Dr. UnStuck Podcast — Get Out of Your Head. Get Into Your Life.

When we think about how much time we spend in our living space, it makes great sense to have this be as enjoyable as possible . . . kind of like a good mattress. It should be comfortable, inviting, and leaving us feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after spending time there. Personal creative expression (not your wallet) is the key to making your living space pleasure-full, a room (or rooms) you can't...

Often we sit back thinking that others are simply born more patient, honest, kind, or whatever. Many times we don't stop to realize that we can improve these things with commitment and practice just like playing the violin, learning Italian, or anything else. Where we choose to put our energy is where we succeed. It's really that simple. #practicepatience #authenticjourney #liveyourbestlife

We can dramatically under estimate some of the small things we can do to increase our level of personal happiness. One of these seemingly small things is to create some personal space of our own. Even in the smallest of apartments we can put our fingerprint on a space, and the impact this can have on our mental health and ability to create is huge. In order to keep ourselves filled up we must have...

We are currently living in a culture where violence has become prevalent. School shootings have become such a frequent occurrence that children are now afraid to go to school for fear of being shot. Automatic weapons of mass destruction are landing in the hands of mentally ill teenaged boys and young men. These shooters have a profile. Most are between 18-23 years of age. They were usually bullied...

Control is an illusion, and our need for control stems from the fear-driven ego. We often try to control people, relationships, circumstances, and what others say and do in an attempt to alleviate our own fear and anxiety. When we "win" control we feel safe and secure, and with this temporary "success" we are relieved. This feeling of relief serves as a strong reinforcer that leads us to striving...

So often we find ourselves waiting for life to slow down enough for us to do what we are passion about, what makes our hearts sing. This is true for the bigger creative ideas such as starting a new business, as well as for the simple pleasures that bring us joy such as painting or playing the guitar. As far as any of us know, life is not a dress rehearsal . . . Stop waiting for things to slow down...

To achieve authentic success, one must commit to listening to and following the internal driving forces of persistence and determination. If you have your sights set on gathering life's honey, you must plan on dipping your hand into the hive again and again, and trudge forth through getting repeatedly stung. This is the only way to truly know the sweet taste of authentic success. #Taoofsuccess #au...

There are all sorts of definitions out there for what it means to be professional. These invisible rules reside in an invisible book, in an invisible desk, and were created by invisible people. And, most of these are norms from ages ago which have not been updated in decades. For some reason, we have gotten the message that we need to leave our feeling-self at home, and that showing emotion could...

In can be so easy to get caught up in the constant pursuit of wanting more-more food, more drinks, more money, another promotion, a bigger house, and maybe even a better partner. When we do so, we can get stuck in the thrill of the chase, the perpetual state of striving. This mindset of striving for more then pushes happiness right over the cognitive horizon. #enoughisenough #lessismore #abundance

This is not a new concept. Not at all, and many successful people out there have been well aware of and talking about this idea for ages. When we allow our authentic personality to align with what the Universe has in store for us, we become limitless. When we are driven by high-octane passion there is nothing, or "no-thing" we cannot do. #passion #dowhatyouloveandthemoneywillfollow #limitless

Letting go can seem so difficult, though it is really quite easy once we make the decision to do so. Also, just as with anything else, once we commit to practicing the skill of letting go we get better at it. Detaching from outcomes throughout our day leads to authentic confidence and inner peace. Assume things will work out and they will.  #letitgo #detachfrom outcomes #authenticity

It seems that there are times when we seemingly cannot get out of our own way. We spend so much time looking for the answers outside of ourselves when of course they cannot be found there. We can be guided around be ego-driven falsity about the many ways we do not measure up, how we are not enough, or on the extreme end . . . how we are a shameful and despicable creature. #theenemywithin #falsesel...

We live in a culture where the "dis-ease of wanting" is highly contagious, especially during the holiday season. In fact, we are seduced daily by the shiny objects and services popping up on the computer and television. Advertisers are constantly trying their very best to convince us that we "need" these things, and when we bite that hook we hand over our power and agency to be happy and fulfilled...

Most of us would not willingly light a match and set fire to a $100 bill, yet we don't give much thought to how we go about wasting many of our valuable life-minutes each day. We spend much of our day responding to unnecessary email and text messages, or with "third string people" out of mere obligation. We sit back and passively watch screens, while hours of our valuable life-minutes  get su...

A highly focused mind is key not only for achieving success in the martial arts, but for life in general. With the vehicle of martial arts, Ed Cafferty explains how powerful a mind can be when it is calm and focused on the present moment. He also makes us aware of the critical role the mind plays in the effectiveness of body movement and reaction time. Learning to harness this power expands well b...

It can be all to easy to get yanked out of our own frames and into the frames of others, where we learn to need and depend on external approval. This gives us a temporary "feel good" fix that has us yearning for more, leading us into a cycle of approval-chasing which pull us out of our frames and away from the authentic self. #codependency #approvalseeking #peoplepleasing #diseasetoplease

We all go through transitions from middle school to high school, high school to college, then on to the workforce, and maybe marriage and children. There are also transitions that involve loss and grief such as changes in relationships, big moves leaving all things familiar behind, and sometimes death of a loved one. For some reason, it seems that there is an unwritten rule that allows us only so...

In order to live your best life it is essential to learn to become the "boss of your brain." Thoughts come first, feelings second, and then behavior. Therefore, our thoughts dictate our every day experience. The mind can be re-wired out of its anxiety and depression, though just like anything else, this takes commitment and practice. #bossofyourbrain #liveyourbestlife #mindpower #gratitudeiskey&nb...

It can be so easy to ride along with the rapid current of life, getting caught up in the expectations and responsibilities it brings. The very thought of trying to slow it all down can seem overwhelming and darned near impossible. Taking steps to make small changes is the key. Slowing it all down brings back our sense of control, reduces anxiety, and returns us to balance and inner peace. #downshi...

It is amazing that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Many of us have experienced adversity and perhaps trauma in our lives, and all too often we allow these cracks and chips we've acquired to define us. We can sometimes carry these stories with us like a heavy briefcase or barbell. When we learn to see the beautiful in the broken, we are able to set down this...

For some reason, many of us have a difficult time looking in the mirror and liking what we see. We glance up and down and from side to side, scanning for imperfections. Then the dialogue starts with all the ways we don't measure up and about how much farther along we thought we'd be by this time in our lives. These messages are coming from deep in the vault of the unconscious mind. Thankfully, we...

Our ability to prioritize our own self-care is directly related how much we value ourselves. People will often say that what keeps them from indulging themselves is time, family responsibilities, this and that, all of which may be true. However, the umbrella over these most often involves a component that is missing which is self-value. When we are not feeling worthy underneath it is very difficul...

Many of us allow our negative thoughts to take over much like a snowball picks up momentum rolling down a hill. With every small advancement it gets heavier and faster, until it begins to take on a life of its own. As the thoughts we allow dictate how we then feel, it is of utmost importance to become aware of this "thought attack" when it begins. We must notice when we under this siege of friendl...

The pandemic has dramatically changed nearly everything about how Americans view work. What has changed--where we work, when we work, as well as how  we define a "workday." Working out of the home can also be a boundary-less existence, with our daily career related tasks bumping up against piles of dirty laundry and the demands of children. Though it is complicated, it is doubtful that our so...

In an age where well-being and taking care of oneself have made their way to the forefront of conversation, it seems that generativity may have taken a backseat. In reality, happiness and well-being are about balance. It is a simple fact that we cannot give what we do not have, and it is therefore of utmost importance to keep ourselves "filled up." That said, when we are maintaining a "full bucket...