Hi Reader,
I was traveling for all of last week - first, a brief family vacation at the beach in Oxnard, California, and then, the American Psychological Association (APA) conference in Denver, Colorado.
I hadn't been to the APA conference since before the pandemic and before my daughter was born! I was so glad to return, and enjoyed connecting with colleagues and the part of "old me" that used to attend conferences like this every year.
I was reminded how much I love my field - I truly believe that psychology has so much good to offer the world and I'm fortunate to be a part of it.
Here are some pictures of both trips:
This Week's Topic
Because of my travel, I didn't record a YouTube video for this week, but in this week’s blog post, I explain 2 reasons why trying to replace “negative” thoughts with “positive” ones can fall flat, and what to do instead.
Here's the 1-minute version:
Reason #1: You don’t believe the positive thought.
If it doesn’t feel true, it won’t stick. Address the emotion first, then work with the thought using accuracy and coping strategies.
Reason #2: The thought can’t be answered.
Some thoughts (like what someone else might think of you) are unanswerable, and trying to solve them fuels anxiety. Learn to recognize these and redirect your energy.
Instead of forcing yourself to “think positive,” focus on whether a thought is accurate and helpful—and take action from there.
I hope you're savoring the last few weeks of summer!
Best,
