The other night my grandkids roasted marshmallows over a fire pit we have in back in the yard. I watched them laugh with delight as they grabbed the chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers -- while doing much finger licking -- and assembled their favorite dessert: s'mores.

Suddenly I thought to myself that this is the kind of moment we all need. Adversity happens in every life, but seeing what is right not wrong in each moment can take us far. We can eat only so much chocolate (as hard as that is to believe), but there are no calories in a "virtual s'more!"  Maybe a yummy "Dessert for the Mind" is what we all need to help us remember that our best life comes from building on our changing strengths. So I made myself a virtual s'more. And, sure enough, I was just living in the moment...and having fun.

Here's my recipe. I hope you like my cooking. (Trust me: my virtual cooking is way better than the real thing!)

Dr. Teena's "Dessert for the Mind"

Virtual S'mores!

S...Stress is part of life. The trick is to learn to manage the stress so that you feel less DISTRESS.

'....Omm. Put your thumb and fore fingers together and hum while creating a relaxing picture of yourself, sitting cross-legged on a beautiful sun-filled mountaintop.

M...Myths -- like the idea of having balance in life -- are unrealistic. Toss this myth off the mountain as you head back to your home base. Smell the aroma of nature and replace the myth of balance with the model of resilience.

O...Opportunity can usually be found within adversity. Pay attention to the moment and listen to the wind. You may feel or 'hear' hope, which is the first step towards opportunity.

R...Resilience is our innate ability to bounce back from adversity. A resilient life is about trying different paths. We are capable of turning adversity into our advantage, we just need to keep trying until we find the right path. 

E...Engagement in life, caring about others, and weaving our "webs of connectedness" is one way we can increase resilience, while making a positive contribution to those around us. Look for a way to contribute, and remember: The wider our webs of connectedness, the higher we bounce!

S...Strengths that are unique to us are often our greatest assets in tough times. Look at what is right -- not wrong -- with yourself and the world around you. Build on what you see.

Get more tips from me here at BeWell and also visit my Web site at www.teenacahill.com.

This information is for educational and informational use only, and is not meant as a substitute for professional psychological or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  Always seek the advice of a psychologist or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental problem or disorder, or medical condition.

Copyright, Wisdom and Beyond, LLC © 2009, Princeton, NJ