Jen Johnson, LCMHC

Turning toward discomfort, we release suffering. Our tendency is to brace against physical, emotional, and mental discomfort or to turn away from it. The discomfort may be physical pain, illness, or limitations, feelings of anxiety, sadness, grief, depression, anger, disappointment, unworthiness, or rejection, or negative and judgmental thoughts toward ourselves or others. When we turn […]

Living well involves setting clear intentions and taking the next right steps in each moment to realize those intentions. It means taking responsibility for our own wellbeing and making that one of our top priorities. Living well means doing what we know will improve or maintain our wellbeing and becoming willing to push through those […]

The mindful way through grief involves learning to ride the waves of feelings without allowing them to knock us over. Life brings both loss and joy. We mistakenly expect mostly joy, and this causes suffering. We are at our best when we use mindfulness practices to learn how to turn toward our experience skillfully, even […]

In managing irritability with mindfulness, we bring awareness to the mood and treat it with kindness and compassion. We all get irritable, especially when we’re under stress. And if that stress is chronic, our irritability threshold is shorter, meaning that we’re quicker to feel irritable and quicker to react or act out the irritability. Acting […]

Practicing being, we slow down and let go of the constant need to be doing something. Breathe. Let go. In the midst of the busyness and doing of our daily lives, we can create a sense of stillness and peace simply by being present with whatever is happening in this moment and the next. This […]

A wild mind can feel like a runaway train — filled with racing thoughts, ruminating thoughts, or anxious thoughts. Mindfulness is about learning to notice when we have left presence and then training the mind to return to the present moment over and over again. When left to its own accord, the mind typically engages […]

How can we find hope during difficult times? My heart goes out to people who are living with their own sense of tragedy or loss. In the midst of fear, disconnection, and loss, how can we remain connected with a sense of hope? By turning toward what sustains us, what provides genuine comfort, and what […]

Practicing awareness of emotions with mindfulness practice serves as the foundation for our emotional wellbeing. We can begin this practice simply by setting aside a few moments at certain intervals in our day to engage in the following mindful inquiry: “What am I feeling?” If we aren’t accustomed to being in touch with our feelings, […]

When we are mindfully caring for the body, we create the foundation and set the tone for all that we do in the world. Mindfully caring for the body means eating well, getting adequate sleep and exercise, resting when we are tired, and making time for being in addition to all of the doing. The […]