New Year, New Theme: Getting Unstuck from Old Habits

A sun setting in the woods with snow on ground.

Archetypes are patterns infused with energy. When you look at your patterns, that is, your habits of mind or behavior, you may not realize they are powerfully affecting your life. The “stickiness†of your habits reveals how much energy they hold. Some behavioral patterns can be like a sticky note, easily changed with conscious effort.…

Read More

Thanksgiving Prayers and Gratitude

A close up of some leaves on top of a table

Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to giving thanks for the blessings received during the year. It can also be a time for reflecting on the bounty of the Earth. Now that we have access to food year-round, we can feel disconnected from this aspect of Thanksgiving. After all, you can find pumpkin pie at a…

Read More

Is Gossip Destructive or Productive?

A man and woman are whispering in their ears.

We live in a world where gossip can quickly go viral. In the past, true and untrue stories told about others might spread over days or even weeks. Now they can spread in minutes. I don’t know many of the celebrities who are in the news, but I find gossip about them in the media…

Read More

After the Honeymoon: Idealization and Disillusionment

Two people sitting in lawn chairs on the beach

A while back, I read that the honeymoon phase of most relationships is about 16 months. In that first 16 months, the “other†is glorified, idealized, and thought to perfectly complement us. The “other†does not have to be a person. We can also glorify and idealize a new cause or new passion, such as…

Read More

Bearing the Tension of Being Betwixt and Between

A clock showing the time of 1 2 : 5 0.

Often, when we are anxiously betwixt and between an old and a new way of being, we feel an inner urge to act quickly so as to dissipate the anxiety of waiting. Rather than taking action prematurely, we’re usually better off bearing the tension of waiting until we gain clarity about what to do. Clarity…

Read More

Your Ideals and Choices: Questioning Your Beliefs

A person standing on the same direction as three arrows.

Your ideas about right and wrong have immense influence over the decisions you make. But how deeply have you examined the foundational values by which you’re living your life? How can you discover what those values truly are? Questioning your beliefs could involve an exploration of how you would feel in hypothetical situations that pose…

Read More

Expand the Boundaries of Your Life

expand the boundaries of your life image

Each of us has a story, but it’s not always a satisfying one. To change your story, you have to change the way you view the world. Then you can visualize and energize new possibilities. If you perceive only a narrow range of potential opportunities open to you, you might feel hopelessly boxed into your…

Read More

Using Your Energy Wisely: Reexamine Your To-Do List!

time spent in contemplation image

It’s easier than we think to go through life on autopilot without being truly aware of what we’re doing. I’ve discovered how easy it can be to pour energy into customary activities and not take the time to consider whether that’s the best use of my energy. As part of the requirements for becoming a…

Read More