Relaxation

For many of us, setting goals is easy. Bringing our visions to life is a lot more challenging. And since we inevitably encounter obstacles and self-doubt when we try to do anything new, it can be hard to stay focused, motivated, and confident in our potential and our dreams. I remember back in my twenties,

“The opposite of anger is not calmness. It’s empathy.” ~Mehmet Oz In December last year, I went to India to study yoga and meditation. About a week into my training, I noticed I was becoming increasingly angry. I thought that coming to this peaceful and supportive place would be all about gentle healing while perfecting

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” ~Mary Dunbar “I don’t want to sit by Teresa. She doesn’t talk.” Ouch. I was ten years old and at a fundraising dinner for my travel softball team. It was that dreaded

“It is not your responsibility to figure out what someone else is feeling and why. Let go of the illusion that ‘fixing’ their bad mood will make you feel better.” ~Sarah Crosby Some years ago, I was talking to my husband on the phone. He sounded annoyed about something to do with his work, but

4:00 p.m. I am suddenly aware of my heartbeat. It feels more insistent than normal. Is it faster? Is it jagged? Am I out of breath? I try to reason with myself: I’ve just done a brisk walk pushing the stroller over some hills. My anxiety responds: Those hills were awhile back… you wouldn’t be

“A codependent person is one who has let another person’s behavior affect him or her and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behavior.” ~Melody Beattie From a young age, I felt insecure in my own skin. I was a highly sensitive child and, subsequently, struggled with low self-worth for most of my life. Although

“Deep in the forest I stroll to hear the wisdom of my soul.” ~Angie Weiland-Crosby In October 2021, my partner and I embarked on a journey to summit Mt. St. Helens, an 8,263-foot active volcano in Washington State. We have hiked thousands of miles across the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico, but this was

“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” ~Marianne Williamson  When you hear the word “forgiveness,” what do you feel? Forgiveness used to make me feel uncomfortable. I would physically contract when I thought about forgiving someone who hurt me. I felt like forgiving meant letting them off

“After you give so much of yourself to people over the years, one day you wake up and realize that you need someone to give to you too.” ~Sylvester McNutt One of the biggest surprises I found on my self-care journey was how lonely I started to feel in the process, especially when I started

“Growth is uncomfortable; you have to embrace the discomfort if you want to expand.” ~Jonathan Majors Click, the camera lens shutters as I stand barefoot in mud, waist deep in cold river water with lilies all around me, wearing nothing but a lace cloth draped across my body. I’ll never forget how nervous I was

“There is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind.” ~Unknown A few years ago, I had what could safely be deemed a “bad year.” My live-in partner left me out of the blue, I became un(der)employed and racked with debt, I got in a car accident that totaled my car, and then…my

“When I look back on my life, I see pain, mistakes, and heartache. When I look in the mirror, I see strength, learned lessons, and pride in myself.” ~Unknown Years ago, I wrote in my journal: “My life has no meaning. I’m sick of being miserable, of struggling and having to prop myself up. I’m

“Sometimes people wound us because they’re wounded and tell us we’re broken because that’s how they feel, but we don’t have to believe them.” ~Lori Deschene I’ve always been proud of how I can handle life so well. I’m great at managing responsibilities and taking care of others, but I’m not so great at being

“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything—anger, anxiety, or possessions—we cannot be free.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh My anger has gotten the best of me more than I care to admit. I’ve smashed windows, broken chairs, had movie-worthy brawls on the

“Your soulmate is not someone who completes you. No, a soulmate is someone who inspires you to complete yourself.” ~Bianca Sparacino For years I was in what seemed like an endless search for my soulmate—someone who would understand me, love me unconditionally, and share my values and interests. It felt like I needed someone in

“You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, or anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a ‘negative person.’ It makes you human.” ~Lori Deschene In November, I was on an emotional roller coaster full of sudden unexplainable fits of anger, hysterically crying for no