Let’s be real. Sometimes we struggle in our relationships, particularly after we’ve been in them for a while. At the beginning, everything’s going great. You think you’ve got it all figured out. Then you hit about 150,000 miles. A hub cap pops off. You replace it and keep chugging along. Your volume knob pops off, so you hot glue it back on. You have a little fender bender, so you buff out the scratch and move past it. Sooner or later, you get tired of fixing problems. Maintenance is exhausting, so you just learn to live with the issues. They’re not that big of a deal. But the more you ignore them, the more these small issues add up. You start to feel a little overwhelmed. Eventually, you get to the point where you’re just teetering down the highway, or maybe it’s more like a dirt path. You thought you knew where you were headed… now you’re not so sure. And then, finally, you get to the point where your battery totally dies, and you’re forced to reach out for help. You need ...

  I am a very curious and enthusiastic person. You may say it’s a little bit like chasing shiny objects. Really, my parents encouraged me to be curious, learn, and have many experiences. In this spirit, I’m not super skeptical and really enjoy hearing different perspectives and learning new things. Here are two new things I’ve been digging this week. Fab Four Smoothie This week, I stumbled upon celebrity nutritionist Kelly Leveque. I’ve always been pretty interested in nutrition and food philosophy, but the recent fads seem so extreme . Each food plan demonizes a different thing... no carbs, no gluten, no dairy, no nightshades, no sugar . I get that we need to avoid an excess amount of certain foods, but it just feels too extreme to me. All of this is to say that when I heard Kelly on a podcast , my ears kind of perked up. What she was saying made sense to me. Kelly is all about regulating the hunger hormones in your body. She teaches people to eat to satisfy their bodies and el...

  When you think of your needs, what comes to mind? What usually comes up are things like food, water, air, shelter, and rest . These are vital needs that humans require for survival, safety, and physiological well-being. We need air to breathe oxygen into our lungs, food to fuel and nourish us, water to hydrate and keep our bodies functioning, and sleep to energize our bodies and minds. We need clothing to shield our bodies from the weather and shelter to protect us from the elements and provide a place to rest. We have physical cues that help us get these needs met. We take deep breaths to get more air, we experience hunger or thirst when we need food or water, and we feel fatigued when our body needs sleep. These are all basic survival needs that must be met in order for us to function. We’re taught to understand them, we pay attention when they aren’t met, and we work to meet them daily. Another part of being human is that we are hardwired to connect with others . Because...

  What’s a mantra? The word mantra is an ancient Sanskrit word, which roughly translates to “mind tool.” A mantra is a repeated or chanted sound, word, or phrase . One mantra you’re probably familiar with is the om mantra, typically used in meditation. Mantras may be used to evoke an altered or transcendent state. Where did the practice come from? Mantras have been used throughout history in meditation . They were first introduced in the Buddhist and Hindu religions and were associated with spiritual practices and rituals. The earliest known mantras were spoken in Sanskrit. How do I use them? Mantras may be spoken aloud or simply stated in your mind. You don’t necessarily have to repeat the word or phrase. You may choose to say it only once. Mantras are for your own spiritual or personal wellbeing, and you get to choose how you use them. Where and why would I use mantras? Meditation is not the only place where mantras can be integrated. They can help keep you focused, pres...

  With the season changing from summer to fall, we’re forced to slow down and spend a bit more time indoors. In summer, we may have been go-go-go, outside frequently, experienced lots of fun activities, and stayed pretty active. In the fall, the weather starts to get cooler (although much more slowly in Texas!), the days get shorter, and there may be fewer social events to attend. It’s a time to reflect on ourselves and our relationships. Are you where you want to be? Are you feeling connected to your partner? Are you investing enough energy in your relationship to keep it strong? Slowing down during the fall provides a great opportunity to refocus on your relationship and increase intimacy with your partner. Here are just a few ways you can invest in your relationship this month.   1) Plan for the holiday season ahead Take a little time to pre-plan for the holidays. This time of year can be a fun time with friends and family, but it can also be really stressful. Sit...