Posts by Laura K. Schenck, Ph.D., LPC
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week Three
“When we have our body and mind in order, everything else will exist in the right place, in the right way. But usually, without being aware of it, we try to change something other than ourselves, we try to order things outside us. But it is impossible to organize things if you yourself are not…
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Taming the “Wild Horse” of the Mind
“Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” – Aesop Mindfulness involves allowing yourself to fully open up to the present moment – all of it – with curiosity, acceptance, and nonjudgmental awareness. This is a simple concept that can be incredibly difficult to harness. The mind is generally filled with incessant “chatter” about…
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6 Ways to Build Self-Esteem
“Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others.” – Mark Twain People with healthy levels of self-esteem are able to appreciate themselves fully for who they truly are. There is a calm sense of accurately perceiving strengths and weaknesses without feeling a sense of hubris or self-deprecation. It is…
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week Two
“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.” – Thich Nhat Hanh In last week’s post, “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week One,” we explored how the evidence-based treatment of MBSR is effective in making significant changes for the better in people’s lives. Mindfulness is a practice that can be utilized to transform people’s lives…
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A Practical Look at Self-Control
“Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them, if they will not apply themselves to me.” – Michel de Montaigne A great deal of time you know what is in your best interest, yet you find yourself either doing the opposite or simply failing to take action. Sometimes self-control is to…
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Time Management & the 80/20 Principle
“It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work.” – Thomas A. Edison Most of us would love to know how to use our time more effectively. It is a common experience to feel overloaded with tasks and responsibilities, all with an…
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Anger Inoculation in 4 Steps
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha When anger is unexplored or misunderstood, it is easy for it to become an overwhelming and destructive force. It doesn’t have to be this way. It is…
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9 Basic Defense Mechanisms
“Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.” – Carl Jung We all engage in various forms of self-deception. Defense mechanisms protect us not only from other people, but from knowledge within ourselves that we are not yet ready to face. Many of our defense mechanisms operate out of conscious awareness or simply happen so…
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Week One
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu Mindfulness allows us to be fully present, connected, and engaged with life in a meaningful way. When we are taken away from the present moment by ruminative thinking or maladaptive emotions, we typically feel disconnected and numb. It…
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What is “Wise Mind?”
“There is a wisdom of the head, and… a wisdom of the heart.” – Charles Dickens There is a natural human tendency to operate from a place of pure reason and pure emotion. When we are viewing the world through either lens, we miss out on the big picture. It can feel cold and lifeless…
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