Blog

With the sun shining and the flowers blooming, it is only natural for us to desire to be out in nature moving, exploring, and connecting with others. Like the seasons of the past, we can sense the familiarity and joys of the springtime. However, unlike before, we unable to engage in our usual traditions and celebrations of the season or, if we do, it requires a significant degree of conscious thought and planning. The good news is that we are learning that we are more resilient than we thought and capable of adapting in the most trying times, even if we are living our lives in a less preferred way.

Many folks create a list of New Year’s Resolutions, aimed at addressing the guilt, surfeit, and over-indulgence of the holiday season. One sees the results in increased gym memberships, the purchase of sports equipment, a run on self-help books, and planners that include personal, emotional and professional goals. Most resolutions last about two weeks (for the die-hards, about a month) before motivation is extinguished because life got in the way. This is frequently going to happen. Do you recall your resolutions from last year, and did you accomplish them? That’s what I thought, and, same here.

In searching for information on the ways that gratitude enhances well-being, I discovered a comprehensive and interesting article titled, The Benefits of Gratitude: 28 Questions Answered Thanks to Gratitude, The author, Courtney Ackerman, lists 5 domains affected positively by gratitude. I have devoted a paragraph to each. It becomes apparent that cultivating this attitude benefits not only the individual, but also expands to all  one comes into contact with.

Today, the the focus is on ways to incorporate a mindfulness based practice to reduce anxiety.  We all experience feelings of fear or anxiety in various points in our life but for some these become problematic when they increase in frequency, intensity, and duration to degrees that become disruptive in daily living.