The Introverted Owls

It's very easy to be busy in our lives and put our mental health at the very bottom of our list of priorities, if we put it at all. Our minds are extraordinary, but we need to guide them to recognize certain patterns because they won't do it on their own.  Our daily behavior is a perfect indicator of our mental health and one of the many habits we need to keep an eye on is called emotional mirroring. What Is Mirroring? First, you need to keep in mind what is meant by mirroring. It is exactly what the term implies—the behavior in which one person tends to imitate another person's attitude. This can include the way someone speaks, makes eye contact, or makes certain gestures with their hands.  When we mirror someone, we aren't really aware that we're doing it unless it is pointed out. Our bodies tend to do that as a way to build rapport and it's a sign that you're comfortable within your social setting. It is a good thing.  What Is Emotional Mirroring? Based o...

Ever wonder what kind of role you play when you handle conflict? Not a lot of people would give this a moment's thought unless directly asked. We tend to handle a range of different conflicts in our lives, from the personal to the professional, as we encounter them. Not being aware of how our mind chooses to solve problems is what drags us and our opponents into an endless dilemma known as the Drama Triangle, simplified as follows:  What Is the Drama Triangle? All the way back during the late 1960's, psychologist Stephen Karpman described three basic roles (forming an upside down triangle) that people take on during complex interactions with one another. These roles do not define how people are generally; however, if they are not aware of their actions, they can easily be sucked into a never-ending cycle with no way out.  Karpman's dreaded drama triangle limits our abilities to lead healthy stress-free lives. Our minds unconsciously feed on self-punishing or self-satisfying...

Since the novel Covid-19 virus has officially been declared a pandemic, things have taken a quick turn in a direction none of us anticipated. The entire world is fighting it together and social distancing is what we have to do now. It may come easier for introverts than extroverts, but being forced to stay inside can be hard even for introverts because of overwhelming anxiety and stress over this global health crisis.  We are all learning to adjust to tough circumstances as a result and it's easy to fall through the cracks.  The fact that we don't really know when our normal lives and daily routines will commence is especially hard for everyone, let alone those of us more prone to stress and anxiety. The situation is not ideal, but you can do your best to take care of your mental health in the meantime. Here's what you can try to make things just a little bit easier for yourself: 1. Avoid the News as Often as You Can Following the news in these situations is w...