One guarantee in life is that change is inevitable. Spring changes into summer, children change to adults, color changes to gray, one day changes to another. It seems the older we get, the faster life goes by, and the quicker change happens.

Flexibility and grace are qualities that serve the individual well as they journey in a changing world. But oftentimes, we get stuck and become ridged, unable to bend with the changes of life. A key concept that can help keep us emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy in the face of change is the thought that we, ourselves, are always changing. As life presents various challenges and experiences, they are not to be resisted, but rather welcomed as forces that shape us into a new form. We are not the same people we were yesterday, and we will not be the same people tomorrow. 

So, the next time you feel yourself fearing or resisting a major (or minor) change in your life, relax and remind yourself that change is okay. Just like the cool breath of fall after a sweltering summer, change can be embraced with arms wide and face uplifted.

Teri Cress is a marriage and family therapist with a specialization in Christian sex therapy. She practices at Restored Hearts Counseling, a Christian counseling practice located at 2655 Dallas Hwy, suite 310, in Marietta, where she works with couples, individuals and families. Teri and her husband of 27 years enjoy the challenges of fostering a healthy marriage while raising four children! Please feel free to call Teri at 404-511-5265, or e-mail her at teri@restoredheartscounseling.com. Visit www.restoredheartscounseling.com for more information.

Tagged: inspiration, guidance, wisdom, parenting, marriage, self-care, counseling, therapists

One of the healthiest thoughts we can have is the understanding that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. This is why we value our families, communities, churches and teams. When we join with others, we realize that the collective whole is greater than the individual.

This is also true in the marital relationship, where two people join together to create a powerful force. When spouses live for self-gratification, however, the force becomes a negative and divisive one. Dissatisfaction results. In a healthy marriage, the opposite is true. Each individual is valued, and a powerful phenomenon occurs. I call it “the big O.”

“The big O” is not ourselves, and it’s certainly not Oprah. It’s not Oreos…or any other “O” you may have on your mind. The big O is oneness. Oneness is the quality of being unified and unique. In a healthy marriage, spouses live to make much of each other. The way they relate creates a bond of oneness, whether expressing with their bodies what words cannot through physical intimacy, or sharing a glass of milk and a pile of Oreos.

Oneness is obtained through mutual surrender, humility, respect, purpose, friendship and love. In these challenging times, one of the greatest strengths a couple can share is the power of the big O.

Teri Cress is a marriage and family therapist with a specialization in Christian sex therapy. She practices at Restored Hearts Counseling, a Christian counseling practice located at 2655 Dallas Hwy, suite 310, in Marietta, where she works with couples, individuals and families. Teri and her husband of 27 years enjoy the challenges of fostering oneness while raising four children! Please feel free to call Teri at 404-511-5265, or e-mail her at teri@restoredheartscounseling.com. Visit www.restoredheartscounseling.com for more information.

Tagged: inspiration, guidance, knowledge, wisdom, counseling, therapy, marriage, self-care

The last couple of days, we have experienced unseasonably cooler weather that has been like a breath of fresh air from the typical oppressive Atlanta humidity. Life can often be like the oppressively hot and humid days of summer, leaving us longing for a cool breeze. Taking time to care for your soul is like a breath of fresh air. It fills our lives with life-giving oxygen and energy. It renews us so we can carry on when life seems full of more dog days than breezes.

So what brings us a breath of fresh air? What care do we give our souls that allows us to feel renewed? Just as there are many days of summer, so too, there are many ways we can experience soul care. In the weeks to come on this site, we will be sharing various ways to take a deep breath and experience soul care. For now, spend some time outside. Give yourself permission to fling your arms wide and and take a deep breath of fresh air. Enjoy the breezes as they come. And remember that in life–no matter how hot, how humid, how suffocating things may seem– an unexpected breeze may be just around the corner.

Teri Cress is a marriage and family therapist with a specialization in Christian sex therapy. She practices at Restored Hearts Counseling, a Christian counseling practice located at 2655 Dallas Hwy, suite 310, in Marietta, where she works with couples, individuals and families. Teri and her husband of 27 years enjoy the challenges of fostering oneness while raising four children! Please feel free to call Teri at 404-511-5265, or e-mail her at teri@restoredheartscounseling.com. Visit www.restoredheartscounseling.com for more information.

Tagged: inspiration, guidance, wisdom, parenting, marriage, self-care, counseling, therapists