Life is filled with opportunities to make changes, sometimes by design, and more often by circumstances we don’t anticipate. Either way, you are more likely to harness positive lasting change when your mind and actions are in harmony. And you’ll feel less conflict within yourself.  First, set your intention, which is a conscious idea for a desired outcome. Then, with the power of energy practices, you can level up your manifestation skills by being crystal clear on the desired results. Sound good? Let’s dive in.

“Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles... This…regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” Wayne Dyer.

How did your ancestors heal themselves, no matter what they were going through, when, or where they lived? They may have used practices in remarkably similar ways to other people around the planet. And many of those practices are still widely used today.

Energy healing method is linked to recoveries from cancer in mice. Visualization directed at water or cotton is retrieved later for healing. Silent recordings of energy healing sessions are linked to genetic changes. 

This recipe is an old favorite. We’ve refined it over the past few decades, adjusting as the seasons went by. We hope you will enjoy it too!

Energy psychology has emerged as a transformative approach in the criminal justice system, particularly in response to the ongoing heroin and opioid epidemic that has plagued communities across the USA. As jails became overcrowded with individuals suffering from addiction, traditional mental health and addiction treatment programs often fell short in addressing their needs. This crisis paved the way for innovative solutions like energy psychology play a crucial role in rehabilitation efforts. Tapping is one form of energy psychology.

The Four Agreements, popularized by best-selling author don Miguel Ruiz aim to Promote living a balanced and healthy life. Offer clarity during times of conflict, struggle, and confusion. Be easily understood, while needing consistent practice for success.

We all face difficulties in life, as this is part of the human condition. Whether it’s engaging in the same old argument you’ve had before, being inundated by an onslaught of negativity and doomsday predictions or feeling like a dark cloud follows you everywhere you turn, sometimes life can seem heavy and burdensome. When we feel stuck or hopeless, the lessons become buried under confusion and obscurity. However, life presents opportunities for us to learn from such problems. Keep reading for tips that can help you disarm difficult situations.

Most people identify with their own physical body, thoughts, and feelings. They know the “I” that is “me.” But what about their energy field? The biofield, a scientific name for the aura, is a multilayered feature of each person, existing throughout their life. The biofield is physically invisible, and not part of conventional scientific scholarship. Consequently, it is often overlooked. But the biofield has vital properties, health benefits, and ways of revealing your health status. The biofield contains and interacts with other energy systems like the meridians and chakras. Here’s a blog on chakras , and one on meridians to learn more . This blog is a foundational introduction to the biofield. Read on so you can work with the biofield’s gifts for better living.

Can the latest technology in modern science, like artificial intelligence (or AI), reveal clues to ancient healing practices? One engineering research group ( Joy A, et al, 2022 ) proposes just that. The biofield, or aura, is a living system of subtle energy that enhances wellness. It is a smart container, working within and outside of a living being. The biofield is a super data processor, much like modern computer systems. Both the aura and computers work with codes, interactions, and libraries of data. They make the invisible become visible to the observer, who interprets the data. Artificial intelligence and the biofield can be trained to speak a common language. Meanwhile, we listen and learn. Welcome to the era when ancient practices meet modern science.

Veterans in Crisis Some veterans face daunting emotional health problems after serving in the armed forces. Not all recover right away. Data from the USA estimate between 20% to 30% of veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms wreak havoc on daily life, with riveting flashbacks, frequent insomnia, and chronic depression. Worse, these individuals are at high risk for suicide. The impact of untreated PTSD takes a heavy toll personally and collectively.

“Stay in the center, and you will be ready to move in any direction.” ― Alan W. Watts 

Intuition is a relatively common experience. A recently developed theory of intuition called transpersonal intuition may explain it.

Even though it can be difficult, it's the part of greater wisdom to forgive. Here are the why and how of forgiveness as an act of wellbeing.

If you want to tune up your daily living, look no further than your unique body awareness. Tune in and tune up your wellbeing, clearing the way toward greater health and resilience.

Moving information between thought and matter is how energy healing works, as we transfer intention between the subtle and physical worlds.

“We move by discharge of energy into the ground. All energy finds its way eventually into the earth; this is the principle known as grounding.” -Alexander Lowen

“You’ll never meet a happy ungrateful person, or an unhappy grateful person because gratitude and happiness go together.” ― Zig Ziglar “It is impossible to bring more abundance into your life if you are feeling ungrateful about what you already have. Why? Because the thoughts and feelings you emit as you feel ungrateful are negative emotions and they will attract more of those feelings and events into your life.” ― Vishen Lakhiani “I’d love to be grateful, if only I had a reason.” – Anonymous client Gratitude is heralded as a universal human virtue, a foundation of happiness and peaceful living. Families desire to raise grateful children, businesses aim to have grateful workers and customers, and religious practices in many languages are rich with prayers of gratitude. Although the concept of gratitude is simple to understand, it can be challenging to express sincere gratitude practices on a daily basis. Often unacknowledged are dynamics which can block gratitude from being experienced and shared. The shadow of gratitude, that which is hidden in the unconscious both personally and collectively, fortunately can be identified and modified, freeing gratitude’s benevolent nature. Then the shadow of gratitude can be cleared with easy-to-follow energy practices and tips, allowing enjoyment of gratitude’s gifts. Gratitude defined Gratitude is defined as a strong feeling of appreciation or gratefulness, often to someone, or something which is done, to help you. We are commonly taught to say thank you when given presents, compliments, or acts of service, and to return a thoughtful kindness with the same type of gesture. Deep appreciation may be shared through tender eye contact, words of thanks, and simply spending quality time together. Gratitude toward nature, essence, the divine, all of humanity or the planet and heavens may be based on internal processes which are not shared with others. Such gratitude has been inspiration for grand literature, art and creativity. No matter the form, the state of gratitude does not just feel good as a passing fancy. Scientific studies have found lasting and positive benefits of gratitude. Benefits of gratitude Research suggests gratitude affirms goodness by acknowledging sources of gratitude outside ourselves. Gratitude practices can enhance many aspects of living. Physically, people are found to have improved sleep, lower blood pressure, prevention of overeating, and improved pain tolerance. Hormone and brain health are achieved through activating the bliss centers of the brain, enhancing dopamine and serotonin production which are linked to happiness, and regulating stress hormones to reduce anxiety and fear. Mind and body interface with better managed grief reactions, and improvement of low mood through chemical changes and positive beliefs. Interpersonally, gratitude practices create greater capacity for forgiveness, and strengthen relationships, both personal and in the workplace. The shadow of gratitude If the benefits of gratitude practices are widely documented and seen as helpful by many, why aren’t more people acting and feeling grateful both easily and more often? The unbounded natural sheer joy of gratefulness is often hampered by unacknowledged factors, mostly cultural and familial in origin. Bringing awareness to these inherited and contemporary hidden beliefs can provide a chance to examine them in the light, and then make conscious changes so gratitude can become a cherished habit. You may find some of these common blocks to gratitude in your own life. If so, keep reading for tips to help clear them. Vulnerability If you feel your gratitude, you may also recall times you were not grateful, or were disappointed or alone in your gratitude. It may be too painful to remember or experience when gratitude experiences had failed or gratitude was submerged because it was not allowed to be expressed. Such vulnerability may be a deterrent against future gratitude encounters. Greed If you are grateful for what you are experiencing, especially if you name it to self or others, you may fear you are cursing the good fortune, and it could be taken away. Likewise, you may be seen as selfish to want more than you have already. It is best to be grateful for what you have, be happy with your lot, even if it does not feel like enough. Embarrassment If your gratefulness is especially compelling or profound, you may fear overwhelming yourself or others with your enthusiastic gratefulness. You may be concerned that you would look crazy or weak or foolish if gratefulness pours out of you. Best to keep those feelings inside. Notice how often people apologize when they cry, even with tears of joy? Jealousy Your gratitude could make others feel jealous. They may ask, “Why do you have good fortune or happiness and not me? What makes you so special? “ They may try to reverse your good fortune or take away your happiness. Insincerity Stating your gratitude to another person could be perceived as insincere. The thought is that your thanks might be suspect, possibly exaggerated or flatly untrue. You could be seen as a fake or phony. Indebtedness If you are thanked, maybe there is an expectation that you owe the person a debt in return. Gratitude can be seen as transactional, as in what do you want from me now? Or now I am obliged to return the favor, which can become a burden. Rejection Your gratitude may not be received or understood as sent. If I open up to you with my vulnerable gratitude, you may scoff or not understand or be nonchalant. Unrequited love or misunderstandings could be the result. 10 ways to release the shadow of gratitude How do you manage the risky business of gratitude? Try following these tips to clear the shadow of gratitude, so you can let your heart sing with joy. Gratitude is your birthright Embrace your innate capacity to be grateful. We all have gratitude it even if we were not taught how to work with it or share it with others. Childlike abandon of gleeful gratitude is your birthright. The more you make space for it in your life, give it permission to grow, the more it will enhance your daily life. Protecting yourself is a natural defense It is okay and normal to squash tender feelings, as we’ve all been burned and encouraged to hide vulnerability as a coping technique. Repeated heartache and disappointment teach people to tuck in their heart’s longings and satisfactions. Stop fighting what is, and know you are not alone in wanting to protect your wounded heart. Be gentle with your pain Opening up to gratitude may unearth sorrows and pain. Sincere gratitude may open you to unexplored grief, anger, disconnection, disappointment, frustrations and more. If so, seek help to shore up your reserves so you can be safely witnessed, then able to tolerate painful memories and feelings and beliefs. Gradually reveal the gems Once you clear the messiness of pain, there are gems hidden inside. Let them out slowly, with safety and trust, if even addressed to yourself in a letter you later burn, or a voice memo you erase. Don't let the pain stop you from finding your treasure. Let nature be your teacher Watch natural spontaneous examples of gratitude in animals and babies as they squeal with joy and abandon when they are happy. Take in what they do, and imitate it: deep eye contact, happy sounds, consensual touch, playfulness, glee. Find respite in your body Discover the sensory experiences you are grateful for and explore them, pushing yourself in a good way to tolerate pleasure and happiness. Let your body teach you how to bring gratefulness into the sensory and movement aspects of living, aspects you may have forgotten or buried. List your bliss Write detailed gratitude lists, for simple to deep moments. Hold space for the emotional and memory swirls which surface. Review it over time to notice your progress and process. Clear debris with energy practices Learn energy practices to release blocks or challenges to gratitude. You can work with self-reflection, or find a practitioner on the ACEP website or other places, who can work with you. Keep it real with your people Be ready to have a frank talk with others as you share your gratitude with them. Go slowly, and be brief. And be ready for greater intimacy to ensue, both with joy and sorrow as you open your heart. Allow them to share their gratitude with you. If it feels uncomfortable, keep going as you acclimate to new ways of receiving love. Share what you know Often the best way to learn is to teach. Find eager others to share your wisdom and learn from them. Often overlooked are those we spend time with on a daily basis. The more consistent you are with your gratitude practices, the more you and others will benefit. There are many layers of conditioning in families, society and media to block the freedom of gratitude, despite agreeing that being in gratefulness is a good way to live. Pay attention to habits and traditions covering up gratitude, and instead establish new ways of being thankful. It takes time and attention to create new patterns. You are well on your way simply by noticing asking questions of how you can be grateful for your life. Want to learn more? How Gratitude Changes You and your Brain (2017) https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain Gratitude article in Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gratitude Article on science of gratitude https://research.com/education/scientific-benefits-of-gratitude Access this free guide about clearing blocks with energy psychology . You can customize it for your blocks to gratitude. Read about using energy practices to remove common blocks in this blog . Find an energy psychology practitioner who can help you. Author Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP, is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Shadows of Gratitude Lori Hops To be thankful and grateful may open Pandora's box Instead of "Yes, it's true!" you may receive lots of reasons your seasons once fine, turned to ruin for all of the misgivings and misaligned feelings that others can't share your internal knowings. To thank what is, could peel back layers of grief, unrequited love, misunderstood belief. Better to be silent, to hold it all in, than harm a heart heavy with love unspoken. Else it explodes into rivers of brightly held dreams creating tsunamis of thankfulness schemes. Best to live life releasing love through all altitude to avoid mass causalities from an avalanche of gratitude. From A Tip a Day for Wellness and Inspiration Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lori.hops www.drlorihops.com

Does this sound familiar? It’s the New Year, and I try to set goals to improve my life for New Year’s Resolutions. I start out OK, but before long, I skip a few days, and then I stop altogether. It seems I feel worse about myself because I tried and failed. Is there anything I can do to keep the goals going well past January? Fret not! You are not alone. Many people face this same situation when setting goals for themselves throughout the year. It’s normal to become more aware of goal setting when focused with others who are also making their New Year’s Resolutions. The New Year offers the promise of an enhanced beginning. You may have confidence that this year will be different, and will be focused on positive outcomes. But what happens when you face obstacles, or lack of motivation? Many people give up too quickly, and grow cross with themselves. What’s a well-intentioned person to do? Number One: Know Thy Goal The first step in solving a problem is to understand it. Rather than being overwhelmed by a challenge and then giving up, look at the problem one piece at a time. For instance, if you have a goal to eat enjoying better nutrition, a first step for one person may be to find tasty and healthy recipes, while another person may want to imagine eating foods they enjoy, which are good for the body, whereas another person may not know where to start as they become anxious when thinking about food. Set up a step-by-step program for yourself, along with identifying ways to know when you hit the mark, so you can measure success. Energy psychology approaches such as EFT , TFT , and CEP are designed to discover the rough spots where you get stuck with your goals. Once the resistance, energy blockage or limiting belief is addressed, you may be well on your way toward reaching your goal. You can receive a freeguide from ACEP on using energy psychology practices for removing blocks to goals. Number Two: Keep It Simple, Sweetheart! Many people stop short of their goals because they take on too much at once, and have unrealistic expectations. Instead, try setting a series of small achievable goals that do not require drastic changes. Although it may seem boring, or that you are not making progress, most likely the consistent effort is paying off. As they say, slow and steady wins the race. After a few days of success, gradually increase your set of goals. By the end of several tries, you may be on your way to starting a new happier and healthier habit, and because it is gradual, it feels easy and simple. For instance, with new food ideas, look for a few fun recipes or ask some friends for suggestions they enjoy. Keep recipes or photos saved on your computer or phone where you can look at them during the day, or print out some images to decorate your fridge, just to get the hang of a new way of eating. Then you may be ready to move on to writing the shopping list, or throwing a cooking and dining party in person or online. If you start to take on too much, calm yourself by using grounding and centering techniques, such as these meditations about gratitude , or try some breathing techniques . Once you are calm, and start again with easier goals and slow down. Number Three: Reward Good Behavior Acquiring a new goal is not the time to launch into self-criticism and self-doubt. Instead, treat yourself gently, and with positive rewards. It may feel silly at first, but try anyway. Many people are more comfortable with stern voices in their heads rather than supportive ones, but you’ll likely go farther with a bit of sweetness and generosity of spirit. Find a small reward or fun activity you like, and give it to yourself every time you work on your goal. Change the reward to keep it fresh and motivating. Lavish with easy or quick self-care rituals, take comedy breaks by watching your favorite shows or routines, or get some fresh air. Be creative and inspired so you have fun and are relaxed. If you find you are still hearing those pesky negative messages, consider turning them around with positive affirmations, or address them head on with focused approaches to change, such as Logosynthesis, using words to move energy. You can learn more about a variety of other energy psychology practices on the ACEP website Resources section . Number Four: Don’t Go it Alone Find others with the same goal as yourself, and make it a team effort. Choose supportive people you trust, possibly a family member or friend near or far to share the joys and challenges of moving through goals. You may want to set up a social media online support community with likeminded folks, to encourage sticking with resolutions long past January. Sharing your joys and sorrows with others can reduce isolation, and make you see you are not so different from others. If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or are burdened by emotional, psychological or energetic distress when working toward your resolutions, consider finding a coach, counselor or mental health professional to give you a hand. ACEP has an energy practitioner directory you may find helpful. You had good reasons to launch into the new year with resolutions, so don’t lose sight of the goodwill, desire for positive change, and belief in a better way of life. You are valuable, worth the effort, and with some focus, determination and finding the right support, you may turn your dream resolutions into sustainable reality. Author Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com .