Learn to Set Boundaries

Posted: March 12, 2015 by info@uncommonlovepdx.com

Most of us never learn to say no. We worry that saying no will seem rude, inconsiderate, or mean. We think if we say no we risk belonging, community, friendship, and love.

The truth is, healthy boundaries actually increase trust in relationships. Being able to speak, hear, and respect boundaries creates a deeper level of intimacy in relationships, whether friends, coworkers, or family members.

Tags: mood and feelings, relationship and family

Three Ways to Live with Less Resentment

Posted: February 09, 2015 by Jesse Johnson LPC

It’s no mystery to most that holding onto anger for long enough can be as exhausting as it is painful for people in relationships. In couples and families, some people call this holding in a “cold war” style of conflict. Righteousness burns as loud as the fear that keeps us from speaking up and, if it doesn’t end up making us physically ill, resentment like this can be quite toxic to the organism of a relationship. With very few of us taught healthy and effective skills for conflict and emotional regulation in our early years, I believe there is a desperate cultural need for better ideas, skills, and modeling. With that spirit in mind, here are three ways to practice releasing resentment.

Tags: mood and feelings, relationship and family, anxiety

Six Simple Steps to Start a Meditation Practice

Posted: February 09, 2015 by info@uncommonlovepdx.com

We hear all the time that meditation is good for us. It relieves stress, manages pain, increases overall health, makes people happy.... but for a lot of us just getting started is the hardest part. All kinds of barriers get in the way, and often when we miss a day, we give up all together. Follow these guidelines for an easy start to meditation. If you miss practice, you can always come back to these to start again.

Tags: mood and feelings, anxiety

Shortcut to Love?

Posted: January 16, 2015 by Jeff Guenther

Want to be in love but hate the tediousness of getting to know someone?  Try asking your date this question: “Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?”  According to one (decades old) study, you’ll be 1/36th of the way there.

Tags: relationship and family, news

In Case of a Craving

Posted: January 05, 2015 by Ursina Teuscher

Guess what the most frequent New Year’s resolution is? Yes, losing weight. We all know that's not an easy undertaking . One thing in particular gets in the way of even the best goals and intentions: cravings. They mess with our plans by telling us exactly what we should eat right now. They grip our thoughts. Suddenly it feels like we don't have a choice anymore. We won't get peace until that chocolate is gone.

Tags: mood and feelings, addiction and behavior, body issues