Working through a “reflect and edit” process is one of the best tools we have in living an intentional life. What is the “reflect and edit” process exactly? Simply put, it is a process where we slow down and reflect on a particular area of our life that seems to be regularly causing us stress or suffering. After reflecting for a given span of time, we edit or make adjustments to our lives based on our insights.

A few months ago, I read a book called The Healthy Deviant: A Rule Breaker’s Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World by Pilar Gerasimo. Pilar was the founding editor of Experience Life magazine and is the co-host of The Living Experiment podcast (a favorite of mine).

For many of us, when we feel increasing levels of distress and overwhelm, we fall back on coping patterns from our childhood. Normally, how we cope is unconscious. We are not aware of it. And much of our coping stems from a wound of some sort.

I have been leaning hard into pleasure lately. You? I recommend it. Like, really. Pleasure is an important part of feeling the JOY of being alive. We all need some of that. The simpler, the better. Why not make a list right now?

Personal recommendations for a new book, TV show, podcast, and documentary

Important tenets of health— like eating nutrient-dense foods, sleeping well, getting outside regularly, moving our bodies, spending time with our peeps, stimulating our brains, and embracing moments of letting it all go (by watching Netflix, for example, or by stepping outside or taking a bath) act as protectors to our physical, mental, and emotional selves.

Know that the first step is being aware that we are feeling overwhelmed in a moment we are sharing with someone we care about. That awareness is everything. It may start out that we have the awareness after we have hurt our loved ones but soon enough, we will begin noticing in the middle of a reactive moment— and with some practice, before we have responded at all.

Spring is a wonderful time to reflect and edit on the various components of our lives. Our wardrobes. Our daily schedules. Our morning routine. Our night routines. Our eating plans. Our skin care rituals. Our relationships.

Lifting weights has been part of my overall training routine since my competitive running days—and I confess it has never felt particularly nurturing. I have noticed tightness and inflexibility over the years.

New Year's resolutions seem to hit hard amidst the quiet of January. I must admit that I have mixed feelings about it.

One of my favorite ways to enhance any activity is to listen to a podcast. Do you have podcasts you love? I find that I am drawn to podcasts for a variety of reasons.

I have tried something new with our breakfast ritual recently. A capsule breakfast menu. You know how much I enjoy my capsule wardrobe! Yes! Well, I thought the same benefits might apply to meal planning and our breakfast meal.

One routine that is officially in place is my workout routine. Moving my body is an aspect of my life that is always worth the time I give it. Period.

After suffering from a severe bout of insomnia for about a year, I got more serious about having a bedtime routine. I actually think of it as the "power down" space in my day. I really look forward to it!

As tempting as it may be to avoid or distract ourselves from the pain or loss we feel, we compound our problems when we do so. Our stresses mount or become more complex.

What if part of life really is about allowing for opportunities for moments of resonance for our children? And ourselves?

“When I’m tempted to skip my morning routine or another form of self-care, I remind myself that I can better serve the people I love and the projects I care about when I start with me.” – Courtney Carver

For many of us, our lives spread out before us from the moment our eyes float or jerk open each morning. But what if we were able to add just a bit of pleasure to the tasks at hand?

“The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance for the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” -Thomas Moore