We did it! We survived the dreadful days of winter and are nearing the end of the unpredictable midwestern spring. It is almost summer! The clouds are parting, and the sun is shining bright. Nature is inviting us to step outside, soak in the sunshine, and reconnect with the world around us. Instead of rushing... Continue Reading →
In today’s busy and fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in responsibilities, distractions, and stress. We often find ourselves dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, causing us to miss the peace in the present moment. Mindfulness meditation is a powerful practice that helps us tune into the here and... Continue Reading →
Current sources of entertainment overload our cognitive functions of stimulation and attention span. Because we have smart phones and social media, immediate mental stimulation is constantly at our fingertips. This has a deteriorating impact on the human attention span. Less and less are we actually exercising our minds to find stimulation. Our brains are becoming... Continue Reading →
In many apps there is a feature called infinite scroll. This is a technique that automatically loads more content, such as videos, as you scroll. This can cause it to be harder to stop since there is no definite end. Many people find themselves losing a lot of time, even hours or days, scrolling through... Continue Reading →
Our lives can feel very chaotic at times. We bounce around from one thing to the next. We are thrown off course occasionally and fall upon something else. We bump into one thing and are then pushed into another. Only to bounce off that thing and freefall until we hit a bottom. What I am... Continue Reading →
Years ago, I found myself at a very low point. First, my boyfriend broke up with me. Later that same month, my dog passed away. The next month, my stove broke. The same week my stove broke, my car failed the emissions test. It was time to let the car go and purchase a new... Continue Reading →
Steel Pan music emerged from the tradition of enslaved African people creating new musical inventions to compensate for their drums and other instruments being taken from them by slave owners. Slave owners often thought that the drums and other instruments were communication tools being used by slaves to plan revolts and uprisings. Therefore, they were... Continue Reading →
Over the last nine months since I have been an intern at Olive Branch Counseling Associates in Tinley Park, I have had the opportunity to provide counseling services in various settings. Among them are Roseland on the south side of Chicago, and West Garfield Park on the west side. Clients in both of these communities... Continue Reading →
Depression and anxiety are among the mental health challenges of most concern around the world. Mindfulness training is a common approach used to help people to manage various aspects of depression and anxiety. According to Erford (2020: 96), “By nature, humans are self-aware and attentive. But people vary in these characteristics, and how they cultivate... Continue Reading →
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