Staying connected to our inner child -- or as Carl Jung would say, our 'eternal child' -- provides an expansion of who we are both emotionally and creatively. There are great rewards in preserving the rights of the little one within us. By treating ourselves with kindness and compassion -- providing gentle and steady encouragement -- our psyches are more inclined to maintain a sense of wonder … [Read more...]
The secret words are ‘you time’
Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy. -- Groucho Marx Truth is, most of the time we'd rather be doing something other than what we're doing. Work alone eats up a third of weekdays or more. Then there are the chores, errands, little emergencies, social obligations, issues to work through with friends, kids and lovers -- the list … [Read more...]
Spending the holidays with your inner child
Be generous with your inner child this festive season. While many of us experience excitement and joy at this time of year, there are others who struggle to get through the days. With all the emphasis on good tidings and cheer, things can be even more challenging for those in crisis or without loved ones. The adage have yourself a merry little Christmas (or holiday season) suggests a way … [Read more...]
Getting to know triggers from the past
It is important to remember that healing is a journey, a lifelong process. Wounds from the past can be triggered in unexpected ways. We use the word "trigger," meaning an event that evokes an experience from the past, summoning emotions such as shame, pain or anger. In this way the present can be distorted by the past. For example, current doubts about your worth -- or fears for your safety … [Read more...]
You gotta right to sing the blues
In a society that demands we "have a nice day" and keep up our perky smiles, what do you do if you just don’t feel that way on any given day? We all have down days -- times when nothing is going right, and we wonder if it ever will. It's important to normalize these down days when you only want to sing the blues. A variety of moods are essential to our human condition. Our feelings ebb … [Read more...]