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Having a tough day? Getting you back on track with gratitude.

Mindful Living

In March we are going to be dedicating the month to self care, mindfulness, and adjusting our sometimes negative thought processes. There are many ways to do this from breathing techniques, writing in a journal, taking a yoga class and much more. 

It is easy to become pessimistic in this day in age. Especially when we are all bombarded with negative and tragic news stories, and the stresses of surviving every day life have become so overwhelming. We are a society that tends to rely on external factors for happiness, rather than our own internal factors. We are a society that wants instant relief and satisfaction, and long gone are the days when we would take the time to cultivate happiness.

A lot of times we can let a negative or stressful moment take over our entire day. Things like someone cutting you off in traffic, or the weather shows rain and clouds, or you spilled your coffee on the way to work, happen every day. And they have the potential to draw us into a cycle of negative self talk, negative interactions with others, and an overall morose attitude.

Over at mindful.org they often explore techniques on how to keep control over your positive mood and the day ahead. In their article entitled, A 5-Minute Gratitude Practice: Focus on the Good by Tapping into your Senses, they discuss some ways to do just that. We’ve tried it, and it actually works! Here are some points to focus on during your practice:

1. Use the breath to anchor yourself in the present moment.

2. Next, bring to mind a sight you are grateful for.

3. Now, shift to a scent you appreciate.

4. Moving on, tune into any sounds around you.

5. The world of touch and texture beckons us next.

6. Shift to noticing and appreciating objects around you.

7. As you end this practice, carry this attitude of gratitude with you.

Head on over to the article, and read more about these focus points during the 5-minute gratitude practice!

Dr. Melissa Estavillo, PsyD

Dr. Melissa Estavillo, PsyD

Dr. Melissa Estavillo is a Licensed Psychologist and founder of Biltmore Psychology and Counseling. With over 7 years of experience, she specializes in both individual and couples therapy in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.

She integrates complementary methodologies and techniques stemming from Emotionally Focused Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, and Other Evidence-Based Practices to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client.

Book Now

Having a tough day? Getting you back on track with gratitude.

Mindful Living

In March we are going to be dedicating the month to self care, mindfulness, and adjusting our sometimes negative thought processes. There are many ways to do this from breathing techniques, writing in a journal, taking a yoga class and much more. 

It is easy to become pessimistic in this day in age. Especially when we are all bombarded with negative and tragic news stories, and the stresses of surviving every day life have become so overwhelming. We are a society that tends to rely on external factors for happiness, rather than our own internal factors. We are a society that wants instant relief and satisfaction, and long gone are the days when we would take the time to cultivate happiness.

A lot of times we can let a negative or stressful moment take over our entire day. Things like someone cutting you off in traffic, or the weather shows rain and clouds, or you spilled your coffee on the way to work, happen every day. And they have the potential to draw us into a cycle of negative self talk, negative interactions with others, and an overall morose attitude.

Over at mindful.org they often explore techniques on how to keep control over your positive mood and the day ahead. In their article entitled, A 5-Minute Gratitude Practice: Focus on the Good by Tapping into your Senses, they discuss some ways to do just that. We’ve tried it, and it actually works! Here are some points to focus on during your practice:

1. Use the breath to anchor yourself in the present moment.

2. Next, bring to mind a sight you are grateful for.

3. Now, shift to a scent you appreciate.

4. Moving on, tune into any sounds around you.

5. The world of touch and texture beckons us next.

6. Shift to noticing and appreciating objects around you.

7. As you end this practice, carry this attitude of gratitude with you.

Head on over to the article, and read more about these focus points during the 5-minute gratitude practice!

Dr. Melissa Estavillo, PsyD

Dr. Melissa Estavillo, PsyD

Dr. Melissa Estavillo is a Licensed Psychologist and founder of Biltmore Psychology and Counseling. With over 7 years of experience, she specializes in both individual and couples therapy in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.

She integrates complementary methodologies and techniques stemming from Emotionally Focused Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, and Other Evidence-Based Practices to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client.

Book Now

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