Michelle Chung, Psy.D.

Hold onto the small joys when you can, and watch them add up.

We live in a culture that not-so-subtly tries to tell us where happiness lies. Take a scroll on social media and you might think the answer is a smaller jean size, a big job title, or a fancy vacation. But these things alone don’t necessarily lead to lasting happiness.

When we tie happiness too closely to what we’re working toward, we risk overlooking the joy and beauty of the present moment. After all, reaching a big goal doesn’t guarantee the lasting happiness we might expect.

So, how can we cultivate a more sustainable sense of happiness?

Often, it starts with the small things. Make space each day for something that brings you joy. It might be your morning coffee, a walk in the park, a conversation with a friend.

These moments might seem small on their own, but their value adds up. You don’t have to wait until you reach the next milestone to experience joy. There’s room for it along the way, too.


** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

It’s World Mental Health Day!

Know that your mental health matters.

Not just when things fall apart.
Not just when you’re struggling.
Not just when someone else notices.

It doesn’t have to be “bad enough” for it to matter or to ask for support.

It matters today and everyday.
Your mood colors the way you see the world.


** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Your mood colors the way you see the world.

When we feel confident, a challenge might look like an opportunity. Anxious? The same challenge might look like a threat. And yet, when we feel down, a small setback might feel like proof that everything is going wrong.

While the situation hasn’t necessarily changed, the lens through which we view it has.

So what if we became curious, paused, and asked:
➞ “Is my mood influencing how I’m interpreting this?”
➞ “Am I treating a feeling like it’s a fact?”
➞ “What might I notice if I looked at this from a different perspective?”

Your feelings are valid, but they don’t always tell the whole story.

When we change the lens, by even just a little, we can change what we’re able to see. 

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Anxiety can magnify threats and fears, but don’t let it convince you that you’re any less capable. 

It says:
“What if everything goes wrong?”
“What if I embarrass myself?”
“What if I can’t handle this?”
“What if this feeling never goes away?”

Anxiety feeds on the what ifs: of the imagined future, of the unanswered questions, and the things out of our control.

Pulling our attention towards everything that could go wrong, while trying its hardest to convince us that we won’t be able to handle it.

So instead, what if we tried asking ourselves:
➞ How likely is this feared outcome?
➞ What evidence do I have that I can’t handle this?
➞ Have I managed difficult situations before?
➞ What skills, support, or resources could I use if something challenging happened?

No, we can’t get rid of anxiety. But we can change our relationship with it.

So when a threat pops up and the fear comes creeping in, we’re able to remind ourselves: “This may be difficult, but I can get through it.”

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

When the harshest voice you hear is your own, it’s worth asking: “Would I talk to a friend that way?”

Most of us want to show up as a good friend, a kind person, someone who is compassionate and empathetic especially when needed the most.

And yet, we tend not to show ourselves the same level of care, compassion, or acceptance that we so easily give to others. Too often we’re harder on ourselves than we would ever be with others.

Instead, we get caught up in our own self-critical thoughts. And rather than motivating ourselves: we judge, we criticize, and one negative thought can feed into many more. Leaving us with questions like “What’s wrong with me?”

But what if we paused and instead asked:
“Would I say this to a friend?”

And what if we went even further, and asked:
“If this was my friend, how would I encourage and guide them?” “How would I support them?”

No self-compassion isn’t letting yourself off easy. It’s simply recognizing that you’re human, giving yourself room to make mistakes, and then directing your focus on what you can learn rather than beating yourself up.

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Instead of trying to think through exhaustion, can you take a pause?

In a world that constantly tells us to do more… be more… and keep going, it’s easy to feel guilty for resting.

But sometimes the most productive thing that you can do for yourself is rest. It doesn’t make you lazy or useless. It doesn’t need to be earned. Resting alone because your body needs it is valid enough.

Even when you’re at rest, your brain is at work: consolidating memories, fine tuning cognitive processes, improving focus, boosting creativity, and preventing burnout.

So pause, breathe, and reset. Give your mind and body a chance to recharge.

Remember, rest doesn’t need to be some big gesture:
➞ it can be closing your eyes,
➞ 5 minutes of complete silence,
➞ silencing your notifications after work,
➞ going for a 15 minute walk,
➞ or listening to your favorite playlist.

Just do it with intention, without distraction, and without shame. You are allowed to enjoy a moment without making it “productive.” Resting because your body needs it is a good enough reason.

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Rumination feels like problem-solving… but sometimes it’s just keeping you stuck in the same loop.

Rumination involves: Replaying the past, analyzing every detail, and asking “why?” over and over.
Problem-solving involves: Identifying what you can actually control and deciding what you want to do next.

When you notice yourself ruminating, try asking:

“Is there a problem I can actually solve right now?”
➞ If YES, identify one small action you can take.
➞ If NO, give yourself permission to pause the problem. Shift your attention to something in the present moment: take a walk, listen to music, or focus on what you can immediately see and hear around you.

You don’t need to think your way to certainty, often you can’t. And sometimes the most helpful next step isn’t another round of thinking. It’s finding your footing and stepping out of the loop. 

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Sometimes we get so focused on finding the “right” way to do something that we forget there may be more than one way that works.

The detour might make things simpler.
It might help you trade perfect for done.
It might make the process more enjoyable.
Or it might simply fit better with where you’re at right now.

Flexibility isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about being willing to find another way when the way you planned isn’t working.

There’s more than one path forward. Give yourself permission to take it.

** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————

Whether it’s holding onto: past mistakes, past wounds, a past self, or how it was supposed to be… Let it go.

At the end of the day, you’re the author of your own story. If you keep on re-writing one passage, how are you ever going to get to the next chapter?

So how does ‘right now’ start?

Letting go.
Confront these difficult emotions of hurt like shame, guilt, anger, or regret that are associated with your past. Take the time to sit & untangle that hurt. Tease out the truth from your false narrative. What is the hurt telling you? What have you learned from it?
Now, as an emotion arises reminding you of your past: acknowledge it, feel it, don’t following the negative train of thought, and release it when you’re ready.

Forgiving yourself.
Forgive yourself of past mistakes. Forgive yourself for not “knowing better.” Shame has never made someone become a better person. And forgiveness always welcomes in closure and acceptance.

Accept what was AND what is.
Whether the past hurt was “right” or “fair,” resist the urge to ask: what if, why, or what could be different. Accept what was and now what is. Now, remind yourself: you’re never too old to change, start over, apologize, or be who you want to be.

When you let go of the past, watch yourself develop into the character you want to be!
D
** For more tips follow @𝗱𝗿.𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 **
📣 reminder to turn on notifications for new posts
🎨 curreen
———————————————————————