Yesterday's post looked at the importance of the pause. In our series on things to consider for the new year, today we will explore the idea of letting go of good versus bad language . Humans have a natural tendency to be too hard on ourselves; as a result, we will often categorize things as good or bad. By placing choices in categories, we automatically invite judgement to do its damage. Being able to accept when we make mistakes and move towards repair without automatic goo

Although New Year's Resolutions are a very individual choice, perhaps one way to welcome in the new year is to consider adopting some habits that will benefit our emotional wellness. In a series of posts, let us consider these important tips for creating balance and remaining grounded. Today's post is about the importance of the pause. We live in a fast paced, success driven world. We often move from one task to another, we have way too much on our plates, and we feel obli

Happy New Year! On this day I would like to share with you my favourite quote of all time. I believe that we have guides in life that show up when we need them to - sometimes they come in the form of a person, they may come in the form of an experience, book, movie, or podcast episode. They can be life-changing or found in the ordinary, yet they made a difference to the way you see yourself or the world around you. This quote struck a chord with me when I was watching the m

A new year always brings with it a sense of renewal - a time to reflect on the year just past and a look forward to the year ahead. That might include goals and a re-setting of things if you will, or it can bring with it a quiet and reflective place, meant to simply focus on what is in front of us on any given day. I came upon this quote by T.S. Eliot that sums up the turning of a new year in a lovely and poetic way: For last year's words belong to last year's language. And

Yesterday's post talked about why we might appease someone. Once we recognize that this might be a part of how we communicate, we can begin to work on healthier strategies. Here are 5 tips on how to potentially stop appeasing people: Recognize that you have a choice. If we are appeasing others because we fear their rejection, or worry that they will be angry at us, it often feels that we don't have a choice. Reality tells us we do. The moment we moved into adulthood we becam

There are times when we take the high road. We may choose to not say something or to wait it out; times when we weigh our options and recognize that not responding is the optimal response. There are times when we choose to remain passive; and when we do, we usually know in our gut that we probably should have said something, or set a boundary. As a result of our passivity, we have most likely sacrified at our own expense. There are times when we appease. This is when we paci

The word siesta is Spanish and originates from Latin meaning "the sixth hour." Counting down from dawn, we hit the sixth hour at noon, signalling the "mid-day rest." Although it originated in Spain, many Latin American countries have carried on the tradition with the midday meal being the biggest one, followed by a 15 to 30 minute nap. Still a practice in Spain, many businesses will close between 2 and 4 pm as this is a gathering time for families to connect and take a break

What does it mean to 'hold space' for another person? Sometimes a loved one comes to us with their challenges or their concerns. Sometimes it can be about something we may have done that has upset them; other times they may be sharing an experience outside of their relationship to us. Essentially, when we hold space for someone, our intention is to be present and invested to their experience . 3 ways to achieve this include: Place your intention in listening as to understand

Author of 46 children's books, Dr. Seuss left behind his spirited personality in his poetry and playful use of words. Here are five of my favourite quotes: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” - Dr. Suess “Think! You can think any Think that you wish!” - Dr. Seuss "It's opener there in the wide open air." - Dr.

From my home to yours, I wish you the blessings of the season. May you find warmth and cozy in your day; whether it be filled with the sounds of a full house or the solitude of a quiet one. May this time between the ending of one year and the start of another, be a time of quiet reflection, peaceful thoughts and grateful acknowledgment; not only for the things that you have, but also for the things you let go. God Bless you and your loved ones. Forever grateful, Kristine P

Christmas Eve has always been a wonderous night; one filled with a sense of peace and magical anticipation: “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” — Hamilton Wright Mabie “Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold.” — Josephine Daskam Bacon “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ―Calvin Coolidge "May you

It is often during holidays and special events that we often miss our loved ones who have passed away. If we are going through a time of loss, the holidays can feel that much heavier. Sometimes it is difficult to hold space for both the joy of the occasion and the feelings of sadness that are a part of the grieving process. I came across this poem by ullie-kaye which gives us a way to conceptualize grief as a gift; to understand that our love for someone doesn't end but rathe

Anais Nin was an author, born of French-Cuban descent. Her writings often brought little pearls of wisdom; here are three of my favourites: "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." - Anais Nin There is a theme of agency to Anais Nin's work. A sense that what we carry insi

What a thought provoking quote by Paulo Coelho: Two of the hardest tests in life: -the patience to wait for the right moment -the courage to accept whatever you encounter Paul Coelho We live in a world of expectations. Both from others and from ourselves. We also live in a fast-paced, consumer-driven world where we have access to things immediately. Patience may be a virtue, but I don't seem to have any of it when the internet is slow :) The first test in life that Paulo ref

I often hear in therapy that "self-care feels selfish." One of the things we explore when first hearing this statement surrounds a person's understanding of why they feel that way. If we tend to be someone who self-sacrifices or is a people-pleaser, self-care does not come naturally. Hence, the feeling that we are being selfish. Other times our busy lives dictate this feeling. Running around with little kids, having a commitment laden job, or trying to manage work and home l

Saint Francis of Assisi said "What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence." We require movement in order to achieve growth. That is why the saying 'actions speak louder than words' is one that speaks volumes. An apology without further effort tends to be meaningless, the words "I'll try" mean little without effort, a person's word is only weighted with gold when there is follow through. Even promises to ourselves can on

I came across this quote: "You can't reach for anything new if your hands are full of yesterday's clutter." - Louise Smith Although I suspect that the deeper meaning of this quote is about how being stuck in our past can hinder our future, I like the quote for its tangible reference to clutter. It is interesting to me how many clients, when having achieved a sense of movement forward, will often begin by cleaning their homes of its clutter. They will admit that their houses

In the third and final post on Marianne Williamson's spiritual teaching of relationships, we explore what it means to be in a Level 3 relationship. "The third level of teaching is a relationship which, once formed, lasts all our lives. At this level, each person is given a chosen learning partner who presents him with unlimited opportunities for learning. Someone with whom we have a lifetime's worth of lessons to learn is someone whose presence in our lives forces us to grow

Continuing from yesterday's post, today we look at Marianne Williamson's spiritual teachings of what she calls Level 2 relationships: "The second level is a more sustained relationship, in which, for a time, two people enter into a fairly intense teaching-learning situation and then appear to separate. During their time together, they will go through whatever experiences provide them with their next lessons to be learned. When physical proximity no longer supports the highes

Marianne Williamson has a way of looking at relationships that focuses on our spiritual connection to others. She notes that relationships are assignments, and are part of a bigger plan towards expanded love. She talks about three levels of relationships, each providing teachable moments to greater awareness. Level 1 relationships are those that we would consider to be casual encounters; someone you might chat with at the dentist office, or a person you begin talking to whil