Cliff Heegel Ph.D.

Hey- I posted this about a year ago. This version is an update. Enjoy. Post your feedback in the ‘comments’ below. Thanks! This handout outlines ways you can change your behavior patterns. But first, some words from a former President of the United States: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I [...]

Behavioral scientists are quite interested in mindfulness. Here’s some research-based info. A researcher named Baer derived five aspects, or dimensions, of mindfulness after a lot of quantitative analysis. Baer describes these five aspects as Observing, Describing, Acting with awareness/non-auto pilot, Nonjudging of experiences, and Nonreacting to inner experiences. Here’s an easy to read layout. The [...]

Are you hooked or unhooked at the moment? This is a helpful thing to notice. When we are unhooked, we are in a space of open focus. We are not focused, we are not hooked, on mental experiencing or 5 senses experiencing. Just open. Unhooked by anything. Not really noticing anything in particular. Broad, open [...]

Our unconscious automatic reactions make us miserable. What’s wrong when you’ve tried and you just don’t seem to change? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) sees psychological flexibility as central to living a mentally and emotionally healthy life. Managing the moment you are actually living in right this second requires you to be psychologically nimble and adaptive. [...]

I got this from Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap. “OBEAR” is a handy process to remember in a time of emotional distress. If you are starting to get mentally or emotionally swept away, do this: 1. OBSERVE.Bring awareness to the feelings in your body. 2. BREATHE. Take a few deep breaths. Breathe into and [...]