Thank you—for your trust, your commitment, and your dedication to growth. Whether you’ve faced struggles head-on, repaired what was broken, or simply taken small steps toward becoming an even brighter light in the world, your efforts matter.
Perhaps we’ve worked together in the past, we’re collaborating now, or you’re reading this out of curiosity about how to improve your life. Wherever you are in your journey, I want to acknowledge and celebrate your strength, your curiosity, and your willingness to explore what’s possible.
You’re here because you care—about growth, about change, and about creating a life that feels more aligned, more vibrant, and more meaningful. That’s worth celebrating every single day.
The Power of Gratitude: A Year-Round Practice
Gratitude isn’t just for the holidays. It’s a practice—a habit, even—that benefits both the giver and the receiver. Being acknowledged for our efforts can inspire us to continue contributing, often in bigger and bolder ways. For the giver, recognizing what we already have or what we’ve been given can release those “feel-good” hormones, shifting our focus away from stressors and challenges that might otherwise dominate our thoughts.
Stress and the Balance of Gratitude
Not all stress is bad. In fact, there’s eustress—a healthy kind of stress that motivates and inspires us. But then there’s distress—the kind of stress that can harm both body and mind, leaving us stuck, burned out, or overwhelmed. And when we’re in distress, the idea of gratitude can sometimes feel impossible—or even counterproductive.
Here’s the reality: pressing someone who is struggling exclusively with gratitude can backfire. Insincere or forced “thankfulness” risks coming across as dismissive, even hurtful. This creates what some call toxic gratitude, where the emphasis on being thankful can lead to guilt, shame, or a skewed sense of relational dynamics.
Enhanced Gratitude Suggestion: Seek Connection
So, what’s the alternative? It starts with connection where context and empathy validates the other person’s experience. This might look like:
Reading nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language.
Asking thoughtful, empathetic questions about life.
Reflecting on what’s been shared—without judgment or interpretation.
When you take time to bond in this way, you’re not just practicing gratitude. You’re creating a sense of worth and appreciation, and that kind of connection is the foundation for authentic gratitude.
Start with Yourself
Feeling unsure about where to start? That’s okay. Begin by extending this practice inward. Connect with yourself:
Notice the sensations in your body and the thoughts in your mind.
Take inventory of what’s happening in your life, good and bad.
Acknowledge these realities without judgment.
By taking time for self-connection, you build your capacity for compassion—not just for yourself but for your family, your community, and the world at large. And compassion isn’t just about kindness. As someone once told me, compassion is “taking everything into consideration.” Sometimes that means setting boundaries, asking for help, or offering support, and often compassion means feeling content about where you are currently in life.
Moving Forward
No matter where you are in your journey—whether gratitude feels easy or out of reach—know that your process is valid. Every step forward, no matter how small, every effort to stand, no matter how difficult, each breath made, no matter how exhausted, is meaningful. And wherever your gratitude practice takes you, know that my somatic therapy practice is here for you and I’m wishing you the very best.
Expanding Connections: Couples Work at Wholesome Therapies
At Wholesome Therapies, we’ve taken a bold step forward—introducing couples work designed to deepen connections and extend the benefits of therapy far beyond individual sessions. This isn’t just about healing; it’s about teaching skills that empower relationships of all kinds.
Through these sessions, clients gain tools for:
Assessment: Understanding each other’s needs and patterns.
Therapeutic touch: Building trust and connection through intentional, mindful contact.
Mindfulness-based relating: Communicating with presence and empathy.
The impact of couples work doesn’t stop when the session ends. It carries into daily life, strengthening bonds and transforming how individuals relate to one another. These practices align closely with the mission of Wholesome Generations, our nonprofit focused on fostering healthier, more connected communities.
Couples work isn’t limited to romantic relationships. It’s for anyone seeking deeper connection—partners, friends, family members. The only prerequisite? A shared, voluntary commitment to learning and growing together.
For a limited time, couples sessions are available at the same rate as individual sessions. It’s the perfect opportunity to invest in your relationships and create lasting change.
Book your session today and take the first step toward a more connected, mindful way of relating. For more information on this topic, read the Wholesome Therapies blog on Couples Work
Read here more information and background on Wholesome Therapies Couples Work
Wholesome Generations Caving
In October 2024, a group of 15 adventurous souls came together with three seasoned guides from the Fort Collins Grotto Community for an unforgettable exploration of Fault Cave near Golden, Colorado. But this wasn’t just about navigating underground passageways—it was also about discovering the landscapes within.
As participants ventured into the light-less caverns, they were invited to explore their inner worlds through a guided somatic exercise. They tuned into their bodies, noticing sensations, practicing empathy by imagining what others might be feeling, and reflecting on how their bodies responded to the simple but profound word: gratitude. Conversations flowed—during the journey and long afterward—creating connections that ran as deep as the caves themselves.
It was a reminder that exploration, whether of the natural world or our inner lives, always brings us closer to what can profoundly matter, including: awareness, connection, and a shared sense of gratitude.
Wholesome Generations is a tax-exempt nonprofit, a new idea in its early days, taking its first steps toward making a meaningful impact. Like any start-up, we’re rolling up our sleeves—organizing events, conducting research to back our mission, crafting surveys to measure our influence, and building the partnerships and resources that will sustain our work.
But no organization thrives alone. We need your help. Whether it’s through donations, sponsorships, or volunteering your time and talents, your contribution can make a real difference.
One way to support us is through Colorado Gives Day. Visit our page here to contribute financially. Even a small donation can ripple outward, helping us create programs and initiatives that truly matter.
Beyond financial support, consider sharing your skills, your network, or simply our story. Together, we can take this fledgling nonprofit from an idea to a movement. Let’s create something extraordinary—something that benefits generations to come.
What I’m Studying
Qabala/Kabbalah
I’m consuming all kinds of content on this form of spirituality, philosophy, and mysticism that pre-dates all major religions. Qabala is taught in some regions as ethical principles, and is currently really confusing to me. I’m studying this as continued efforts to find similarities in a world where to counter the division of politics, countries, religions, socio-economic status, gender, and culture.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in the 1970s and is a collection of techniques and principles that aims to change a person's behavior and thoughts through language processing. It's based on the idea that people's internal maps of the world are learned through sensory experiences, and that these maps can be modified to achieve goals.
Where I’ve Been
In mid-November 2024, I supported Dr Paris Williams’ Mindful Somatic Approaches to Trauma Therapy in Salt Lake City Utah. Dr Williams and I are graduates of the Hakomi Institute mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy school, and I felt honored to help him in teaching others of proven somatic approaches. This was his first US based offering after spending ~20 years living and teaching in New Zealand. Some of the lessons were from other modalities such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensorimotor Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and more.
Wishing you all growth, connection, and wellness this time of year and beyond
- Alex Willen
Comments