Vented Uplift Community Blog

Hope. It seems like something everyone tries to hold on to. A feeling of wanting something to work out for the better so badly, but a sense that is sometimes so undeniably hard to fathom having when you are faced with some of the most unthinkable tragedies this world has to offer. But sometimes, hope is all we have to get us through. I was 37 years old when my world was flipped upside down. It was almost the end of 2018. My husband and I had been married for nine years, and I was a mother to two young children - our two precious boys were four years old and just seven months old--Babies. I was an elementary school teacher on maternity leave, trying to enjoy what was left of my time off. Then, on the night of December 9th, my world stopped. My kids were with my husband, and I was in my room changing my clothes. My left breast felt weird. Itchy. Like I wanted to scratch my skin off, itchy. It was red and inflamed, so I knew something was wrong. And that’s when I started to feel around, a

Trying to lose weight, exercise more or start on a difficult project? As Lao Tzu says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Sometimes that first step doesn’t even require standing up. Studies show that even 11 minutes a day of Kundalini meditation can boost mental health, promote mindfulness and increase gratitude. MRI imaging has demonstrated that meditation changes your brain; specifically, the regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing and perspective-taking. This simple daily practice, when repeated for 40 days, may be exactly what you need to reach all your goals. Why 40 days? Because it takes 20 days to break old habits, and 20 days to start new ones. There’s a reason Christians fast for 40 days during Lent, and Judaism teaches that those seeking answers to prayers should pray for 40 days in a row. Did you know that your skin cells renew, on average, every 40 days? Meditation is easy. It’s quick. It wor

Hi, I am Meredith Van Ness, founder of Balanced + Well Counseling, a therapist, and a life coach. I support and empower women to overcome their stress and anxiety, release the limiting self-doubt holding them back, and build confidence so they can focus their energy on what matters most. We’ve all experienced more stress than usual in the last couple of years as a result of the pandemic. This worldwide pandemic topped with normal stresses may be putting you in a constant place of feeling out of control or overwhelmed. Although some stress is a natural part of life, we must learn to handle it in a healthy way. Being in touch and admitting that we are stressed is a great place to start. It’s when we’re honest with ourselves that we can begin to do the work. Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When it is working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. Stress can also help you rise to a challenge. It’s what keeps you on your toes dur