Life is full of twists and turns. From the minute we’re born, we strive to meet milestones. Whether it’s learning to walk, drive a car, graduate college or get married, it’s always go, go, go. For the most part, we move through the early stages of our lives with vigor and excitement. However, looming over [...]
Worldwide, tobacco use kills 7 million people per year; it’s the number one cause of preventable death. There are many types of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, vapes, chewing tobacco, etc.). In the US, cigarettes reign supreme, with the death toll to prove it. Approximately 500,000 people die from cigarette-induced health complications annually. That’s 1300 people [...]
When someone says, “Don’t just hear me, listen” they’re describing active listening (whether they know it or not). But, what’s the difference? Hearing is an automatic mechanical function. It allows us to perceive and identify sound. And while listening often involves hearing, it’s only half of it. Listening is our ability to process what’s being [...]
One in five people in the US lives with mental illness. That’s over 50 million of us! Chances are, we know someone who struggles with their mental health. Maybe we struggle with ours. No shame there. Our environment, genetics, and personal history may contribute to this experience. Mental issues range from mild to so impairing [...]
Self esteem tends to rise as we approach middle age, and peaks at 60. Higher self-esteem is related to better health outcomes, less criminality, lower occurrences of depression, and increased lifetime success. However, this doesn’t hold true for everyone. Regardless of age, some of us experience low self-esteem, which negatively impacts our lives. While societal [...]
Goals. They’re inspiring, frustrating and sometimes go unfulfilled. Most of us likely have many goals, some of which change over time. They’re extremely useful, as they help give our lives direction. Goals help us prioritize long-term gain over short-term reward, motivate us, and keep us accountable. But sometimes it’s difficult to narrow down our goals [...]
Despite the incredible processing power of our brain, it can produce some pretty whacky, irrational thoughts. Thinking errors (commonly called cognitive distortions) are a prime example. This type of thinking causes us to perceive reality inaccurately and can lead to emotional distress. Below are 10 of the most common thinking errors to be mindful of. [...]
Empathy is critical for our social and emotional well-being. It helps us maintain strong relationships, appropriately react to the plight of others, and build mutually beneficial societies. It allows us to recognize and understand the feelings of others. It can be divided into two categories: affective and cognitive empathy. Affective empathy is our ability to [...]
The term “love languages” has become a bit of a buzzword over the last decade. It was originally coined by marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman in his book The 5 Love Languages. Simply put, love languages are individual preferences for how we give and receive love. These preferences apply to all relationships, platonic or otherwise. [...]
Self-awareness is our ability to monitor our internal world and regulate our responses. Our emotions and physical sensations act as indicators of our mood or needs. These signals may be in response to external factors (e.g., other people or scenarios, etc.) or internal influences (e.g., thoughts, hunger, etc.). Self-awareness also allows us to self-reflect, learn [...]