Margie Slaughter, Crossroads Counseling Services LLC

11/17/2025

Sounds like a good idea

11/17/2025

Letter from Jung, December 15, 1933.

Dear Frau V.,

Your questions are unanswerable because you want to know how one ought to live. One lives as one can. There is no single, definite way for the individual which is prescribed for him or would be the proper one. If that’s what you want you had best join the Catholic Church, where they tell you what’s what. Moreover this way fits in with the average way of mankind in general. But if you want to go your individual way, it is the way you make for yourself, which is never prescribed, which you do not know in advance, and which simply comes into being of itself when you put one foot in front of the other. If you always do the next thing that needs to be done, you will go most safely and sure-footedly along the path prescribed by your unconscious. Then it is naturally no help at all to speculate about how you ought to live. And then you know, too, that you cannot know it, but quietly do the next and most necessary thing. So long as you think you don’t yet know what this is, you still have too much money to spend in useless speculation. But if you do with conviction the next and most necessary thing, you are always doing something meaningful and intended by fate. With kind regards and wishes,

Yours sincerely,

C.G. Jung

Art: Gerhard Munthe

11/12/2025

This, if you are interested in the enneagram

11/03/2025

Resilience isn’t just a personality trait, it’s a trainable circuit in the brain. Neuroscience reveals that when you face discomfort, obstacles, or challenges and choose to persist, neural pathways associated with resilience strengthen through neuroplasticity, much like building a muscle.

Every time you push through stress or adversity, the brain adapts. Neurons communicate more efficiently, connections become stronger, and the brain becomes better equipped to manage future challenges. This isn’t theoretical, studies show that repeated exposure to manageable stressors and deliberate practice in facing discomfort rewires the brain for greater endurance, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.

The concept of resilience training is rooted in the brain’s ability to adapt. Neuroplasticity allows the mind to reorganize itself, forming new circuits in response to experience. By intentionally confronting challenges, whether in physical training, learning, or emotional situations, these circuits become robust, allowing individuals to respond more effectively to stress.

This has profound implications for personal growth, mental health, and performance. Individuals who regularly practice resilience-building habits, such as goal-setting, reflection, or stepping outside comfort zones, show improved coping skills, reduced anxiety, and greater persistence. It demonstrates that strength of mind can be cultivated systematically, rather than being purely innate.

Reflecting on this, science reminds us that the brain is remarkably adaptive. By viewing challenges as opportunities to exercise resilience, we can consciously shape our neural architecture. Persistence strengthens not only skills and character but the very circuits that govern how we respond to life’s difficulties. Resilience, like a muscle, grows with deliberate practice and consistent effort.

10/29/2025

It’s that time of year!

10/22/2025

Studies have revealed that every time you express gratitude your brain literally physically rewires itself making you naturally more positive and resilient. Gratitude activates key areas of the brain like the prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotions and decision-making. This process increases “feel good” neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, while decreasing stress hormones like cortisol. Over time, this creates and strengthens neural pathways associated with positive emotions and makes it easier to notice and appreciate good experiences.

To elaborate:

📑Activates reward and emotional centers: Gratitude stimulates the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and ventral striatum, which are critical for emotional regulation and mental well-being.

📑Increases feel-good chemicals: Gratitude stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which lead to feelings of happiness, pleasure and contentment.

📑Regulates stress hormones: Regular gratitude has been shown to lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

📑Strengthens positive neural pathways: By consistently focusing on what you are thankful for, you strengthen the neural connections related to positive emotions and reframe your thinking. This makes it easier to experience positive feelings in the future.

📑Weakens negative pathways: Over time, this process can diminish the prominence of negative thoughts, as the brain shifts its focus from potential threats or past regrets to positive experiences.

By rewiring your brain and creating a more positive internal dialogue you not only improve mental health but also your actual physical health! Many people do not realize that a negative internal dialogue, continuous negative thoughts and anger are EXTREMELY harmful to your mental and physical health - actually able to even trigger autoimmune conditions.

SOURCE: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude

See also: Laura I Hazlett et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Jul.

10/20/2025

Most losses come in layers.

There’s the actual loss — the person, the relationship, the dream.

And then there’s what that loss *represents*: rejection, failure, betrayal, or the unknown future you never planned for.

That’s why grief lingers even when we think we should be “over it.”

You’re not just missing what you lost — you’re mourning the story you thought you were living.

Remember this story about loss from ?
For a refresher, pick up your copy ➡️ amzn.to/3404926

10/16/2025

What’s the most challenging “ation?”

Shel Silverstein ❤️❤️
(Pinterest)

10/09/2025

10/08/2025

A fascinating discovery in neuroscience reveals that motivation often follows effort, rather than preceding it. Researchers have found that the brain releases dopamine—the “feel-good” neurotransmitter after we take action, creating a reward cycle that fuels even greater drive and productivity.

Contrary to common belief, waiting for motivation before starting a task may not be the most effective strategy. Instead, taking small steps or initiating action triggers a release of dopamine, which signals the brain that progress has been made. This chemical reinforcement enhances mood, focus, and persistence, making it easier to continue pursuing goals.

The process works as a feedback loop. Action leads to dopamine release, dopamine increases motivation, and increased motivation encourages further action. This reward cycle can be leveraged to build habits, maintain consistency, and achieve long-term objectives. Neuroscientists note that even minor accomplishments—like completing a single task or making measurable progress—can activate this system and set off a chain reaction of sustained motivation.

Understanding this mechanism has practical implications for work, education, and personal development. Instead of waiting to “feel motivated,” individuals can prioritize taking action, knowing that the brain will respond positively once movement begins. Structured routines, goal setting, and breaking tasks into manageable steps can maximize dopamine-driven motivation.

This research challenges the traditional approach to productivity and highlights the brain’s natural ability to reward effort. By starting first and trusting the process, anyone can harness this neurochemical cycle to boost drive, overcome procrastination, and maintain momentum toward achieving their goals.

In essence, the brain teaches a simple principle: motivation is earned through action, not anticipated beforehand. Take action, experience the reward, and let your drive grow naturally from there.