The Secret Ingredient to a Thriving Relationship: Turning Towards Each Other
As I’m writing this, my wife asks “Do you want to come try this?” referring to a new meal she just made. Do I really need to get up and try this now? I think to myself. After all, I’m writing for The Gottman Institute. Here’s what Drs. John and Julie Gottman say about these […]
3 Simple Words to Help You Feel Present, Grounded, and Nourished
“The little things? They’re not little.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn Remember Halloween, 2018? No? We wouldn’t, either, except that it happens to be the day our mindfulness journey—and our lives—changed forever. First, some background. We (Deborah and Willow) met when our boys played on the same fifth-grade soccer team. We connected quickly through our shared love of […]
Can You Have a Committed Partnership With a Friend?
All people have a basic need to be loved and cared for. But more and more Americans are living alone, according to the U.S. Census—often not by choice—and that’s creating a loneliness epidemic that can hurt our health and happiness. While many of us consider family or romantic partners our first line of defense […]
How to Help Kids Deal With Obsessive Thoughts
Rohan’s nighttime fears of being robbed and abducted began at five years old. At nine, Rohan was still sleeping in his mother’s room plagued by nighttime obsessions. “I feel like we’re going to get robbed, and it’s probably real,” Rohan would tell himself. Then he had a second thought that made his fear even worse, […]
Why Meditation Might Need a Warning Label
Since mindfulness is something you can practice at home for free, it often sounds like the perfect tonic for stress and Mental health issues. Mindfulness is a type of Buddhist-based meditation in which you focus on being aware of what you’re sensing, thinking, and feeling in the present moment. The first recorded evidence for this, […]
How to Safely Connect With Others
When it comes to connecting with others, does your nervous system tend to run “too hot” or “too cold”? Or are you able to live in the secure relating sweet spot of “just right,” even when your relationships become challenging? “By discovering how to support your nervous system as it fluctuates between your connection circuit […]
5 Pillars of Mindful Awareness That Transformed My Life
“When things change inside of you, things change around you.” ~Unknown When I was twenty-three, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was not until two years later, when I stopped taking medication, that I discovered I had a Mental health disorder linked to my menstrual cycles. Meditating daily has been foundational for my […]
Hoarding Disorder and Suicide | Psychology Today
Hoarding Disorder (HD), classified under the category of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRDs) in the DSM-5, has gained significant attention due to its association with heightened suicidality. Here, we explore the relationship between HD and suicidal behaviors, drawing on the recent meta-analysis by Pellegrini et al. (2021). A Meta-analysis can generate more robust conclusions than […]
Managing Social Pressures Around Sugar
The challenges of sugar dependence are real, and fighting their impact can be difficult to navigate. One of the hardest parts of managing sugar dependence can be managing social pressures. Whether it be pressure from friends, family, your spouse, or even coworkers—social pressures can make it more challenging to successfully fight sugar dependence and are […]
Bridging Love and Breath
Effective communication and emotional connection serve as the bedrock of enduring love in romantic relationships. Yet, amidst life’s challenges, stress often infiltrates these bonds, leading to misunderstandings and discord. Here, the amalgamation of John Gottman’s research on physiological arousal and the transformative power of breathwork offers couples a profound avenue for deeper understanding, empathy, and […]