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 →
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 →
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 →
https://youtu.be/1dwCnVQhpQ4?si=4r9fjY0ii_Cw_QNc Soul Reflections ⚜️ What do you need to LET GO of to feel a sense well-being? ⚜️ Who and what do you no longer want to be OBLIGATED to? ⚜️ If you had only one year to live, what five things would you STOP doing? ⚜️ What JOY do you wish you had more... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkRUiRacSE You are enough, just as you are.💕 Mirror Exercise: Waking Up with Love
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 →
One of the first things I do every morning is analyze my dreams. What about you? Do you remember your dreams? Do you write them down? Do you interpret their meaning? Have you ever dreamt the same dream repeatedly? In the video below I share the dream I had last night. A "dream theme" I... Continue Reading →
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? Wondering if we still have what it takes. Hoping we can still make a difference in the world when the... Continue Reading →
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 →
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... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KbyDnDI4QA Reflections on Happiness One of my favourite things to do as a professor is to stay after class and talk to students about what hit home for them about each week’s lecture. Fresh Perspective Students look at the world in a very unique way. Motivating me to think about psychology at a whole different... Continue Reading →
Time + Energy Audit 1. What area of your life do you need to slow down in? 2. What area of your life do you need to REV IT UP in? https://youtu.be/jq14fr86-Jk ABCD Priority List Make a list of all the things that you have to do today. Order them in terms of A to... Continue Reading →
Reading People Begins with Awareness In reading people lesson #1 I discussed the importance of self awareness before attempting to understand and read others behaviour. “Self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom.” Reading People: Lesson #2 Adding to the first lesson is an excerpt from my Pitch with Passion presentation with student and community entrepreneurs at the EPIC Genesis Entrepreneurship Centre.... Continue Reading →
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 →
"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 →
I met a delightful group of people at a dinner party Saturday night. Which of course, like all social occasions, got my psychologist mind percolating. Particularly when one of the guests leaned in halfway through dinner and stated: “Andrea, you seem like the kind of person who never worries”. At which point my husband laughed very... Continue Reading →
Reflection Questions 1. When someone asks you "What makes you happy?" does your answer differ from "What makes you healthy?" https://youtu.be/LgACYyFv2YQ 2. Do you consider your health requirements essential and your happiness needs selfish and superfluous? 3. Or do you rate health and happiness as equal and interdependent. https://youtu.be/z_DNIWYh6vE For me: health and happiness are... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/BcKL7x18Fc4?si=DIMK9PLpsOuAAiHQ The Aftermath No matter how many times I deliver a speech or engage in media and events, I am frequently left with the same emotion for the next day or two. Sadness. A kind of longing. A sense of emptiness. A Change of Pace I spend weeks and months practicing, preparing, and editing my... Continue Reading →
Show yourself some love today. Your health and happiness depend on it. ♥️ Related Post: From Fear to Love
Let go of what is outside your control. The next time you are gearing up for another fight with reality. Winter; Traffic; Parking; Deadlines. Try rolling with it. Surrendering to what is. Letting go. No matter the circumstances. Hold on to what brings you joy. In surrendering, you save precious energy for the joyful in your... Continue Reading →
“Time spent in reflection is never wasted.” My highlight of 2017 and every year since 2003 has been teaching psychology at St. Clair College. I am so grateful for all the incredible students I’ve had the pleasure to meet and teach. It has been a long and bumpy road to get here. But I wouldn’t... Continue Reading →
Some lessons happen over a lifetime. Others happen in an instant. Either way, the paradox of strength is that it develops though pain. Each misfortune cultivates a renewed appreciation. Each obstacle fosters a new level of perseverance. Each sadness teaches a greater depth of compassion. Each challenge harvests a new field of possibilities. We must... 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.
I was thinking about time tonight. It’s a never ending circle that starts and stops at the same place. A perpetual loop heightened on a Sunday night. And the only way to slow it down is to breathe in each moment. To notice each ephemeral hour. To rest gently in the embrace of time.
What loving thing will you do for yourself today? 💗
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 →
POWER OF LIGHT 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.... Continue Reading →
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 →
This rollercoaster life. Life is full of highs and lows. Wins and losses. Joys and sorrows. Celebrations and defeats. Too much and too little. Make the shift. Nothing shifts us from scarcity to abundance more quickly than a sudden moment of appreciation and gratitude. Multiply your treasures. Take a moment (this moment) to look up and breathe in all that... Continue Reading →
May your day be filled with love ❤️
Thriving Under Pressure 