As a mental fitness coach, my sessions are designed to help clients transform a negative mindset into a more mentally healthful way of being. PAUSE is a mnemonic I developed to help clients target those negative thoughts in the moment. 

The next time you discover a pattern of negative thinking, PAUSE may help you deconstruct its path.

It is important that you examine the evidence behind these negative thought patterns without simply replacing them with positive ones. Positive thinking is not a method for dismissing genuine emotional experiences. Reflecting on those experiences and assessing your thoughts (or metacognition) are at the core of positive reframing.

Feel free to contact me, if you need assistance. 

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Socrates has been attributed with saying that “an unexamined life is not one worth living” and whether he meant that in the literal sense or not is sometimes debated. I would say that an unexamined life is simply one you have surrendered to fate. 

So, whether your self-reflection reveals assumptions you have made about others or deeply held beliefs about yourself, unexamined thoughts will often result in unexpected life outcomes. Being unaware of the mental models driving your decisions can get you to an unintended destination, really fast. 

find new and creative solutions to life’s problems when you need them. The blog associated with this podcast can be found here: (https://deedialstyle.com/2024/01/13/more-about-mental-models/) You will also find the illustration I reference in the podcast (the Ladder of Inference).

I also love getting voicemail messages from listeners and I am happy to entertain your questions directly or in my next publication. You can also still schedule a free consultation session here: https://deedialstyle.com/contact/

Here is the link for ONE MONTH free of GoForward: https://goforward.com/i/dewanda-vn5d

I have written on the topic of gaslighting in relationships, where distancing yourself from the perpetrator is the advisable solution. However, at work, that may not be a viable or immediately available option. So, I am resurfacing this topic out of requests from both my clients and friends because the impact of these experiences is a toxic work environment and the behavior can be so insidious that conventional solutions can add layers of complexity and unwarranted stress.

Today, I listened to a speaker relay a pretty powerful message on the topic of "turning desperation into aspiration." Afterward, the audience was given the opportunity to reflect, then share how the message either impacted or resonated with them. Because of my experience with the topic, I was excited but wanted to hear from the members of the audience before I spoke.

Like the speaker, many shared experiences where desperation created a turning point in their lives. But more people than I expected, seemed to desire the ability to recreate the actual desperation from which their moments of inspiration evolved. Most of the participants agreed that these were the moments from which aspirations were revealed -- and hope was renewed. Almost all who participated, however, struggled to see these moments outside their negative connotation. But yet, it was something they still desired. Interesting.

Read my blog to understand my perspective: https://deedialstyle.com/2022/02/20/desperation-is-opportunity