Catalyst Counseling, Inc

#mondaymotivation #mondayvibes #mondayquotes #brenebrownquotes

"Actions speak louder than words." So what does this mean? Let's start by identifying what it does NOT mean about the person. One who feels loved through acts of service is not lazy, high-maintenance, or a nag. True acts of service are not done because they "should" be, because they are expected, or because they are demanded but rather demonstrated out of love and by choice. Here are some examples of acts of service that can have significant meaning for the individual. ... Vacuum out their truck. Make coffee in the morning. Make the bed. Open the door for them. Give them a pedicure. Clean their sunglasses. Mow the lawn. Empty the dishwasher. Do a load of laundry. Stop by the grocery store. Rub their shoulders. Hand them their towel when they get out of the shower. Here's the cool thing about learning how to show love in each other's language: you don't have to guess. If you're feeling unsure of how to best meet your partner's needs around acts of service, ask! Ask them for some guidance in what makes them tick. And then put it into action! "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman

"Nothing speaks more deeply than the appropriate touch." So what is it? Let's start by identifying what it doesn't necessarily mean. Physical touch is not solely about sex. That can absolutely be an aspect of this language, but showing love via physical touch also looks like:... Backrubs Holding hands Playing with their hair Kisses Cuddling An arm around their waist Skin-to-skin contact Here's the cool thing about learning how to show love in each other's language: you don't have to guess. If you're feeling unsure of how to best meet your partner's needs around physical touch, ask! Ask them for some guidance in what makes them tick. And then put it into action! "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman

"Words to affirm other people." So what does that mean? Let's start by identifying what it DOESN'T mean. It doesn't suggest you throw empty words at someone and cliche phrases that have no genuine meaning to the individual. Words of affirmation should be sincere, consistent, and meaningful.... Speak from the heart. Be specific. "I feel so blessed to have you by my side." "It really helped me out when you picked the kids up from school today, I appreciate you so very much!" "Damn. You look amazing." "I was just thinking about the night we first went out...I will never forget how I felt when you held the door for me." "I saw you looking at me earlier...I love catching your eye." "I know you're stressed and feeling insecure, but I'm here to remind you that you're kicking ass." Here's the cool thing about learning how to show love in each other's language: you don't have to guess. If you're feeling unsure of how to best meet your partner's needs around words of affirmation, ask! Ask them for some guidance in what makes them tick. And then put it into action! "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman

"For some...what makes them feel most loved is to receive a gift." So what exactly is meant by this love language? Let's start by identifying what it does NOT mean about the person. Appreciating gifts does not make one superficial, shallow, or materialistic. True gift-giving is not about the monetary value but rather the thought and sentiment behind the gift. Here are some examples of gift-giving that can have significant meaning for the individual with a minimal price tag.... Maybe you had Chinese food on your first date....gift a re-usable pair of chopsticks with a little love note. Does your partner like art? They might enjoy a romantic "doodle" (doesn't have to be a Picasso!) that you can leave on the counter for them to find. If your partner is overwhelmed and stressed, one might gift a little "love basket" of self-care items like a bath bomb, loofah, and lotion. Does your person always lose their pen? Give 'em a jumbo-sized pack of pens, it can show that you know them, and notice them. Does that flower growing on the side of the road remind you of your partner's favorite color? Stop and pick it. Does your person love grilling? There are plenty of bbq and grill accessories that don't cost an arm and a leg, but will show your appreciation of their interests. Here's the cool thing about learning how to show love in each other's language: you don't have to guess. If you're feeling unsure of how to best meet your partner's needs around gift-receiving, ask! Ask them for some guidance in what makes them tick. And then put it into action! "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman

"This language is all about giving the other person your attention." So what is it? Let's start by identifying what it's NOT. It's not parallel time spent in front of a screen. True quality time is about togetherness, connection, and undivided attention. Quality time can be spent gardening, enjoying a cup of coffee, working out, going for a walk, running errands, playing a board game, working on a car, you name it.... But above all...be present. And here's the cool thing about learning how to show love in each other's language: you don't have to guess. If you're feeling unsure of how to best meet your partner's needs around quality time, ask! Ask them for some guidance in what makes them tick. And then put it into action! "The 5 Love Languages," by Gary Chapman

Self-care is neither nonsense nor selfishness nor self-indulgence. Self-care is about recharging our batteries. Just some of the benefits...self-care may: improve mood & emotional health boost physical health... provide a break from stress improve overall productivity Let’s get back to the basics. The bare bones of self-care are a healthy diet, quality sleep, and joyful movement or exercise. That’s the science...research shows that these bones promote overall health and well-being. Let’s take it further...let’s add in some intentional time to recharge by engaging in things that rejuvenate us. Just a few examples of self-care: sleep in have a dance party lift heavy things enjoy sipping on some coffee or tea get preventative healthcare read a book or magazine play some catch at the park mindful meditation cook, bake, or grill for fun work in your yard/garden journal draw, sketch go out to lunch take a roadtrip do some creative writing color, paint talk with a friend shoot some hoops go to church engage in an act of kindness go for a walk watch a good movie play with your animal(s) take 5 minutes to think about what you’re grateful for volunteer go outside and enjoy the weather go for a ride do nothing Everybody engages in self-care differently. There’s no one right way to do it. What you do today may be different than the next time. Do what's healthy for you and enjoy yourself! #selfcaresunday #selflove #selfcare #selfcaresundays #healthyhabits #healthyhabitsforlife #doyouboo #emotionalhealth #physicalhealth #spiritualhealth #psychologicalhealth #wellbeing #healthydietsleepexercise #rechargeyourbatteries #modesto #modestotherapist #modestocounseling #modestoca #modestocalifornia #stanislauscounty

Regardless of where one falls on the introvert/extrovert scale, humans are social beings. But opportunities to make and establish new friendships are not always as prevalent in adulthood as they were in childhood. Here are some tangible ways to meet potential friends as a certified grown-up... Join a local club or group (car clubs, book clubs, gardening clubs, prayer groups, support groups, etc.) Join a local gym offering fitness classes Take a community class (junior c...olleges are great resources for this) Do volunteer work in an area of interest or passion for you Join an adult sports league Schedule playdates for both your 2-legged and 4-legged children - this will allow you to meet other parents Talk to your neighbors! Ask a coworker to join you for lunch or a cup of coffee Note: while this may be more difficult during COVID times, many of these opportunities are still available virtually or physically-distanced.

" , ' ." - No time for idleness over here...working hard to turn dreams into reality.

Mindful attention is the food and water of many relationships - it is how we nurture and feed a relationship and it is often what we need and crave. Quality time and attention is one of the most basic forms of showing love. What is relational ATTENTION? Selective concentration on the person in front of you while ignoring outside stimuli. This intentional focus on another is a crucial element of attention-giving. And it enables the other to feel seen, valued, and treasured. ... Here are some tips... be intentionally present use mindfulness be curious remain interested stay focused capitalize on small moments It doesn’t have to be 24/7 (really, it would be weird if it was), nor does it have to be direct communication. It could be knowing your partner’s love language and engaging them in the way they feel loved. Another example is an effort to show them you were listening to a small detail of a previous conversation and sharing it again when it’s relevant. The take-away... Notice your partner (or your children, friends, whomever) and take a genuine interest in their life. Attention promotes and strengthens relational resilience. Bonus: Honesty, vulnerability, and gratitude can further the long-term emotional connection and relational satisfaction.

#MondayMotivation #mondaymood #mondaymoodbooster #MondayMoodBoard #mondayvibes #starttheweekoffright

For those who haven't had the experience of going against the grain - of defying societal expectations and pursuing a life of authenticity - the act of coming out may be viewed as a singular event. However, for many the concept of "coming out" is a process. A process of evolving identity as one gains access to experiences and environments that allow the person to further develop and refine their authentic self. Because let's face it...society prepares us to be one of two things - a straight guy or a straight girl. Once one begins to explore the myriad of possibilities outside these two restrictive labels, it only makes sense that this would be a process of self-discovery.

Stacey is one of the owners of Catalyst Counseling and [in Catalyst's humble opinion] a kick-ass therapist with a passion for supporting motivated individuals navigating life transitions. Questioning your direction? Questioning your choices? Questioning who you are a person? Stacey uses a down-to-earth, person-centered, strengths-based approach to help clients find comfort with who they are and where they're going. It's time to live with focus and intention. Call to schedule.

Think you are successful at multi-tasking? Single-tasking...it’s less stimulating so if you’re used to multitasking, this may feel weird. Our brains are not capable of performing similar functions or tasks at the same time. The idea of multi-tasking is actually task-switching, switching from one task to another in rapid succession. Multi-tasking actually slows us down. It takes time to move from one task to another. Research suggests that we pay full attention to only 50% ...of what is right in front of us. If that’s the case, how productive are we actually when we multitask? Try this exercise....with mindful intention, single-task on a project for say, 20 minutes. Leave all other distractions to the side. After the 20 minutes, evaluate your level of productivity. I’m not saying you’ll complete the project, but the attention you give while fully focused on a single task allows you to: think fully, dive deeper, be more creative, find more meaning, do a better job, and be more efficient in task progress/completion. The quality of our work truly is not about how busy we are or how fast we work. Projects are rushed or half-assed because we weren’t fully focused or were trying to do 15 other things at the same time. The average task attention span is approximately 20 minutes (p.s. that’s why Ted talks are 18 mins long). Here’s a challenge: Identify a task and set your intention for that task Organize what you may need to work on the task Set a timer for 20 minutes Mute/silence phones and computer notifications (do not disturb is great! and it’s only for 10-20 mins ) Close your office door &/or put up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ Be intentional about sticking with 1 task without going on tangents See what you can can do in just 20 minutes! How did you feel during that time in which you were fully attentive to the task at hand? Mindfulness can actually help us slow down with intentional focus on the present moment. This practice can assist in helping you not get sucked into other things when your focus should be on the task at hand. Take this as an example...when your partner, spouse or child are talking to you, what would it feel like for you and conversely for them, if you were to turn and give them ALL your attention in the moment? How would that make you feel? How would it make them feel? Try it out and let us know how this activity goes for you. Credit: Chintan Jain (The Myth of Multitasking) & Creating Passionate Users (Multitasking Vs Serial)

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a day for "raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health." This year, the World Health Organization aims to encourage a sweeping increase in mental health funding and investment. This comes at a key time, as mental health providers expect to see tremendous emotional health repercussions from the pandemic. After years of terrible under-funding, has it come time to invest in... not only the physical but the social, emotional, and behavioral health of the world and those living in it? Similarly, is it time to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health? While lofty ambitions, these are goals that Catalyst can stand behind. Let's work to invest in our futures and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness and mental health treatment. See more

Here’s a perfect example and same spirit of life, surviving and thriving under the most difficult of circumstances, on a large scale. For a tree to become tall it must grow tough roots among the rocks. ~Friedrich Nietzsche... On our hike this past weekend, we saw tree after tree growing from large boulders. It reminded us of the drive for survival, determination, persistence, perseverance, grit, and continued search for growth and renewal, despite all obstacles.

Knowing your WHY is an important first step in figuring out how to achieve the goals that excite you and create a life you enjoy living (versus merely surviving!). Indeed, only when you know your ‘why’ will you find the courage to take the risks needed to get ahead, stay motivated when the chips are down, and move your life onto an entirely new, more challenging, and more rewarding trajectory. Margie Warrell, Author of Brave Ask yourself some questions:... What makes you come alive? What are you passionate about? What stirs a fire in your soul? What brings out the best in you? What helped you to discover this? What problems do you really enjoy solving? What problems you feel passionate about trying to solve? What is your life’s work? And is it in line with your personal values? ... How will you measure your life? Living with purpose means focusing on things that matter most. Those things may not be material things. It’s up to you as to what those things are. Simon Sinek (author and motivational speaker) says Start with the why. ‘Why' is how you explain your purpose and the reason you exist and behave as you do. Viktor Frankl (psychiatrist, neurologist and Holocaust survivor) shared, When you know your WHY, you will be able to bear almost any HOW." Find greater purpose in how you do what you do.