Attention is not just about the things we focus on. It's also about the things that we miss. We know that attention is both selective and limited. It sometimes works just like we want, and other times, we don't understand why we struggle to control it. Find the tactics to build attention in this week’s blog.
In some ways, the pandemic seems a lifetime ago, but our experiences and lessons from that time live on. Remember how our home and family were the center of our lives? We may have some lessons to remember from that time. Reflect on these lessons in this week’s blog.
Do you talk to yourself? Well, if you do, you are not alone. Ninety-six percent of us engage in an ongoing internal dialogue. And we do this for a reason. Research indicates that internal self-talk helps us regulate our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Find out more in this week’s blog.
While most days have big and small challenges we must navigate, let’s face it, some days and situations are more difficult than others. Discover practices for reframing the situation in this week’s blog.
As the holiday buzz fades and New Year's resolutions wane, it's time to reignite our motivation. Embrace a sense of anticipation to invigorate your daily routine and navigate challenges with renewed vigor. Discover how cultivating anticipation can revitalize your journey towards personal growth. Dive into our latest blog to reignite your spark and stay on track towards your goals.
This is my favorite time of the year. I like everything about it. But what I like most is how everyone is just a little bit more cheery and kind. And there is a sense of anticipation in the air. However, this year I've noticed a difference. We are a lot less kind, maybe even impatient with others. No question, there’s good reason to feel a little sad and disappointed as the pandemic rages. However, we have a lot more control over our level of happiness than we may believe.
This year, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and other celebrations were canceled or remarkably subdued. Because of that, it might be tempting to downplay the holiday season like we have with other celebrations this year, especially with surging COVID cases. If you are in that mindset, you might want to rethink that decision. Based on an abundance of evidence, it is even more critical for our mental well-being that we engage in rituals of the holiday season, while observing the limitations needed to keep us safe from the virus.
Do you remember the holiday season as a child? Can you recall the anticipation and excitement of what Santa might bring you? Or better yet, if you have children now, can you feel their excitement for the upcoming holidays? When I think of my childhood holiday experiences, the word that comes to mind is “awe”. This year, many of us may not be feeling full of awe, however. So, how do we get these feelings back?
Since the pandemic began, many people have only seen their friends and family on video calls or at a distance. While seeing others at a safe distance or on video may help, it is not a perfect substitute for being with others in person. With the upcoming holiday season, we are probably a little more frustrated than usual that we won't be able to be with our loved ones and friends. If you feel this way, new research indicates that our reaction may be more than just a psychological one, but may actually be biological, too.
Living a purposeful life is often described as whether or not we engage in meaningful, nontrivial activities in our daily life (Scheier et al., 2006). The assumption behind this description is that when we are guided by purpose, we allocate resources and organize activities in a way that move us towards our goal. So, how do we do this? How do we live more purposefully on a daily basis?
With Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we are constantly reminded to turn our attention toward celebrating the good things in our lives with family and friends. However, this year will be different. Most of the things we have done in the past will drastically change. Because of this, many of us might be having difficulty finding reasons to feel grateful. With this in mind, I decided to share a personal story to offer a little inspiration.
Many of us are now working at home, saving hours of commuting time. Think about it, how much time are you saving each day? To find out just how much time we’re saving and what we’re doing with this time, researchers surveyed 10,000 Americans earlier this year. What they found out was quite interesting.
In early 2020 the pandemic caused many of us to be suddenly thrown into working from home. We are now having to share our workspace with other family members who are also trying to work from home or attend school virtually. This brings about many impacts to our work and our relationships. Let’s find out what we can do to overcome these challenges.
