Managing Emotions Archives

A Simple Strategy to Help You Feel Better

How many hundreds of times have the words “I can’t help how I feel!” come out of your mouth? You probably started saying it as a child, and then grew to believe it as an adult.

But what if I told you that this isn’t true? What if I told you that you can help how you feel and you can feel better—because your feelings are not facts.

**Most of your emotional reactions in life, how you feel about certain situations, are actually dictated by what you think.**

Your mind leads and your heart follows. Sounds counter-intuitive, right?

Consider this example. You’re […]

2021-08-27T04:13:35+00:00By Erin Olivo|Feel Better About Yourself, Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions|Comments Off

5 Signs You Should See A Therapist

One of the most common questions people ask me when they find out I’m a psychologist is, “How do you know when it’s time to see a therapist?”

We all experience periods of feeling sad, stressed out, anxious or depressed, but these are usually short lived. If you’re experiencing any of the signs below, it’s probably time to seek professional help.

Your mood or emotions are extreme and getting in the way of living the life you want to be living.

A tell tale sign that you might need a mental health diagnosis is when your mood is […]

2021-08-27T04:13:36+00:00By Erin Olivo|Feel Better About Yourself, Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions, Anxiety Relief, Depression|Comments Off

How to Take Charge of Your Emotions to Reduce Stress

Are you tired of being stressed out all the time?

Do you want to change but aren’t sure what to do?

Well, you’re not alone and I’m here to help!

If you want to know how to reduce stress you need to figure out what you’re feeling. This means identifying the specific emotion that’s causing your stress—because unless you know what you’re feeling, you can’t change.

As I often say on the Wise Mind Living blog, your stress can always be boiled down to one of the big eight emotions. There are only eight emotion families to choose from […]

2021-08-27T04:13:37+00:00By Erin Olivo|Stress Less, Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions|Comments Off

Spring Has Finally Arrived

It’s 57 degrees and sunny in New York City as I write this, and it feels like spring has finally arrived.

And I feel good—really good! So good that I’m feeling energized and motivated to tackle my to-do list and take on the world.

But I know that sometimes you need more than a sunny day to cheer you up, let alone motivate you. I also know that facing your fears can be an excellent motivator. Really! Facing your fears will also bring joy to your life.

So give it a try. I wrote a blog post for Psychology Today on […]

2021-08-27T04:13:37+00:00By Erin Olivo|Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions|Comments Off

How To Fit A Mindfulness Practice In To Your Busy Schedule

I know that many of you would like to start a mindfulness practice but aren’t sure where to begin.

Or you’re wondering how to fit this in to your already busy schedule. I have a solution for you: an informal mindfulness practice!

There are two types of mindfulness practices: formal and informal. Both are key to Wise Mind Living, and you can do both or alternate depending on your schedule.

A formal practice is the version most people imagine when they think of meditation – sitting in a quiet space for about 20-minutes, […]

2021-08-27T04:13:38+00:00By Erin Olivo|Live Mindfully, Wise Mind Living, Meditation, Managing Emotions, Anxiety Relief|Comments Off

The Best Way to Achieve Your Goals

We’re almost two weeks into the New Year—are you on your way to achieve goals or resolutions? (If you’re undecided about making a resolution, read this post.)

Or are you feeling stressed out about how to achieve your goals?

If your stress levels are rising, I think I know why: distressing emotions! This is the most common obstacle everyone faces no matter what goal you’re working toward.

Take a moment and really think about what’s been holding you back. Why haven’t you lost those last few pounds or asked for […]

2021-08-27T04:13:38+00:00By Erin Olivo|Build A Meaningful Career, Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions|Comments Off

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: The Downside of Change

So how’s your New Year’s resolution going? Have you made it to the gym, quit smoking or stuck to your new diet plan?

If you’re like most people, you’ve already given up on your resolution by now. Am I right?

According to researchers at the University of Scranton, only eight percent of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions achieve their goal. (Read this post on how to make resolutions that last).

Not being realistic about the goals you set is one of the biggest mistakes people […]

2021-08-27T04:13:40+00:00By Erin Olivo|Feel Better About Yourself, Wise Mind Living, Managing Emotions, Acceptance|Comments Off