Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

“There is only one question: How to love this world.” -Mary Oliver What is love? What comes to mind when you say I love you? How do we learn and practice becoming love?  Although there can be great joy in life, we live in a world filled heartache and suffering. There are wars, violence, unspeakableContinue reading “Becoming Love”

The mind is complex. It has far reaching abilities to think, plan, organize, create, discern, metalize, understand, analyze and hold great complexity. Our mind generates stories that can protect us by registering threats and danger by categorizing and developing schemas or scripts to simplify the complex world around us. Our minds also give us richnessContinue reading “Our Inner Landscape”

Humility is defined as a modest view of one’s own importance. In practice it involves the acceptance that we are not always right and don’t always know, without either concern impacting our sense of self-worth.  Flexibility is defined as the quality of bending easily without breaking. In practice it is the ability to accept new pointsContinue reading “Humility & Flexibility”

Experiences of low self-esteem and low self-worth are not uncommon. We all struggle with how we feel about ourselves from time-to-time. Some of us may even struggle with our self-worth on a regular basis. Issues of self-esteem are central to overall mental health. When we experience a stable sense of self-esteem we are less likelyContinue reading “Self-esteem”

Gaslighting involves intentionally changing or otherwise distorting reality to manipulate how others think or feel to get what we want. Individuals who engage in gaslighting attempt to make others doubt the truth of their own experiences. They often do everything they can to get their needs met.  Gaslighting is a common narcissistic behavior, often seenContinue reading “Gaslighting”

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”