It can sometimes feel that we are running through life so quickly without a chance to stop and smell the roses. We are constantly on the go doing the things on our to do lists that we don't have enough room for pleasure and joy.

But joy is a vital piece of our life experience. If we are not enjoying our time here on this earth, then what is really the point of it all. I am not saying that every single moment of our lives should be family with immeasurable joy. However, it is important to make it a priority to experience a good amount of joy and pleasure.

I have been using crystals and oils regularly for about 3 years now. I have too many oils to count and my “special rock” collection is ever-growing. I use my intuitions at the beginning of each day to see which stones and oils are calling out to me at that particular moment. I have found that using this practice to choose which ones I use that day is a spiritual practice in itself.

Have you ever felt like you are a fraud? Like you don’t actually belong in the positions or relationships that you're in? Do you ever feel like you don’t deserve what you have, like you haven’t earned it? Then you may be experiencing Imposter Syndrome.

Journaling has become one of my go-to practices when I am feeling overwhelmed, upset, or just plain old low. It’s like having my own therapist right on my bookshelf. I go grab one of my many journals, find a comfortable place to curl up, and put pen to paper.

Have you ever been hurt by someone in your life? Have you ever hurt yourself in some way? Has someone ever directly or indirectly told you that you aren’t worthy of love? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then chances are you have some pretty big emotional walls up right now.

I believe that mindfulness grew in popularity when it did because of the direction our society has been moving. We are multi-taskers, we rarely slow down or have free time, we are stuck in our heads worrying about what comes next or what we did yesterday. As a society, we have a very difficult time being fully present in the current moment we are living in.

Experiencing low self-esteem and (perceived) emotional weakness are two of the most common difficulties that I see in my counseling clients. In particular, almost all of my female clients report that they at least experience some instances of low self-esteem or lacking strength within themselves. Most of them have these feelings on a regular basis.

We all get “stuck in our heads” from time to time. Over-thinking, analysis paralysis, rumination all can easily take over our mental space when we aren’t paying attention. Grounding is the act or practice of bringing your awareness back into the physical world. Basically, it takes your attention out of your thoughts and emotions and refocuses it on your body and the world around you. These types of exercises help you become more present in your life.