If you find yourself sleeping less and worrying more during the holidays, you’re not alone. Feeling overwhelmed is a common feeling during the holidays, which drains the joy away from what makes the holiday season so special. If you’re one of those people who worries about the shopping, cookie exchange, and arriving guests, I encourage you to let go of that burden and focus on what brings true joy during the holidays. Letting go of perfection and focusing on enjoying and expe

What you tell yourself matters. In a study published by the Journal of Clinical Psychological Science, researchers found that individuals who verbally expressed compassion and kindness toward themselves scored higher in mental and physical health than those who more critical. It’s surprising that words alone had the greatest influence on our health. Saying things such as, “Nothing ever works out for me,” or “It’s impossible to be upbeat with what’s happening in the world,” an

For many, this year is an especially daunting one to face. The past year was filled with politics, stress, toxic rhetoric, and an uncanny sense of feeling divided as a country. Perhaps you’re feeling drained or fearful of the year ahead. You may be grieving the loss of a friend or family member and letting go of them makes your feel more vulnerable and insecure. As tempting as it is, you cannot hang on to the old year. Life goes on, relationships change, careers move forward,

Holidays are usually a time for celebrating with family and friends and feeling connected with those closest to you, but that’s not true for anyone. For some the holidays expose raw, hurtful feelings and memories, such as painful childhood, bad relationships, or the loss of a loved one. Feelings of depression can happen anytime of the year, but the expectation and anxiety during the holidays may cause some to experience heightened loneliness. Acknowledging the specific areas

One in three Americans are suffering from what experts have coined “Festive Holiday Burnout.” A recent study surveyed 2,000 Americans, and 68% said they see Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas as high stress times. One third of those surveyed said they burned out before Christmas comes. The survey also revealed that most stress comes from the crowds and shopping. Compound this with excessive baking, shipping, decorating, and hosting, and you have the perfect recipe for irr

Life is full of uncertainty. Although you can make plans, they don’t always work out. Optimism is a powerful tool that can help keep you balanced and moving forward during situations that are out of your control. Optimism is both a natural trait and learned skill, according to leading social scientists. When you practice optimism, you maintain a sense of hopefulness, confidence, and positivity without losing your ability to be realistic. There are people who believe that bein

Looking for more help? Check out my video on letting go of anger or download my PDF guide on giving up the grudge. When you hear of someone who held a grudge for years and resorted to destruction that impacted their friends and family you may ask yourself, who does that? The answer, unfortunately, is that manypeople hold deep grudges that last a lifetime. They’re unable to let go of the hurt and anger even if they are trying to forgive. Why do people hold grudges even when th

It’s estimated that 30 million Americans beginning at age 12 are addicted to a vice that helps them silence or avoid specific feelings. Drugs, alcohol, screen time, gambling, food, and porn all help numb feelings they don’t know how to cope with. It’s also estimated that less than 15 percent get help from mental health professionals. Whether you’re overcoming a bad habit or an addiction, the physical sobriety is often easier than the emotional one. “Emotional sobriety” is get

Regardless of where you live or work, at some time in your life you’ll find yourself surrounded by drama. You may not have created this drama or know the details involved, but somehow you find yourself being part of it. Most of drama isn’t serious or particularly worrisome, but it is an energy drain. According to psychologist Dr. Eric Berne, people assume different “roles” in psychological social games to achieve social benefits. Dr. Berne explains there are three major roles

When someone you love leaves your heart is broken. Taking care of your fragile self is so important. When someone we love leaves or walks out the door, our immediate reaction may be one of hysterics, deep sadness, relief, and sometimes, even jubilation. These feelings eventually dissipate and new feelings take their place. The feelings that replace the initial feelings are more intense and stored deep within our brain. Forget trying to distract yourself from these memories, b