While it’s natural to want to express our frustrations, hurt, and disappointment when impacted by others’ errors, berating someone rarely leads to constructive outcomes. Our feelings are valid and need space, but how can we express them in a way that maintains respect and grace?

Have you ever had a disagreement with someone you care about and then felt awkward, unsure of how to mend the situation, so you just let it slide? Or perhaps, your attempts to discuss it further only led to more conflict?

Have you ever felt a twinge of disappointment when someone promised to call or finish a task but didn’t, or perhaps found yourself apologizing for the same slip-up? You’re not alone – if we’re being honest, we’ve all probably been that person at times, not just for others, but also for ourselves.

Have you ever noticed how some changes, even the ones we want, can feel surprisingly painful? While we often associate grief with obvious losses, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a significant relationship, it can also accompany the smaller, yet significant, transitions in our lives—like changes in our jobs, aging, or even the process of personal growth.

Have you ever stopped to consider what old habits or beliefs you carry that might not be serving you anymore? Today, I want to share five key patterns I've released on my journey to foster a healthier and more balanced life.

How often do you find yourself faced with decisions that seem strictly either/or? How often do you feel pressured to choose this or that? This binary approach often misses the rich complexity of life, creating unnecessary divides and shame when we’d benefit from curiosity and compassion.

Has anyone else ever been in a relationship and thought, “This isn’t what I thought it would be like”? Building healthy intimate relationships can be a beautiful journey, and at the same time, it requires us to release and grieve old stories about the way love is ‘supposed to be’ and accept some harsh relationship truths.

We often wonder why we struggle to change patterns when we know they no longer serve us, or why certain triggers elicit strong reactions; the answers often lie in our past.

“C’mon, hurry up already!” “What’s taking so long?” How often have you heard that? Or said it? While there are moments in life when quick action is necessary, many of us approach our daily lives with an undue sense of haste, and it’s not as beneficial as we might think.

Ever look at someone and think, “Wow, they are so gifted! I wish I could do that!”? Yeah, me too!…It’s easy to assume they’re naturally proficient, but regardless of talent, practice plays a pivotal role. For most of us, developing skills is less about innate ability and more about giving ourselves permission to suck at something and the time to improve.

Ask yourself - are you the same person you were as a teenager, a decade ago, or even three years back? Every experience, whether good or bad, shapes us. The essential question then is: Does this change bring us closer to our true selves, or does it pull us further away?

Nervous system regulation isn’t about evading our feelings – it’s about engaging with them more authentically. By embracing our bodily sensations as messengers, we learn not just to survive, but to thrive.

As we navigate through the complexities of life, our inner narratives serve as the lens through which we interpret our experiences. But what happens when these narratives become outdated or misaligned with reality. We all carry stories from our past into the present, often unaware of their deep-rooted influence.

Our societal drive for more, focused on external measures, paired with our ego’s quest for safety, often push us towards constant hustle. The outcome? More stuff, perhaps, but undoubtedly dwindling time for relationships, connection, and ultimately, diminished well-being.

We all possess facets of ourselves that are difficult to embrace – traits we wish to change yet feel stuck in. And with each repetitive cycle of these behaviours, not only does our inner critic amplify its intensity, but that pattern also becomes more deeply engrained.

Ah the ego – a topic of endless discussion and often the source of so much inner conflict…We all have one, and no matter how much personal growth we undertake, it remains a steadfast companion. So, it’s not a matter of asking if we have an ego, but rather, what is our relationship with our ego?

Conflict is inevitable in our close relationships, and how we handle it will inevitably influence how we feel about our relationships. So what are some tools and guidelines we can consider to keep conflict from going off the rails?

While we may not be at fault for all the circumstances of our lives, we are responsible for them. That doesn’t mean we have the power to control everything that happens to us, but we always have the power to choose how we respond.

While taking my first steps on this journey, feeling stuck and ready for things to change, part of me secretly hoped for that one ‘a-ha’ moment that would usher in peace, freedom, and fulfillment…The fantasy of waking up one day fully equipped with all the answers and willpower to flawlessly implement them, without hesitation or set-backs, is just that – a fantasy.

…having a supportive tribe – be it family, friends, or a blend of both – is essential for personal and social flourishing. However, as our interactions increasingly shift online, the definition of our “tribe” blurs. Are we mistakenly assuming that acceptance and understanding from every casual acquaintance are necessary?