Dr. Andrea Dinardo, Ph.D. Psychology
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://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 →
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 thing that I have learned as a psychology professor and retired psychologist is that simple things on repeat have the greatest impact on our health and happiness. This is why I want to share a sustainable model of emotional and mental health habits called CPR: Catch Pause Repair. CPR Video Edition https://youtu.be/KVfeKg78fEY https://youtu.be/8VvwITnvrhs CPR... Continue Reading →
Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. Hot coffee. Cozy blankets. Birds singing. The sun rising. 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. Peace happens in moments. Not days. Not weeks. Not years. https://youtu.be/zRSQw-LjU8k Breathe... Continue Reading →
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 →
I am a strong believer in keeping things simple. The less complicated things are, the more likely we are to repeat the behaviour. Especially when it comes to health and happiness habits. https://youtu.be/0i0tuqAmdaw Twelve Days Day 1: Mindful Mornings Add five to ten minutes of relaxation to each of your morning routines. Time expands when... Continue Reading →
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 →
Mindfulness Tip: Look Up The sky connects us to something bigger than ourselves. Challenges appear small in comparison to the vastness of the sky. Solutions seem plausible. Answers come more easily. In the presence of stars, we embrace the profound and surrender it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gMq9BNKvOA
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkRUiRacSE You are enough, just as you are.💕 Mirror Exercise: Waking Up with Love
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 →
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 →
We’re on a trip to California for our December birthdays and wedding anniversary and I couldn’t imagine a more mindful place to be. Nature everywhere we look. Luminous moonlight. Dancing campfire. Fresh ocean air. Water as far as the eye can see. Sunshine in every nook. 100 year old fig trees. Just outside our hotel... Continue Reading →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVfeKg78fEY Catch Pause Repair (CPR) is a Framework for Sustainable Mental Health & Resilience Habits. CPR includes three simple steps as outlined in the video. 1. Catch Catch yourself before a stress response escalates by becoming more aware of what triggers you. 2. Pause Pause and take a 60 second time out when you feel... Continue Reading →
Life is complicated. Stress management shouldn't be. 5 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 💕
Nature is a beautiful way to stop the monkey mind in its’ tracks. What is the monkey mind? “Buddha described the human mind as being filled with drunken monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering, carrying on endlessly. Fear is an especially loud monkey - screaming out all the things that could go wrong.” Source: HuffPost When we’re caught... Continue Reading →
The next time you’re gearing up for another big fight with reality. Morning Traffic Office Politics Loud Neighbours Unpredictable Weather Try rolling with it. Giving up the fight. Waving the white flag. Surrendering to what is. And always has been. The upside. You conserve energy for the joyful in your life. The meaningful in your... Continue Reading →
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 →
Take a long deep breath with me. Inhale Calm Exhale Chaos Release Let Go You are more powerful than you know. https://youtu.be/zRSQw-LjU8k Breathing Video — Watch Here
Stop what you're doing. Take a breath. Take a rest. Savour 60 seconds of stress relief. As often as you can.
Are you tired of doing the same old, same old? Are you ready to end the repetitive cycles in your life? Is it time for a change? But ..... you..... don't..... have... time... Surrender your fears, your resistance, your excuses. Change need not be overwhelming. Start small. End Big. Little changes make a big difference. They add... 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 💕
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 like 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 arms of time.... Continue Reading →
Stop expecting others to validate what you hear (see and feel). The music is not "out there". The music is in you. A beautiful melody that only you can hear. Listen. Be still. Take a long deep breath. Fear not who you are. Fear not what you hear. You are the symphony. Trust the music that... Continue Reading →
So many choices when it comes to stress relief. Which one will you choose today? Thriving Test — Click Here
Stressful Times. The one word I hear repeatedly from students this time of year is drowning. Drowning in bills. Drowning in midterms. Drowning in research. Not a pleasant thought. And definitely not energizing. A sinking feeling that takes student motivation from 100 to 0 in an instant. By thought alone. Empowering Lessons. How can we... Continue Reading →
https://youtube.com/shorts/zRSQw-LjU8k?feature=share A glimpse of my psychology classroom. Today’s Reminder to Breathe.🌿 Related Post: The Sweet Spot
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 →
May your day be filled with love & light.💖💫
Thriving Under Pressure 