Cultivate & Motivate
Integratable teachings, tips & tricks for anyone to reference during difficult times. Manage your mindset and manifest your true self.
How to Have a Panic-Free Pandemic
Being a psychologist in the middle of a global pandemic has been full of interesting experiences. One surprise has been how many people have been asking, "You're okay, right?". I suppose they assume that if my coping skills are well-honed enough to get me through this nightmare of an experience, then maybe there’s hope for them, too. I may be a psychologist, but I am also human - and yes, I believe we’re all going to be ok.
Here are the facts: I'm horrified that there is a virus that is causing so much death and suffering. I'm afraid for friends of mine who work in hospitals and are putting themselves at risk to take care of others. I'm concerned about older or ill friends and family who are at increased risk. I'm a bit overworked and trying to adjust to a new workflow. But - I'm sleeping well, I’m generally calm, and I’m able to focus on what I need to get done. Sometimes, I'm even a little optimistic about the future.
Don't Cry Over Spilled Coffee
There's not much to say about this cartoon, except that the events depicted in the cartoon did happen.
I was also really surprised when I cared more about my coffee than I did about spilling it on myself (the coffee wasn't too hot at the time thankfully). I knew I had been powering through trying to get more stuff done than was humanly possible - but even I hadn't realized that I had reached that level of fatigue.
Momma Fashionista
I woke up before everyone else this morning and snuck down to my office to try and think of a Mother's Day cartoon. No matter what I sketched, nothing seemed to really come to me. I was totally blank.
Then the kids woke up.
What’s Good For You
Logical decisions aren't always the best decisions. Sometimes you have to make choices based on your heart's desire - like when you choose a life partner, ice cream flavor or a career.
Steamed Vegetables and Forcing Outcomes
I drew this cartoon about 3 years ago - and then I couldn't think of a caption. I don't know why I liked this little drawing so much but I kept trying every now and then to think of something to go with it. Every single time I tried I got frustrated and came up with nothing.
Like so many things in life, trying harder to force an outcome just didn't work.
Inspiring Change
Most of us hope there is going to be a time that we want to clean our house, work out, eat a spinach salad for lunch everyday and learn to speak Japanese. The truth is that, if we simply wait for that day, it will NEVER happen.
We have to make it happen by cultivating our motivation (even better if we can cultivate inspiration).
Little Goals, Big Changes
I’ve always been ambivalent about assigning homework and reading in between therapy sessions. If you can do it, it’s a great thing because it speeds up therapy and reduces the number of sessions that you’re probably going to need.