Bodies Are Beautiful Be * you * tiful As a society we can struggle with the concept of beauty. Often, early on, we compare our bodies with the bodies of others . Many of the messages we get fed by society, by the media, by loved ones, and even by ourselves tell us the same story – we should be ashamed of … Read More
Meet Evelyn (Evi)
This is Evelyn (or Evi as we affectionately call her), and for the past seven years she has allowed me to be part of her life. One of the greatest things we can learn from Evi is how she copes with anxiety. She has many anxieties, but the behaviors she exhibits are all similar – she hides, barks, shakes, or … Read More
Confronting Stigma
A few years ago, I experienced severe depression that impacted my perspective on how I view mental illness. After struggling for a long period of time with both personal and work-related stresses, I utilized my company’s short-term leave program on my doctor’s recommendation. During the first half of my leave, I couldn’t leave my home during work hours. I … Read More
Meet Jasper
Jasper’s story is part of our current social media campaign to help us learn from our pets. If you want to see some of the other stories, follow us on Instagram @serenitynowwellness Jasper was one of the most amazing dogs ever! Jasper came to me (Jenn) as a foster dog. He had the longest nails I had ever seen, was … Read More
When Delivering Praise Backfires
A new study published in Child Development may have you questioning the way you provide praise to your children. You might be used to telling your child they did “an amazing job” or “that was terrific!” But the way you deliver praise might be impacting your child’s self-esteem. The study conducted by Brummelman and colleagues (Brummelman, Nelemans, Thomaes, & Orobio … Read More
Real Men Don’t Cry (or do they)?
Is it true? ‘Real men’ don’t cry? How sad – maybe they should. There is often a negative stigma surrounding men crying. Some men are afraid to cry and be classified as being ‘weak’, ‘unmanly’, or a ‘wuss’. Maybe it’s because some people feel uncomfortable being around a crying man? I remember one lady telling me, “Ugh – I don’t … Read More
“It’s JUST a headache”
No!! In reference to a migraine, I and anyone who experiences migraines will attest that it’s not just a headache. Yet the messages — that we should just take an Advil, just get some sleep, just think positive or exercise more – undermine the impact migraines can have on your life. I try never to speak for another’s experience, but … Read More
Gifted
I recently watched the movie Gifted on an airplane ride back from a conference. It is a heartwarming tale of a brilliant, young, first grader with advanced mathematical abilities. The movie opens with Mary reluctantly attending school for the first time, after being homeschooled by her uncle. After Mary demonstrates exceptional skills in class, her teacher discovers that Mary’s deceased … Read More
On Learning to Refill My Cup: Part Two
Previously (Click Here) I shared a few of the changes I made (or re-started) in my life to refill my cup. I had been scraping the bottom of my cup due to academic pressure, chronic pain, overextension on commitments and grief. However, no matter where you are at, it is never too late to make small changes, which can lead … Read More