The Dark Side of Excellence

The Dark Side of Excellence

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

Once there was a greatly admired martial arts master. He was at the highest level of his field, skilled not just in his physical prowess, but in his deep understanding of the subtle energies that govern the practice. He was a great friend to many, often the first to help in a time of crisis. He was even an accomplished sushi chef. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do. He was the envy of many. One day, he took his life “with his own steady hand.” My teacher opened up one of his courses with this story. His intention was to remind us that while cultivating great skill is a wonderful thing, it does not erase the deep sense of not being enough. Achievement and success may feel good, but if you have hungry ghosts in your heart who always want more, the pleasure is fleeting. What was once your dream come true becomes ordinary, and not quite what you wanted. One of the signs of addiction is believing that the thing you desire will solve your problems. It doesn’t work, yet you persist in the belief and want even more. You’re like a big empty bowl, that only gets bigger the more you try to fill it up. Here’s another way. Become a smaller bowl. I know this is the opposite of what many self help books and life coaches tell you to do. They tell you to dream big and reach for the stars. With the subtext being, this will make you happy. The truth is, beyond what you need to live a comfortable life, there...
Can Writing Make You Happier?

Can Writing Make You Happier?

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

You’ve probably experienced the relief that comes from talking about a deep seated problem with a trusted friend or professional. But sometimes there isn’t someone to talk to, or it doesn’t seem to be helping.   Research on happiness has revealed that a simple practice can be just as powerful, if not more, for healing trauma and increasing joy: journaling.   Here’s why it works so well: the power of writing is in organizing your ideas into coherent sentences. This is turn helps your mind gain clarity on an subject, in a way that talking might not. Recall a rambling conversation that left you more confused than when you started, and you know what I mean.   Writing helps you get better acquainted with your true self, and understand how you think and feel. Also, it’s very hard to lie to yourself in writing.   When I feel like a hot mess of anxiety, confusion, and just plain whininess, it really helps me to grab a pen and paper, and write down what I feel. I get to identify exactly what is bothering me. I go from an amorphous cloud of upset, to “I feel insecure about what I said at the meeting today.”   Boiling it down to its essence calms me down, so I can find a solution, or just move on. Has that ever happened to you?   You may be the type of person who loves to write, or who struggles with it. So I want to be clear here that journaling for happiness does not require you be clever, original, or grammatically correct. Inspired...

Is This Good Enough?

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

Accept only the best. While this seems like a good motto, evidence shows that it’s a recipe for unhappiness. You’re deluged with an abundance of choices everyday. No doubt you feel some pressure to make the smartest decisions – choose a car with the best bang for buck, hire the most talented nanny, go on the most awesome vacations. In short – have the best life ever. The problem is, striving for the best life ever is fueled by dissatisfaction. Because there is always something “better.” And it usually belongs to someone else. Or happened yesterday. The quest for best is a bottomless pit, where nothing is good enough. Least of all, you. Hard to feel fulfilled with that mindset. Here’s the cure  – embrace good enough. Simply put, people who have lower standards feel happier. But how do you live your potential and cultivate a life of purpose, while embracing good enough? Living purposefully means being in full acceptance of who you are, and following your interests and talents. In this way, you enjoy your daily life, and are more likely to create a positive impact in the world. In the everyday practice of purpose, you can allow yourself to be content with simple, doable actions in the service of your deepest intent. Author Jennifer Louden puts it really well when she outlines the Conditions of Enoughness in four steps: 1. Name what is enough in simple, measurable facts.  Whether it’s about what you do (I will drink a green smoothie), or a circumstance (I have one friend I can reach out to). 2. Set a time (daily,...