Finding Joy in the Hard

Can you accept that parts of you that you shy away from?  The parts that you feel are weak or shameful or have too much anger? The parts that you don't wanna shine the light on?  How do you embrace these parts?  In this meditation, I guide you on how to meet you—all of you and to embrace the wisdom that each part holds.  The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes on...

Do you find yourself labeling things as either all good or all bad?  Have you ever noticed? Is it habit? A way of motivating yourself? Or lack of awareness? For me, it’s a bit of all of it? Without realizing it, I get stuck in all or nothing thinking. And I don’t think I’m alone. If it’s not all good, then it’s bad or a failure.  In this episode, I give examples of how this might show up in your l...

So often we want others to get how we're feeling, what we're thinking or what we're believing.  Yet sometimes they just won't get it. When this happens, can we step back and ask ourselves, why do we need them to get it?  Why do we need them to understand? This isn’t to say we don’t share with others. Of course, we want to tell our family members and friends about our experience...

In hard times, what has helped you most? On a hike today, up a mountain trail,  I thought about where I gained my greatest strength in the days after we lost our precious child, Christopher.  Yes, family and friends played a huge role. As did all the alternative modalities that I now practice and teach like yoga, breathwork, meditation and Jin Shin Jyutsu.  But my saving grace was reading scriptur...

Can you accept all the parts of you? You know that part that is competitive, or envious, angry, or insecure.  We often relish the parts we like about ourselves: our wisdom, our friendliness, our strength, our joy, but what about the darker sides we keep hidden?  The parts we don’t want to admit having like: Insecurity Fear Envy Selfishness Or something else We know we can be fearful, insecure, env...

What if we're really the ones who need to hear it?  The next time you go to give advice—especially unsolicited advice— ask yourself whether the advice is really meant for you instead.  We think it's for the person we're talking to, but what if we consider: if it came to us, it's for us.  This morning while journaling, I had a huge aha about advice for my sister. As I continued...

In today's solo episode, I share how feeling—really allowing myself to lean in and feel uncomfortable feelings—offered me a strength I didn't know I was seeking. That strength gave me the confidence to pursue two activities without knowing how they would turn out.  A lot of times, feelings show up and we don't know 'the why' or 'the reason,' yet if we can lean in...

Have you ever signed up for something you knew might be good for you—but didn’t feel excited about it at all? That was me yesterday. I signed up for an all-day art retreat weeks ago, but I resisted it the whole way through. Even the morning of, I questioned everything: Why are you doing this? You can still cancel.   But a quieter, steadier voice nudged me out the door. In this episode, I share: Ho...

You're comparing your inside to their outside and that's why it seems like they have it all together and you don't. If you were to jump inside of them for a moment, you might realize they don't have it all figured out either.  It this short episode, I invite you to consider that when we compare, we're really only seeking to love ourselves more fully.  The information prese...

Sometimes the most overlooked thing we can do when life feels heavy is simply breathe. Breathe and be guided through a meditation that reminds us of our strength—and that we don’t have to carry it all or make sense of everything. Join me for 19 minutes as I guide you on a journey back to yourself. To a place where you can set down your burdens, even if just for a little while—  and feel a bit more...

For some reason, we were worry about what other people think when we have absolutely no control over it. Still that doesn't stop us.   The thing is that the doubts or judgements we think they have about us is often coming from us.  We are projecting our own insecurities onto others. Fortunately or unfortunately, others often think much higher of us then we think of ourselves.  So how do we st...

 Do you ever find yourself replaying what happened in your head again and again?  You may have a whole dialogue going through different scenarios. If only I had said this. Next time I, I'll say that. The more you replay it, the bigger it gets until you can't think of anything else. And you find yourself, getting angry or upset all over again.  Imagine being able to turn it off. It almost...

 Heading into summer can bring up all kinds of feelings. Summer is such a welcomed time but it can bring up a lot of feelings including uncomfortable ones. In today's meditation, I offer you support to move through the transition because transitions - any kind - can bring up discomfort.  Enjoy.  After you practice I'd love to know your experience - you can reach me on instagram. The info...

What would you ask for if you weren’t afraid of hearing no?  If you’re like me your answer might be, “Gosh so much.”  Then why aren’t we asking for it now?  My friend Regina says they can always say no.  Without asking the answer is always no.  Let that sink in for a moment. It’s already no when we don’t ask.  If asking still seems scary to you, start with things where you don’t care about the out...

What if you slow down?   How does that land for you?  Are you thinking, "I can't. I'll never get anything done?  My question for you is: what are you not getting done because you're moving so fast?  Maybe like me you're missing things? Or maybe you're making mistakes?  Or maybe you're not giving yourself space to dream or reflect?  When we slow down we give ourse...

Do you ever feel out of sorts?  Perhaps you move from activity to activity or even room to room in your home and you can’t figure out how to settle.  You’re exhausted and can barely move or maybe you’re jittery and can’t relax. Or maybe you’re somewhere in between. That was me the past two days. And no matter how many holistic practices I tried, or hours of Netflix I watched, I couldn’t get comfor...

Do you realize how special you are and how you are making someone else's life infinitely better even if they don't tell you?  It sounds conceited to even say it let alone think it, but what if that is simply our old ways of thinking that we learned from our parents and they learned from their parents.  Focusing on the gift of who we are instead of our shortcomings and all that we're...

 We all know what it's like when others dismiss how we feel, but what about when we do it to ourselves?  If you're not sure, here are a few examples of what you may say to ourselves. I should be stronger. I am okay. I should be over this by now. I'm being too sensitive. I've dealt with worse. I don't have time to feel this right now  I shouldn't feel this way.  The cr...

 In episode 117,  I ask you to question how your beliefs are tripping you up?  I'm not referring to religious beliefs, but rather those beliefs that rule how you think and how you feel.   Beliefs like, I'm not ready; I can't do it;  If I don't see it, it can't be true;  If it hasn't happened yet, it won't happen; I'm too old; I should know how to do this by...

Do you even know?  Until we start paying attention to what we're thinking, we may not even realize how we might be expecting things to go wrong. This way of thinking not only makes us more hesitant, it keeps in lack and focusing on our limitations versus our opportunities.   This episode is simply an invitation to start noticing.  And if you interested, please share your feedback with me http...

When our boys were little, they played a game with their cousin called Face Your Fears. One at a time, they would venture into the unfinished part of the basement without the lights on. Can you just imagine their little excited bodies jumping up and down at the prospect of doing something a little risky? When was the last time you intentionally faced a fear? Usually we avoid things that scare us,...

Another way of saying this is - are you self abandoning?  This thought came to me today while reviewing my students mindfulness assignments - they had to pick something they multitask and for seven days single task the primary activity.  One student stopped wearing his Airpods at the gym.  What he noticed is that not only was he cancelling out the noise, but also those who were trying to offering...

 Have you ever paid attention to yourself when you judge? The answer is likely no. We slip into that firey hot feeling without even noticing it—most times. Well today I noticed.  I was waiting for my Matcha tea in Starbucks and I saw someone do something.  That holier than thou voice in my head started ranting. Usually it happens so fast, I don't even notice myself.  But today I did. I checke...

Today my guest is Melissa Colbeck. Melissa lost her father suddenly eleven years ago on the day we recorded this episode (December 21st). Melissa has always believed there is a reason for everything and while it took her several years, she found multiple blessings following his death.  It's a heartfelt, powerful conversation where we talk about a wide range of topics including how Melisa deci...

I recorded this episode after I did something that I procrastinated on for four months!  Do you allow yourself to relish the beautiful things that you did, or accomplished? Or are you like me and you push through? It's not enough, you're not there yet. Keep going.  You don't even pause to reflect on what you've accomplished.  And accomplishments can be anything. Maybe you sat f...