Author Archives: tlindquistpsyd

Ease is defined as the absence of difficulty or effort. To ease is also defined as to make something less serious or severe, soften, and to move carefully and gradually.   Living with ease is different from being relaxed. Specifically, relaxation has more to do with lessening our feelings of tension and reducing stress. Ease hasContinue reading “Living with Ease”

The other morning I felt a bit overwhelmed. I am in the process of a major job transition and found myself feeling sad about leaving my current colleagues and patients, while also excited about new professional opportunities and a new chapter in my career. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that two oppositesContinue reading “The Dialectical Nature of Life”

Transitions are often filled with mixed emotions. Sometimes transitions are by choice, but many times we are not given a choice. People handle transitions and change in all kinds of ways. Depending on the nature of the transition, you may feel anxious and experience self-doubt or feel angry and confused. In some cases, you mayContinue reading “Always Arriving”

We all face challenges and must find ways of dealing with difficult emotional states such as envy, dislike, anxiety, fear, and general distress. Coping effectively allows for us to move through distress with greater ease. Below are several useful contemplations and practices that can be helpful in expanding our capacity to cope with greater ease.  Continue reading “Skillful Ways of Being”

The quest for certainty is hardwired. We are naturally uncomfortable when we don’t know what’s next or when we cannot apply our previous experience in ways that help us feel we can predict the future. We work very hard to know and often trick ourselves into a false certainty to resolve our discomfort as weContinue reading “Finding Stillness”

“When we are capable of stopping, we begin to see, and if we can see, we understand. – Thich Nhat Hanh The unknown is often a bit anxiety provoking. Generally, our natural inclination is to attempt to predict the future. Likewise, our brain is hardwired to draw upon previous experience when making predictions as itContinue reading “From Prediction into Awareness”

It is impossible to navigate life and remain free from disappointment. Researchers describe disappointment as a form of sadness or a feeling of loss. It is often experienced as an uncomfortable and sometimes painful space between our expectations and reality.   Our experiences of disappointment provide valuable information about ourselves, other people, and our values. AfterContinue reading “Disappointment”

Existentialism suggests that we have both the freedom and responsibility to make our own choices by looking within ourselves. Accordingly, we are tasked with finding meaning, determining our values, and making decisions that shape our lives. Existential psychotherapy builds on these views by approaching therapy with an emphasis on self-determination and our individual search forContinue reading “Existentialism in Daily Life”

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” — Victor Hugo Laughter is the best medicine. You have probably heard this statement more than once. In fact, there is much truth to the value of laughter for promoting and maintaining our physical and mental well-being. Laughter triggers healthy physical changes in theContinue reading “Laughter”

Joy is a state of happiness or contentment. As we practice experiencing greater joy in our lives, we can extend this joy into the life of others. Appreciative joy is a type of joy that is experienced when we genuinely appreciate and delight in the happiness, success, and good fortune of others.  We have manyContinue reading “Appreciative Joy”