Music and Resilience

Building Blocks, Calming, Energy Management

A while back, the obituaries page in my newspaper had two stories on it. One was about Maria von Trapp, the last surviving member of the family who was the basis for “The Sound of Music.” They escaped from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938, and went on to...

Depression: Companions on the Journey

Challenges, Depression, Resources

One of our goals at My Resilience Gym is to provide connections to resources for dealing with various kinds of adversity. Depression is one of the most common challenges in today’s world. Whether you have encountered depression yourself or have a friend or loved...

My Right Foot: Resilience Practice

Stories

A little over two weeks ago I stepped off a curb, my right foot twisted sideways, and I broke a bone (the base of the 5th metatarsal, for those of you who are curious!) I’m now wearing a boot on that foot, and can’t drive my car. Since I try to practice...

Ten Ways to Strengthen Your Resilience

Exercises

1. Practice calming yourself down. Your brain reacts quickly when you perceive danger or threat. It moves into “fight or flight” mode, which makes it difficult to respond thoughtfully to the challenges you face. You can tell your brain everything is ok by...

Working with Veterans: A Healing Practice

Exercises, PTSD, Resources

David Bothe is a friend of mine who does healing work with a wide range of people. He has recently started a nonprofit organization called Hope and Haven that, as part of its mission, provides healing services for veterans, trauma survivors, their families and...