Workers, Teachers, Social Workers,... Continue Reading →

Embracing Change | Interview & Article

Change is both personal and universal. Everyone goes through changes and transformations. We are born. We grow old. What sets us apart is how we experience change. https://youtu.be/rUWGr_GwzhM FACTORS TO CONSIDER 1. Personality of Change How we perceive the world has a significant impact on how we experience change. Type A vs. Type B Individuals... Continue Reading →

Peace Lives Here

 Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. Hot coffee. Cozy blankets. Birds singing. Deep breathing. 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. Go for a bike ride. Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks.... Continue Reading →

Psychology Class on Addiction and Stigma

https://youtube.com/shorts/3WYW4vkbSMU?feature=shared BELOW THE SURFACE PSYCHOLOGY LESSONS In psychology class this week we are talking about stigma and drug addiction and why it’s important to lean in, listen, and get curious about why people do what they do. End the stigma. Change lives. COMMUNICATION CLEAR AND CONCISE The second topic of discussion in psychology class is... Continue Reading →

WHAT’S IN MY CONTROL?

Locus of Control is a key ingredient in resilience. Assessing what is within your control and sphere of influence is crucial. Decide what to let go of and what to surrender. This exercise should be practiced daily for optimal mental health and energy. https://youtu.be/W7dz0FvnkxY?si=WhAFJHR53EIV9q_p PSYCHOLOGY TEST Locus of Control TestDownload PSYCHOLOGY REFLECTION What’s within your... Continue Reading →

What’s Your Endurance Mantra?

Transforming our mindset from pain to power and stress to strength is key during uncertain times. And particularly important for students as they complete exams this semester! Watch the video below to hear my endurance mantra during a difficult spinning class at a local gym. https://youtu.be/nD4LmUHG2vM An endurance mantra I use during workouts, in the... Continue Reading →

Put a Time Limit on Negativity

https://youtu.be/jq14fr86-Jk Time and Energy Management When I was a kid, my mom set a timer for almost everything we did. Whether it was how long we spent doing our homework, weeding the garden, watching television, or complaining about life’s challenges. 1. Passing vs Permanent Difficulties Setting time limits helped us understand that nothing lasts forever,... Continue Reading →

Don’t be pushed by your problems — Be led by your dreams

https://youtu.be/YbMOOGW_A2Y Back on Campus In this psychology video I share one way I engage students at the start of a semester, including this past week when we were back on campus for the first time, in a very long time! Transcript of Psychology Video Read Here Show Them You Care Connecting with students from a... 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 →

Lighten Up in 2022 — Positive Emotions & Problem Solving

“Your heart is the light of this world. Don’t cover it with your mind.” Lighten Up in 2022 The solution to a problem is rarely found in the source of the problem.  This is why it’s important to lighten up before tackling difficulty. Problem Solving from a Higher Place Positive emotions heighten our awareness and open our minds to... Continue Reading →

Honour Your Limits

Today’s Reminder That You Are Human Honour Your Limits. In every area of your life. It’s not a race. https://youtube.com/shorts/OT3d7YLBthQ?feature=shared It’s a lifetime. Pace Yourself The world needs what you have to give — long-term. In every area of your life. It’s not a race. It’s a lifetime.

Anchor Yourself With Light

Take a moment and anchor yourself with something that lights you up. That reminds you that you are not alone in this storm. You have been here before. It may have been a personal pandemic, not a global one. But somehow, deep inside, you made it through. And you will again. You have the courage,... Continue Reading →

Staying Motivated During Challenging Times

Today’s story begins in the middle of a spin class. The point in time when you feel like giving up the most. Because the middle is always the hardest. Whether it be the middle of a semester, the middle of a week, or the middle of a year. It was thirty minutes into class, and... Continue Reading →

Empowering Conversations About Change

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. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkgwELpI0M 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 →

What’s my purpose?

What's your perspective on purpose? Is it something you do or something you are? Is it ignited at birth? Or at work? Does it expire at death? Or when you retire? https://youtu.be/0WA8LzF5m3Y The way I see it. Purpose is for a lifetime. It's what lights you up, and sets your soul on fire! Video of... 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 →

What helps you adapt to change?

What helps you adapt to rapid, unpredictable, unexpected change? I asked this question of student leaders at a province wide conference. See student answers on the chalkboard below: My answer on the chalkboard was: GO SMALLER One day at a time. One hour at a time. One class at a time. Microseconds sometimes.. https://youtu.be/rUWGr_GwzhM Your... Continue Reading →

The moment of surrender is not when life is over. It’s when life begins.

https://youtu.be/W7dz0FvnkxY?si=WEfPsjb9TVnDgRTK Surrender is not giving in. Surrender is not giving up. It is trusting in something bigger than yourself. Something you can’t quite see. https://youtu.be/I7YD4A900-4 Quietly unfolding. Slowly expanding. In your favour. Behind the scenes.

Emotional Intelligence Tips and Techniques

https://youtu.be/H0FukgqItxM Emotional Intelligence Tips and Techniques This list was created for students embarking on a new career. It also includes EQ techniques helpful for everyone. Connect with intention. Before engaging with someone online, take a step back and ask why you are doing so. What is the purpose of the interaction? What are you hoping... Continue Reading →

What advice would you give your younger self?

ASK DR. D … ANYTHING! 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 training event. Questions & Reflections The student leaders raised the reflection bar high during this discussion period. One Question Stood Out The... Continue Reading →

You are enough, just as you are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkRUiRacSE You are enough, just as you are.💕 Mirror Exercise: Waking Up with Love

New Virtual Experiences

Staying Hopeful I wanted to share how I have been keeping hope alive in my heart and soul during 2020. Specifically, by expanding my reach with new virtual experiences. Beginning in the spring with my first "live" recorded internet event with Sam Piercell, a fitness entrepreneur, from Windsor, Ontario. 1. F45 Live Event: Community Resilience... Continue Reading →

Anxiety Relief Technique

FEAR is an illusion 5 Why's Technique The 5 Why's is a simple and effective technique for understanding the source of our fears and cognitive distortions (irrational beliefs) one why at a time. Exploring the Unconscious Mind An analytic (below the surface) strategy originating in the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. What's... Continue Reading →

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 →

Energizing Self-Talk

How we talk to ourselves matters. Especially at the start of a brand new day. The way I see it, our thoughts are the lyrics to the daily soundtrack of our lives. A topic I discuss with love and laughter during my Women With Drive Speech. Video below ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ALCrzw_1Xo Try This One Day at... Continue Reading →

Freedom is realizing you have a choice

Freedom doesn’t come from holding on. Freedom comes from letting go. Again and again and again. Universal Experience Too often we are hard on ourselves for having to release the same thought, emotion, person, or situation.  When in fact that’s how life goes. For all of us. Letting go and surrendering are an ongoing daily... Continue Reading →

Situational Anxiety Interview

Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kathy Garland 1. Video Format of Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ttX6h_D8o&feature=youtu.be Watch on YouTube 2. Podcast Format of Interview https://soundcloud.com/user-240189621/mental-health-matters-dr-dinardo-and-situational-anxiety Listen on SoundCloud  and Apple Podcasts Reflection Questions What did you learn about situational versus clinical anxiety from our interview? Can you relate to the personal example of heightened situational anxiety shared by Dr.... Continue Reading →

What Trauma Taught Me About Happiness

Is it possible to feel joy in the face of adversity? Strength during the lowest of lows? Creativity in the midst of destruction? Peace in difficulty? Vibrancy during cancer? Happiness during COVID-19?   In the video below, I share some personal examples from my own upbringing on how my parents found strength and contentment during …

Continue reading Can Trauma and Happiness Coexist?

Psychology Insights: Self Criticism to Self Compassion

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrNWX5JBGk WHY ARE WE SO HARD ON OURSELVES? Great question! One that I’m asked often. And one that I often ask myself. PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS What causes this behaviour? The answer is multifaceted and includes several factors. These factors include how we were parented. This aspect pertains to when the internalized superego and conscience first develop.... Continue Reading →

Stay Open to the Possibilities

One of my favourite ways to energize before teaching psychology classes at St. Clair College is to summarize a theory in practical and concrete ways in the parking lot.Literally! 🚘  I filmed this video 5 minutes before I was about to teach a lecture on personality and positive psychology in my liberal arts class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUC7f_3EdHA Just... Continue Reading →

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 →

Student Resilience and Success (YouTube Video)

Resilience & Success In this 8 minute video, I describe three resilience tips for student success: 1. CONNECT 2. CREATE 3. THRIVE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3OXADYU-pQs&app=m&persist_app=1 Hold On STAY STRONG “Be Fearless in Pursuit of What Sets Your Soul on Fire.” There will always be obstacles. The question is — do you see them as roadblocks or stepping... Continue Reading →

What has COVID-19 awakened in you?

How is everyone doing? How are you coping with our universal global event? How has your perception of yourself and the world evolved? How has COVID-19 transformed you? What is the higher purpose in all of this? I Am Waking Up After socially distancing and working full-time from home as a psychology professor (now online),... Continue Reading →

Emotional Freedom Technique for Social Anxiety & Imaginary Audience

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,... Continue Reading →

Signs are everywhere

Signs pointing us in the direction of our dreams are everywhere. Everywhere! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3fD-8aSF8 But we have to look UP to see it. OPEN our minds to BELIEVE it. Visualization Exercise Look for the signs The next time you see a 40 km, 50 km, or 100 km sign — take it as an opportunity to... Continue Reading →

Ambitious Mama Podcast: Thriving Under Pressure & Posttraumatic Growth

Podcast Details & Show Notes I was recently interviewed by wellness entrepreneur Christa Realba for her Ambitious Mama Podcast Series. During the podcast, Christa and I discussed how posttraumatic growth and thriving under pressure are possible for all of us. In different gradients, and at different times for sure. Depending on where you are on... Continue Reading →

Celebrate how far you’ve come.

Today let’s celebrate all the dreams that came true. Merely an idea 5 years ago. It is so easy to get lost in our hopes and motivations for the future. Without realizing how many of aspirations we have already achieved. Together let’s honour how far we’ve come. Only then will we have the fuel and... Continue Reading →

Focus on what’s within your control in life & leadership.

When things go wrong, what do you focus on first? The world outside you or the world within you? The following is a video and activity overview from Part 2 of the 2020 SRC Leadership Development Workshop. Click Here for Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVEjYGl9c0k Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control... Continue Reading →

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