Did you know that if as a child you experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; emotional or physical neglect; or were exposed to household substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, separation or divorce, that you are at an increase of almost anything bad you can imagine? In fact, if you experience more than three of these,…
This wonderful video about Andy, the harmonica man, is a superb reminder of what many of our leading scientists and spiritual leaders have been telling us for decades and even centuries–our thoughts and emotions affect our biology! When we are living a life that makes us happy we feel better and quite often our health…
This short video talks about how both early childhood trauma and early childhood support changes the brain. It also explains how one secure attachment with a daycare provider, preschool teacher, or other adult in a child’s life, even if there are no secure attachments in the home, can give a child a seed for resiliency.…
What do you do when you find yourself feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and unable to focus or accomplish your goal? Do you push harder or do you step back and try to find your rudder, and a way to bring clarity back into the picture? When I was much younger and things didn’t magically fall into…
When I was young I wanted a big dog with soft fur and a heart of gold. He also needed to be a noble being that helped me feel safe. My mother said dogs cost too much money and my father said they were too much work, but my grandfather, the owner of many dogs,…
I have come to believe that when you find yourself searching for something to make you feel whole—be it a relationship or a new toy—what you may be looking for, or trying to reclaim, is your soul. The loss or disconnect from your soul can feel like an overwhelming emptiness, a disorientation, or even depression.…
When you feel angry or upset, do you allow those negative feelings to pull you down and drain your positive life-force energy? If things don’t work out the way you want them to, do you get angry or sore? Or do you know how to shake off unconstructive and negative feelings and re-embrace your positive…
How do you approach your relationships? Do you approach them as a peer—meaning you view the other person as an equal? Or do you approach them as a pier—meaning you think you need to prop up the other person or carry more than your part of the load? Or do you approach relationships from the…
Humor is a wonderful antidote for stress, a delightful way to release bottled-up emotions and ultimately change your perceptions. Some people are natural comedians, while others may find themselves stifled in this department. I grew-up in an environment where thinking differently was frowned on and poking fun at something was not tolerated, so my humorist…
I have come to the conclusion that nature is my best friend and teacher. It mirrors me, supports me, and constantly provides me with guidance if I am awake enough to hear it speak. Just going for a walk can clear my head, sooth the sadness in my heart, and lift weight off my shoulders.…