Welcome to A Mind of Her Own! I'm sharing some personal thoughts before interviewing Dr. Seth Gillihan about his new book "Your Daily Reset" - which offers 366 brief, actionable mindfulness and CBT techniques for daily practice. Check out this episode of my podcast, The Reflective Mind when I post it early next week!

How do I nurture my own mindfulness practices?

* Bird watching (aka nature's reality TV) - I sit outside watching birds duke it out for their favorite sunflower seeds. Plus I've got a hummingbird feeder that I'm convinced only attracts hummingbirds when my mom visits - she's basically a joy magnet.

* Puzzle therapy - Working on jigsaw puzzles helps me focus and zone out in a non-stressful way, concentrating on colors and shapes, rather than my lengthy to-do list.

* Family connection - I wear my great-grandmother's wedding ring and reflect on her remarkable story - she raised 11 children in a two-room house in rural North Dakota, all of whom went to college, including my grandmother, who became a teacher and librarian (which is the coolest career, for sure).

* Library wandering - Speaking of librarians, I'm that person who gets a library card within 24 hours of moving anywhere. I wander the aisles like I'm shopping, but with zero buyer's remorse when I "impulse buy" seven books I may never finish.

I realize, as a psychiatrist I'm supposed to be all zen and mindful, but I'm human too. Sometimes my brain refuses to cooperate with meditation apps or reminders to breathe deeply. The trick is finding what actually works for you.

I’m so glad you’re here!

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