Happy & Healthy U: The Monthly Message

You Can Recover From Pandemic Related Employment Loss ACKNOWLEDGE: Losing employment due to the pandemic is not your fault and not a negative reflection about you or your skills ASSESS: What are your emotional reactions to this pandemic related loss? To degree are any negative emotions interfering with your ability to move ahead with finding new employment? What kind of work do you want and are willing to do, in light of your interests, skills, and experience level, taking into account what the current job market has to offer? ADDRESS: Your total self, in terms of your career related interests and needs in order to get your right fit employment.  This entails you considering the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social dimensions of yourself.  In other words, your "S.P.I.E.S." can guide and enable you to accomplish this. Use this time and opportunity to improve your employability learn new skills development obtain work related certif...

COPING WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS (aka Coronavirus)   How to Manage Your Emotions and Reduce Stress By Diane Kern, Ph.D., Creator of   Happy and Healthy U™: “ Learn to Love Life and Live Well ” Workshops Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis that is disturbing and disruptive to us all.   While acknowledging the need to be mindful and protective of our physical health and safety, it is just as important to address the mind-body connection as it relates to this distressing situation. Below is a guideline for stress reduction and management in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. The recommended strategies are presented in the form of my SPIES (S piritual , P hysical , I ntellectual, E motional, and S ocial) model for total self-care across five dimensions. Use Your SPIES to Help Manage COVID-19 Related Stress   ( the S piritual , P hysical , I ntellectual , E motional and S ocial parts of yourself ) S:   ...

Taking Good Care of Your Heart = Loving Yourself Although the month of February has ended, let's not forget its major health theme; American Heart Health month.  This topic aligns well with Valentine's Day (the love holiday), which is celebrated annually on February 14.  Heart or cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America, according to most reputable health experts and organizations. Heart disease is also highly correlated with clinical depression. Given the critical importance of this health issue, it deserves attention beyond February, on a continuous basis. Are you taking good care of your heart? This truly brings the mind and body connection together. Therefore, it is extremely important that we learn and engage in the proven practices that will insure our heart health. Such practices include reducing and managing emotional stress, as well as physical self-care in the form of our healthy eating habits, getting quality sleep and exercise. Our ...

Do You Have "20/20 Vision" for the Year 2020? HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome to 2020, a new year and the beginning of a new decade. Many of us found ourselves reflecting on 2019 as the end of that year occurred and the year, 2020 approached.  Hopefully, we are utilizing clear, accurate and empowering "20/20" vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, "20/20 Vision" is not perfect vision, it is average or normal vision.  It is the standard for determining whether a person needs corrective lenses or further intervention to enable one to see clearly.  Our level of visual acuity (sharpness and clarity) is typically measured via an eye chart, based upon our ability to see from a distance of 20 feet. "20/20 Vision" as a metaphor for our mental approach to this new year, can help us see whether we are engaging in thinking that empowers us or hinders us.  The good news is that we can change our mental lens or thinking in ways that fa...

Tis the Season to be Grateful An Attitude of Gratitude is Good for Your Health This is what the psychology research shows.   Being grateful and focusing on the good things in our lives enable us to feel good and in control, even in the midst of challenging situations.   We do not have to deny the pain or difficulties that are occurring. However, when we regularly stop and reflect or meditate on those things that we appreciate; the positive things our lives; the things that are going well, we realize that not all is lost and that we can go on.   Being grateful also reduces stress and builds resilience, our ability to bounce back.   At a physiological level it promotes the increase in endorphins, our brain chemicals that enable us to feel good. Studies also show that positivity reduces physiological stress and promotes better health. Practicing gratitude is especially important during the holiday season, which for many can be stressful.   For som...