What is your first instinct when you are told to “feel your feelings”? Perhaps you think this means mindfulness, or sitting silently and identifying a feeling. Then what? How can we move toward healing by simply identifying a feeling? How do we truly “feel” it? Trauma researchers have begun to explore the complex systems that make up our emotional selves. When we experience something traumatic- these difficult emotions might get “stuck” in our bodies. Imagine you are spendi

‘Tis the Season…right? The struggle of gift-giving for holiday pleasure is still here. Whether to go all out or to be sensible? Who do we focus on bringing holiday pleasure to and who would be okay if we simply gave them more time, more attention, or more distance …space? The tradition of gift-giving can also be considered the ultimate season of giving intentional pleasure in a time when so many are still seeking it. How awesome does it feel to gift another the joy of pleasu

Unconditional love is taught to us from a young age by many cultures and religions. A popular definition is quoted at many Christian wedding ceremonies “for better or worse” and is interpreted to mean that if we have unconditional love for someone, we tolerate, excuse, and look past any unhealthy or damaging traits. Brené Brown offers an alternative, and her book “The Gifts of Imperfection”, where she explains that the highest levels of compassion for another is achieved thr

It’s the summer. If you’re a parent, you are probably spending extended periods of time with your kids, navigating schedules while...