Resources for Growth and Well-being

Values are your fundamental beliefs about what matters most to you. They help clarify what you can’t live without and help guide your behaviour, life, and work and are fundamental to living a life with meaning and purpose.

Midlife is a time of re-evaluation. Your priorities naturally shift as you approach retirement, as your children grow up, or when your parents die. It's a time to revisit what is most important to you and who you are becoming.

Sleep plays a vital role in your physical health, emotional well-being, and ability to cope with everyday stress, yet many people experience ongoing sleep difficulties or insomnia. In Canada, about 1 in 2 adults report trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and roughly one-third are not getting the recommended amount of sleep for their age. Night-time insomnia symptoms affect around 20% of Canadian adults, and about 10% meet criteria for an insomnia disorder, making sleep

The best way to pay off debt can be difficult to figure out. Maybe you are considering the snowball method versus the avalanche effect. Maybe you just feel trapped by debt and don’t know where to begin. Regardless of the season, being in debt can feel like you’re frozen in the past, living life just spinning your wheels and never getting ahead.

For many men, talking about mental health can be difficult or even taboo. Here are some practical steps we can all take to dismantle the barriers men face and create a supportive community for everyone.

Conflict is a natural part of every relationship, but it doesn’t have to leave anyone feeling hurt, dismissed, or alone. The resource, Conflict Resolution Skills, from HelpGuide offers down-to-earth, easy-to-use strategies to help you stay calm, communicate clearly, and really listen—especially when emotions are running high. It’s designed to help you respond rather than react, so you can work through disagreements in ways that preserve connection and build trust. Whether you

Loneliness is something most people experience at different points in their lives, yet it can often feel deeply isolating and difficult to talk about. Whether it stems from life transitions, relationship changes, or simply feeling disconnected from others,

Showing gratitude is one of the golden rules that guide us on how to treat others. From a young age, we were taught to be thankful to people who do good deeds for us. Being grateful helps build good relationships with the people around us and positively impacts one's mental health.

All healthy relationships have boundaries. Setting boundaries can be hard, especially when you create new ones within a relationship. New boundaries can cause stress, anxiety, and pain in your relationships. Even so, stick with your boundaries because they communicate that you are a priority. Having boundaries ensures you can engage in healthy, meaningful, and respectful relationships. As you work towards setting boundaries, keep in mind that the only people who get upset whe

What Does it Mean to be Living in the Sandwich Generation? The reputedly self-absorbed baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1954, were designated the 'Me Generation' and have been called the new 'Sandwich Generation', squeezed between the responsibilities of caring for both their children and their parents or older relatives. As added pressure for the boomer generation, most women in this age group have also worked outside the home, earning income which is often necessary for

Source: Sleeping with Science, a TED Series Sleep scientist Matt Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology and host of TED’s Sleeping with Science series, created this short video to unpack how sleep shapes emotional health. In under four minutes, he explains what happens in the brain when people are sleep deprived, why this makes emotions feel bigger and harder to manage, and how quality sleep acts like “emotional first aid” that helps the brain process difficult e

We all have different strengths, needs, limitations, and areas where we need support. When it comes to building a self-care plan, what works well for one person may not work for the next. Here are 5 steps to help you build a personalized self-care plan that works for you. Step 1: Fine-Tune Your Understanding of Self-Care Self-care is any activity that we intentionally do to take care of our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Self-care are those activities that refuel

It is normal to feel overwhelmed when you set a long-term goal. It might be so far away that it seems impossible to reach. Do you want to get sober, go back to school, get a job, or finally feel stable? Long-term goals can feel too hard to do, especially if you have tried before. It's like being stuck on one side of a huge river and wanting to be on the other side, but you can’t see how to cross. You can use the river metaphor to think about your goals, increase hope, and be

We all go through life’s ups and downs, and inevitably, these impact our mood and emotions. The various emotions we experience are a natural part of life and being human. Sometimes, these feelings can be so powerful that they cause us ...

Humans are inherently social beings. We are better positioned to bounce back when we have a social support network with whom we can both give and receive support during times of stress. Research studies show that social support is essential for maintaining our physical and mental well-being.

Naturally, people will have varying reactions to change; however, it would be reasonable to say that uncertainty can be stressful and emotionally unsettling. The following strategies will assist you during unsettling times of change.

Stress is a normal part of everyday life. While a certain amount of stress can be positive and motivating and can get you excited to take on new challenges, too much stress can impact your ability to cope emotionally and physically. ...

Have you ever found yourself thinking that something tragic has happened when your child was late coming home from the movies? What about believing you have the worst luck when it comes to relationships or life in general? How about feeling that no matter how much you studied, you probably failed your final exam?

Conflict in Relationships is Normal Are you and your partner arguing more? Do you feel unappreciated for the things you do in the relationship? Are you constantly feeling like you need to defend yourself? Do you both withdraw and refuse to talk? You’re not alone. Many couples struggle with negative communication patterns and often feel “stuck.” Conflict in relationships is normal, but it’s also important to know how to handle conflict effectively without pushing your partner

Unravelling the fabric of a shared life is rarely simple. Even the most amicable divorces involve tremendous emotional and financial upheaval. And the reason that it can be so difficult to endure is that the most immediate and profound effect of divorce is loss: