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Blog

Our Thoughts Aren’t Always True
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Our Thoughts Aren’t Always True

Our thoughts can feel very believable, but they aren’t always accurate. Learn how to recognize and shift unhelpful automatic thoughts.

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How to Ease Suffering
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

How to Ease Suffering

Resistance to pain can contribute to prolonged suffering. Learn strategies for practicing acceptance and moving toward greater peace.

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Catching Goals
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Catching Goals

Could the goals of others influence our goals? We explore ‘goal contagion,’ the idea that perceiving someone’s goal-directed behavior can lead us to unconsciously pursue that goal too. We may consider contemplating how this could impact our lives and potentially the lives of others.

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Is This Stress or Anxiety?
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Is This Stress or Anxiety?

Stress and anxiety can be common experiences, yet difficult to disentangle at times. We take a closer look at similarities and differences between the two that may help us better understand our experiences. We also explore coping strategies that may support enhanced stress management and enjoyment of daily life.

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Mindful Habit Change
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Mindful Habit Change

Having a habit we would like to change is a relatable experience. We may have tried any number of things to break this habit, but have perhaps only found temporary (if any) relief. We consider a mindful alternative that can support habit change by observing, pivoting, and knowing our “why.”

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How Can Self-Compassion Help Me?
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

How Can Self-Compassion Help Me?

Research has provided support for the power of self-compassion to help improve experiences of depression, anxiety, and shame. But how does self-compassion help? We take a closer look at some suggested mechanisms of change, and one way that we could consider bringing more self-compassion into our days.

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The Many Forms of Mother’s Day
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

The Many Forms of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day may hold many meanings. Some may be celebrating while others may be grieving. No matter what unique experience we may be having this Mother’s Day, we can take the opportunity to support ourselves exactly as we are today. We consider three holistic approaches to self-care including embracing community, making space for emotion, and practicing gratitude.

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Creating Meaningful Relationships
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Creating Meaningful Relationships

Creating meaningful relationships that add to our happiness and fulfillment in life can be challenging. Anxiety, fear, and self-criticism may stand in the way at times. We explore three general tips that can support cultivating meaningful relationships.

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What’s Your Point of View?
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

What’s Your Point of View?

Our point of view can make a big difference. If our perspective becomes narrow or fixed, it can contribute to anxiety, a low mood, or difficulty in relationships. We can practice shifting our perspective to be more open and broad. In this week’s blog, we consider how the use of mindfulness, imagery, and a friend’s perspective could help.

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Why Can We Be So Mean To Ourselves?
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Why Can We Be So Mean To Ourselves?

Do you ever feel like you are your harshest critic? You’re not alone if you feel critical and judgmental of yourself sometimes, which may contribute to anxiety or a low mood. We explore how self-compassion can help, including three practices that could support movement in the direction of greater self-love, kindness, and compassion.

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What is OCD?
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

What is OCD?

We may hear ‘OCD’ used in everyday language, but what does it mean to be diagnosed with OCD? We take a look at what characterizes OCD and how this can be different from having OCD tendencies. Please note that this blog is intended only for educational purposes. It is not a replacement for medical or therapeutic evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed professional.

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Finding Balance in the Face of Stress
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Finding Balance in the Face of Stress

What does it mean to have a “balanced” reaction to a stressor? We explore what a balanced reaction can look like and how we may move away from commonly unhelpful responses. We consider the usefulness of grounding techniques, comprehensive self-care, and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

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On Valentine’s Day, We can Buy Ourselves Flowers
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

On Valentine’s Day, We can Buy Ourselves Flowers

Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day can be a day of celebrating you! In the spirit of self-love, we explore holistic ways we can show ourselves some love, including buying ourselves flowers.

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Myth: “My Relationship Shouldn’t Have Conflict”
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Myth: “My Relationship Shouldn’t Have Conflict”

It is a myth that a “good” relationship does not have conflict. To the contrary, conflict is a normal part of a committed romantic relationship. We shift the focus from eliminating conflict to managing conflict, and consider conflict management strategies. *Please note that "conflict" in this blog refers to everyday issues and does not include abuse of any kind.

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Learning to Let Go
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Learning to Let Go

Holding on tightly to certain thoughts and narratives can cause suffering. Yet, learning to ‘let go’ of these inner experiences can be challenging. We review three strategies that, with practice, may help you let go with more ease.

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Managing Money stress
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Managing Money stress

Money is a common source of stress. We explore factors that may influence how we relate to money, and three strategies that can help us cope with stress: Checking the Mindset, Practicing Generosity, and Planning and Accountability.

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The Impact of Stress and How to Rest Better
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

The Impact of Stress and How to Rest Better

Our minds and bodies can feel on high alert as we manage the stress of a typical day, which over time can contribute to anxiety, low mood, or disrupted sleep. We explore possible impacts on the nervous system and three strategies that may help improve stress management and encourage rest: catching thoughts, setting boundaries, and practicing sleep hygiene.

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Setting Intentions
Samantha Munson Samantha Munson

Setting Intentions

If we don’t achieve our new years resolutions ‘perfectly,’ we may feel like we have failed. Rather than a resolution, we consider the benefits of setting an intention. We explore three steps that may help you start the new year with intention: mindfulness, meaningful change, and self-compassion.

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