Dr. Candice Norris-Brown

s blog We often treat gratitude and difficulty as opposites. One feels warm and light. The other feels heavy and unwelcome. So, we chase the good and try to outrun the hard. But I've come to believe that's a mistake. Gratitude and challenge aren't enemies. They're partners. And when we let them work together, something remarkable happens inside us. Celebrating your blessings and accepting your challenges may sound like two very different acts. Yet both point in the same direction: toward a...

How Negative Energy Clouds Judgment Negative emotions are a natural part of the human experience. However, when they dominate our thinking, they can impair our ability to make sound decisions. Negative energy can: Cause us to assume the worst without sufficient evidence. Lead to overreacting in stressful situations. Increase feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Create conflict in relationships. Reduce our ability to focus and think clearly. Prevent us from recognizing opportunities for...

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the play Come and Gone. It was a powerful and thought-provoking production that explored the universal search for purpose, identity, and belonging. Long after the curtain closed, I found myself reflecting on the deeper messages woven throughout the story. As a therapist, I spend each day listening to people's stories. I sit with individuals who are carrying grief, trauma, anxiety, shame, and self-doubt. I have witnessed how painful experiences can...