3 ways to cultivate an attitude of gratitude
MindfulnessGrowing up, our overachiever family placed a high value on competency. Often that translated into a critical mindset toward self and others, where we frequently saw the bad before the good.
This way of being, like all patterns, became habitual…
Are you comfortable living with polarities?
Mindfulness“Nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” ~Shakespeare
Around the globe, many of us are experiencing deep frustration and despair right now. Others are expanding joyfully into new ways of being and seeing.
And most…
Do you have a foot in two worlds?
Mindfulness, Women's Retreats
Last weekend my teenager, husband and I all wanted to see a movie. This is always tricky, but our compromise Ant-Man and the Wasp worked, and I even enjoyed it!
In the movie, the primary antagonist, Ava Starr (above), can phase…
What we miss by “holding it together”
Mindfulness, Self-CareI’m the oldest of seven, the product of overachievers, a hyper-competent “woman who always has the answers and knows where she’s going." My friends and family see me as the go-to girl who always seems to have it together.
But over the…
Quiet
MindfulnessI'm at the tail end of a month-long writing sabbatical working on a new creative project. I've been in Western North Carolina (WNC) in the cool, misty Blue Ridge Mountains, an area that calls to my very essence. Known as the Appalachian temperate…
3 reasons to take a digital detox
MindfulnessI recently took a week off from work to unplug (no computer use, email, TV/movies and only minimal phone use). I spent the time working in my garden, writing, swimming, doing creative visioning for my business, walking barefoot outdoors, visiting…
7 tips for a more mindful vacation
Life Balance, MindfulnessI was visiting with a good friend last week who was feeling exhausted, frustrated and saddened that her recent family vacation was not what she had intended. "We crammed too much in, checked our work email too often and didn't build in enough…
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
MindfulnessI’m preparing to head to the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina for a month to “test drive” living there and to dive into a new creative project. This misty, relaxed, tree and waterfall-rich region calls deeply to me and I…
Slowing down to the speed of life
MindfulnessThis past Thursday I made a conscious effort to lighten my load. I had a visioning retreat to attend in the evening and I wanted to give my brain some time to unplug and digest everything from the week. Moving through my day--eating and fully…
Claim the summer you desire (+ tips for saying no)
Life Balance, Mindfulness
I love summer and can't wait to dive into an exciting new creative project. What's your intention for this summer?
Do you plan to slow down and enjoy expanses of unscheduled time with your family? Is there a work or creative project…
4 ways to practice self-compassion
MindfulnessI'm really struggling around parenting my teen right now. Some days, all I can do is take it hour by hour, breathe and pray. I'm not sleeping well, so my energy is low, my productivity at work has suffered and my joy for life is ebbing more…
5 questions to ask before choosing a therapist
Mindfulness, Stress ManagementIn the past month I probably received at least ten requests from friends and clients asking for referrals for great therapists.
Whenever these calls come in, I try and get my friends to slow down, step back and approach this process with…