Ideas on Mental Health & Meaning
The Most Vital Piece…
...of Communication - in any relationship - but especially in a committed relationship... Is LISTENING. Although it is easy to write, it is pretty difficult for many of us to do. For us Extroverts it is very hard to have the patience to wait for our Introvert to...
Consumer Society & The Family
I'm just not feeling "it" today. In fact, I'm feeling pretty low. Maybe it's the weather, or possibly giving up that hour of sleep last night, after staying up a little too late to finish that Netflix series. It could be a little "Sunday Neurosis" as Frankl would...
You Are Not Your Past
Whether you made a mistake yesterday, or had something terrible happen to you as a child, you are not your past. You carry the weight of that mistake with you. You carry the memory of what may have been done to you. But it is not you. You can choose differently. You...
For All You Dads Out There
Really, this is good info for any parent, or someone who knows a parent. These are my notes from a presentation to a group of Dads at a Daddy-Daughter Dance last weekend. I hope you find them helpful. "The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for...
Mental Health “Wonder Drug”?
As a substance abuse therapist for the past two decades, I’ve been pretty skeptical about CBD. However, as a mental health counselor for just as long, I’ve seen the effects of long-term prescription medication use - not just opiates, but anti-depressants,...
Was mich nicht umbringt…
...macht mich stärker. Many of have heard one Friedrich Nietzsche's most famous quotes: "Whatever does not kill me, makes me stronger." But as I am reading through Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are, I am reminded of what an impact he had on Viktor...
Just Be Safe – Maybe Discover Some Meaning
Apparently many of us have a pretty rough week ahead of us. "Historic lows" they say. I read something about -39 to -49 degree windchill at some point during the week. That's inhuman, and inhumane, for anyone who has to be out in it. After denigrating The State of...
The State of Affairs – a review
I just finished reading Esther Perel's The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. I didn't like it. I fear I may owe some of you an apology for recommending it. It took me a little longer than I expected - perhaps because I didn't like it - or maybe because it felt...
How Are Your Resolutions Coming Along?
We are nearly two weeks into the new year. If you are like many people, this is about the time motivation and practice drop off for those resolutions we set a few weeks ago. But if you are still at it - still exercising, still changing your diet, still abstaining of...
A Mid-Winter Warning
With the holidays behind us and a full week of the new year already passed, we are entering into what can be a very difficult time for many people. "Post-holiday blues" set in. Days continue to be short, cold, and dark. Our bodies naturally want to hibernate....
Meaning of the New Year
Today could be a day just like any other. However, we have attached significant meaning to the last day of the year, its last few seconds, and the ushering in of the next calendar year. This is an excellent opportunity to take a moment to reminisce over the...
On Anticipation and Joy
During this time of year, many cultures, religions, and individuals are celebrating, or anticipating the celebration of, joyful holidays. It is also a time of year that many people find most stressful, overwhelming, anxious, and possibly even sad, for a variety of...