Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
Introduction Forgiveness is a conscious, intentional process of releasing feelings of resentment, anger, or bitterness toward someone who has caused harm. It is not about condoning the behavior or forgetting what happened; rather, it is about finding peace within yourself. Choosing to forgive can improve mental, emotional, and even physical...
Introduction How we perceive ourselves is crucial to our emotional and psychological well-being. Terms like self-worth and self-esteem are often used interchangeably, yet they reflect different aspects of how individuals value themselves. Understanding these distinctions can pave the way for healthier self-perception and personal growth. Self-esteem typically refers to how...
Research has consistently found that mindfulness meditation is effective for supporting mental health. It can reduce stress, increase compassion, and even combat symptoms of anxiety and depression. Suppose you don’t have time for a traditional meditation class. In that case, you may want to try mindfulness apps—downloadable tools that offer...
Did you know that interacting with dogs and other animals can have a positive effect on individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues? Most people are familiar with seeing-eye dogs or guide dogs, trained to support blind and visually impaired people to go about their day....
When it comes to relationships, understanding how your partner gives and receives love is paramount for fostering deeper connections and nurturing emotional well-being. In his 1992 book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate[1], Gary Chapman, renowned marriage counselor and author, introduced the concept of...
How can you put your life back together after addiction? Healing happens when you reintegrate healthy connections with yourself and others. Once you admit you’re broken, you must agree to look at reconnecting the pieces of your life that addiction has torn apart. Your relationships may be strained, estranged, or...
How you feel about yourself affects all of your other relationships. Some of you may not be used to the idea that you have a distinct relationship with yourself, but you do. You have a personality and a will; you have a perspective on life that is lived out in...
Ralph Waldo Emerson said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. The depth of your character is best gauged by the depth of your friendships.
Anxiety has written a script where you play the part of a frazzled, anxious, suspicious, irritable, short-tempered, and easily frustrated person. How do you want to be perceived by the other players on stage? When you take control of your own script, you determine the part you are going to play and then you act accordingly.
The simple act of writing down the things for which we're grateful can create a vibration of positive energy within you that can have many, long-lasting benefits. Give it a try for a week and note how you are feeling on the 7th day. Are you feeling a little lighter?...
How do you know if you have a secure attachment style? People who have this attachment style exhibit specific characteristics and personality traits. Here is a list of statements for those with a secure attachment style.
What's wrong with me? When his coworkers found out about Mark's promotion -- something he hadn't even applied for -- they slapped his back, shook his hand, and gave him high fives. Mark couldn't figure out why he didn't feel that happy. When told about the new job, he'd agreed...
I believe one reason women turn acorns into catastrophes is because you have so many responsibilities. Because you are responsible, you believe you should be in control. The question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you really have control over any given situation and then act accordingly.As...
Acceptance is an interesting word. It involves both the act of accepting as well as the fact of being accepted. In this way, it's kind of a two-way street. One of the corollary definitions of accepting is "to be able or designed to take hold, as in something added or...
It is vital for your emotional equilibrium that you counterbalance anger, fear, and guilt with optimism, hope, and joy.
When people fear themselves, they will sometimes turn to activities to try to outrun the fear. They may use alcohol, drugs, shopping, eating, gambling, or the internet to keep from being alone with themselves.Other people may turn to family, friends or co-workers to crowd out their fear of being alone....
Few things are as frightening as losing control, feeling powerless against overwhelming forces. When overcome by events, we can feel swept up on relentless waves of circumstance that hurl us toward terrifying heights and bone-jarring lows. Each event is made worse if we have tried to stop it and been...
Accepting the truth in your life means you must come to accept the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. First, there comes an acceptance of the truth in your life that is causing you pain and is the source of your anger. This is the first step...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: