17 results for tag: Self-Awareness

Everything You Need To Know About Habit Stacking

Habit stacking is an excellent way to add new habits to patterns and habits that already exist. I have done this by using several habits that I wanted to add to my daily life.

The first time I utilized habit stacking it did not have a name yet, or at least I wasn't aware it had a name. I really wanted to become consistent about flossing nightly before bed. This was not a hard routine to add a new habit. I sandwiched flossing in between washing my face and brushing my teeth, all pretty obvious and simple. Because it was natural to habit stack in this way, it only took a week or two for this to become the norm. I wanted to use this example first because I think it's one that most people would relate to.

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Press Release: Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters – From Mobster To Reiki Master

Healthy Masculinity Where is healthy masculinity in the news? Headlines today are filled with men abusing women – from Sean “Diddy” Combs to the Frenchman accused of raping his wife and allowing other men to do so. These stories beg these questions: Can men be reformed and changed? What role can men play in making the world safe for women?   Author MICHAEL SWERDLOFF, who received training from the DALAI LAMA among other revered teachers, gives an honest account of discovering healthy masculinity from the inside out in his new book - RAISED BY WOLVES, POSSIBLY MONSTERS: FROM MOBSTER TO REIKI MASTER. As the book’s name suggests, ...

9 Signs You’ve Done Your Shadow Work

What are the signs you've done your shadow work? None of them constantly quote famous authors, Gurus, and teachers. None of them tell anybody who listens or reads that they must do their shadow work. None of them use their spiritual knowledge as a marketing technique for economic success. None of them believe that they know the singular "right way" to lead a spiritually guided life. None of them claim that they have "completed" their shadow work....

You Look Weird Dancing Like That

I'm this guy. I am the weird guy on the dance floor, at Yoga class, and on the beach. I swim and play in the waves like a twelve-year-old. I am (mostly) comfortable in my skin and with people thinking I am weird.  I am aware that most people do not have that experience when people think or say they are weird. Many people feel like being "weird" is a criticism, insult, or put down, and it is certainly not a compliment. I understand that when someone tells you they think you are weird, it may create doubt or a sense of not belonging or being "normal". It was not always like this for me. I was actually a DJ for decades in clubs and events that wouldn't ...

18 Invaluable Pieces of Advice From Therapists & Counselors

There are not many common pieces of advice from therapists and counselors since we have diverse training, backgrounds, and experiences, but this list seems accurate. The themes around boundaries/saying "no," protecting yourself, and letting go of relationships that are not supporting your growth and peace are essential and agreed upon generally across the field. Of course, your specific situation and circumstances are important to consider as well. My favorite piece of advice from therapists and counselors is first on their list: "Feelings are not facts." I wish we could all integrate this nugget of wisdom into our lives!
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We Can Still Be Crazy – Pema Chodron

We can practice meditation, Yoga, and Qi Gong every single day and night, and we can still be crazy! We can still be crazy if we practice all of the above, eat organic "healthy" foods, take herbs, and drink kombucha daily, and we can still be crazy. We can meet with an acknowledged expert in therapy or counseling, and we can still be crazy. In fact, it is possible that we may even become crazier if we diligently commit to these practices and follow them up with a 7-day cleanse and a weekly water fast. Nothing can guarantee that we will not be crazy. Nothing. Is the goal not to be crazy or to live an amazingly imperfect life that we get to be ourselves on a regular basis? Would you agree to practice daily if you knew you would never stop being crazy, BUT you would begin accepting yourself for who you really are? If you are curious about how we can still be crazy after daily meditation for years or decades, and that is OK, I invite you to read this short essay by Pema Chodron below. If you are unfamiliar with her and her work, please follow the link in the previous sentence; she is a living gem!We Can Still Be Crazy - Pema Chodron - Michael Swerdloff - Providence Holistic Counseling, Coaching and Reiki ...

Self-Perception: Barb

It was 1993, and I had recently moved to a new area of New Jersey where I knew few people. We were both attending meetings of the same self-help group. It had been six months since the first time I saw Barb. I fell for her before she even opened her mouth. She was soft, warm, and genuine in her walk and demeanor. When she opened her mouth to speak, there were no more questions; I wanted to get to know her. The only thing between Barb and I was self-perception, which was mine. Self-Perception and Shyness A common trait for me, then and now, is being shy and intimidated by women I find attractive. Besides the obvious challenge of shyness, I would ...