When distressing thoughts become habitual and automatic, we end up identifying with our negative mind, and become depressed or anxious.

We can let those negative thoughts follow their course and take over our lives without ever questioning them, or we may come to see that we have a choice in the matter, and that we can create some boundaries around our negative thinking.

Welcome to 2013, and Happy New Year to everyone! From December through the beginning of January I like to think about and write down my intentions for the new year. These intentions help me keep the direction I will need to feel awesome at the end of 2013. I divide my intentions into several areas: Health, Family, Relationship, Personal, Finances, Work, and Social.

Like most people, I feel deeply sad and disturbed about the killings of 26 innocent children and adults in Connecticut last Friday. It is hard to remain silent in the midst of so much suffering, and to ignore this feeling of powerlessness and wrongness about it all.

As the holidays approach, you may find yourself busy shopping for a list of gifts online or at the mall, decorating the yard with multicolor lights, attending or hosting holiday parties, or hurrying up to send last minute season's greeting cards to loved ones. All this work in anticipation of the Holidays can be stressful and emotionally draining if you do not take good care of yourself.