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Blessings,

Rev. Connie L. Habash, MA, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Jun 15

My Journey Out of Depression

Posted in: Depression, Healing, Transformation | Comments (2) Tags: , , , , , , , —

Two celebrity suicides prompt me to share my own story of depression, and how I journeyed from being suicidal to wholeness and happiness within.

I have struggled this week with what to write in this month’s blog. I can’t say that this is a unique experience; I often have challenges with the looming question of “what to write?”

But this week it was a bit different. The recent suicides in the news – Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain – made me stop to reflect on things.

I hardly knew who Kate Spade was, other than seeing her name on merchandise in local department stores. Anthony Bourdain, however, I was very familiar with. Our family enjoyed watching Parts Unknown as a bit of education about other cultures around the world – how they lived, ate, celebrated, and even mourned the tragedies that their nations had been through. It felt important for us to know these foreign lands and peoples who lived very differently than we do.

Though I have no idea why they ended their lives, one thing was very clear to me: fame and fortune didn’t make them happy. At least not in a lasting, sustainable way. Although I can’t say I have had fame and fortune, I have had many lessons in the pain of depression, and in discovering what made me truly happy, or at least content with my life. It didn’t come from making money or appearing successful, or even from a wonderful relationship. I had to find it inside myself. Continue Reading »

May 02

The Spiritual Attitude We Need Most in Challenging Times

Posted in: Equanimity, Even-mindedness, Yoga Philosophy | Comments Off on The Spiritual Attitude We Need Most in Challenging Times Tags: , , —

When we believe we’re faced with evil-doers, the spiritual attitude we need most to maintain our inner peace is Upeksha – even-mindedness.

Government scandals, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matter – oh my! Civil war in Syria. Russian interference in our elections – true or false? Building the Wall. Rolling back environmental protections. The distance and tension between the conservatives and the liberals – let alone the United States and the rest of the world – has never been so great, and it’s more difficult to find common ground and work together. Here where I live in the US, and around the world, we are living in challenging times.

Granted, you could probably argue that just about any time in history is challenging, but we certainly are getting an earful in the media these days. And I have noticed that it has been stressful and disturbing not only for myself, but for my clients and students as well.

Especially when we’re having a lot of judgment about it. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Who’s good? Who’s bad? It has been all too easy lately to point fingers… that person, that position, that behavior is simply bad. Wrong. Even evil. If we aren’t careful, we can fall into righteous, polarizing attitudes.

Fortunately, yoga philosophy has an answer – not to “fixing” it all, but how to maintain some inner peace through tumultuous times. Even when we believe we’re faced with no-good scoundrels. Continue Reading »

Apr 15

Your Angel Investors

Posted in: Angels, awakening, Dreams, Encouragement, Goals, Guidance, Inspiration, Motivation, Perception, Possibilities | Comments Off on Your Angel Investors Tags: , , , , , , , , —

You probably don’t need venture capitalists to realize your dreams – you need to awaken your own inner angels.

Calling in your Angel Investors!

I know someone who is an Angel Investor – she loves to find people and projects she believes in and provide the expertise and capital to help them realize their vision.

We were chatting with one of her friends in the foyer of her Eichler-style home. She talked about having a guest on her podcast that was a bit woo-woo. Naturally, I perked up, ‘cause you know I love woo-woo.

She enjoyed this guest, who had a slightly spiritual bent to her work, but felt a little nervous about the prayer that she offered to the listeners in the beginning of her show. Given that her audience is geared towards business and success – a bit more mainstream than those of us spiritual folks – she worried that it would make people uncomfortable. Continue Reading »

Mar 15

Hiking in the Rain: Going Past My Comfort Zone

Posted in: Animals, Beauty, Hiking, journey, Joy, Life, Nature, Openness, Seasons, Trust | Comments Off on Hiking in the Rain: Going Past My Comfort Zone Tags: , , , , , —

A couple weeks ago, I had planned to hike on a Thursday morning with a friend I hadn’t seen in months. We were looking forward to being together and venturing into one of my favorite forests at nearby Huddart Park. The forecast was for rain – not just a little drizzle. Did we want to venture beyond our comfort zone, even if it was pouring?

I was game, and so was she – what an adventure! Going outdoors brings me great joy, but there’s always an element of being uncomfortable. Will I get muddy? Will my new rain pants truly hold up? What if I slip and fall? How about the cold? Being in nature mirrors to us the fact that life is unpredictable and uncomfortable sometimes.

We met up and drove together through the windy road to the park entrance, then on to the grassy field near the trailhead. On with the jackets, hiking books, and mittens (yep, it was chilly!), and off we went into the redwood forest. Continue Reading »

Feb 13

One Way to Find Love – in Yourself

Posted in: Love, Nature, Source, Valentine's Day | Comments Off on One Way to Find Love – in Yourself Tags: , , , —

Yeah, I know. Valentine’s day is this week. How do you feel about it?

Do you feel loved? Do you have someone that you love? Do you appreciate this day to express that love, or does this day trigger painful emotions?

I think there are as many reactions to Valentine’s day as there are the spectrum of emotions. I personally appreciate the opportunity to express love and care for others. But I also don’t like the expectations and commercial aspect of “Valentine’s Day”.

And I don’t think this is about someone else – I think this day could be turned towards finding love wherever you are, inside of you. Because love isn’t limited to a person, a place, or a thing. Love is infinite, unlimited, and ever present. Love is the Divine, and it’s already within you. Continue Reading »

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