When I was in the throws of early pregnancy nausea with my second child, I remember reading some quote from Kim Kardashian or another celebrity who I usually wouldn’t pay attention to, but it caught my eye nevertheless (thanks, Instagram algorithm!). The quote was simple and cut to the chase: “Being pregnant was the worst […]
Life Coaching
A 5-Step Method for Identifying Misplaced Emotions
I believe that ~60% of the emotions we feel on daily basis aren’t really what we think they are– and emerging research is beginning to support this claim. Often, these feelings are better classified as misplaced emotions. Misplaced emotions occur when a feeling or thought doesn’t match the situation at hand. For example, “You’re not […]
How to Get Better at Overcoming Rumination (aka Obsessive Thoughts)
Rumination is the phenomenon of continuously, obsessively thinking about negative or unpleasant thoughts in a way that makes it hard to let go. By definition, it is a repetitive thought process that has a negative tone because it is focused on negative experiences, which often get replayed over and over. Many people struggle with excessive […]
9 Common Themes in Scary Dreams, and What They Mean for Mental Health
Oneiromancy is the Ancient Greek art of using dreams to interpret the future– and since this early period in civilization, society has maintained a persistent and often controversial obsession with using dream interpretation for mental health. Humankind has a long history of collective fascination with dreams– from early religious ceremonies to psychological thought leaders like […]
“Self-Care” vs. “Self Comfort” (And Why You Need Both)
Here’s a novel idea: consider that self-care alone might not be enough to truly resolve your inner feelings of stress and wellbeing. This is because many wellness experts talk about “self-care” when what most people really need is the ability to “self comfort.” Self-care is all the usual stuff— diet, exercise, meditation, time with friends, […]
A Prayer For When You’ve Hit Rock Bottom
So– you’ve hit rock bottom, you’re feeling scared and lonely, and this is what you consider to be your lowest point. Maybe you’re sick, maybe you’ve experienced massive loss, maybe your worst fear or greatest terror in life has been realized: Now what? Even if you’re not religious, you can still use mindful self-talk– which […]
5 Ways to Stop Emotional Eating, According to Experts
Emotional eating and impulse control is an aspect of feeding ourselves that is almost solely psychological. It’s a broadly interpreted term that means many different things. Boredom eating qualifies as emotional eating, as does stress eating and eating when you’re sad or nervous or scared. “Emotional eating is basically just eating for any reason other […]
How To Listen Better (An Essential Skill That We Need To Practice More)
If you follow me on Instagram you know that I’ve been on this kick recently of really trying to be a better listener. What follows is a parable that sums up why. A few weeks ago, I heard a conversation between critically-acclaimed psychologist Harriet Lerner and shame researcher Brené Brown that piqued my interest with […]
Watch Esther Perel’s Concise Lesson on How to Argue Better
Esther Perel is a preeminent psychotherapist and relationship expert from Belgium, who is known for her dynamic research on everything from couples intimacy to argument style. She is the author of several New York Times bestselling books on relationships (including The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity) as well as the creator of a new, intriguing […]
Watch Jim Carrey’s Iconic “Choose Love” Speech
Jim Carrey has given a surprising number of motivational speeches in his life– and for those who don’t know, the man who presents as a goofball in most of his acting roles is actually quite a thoughtful, measured, and inspiring guy. His philosophy on life is filled with gratitude, poise, and an emphasis on choosing […]