Last time we learned about the ACE Study and how childhood adversity has long-term impacts on a person’s mental, psychological, and physical well-being, as well as one’s spirituality/sense of Self. Whether in childhood or as an adult, because of chronic adversity (read ‘stress’) elevated levels of toxic molecules (e.g., adrenalin, cortisol, etc. ) are released […]
Compassion: For Self and Others
Compassion means being able to recognize suffering and to be supportive of the pain. We can be compassionate for others as well as for self. Thupten Jinpa (the Dalai Lama’s principal English translator and author of the course Compassion Cultivation Training) suggests that compassion is a four-step process: 1. Awareness of suffering. 2. Sympathetic concern […]
The Role of Boredom
Boredom is a universal state of mind and emotion. Being bored has a negative connotation and yet, originally it was associated with the monarchy and elite society as they had nothing much or urgent to do, thus, became bored. As with all emotions, the purpose of boredom is to move one into action; it asks […]
The Importance of Loss & Grief
Although losses occur throughout life, the time from mid-life onward presents an increase of unavoidable transitions and changes. Common losses include retirement, downsizing households, offspring moving away, deaths and declining or changing health. More than just an inevitable part of life, Jungians regard aging as a “developmental stage”; a stage that can be lived with […]
Gratitude: The Importance of Being Thankful
The philosopher Eric Hoffer stated, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” Gratitude is an inward sense and an outward acknowledgment of a gift or benefit received. Gratitude is the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to you and represents a general state of thankfulness, gratefulness or […]
Your Brain on Anxiety, Stress & Worry (and what to do!)
Did you know that while everybody experiences some level of anxiety, 23% of Canadians aged 15 or older report most days as quite or extremely stressful (Statistics Canada, 2012). What exactly is anxiety? Anxiety is a natural danger alerting response which includes: body sensations (e.g., increased heart rate, tight chest) behaviour (e.g., talking fast, avoiding/withdrawing) […]
