Nourish the Brain Institute

05/02/2023

Remember that time that you thought you had a week left to finish a project that was really due the next day? How about the time you decided not to clean up your apartment because you ""didn't feel like doing it right now?""
We often assume that projects won't take as long to finish as they really will, which can lead to a false sense of security when we believe that we still have plenty of time to complete these tasks.
One of the biggest factors contributing to procrastination is the notion that we have to feel inspired or motivated to work on a task at a particular moment.
The reality is that if you wait until you're in the right frame of mind to do certain tasks (especially undesirable ones), you will probably find that the right time simply never comes along and the task never gets completed.

05/01/2023

Is a “thank you” in order?
On a daily basis, we’re inundated with reasons to thank the people around us. Maybe someone held the elevator for you while you were running late, the barista was kind despite the huge crowd in the coffee shop, or your colleague lets you know they did the legwork to help you get started on a particularly tricky project.
We’re lucky to have so many reasons to say “thanks” every day, but sometimes we need some new words and expressions to adequately express the gratitude we feel.

04/28/2023

The origins of low self-worth can often be traced back to the behaviors of adults in childhood, even if they were well-meaning.

04/27/2023

Most people think of self-compassion as being kind to yourself. Although that is certainly a part of the concept, self-compassion involves a way of relating to yourself in a way that allows you to become more emotionally flexible, able to navigate challenging emotions, and enhance your connection to self and others. The ability to relate to ourselves in a compassionate way may sound easy enough but, in fact, it can be quite a challenge.
You may find it easy to be compassionate toward a friend or loved one when they come to you with a personal struggle or a challenging situation. Your response to them may be one of understanding, hope, guidance, and encouragement.
However, when we are faced with our own life challenges, we tend to be a little more harsh or critical with ourselves. We examine our thoughts and behaviors in a way that can leave us feeling unworthy, ashamed and frustrated with ourselves. In an effort to keep moving forward, we may tell ourselves to ""buck up,"" or ""get over it."" Although the intent is to help move us forward during times of emotional challenge, this way of relating to ourselves can create an extraordinary amount of stress and become a significant obstacle in our ability to experience happiness within ourselves and with others.

04/26/2023

04/24/2023

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that we’re not capable of brightening up someone’s day without some grand gesture.
And while we all love a grand gesture from time to time, the simplest of acts are more than enough to make a profound impact on another person.
Research has shown that we far underestimate the positive impact of simple compliments on another person’s psyche and mood. This can cause us to feel like we shouldn’t give compliments or do little acts of kindness in the first place.

04/21/2023

While not a mental illness, poor self-esteem can still affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior. Sometimes its signs can be fairly apparent. Other times, low self-esteem symptoms are much more subtle.
For example, some people with low self-esteem talk negatively about themselves, while others go out of their way to make sure other people are pleased with them. In either case, a lack of personal worth and value can have a negative impact on life and wellness.

04/20/2023

It may seem small, but our words matter especially when it comes to mental health awareness. In recent years there is an increasing amount of conversation to reduce the stigma and why it’s important when it comes to mental health conditions.
The biggest misconceptions about mental health disorders are that they are caused by a substance use disorder or they’re a personality flaw. In short, this can lead to shame for those individuals working with a counselor on treatment. Moreover, this is an illness, not a choice and should be treated with the same dignity as cancer, diabetes, etc.

04/20/2023

We all have room to grow and learn. A good friend will push you to be the best version of yourself and challenge you to accomplish your goals. When life feels tough, they help you focus and keep moving forward. And it’s important that you feel motivated to do the same for them. Being with the people most important to you should make you feel at peace. There’s no need to spend time with people who make you feel like you can’t be your authentic self. A good friend’s acceptance will encourage and empower you to express yourself without fear of ridicule or judgment.

04/18/2023

Emotions are an important way to connect with the world. When it becomes difficult to process feelings, it can feel like you are experiencing a hollowed-out version of yourself. When you feel dead inside, it isn’t uncommon to feel like you live with an internal void present.

04/17/2023

A highly sensitive person (HSP) is a neurodivergent individual who is thought to have an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional, or social stimuli. Some refer to this as having sensory processing sensitivity, or SPS for short. What makes a person highly sensitive likely depends on a variety of factors such as evolution, environment, genetics, and early childhood experiences.
High sensitivity exists in at least 100 other species aside from humans. Research suggests that high sensitivity is an evolutionary trait that increases the likelihood of survival because HSPs are on the lookout for potential predators or dangerous situations. Of course, constantly being on guard when there aren't any immediate threats often results in anxiety.
Research also shows that a lack of parental warmth growing up may cause a child to develop high sensitivity and carry this trait into adulthood. The same goes for negative early childhood experiences. If you experienced trauma as a child, you may be more likely to become an HSP as an adult.