We are now several weeks into the “new norm” that COVID-19 has quickly ushered us into. Working from home. Parenting from home. Teaching from home. Worshipping from home. All the things from home. As part of this new norm, I’ve…
In their Transtheoretical Model, James Prochaska and Carlo DiClimente identify five stages in the process of change. Basically, you have pre-change, a beginning, middle and an end or continuance. When it comes to change, different people have more or less…
Weeks into sheltering in place, I at times find myself growing weary of continually adjusting to new ways of doing things, changes in work and life flows, and maintaining social distance. I long to be with people more freely, to…
Recently, I have been reflecting a lot about the mindful attitude. It seems to me that attitudes are composed of three elements: perspective, emotion/mood, and intention. Perspective Perspectives have a kind of solidity that thoughts and emotions alone do not…
Reports of record-high water levels flooding communities or water breaking through sandbag barriers or dikes are enough to create stress and anxiety for anyone living or working nearby. The anticipation of destruction created by flooding can summon up feelings of…
By Bob VandePol, MSW “No way. That is NOT how I walk!” Those words formed on my lips long ago in an 8:00 a.m. Anatomy & Kinesiology college class. The professor had just defined walking as “the repetition of leaning…
If you or someone you love struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), world events occurring as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus are likely creating a perfect storm feeding the symptoms of OCD and making typical treatments more difficult. Understanding Obsessive…
Lately, I feel dulled, shelved, congealed, relegated to my own suspended animation in my own personal deprivation tank. Like I’ve been notified that life has been temporarily canceled. I’m not complaining; others have it far worse than I do. But…
When older adults begin to notice their memory is not as sharp as it used to be, they sometimes fear they are developing dementia. This is especially true for people with a family history, who may think to themselves, “Grandma…