“One thing that every relationship will experience, even the healthiest ones, is conflict. I know when some people hear the word conflict their defences already go up and their minds go to somewhere primarily negative. If you’re one of those persons I want to encourage for a moment to put those defences down and just hear me out for a bit. :)”
“Being your most authentic self speaks to the choice you make to show up as true self, unapologetically and fully, even if it doesn't meet the expectations other people have of you. While I believe being authentic within our relationships is one of the most important attributes of a healthy relationship, I also understand and can empathize with how scary and challenging this can be and feel sometimes.”
“Our family of origin impacts so many aspects of our lives. Family of origin refers to the body of persons you primarily grew up with. For some this may be biological parents & siblings, adopted parents & siblings, or grandparents & cousins/siblings, depending on your situation. From our personal development, to the way we function within our relationships, the ways in which we communicate, and our own emotional awareness and expression - we learn so much for our primary system.”
“EQ or Emotional Intelligence can be defined as the ability to be aware of, identify, understand, control and express your emotions. It also encompasses the ability to be aware of and understand the emotions of others, along with the ability to navigate your relationships with good judgement and empathy. EQ is one of the most important skills each of us can find rich benefit in developing and intentionally leaning into.”
“This whole concept of self-compassion has been one that I have intentionally been speaking about and sharing about, especially this year. While I have steadily encouraged kindness and grace to and with self, I also believe that this concept of self-compassion is so vital, and it actually ties everything together quite nicely.”
“Sometimes I need gentle reminders, especially in times and moments when I may be beating myself up and not extending kindness and grace to self. It can be so easy to extend grace and kindness to others, but then struggle to do the same with ourselves, so whether you find yourself in a place like that right now, or you just want some reminders to keep close for when you may need it, I encourage you to take from here what you will.”
“This is a reoccurring question we as therapists hear, and though I’m young in the field, I have heard this question over and over and over again. While I understand some of the heart behind this question, I believe it’s important to address this question from a therapist’s perspective & hopefully it’ll shed some light on this question for you if you or someone you know is wondering about it.”
“Taking the step to get therapy is one of the most courageous and healing decisions you can make for yourself. I know therapy and Mental Health are things that many people are talking about right now, and many are interested in, so I want to take a moment and share 3 important things to note about therapy and its process so you are more equipped stepping into this realm.”
“When the new year rolls around, I know it is very normal for many people to come up with resolutions, hopes or goals for the year ahead. There is a hope that comes with the freshness of a new year and hopefully a new season, and this tends to give people more drive and motivation to do the things that they deem important, and finally make those tough decisions they could not before.”
“One of the most common Mental Health challenges many people have been experiencing this year is anxiety. I have heard so many people say that their anxiety has increased to the point where it has become a real challenge for them, sometimes to the point where they can’t sleep or function normally. Although Mental Health is still a taboo subject in various spheres, the reality is that we all deal with Mental Health issues, including anxiety.”
“When I say rest is productive what tends to come up for you? Would you agree or do you think I sound crazy? haha! I remember a few months ago I was speaking with a girlfriend of mine about my lack of productivity and my presence of rest instead, and she told me, rest is productive, & even though I probably already knew this was true, it felt so different to actually hear it.”
When we look at the topic of conflict, this can bring up different emotional responses and thoughts for all of us for various reasons. Maybe some of us prefer to avoid conflict, avoid confrontation, and dealing with any tension whatsoever. On the flip side, maybe some of us welcome conflict, we can sit in the uneasiness even when it’s challenging, and we can move towards to the other side. Both perspectives are valid, and where you fall on the spectrum is important to know.
