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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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.
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 →
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 →
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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VvwITnvrhs Healthy Workplace Awards This week I did a keynote speech at the Healthy Workplace Awards Ceremony. Given all we are collectively going through, I thought the notes and video from the keynote would be helpful to everyone. News Release: CTV News Especially as we wrap up this year. A year where we collectively experienced... Continue Reading →
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 →
What we give energy to impacts everything. Thoughts Emotions Actions People Some drain. Others invigorate. https://youtube.com/shorts/fKBUoSAw1tY?si=XnBDucWk31XIbvrk Awareness is the first step to enhancing vitality. The goal is to identify the source of energy leaks and peaks. Where to start? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK7EzyPXRPA My interview on FM 105.9 The Region was designed to help people become more conscious... Continue Reading →
Community Spotlight Today I would like to shine a light on a local entrepreneur named Alex Binaei, the creative mind behind Windsor Updates and the video highlighted in this post. Adversity → Creativity Alex’s video for Windsor Updates is one of the best examples of how crisis and adversity create innovation and ingenuity. In both... 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 💕
What is meant for you is coming for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHAotUT2eAY E X P A N S I O N happens in the space in between stress and strength, pain and power. Trust and Believe in Your Divinity. HONOUR this day, this moment, the unknown. You got this! What is meant for you is on its way. https://drandreadinardo.com/2020/05/13/stay-open-to-the-possibilities/
https://youtube.com/shorts/O-UOPC4wEAI?si=gUNXEk5J5PVB4ekC Boundaries, Personality, and Saying No Do you have a difficult time saying no? While others in your life say no without a second thought. Is this confusing and at times upsetting for you? Are you hard on yourself because of this discrepancy between yourself and others? You may be interested to discover that Saying... Continue Reading →
Choose the THOUGHTS that emPOWER you today. It takes one word one thought one mantra to shift our mind from pain to power. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wIK91yKh0Zo What will your empowering thought be this week? I’d love to know. Share your WORD in comments below! Related Post: Empowering Conversations
How do you start the day? Do your morning routines lighten you up? Or bring you down? Early morning rituals spark the divine in me. No matter the day. No matter the moment. Angel cards, hot coffee, and mindfulness take me there. Fueling my creativity. Illuminating my path. Shifting me higher. Today’s Angel Reading —... Continue Reading →
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ZS9KiA6uQ This was my first video blog (vlog) ever! (Filmed July 2018) I was equal parts terrified and excited. Hence the breathlessness. Upside: I had a blast filming it
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 →
Belief plays a pivotal role in success. Believing that you have what it takes. Believing that you can try again. Believing in something greater than yourself. Believing you are never alone. Believing your power is greater than your pain. Believing that things are going to get easier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKimTCawJls In this 5 minute training video, I... Continue Reading →
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, not what's left of you." Pause. Be still. Catch your breath. Take a rest. Practice self-care. As often as you can. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H8MKH2-QErg Pause at the end of my video ⬆️ for 30 fun self-care ideas. Do you practice daily self-care? Please share in the comments below.
Truth is truth Let them talk. Let them chatter. Let them say what they choose to say. Because at the end of the day truth is truth. And nothing can stand in its way Rest. Relax. Sit back. Breathe in deep. Stop trying to convince anybody and everybody of anything and everything. At the end of the day... Continue Reading →
This post was inspired by a stressful situation that I could not let go of. No matter how hard I tried. Day in day out. The worry would reappear. Then someone suggested that I “shed the stress" and a lightbulb went off. Each time the repetitive thought appeared, I imagined a tree shedding its leaves.... Continue Reading →
The next time you are under any kind of pressure. Stuck in traffic. Rushing from class to class. Dealing with a difficult customer at work. Desperately trying to recall answers on a final exam. Wake up to the formidable power that exists within you. Right here. Right now. Right under your nose. Breathe https://youtu.be/zRSQw-LjU8k The deeper the breath, the deeper... Continue Reading →
Hope everyone’s having a great day! I wanted take a moment and share some good news with you. In June I was interviewed by THE DRIVE magazine for an article on mental health and thriving under pressure. The creative director saw my TEDx Talk and reached out for input into their next issue. How cool is that! Consequently,... 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 →
“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 →
"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." I value positivity and a sense of security in the classroom, above all else. For it is only when students feel safe, supported, and uplifted are they motivated to learn. Creating a harmonious classroom atmosphere happens long before the school bell rings. Which is why... Continue Reading →
The field of positive psychology has been a blessing for me, both personally and professionally. By focusing on strengths first, I buffer myself against the vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue often associated with the practice of psychology. And in turn, my positive approach heightens the resilience and stress hardiness in others. (Boomerang effect!) Everywhere I go, I'm on the... 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 →
Most people wince every time they hear the word "stress". It's as if the whole world has been conditioned to respond to stress the same way, by word alone. A habitual thought response that is often more dangerous than the stressor itself. What you believe matters. The latest research in psychology examines stress in an entirely new... Continue Reading →
Every morning and every night I visit my favourite place on Earth. The great outdoors. 🌿 Where do you go to quiet your mind and free your soul? Related Post: Taming your monkey mind.
Are you ready to move on but are reluctant to let something go? Letting go is not giving up. Letting go is not giving in. When you let go you make space for something better. When you let go you generate energy needed for moving forward. Close your eyes. Clear your heart. Breathe. Let go... 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
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 →
https://youtube.com/shorts/Bvo0FXfS7t4?si=VS8zekxAt08kVAE4 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... 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 💕
https://youtu.be/yCLrqDoNDmo As a positive psychologist, I often write about the bright side of life. Including harnessing strengths, enhancing motivation, and flourishing in the wake of adversity. Not the whole picture While strengths are vital to realizing one's full potential - it's not the whole picture when it comes to living a balanced life. Embrace the downside... Continue Reading →
Unless someone is going through a major life tragedy, I rarely, if ever, lean in and listen to someone's day-to-day hassles. Instead, I choose to give energy to their strengths not their struggles. To their light not their shadows. To their purpose not their pain. Because I know deep down in my heart that each... Continue Reading →
How can two people experience the same stressful event and react in incredibly different ways? What explains the difference between stress thrivers and non-thrivers? Research shows that some individuals possess a set of resilience skills and traits that allows them to flourish in response to stress. https://youtu.be/czXG8odb7pY Thriving Under Pressure TEDx Talk "Resilience is what gives people the... 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?
Psychology Reflection Questions Do you experience more stress than the average person? Are you overly sensitive to external stimuli? Chances are, there is nothing wrong with you or your coping strategies. Instead, your brain may be more sensitive to stress than the average person. You may in fact, be what Dr. Elaine Aron has coined "A Highly Sensitive... 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.
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 →
Thriving Under Pressure 