When I visited my mother several weeks ago, I never imagined that her home and thousands of others would be reduced to ash two days later. It seems unfathomable that entire communities could be decimated so quickly. The horrific wildfires in Los Angeles and their unparalleled destruction hammer home the reality that none of us […]

Eight days ago, fires began to tear through Los Angeles, driven by powerful winds. Tens of thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate, grabbing whatever few belongings they could with only minutes to spare. Members of my family evacuated one town, only to have to evacuate again from their presumed safe location. Entire communities were […]

Having some knowledge about healthy eating habits is generally helpful. Implementing such knowledge is even more helpful – to a point. When a person spends an excessive amount of time thinking about the quality of one’s diet and taking great measures to eat in a “healthy” way, this can be termed orthorexia. Although orthorexia hasn’t […]

Do you find yourself trying to figure out why experiences have happened to you, why certain situations frighten you, or why certain inevitables (death and taxes, as they say) exist? If so, welcome to the human race. Our minds are meaning-making machines. In addition, gaining a greater understanding of issues can be helpful, to an […]

Patience is one of the most useful character traits we can develop. Whether we’re dealing with a prolonged case of the flu, a troubling relative, learning a second (or third) language, or digging ourselves out of a financial hole, patience makes it possible for us to withstand frustrations, control our temper, regulate our stress level, […]

Short-term stress is a normal part of life and to be expected. Having bills to pay, challenges at work, relationship issues, and health concerns can all trigger anxiety. Our bodies are equipped to deal with temporary stressors by activating our “fight or flight response”, which causes our heart to beat more quickly, our blood pressure […]

In addition to containing many moments of joy, life clearly also involves hassles. Sometimes, in addition to everyday challenges, we find (or put) ourselves in situations which seem absolutely unbearable, and we’re overwhelmed by powerful feelings that if unchecked might cause us to act in destructive ways. It can be extremely difficult to think clearly […]

In a world where our obligations to our family, friends, job, and community can seem overwhelming, tending to our own needs often falls by the wayside. We may feel guilty about taking time for ourselves, yet we neglect self-care at our peril. Reasons why self-care is important: 1) Self-care demonstrates that you know your personal […]

Do you sometimes recoil from uncomfortable emotions, thinking that you either shouldn’t be feeling them or that you cannot handle them? The truth is that we’re meant to have a broad range of emotions. We actually need to, since they provide us with valuable information. The key lies in not judging our feelings but becoming […]

Wouldn’t it be a relief if you could finally get – and keep – your life in order? If you were always in tip-top condition physically, without any medical concerns? If you could hit your “ideal” weight and maintain this with an unbroken string of healthy yet delicious meals? If you never fought with your […]