Susan U. Neal's Blog

Yoga and mindfulness have been my saving grace on and off the mat, as I implement what I've learned and apply it in my daily life. As a result, I created a space to hear God, to usher in the Holy Spirit’s presence, and to get grounded in my faith to withstand the looming storms. What you learn on the mat, you can take into the world.

Sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear and a caring heart. You can become a hero by providing these things to people who are hurting or going through a mental health crisis. Not long ago, I comforted a woman who had lost a child by suicide.

If you are anything like me or know someone like me, you didn’t know what a mood disorder was until you were diagnosis. This diagnosis can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. A quick Google search will tell you that 1 in 5 people struggle with their mental health. However, people who don’t struggle with these issues may not notice anything is wrong with someone else, as a mood disorder doesn’t always display physical symptoms.

I turned 63 this year. The sixties have been an interesting decade thus far. Different things make me happy than previous decades. I am finding more in the moments than the momentous. Doing is now balanced with being. Dressing up is less important than finally finding the perfect pajamas.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “You may not know your kidneys are struggling. Most people don’t have symptoms of kidney disease in the early stages. That’s why it’s important to attend annual wellness exams with your primary care provider to manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure that can lead to kidney disease.”

Unforgiveness doesn’t just affect your emotions—it weighs on your body, clouds your mind, and disconnects your spirit. Discover how forgiveness can improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health—and why practicing it daily might be the healthiest habit you’ll ever form.

My weight gain was getting out of control. Yes, I was in menopause—and that is definitely an excuse I could use. But I had been in menopause for several years, and it was only when I turned sixty-two that the weight stuck to me like super glue.

In January on this blog, Linda Carter shared an excellent article, “Nature Therapy for a Healthy Lifestyle.” She gives suggestions for a variety of ways to add nature to our daily lives. This article will focus on one of the methods—Forest Bathing.

Do you binge eat? If you find that you have great difficulty controlling the amount of food you consume, you may have a problem with binge eating. But you are not alone. According to Healthline, almost three million people in the United States deal with binge-eating disorder.[1] Binge eating ruins your relationship with food and negatively affects your livelihood. Having a healthy relationship with food is important not only for your physical well-being, but also for your spiritual health.

Are you allowing your food allergies to dictate your mental health? It’s a given that food allergies will affect our physical life, but it shouldn’t run your entire life.