Genuine Life Blog
Dr. Jen offers food for thought in her Genuine Life blog, writing about a variety of topics with a keen focus on whole-person wellbeing.
Coping with Coronavirus Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety,Blog,Breath Work,Emotions,Exercise,Meditation,Mindfulness,Self-care,Self-compassion,Stress ResilienceLife in the time of coronavirus. We are living through a remarkably stressful time, with global scope and interventions unlike any health crisis we have ever seen. With so many rapid changes occurring related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are understandably feeling anxious and stressed...
The Lazy Psychologist in the Kitchen: Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf with Veggies
Blog,Food Affects Mood,Recipe,Self-care,Wellbeing,WellnessAfter a long time away, the Lazy Psychologist is back in the kitchen! As we move into Fall and get closer to the season of overindulgence, it seems like a good time to bring you another delicious, healthy recipe. If you’re a new reader, you may be wondering why on...
The Tabby Buddha: Cody’s Story
Animal Companions,Blog,Wellbeing,WellnessIn this blog post, I share a personal account of how a very special tabby cat made a big difference in my life. Why share a story about a cat on my mental health blog? Well, dear readers, Cody was no ordinary cat. His story is an inspirational one, filled...
Overcoming The Hump Effect
ADHD,Blog,Executive Functions,Expectations,Motivation,Self-compassion,Wellbeing,WellnessYou know you’ve got to get going on that unexciting task. It just has to get done, and soon. So why are you having SUCH A HARD TIME getting started? You’re dragging your feet and having an internal tantrum that could rival a three year old: “But I don’t wanna...
Start 2019 Off In A Healthy Way By Writing a Positivity Journal
Anxiety,Blog,Depression,Emotions,Gratitude,Journal Writing,Positivity,Self-care,Wellbeing,WellnessHappy New Year! Let’s commit together to starting 2019 in a healthy way. I’d like to invite you to join me in writing a positivity journal for six weeks, from early January through Valentine’s Day. It takes just 5-10 minutes a day and offers the possibility of improving your mood by...
Radical Self-Care: The Practice of Being Good to Yourself Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
Acceptance,Blog,Compassion,Emotions,Self-care,Self-compassion,Wellbeing,WellnessHave you ever gotten really frustrated with yourself for making a mistake or struggling mightily with with something? Have you ever had difficulty accepting some part of yourself or your life that you don’t really like? Have you ever felt so beaten down and overwhelmed by your life that it seemed...
Holding Mind in Mind: A Mindful Mentalization-Based Skill to Improve Relationships
Blog,Compassion,Meditation,Mindfulness,Relationships,Wellbeing,WellnessHave you ever tried to hold someone else’s mind in your mind? Let’s do it together right now. Imagine that one of your good friends or close family members is having a good day. Maybe they had a big success at work, maybe they got a good report from their...
Anxiety is a Pushy, Self-Important, Exaggerating, Pain-In-The-Patootie
Anxiety,Blog,Emotions,Mindfulness,Wellbeing,WellnessAnxiety can take a perfectly lovely, intelligent, capable person and turn them into a cowering, fearful mess. In fact, anxiety is infamous for its tendency to grossly over-exaggerate potential danger. To make its point, anxiety will hijack your nervous system and convince you that your life is in immediate peril...
Experiencing Unpleasant Emotions? Invite Them In for Tea: The Counterintuitive Practice of Creating Space for Our Difficult Emotions
Blog,Compassion,Emotions,Meditation,Mindfulness,Wellbeing,WellnessWhat do you do when you feel intense upset, anxiety, anger, or despair? Many of us want to get rid of the unpleasant emotions as soon as possible because unpleasant emotions are, well, unpleasant. We may look for a quick fix that helps turn down the volume on the unpleasantness or distracts...