We all have psychological defenses, to protect us, preserve and keep us safe. But when they are unconscious, they become infectious, harming our relationships, and overwhelming our own nervous system. We must bring them to the surface to acknowledge, process and eventually heal.

Spring is naturally a time to wake up, to stretch those sleepy limbs after the darkness of winter passes. It is a time for renewal, for cleansing the dust from our bodies, from our homes, purifying and strengthening to be ready for the next journey. You may notice you are doing more, taking on more at work or socially, and generally being more active. While this time is exciting and rewarding, it is also a perfect time to become aware of resistance.

Gratitude- a buzz word that everyone is talking about and it seems so easy- thank you, we all leaned to say it when we were 5 years old. Our parents told us to say thank you, our teachers reminded us to say thank you, maybe our preacher had us count our blessings. And it felt like something we were supposed to do. Cultivating authentic gratitude is an art form, a meditation, a way of prayer. And it is not easy. Here are seven steps in Cultivating Gratitude.

Often when we are in transition, our mind takes over. We become frazzled, as chaos takes over. Emotions become unmanageable and it is hard to recognize what we need, what is our ally. The body can be a resource in these times. Learning how to connect more intimately with our body is a worthy skill, to find our balance and move forward.