mindfulness

The Verdict Is In: Social Media Is Detrimental to Your Mental Health

Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter (now “X”) in 2006. The Apple iPhone was launched in 2007. Since those seminal years, wireless devices and social media have dramatically changed the world. Glowing screens dazzle our eyes. Our devices have become extensions of our bodies, reshaped every facet of our lives, from classrooms to newsrooms, from dating to cooking. More […]

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Tyranny of the Screen: Tips for Moderating Phone-Use

Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection / David Chang

I used to remember all my friend’s phone numbers. Indeed, there was a time when my working memory served a practical utility. I could pick up the phone and dial friends and family at will, no device required, not even a note book. Today, with a pocket-sized super-computer in my hands, I do not need

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Discovering Joy of Every Day Life

Leave a Comment / Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Poetry, Reflection / David Chang

I have the habit of collecting moments of delight and wonder. These are quiet, unassuming encounters that uplift my soul and reveal the brightness of life. Sometimes I chance upon a small kindness that renews my faith in others; other times I am tickled by amusement. None of these gifts arrive with grand proclamation or

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This is It! Mindfulness for an Ordinary Day

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

In his autobiography, Speak Memory, Vladimir Nabokov wrote that “life is a slim crack of light between two eternities of darkness.” Take a fraction of that briefest spark, and we arrive at a day like today. Perhaps there is little that marks today as anything extraordinary within the span of our lives, yet within the

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Wisdom for Difficult Times: Reflections from Marcus Aurelius

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

Marcus Aurelius (121 CE – 180CE) was a Roman Emperor and follower of the Stoicism, a philosophical tradition that prizes virtue and fortitude amid life’s challenges. Widely considered a wise ruler, Marcus Aurelius leaves behind a precious volume of his own reflections titled “Meditations.” I read this book many years ago while backpacking through Europe.

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New Mind for the New Year: Reclaiming Our Scattered Attention

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in salvation through the repetition of the name of the Buddha of Love, was jealous of his large audience and wanted to debate with him. Bankei was in the midst of talk when the priest appeared, but the fellow made such a disturbance

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The Danger of Deep Listening

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

As a counselling therapist, I listen to people everyday. It’s a demanding skill that requires constant practice. Listening is the crux of my profession, but it also feeds my soul and nourishes my mind. I hold a space for others to the best of my ability. Often this means bracketing aside my reactions and meeting

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The Misuses of Mindfulness

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Reflection / David Chang

Mindfulness has enjoyed a stellar career in the last 30 years. Rooted in Buddhist meditation, mindfulness is now widely practiced in schools, hospitals, companies, and therapy offices across North America. This blooming popularity stems from its reputation as a portal to inner stillness, a balm that soothes the stress of modern life. Scientists have gathered compelling evidence that

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Living a Beautiful Life: Habits for Mental Health

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Mental Health, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

People come to counselling because they are hurting. Something has gone awry. A relationship ends, a career stalls, health declines. Clients come in search of healing and repair in the throes of adversity. Counselling therapy can be helpful as we navigate the difficult passages of life. However, if therapy is only for times when things

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Each Day I Begin Again

Leave a Comment / Contemplation, Culture, Philosophy, Reflection, Spirituality / David Chang

There was a time when birthdays were about cakes, balloons, grainy photographs of toothless children. A while later, birthdays were about friends, campfires, beer-soaked nights at bars. With the passing years, birthdays become more subdued, more in keeping with the mundane circuit of life. Youthful celebration gives way to pensive reflection. Birthdays are signposts on

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DAVID CHANG COUNSELLING

Discovering Joy of Every Day Life

This is It! Mindfulness for an Ordinary Day

Wisdom for Difficult Times: Reflections from Marcus Aurelius

New Mind for the New Year: Reclaiming Our Scattered Attention

The Danger of Deep Listening

The Misuses of Mindfulness

Living a Beautiful Life: Habits for Mental Health

Each Day I Begin Again

DAVID CHANG COUNSELLING

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