Blog for Better Living

Changing Light of a Room

By: Other | January 5, 2018

Written by Anke Reineke, Ph.D. “I always forget how important the empty days are, how important it may be sometimes not to expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal. A day when one has not pushed oneself to the limit seems a damaged damaging day, a sinful day. Not so! The […]

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Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Stress

Giving Really is Better than Receiving

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | December 15, 2017

You may hear the phrase “it’s better to give than to receive” more often around the holidays, that time of year associated with giving and receiving gifts. In our consumerist culture, we can lose sight of what we already have to focus exclusively on our needs and wants. Money cannot buy happiness despite what advertisements […]

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Depression, Holidays, Personal Improvement, Stress

Remaining Positive about Ourselves and Our Lives

By: Other | December 8, 2017

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. “The Good Life is a Process…Not a State of Being.” –Carl Rogers Are the demands of seasonal social gatherings and family getting you down? Are financial pressures or employment piquing your positive perspective? Does it feel like chaos and worry are taking over your life? The practice of Positive Psychology […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Holidays, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Stress

Goodness Gracious

By: Other | November 24, 2017

Written by Joy Francisco, Ph.D. The best time to start a gratitude journal is now. Why? Because people frequently worry about things they do not have or things that have not happened. Consequently, they rarely consider the beneficial things they do have and good things that did happen. If the simplest negative thought can promote […]

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Personal Improvement, Therapy

The Power of Gratitude

By: Other | November 10, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” — Deepak Chopra This is the time of year we discuss the concept of gratitude and being thankful. Some of us will take it to heart and practice gratitude at […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress

Avoidance to Acceptance

By: Other | October 20, 2017

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. Do you procrastinate? Do you push off the stuff you don’t want to do to some indeterminate future? Avoiding things in day to day life is fairly common, especially when associated with something unpleasant or something we just do not want to do but feel we must. I remember as […]

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Anxiety, Grief, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Stress, Therapy

Creativity and Mental Health

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 13, 2017

Did you know that your creative efforts create psychological benefits? Looking back on your childhood, you may have memories about the types of play you once enjoyed. Children use legos, dolls, sandcastles, art, imaginary friends, music, acting, building forts, and the like to explore their imagination and creativity. Whereas children easily immerse themselves for long […]

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Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Stress

Creating a Bucket List: What Would You Attempt to Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

By: Other | September 22, 2017

Written by Joy Francisco, Ph.D. A bucket list doesn’t just happen. It evolves. A bucket list is more than things to see and do in this life. It is an exciting way to set goals and an important method for deciding what you want to achieve in your life, for motivating yourself, and for building […]

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Personal Improvement

Meaningful Connections

By: Other | September 15, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. Do you have meaningful connections in your life? Do you feel uplifted after a conversation with a friend? Are interactions with strangers at the store pleasing to you? Humans have a core necessity to connect with others. These lend meaning and happiness to our lives. Reflecting on our daily encounters […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Stress