This quote from nicolajanehobbs, is one that I love to reflect on when I start to feel guilty about resting...... "If you feel guilty for rest, remember, you're not just resting for you, you're resting for all of us. You're resting to normalize resting in a society that worships busyness. You're resting to help lower the collective bar of what we are expected to get done in a day. You're resting so your inner chaos doesn't cause chaos around you. So your inner peace ripples out to those you...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Thankfully, when I find myself in a trauma response state, I now have tools to help me process. But I remember a time when getting a voice message from my mom would send me into a spiral of thoughts, emotions and “I don’t even know what is happening in my body right now” sensations that just made me feel crazy and out of control. I would want to say all sorts of things…. And then I’d let myself think or say out loud to myself - or to others - all the things I wished I could say…. And soon I’d...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Trust can be a minefield when connected to trauma. The minefield can be centered in trusting ourselves, trusting others or a little bit of both. Ourselves…. Wondering, can I trust my body, my response, my experience, my reality….? And I’m sure you can add so many more things that you question about trusting yourself. Others….. Can I trust the people I am in relationships with? Family, friends, kids, spouse, partner, community, neighbors…..and again, I’m sure you can add more people to this...
3 months ago • 2 min read
“One of the defining features of trauma is loss of choice over what happened to you. Threatening experiences can leave you feeling trapped, helpless or powerless. When you do not feel you have a choice, you can begin to feel trapped and immediately your nervous system perceives a threat.” Dr Arielle Schwartz This is why focusing on choice, and helping us develop ways we can notice our choices, can help us experience moments of empowerment as we heal. As I just shared these thoughts on choice...
3 months ago • 2 min read
This morning and afternoon I heard so many different types of birds. I love all the sounds of summer. Do you have sounds of summer that make you feel happy, calm, or at ease? If so, I invite you to reflect on how your body responds when you hear this sound. Perhaps, there are other sounds that came to your mind and body as I shared these ideas. Sounds vibrate within our body and can actually change the way our body feels. Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash Today, I’d like to offer some healing...
3 months ago • 3 min read
I am starting to see some of my trees wake up from their winter slumber. Leaves are starting to appear on the limbs that were bare all winter long. As we heal our trauma, we often have moments of awakening. I like to use nature's natural rhythms (like spring) to help me be more present in my own awakenings. These awakenings are powerful in our healing because we go through so many moments of hopelessness while on this journey. Spring offers the hope we so desperately crave and desire. Apple...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Have you ever felt left out? Ya, me too. And I think it’s really powerful to use mindset tools. Ones that help me notice where this happens and with whom I feel left out. Noticing how I might be doing certain things that actually result in making myself feel left out. And Owning my part in this is powerful work. For me - here are 3 examples of what I learn through mindset work when I feel left out…. 1). I withdraw and take myself out, consciously or unconsciously…. I might feel hurt and then...
4 months ago • 2 min read
After holidays, I often like to invite myself and my clients to pause and check in. Depending on where you are living, Mother’s Day celebrations are usually in March or May. 40+ countries have an annual celebration of mothers. And these celebrations can be glorious and/or complicated, to down right horrible…. So….since last Sunday was our celebration, it’s fresh on my mind… And fresh on many of my client’s minds… And we are feeling it in our bodies… So, whether Mother’s Day just happened or...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Mother’s day is celebrated in the US on the second Sunday of the month in May. It started out as a holiday with mother’s supporting world peace…..and has morphed into celebrating mom’s. It’s a day to honor and celebrate the mom’s we love or have those who love us, celebrate us… And sometimes a day to: Feel guilty if our relationship with our own mom or kids is strained… Feel guilty or shameful if we don't want to spend this day with our family (moms, kids, spouse).... Grieve the loss of...
4 months ago • 2 min read