7 ways to practice emotional first aid

You put a bandage on a cut or take antibiotics to treat an infection, right? No questions asked. In fact, questions would be asked if you didn’t apply first aid when necessary. So why isn’t the same true of our mental health? We are expected to just “get over” psychological wounds — when as anyone who’s ever ruminated over rejection or agonized over a failure knows only too well, emotional injuries can be just as crippling as physical ones. We need to learn how to practice emotional first aid. Pay attention to emotional pain — recognize it when it happens and work to treat it before it feels all-encompassing. Yes, practicing emotional hygiene takes a little time and effort, but it will seriously elevate your entire quality of life. See Guy Winch’s TED Talk, Why we all need to practice emotional first aid.

http://ideas.ted.com/7-ways-to-practice-emotional-first-aid/

Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal Psychology researchers aren’t necessarily Thanksgiving experts—they may not know how to make fluffy stuffing, say, or beat the traffic to your in-laws’ house—but they have become a fount of wisdom on thanksgiving (with a small “t”). Over the past decade, they’ve not only identified the great social, psychological, and physical health benefits that come from giving thanks; they’ve zeroed in on some concrete practices that help us reap those benefits. And perhaps the most popular practice is to keep a “gratitude journal.” Reflecting on Yourself as a Leader It took me a long, long time to accept the notion that as a teacher, I was also a leader; that as a department chair, I was also a leader; and that as a coach, I was also a leader. This was because I was operating within traditional definitions of leadership: I didn't have a formal leadership title -- like principal -- nor did I have any kind of certificate or degree granting me the role and responsibilities. But I was a leader -- for my students and for my colleagues -- because leadership has much more to do with how we think about what we do and why than it does about formal titles and degrees.

How Will You Celebrate International Day of Happiness? How many times a year do you get an excuse to celebrate happiness? Why not right now? The UN has declared March 20, 2013 to be the first International Day of Happiness. Why happiness now? More and more, people are asking what is the definition of human "progress," and recognizing that it must include happiness and well-being, not just bottom line economic growth. The good news is that it that you don't need to go searching for the secret happiness sauce -- you already have everything you need to ignite happiness within yourself and influence those around you. How to Be Present and Peaceful When You Can't Stop Thinking “Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.” ~Eckhart Tolle When I first started practicing Zen (or presence), I used to believe I could become completely thoughtless.

What Are the Effects of Cyberbullying? Bullying—including cyberbullying—causes significant emotional, psychological, and physical distress. Just like any other victim of bullying, cyberbullied kids experience anxiety, fear, depression, and low self-esteem. They also may experience physical symptoms, mental health issues, and struggle academically. Here's a closer look at the emotional, mental, and physical effects of cyberbullying. Emotional Effects of Cyberbullying How not to talk to someone with depression Being depressed is really not enjoyable. Depression takes many forms for many different people – some people have highs and lows, some have major depression, some have functional days and others never do. Depression can involve a huge array of treatments including therapy, medication and experimental modalities.

Why 'Fake It Till You Make It' Is So Effective, According to Science It took me a while before I started calling myself an author. I've been writing this column for almost two years, and have reached an audience well into the millions. I'm about to finish my first book (which I've ghost written for a New York Times best-selling author), and I'll be publishing my own book--with high hopes--in just a few months. International Day of Happiness - 20 March Climate Action for a Happy Planet What is the International Day of Happiness? It’s a day to be happy, of course! Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. The UN just launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals that seek to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet – three key aspects that lead to well-being and happiness. The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to celebrate the International Day of Happiness each year on March 20.

7 Ways You Can Be Socially Successful You can’t be financially successful or professionally successful without superior social skills. And I’m not just talking about the basics—making eye contact and having a good handshake. No, I’m talking about being a social super hero.

Teenage Stress Teens are under more stress today than ever before. Sound like an exaggeration? Despite the fact that I am often prone to hyperbole, consider this: being a teenager is not easy. Adolescence has always been a tricky developmental period defined by fundamental yet somewhat difficult changes (physical, cognitive, and social) experienced by teens as they make their way from childhood toward adulthood. These transitions trigger changes in the way the teen sees him/herself, and the way that others see and treat him or her. They are no longer children, but not yet adults, and this series of transitions not only has an impact on the individual experiencing the transitions, but also on parents, peers, and society as a whole.

Teenage depression - Family Lives If your teenager is showing signs of depression, you may find yourself wondering whether it's 'just a phase' or something more serious. On average, three young people in every classroom are affected by mental health problems like depression. Many go undiagnosed and never get the help they need. Mental health problems cause more early deaths than either heart disease or cancer. Many teenagers are particularly vulnerable to depression, caused by the huge number of biological and social changes going on in their life, along with other factors like money worries and family breakdown. It can be difficult for many parents to know whether a child's moody or miserable behaviour is a sign of something more serious.

This Is How To Make Good Habits Stick: 6 Secrets From Research We all want to get to the gym, be more productive, be kinder to our loved ones… and then we don’t do it. Why? Well, building solid personal habits can be hard. In fact, research shows it takes an average of 66 days to build a new good habit. From Oliver Burkeman’s Help! How to be slightly happier and get a bit more done:

Audio Bhutan Broadcasting Service – Interview with Dasho Karma Ura on Democracy in Bhutan Democracy - Part 1 [download] (right-click, save-file-as) Democracy - Part 2 19 Things to Start Doing for Yourself in the New Year “And suddenly you know… it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings.” ~Meister Eckhart Did you know that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail? That’s pretty crazy.