DM Therapy Services Blog
Before I was a therapist, I was a journalist. I have always enjoyed writing, as there is a level of authenticity in it that is hard to communicate verbally. This blog is here to provide insight, information, and resources related to mental health and well-being.
These articles and ramblings do not constitute therapy and are for educational and informational purposes only. A more detailed disclaimer can be found here.
Motivation is Misunderstood
Little is more frustrating than having a long to-do list and lacking the motivation to do any of it. Especially in trying times, when so much power and agency are out of our hands, it can be hard to feel motivated to do much of anything. So if we are counting on a feeling of motivation to appear, we probably will not get anything done. The problem is that many of us misunderstand what motivation is. Read more to learn about what motivation is, how we misunderstand it, and what we can do when we feel unmotivated.
All-or-Nothing Thinking
All-or-nothing thinking is a binary thought process that reduces a spectrum of outcomes down to two extremes: good or bad, always or never, success or failure. While all-or-nothing thoughts can be motivating and feel true, these thoughts often lack nuance and self-compassion, disregarding any possibility that you have done ‘enough,’ even if you are not the ‘best.’ Read more to learn how you can use ACT techniques and journaling to combat all-or-nothing thinking.
Making Life a Checklist
Welcome to a new blog series, Pitfalls of Perfectionism, exploring where perfectionism can hold you back rather than push you forward. Long-term goals, which we often rely on to motivate ourselves, can also create overwhelm and self-doubt. Read more to find out ways to lessen that overwhelm and doubt by pursuing personal values rather than framing life as a checklist of long-term goals.