Mental Health Blog in Northwest Arkansas — Living Better Lives Counseling LLC

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Your body is not your worth. Body neutrality & radical self-acceptance

Your body is not your worth. Body neutrality & radical self-acceptance

Most of us have heard of the body positivity movement, and while its intentions are good, unconditionally loving one’s body and appearance can seem unrealistic to a lot of people, especially when we consider that 80% of women and 34% of men reported being dissatisfied with their bodies That’s why we want to share a middle ground with you, body neutrality, a place where liking your body isn’t a prerequisite for feeling good about yourself.

How to make friends as an adult, even during a pandemic

How to make friends as an adult, even during a pandemic

It can feel scary to admit you’re looking for friends as an adult when there is so much pressure around having really close friend groups. Whether you just moved to a new place, you work from home, or you’re feeling lonely, and you’re struggling to make a connection, know that there is nothing wrong with you, and you aren’t alone in feeling like this. Here are 5 steps to finding friends as an adult, even during a pandemic.

Radical Self-Compassion: Tips for practice

Radical Self-Compassion: Tips for practice

According to philosopher Khen Lampert, radical compassion is a specific kind of empathy directed towards the distress of others. This type of empathy is called radical because it includes the inner imperative to change reality in order to alleviate the pain of others. According to Lampert, this state of mind is universal and stands at the root of the historical cry for social change. Radical compassion means total compassion with nothing excluded. Radical self-compassion applies this empathy to the self. Here are 3 practices for exercising radical self-compassion for the wellbeing of yourself and all living things.

How to set and honor your intentions for the new year

How to set and honor your intentions for the new year

2020 wasn’t easy; an unforgettable year with so many challenges, changes, and hardships. This year also showed us how resilient humans can be, and what truly matters in life. Maybe this year you looked inward, disrupted generational wounds, rethought our criminal justice and policing systems, stood against injustice, explored and checked your privilege, created healthy boundaries, stayed home for the safety of the collective, asked for help, realized self-love is attainable, or maybe you just slowed down. Throughout it all, here we are! We’ve survived and that alone is worth celebrating. A new year does not mean you have to create a new you, but it can be a great opportunity to give yourself permission to turn a new page, to reconnect with what you value, and to feel better.

4 Things To Keep In Mind This Holiday Season

4 Things To Keep In Mind This Holiday Season

For most people, the holidays look very different this year. As we continue to adjust to our current reality, it’s important that we also work to maintain our mental health. From fears of the pandemic, the isolating effects of social distancing, confronting and relearning racial injustice in the U.S., natural disasters, financial struggles, and the stress of the presidential election, it’s no surprise that anxieties are high for many of us. Even without the pandemic to consider, we have to acknowledge the inevitable stress, anxiety, and depression that can come up for many people during the colder months and the holidays. This time of year is hard, and if you’re struggling right now, this is for you. Today we share 5 tips to help protect your mental health during and after the 2020 holiday season.