When we hear the word Rebellion, we often think it’s a bad thing. But that’s not always the case. After all, America’s foundations were, in part, based upon healthy rebellion, right? Now, it’s time for another good dose of rebellion. Our modern American culture has adopted some false and limiting beliefs about aging we would all do well to reject. The Power of Beliefs and Culture Our beliefs impact our health dramatically – we read about the science of how our mind influences our body. The placebo effect is an incredible testimony to the power of belief to heal the … Read More
The 5-Year Old in Your Mind Has Far More Control than You Know!
We all like to think that the way we perceive reality is accurate. We all like to believe that we are good at interpreting our own motivations and the motives of others. We all like to think we are perceiving and processing incoming information well and making wise decisions with that information. But neuroscience is showing us that our perceptions and interpretations of reality are not so accurate after all, especially when we encounter information that triggers deep emotional reactions that we may or may not be aware we are having. If you look at the state of our world, … Read More
It’s NEVER JUST a Mental Health Issue
We humans are complex beings. We have physical bodies made up of many complex systems. Our bodies respond to and are changed by the thoughts we think, chemicals in the environment around us, and the experiences and social interactions we have. And it matters what developmental stage we are in when certain things happen to us. If I experience the death of a parent when I am 50 years old, it impacts me very differently than if I experience the death of a parent at age 5. I get the privilege of speaking to many wonderful people who are struggling … Read More
Timing is Everything
Dale S. Foster, PhD When I was 14, I got a job working in my grandfather’s garage washing the cars from his used car lot. Before anyone could tell me not to, I was driving the washed cars from the wash rack back to the lot. I remember the day I learned experientially the difference between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission. I had observed others drive a straight shift many times, but I had never done it myself. With the overconfidence of youth, I decided it looked easy enough and so I hopped in the driver’s seat of … Read More
From Trauma to Triumph: Discovering our Story and Becoming Ourselves
We all experience trauma. The kinds of situations that may be defined as traumatic vary between individuals. For example, a person who had a stable childhood and a good social support network who loses a loved one will experience substantial grief, but this kind of person may move into a new season of life rather well. Ultimately that experience does not disrupt their capacity to engage life nor their understanding of who they are. They are resilient. They bounce back from difficulties and loss. But for a person who was not nurtured well in childhood and lacks good social support, … Read More