Jumping is great. But terrifying. When you jump a horse, there are many things that have to take place in order to properly prepare and then overcome a jump in the arena. Horse and rider must have a certain level of trust between them to leave the ground together, pass over an obstacle and land on the other side. In a similar way, sometimes in life we have to set ourselves up as best as we can then trust that we have what we need to make it through.
In today’s fast-paced world, it often feels as though we don’t have any time for ourselves. Mindfulness is a great way of slowing down our mind and bringing ourselves and our attention back to the present moment. Even if only brief, a short meditation can have a big impact on the rest of the day. One way of integrating this into our daily routine is through enjoying a cup of Tea for You!
Leadership is something that we often talk about but what exactly makes someone a leader? And a Good Leader? For those of us who are more shy we may not think about ourselves as a leader, but odds are that there is a Leader in you. 🙂
A Leader is an interesting concept as for someone to be a leader, it will not only involve your personal and/or professional characteristics or your job title or responsibilities, but must also involve the buy-in of others that allows us to influence and guide them towards a common goal. According to Forbes (2013): “Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.”
We all know that it is good to help others but, aside from the social pressures to assist those in need, there are also surprising benefits to us and the persons around us as we grow from these good deeds. Some of the benefits to look forward to with volunteering and giving back to your community include:
New Year, New You! At the beginning of the year we often feel like it’s important to make changes, once and for all. If you find yourself setting the same goals year after year, you may need to implement new tactics to get where you want to be.
Goals give us a sense of purpose in life and to accomplish things that need to be done or that we want to do. A goal that is unclear or unimportant can be difficult to achieve. Any of these situations will interfere with not only your success but also your motivation to even begin a project. Here are some suggestions that can help stick to your goals this time.
Halloween is a time when many of us dress up to go out and it is often a highly anticipated holiday. What is it about a mask that is so liberating that many people look forward to Halloween all year? There are many theories as to where this tradition comes from but what I think is more interesting is the masks that we all wear the rest of the year. We all do it, but why? And is it a bad thing?
Relationships are funny things. They are made up of two humans who choose to spend time together, over and over again. Unfortunately, when two humans come together, anything can happen – fireworks or explosions – so arguments or differences of opinions are a natural occurrence in all relationships. Although uncomfortable, which makes many of us dread them and avoid them at all costs, fights can actually be good for a relationship. When there is a fight, it means that there is something that one of you is not happy about and so “fighting” can be a chance to learn more about yourself and your partner and to build the relationship – if done well. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of the inevitable fights we must face. Read more
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? “Just think happy thoughts” and everything will be better, right? The essence of Cognitive Therapy is changing your thoughts (cognitions) to help you feel more happy, or at least not as (sad/worried/angry/other difficult emotion). When we become emotional, our thoughts become skewed to emphasize whatever we are focusing on, thus exacerbating the emotions. The process of recognizing these biases and adjusting them for a more balanced perspective is called “Cognitive Restructuring.” By taking a more balanced approach we will respond to situations more effectively and have a greater chance of enjoying whatever comes. So how exactly do we do that? Read more
As we return from Summer Holidays and Vacations and transition back to School/Work mode, there are some simple things that we can do to Keep the Summertime Vibes Going:
What are you grateful for today?
Being increasingly connected these days, the bar of how much we expect (and are expected) to get done is an ever moving target. With so much to be working on all of the time, many of us get caught up focusing on what we didn’t get done or what we still have to do later. While it is important to be aware of what needs to be done, and often helpful to have a plan, it is also important for us to stop and reflect on what went well, what we were able to accomplish and how far we have come.
The practice of Gratitude is one that has been around for many years, likely because of the peace, contentment, confidence and hope that it brings. Stop right now and consider what 3 things are you most grateful for right now? Today? This week? This year? Hopefully the things that you thought about brought a smile to your face. This is something that many of us don’t take the time to do, or maybe feel that we don’t have time to do, but it is a simple strategy that helps us to build our resources for confidence and resilience by acknowledging successes, simple pleasures, good fortune and the kind deeds of others. Read more
Jumping is great. But terrifying. When you jump a horse, there are many things that have to take place in order to …
In today’s fast-paced world, it often feels as though we don’t have any time for ourselves. Mindfulness …
We all want to be wanted. It feels good. But any time you have two humans together, there is room for confusion, …
I am a Clinical Pychologist born in the Cayman Islands and trained and licensed in both Cayman and the US. I work with persons who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and difficulties adjusting to changes in their life. I also have specialized training in working with Survivors of Abuse, persons with substance use difficulties and persons with severe and persistent mental illness. I believe that every person has the ability to live a fulfilling life and look forward to the opportunity to join you on that journey!
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