When you hear the word “meditation,” you might freely associate it with terms like “mindfulness,” “focus” and even “relaxation.” The idea that something so inherently calming could increase your drive to succeed might seem foreign to you at first, but the sense of clarity meditation brings can help you recommit to your goals. Here’s why. Meditation Takes Many Forms Because meditation is such a personal practice, there’s no right or wrong way to do it as long as you remain committed to concentrating on your breathing and clearing your mind during your daily meditation period. One especially successful motivation approach […]

Sometimes, we get caught up in our worries that we forget about all the reasons we have to be thankful. If you’ve resolved to have a more positive mindset in this new decade, boost your attitude of gratitude with these eight things to feel grateful about. 1. Your Mistakes Instead of beating yourself up for the missteps you make, reframe your thought processes and embrace mistakes as opportunities for learning. Nobody is perfect. You’ll inevitably encounter hurdles and obstacles along the way, and that’s OK. It’s part of your growth. 2. The Ability to Read If you’re reading this right […]

The rise of technology has given us many modern conveniences that would have seemed unthinkable just a decade ago. The average adult carries more computing power in their pocket than it took to get the first humans to the moon, but it’s easy to take it for granted because these devices are so ubiquitous. According to the Pew Research Center, 81% of Americans now own smartphones, and almost 75% have desktop or laptop computers. Most of us can get answers to any question nearly instantly, make connections with people across the globe and shop online from anywhere. However, there is […]

Humans evolved to be social animals. From the dawn of humanity, we have lived and worked in communal groups. Belonging to a group where everyone is focused on the same goal offers a sense of shared purpose and makes you feel like you’re part of something larger than yourself. Finding a recovery community can help you in times when you feel like you have nowhere else to turn. The members of your sober support network can lift you up and remind you that you are never alone on your recovery journey. Plenty of people have been where you are and […]

What comes to mind when you hear the words “peer pressure”? If you’re like most people, that phrase probably takes you back to your school years, when your parents or teachers cautioned you not to leap off a bridge just because someone else was doing it. However, though it may not be as direct or intentional as what you went through in middle and high school, adult peer pressure can be every bit as harmful. Why and How Do Adults Experience Peer Pressure? When you were younger, you probably daydreamed about reaching adulthood and being in a position when nobody […]

The holidays are supposed to be a time of good cheer, but unfortunately, it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed and end up stressing out over things that are supposed to be celebratory. It can seem as if you’re getting pulled in too many different directions at once, and there never seems to be enough time to do all the things people expect of you. Your aunt Linda will be crushed if you say you can’t come to her annual holiday potluck and white elephant gift exchange, even though it overlaps with your child’s school play. Or, maybe your homeowners’ […]

When you are struggling with complex emotions like depression, anxiety, trauma or grief, modern American culture teaches us alcohol and drugs are the easiest way to feel better. Unfortunately, while you might find the first days of usage relaxing, continued use of drugs and alcohol can cause a cascade of behavioral and mental health issues. In early sobriety, you may be caught off-balance by the variety of emotions you feel after years of numbing yourself with various substances. During active addiction, feeling virtually nothing can become your daily norm. In the process of recovery, all the emotions you haven’t fully […]

The decision to give up drugs and alcohol represents a significant milestone in your life, but unless you are willing to put in the work to tackle the root causes of your addiction, you aren’t likely to make the progress you want. Emotional stability, or lack thereof, can be a significant contributor to the behavioral issues that accompany substance misuse disorders. Once you are in recovery, you will need to rebuild your emotional intelligence as part of your commitment to bettering yourself. Here are three ways to do so. 1. Find Healthy Ways to Manage Stress Stress can wear down […]