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Wellness + Inspiration

This is What an Afghan Refugee Looks Like

This is What an Afghan Refugee Looks Like

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My parents were Afghan refugees in the 80’s. Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea what that really meant.  Though they’ve spent the majority of their lives in America, the tragedy of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 80’s still reverberates in my family today. Recently, seeing the chaotic images of modern day Kabul got me to finally ask my family [...]
Pearls of You: a Simple Exercise for Mental Wellbeing

Pearls of You: a Simple Exercise for Mental Wellbeing

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“Understand yourself, forgive yourself, love yourself, transcend yourself.” These words by poet, Xan Oku, have been on the forefront of my mind the last six months. It is without question that many of us have spent more time by ourselves with quarantine in place. Personally, I’ve taken this time to get to know myself better—to dig a little deeper into my own[...]
Embracing the Blank Canvas: How to Break a Cycle of Procrastination

Embracing the Blank Canvas: How to Break a Cycle of Procrastination

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When you first step up to a blank canvas—figurative or literal—how do you feel? Is there a sense of opportunity and possibility or are you filled with anxiety and dread? If you answer the latter, it’s more likely you’re going to procrastinate. You may get the job done late or potentially never, which can cause extreme stress or even missed opportunities.  [...]
Techniques to Recall and Access Dreams for Creativity

Techniques to Recall and Access Dreams for Creativity

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Did you know you could talk to your subconscious? I didn’t until my freshman year in college when my film history professor taught us a technique that he said was a sure-fire way to remember more of our dreams. Skeptical at first and not quite sure why this was being taught in a motion picture class (as opposed to my psychology courses), I tried it and was s[...]
Harness the Art of Self-Reflection to Reframe Your Narrative and Craft

Harness the Art of Self-Reflection to Reframe Your Narrative and Craft

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Many of us consider ourselves to be self-aware. But take a moment to think—how deep does your level of self-refection really go? The succinct Oxford definition of self-reflection is, “meditation or serious thought about one's character, actions, and motives.” It’s simply getting in tune with who you are. This allows for greater connection with others and the[...]
How to Turn Stress Into Achievements

How to Turn Stress Into Achievements

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There are mornings when I wake up with a gnawing feeling in my stomach and my mind starts racing with my “to-do” list. I’ll then proceed to start five things at once including making coffee, answering email, writing notes, cleaning. This drives the anxiety even further as our brains realize we cannot keep up, or will do a half decent job at any of those task[...]
Art Vs. Applause: 6 Ways to Focus on Process Rather Than Outcome

Art Vs. Applause: 6 Ways to Focus on Process Rather Than Outcome

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The act of creating something is a phenomenal experience. But as every creative knows, the end of the project often determines how we feel about the project. It can be attributed to glory and recognition for being a prolific artist, or can be attached to soul-crushing rejection—it doesn’t get sold, the boss passes it over, you get a form letter, or the agent[...]
How This Psychiatrist Fuses Mental Health and Interior Design

How This Psychiatrist Fuses Mental Health and Interior Design

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Like most, the last several weeks of my life have been spent “sheltering in place,” cocooned by the walls of my house. I’ve been experiencing what it means to work from home-for the first time, seeing patients virtually from my computer screen.  Just as the lines have now blurred between my living and work space, I’ve been reflecting on how the role of one’s[...]
Illustrator Carissa Potter Creates a Whimsical Guide to Staying Calm

Illustrator Carissa Potter Creates a Whimsical Guide to Staying Calm

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Perhaps most important now is maintaining a sense of positivity, to see the light in the darkness, and find grounding in the chaos—to seek out beauty and enjoyment despite any other feelings that might arise. Artist and founder of Bay Area-based studio People I've Loved, Carissa Potter, has created just the thing with a playful yet entirely practical checkli[...]
Neon Artist Meryl Pataky on Shattering Stigma in a Time of Crisis

Neon Artist Meryl Pataky on Shattering Stigma in a Time of Crisis

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In the past week, I’ve gone from being excited to surprised, yet calm and optimistic to confused and devastated. A global pandemic on top of a personal crisis is a tremendous load to handle within the span of seven days; and in the interim, my husband, Brock, and I have see-sawed between being the one to exist in a state of dread to remaining level-headed.  [...]