The Practice of Self-Awareness
Have you ever wondered how other people perceive you? What is it like to be on the receiving end of you, your personality and your actions? Most of us think quite highly of yourselves. We [...]
Recovery Awareness Month 2022 – “Recovery Is…”
What is "recovery"? Recovery is.....more than sobriety. Recovery is.....more than wiser choices. Recovery is.....more than mental wellness. Recovery is.....more than healthier relationships. Recovery is.....more than better activities. So, we ask again, what is "recovery"? Of [...]
3 Ways to Help Yourself Feel Safe During Stress
Typically when we consider the idea of “safety”, we think about tools that protect our physical safety such as a seat belt when driving, or a harness and rope when rock climbing. In reality, our [...]
3 Ways to Increase Safety in Your Mental Health or Recovery Journey
When I was a freshman in college at Purdue University, I was nearing what I would consider my peak as a musician. I was a trumpet soloist in the Purdue Jazz Band, a section leader [...]
The Joy of Celebrating Each Other
Do you remember one of your earliest birthday parties with family and friends? I can remember it to this day. I was turning 4 years old, and my party was baseball themed. My dad grilled [...]
Resilience as a Worldview
What do you think about when you read the word “resilience”? Depending on the context and culture you grew up in, it can mean different things to each of us. If your context was anything [...]
It’s Never Too Late to Build Your Resilience
In the late 1990s, the CDC partnered with Kaiser Permanente to complete a history and health study of several thousand average adults, centered upon any occurrence of "Adverse Childhood Experiences" (or ACEs for short) in [...]
There Is Hope for You
If your depression is preventing you from even leaving the house today, there is hope for you. If your anxiety is crippling you with irrational fears today, there is hope for you. If your drinking [...]
3 Things You Can Do to Help a Struggling Loved One
We’ve all gotten that text before… “Hey, I really need to talk to someone right now.” Then, your heart beat speeds up a bit as your mind races in anticipation of whatever your loved one [...]
The Links Between Depression and Anxiety
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the two most commonly diagnosed mental health struggles in the USA are depression and anxiety. More than 40 million adults in the USA experience symptoms of [...]
The Ugly Reality of Stigma Against Mental Health
Imagine this scenario: you have a cold and it’s time to go to the doctor. As you pull in, you notice folks in the lot across the road from the office leering at you as [...]
3 Steps You Can Take for Your Personal Growth
As the Spring season of growth begins to bloom, I like to reflect on what areas in my life-garden may need tending. We often think about personal growth as something that just “happens” to us. [...]
We Grown-Ups Are Still Growing Up
"What do you want to be when you grow up, little guy?” I asked my friend’s son. “I want to be an astronaut! Or, or a baseball player. Or a scientist!!!” My friend’s son replied. [...]
Acknowledging the Initial Grief of Life Transitions
When it comes to our mental health and recovery journeys, many of the transitions we make in our lives are positive changes: incorporating mindfulness practices into daily living; choosing sobriety from alcohol or other drugs; building [...]
Transitioning to a Thriving Mindset
In one of my favorite songs, “Thrive” by the band Switchfoot, the bandleader sings, “I wanna thrive not just survive.” This sentiment resonates with me. At different points in my life, whether due to internal [...]
