Have you ever wondered why some people seem to breeze through life, enjoying themselves and taking everything in stride, while others spend all their time worrying about this and agonizing over that? Why does self-confidence come so easily to some people? And how can you make sure it comes easily to you?

Confidence comes from within.

So many people look outside themselves for ways to feel good on the inside. They think self-confidence will come from doing this, having that or looking a certain way. The reality is that although they're the only ones who can build their confidence up, the way they think and act is doing nothing but tearing it down.

The first seeds for my latest book were planted a few years ago when I was walking in the park and observed a scene that left me feeling quite uncomfortable. A young boy of perhaps six or seven had climbed a tree and gone beyond the height he was confident to get back down from. I couldn’t help but overhear his mother berate him for his lack of courage. "Don’t be so pathetic." "You really are being stupid." "What a wimp you’re being." "You really are useless." Continue reading.

Originally posted on Mind,Body,Green.

In my coaching practice, I work with people who have difficulty managing their stress and anxiety. They find comfort in my experience and the fact that I, too, have suffered from this.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and panic disorder, and was placed on medication. Within two years, I was battling a life-threatening addiction to my anxiety meds and survived an overdose.

To save my life, I embarked on a personal journey of self discovery. Eventually, I was able to gain better control of my anxiety and go off the meds. I learned to do this by first discovering that my anxiety wasn’t the problem, my lifestyle was.

Throughout my years of dealing with this disorder, I learned that we all have anxious moments (like having to give a speech in public), but everyone doesn’t suffer from an anxiety disorder. Here are 11 ways you may be inadvertently making yourself more anxious: Continue Reading.

Originally posted on Mind,Body,Green.

“There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by my self.” ~Brian Andreas

Do you ever forget to take care of yourself?

I know. You’re busy, and finding the time to take proper care of yourself can be hard. But if you don’t, it won’t be long before you’re battered from exhaustion and operating in a mental fog where it’s hard to care about anything or anyone.

I should know.

A few years ago, I had a corporate job in London, working a regular sixty-hour week. I enjoyed working with my clients and colleagues, and I wanted to do well.

But I had no life.

I rarely took care of myself, and I was always focused on goals, achievements, and meeting the excessive expectations I had of myself. My high tolerance for discomfort meant I juggled all the balls I had in the air, but at the expense of being a well-rounded human being. Continue reading.


Originally posted on Tiny Buddha.

Almost half of young women have insufficient vitamin D levels, which is linked to depression.

The new study also found that over one-third of young women had signs of clinical depression.

Dr David Kerr, the psychologist who led the study, said:

“Depression has multiple, powerful causes and if vitamin D is part of the picture, it is just a small part.

But given how many people are affected by depression, any little inroad we can find could have an important impact on public health.”

While many suspect a link between the vitamin deficiency and depression, studies have not often confirmed it. Continue reading.

Originally posted on PsyBlog.