The Inspiring Connections Blog

Virtually every time I listen to this song, I am left with shivers, or the word whispered in my head or aloud, “Wow”. Read more ›

The short film, Just Breathe, features the craft from yesterday’s post along with children speaking about the experience of anger and of how breathing helps “the glitter to settle”. Read more ›

When the glitter settles, there is sparkle.

Let’s take a few moments to make a craft. You’ll need a clear jar with a tight fitting lid that won’t leak, loose glitter, water. To make the craft, fill the jar to nearly full with water and some glitter. Put the lid on tightly. Voila! You are done. Read more ›

Did you know that the human brain tends to act like teflon to positive experiences and like velcro to negative experiences? This is a wonderful metaphor Dr. Rick Hanson uses in the video below to describe the brain’s negativity bias, in essence, its tendency to absorb and remember readily negative experiences and potential threats combined with its tendency to not so readily absorb and remember positive experiences. Read more ›

Earlier this fall, I stumbled across and read the autobiographical book, 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life, by Cami Walker. Cami became very ill and subsequently received the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis when she was 30 years old. As she shared in the video I link you to below, this experience changed her life forever. At the same time, through hard work, serendipity, and the prescription of giving away 29 gifts in 29 days, she also found a way to come back to herself and back to others. Read more ›

Dear Everyone,

Although this post will end up in the middle of posts that have gone before and posts that will come after, I am writing to say that the best sources for information about some of the particulars of my work in private practice (e.g., office address and the specific services I provide) are (1) me (asking me) and (2) my website. Read more ›

Here we have a photo of part of a room that usually serves a few different functions at my office, one of which is as a space for group programs. The photo was taken yesterday. It doesn’t really look to be in any shape to function as a room for groups just at the moment, does it? Here enters the reason I need to modify my previous announcement and plan, which was for the next mindful compassion group program begin next week.  Read more ›

When people hear the word compassion, they tend to think of kindness. But scientific study has found the core of compassion to be courage. –Paul Gilbert, 2015, Compassion: Universally Misunderstood

Read more ›

The next 15-session mindful compassion group therapy program I am offering is scheduled to begin the week of September 21, 2015. Read more ›

“Rush hour. No need to rush. Slow down. Stop. See ….” — Sharon Salzberg

This quote is from a beautiful video that Sharon Salzberberg recently released to honour the 20th anniversary of the publication of her heartfelt book, Lovingkindess. The video is of a short loving kindness meditation, “Street Lovingkindness”. Read more ›