You’ve probably hear of Ants in your pants. But have you ever heard of ANTs in your head??? Of the 95% of automatic thoughts we have every day, most of those are negative thoughts. Especially the ones about ourselves. And not only do these Automatic Negative Thoughts hold us back from living our best life, they are a major contributor to the stress response in our bodies.

Do you know how many thoughts you have every day? And do you know how many of them are completely automatic?

Optimism is key to the success of any endeavor we take on. And when optimism arises from self awareness, it is unshakeable.

The very important three step process that develops self confidence through open and honest self assessment.

Self awareness is integral to mindfulness practices and today I share a meditation that will help elevate yours. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.

So much of our time is spent communicating with others. And often the choice of words we use can mean the difference between a positive outcome of a given communication and the stress response in our bodies. By practicing mindfulness, we develop a focused awareness of the words we use and gain command over this vital area of our lives.

Today I talk about the meaning of forgiveness. I discuss the emotional and physical health impacts of forgiveness and non-forgiveness.

I’m the same way that gratitude allows us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives, compassion allows us to focus on the positive aspects of the people with whom we interact. And the result is a reduction in stress, among many other positive benefits.

Today I talk about the importance of gratitude and how it can counteract the source of the stress response in our bodies.

This is a very helpful semi-formal exercise you can use any time to reduce stress in your body by bringing your attention to the present moment with non-judging awareness.