Southwest Counseling Associates

Mindfulness is a mental state characterized by increased attention, curiosity and acceptance of the present moment experience. It helps us become more aware of ourselves and more capable of enjoying life. The state of mindfulness can be activated and developed through methods derived from ancient spiritual practices that are studied and adapted by contemporary psychology and medicine. These practices have been rigorously studied and introduced into western psychology by Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn (Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts). Over the last 20 years, many programs have been developed to reduce stress, depression and improve well-being. The fact that we are overwhelmed by repetitive thoughts, the fact that we are unable to focus, that we cannot have satisfactory relationships with others, that we are dissatisfied with our lives, or sometimes experience an acute sense of isolation or a fear of the future, are determined by our lack of ability to live in the...

There is no universal recipe for happiness, unfortunately, but there are certain things that can increase our chances to be happy and they do not necessarily involve money. Positive thinking counts enormously. You can train your mind to see the full side of the glass just as you train your muscles in the gym. People who tend to give in to despair, melancholy or pessimism should learn from optimistic and happy people and even "steal" some of their healthy habits: 1. Being grateful - Happy people are always aware of the reasons that make them happy and they show gratitude for the good and beautiful things in their lives. 2. Having healthy social relationships - Happy people do not necessarily have a lot of friends, but a couple of very good friends. There is no need to emphasize friendship and confuse it with social obligations or needs. For the happy people, what matters is the quality of the friendships, not the number of friends. This aspect is good to be kept...

It is easy to stay active in Colorado – the state has so much to offer, its landscape is so varied and so spectacular that staying inside is almost impossible, especially in July when the weather is warm already, but not yet too hot. Here are a few of the greatest activities you can engage into: -         Hiking – Colorado has beautiful trails for any level of fitness. You don’t need to be a professional mountain climber to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, but if you are, you can easily find challenging routes that will make your muscles work really hard; -         Cycling – Colorado is well-known for its excellent biking trails as well. You can choose from among shorter of longer routes, from trails that run on plain terrain and trails that involve some uphill and downhill cycling, too; -         Rafting – another great way to stay active and to enjoy nature....