You may know that "music works", but HOW does it work?

Visit my webpage (click here) for some great Music Therapy resources! Find diagnosis specific FACT SHEETS, links to videos on evidenced based research on Music Therapy, frequently asked questions on Music Therapy, links to the works and research of Oliver Sacks (including case study based books, writings, and movies), and more.


Jessica

Fun way to work on summer Social Skills/Peer Awareness!

Hello Friends! 

Raising peer awareness/increasing social skill is something to work on with your kiddos all year long.  Summertime provides opportunities for this, especially with kids who are enrolled in summer camp/programs.  In fact, social skills are often challenged here, as your kids are learning lots of brand new faces and names in a small amount of time and all at once! Soooo ... what a great time to implement some summer social activities that will aid this.  This may even be helpful to begin working on a couple weeks prior to the start of school.

I really like a lot of the Pancake Manor songs (their sound is easy and enjoyable for all).  I have included two video versions of the same song below.  I find that some of my clients who demonstrate shyness or social withdrawal/disinterest/sensitivity(especially kids on the ASD spectrum), benefit from this method.  

METHOD: With these clients, I will sometimes implement a peer awareness activity first using names paired with animal or fictional/cartoon characters.  I find that these clients are often more accepting of and willing to give visual attention/participation with animal/character pictures over pictures of actual people faces.  This is a "meet the child where they are" type of method.  Once your child is comfortable with this, begin to transition into using actual peer faces.  Depending on how sensitive your child is in this area, you may want to transition with one of the methods listed below:

• Transition to peer faces by only adding in one peer face with each repetition of the song, keeping the rest of the song/activity the same as originally introduced (with animal/character pics).
• Transitioning with peer faces, but have them more cartoon based ... then move little by little to actual face pics.
• Transition by implementing 1 actual peer face (your child's actual peer) at a time.  This is if you are trying to work on specific peers in your child's life (neighbors, campers, family members, familiar persons, classmates, etc).  

The Name Song by: Pancake Manor
 (song version with animals/characters)

The Name Song by: Pancake Manor (song version with peer faces)









Have fun!

Jessica

2015 Carolina Children's Charity Run/Walk Event!

Hey Everyone!

Below you will find info on an upcoming CCC (Carolina Children's Charity) event.  CCC is a local charity which awards financial grants to Lowcountry children with birth defects and/or childhood diseases from birth through 18 years of age. Awesome cause, awesome people! See below!

Jessica

Register Online for 2015 CCC Run and Walk  

ATTENTION FIREFIGHTERS, DIPLOMATS, FAMILY, FRIENDS & HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS…

CAROLINA CHILDREN'S CHARITY (CCC) WANTS YOU TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A LOWCOUNTRY CHILD!!!

Support CCC and our 2nd Biggest Fundraiser!!!

- Join us on Saturday, 9/26/2015 @ Hanahan Recreation Center - 3100 Mabeline Road.

- Run begins @ 8:30am and Walk begins @ 8:35am. Race day Registration begins @ 6:45am. **Arrive early**   Pre-registration is highly recommended.

- Team members can pick up their packets from 12pm – 6pm on Thursday, September 24th

   and from 12pm – 6pm on Friday, September 25^th @ the Lowcountry Firefighter Support Team office

   6390 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29418.

- Participate in our 12^th Annual 5K Run / Family Fun Walk. (Stroller and wheelchair friendly)

  Fast pace walkers (able to finish in under an hour) can participate in the 5K.

Invite your Family, Friends, Neighbors and Co-Workers

to participate with you.

- Register as an Individual or as part of a Team.

- Raise money to help Lowcountry children with Birth Defects and Diseases.

- Take the opportunity to meet CCC Diplomats and learn how your contributions help.

- Enjoy the Fun for children of all ages. We will have Refreshments, Live Music, Kid’s Activities, Face Painting, Fire Trucks, Clown, Mascots and more.                                           

- Make memories by joining in the fun and make a difference in the life of a child.

- Win a Prize. Prizes will be given to Runners, Walkers and Teams in several categories.

- Register @ www.cccrunwalk2015.eventbrite.com or send registration forms and checks to the CCC office @ 1064 Gardner Road, Suite 112B, Charleston, SC 29407.  Make sure your team members know to include the team name on all entries, so that you are credited for all participants. If you are forming a new team this year, please let Shannan know so she can include your team name on the online registration form.

            

- Call 843-769-7555 for more information or visit www.carolinachildren.org

ALL MONEY RAISED HERE STAYS HERE!

Man in the Can - The Life of a Dreamer (Autism Awareness)

Well, this got my heart! 

Patrick lost his job and both of his parents, but he never gave up on his dream. Here's a little smackeral of autism awareness and inspiration for ya! (click on the video link below) 

Keep on singing,

Jessica

Great Children's Books by Local Author!

                 

                        It Was a Wild Ride, Even for Clyde!

 My Mom Thinks I'm a Quack Because I Quack!

                          

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

I wanted to introduce you all to a couple of children's books!

My Mom Thinks I'm a Quack Because I Quack! has a good message on individuality, and It Was a Wild Ride Even for Clyde! is a great reminder of how important it is to listen to Mom! Both of these books are by local author, Brent Paape. I'm happy to have these as part of my collection of awesome resources!  Click on the links above to view and order from Amazon. Enjoy!

-Jessica

What Happens to Your Brain Under the Influence of Music? (Article by: Alasdair Wilkins)

"From the perspective of neuroscience, listening to music is one of the most complex things you can do. Many parts of your brain have to work together to comprehend even the simplest tune. So what is music really doing to our minds?" 

Hello Friends!

What a great article! This is an easy read with good concrete biological evidence/ examples (without being too overwhelming)!  Click here for the whole article.  Below are some at-a-glance bullet points ... good stuff! 

Jessica

• The prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and many parts of the temporal lobe all go into our ability to recognize the tone of a given piece of music. Taken all together, this means that music already brings in three out of four of the lobes of the human brain - frontal, parietal, and temporal
• (So what about the fourth lobe? Yep, even the Occipital is engaged ... ) Another intriguing side-effect of listening to music is the activation of the visual cortex, found in the back of the brain in the occipital lobe. 
• Part of the reason that music tends to be so meaningful to us is that it's deeply intertwined with memory.
• And let's not forget the language aspect of music. Obviously, not all songs have lyrics, but those that do draw upon the language centers of the brain. The two main parts of the brain associated with language are Wernicke's area and Broca's area, the former of which is found in the temporal lobe while the latter is in the frontal lobe. 
• Previous research has tended to indicate that Wernicke's area is more crucial to language comprehension, while Broca's area is more tied up in language production, though it now appears that there's significant overlap. In any event, we can add them to the list of brain regions tied up in music comprehension.
• A good song can trigger a cascade of secondary responses, often involuntarily. An obvious example of this is the propensity to move in time with music - not so much dancing, which is an active, independent process, but simple motions like tapping one's toe along with the song. This is caused by stimulation of neurons in the motor cortex.
• Even better, the brain hangs onto the ability to understand the emotional impact of music, even if the finer points of comprehension are lost. One study, for instance, focused on a woman with damage to her temporal lobe - and, by extension, her auditory cortex - that made it impossible for her to comprehend different melodies and other basic parts of musical structure. Even so, she was still able to read the basic emotional content of the music, respond appropriately to "happy" and "sad" music in turn.

-Alasdair Wilkins 

Click here to read the whole article

Autism related summer reads!

Summer reading anyone? Here are some awesome good reads related to Autism/ASD/Autism Awareness ...

Follow this link for 400+ books to help you learn more about Autism

 

You Are Stronger Than You Think! (Psychology Today article)

Hello There!

I read this on the Psychology Today website, and thought it had some really good points. So, I thought I'd share this with you all as it surely applies to so many of us.  

Jessica

Why You're Stronger Than You Think

.. and how you can prove it to yourself.

Post published by Amy Morin on Apr 07, 2015 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Source:  Stuart Monk/Shutterstock

Whether you think you can’t handle being rejected by a love interest, or you’re convinced you can't deal with the uncertainty and discomfort associated with making a career change, second guessing your ability to tolerate distress will only hold you back in life.

In fact, the more you doubt your mental strength, the more important it is for you to prove to yourself that you're stronger than you know.

Allowing exaggeratedly negative self-talk to dictate your behavior will prevent you from reaching your potential. Just because you think you're not mentally strong enough to do or handle something doesn’t mean it’s true: You’re likely able to tolerate much more than you think. 

The Mental Strength to Handle Discomfort

Choosing to avoid uncomfortable feelings offers immediate short-term relief, but avoidance can have long-term consequences:

• If you think, “I can’t stand being hungry,” you may eat to avoid the possibility that you’ll experience hunger, grabbing an extra snack before you head out of the house, or stopping to pick up an extra bite to eat before your commute home. Even when you don’t feel hungry, you may decide not to take any chances and eat as a preventative measure. Eventually, your waistline may suffer the consequences.
• Thinking, “I can’t deal with my job any longer,” will cause you to exaggerate your inability to tolerate stress. You may waste your evenings dreading going to work and spend your workday complaining about your stress level. As a result, you'll inadvertently increase your stress and reinforce to yourself that you're just not strong enough to handle it. Eventually, you'll likely quit—not because you really wanted to, but because you convinced yourself you weren't strong enough to handle the job.
• When you think, “I can’t give a presentation to the whole company,” it reinforces to you that you can't tolerate discomfort. Avoiding a public speaking opportunity, simply because you don't want to deal with your fear, embarrassment, or discomfort could prevent you from establishing yourself as an authority or getting a promotion.

Why Believing Your Self-Doubt is a Bad Idea

Just because you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean you need to give up right away. Prove to yourself that you're strong enough to tolerate more than you think:

• Thinking you can’t stand something influences how you feel. You’re likely to feel a sense of dread, anxiety, or even anger as you approach something you think you can’t tolerate. As you experience more negative emotions, your thoughts can become exaggeratedly negative, creating a cycle of self-doubt.
• You'll struggle to reach your goals. Quitting because you don't want to be uncomfortable will prevent you from growing. The greatest things in life tend to happen outside our comfort zones. Doubting your ability to step outside of yours will keep you stuck. 
• Giving up can become a habit. Quitting every time you face a new challenge can change how you view yourself. You may begin to believe that you’re weak or a failure because you can’t seem to stick with things long enough to see positive results.

When you think you're not strong enough, prove yourself wrong. If you think you can’t stand something for one more minute, stick around for two minutes just to prove to yourself that you can do it. If you think you can’t stand one more week at the office, resolve to work at least two more weeks. Make a conscious decision that you won’t allow negative thoughts to limit your potential.

This doesn’t mean you need to work at a job you hate for 30 years just to prove you can, but by working one day longer than you thought you could, you can prove to yourself that you’re mentally stronger than you gave yourself credit for. If and when you do choose to quit, then it will be on your terms, reflecting a decision based on a choice to improve your life, not made because you had to run away from uncomfortable feelings.

Source: Fotolia.com

Conduct behavioral experiments that prove your self-doubt wrong and eventually, you'll change the way you think. You’ll begin to see that you have more mental strength than you ever imagined. You’ll be less likely to think about all the things you can't do, and more likely to recognize all the choices you have when you're your strongest and best self.

Finding Nemo outdoor movie and family fun stuff this Friday eve at Cinebarre! Free admission!

For more information, visit the DNLCC's Facebook page (The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center)    https://www.facebook.com/DNLCC1991?fref=nf

Happy Siblings Day! "MY Brother" (6 yr. old tells about her brother w/Down Syndrome)

HAPPY SIBLINGS DAY!

MY BROTHER

A six year old tells about her brother with Down Syndrome

I found this sweet post on the National Down Syndrome Society's FB page  https://www.facebook.com/NDSS1979?fref=nf .

Siblings of children with special needs really face a lot both with a different family dynamic from many of their peers as well as environmental/society factors involved.  However, one of the many many beautiful benefits for these siblings is an increased understanding of some of the most important things in life that effect US ALL ... things like wisdom, compassion, and a greater understanding of how "people are".  They also hold insight on how to immensely love and accept others, despite differences, and they learn this very necessary skill far sooner than most of us.  This takes the rest of the world much longer to learn!  That leads me to my final point about these awesome siblings ... and that is they are natural born teachers.  They show us how we should be loving, how we should be acting, and how to resolve our fears.

Through all the hard times ... still ... what a gift it is for the a child to be a sibling of a child with special needs  AND what a gift it is for a child with special needs to have such a sibling.

WELL ... I thought that was the end of today's blog post UNTIL I came across this gem online ... please read and share with that boy or girl you know that needs it!

Dear Sibling to a Child with special needs ... Let me tell you why you are amazing! (Letter to a sibling)


Jessica Daisi

Microsoft Launches Pilot Program to Hire Adults with Autism

April 08, 2015

Microsoft announced a new pilot program to hire individuals with autism by working with agency Specialisterne, CBS reported.

"It’s simple, Microsoft is stronger when we expand opportunity and we have a diverse workforce that represents our customers," wrote Mary Ellen Smith, Microsoft's corporate vice president of worldwide operations, on the company's blog.

"People with autism bring strengths that we need at Microsoft, each individual is different, some have amazing ability to retain information, think at a level of detail and depth or excel in math or code. It’s a talent pool that we want to continue to bring to Microsoft!" Smith wrote.  

For Smith, the motivation to hire individuals on the spectrum is also personal: she has a 19-year-old son with autism. 

"This represents only one of the ways we are evolving our approach to increase the diversity of Microsoft’s workforce," Smith continued. "We believe there is a lot of untapped potential in the marketplace and we are encouraged by the strong level of readiness from the vendors who cater to this segment."

"Microsoft's announcement is another major turning point in increasing employment of adults with autism," said Lisa Goring, executive vice president of programs and services at Autism Speaks. "Tech jobs offer some people with autism an opportunity to prove their skills in this highly competitive market."

Autism Speaks is committed to helping individuals on the spectrum find employment. We've launched three great new employment tools for the autism community. Check them out here.

For more employment resources, go here. Also join our LinkedIn group, the Autism Employment Network, powered by Autism Speaks.

Candidates interested in the pilot program can email resumes to msautism@microsoft.com. 

- AutismSpeaks.org (source)

Therapeutic Dream Catchers!

I had to share this! I have done activities with dream catchers in session before so my eye was drawn to this one that I saw someone else post.  So, I decided to try it in session! Anyhow, I did make an alteration or two, mainly to personalize things a little more for my client.  Also, we used real feathers as well as drawing them (we drew some on as seen in the picture above and we also attached string to the pic and had a couple hanging off the picture from the string).

You could alter this activity depending on your specific client scenario.  See below for this activity idea ...





Directions:  

1) Draw/pattern of dream catcher
2) Decorate dream catcher 
3)  Have the client/patient write out negative emotions, triggers, or experiences. (This would either be accompanying a discussion or follow up to discussion.  Depending on the client, he/she may want to jot these things down during discussion, then transfer over to the dream catcher page).
4) "TRAP" the negative thoughts/triggers/emotions (You could even take a few moments to have the client close his/her eyes and visualize this).  
5) Have the client/patient surround the dream catcher with strengths, positive traits, activities, and other things/people the client loves.  (Again, you may want to take moments to visualize that all those positive "wanted" things are floating free for him/her to have).  

I used quiet music which featured a Native American wood flute and nature sounds in the background.  

Enjoy!

Jessica Daisi

Are you having a "Mind Full Monday" or a "Mindful Monday"?

Hello!

I hope your Monday has been good so far. Remember, if experiencing Monday stress (or stress any day of the week), check out my last blog post on Body Scans ("Just Checking In"). Also, I have an "Oh Monday" post you may enjoy!

Anyhow, here is some follow up to my last post (Body Scans/"Just Checking In").  Here is some of the science around mindful meditation/relaxation:

 Body Scan Meditation

Why It Works

Body scan meditation is a great place to start for an understanding of the ancient and powerful practice of meditation. Meditation, as you surely know, has gone mainstream. It’s now a regular part of recovery programs in hospitals across the country.

According to brain imaging studies [S-4] [S-5] [S-6], meditation can lower high blood pressure and lessen chronic pain, anxiety and depression. It alters regions of the brain associated with memory, self-awareness and compassion.

In a study conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital, participants attended weekly 2.5-hour group meetings in which they practiced mindfulness meditation. At the end of the 8 weeks, the meditators felt more capable of acting with awareness, observing the world around them and remaining nonjudgmental.

So how exactly does meditation reduce anxiety? In a 2013 study, scientists at Wake Forest identified the brain functions involved in the process. While meditating, participants showed greater brain activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the area that controls worrying. And when activity increased in the anterior cingulate cortex (the part of the brain that controls thinking and emotions), anxiety levels also decreased. The best part, at least for beginner meditators? You don't have to sit for 30 minutes to reap the benefits: According to the lead author of the study, Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D, "just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation can help reduce normal everyday anxiety." [S-30]

-  Happify.com (Source)

"Just Checking In" - BODY SCAN for Self Care/Stress Management

"Hey, just checking in!"

I've noticed I often start out messages, notes, emails, etc. with that little tag, "Just checking in!"
Well today I incorporated a self care/body awareness technique that reminded me of this.  Some call it a BODY SCAN, but I like to call it, "Just Checking In!"
Doing a body scan exercise only takes moments, and it goes a long way in both increasing your self awareness AND decreasing the progression of things you are allowing within yourself that are mentally, emotionally, and/or physically damaging.  

A Body Scan is just that.  It's you taking some moments to STOP and Check In. CHECK OUT of what you are presently doing  (working, thinking, stressing, staring at a computer, etc) and CHECK IN to your body.  This create's self and body awareness.  Why is this important? Here's why ... 

1)  PHYSICALLY - you become aware of tension building in your body (which can lead to muscle fatigue and tension, headaches, body aches and pain, etc).  Once you are tuned into and become aware of the physical manifestations of stress on your body, you can take steps to alleviate these physical symptoms. You can recognize this sooner, in the beginning stages, rather than later, when it's become actual pain/ailment. 

2) MENTALLY - First off, you are taking a mental break, which is important for more reasons that the obvious.  Not only does it allow you to take a much needed mental breather, you will also find that the quality of your work and your endurance improves upon return.  Secondly, you become more aware and tuned in to your thoughts and how they are affecting your physical body.  When I do this exercise and I find that I have head tension and my brain feels like it's going a million miles an hour trying to get things accomplished, I make a point to focus on my head muscles and my head in general (even picturing my own brain).  Then I tell myself things like, "It's ok, you are working hard and you will get things accomplished.  Relax and then keep going.  It's all good." (Ha, yes, I'm encouraging you to talk to yourself!)

3) EMOTIONALLY - Emotions such as stress and worry and fear (and others ... fill in your own blanks), as you know, have an effect on us physically and mentally.  It works the other way around as well.  Our mental state and physical state can lead to certain emotions which often only continue the cycle.  So! Doing a Body Scan helps us to also become aware of our emotions, identify if we are feeling stress or worry (etc), and also see how it's effecting us in other areas.  We can then correct these, therefore, stopping the cycle.  

So, why wouldn't a quick little exercise like this NOT be an absolute must? Easy, quick, convenient, and it goes a loooooong way.  It could also keep you from developing that annoying headache (or neck pain or stomach issues etc etc) you "seem to get" at the end of a work day or certain project or even in a non work scenario (relationship stress, facing new self goals, etc).  

There are various techniques, ranging from more in depth exercises (similar to PMR exercises and such) to quick, on-the-spot exercises.  Today, though, I would specifically like to focus on a brief version that can be incorporated as yet another type of tool for you and your self care.

* NOTE: Be sure to only do this exercise within a safe environment as it is an exercise that is focused around deep inner concentration.  (Do not do this exercise while driving or during any other safety compromising activity.) 

Here's a quick (but potent) BODY SCAN option:

1) As always, get yourself in a comfortable position.  Close your eyes if able.  

2) Tune out of your external environment and begin to tune into your own body and self.

3) Notice right off what is going on with your body.  Do you feel tension anywhere? Do you feel any aches anywhere? If so, where exactly? Do you notice any dominant or repeating thoughts or feelings that may be leading to this tension? (For example, I may close my eyes and after tuning into my body, I notice that my head feels tense and my mind feels racy.)

3) Become aware of your breathing.  Begin to take more fluid, natural breaths.  Focus on your breathes.  

4) Picture yourself 'breathing in" relaxation and peace with each inhale, and "breathing out" tension and stress with each exhale. 

5) Just continue to notice any places within your body that need attention.  Breath out breaths through this area, and picture that the muscles in that area are relaxing with each breath.  Your mind determines what your body does after all, doesn't it? So tell it to relax. The main purposes of breathing are to breathe life giving oxygen in and to release carbon dioxide (released because it's not what our body needs).  So, it makes sense to breathe in what we need, and breathe out what we don't need.  

6) While you are guiding your breathes and relaxing tensions in your body, also allow yourself to casually notice any thoughts that are coming into your head. Recognize any that may be leading to your body tensions, and release those thoughts.  Each time those thoughts some into your mind, again, just picture yourself releasing them.  Offer in thoughts that are positive as it's these positive thoughts that are actually what help us to "get things done".  

7) Do your best to remained focused inwardly.  However, if interruptions come through, just acknowledge them and then let them slip away.  Then refocus on your body scan. Continue to check in with all parts of your body.

8) When you are ready, gently open your eyes and return to your work or present activity with a better state of mind and relaxed body.  

So ... guess what? These types of exercises not only help "in the moment", they also help to retrain your brain over time.  As you continue to recognize and release negative thought patterns, you will notice that your natural tendencies will begin to naturally shift to positive/healthy thought patterns.  

Have a great weekend, friends!

Jessica Daisi

50 Strategies to Beat Anxiety - Psychology Today

50 Strategies to Beat Anxiety 

Many take just minutes; at least one should work for you.

Post published by Alice Boyes Ph.D. on Mar 03, 2015 in In Practice

Source:  Aubord Dulac/Shutterstock

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

10 Truths We Forget too Easily, Dr. Travis Bradberry

I came across this today, and thought I would share it with all of you ... so much truth here.  I'm printing it up, not only for my therapy practice but for my own self! 

Jessica

10 Truths We Forget too Easily

It’s surprising how easy it is to lose sight of the important things in life. 

Busy schedules and weekly routines have a tendency to put the brain on autopilot.

Some of life’s essential truths need repeating.  

Keep this list handy … any time you need a boost.

1. BEING BUSY DOES NOT EQUAL BEING PRODUCTIVE

Look at everyone around you. They all seem so busy—running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?

Success doesn’t come from movement and activity. It comes from focus—from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.

You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, you’re the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.

2. GREAT SUCCESS IS OFTEN PRECEDED BY FAILURE

You will never experience true success until you learn to embrace failure. Your mistakes pave the way for you to succeed by revealing when you’re on the wrong path.

The biggest breakthroughs typically come when you’re feeling the most frustrated and the most stuck. It’s this frustration that forces you to think differently, to look outside the box and see the solution that you’ve been missing.

Success takes patience and the ability to maintain a good attitude even while suffering for what you believe in.

3. FEAR IS THE #1 SOURCE OF REGRET

When it’s all said and done, you will lament the chances you didn’t take far more than you will your failures. Don’t be afraid to take risks. I often hear people say, “What’s the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you?” Yet, death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.

The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while you’re still alive.

4. YOUR SELF-WORTH MUST COME FROM WITHIN

When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from comparing yourself to others, you are no longer the master of your own destiny. When you feel good about something that you’ve done, don’t allow anyone’s opinions or accomplishments to take that away from you.

While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don’t have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people’s opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within.

Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain—you’re never as good or bad as they say you are.

5. YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THOSE YOU ASSOCIATE WITH

You should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?

Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.

6. LIFE IS SHORT

None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. Yet, when someone dies unexpectedly it causes us to take stock of our own life: what’s really important, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.

Loss is a raw, visceral reminder of the frailty of life. It shouldn’t be.

Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift and you’re bound to make the most of the blessing you’ve been given. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one.

After all, a great day begins with a great mindset.

7. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APOLOGY TO FORGIVE

Life goes a lot smoother once you let go of grudges and forgive even those who never said they were sorry. Grudges let negative events from your past ruin today’s happiness. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your joy in life.

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can have devastating health consequences. Researchers at Emory University have shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease.

When you forgive someone, it doesn’t condone their actions; it simply frees you from being their eternal victim.

8. YOU'RE LIVING THE LIFE YOU'VE CREATED

You are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations.
The circumstances you’re living in today are your own—you created them. Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s probably because you’re afraid to take the risks necessary to achieve your goals and live your dreams.
When it’s time to take action, remember that it’s always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you don’t.

9. LIVE IN THE MOMENT

You can’t reach your full potential until you learn to live your life in the present.
No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. It’s impossible to be happy if you’re constantly somewhere else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment.

To help yourself live in the moment, you must do two things:
1) Accept your past. If you don’t make peace with your past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will create your future.
2) Accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now. As Mark Twain once said, “Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”

10. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE - EMBRACE IT

Only when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if you’re going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates.
You’re bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away.

After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Life doesn’t stop for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, you’ll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before they’re gone.


- Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-author of the #1 bestselling book,  Emotional Intelligence 2.0,

"If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

This Autism Speaks film delves into just how unique every individual with autism spectrum

disorders (ASD) is. There is a saying among the autism community, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." This film resonates that message. 

For more information on this story, visit Autism Speaks at

https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/video-inside-autism-spectrum

Jessica Daisi

Cognitive Distortions

Taking inventory, recognizing, and monitoring thought patterns can help to shed light on where one's self destructive behaviors originate.  Once these thought patterns are identified, we may then begin to take control of our thoughts (redirecting negative thought patterns, talking your own self up rather than down, developing goal oriented endeavors, etc).  

Below is a list of Cognitive Distortions and examples.  Identifying one's own type of thought distortions is the first step in developing a more healthy mindset, increasing self esteem and positive self image, and unfolding the hope in moving forward into better and more rewarding thought processes and quality of life.  

Look for patterns in your own thought habits, including specific reoccurring thoughts.

Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive distortions are irrational thoughts that can influence our emotions.
Everyone experiences cognitive distortions to some degree, but in their more
extreme forms they can be maladaptive

Magnification and Minimization:
Exaggerating or minimizing the importance of
events. One might believe their own achievements are unimportant, or that their
mistakes are excessively important.

Catastrophizing:
Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.

Overgeneralization:
Making broad interpretations from a single or few events. “I
felt awkward during my first job interview. I am always so awkward.”

Magical thinking: 
The belief that acts will influence unrelated situations. “I am a
good person—Bad things shouldn’t happen to me.”

Personalization:
The belief that one is responsible for events outside of their
own control. “My mother is always upset. It must be because I have not done
enough to help her.”

Jumping to conclusions:
Interpreting the meaning of a situation with little or no
evidence.

Mind reading: 
Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without
adequate evidence. “She would not go on a date with me. She must think I
am ugly.”

Fortune telling: 
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without
adequate evidence.

Emotional reasoning: 
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things
really are. “I feel like a bad friend, therefore I must be a bad friend.”

Disqualifying the positive:
Recognizing only negative aspects of a situation
while ignoring the positive. One might receive many compliments on an
evaluation but focus on the single piece of negative feedback.

Should statements: 
The belief that things should be a certain way. “I should
always be friendly.”

All-or-nothing thinking:
Thinking in absolutes such as “always”, “never”, or
“every”. “I never do a good job on my work.”

- Jessica Daisi