Yes, it’s true. It’s time for me to take a blogging break while I am on a retreat. Since I will be unplugged (a stretch for me, but I know I can do it), I won’t be posting or responding to comments. I’ll be back with a fresh and new post some time the week of February 14.
In the meantime, you are welcome to take a look through the ... Read entire article
“Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. In those transparent moments we know other people’s joys and sorrows, and we care about their concerns as if they were our own.” ~Fritz Williams
“Phoenix rising from the ashes.” This phrase popped into my head recently, and I wasn’t sure why until ... Read entire article
“In spite of all similarities, every living situation has, like a newborn child, a new face, that has never been before and will never come again. It demands of you a reaction that cannot be prepared beforehand. It demands nothing of what is past. It demands presence, responsibility; it demands you.”
~Martin Buber
What is the #1 problem in relationships, a major source of unhappiness, and ... Read entire article
I love responding to questions, and I received one recently about loneliness. It was from Robert (name changed for privacy) who was feeling lonely because he doesn’t have a life partner. He writes, “It seems to me that all my friends have found their perfect mate, and I am the one who will be alone forever. Even if I have lots of friends.”
Can anyone relate? Have you ... Read entire article
“It’s good to do uncomfortable things. It’s weight training for life.”
~Anne Lamott
Inner peace. Isn’t that something we all want more of? Who doesn’t like feeling relaxed, happy, and at ease?
The reality for most of us is that inner peace seems to come and go. But if we take a very close look, we can see that peace is always here. In fact, it is ... Read entire article
Note: As you investigate boredom, you may find it helpful to listen to a guided audio meditation I recorded called, “You Are Welcome as You Are.”
“Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it’s dark.” ~Zen Proverb
There was a time when boredom ruled my life. Either I was bored, or I spent my time escaping boredom. Sure, I chose some great ways to stay occupied, and ... Read entire article
“Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil; With them forgive yourself.” ~William Shakespeare
I gave a presentation recently to a support group for older women coping with chronic lung diseases such as emphysema. The symptoms that affect their daily lives include fatigue, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Some have pain, most need the support of ... Read entire article
“The winds of grace are always blowing, but it is you who must raise your sails.” ~Rabindranath Tagore
I love spring. I grew up in the northeast and was continually enthralled with the bounty of life that would begin to appear as the weather started to shift. The first robin, the crocuses pushing their way into the sun – awe-inspiring signs of growth and renewal. Spring is an ... Read entire article
“Of course, anger can always be justified. But then, so can forgiveness. It all depends on how much more you want from the adventure.” ~Mike Dooley
Everybody needs to relax, right? Well, that is why I do crossword puzzles. The other day I came across the clue for a 6-letter word meaning “something you hold or nurse.” The answer? Grudge.
This clue offers a recipe for how to keep ... Read entire article
“If your everyday practice is to open to all your emotions, to all the people you meet, to all the situations you encounter, without closing down, trusting that you can do that – then that will take you are far as you can go. And then you’ll understand all the teachings that anyone has ever taught.” Pema Chodron
In a comment on the recent post, How to Meditate, reader ... Read entire article
Hi, I’m Gail Brenner, Ph.D., psychologist and blogger. Here you will find inspiration to help you reclaim your natural life. Discover that inner peace is absolutely possible, happiness and fulfillment your birthright. Come on in. Be inspired. Awaken to A Flourishing Life!
