Each generation is capable of heaping too many expectations upon the youth. However, it’s probably safe to say that the current way young people find themselves striving for perfection is exhausting. Across a broad spectrum of avenues and platforms, perfectionism is being, well…perfected? And the outcomes are widespread and far from positive. Perfection is a…

Plenty of teens will stress over an exam or worry about a first date. Anxiety is much more than that. It is a diagnosable mental condition that can negatively shape a teen’s life. If an over-achieving teen feels pushed or coerced into achieving at all costs, the anxiety quotient increases. There are many factors involved…

When we think of anxiety, we often think of panic attacks. In other words, we think about someone who is so overwhelmed by anxiety that they can’t function. However, anxiety comes in many shapes and forms. People can be very high-functioning despite their anxiety. High-functioning anxiety isn’t a clinical diagnosis. People who struggle with it…

Fake it till you make it. We all know the cliché and the “fake it” part almost comes naturally now. “Make it” is an entirely different story. In fact, for many folks, it may feel like an impossibility. No matter how much they accomplish, they perpetually feel like a fake. This is often a sign…

Today’s society highly values perfection. The internet, TV, magazines, and social media flaunt perfection to such a degree that we’re lead to believe unless everything is perfect we cannot be successful or happy. Our culture’s approach to parenting has not escaped this trend either. There exists the erroneous belief that unless we are perfect moms…

Leslie has always gotten straight A’s. Leslie’s family and teachers constantly told her how intelligent and hard-working she was. She continued to work for their praise all through college and law school. Leslie just landed the perfect job at a law firm, but something isn’t right. Leslie feels like she’s struggling to stay ahead. Her…

Feeling overwhelmed? Stressed? Stress itself is unavoidable, particularly in our fast paced lifestyles. Some stress is good. It’s when stress is persistent over time that it can lead to negative physical, mental and emotional consequences. Being able to manage stress is important in order to live healthy, happy and productive lives. Are you feeling the impact of…

I often talk about The Wizard of Oz with my clients in that the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion had within what they were desperately searching for while on their journey on the yellow brick road.   We all have tools to become more present, mindful and the ability to lessen our…

Many of us struggle to feel good enough or worthy enough, which is the struggle with shame. This is an excellent article on the topic.  Resident counselor Joan Mullinax is quoted in the article as well!   Here is a link to the article online http://experiencelife.com/article/shutting-shame-down/ , it is reposted below as well.   For help overcoming or recovering from…

Take some time to observe your own procrastination patterns. Once you have accomplished that, choose a few of the strategies outlined here. Keep working at it until you understand what you need to do to stop putting things off.     Set Specific Goals   The most effective goals are specific, measureable, and achievable. An…

The first in a series of two posts, this post deals with why we procrastinate.   All of us procrastinate on occasion. For some people, it’s a chronic problem; for others, it’s only a problem in certain life areas.   Procrastination is always frustrating because it results in wasted time, lost opportunities, disappointing work performance, and…

Do you feel that your life is out of control? Do you find it impossible to make time for yourself? Do you need to learn how to manage stress? Try these principles for managing an overwhelmed life summarized from the book,  CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast-Paced Life.   Challenge yourself to implement one…

This is the second of a series of two posts that explore the dynamics of perfectionism.    It is most helpful if you take some time to observe your own perfectionist patterns. Once you have accomplished that, choose a few of the strategies outlined here. Keep working at it until you understand what you need to…