Conscious Living Counseling & Education Center

01/19/2026

Family, friendship, community…
We’re not only bound by love and shared values. We’re also bound by shared fears.

We don’t learn what to fear in isolation. Whole groups of people can end up organized not just around what they cherish, but around what they’re afraid of losing.

Right now in America, we’re seeing a lot of anxiety:
Fear of losing identity.
Fear of losing freedoms.
Fear of losing safety, stability, or the country we thought we understood.

When people share fears, they don’t just drift apart; they often reorganize around them.

Anxiety and fear aren’t character flaws or signs of weakness. They’re protective systems. They exist for a reason. And the more we understand how they work, the less they run the show.

When people understand their nervous systems and threat responses, then outcomes can improve. Or, they come together once they can identify a greater shared threat.

01/09/2026

Must be all the global stress? I keep getting asked which magnesium to support "deep sleep" stages. Currently, research gives a thumbs up to Magnesium Threonate. Here is an article from 2024. I believe this study was repeated in 2025 with the same findings.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39252819/ #:~:text=Results:%20The%20MgT%20group%20maintained,impacts%20on%20overall%20brain%20health.

This showed MgT improved sleep quality, especially deep/REM sleep stages, improved mood, energy, alertness, and daily activity and productivity. These are consistent with how MgT works in neuron cells and animal models, suggesting broader positive impacts on overall brain health.

01/06/2026

Try swapping the word "goals" for "direction." It’s consistent with agency, trajectory, and orientation rather than outcome-fixation. It captures the nature of change - ongoing and daily choices, movement, and daily orientation vs a destination. Sure, you can think of the endpoint goal (or not), but then work backwards and figure out what choices you need to make today to get you where you want to be. Then, "point" yourself in that direction.

Does that still seem too hard or complicated?

Learning how to simplify is a big part of learning healthier coping strategies. An anxious brain needs to be taught to simplify and take the subsequent logical, reasonable actions without overcomplicating wellness. Many commercial markets (such as self-help books) sell these concepts... "Reduce your anxiety in 10 steps." The truth is, you need to find your own way, but it helps if you have a better influence on your mind, and that's where CBT helps. CBT isn't the answer; CBT changes the brain and enables you to process information better so you can find the right answer for you.

12/16/2025

Endings. New Beginnings. We’re closing out 2025 and making space for what’s next. Wishing you clarity in both mind and heart as the new year arrives.

12/10/2025

"The needless suffering of millions of people continues because of a lack of both awareness about OCD and clinicians adequately trained to diagnose and treat it properly. Stigma, shame, lack of health insurance coverage, and high costs are also significant barriers to care."

https://iocdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Full-Report-Americas-OCD-Care-Crisis-12-9-2025.pdf

12/07/2025

Learning to feel like yourself around others is an essential art. Build community… but also definitely, definitely find your people!

12/04/2025

Hey, Health Anxiety... please rule out dehydration before you panic-Google neurological conditions. Bodies twitch.

11/26/2025

I recently came across this quote and tried to trace its source. No luck.

The language's simplicity mirrors the simplicity of the action it asks for. But something about this wording lands.

The simplicity of the language in the quote mirrors the simplicity of the action.

Keep it simple.
Do the thing that moves your life forward.
If it works, repeat it often.

11/18/2025

People don’t drop perfectionism because they suddenly stop caring — they drop it when they see others getting better results without it.

At some point, you realize you’ve been sacrificing something bigger (your health, peace, time, relationships) for something smaller (a perfect email, a flawless plan, the “right” moment).

Perfect is a small target. Small targets give you momentary, specific dopamine highs. Boring. GO bigger.

11/04/2025

It’s confusing, isn’t it? New treatments are marketed to you, then go away, ineffective products are over-priced, effective products are not researched…. Will you have the correct information when you need it the most?

Partner with your therapist to take the gold standard intervention and combine it with your own strategies and insights. Learn to listen and trust yourself. Your therapist can model what it’s like to live with a curious mind, adaptive brain, and balanced body… but the control lies with you. You must practice new things and see what’s real for you. This is more important than ever. Look inward. Acquire the right tools to create a resilient inner compass.

10/27/2025

Most of your deadlines come from you.

Wild, right? You actually have more control than you realize.

Anxious minds are wired for speed and eagerness. Try this experiment:
👉 Block off time in your schedule when you don’t want to work.
Notice what shifts.

You might get pushback (from others or yourself), but that’s your cue to ask:
Why does this feel urgent?
That pause opens space for better solutions.

The real trap is saying “yes” automatically and crunching your schedule — that’s how we stay stuck in a chronic state of urgency and overdrive.

Let your wellness set the pace.
Prioritize health, sleep, connection, and meaningful work.
That’s where the best results live. 🌿

10/21/2025

Friendly reminder. Make the most of 2025. Take some time to pull out your calendars, book those vacations, or optimize your time! We all need a booster this year. Also, remember that Democrats and Republicans have been neighbors for a very long time and have a long history of coexisting. Peace and joy to all as we head into this holiday season.