Realistic Optimism
Stress Management, MindfulnessOptimism is Not Magical Thinking: The Power of Realistic Optimism
Optimism isn't about wishful thinking or ignoring the challenges we face. It’s a mindset that, when practiced realistically, can lead to significant psychological and neurological…
Creating the Mindful Mind
Mindfulness, Personal developmentThe word "mindfulness" is becoming more familiar to the general public, and that's a good thing. In a world full of violence and heartache, a mindful mind can help relieve suffering. Mindfulness is the practice of noticing what "is" without…
Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness, Personal developmentWhen you look at the child in this picture, notice the 10,000-mile stare. This gaze is called the "10,000-mile stare," and it happens when someone is totally absorbed in the moment. His eyes are open, but he is completely present with the smell…
2016 - Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-sMetacognition: Awareness of Awareness
Mindfulness, Personal developmentMetacognition is a valuable outcome of mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is the practice of noticing what is in your awareness without judging it as good or bad. For example, consider the mild pain associated with a splinter in your finger.…
Meditation
MindfulnessYou've probably seen meditation in the news over the past few years. It is an empirically validated practice that changes your brain structure, chemistry, and function. And it's not about an empty mind . . . it is actually a mindfulness practice.It…
Mindfulness and the Wise Mind
Mindfulness, Personal developmentIn dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), there is a wonderful explanation of how the best of our thinking and feeling minds can be accessed. This "Wise Mind" is based on the idea that the thinking brain and feeling brain both have validity and…
In the Flow Groove Zone
Mindfulness, Stress ManagementFlow Theory is an integral part of Positive Psychology. It refers to a zone where you lose track of time, experience yourself on "auto-pilot," etc. We've all been there, and we can recreate it!When you're "in the zone," or "feeling the groove,"…