One kind of stressful event that we all face on occasion is the feeling that we have been offended, wronged or attacked by another person. Since it has been found that strong, positive social relationships are associated with happiness (see…
Become more optimistic. Work on strengthening your “sunny brain”!
Are you an optimist, looking on the bright side of things, or are you more pessimistic, always expecting that things will go wrong. Dr. Elaine Fox is a psychologist at Oxford University, who studies why different people have such a…
Please stop “shoulding” on yourself:-)
Do you compare yourself to others? Do you compare your progress or abilities with standards set by others, such as society, your parents, the media, your friends? Are you judging yourself using “should” statements? “I should be getting better grades…
Don’t fall into the trap of “Black or White thinking”: Look for the shades of gray.
We tend to trust what goes on in our brains, and so we tend to believe the thoughts that we have. But the truth is “thoughts are not facts”. Sometimes what we are thinking is not only incorrect, but can…
A positive way to decrease the negative emotions in your life.
Over the years, the field of psychology, has had a lot of focus on negative emotions – fear, worry, anger, sadness. But Barbara Fredrickson, a social psychologist, has focused her research for the past 20 years on the importance of…
Should you be cutting back on social media time?
Almost all Canadians who are online use at least one social media network and those of University age are the most likely age group to use several platforms, and to use them frequently. Facebook, Instagram, and…
It’s November, and that can be a rough time at University! It’s time to be kind to yourself.
It’s November. Are you stressed? I’m not surprised. So are many of your fellow students. You may have been wondering “Is something wrong with me? I’m supposed to be happy at University, but I’m so overwhelmed and stressed. Everyone else…
One simple (not necessarily easy) technique to help you cope with stress
Does this look like you? It’s a very busy time of year for University students. Perhaps your stress levels are building. As I discussed in my first blog, stress occurs when we believe that the demands on us exceed the…
It’s not always easy
Hello and welcome to my new blog: It’s Not Always Easy. I’m Dr. Rhonda Gilby. For over 30 years, I’ve been a clinical psychologist, working with people who are struggling to cope with various difficulties in their lives. Also, for…