The world feels heavy right now. Between the ongoing wars, devastating hurricanes, and the divisive political climate, It’s no surprise that many of us are experiencing a range of difficult emotions, anxiety, overwhelm, sadness, anger and even numbness. These events, experienced directly or vicariously through news and social media, create a shared sense of grief […]
Life is filled with a wide spectrum of emotions, including joy, contentment, excitement, and love. However, we inevitably experience emotions that make us feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, or distressed – sadness, anger, fear, grief, disappointment, and shame. Our natural instinct is often to avoid these difficult emotions, distracting ourselves or pushing them away, sometimes even lashing […]
“Are you scared?” my friend asked expectantly. It was an honest question, and one I’d hear several times over before I headed off on my first silent retreat. I was in the process of finishing up the requirements to become a certified teacher of mindful self-compassion. In the rush to get it all done, I […]
Are you holding a grudge against yourself? For most of us, holding that grudge feels like anger, disappointment and judgment directed towards our self. That feels awful, huh? Don’t worry, we can do something about it. I’m often given the opportunity to speak about inner compassion. It doesn’t matter where I go, from beautiful churches […]
What if you went your whole life without remembering to find the magic? What if you forgot to let a warm sunbeam strike your cheek and set you aglow from the inside? What if you never made time to brush a rose petal across your cheek? What if you forgot to splash in the dirty […]
I was raised to think that emotions were something to be suppressed and controlled, and showing emotion was a sign of weakness, especially at work. Whether it was showing fear or regret or even showing too much happiness or feelings of accomplishment, it was an opening for someone to take advantage of you. But I’m […]
What does it mean to shoot the second arrow? It comes from a Buddhist Parable. Source – True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, by Tara Brach The Buddha once asked a student, “If a person is struck by an arrow, is it painful?” The student replied, “It is.” The Buddha […]
My general attitude towards self-care used to basically be – “get out of my way, I don’t have time for you.” Running a business and my passion for creating mental-wellness tools was my first priority, and everything else took a distant second. As you can imagine, this did not end well. In fact, it led to […]
“Are you scared?” my friend asked expectantly. It was an honest question, and one I’d hear several times over before I headed off on my first silent retreat. I was in the process of finishing up the requirements to become a certified teacher of mindful self-compassion. In the rush to get it all done, I […]
I’m standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes and there is an epic battle going on. I’m fighting with my coworker about how he ruined my presentation, and he is yelling back at me. I’m very self-righteous and indignant. The problem is, my coworker left the company two months ago. THIS epic battle only exists […]