by Jeff Clark, MD | Oct 19, 2020 | Goals, Uncertainty
You cannot remove uncertainty from your life. You can plan around it, mitigate against some of its biggest risks, and at times even enjoy it. But you can never escape it. Embrace uncertainty as a surprisingly stable foundation. If you don’t expect some change,...
by Jeff Clark, MD | Oct 12, 2020 | Anxiety, Avoidance
If you’re tossed in a pool, thrashing wildly is the worst thing you can do. But if it’s never happened before, how would you know better? You can learn to tread water. A coordinated effort between your limbs will keep your head in the air. Erratic motions make you...
by Jeff Clark, MD | Oct 5, 2020 | Models, Relationships
Last week, I wrote about the cardinal rule of mental health: that your only real option to improve any situation is to change your behavior. It’s a simple principle that bears repeating. But there are some relevant counterarguments that are worth addressing. Another...
by Jeff Clark, MD | Sep 28, 2020 | Ambivalence, Models, Relationships
How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb? It’s a dumb joke, and I’ll let you suffer through it. But first, let’s talk about relationships. Every relationship is more than just two people. There is an unspoken middle ground called the relationship...
by Jeff Clark, MD | Sep 21, 2020 | Baby Steps, Do Less, Goals, Vision
Time, energy, and attention are finite. Doing something is a decision not to do something else. You may be stretched too thin to reach all your goals. Try doing less. You can choose to be just “good enough” at most tasks so that you can be exceptional at...