Mindful Practices for Better Sleep
Over the last week or so, I have heard from several friends that they are suddenly having trouble sleeping. Some have realized the cause on their own, others, too tired and stressed out, have wondered what could be causing this new malady. The answer, I’m pretty sure, is the war in Ukraine. Even for those who have not been “doom scrolling” the news and social media, the fact that it
Touching Base to Live Better
While the history of psychology is most often associated with studies of illnesses and neuroses, there has been a growing movement in the field to focus instead on building wellness. This turn toward ordinary people to ask how they (or we) could live better is often called Positive Psychology. In college I studied philosophy and took up a special interest in ethics. Philosophers throughout time have asked the question of
Mindfulness and Loneliness
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in reports of loneliness. In late 2020, after the first waves of the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, an astounding 36 percent of U.S. adults reported experiencing “serious loneliness.” Luckily, vaccines and, at times, lower infection-rates have allowed families and friends to be reunited. Nonetheless, many people are still struggling with loneliness. And the issue was already a growing problem before 2020. A
14 More Great Ideas from Tools of Titans
Counselors in Missoula are always looking for ways in which we can improve our lives. Even the silly ones. With this said, let's look at today's blog, which is from "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferris. 14 more great ideas from the book: #1 Author Seth Godin says he learned from chef Chris Schlesinger that when you’re cooking you should taste the food as you go. I started doing this
Maintaining Peace in Chaotic Times
There can be no doubt that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought us into extra-turbulent times. Despite it having no direct impact on me, my family, or my job, I have found myself “doomscrolling” on Twitter and Facebook already a few times today, eagerly seeking for more news: something somehow definitive. And yet, in the early fog of war, everything is unclear. And so the scrolling continues. And then
What it Means to Be an Island Unto Ourselves
In a famous teaching of the Buddha, he advises his monks to “be islands unto yourselves,” to be their own refuge and to have no other, except, perhaps truth itself. The reasoning, he explains, is that all things are impermanent and change drives most of us to despair. Focusing on ourselves, the wisdom goes, we can work on making positive change where we are most capable and it is often