Self-Agency

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Self-Agency

September 6, 2024 | Jessie Nolasco-Sandino | 5 min. read

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

As we cherish these sun-soaked days, let’s dive into our theme for this month: Self-agency, or Personal-agency. Developing self-agency can profoundly enrich our lives by empowering us to shape our own destinies. While being on a healing journey may seem daunting and mastery challenging, we all possess the potential to cultivate this invaluable trait.

So, what exactly is self-agency?

It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

So, how do we nurture self-agency within ourselves? 

As the article below suggests, we can:

  1. Control stimuli
  2. Associate selectively
  3. Move
  4. Position yourself as a learner
  5. Manage your emotions and beliefs
  6. Check your intuition
  7. Deliberate, then act

It’s a journey that requires effort. For instance, activities that distract us from reality hinder our development of self-agency. Since self-agency is about taking charge of our lives, mindfulness and presence are essential. Limiting excessive screen time, whether it’s binge-watching Netflix or endless scrolling on our phones, is one effective way to enhance our agency. Consider getting out in nature and being with all parts of you.

Developing self-agency isn’t easy, so if you catch yourself spending too much time on your phone occasionally, don’t be disheartened. Keep striving to improve your habits, and your future self will appreciate your efforts. Let’s embrace this month with a spirit of determination and empowerment, knowing that we have the capability to chart our own course and achieve our aspirations. Together, let’s unlock the limitless potential of self-agency!

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more

Self-Transcendence

Home » Blog » Adjust Your Crown: Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

September 7, 2024 | Jessie Nolasco-Sandino, LMSW | 4 min. read

The birds are chirping, the sun is scorching, and the weather is shifting over to autumn. During this season, the world seems to be changing, slowing down or picking up momentum, making it the perfect time to discuss self-transcendence.

Just as nature goes through its cycles and starts fresh each spring and summer, humans experience their own cycles of changes. These personal changes aren’t marked by calendars or seasons but by shifts in our mind and body states. Abraham Maslow beautifully captured this concept in his hierarchy of needs, which outlines the fundamental needs of every human being. As we move through these stages, we strive for self-transcendence, reaching beyond ourselves to find deeper meaning and fulfillment.

Yet it is not a strict hierarchy, and Maslow never intended it to be. His concept of human needs is more fluid, akin to the changing seasons. Just as summer can still carry the rain of spring, our needs and emotional states can fluctuate. This analogy aligns with Maslow’s understanding of human needs. Among these, one of the most essential is the need for self-fulfillment, which we achieve through self-actualization. As we operate in this mode, we can ultimately learn to self-transcend, arriving at the highest level of psychological development.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Self-Transcendence

So, how do we embrace and explore self-transcendence?  

The answer is practice. Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake. Other times, it may be gradually addressing bigger challenges such as childhood traumas. The more practice is given to building self-awareness and self-acceptance, the closer we’ll be to becoming self-transcendent people who overcome life challenges and achieve life goals. The major takeaway from the concept of self-transcendence is fortifying our inner resources such as self-love to live prosperous and fulfilled lives. 

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/midlife-reimagined/202402/the-secrets-of-self-transcendent-people?mc_cid=74ce3b1592&mc_eid=859aa1cf45

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Home » Blog » Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

September 2, 2024 | Lysa Kirby, LCPC | 5 min. read

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Lysa’s Limericks

Thinking about your upcoming semester in college is exciting, to say the least. However, many transitioning freshman are also navigating symptoms of anxiety.

Worrying about courses, if you will make new friendships, and hoping your roommate will be neat and tidy. Transition to college life can be an anxiety-filled period of time. Many of your concerns can be better navigated if you feel emotionally grounded. Here are a few strategies to pack for your campus stay:

Create a structured schedule that not only includes your courses, but incorporates social activities, self-care, sleep, mealtime and fitness. Having a routine helps to feel in more control of your environment. Along with structure, an important element to remember is time management. Allowing yourself ample time for all activities will decrease the chance of feeling overwhelmed, reduce stress and improve your studies.

Become involved with campus activities. Finding your opportunities to not only socialize, but to make an impact within the community is instrumental. Joining social clubs, sports and/or volunteering for a charity can build campus connections, confidence and improve social interactions.

Remember to explore resources on campus. You may be surprised to discover the many resources your campus offers once you take the time to investigate. Study groups, mental health services, transportation and opportunities for social interactions may be just steps away from your dorm.

Lastly, be sure to pack relaxation techniques to ensure that you feel confident about managing episodes of emotional distress. Whether you are anxious about an exam or struggling with writing a paper, you will have an emotional toolbox at your disposal. Deep-breathing techniques, yoga, grounding exercise and guided meditation are accessible and effective coping methods to navigate stress.

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more

Benefits of Journaling and Types of Journaling

Home » Blog » Benefits of Journaling and Types of Journaling

Benefits of Journaling and Types of Journaling

September 2, 2024 | Lysa Kirby, LCPC | 7 min. read

Mindful Lyrics Exploring Hip Hop's Therapeutic Effects | OMHG Blog

Lysa’s Limericks

 

Author Bio

Lysa is a Licensed Clinical Therapist with over a decade of experience within the mental health field. She has experience with various diagnosis including Bipolar, depression, anxiety, substance use and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, Lysa is Trauma Certified and treats all ages, from young children to the geriatric population.

Journaling

This narrative form of writing is therapeutic in nature. The simple act of journaling lowers one’s breathing and decreases the heart rate, thus fostering a sense of calm. Journaling is a powerful coping tool to express thoughts and feelings. Moreover, it lends itself to regulating emotions and provides an avenue of personal growth and emotional maturity. Additionally, journaling provides an opportunity to reflect for the purposes of problem-solving and to have a historical snapshot of your accomplishments in life. A significant benefit of journaling is to decrease stress and build emotional resilience.

Should an individual decide to incorporate journaling as a part of their mental health wellness routine, there are many formats to choose from.

Benefits of Journaling and Types of Journaling

Bullet Journaling

This form of journaling combines planning and a to-do list in an organized method to express your thoughts. It is flexible because it can be geared toward any topic and the journal entry can be any desired length.

Bullet journaling is ideal for those who like to be precise and are fond of time management. It’s a great way to keep a log of your goals, accomplishments and gratitude lists. It helps with emotional tracking, such as notating your mood states and emotional stressors. Also, creativity is a huge component of bullet journaling. Designing your journal with color codes, pictures, and graphs is another way that bullet journaling appeals to some.

Guided Journaling

Contrary to the free-form journaling that may first come to mind, guided journaling offers an ordered approach for you to convey your thoughts and emotions in a deep and meaningful way. This form of journaling provides the writer with a prompt or question to promote personal reflection and encourage introspection. The writing prompts or questions can be tailored to meet the therapeutic needs of the patient. For example, it can address trauma, attachment concerns and/or interpersonal relationships.

Guided journaling engages the writer with structure and takes away the stress of brainstorming topics to write about. Guided journaling promotes deep contemplation on recent events, emotions and decision-making. Additionally, this format of journaling helps to process emotions and obtain clarity of your thoughts. This is also good practice to remain grounded and present in your thoughts and emotions.

Collage Journaling

Collage Journaling is a creative and therapeutic tool used to explore your thoughts and feelings. This format combines both written and visual art as an artistic approach of self-expression.

This format of journaling is open to the creator’s interpretation. Many visuals can be used in collage journaling such as photos, glitter, fabrics, paint, magazine and/or newspaper clippings.

For the creative individual, collage journaling can be a liberating and healing avenue to express the deep emotional wounds often associated with trauma. Aside from collage journaling being a method of emotional processing, it also guides one to creative expression and a visual way to present goals and accomplishments.

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more
Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Transition to college life can be an anxiety-filled period of time. Many of your concerns can be better navigated if you feel emotionally grounded. Here are a few strategies to pack for your campus stay.

read more

Benefits of Positive Psychology

Home » Blog » Benefits of Positive Psychology

Benefits of Positive Psychology

June 19, 2024 | Jessie Nolasco-Sandino, LMSW | 7 min. read

8 Dimensions of Wellness

This month we’re taking a look at Positive Psychology and the benefits it creates.

According to Charles R. Snyder, a specialist in the field, “positive psychology does not suggest that we should dismiss the rest of psychology or that therapists should ignore the very real problems people face.” Instead, positive psychology works like a lens in which all other psychology can be seen through. It’s not about answering the questions about how to treat diseases or ailments, rather it seeks to answer questions about what makes life good, or worth living. Personally, it helps me inform my therapeutic practice and begin to shift my focus with my clients. What brings them Peace? What little things each day do they find joyful? What are they grateful for? By refocusing clients through this more ‘positive’ approach, we allow other psychological benefits – such as gratitude, self-compassion, health and wellness to flow through. 

Furthermore, much of positive psychology is backed by scientific study and a large amount of supportive research that shows its great success in practice, and subsequently, positive results.

Can we cultivate skills that have us arrive at Life Satisfaction? It is essential in Positive Psychology to focus on the ‘positive’ or the strengths even if we may have faults, weaknesses or problems. This does not mean it replaces the traditional Medical Model; rather it supplements and complements it with ensuring mental health professionals pair their work with a redirection towards one’s strengths instead of problems or illnesses. 

Positive psychology focuses on the positive events and influences in life, including:

  • Positive experiences such as happiness, joy, inspiration, and love
  • Positive states and traits such as gratitude, resilience, and compassion
  • Positive institutions such as applying positive principles within entire organizations and institutions

There’s plethora of benefits of Positive Psychology and the following findings support that claim: 

  • Oxytocin (i.e., love hormone) may provoke greater trust, empathy, and morality in humans, meaning that giving hugs or other shows of physical affection may give you a big boost to your overall well-being (and the wellbeing of others; Barraza & Zak, 2009);
  • Those who intentionally cultivate a positive mood to match the outward emotion they need to display (i.e., in emotional labor) benefit by more genuinely experiencing the positive mood. In other words, “putting on a happy face” won’t necessarily make you feel happier, but putting in a little bit of effort likely will (Scott & Barnes, 2011);
  • Happiness is contagious; those with happy friends and significant others are more likely to be happy in the future (Fowler & Christakis, 2008);
  • One of the benefits of practicing a positive psychological outlook is, to put it broadly, success! Not only does success make us happier, feeling happy and experiencing positive emotions actually increases our chances of success (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005);
  • An intention to express your authentic self and a sense of strong personal identity are linked to meaning, but not to happiness; if you are searching for meaning, try working on your practice of authenticity (Baumeister, et al., 2013).

As a field, positive psychology spends much of its time thinking about topics like character strengths, optimism, life satisfaction, happiness, wellbeing, gratitude, compassion (as well as self-compassion), self-esteem and self-confidencehope, and flourishing. Can you imagine what would happen if we spent as much time focusing on positive things in our life as we do the negative?

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more
Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Transition to college life can be an anxiety-filled period of time. Many of your concerns can be better navigated if you feel emotionally grounded. Here are a few strategies to pack for your campus stay.

read more

Flourishing

Home » Blog » The 8 Dimensions of Wellness

Flourishing

June 19, 2024 | Jessie Nolasco-Sandino, LMSW | 5 min. read

Today we’re also covering Flourishing, a benefit of Positive Psychology, the topic of the month. 

So I’d like to usher in some positivity for us by bringing our attention and arriving at flourishing. While flourishing encapsulates and incorporates various positive psychology concepts, it particularly highlights the transformative potential of adversity.

8 Dimensions of Wellness

As described in the article, Flourishing means that we can connect to a sense of meaning in our lives, experience positive emotions, build relationships with people and communities that matter to us, and recognize and appreciate our accomplishments even in challenging moments.

But, how do we cultivate Flourishing? The PERMA model developed by Seligman (2011) explains what contributes to a sense of flourishing. The five factors in this model are:

  • Positive emotions
  • Engagement
  • Relationships
  • Meaning
  • Accomplishments

Some examples of ways to cultivate Flourishing based on the PERMA model could be:

 

1. Establish a Gratitude Practice

Research shows that regularly practicing gratitude has the greatest impact. A simple gratitude exercise each day of less than five minutes could have great benefits in building positive emotions. For example, as you’re brushing your teeth in the morning and in the evening, use that time to reflect on what you’re grateful for in your life. Gratitude can be for something as big as your health or as small as a great cup of coffee.

2. Prioritize Acts of Kindness

Acts of kindness enhance well-being and connections with others in the community which builds healthy engagement. Doing multiple acts of kindness in a single day has a greater impact on your level of flourishing than spreading them throughout the week. So, if you’re experimenting with this practice, choose a specific day each week and vary your acts of kindness rather than doing the same act of kindness, to have a major effect.

3. Leverage your Signature Strengths

Using signature strengths help deepen our relationships with Self and engagement with others in our social circles. These are the strengths that feel most authentic to us, that we’re most excited to use, that energize rather than drain us, and that give us a sense of joy while we’re using them. The VIA Character Strengths assessment can help you identify your own.

4. Celebrate your Accomplishments

Celebrating accomplishments boosts our positive self-regard and emotions. When we pause to celebrate our accomplishments, it helps us actually feel them — what psychologists sometimes refer to as “savoring” — rather than simply checking them off a list of goals and moving forward.

Positive emotions, accomplishments, engagement, finding meaning, and a sense of belonging within one’s community and relationships emerge as key components of flourishing.

By navigating through challenging life moments and leveraging the lessons learned, individuals can cultivate resilience, grit, deepen their relationships, and find renewed purpose. This month, I encourage us to explore the pathways to flourishing, reflecting on our experiences and identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

What Is Flourishing in Positive Psychology? (+8 Tips & PDF)

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Self-Agency

Self-Agency

So, what exactly is self-agency? It’s the inner strength to pursue our self-defined goals despite daunting challenges and struggle. It’s about overcoming obstacles that seem insurmountable and leveraging neuroscience insights that reveal our brain’s ability to predict actions before they happen.

read more
Self-Transcendence

Self-Transcendence

Building the skillset to self-transcend doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small steps, like facing a minor anxiety or taking ownership of a small mistake.

read more
Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Pack Your Strategies for Campus Life

Transition to college life can be an anxiety-filled period of time. Many of your concerns can be better navigated if you feel emotionally grounded. Here are a few strategies to pack for your campus stay.

read more