We’ll go to the doctor when we feel flu-ish or a nagging pain. So why don’t we see a health professional when we feel emotional pain: guilt, loss, loneliness? Too many of us deal with common psychological-health issues on our own, says Guy Winch. But we don’t have to. He makes a compelling case to practice emotional hygiene — taking care of our emotions, our minds, with the same diligence we take care of our bodies.
As we start 2018 and we take the annual inventory of our lives let’s consider a different approach. It’s normal for us to focus on the results of the behavior vs the cause of the behavior.
We spend a lot of time telling ourselves, I need to lose weight, I need to get a better job, I need to exercise more, and I need to improve a relationship.
We don’t spend the time asking ourselves why we haven’t lost weight, have the same job, are not exercising, and are still unfulfilled emotionally.
Let’s resolve to spend 2018 on exploring our minds and souls. Working on being authentic and mindful will lead to productive changes in our 2019 annual inventory.
Check out the following article from mindful.org to get started
I love this video on mindfulness. We can begin to teach young children mindfulness. Teens and adults can also learn how to be mindful. It can be daunting to figure out how to learn mindfulness. We can help. It’s important for us to assess how you learn and what your needs are so we can tailor implementing mindfulness training for you. One of our favorite ways to practice mindfulness is through mindful eating exercises where clients bring in their favorite food. Talk to your therapist today about learning mindfulness, which can benefit so many areas of your life!