Cognitive Restructuring – Ever heard of it?  In simple terms, it’s a concept designed to help individuals recognize and understand their thought patterns, and accordingly, adapt them in positive ways.  Throughout my career I regularly worked with students on this concept.  We talked about how powerful the brain is and how important intentional thoughts are to our well-being.  Funny, as...

How’s the quality of your CCQ?    Have you noticed that when you walk into a room of people, you get an immediate feel for the emotional climate of your surroundings? And that the emotional climate directly impacts your behavior in that environment? Teachers, take heed. This small nugget of information has huge implications in the school setting. As students enter classrooms towards the...

Did you know anger is referred to as a secondary emotion?  It is usually triggered by other emotions, like fear or frustration.  Anger is part of our survival makeup, protecting and shielding us from other vulnerable feelings.  I have encoded this small piece of information into my long-term cognitive and emotional memory to help me deal with some fairly volatile situations – at times with...

Ever find yourself surrounded by tired, frustrated and grumpy people?  Welcome to the airport, folks. I was in a sea of individuals shuffling through the line waiting for the bags to pass through security.  Things were moving slowly, with several individuals having difficulty understanding the directions of the officer doing the screenings.  Continually having to re-run bags and stop...

With teachers and students heading back to school, it’s a great time to examine the double-edge sword of a habit.  The good news is that for students who have had positive experiences and interactions with past teachers and peers, they will most likely enter classrooms ready to develop healthy relationships accordingly.  Having experienced safety and belonging, they anticipate it, and...

One of the best ways to deter negative behaviors is to give students responsibilities.  Many teachers have classroom jobs, but I recommend taking this idea to a new level this school year.  How about having students go through an interview process?  Post a bulletin board outside your class with typed out job descriptions, and the caption, Wanted: Successful Students – Inquire Within.  Explain...

Act your age!  Ever heard that phrase before?  The problem with this statement is that behaviors are more influenced by development than a person’s physical age.  This point was illustrated beautifully, and sadly, by an unfortunate scene that played out at the end of a long plane ride I took earlier this week. We hadn’t been waiting long to disembark, but apparently the passenger sitting next...

I presented a workshop on stress and anxiety to several groups this past week.  With many participants randomly shouting out “Amen” throughout, I got the distinct impression people could relate to the content and examples outlined – especially when we discussed the topic of balance in our lives. It’s an understatement to say we live in an overscheduled, task-oriented, box-checking society....

Today I’m feeling thankful for the bucket fillers in my life who motivate me to be a better person.  You know the people I’m talking about.  They’re positive and encouraging.  They live their best lives and help you do the same just by being around them.  My bucket was filled several times over the past few weeks as I reconnected with colleagues and friends at various conferences.  Though I...

“How long have you and your wife been married?” I was asked.  “29 years as of Sunday” was my response.  Since that question was posed to me earlier this week, I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships.  Specifically, I’ve wondered how some relationships stay strong while others don’t last.  I’ve decided one key lies in four words couples utter on their wedding day, “for better or worse”....