• “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 […]

  • My Mom is an expert gift giver. She is on the hunt year-around, carefully thinking about the people she loves, picking out the things she thinks will bring them the most joy. Seeing a loved one open up the perfect present is a reward in and of itself, but sometimes we can get so focused […]

  • Compassion is not for the weak. Compassion can be one of the boldest and courageous acts you can take. But don’t worry it comes naturally. Looking into the eyes of someone who is suffering we naturally empathize with the person. This is how we are wired, when we see another suffering we can feel it, […]