Tag Archives: stress

Avoiding Holiday Family Meltdowns

With the holidays just around the corner – Chanukah begins next week, Christmas and Kwanzaa the week after – are you planning to spend some time celebrating with relatives? Now is the time to take a look at your family dynamics and plan ahead to avoid a meltdown during your get together. Often present-day arguments reflect childhood conflicts over power, competition or favoritism. In today’s environment, politics, too, can cause a serious disruption in family harmony. If your family has a history of dwelling on unfinished business or expressions of … Continue reading

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Full of awe trumps awful any day

Last month I visited the Grand Canyon, probably one of the most “awe-full” places on earth. The sense of grandeur that radiates there during the day is nearly matched by the millions of stars that light up the otherwise black nights. While there I felt lucky to have that respite from the truly awful news in the world – beheadings by terrorists, the spread of Ebola, fears of global unrest. How about you? Amidst the stress and bad news in the world these days, are you looking for ways to … Continue reading

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The Power of the Pen

If you want to stay emotionally on track, why not consider journaling? When we experience a traumatic event or painful transition, our thoughts often keep us up at night. Translating these crises into language can help us get a better grasp on how we feel and what to do about it. Journaling is a fluid form of writing where you can record your concerns, explore personal issues and clear your head. It’s a way to connect to your feelings and clarify your thoughts. Want to tap into your stream of … Continue reading

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Choose Resilience

To one degree or another, we’ve all suffered adversity and experienced setbacks. But have you heard about post-traumatic growth? You know, it’s always possible to bounce back. Whether you’re hit in the face with a crisis or making a slow transition to the next chapter, expect a cascade of emotions–anxiety, the desire to hold on, fear, maybe even a sense of freedom. If you step back, take a deep breath and face the situation squarely, you can’t help but grow from the challenges: Look into your part. You have a … Continue reading

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