To put it bluntly, 2020 has been one of the most unconventional and exhausting years in recent memory for many of us. Of course, with such frustration and stress comes pent-up emotional reactivity, negative mindsets, and the subsequent complications in everyday life that accompany these responses. While it would make ...
Foldable smartphones. Next-generation gaming consoles. The latest PC graphics cards and must-have smart home products. At times, it seems that the very goal of tech companies is to overwhelm us with flashy, exciting new innovations – often acting as Trojan horses full of “must-have” features that compel us to fork ...
We live in a time where the rest of the world, person by person, is attempting to dictate what is “right” and “wrong.” In that sense, we are individually liable to forget our humanities. We have discussed before how being good to oneself enables for the ability to be good ...
D-19 pandemic, but there is really no solution other than researching effective and safe vaccines. In that sense, much of modern society has been experiencing widespread fear. This emerges in several forms: fear of losing a loved one, spreading or contracting the virus without knowing, being irresponsible and causing a ...
There is one golden rule to effective remote work: you cannot do your best if you do not feel it. Nobody is a machine, and no “proven tips” or marketing-speak insights are going to solve this dilemma. What really works is respecting the human angle; understanding yourself, what you need ...
Whether during times of war, amidst a pandemic or simply after moving to a new city, we all encounter times when we need to maintain distance from others. Learning to cope with such circumstances, through trial and error, enables for the maintenance of a healthier and more positive mindset, which ...
The world’s a pretty complicated place right now. Amidst an ongoing pandemic and serious restrictions put in place to protect ourselves physically, it’s just as critical that we focus on safeguarding our mental health and emotional wellness. Cabin fever is a very real threat, especially if you’re destined to be ...
Finding and valuing your own voice does not equate to silencing others or not valuing their input, but rather to trusting your own mind instead of letting others decide for you. Training your mind in this manner will enable you to better develop social skills, establish healthy relationships with others, ...
Perhaps you have been struggling to make sense of your career path as of late, feeling adrift and as if your work isn’t making a meaningful impact. Or, what if you spent much of 2019 doubting yourself? With not only a new year but a new decade now in full ...
When attempting to cope with the loss of a friend or loved one, it can feel overwhelmingly difficult to ever be happy again. This is especially true if the loss is greater, such as that of a spouse or child. Nevertheless, we persevere, and many of us turn to the ...
Everybody deserves a companion and friendship. In some cases – many, in fact – there is a tremendous struggle to find another human being to connect and bond with. Not all of us are raised in happy households. At the same time, many of us find it difficult to cope ...
Do you know someone who has been bitten by the travel bug and just can’t wait to go on a new adventure? Perhaps you’ve also noticed that they have become more outgoing, positive, optimistic and have a fresh new perspective since seeing more of the world. It’s not an illusion; ...
We all know some people who have a hard time making sense of the world around them. Many times, these individuals are struggling internally to find themselves, and understanding others seems to be even more difficult to achieve. Add to that the fact that modern society is chaotic, noisy, commercialized ...
Have you been feeling the winter blues or under the weather lately? As it happens, what it’s like outside can play a significant role in influencing your mood and mental state. Perhaps you have noticed yourself or others getting grumpy and feeling gloomy over this past winter, and maybe you ...
It is common knowledge that travel is healthy for the soul, but what about the mind? The very act of changing surrounding environments can deliver tremendous mental wellness gains in a variety of ways. From boosting consciousness to enhancing moods and more, travel enables you to interact with the surrounding ...
What do you aspire to achieve in life? Financial success? A healthy, happy family? The opportunity to travel and see what the rest of the world is like? Or, perhaps all of the above appeal to you and merely getting there has been a challenge. Dreaming is healthy for the ...
There’s no doubt that we take ourselves for granted on a regular basis. This is particularly true during the holiday season when so much focus is on giving weight to consumerism and putting others first, which can be mentally and financially taxing. The line, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a ...
No matter how hard you try to maintain optimism and a confident demeanour, it does not mean your brain is going to cooperate. This happens to everyone, and the cause is hardwired into us from birth — it is known as brain negativity bias. Simply put, this means that our ...
In modern society, where much of what is posted online serves as an illusion, it is all too easy to become afraid of missing out. From a general perspective, this fear is triggered by the anxiety associated with the development of a self-produced stigma, which itself is an illusion that ...
To be doing good deeds is man’s most glorious task. – Sophocles If you’re feeling an altruistic desire to do some good, know that it’s much easier to accomplish than you may think. Doing good – whether it’s towards yourself, others, your community, or to the rest of the world ...
We all know how important it is to take care of our bodies to achieve optimal health. In this quest for physical wellbeing, our emotional health often gets lost in the details. Although emotional health is an equally important aspect of your whole body health our relation to emotions is ...
We’re constantly told how bad chronic stress is for the welfare of our health. It is a serious matter that needs to be reduced and controlled for the sake of your physical, psychological, and emotional health. How can you control chronic stress when it is influenced by factors outside of ...
Although giving and receiving is undoubtedly a hugely important part of life, it becomes even more significant at Christmas time. Christmas is a time of togetherness, and the giving and receiving of love and gifts with our family and friends. Gift of Attention – Spend Time With Your Loved Ones ...
Do you live your life based on your own values, or based on a perception of how things “should” be done? When you have a decision to make, no matter how big or small, do you evaluate the impact it will have on your life and how it fits within ...
The Buddha’s central teaching has succinctly been summarized by American mediation teacher Shinzen Young in the mathematical formula “pain times resistance = suffering.” When we resist pain, it leads to suffering proportionate to our resistance. When we don’t respond with resistance there is no suffering. How is this possible? According ...
It doesn’t have to be January 1st to make big changes in your life. If you resolve to start leading a more whole and fulfilling life, your Ottawa therapist can help. Here are some different activities you can do to find more pleasure in life: Senses Humans have five well ...
Whenever you are faced with a challenge or presented with an opportunity, you have two default options: to say yes, or to say no. No is a defensive action that can shield you from failure, but it can also prevent you from achieving what’s possible. In contrast, saying yes keeps ...
Smiling is a simple act that comes instinctively when we see something nice, beautiful, or funny. A smile is a gesture of happiness and appreciation. A smile is only a series of contractions in our facial muscles, yet becomes associated with everything good in the world. Read on to find ...
Do you often feel overwhelmed by the frenetic pace of life? Do you stress over the little things and feel frustration on a daily basis? If you’re ready for a change, consider adopting an attitude of gratitude. Being grateful, which means paying attention to good things moving your way, allows ...
When you open yourself to beauty in the world, in other people, and in your own heart, you acknowledge the interconnectedness between yourself and all things on this planet. Being open to beauty allows you to find joy, experience the moment, and appreciate balance and harmony with life. Opening yourself ...
It is a natural human desire to seek connection and approval from our fellow humans. When we receive approval from our peers, family members, and mentors, it can be validating and elicit many positive emotions. However, relying on external approval (external source of validation) can mean you are putting your ...
For many people, it can be difficult to overcome negativity and focus on developing positive emotions. Anger, frustration, and anxiety often reign when we experience stress or encounter problematic situations. Positive emotions like joy, gratitude, serenity, hope, and love, on the other hand, can create a sense of well-being, purpose ...