July 2021

I was thinking about the most important questions I have asked myself in this child abuse healing journey, and I thought it might be beneficial to share those with you because when I started asking myself these questions, I felt a massive shift. I believe that one of the hardest things (this was my experience) in healing is to reflect on what is happening in our lives at this moment. Healing trauma is so much about clarity and intention. I think about this - if we can figure out how we got...

By Julia Weis, ¡Salud America!, July 20, 2021 A new method is emerging to help children heal from trauma – art therapy. More mental health clinics, like the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas , are beginning to use art to help children with the healing process. Mental health professionals hope that art therapy can help children process adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which is growing to be a public health crisis . “Art therapy helps one process emotions and feelings that one...

Why is the rhythm of the heartbeat so mesmerizing? Every human gestates to the sound and rhythm of their mother’s heartbeat while in utero. And, for many, hearing and feeling the sound of a heartbeat whenever it shows up in our lives pulls us (unconsciously) into a remembrance of that original somatic rhythm. It’s the universal experience of the original heartbeat that’s part of the symphony of life in which we all play. Hand drumming is a global and cross-cultural artform ... much like...

We would like to provide you ongoing support and materials following the Mindfulness for Healthcare Summit . This week, we would like to share Gratitude Practice for Nurses —a joint initiative of the American Nurses Foundation and the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Decades of scientific research have shown that practicing gratitude is good for our minds, bodies, and relationships. Gratitude Practice for Nurses is a free initiative designed to provide...

By Bethany Teachman, Greater Good Magazine, July 15, 2021 You’ve been waiting…and waiting…and waiting for this amazing, magical day when you could return to “normal life.” For many people in the U.S., it feels like that dim light at the end of the pandemic tunnel is becoming brighter. My 12- and 14-year-old daughters now have their first shot, with the second one soon to follow. I was euphoric when the kids received their vaccinations, choking up under my mask at the relief that my family...

By Matt Fuchs, The Washington Post, July 13, 2021 If you’re interested in staying healthy as you age — and living longer — you might want to add a different set of muscles to your workout routine: your creative ones. Ongoing research suggests that creativity may be key to healthy aging. Studies show that participating in activities such as singing, theater performance and visual artistry could support the well-being of older adults, and that creativity, which is related to the personality...

By Mari McNeil, The Buffalo News, July 18, 2021 O ne recent morning I called the E-ZPass customer support line to resolve improper fines on my account. I know that E-ZPass New York has had a lot of technical problems lately, and they have been in the news. I expected a protracted tangle of a fight. I called early in the morning, but still had to wait 25 minutes to talk to a human – this after wading through a confusing menu of options. Finally, “Donna” answered the call. Though it was only...

Co-authored by Leanne McEvoy, a mother of two and advocate for children's mental health and well-being who is passionate about making sure kids have solid emotional foundations to navigate life. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work with a concentration in children and families and has advocated for improved policy and legislation around school safety. This is a true story shared with me but something similar might be unfolding near you as well. Recently, a ten year old boy’s...

I am excited to announce a special edition, free pop-up workshop for July! Register for Affirmation Hour by clicking here . Everyone will find something for them during Affirmation Hour - show up as you are, and bring your children if you'd like! Please invite other folks to join us for this meaningful time together. July 22nd at 11am PT/2pm ET. Visit Rise to Resilience for more information and events. Image description: a gray background with bright blue text that reads POP UP WORKSHOP...

By Adam Grant, The New York Times, July 10, 2021 In late June, over 15,000 vaccinated people packed in to watch the Foo Fighters reopen Madison Square Garden. When the band brought the comedian Dave Chappelle onstage to sing the Radiohead song “Creep,” the audience erupted in the closest thing I’ve seen to rapture in a solid year and a half. No one cared that Mr. Chappelle was off key. They were all participating in an experience that was unimaginable just months earlier. One day they’ll...

I have been a decades long practitioner of yoga and know in my body, heart and soul that yoga is good for me but I gotta say I am thrilled to see the National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has summarized the research to date on the impacts of yoga on things like overall wellness, pain management, mental health, in children, in pregnant women, for quitting smoking and losing weight etc. They summarize the research suggesting that yoga...

Five through the Filter is: An individual (within functionality) self-care framework, which leads to realizing our global need. 'Five through the Filter' was assembled to achieve the Connect All initiative’s one goal and two motivations. One goal: To address all that can be addressed in existence for the most safety and hopeful possibilities. Two motivations: – I need the most safety and hopeful possibilities for myself and (if applicable) who I am attached to. – I both want to positively...