Question: “How can I avoid getting triggered?”
Gisa: I love this question because triggers apply to EVERYBODY. And while we may be aware of certain circumstances that trigger us, there are still some things that tend to come up when we least think they could possibly affect us. So how do we avoid getting triggered?
Read MoreIf there's one thing I love the most, it is gaining new insight from the books that I read. It's been awhile since I've really been able to enjoy a good book, given all the work and events that I have gotten myself into, but very recently I came across two books that have urged me to step outside of my comfort zone to enhance my own personal growth. I admit I'm still half way through them, but let me tell you why you should already grab yourselves a copy:
Read MoreHave you ever seen a dog on a short leash? They can hardly take two steps, sit, or lay down. They're so uncomfortable that they start to get incredibly cranky. While the leash might have served its purpose for them as pups, grown dogs on short leashes could affect them physically, mentally, and emotionally - from sheer frustration that they cannot seem to do anything. When we outgrow our belief systems but still hold them so close to our hearts, they too, can be paralyzing - keeping us on a short leash and denying us the possibility of experiencing life to the fullest.
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I attended a Crew Conference for the Maritime industry, where they had all kinds of high-tech, life size simulations for training the seafarer. Everything was built and designed to help the seafarer navigate and read data precisely as it comes up. As you can imagine, these vessels are huge - about the length of a 20 - 30 story building. And if you watched Titanic, then you know how steering such a large vessel and making the right calls are equally important, otherwise, accidents can happen. Aside from hitting icebergs, ships can collide with one another, and when crew men take safety on board for granted, engine rooms can spark and lead to combustion.
Read MoreSelf-compassion, as it turns out, demands that we go beyond our comfort zones. While compassion may seem like the complete opposite of courage, I soon learned that courage and self-compassion actually came hand-in-hand. Research shows that self-awareness plays a huge part in developing health behavior change, but if the awareness of ourselves is generally unpleasant, then we may look to food or other concrete aspects (like cigarettes, alcohol, etc) of life instead of long-term health goals (Adams & Leary, 2007). Through better understanding of the self, however, my research has shown that self-compassion can help us acknowledge visible flaws that we might be willing to act upon.
Read MoreIt appears as if being busy hasn't just cut us from things, but has also made us seem a little more important. And the worst part is, we thrive on it like a drug that keeps us high on the thrill of keeping ourselves occupied, seemingly working hard, hustling, beating the buzzer, and earning what we deserve. It's almost as if worth and recognition are synonymous with the word busy / occupied / unavailable. Because when we are occupied, demand is high for our attention, so we can then project a false sense of increased value. And the false sense of importance is what tends to get us hooked.
Read MoreHow can we dig deep enough to find out, learn more, and empathize? What will it take to really connect and form relationships that are truly nourishing? Here are 3 ways that can improve your ability to connect to anybody:
Read More"I don't know," she said, "all I know is I've been working so damn hard, swimming upstream..."
Well, girl, sometimes we just aren't meant to go against the current. When things aren't going according to plan, stop for a moment, and consider asking yourself one thing - What am I resisting?
Read MoreWith health issues like depression and anxiety on the rise, we encounter people who question their existence and sometimes wish they weren’t alive. At what point did the people around them stop celebrating? And why? At what point did cultural norms ask them to set aside their child-like essence?
Here are a few self-compassion activities that may help you nourish your soul today:
Read MoreIn Asia alone 450 million people suffer from a mental illness or neurological disorder, with the Philippines having the highest incidence rate of depression in Southeast Asia (WHO, 2011). There are about 4.5 million Filipinos today who are reported to have depression with only 1 in 3 who seek help.
Read MoreI am crazy about all of these things so it makes me so glad when people ask me to recommend something that will help them. In as much as I would love to talk about everything in my bag, I decided that I would keep this entry quite simple and give you three (3) of my faves that have been tried and tested to help relieve anxiety and bring me to an ultimate state of CALM.
Read MoreIt has been proven that sonic vibrations can help rehabilitate soft-tissue injuries through sonograms. Studies have also shown that the vibrational sound of music can also have similar healing effects. Depending on the frequency of the sound, research shows that certain brain regions are activated, helping stimulate cell regeneration, growth hormones, endorphins, and the like. In fact, animal research has also shown that vibrations between 20 and 140 Hz have helped speed up bone growth, muscles and ligament recovery, as well as the reduction of pain and swelling (Acosta, 2013).
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