Generativity vs. Stagnation When you consider your life experiences, do your memories and experience create life, enthusiasm, or meaning? Or do they bring weight, disappointment, or despair? What does such a survey tell you about yourself? I suppose some young people may ask such questions, and I yield my hat. After 34 years as a therapist, I’ve observed that this inventory picks up speed as we age. Focusing on what breeds life becomes far more important than temporary

Human nature, especially when feeling anxious or threatened, tends to look outside of ourselves. We look to other people and other circumstances to explain what must be causing our distress. We also assume many things without really stopping to question those assumptions. This way of interacting with our problems becomes automatic. It’s often how the brain works when it feels unsafe.

We were created for community but at times our internal narratives or heightened expectations keep us from fully experiencing it. Therapy is a helpful tool for individuals experiencing these kinds of burdens who need the encouragement to engage with their relationships in a way that brings emotional freedom.

Every family experiences emotional stress and most people are able to sense the increase in emotional tension within the family, even before anyone says a word. You might feel a shift in your body: a bit of tightness, a faster heartbeat, or a sense of pressure. Bowen Family Systems Theory calls this the family anxiety field. It’s the emotional atmosphere that forms when one or more family members feel upset or anxious.

When you're feeling depressed, it’s common to get stuck in repetitive thought patterns that are discouraging and hard to shake. These thoughts can show up quietly in the background or feel loud and overwhelming. Over time, they may start to influence how you see yourself, your relationships, and your future. You might notice your mind drifting toward self-blame, worst-case scenarios, or the belief that things will never get better.