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Some habitual ways of thinking can keep us stuck in a negative loop. Cultivating awareness of these “mind traps” can help you shift your attention. By Elisha Goldstein    Marco Saracco/Adobe Stock There’s a funny print cartoon that shows a man and woman sitting on the couch staring at a TV screen, and the caption reads, […]

via Alex Myles Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning “sacred circle,” and they represent the universe, unity, harmony and wholeness. They symbolize infinity and the never-ending quality of life and have been widely used for centuries by Buddhists, Hindus, American Indians and others who find significant meaning in them. ~ *Dear elephant reader: if you’re single & looking for

By Renee Jain, MAPP It happens to every child in one form or another – anxiety. As parents, we would like to shield our children from life’s anxious moments, but navigating anxiety is an essential life skill that will serve them in the years to come. In the heat of the moment, try these simple phrases to help your

Have you ever tried to shed an old, troublesome habit? Ever made a New Year’s resolution you couldn’t keep? If so, welcome to the human race. And welcome to your brain. We Are Creatures of Habit A few weeks ago, I made a mixture of nuts and dried fruit and settled in for a few minutes

By Steve Flowers Family therapist Steve Flowers on how self-compassion can free us from the grip of the mental judge and jury that is running, or even ruining, our lives. You don’t need to feel trapped by your inner critic’s nagging voice. Nor do you need to suppress it, or escape it. Sometimes all you

By Matthew Loeb “I don’t feel like it.” When stress overwhelms me, I withdraw. Usually a talkative Ted, I glance at my phone and mumble, “Not today,” as the phone buzzes. Unhealthy? Sure. Ingrained? You betcha! Insert DBT — Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Or, as I call it, Don’t Be Timid. Stumbling across the emerging therapy,

By Margarita Tartakovsky, MS  Associate Editor There are many misconceptions about self-love. Some people assume that loving yourself is a cop-out or an excuse to do whatever you want—as in miss work just because, or spend money on some big purchase that’s going to set you back (i.e., spending money you don’t have). Some people assume

By Tina Gilbertson, MA, LPC, Self-Esteem Topic Expert Contributor When your “get up and go” has “got up and left,” when there’s no more “pep” left in your step, sometimes the best thing you can do is just stop trying for a while. Moving forward feels great, but movement takes energy. When’s the last time you took a

By GoodTherapy.org Staff By nature, humans are emotional creatures. When things are going well, you are likely to experience positive emotions that often lead to increased motivationand productivity. However, in times of hardship or stress, it can be challenging to leave negative feelings at home and keep them from impacting your work. Whether you work in an

Author Lisa Friestone, Ph.d. Like love, happiness is often treated like a physical object we must find and snatch up. Yet, also like love, happiness is something we are more likely to cultivate within ourselves than stumble upon in our wanderings. As the Dalai Lama said, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from