When making New Year’s resolutions, we tend to focus on big goals that we think will help us be happier and healthier. However, we often we have trouble succeeding with these goals, because they feel like punishment. It might seem…

Stress and anxiety can overwhelm us during the holidays to the point of consuming our minds and hearts, as well as affecting our bodies. One way to develop resiliency in the midst of holiday stress is to focus on a…

Many of us are comfortable giving but not receiving assistance. However, we can reap benefits from the act of both giving and receiving. Giving requires the act of letting go. Receiving invites us to open and let something in. While…

I remember saying in my first year of recovery, “For this holiday season, I am actually going to cook Christmas dinner for my family for the first time in a long time!” The truth was; I cared more about my serenity. It turned out well, and the family was grateful for the meal and time spent together.

Thinking about money or your finances during the holidays, with gift buying, entertaining and travel, can be stressful. Here are some tips to help you deal with financial stress around the holidays: Make one financial decision at a time. When…

A new exhibit titled, “Changing Seasons,” by local artist Carole Hunnes-Nielsen, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on January 3 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids. Hunnes-Nielsen graduated from Western…

My drinking began early in my teenage years. By the time I was 20, I knew I didn’t drink like most people. I remained functional and managed to graduate from nursing school. When my brother committed suicide in 2010, my…

The holiday season can be emotionally taxing for everyone. However, it is often particularly miserable if you are struggling with managing depression during the holidays. You know you should be excited to spend time with family and should be enjoying…