The ongoing pandemic requires all of us to continue to isolate at home and to social distance when outside. But these restrictions don’t mean we have to avoid being in nature. And that’s a good thing since there are many … Read more
Category Archives: Spirituality Counseling
It’s almost Thanksgiving, a holiday when traditionally we’re supposed to recognize and appreciate the good things in our lives. Unfortunately this is something most of us don’t do. But what if the attitude of gratitude — maintained year round — … Read more
At a time of deep political and social polarization, distrust, fear and acrimony, it’s heartening to learn of a new university research center devoted solely to kindness.
Recently, UCLA announced
the launch of the Bedari Kindness Institute, a group of … Read more
There is considerable research correlating optimism with better health. But is there evidence that a sunnier outlook can actually add years to your life?
A recent epidemiological paper by Boston University and Harvard examined public health data from two cohorts: … Read more
It may seem counter intuitive, but millennials — the age group least interested in organized religion — often want to discuss their spirituality when they come to counseling. That’s been my experience as a psychotherapist. And at least one study … Read more
The belief in “oneness”–that everything in the universe is part of a fundamental unity–is the core teaching of many religions and most mystical traditions. Duke University researchers were curious as to how this world view might influence a person’s mental … Read more
If asked if we follow a particular religion, many of us would say “I’m spiritual, not religious.” But can we claim we’re as spiritual in our lives as we want to be? In truth, we’re all very preoccupied — with … Read more
In the last blog post, I mentioned two recent studies that provide further evidence of the contribution religion makes to personal well-being. It’s clear religious affiliation is a positive force in people’s lives. Religion provides an individual with membership in … Read more
Much research in the past 30 years has demonstrated that people with strong religious beliefs tend to exhibit greater well-being in their lives. The psychological benefits of religiosity are known to include: increased social connections, greater resilience to life challenges, … Read more
“The only constant in life is change,” a quote attributed to the Buddha, but it could have come from any wise sage. Sometimes life will challenge us with unexpected, difficult changes — like a job loss, serious illness, divorce or