"Avoiding grief is impossible. Grief is a message." The week-long training event, which I'd spent a great deal of time preparing for was set to begin in a few hours. I was the lead trainer and people had come from all over the country to attend. 

As I prepared, my cell phone rang. My close friend Dee, who had been battling a severe illness, had just died. Up until now, she had been improving and I was not prepared for this devastating news. Despite this news, I had to conduct training and motivate others to learn.

Question: I have experienced panic attacks for years. What is my body trying to tell me? How can I stop them?

Each human being on planet Earth is – consciously or unconsciously – searching for happiness with unlimited persistence and greed. Happiness appears as a mirage; we try countless ways in order to find it in the external world, with perseverance and determination; nevertheless, each time, the desired happiness finally results in disappointing delusion.

Other, more subjective individuals turn to their inner world; in this case as well, their thirst for happiness is satisfied by sheer deceitful imagination. In each of our attempts to search for it, we start from what we know or imagine. Such happiness is always motivated by an object we anticipate or desire.

True happiness ensues indirectly. It always appears in a state of non-search. Practically, we do not know what happiness is, but, when the mind is completely silent, in a state of total passiveness, our whole being experiences harmony. In this state, as complete beings, integrated into Life, we are overwhelmed with an immense Joy and Happiness without cause.

You'll find you have a much happier and healthier life when you decrease stressby getting clear about your values and living by them. Many people come down with a cold or flu during the holidays because of stress, increased sugar ingestion, a change in the weather, or travel. Hugs and kisses add to the enjoyment of the season, but unfortunately they can also be a vector for unwanted viruses. If your immunity's low, you're much more susceptible to viruses setting up residence in your mucous membranes, which in turn, can lead to upper respiratory infections and secondary bacterial infections. The good news is there are many things you can do to keep your immune system optimally healthy.

I just read something that made me stop and take stock. I have always been a rather joyful, somewhat carefree individual. Of late; however, I have become very heavy in my feeling nature and as this is not a familiar place for me, it has been wreaking havoc. I am painfully aware that I have stopped playing. I have stopped enjoying the little things. For instance, until three years ago, I regularly enjoyed a great evening of water bumper cars, go carts and miniature golf – to say nothing of a full day at Magic Mountain (mid-week, of course). I absolutely love roller coasters!  There is no such thing for me as too high or too fast!  When did I let my guard down?  When did I become this serious, joy-less person?  How could this have happened to me – a virtual female Peter Pan?

Depression does not just mean someone is moody or has "the blues" for a few days.

Anxiety and Depression
People suffering from depression often experience anxiety as well. Similarly, it is common for people diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to also be diagnosed with depression.