Dr. Joseph I. Pando

a panacea, but of THE ’est tools in the

Connectivity Balance

(H)old (O)n (P)ain (E)nds... He who has a WHY to live for can bear with almost any HOW - pg. 76 of Viktor E. Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning

: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) & 3rd wave therapies like Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are evidenced-based methods to exploring the interconnection of one’s thoughts , feelings , and behaviors If you’re in search for effective and efficient tools to help improve your quality of life , these therapies may be a great start!

a panacea, but of THE ’est tools in the

Connectivity Balance

(H)old (O)n (P)ain (E)nds... He who has a WHY to live for can bear with almost any HOW - pg. 76 of Viktor E. Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning

"Is this helpful?" - a question I try to ask myself before I speak and act. I don't always catch myself in time with this question, but when I do, I find I make wiser decisions. "As a mirror reflects an object, as a still lake reflects the sky: take care that what you speak or act is for good. For goodness will always cast back goodness and harm will always cast back harm." - Buddha

You are NOT your thoughts. You are NOT your feelings. We can get attached to thoughts and feelings as if they define us (e.g., "I am an angry person. I am negative. I am not good enough. I've always been incapable of socializing"). The stories (i.e., thoughts) we tell ourselves about our past, the present, and the future can seem so "true". However, the thoughts/stories limit our possibilities and do not define the true self. For instance, if I believe "I'm an angry person......my father was an angry person...his father was an angry person...it's just in my nature to be angry" there is no other possibility I OWN this story and accept it as true. Words can be powerful tools. The stories we tell ourselves and believe DO NOT have to be set in stone. Instead of getting caught in the constant chatter of our mind, observe it. Watch it. Don’t judge it. Don’t label it (e.g., bad thought" or "bad mind). Just notice and observe from a distance. As clouds form, morph, and then float away peacefully so too can your thoughts. Create a healthy vantage point - a place where you can watch the clouds of thought float by. From this place, you are rooted, and grounded. From this place, you have the power to release and let go of pain and suffering.

If you could choose to make your life be about something, what would you choose?

"Now and then it's good to pause in the pursuit of happiness and just be happy." - Guillaume Apollinaire

Find your level of balance in the world today. A balance between effort and ease. A balance between relaxation and tension.

Zig Ziglar suggested that your "attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." Today I offer a different perspective - your GRATITUDE plus your attitude determines your magnitude! Happy Thanksgiving!

How will you improve yourself today?

Your perception is your reality.