Home is an interesting concept for me. I’ve lived in California longer than anywhere else, yet Michigan, where I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood, still feels just as much like home. It makes sense—those formative years were filled with growth, exploration, and learning. Many of my loved ones still reside there or nearby, deepening my connection to the place.
Delight in the Little Things: A Mindful Approach to Everyday Happiness
Learning to Accept Reality: How Mindfulness Can Help You Navigate Life's Challenges
How Growing Plants Teaches Us About Personal Growth, Mindfulness, and Ecotherapy
I come from a long lineage of green thumbs—farmers and gardeners. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite inherit the gene. Or perhaps, more accurately, I’m not patient enough. Or actually, upon more reflection, growing things takes a lot of time and effort, and I prefer to put those resources toward something else.
Anger in the Time of Measles: How Mindfulness Can Help You Handle It More Effectively
In the past week, I’ve been yelled at multiple times. Mostly by strangers. For nothing. Literally, just walking along, minding my own business, not getting in anyone’s way. This isn’t typical for me. I’m generally quite conflict averse. An issue in its own right, but we’ll get to that another time. I’ve only ever been in one fight—back in 6th grade. And it wasn’t even a real fight. My sister said something I found offensive, so I punched her. Then promptly got in so much trouble that I never hit anyone ever again. Don’t worry, I apologized, and we’re best friends to this day.
Loving-Kindness Meditation
Sometimes it’s really hard to be kind to ourselves or others. Maybe we’re judging ourselves or judging others. Maybe we’ve hurt ourselves, maybe others have hurt us, maybe we’ve hurt others. Maybe we’re having trouble forgiving ourselves or someone else. Whatever it is, love is not what we’re feeling. And even when we think we’re justified in those feelings, there’s still a part of us that knows we’re only hurting ourselves by holding onto such negative energy. We know it isn’t aligned with our true selves and we want to stop feeling so “bad.”
How to Shift from Judgment to Understanding and Create Positive Change
We’re all human. (Or, if you're not human and reading this, holla! We’re all living beings.) And to be human (and alive) is to make mistakes. We all make them, and that's perfectly okay. However, in our society, mistakes are often met with judgment. If you've grown up with judgment from others (who hasn't?), it’s easy to internalize this and start judging ourselves and others as well. With judgment comes shame—the fear of being excluded from the group. While this may have been a life-or-death issue when we were all hunters and gatherers, it’s more emotionally painful in our modern times.
How to Embrace Mistakes with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion
Finding Peace in Change: How to Control What You Can for a Happier Life
I’ve written quite a bit about change—not surprising for a therapist! Wanting change, fear of change, it’s pretty much the only reason any of us go to therapy. My most recent post about change we choose touches on how difficult change can be, but change that’s forced upon us—without choice—is a whole different ballgame.
Finding Joy and Mindfulness in Challenging Times: Strategies for Emotional Resilience
Life seems particularly extra these days. Between climate change impacts, social upheaval, and political tensions, the problems often feel overwhelming. The struggles of hopelessness, helplessness, and anxiety about the future is real. Sometimes, the urge to curl up in a ball and wait for someone else to fix everything seems like a legit course of action.
New Year, Real You: Embrace Your Authentic Self in 2025
New Year's Resolutions: Mindful Habits for Long-Term Success in 2025
All right, folks, it’s that time of year! The end of the current year, where we either celebrate with fancy outfits and cocktails or cozy up on the couch in pajamas. It’s the time when we enthusiastically prepare to set New Year’s resolutions, eager to start fresh.
Mindful Gift Giving: How to Make the Holidays More Fulfilling
Move Slow and Build Things: The Power of Mindfulness in a Fast-Paced World
The Healing Power of Nature: How Ecotherapy Can Improve Mental Health and Well-being
Gratitude in Times of Struggle: A Thanksgiving Reflection
And if all else fails, nature is always there to remind me of life’s beauty. The trees, flowers, oceans, mountains, and quiet moments in nature all fill me with a deep sense of peace. I’ve become particularly to birds’ songs, reminding me that as long as they are singing, we’re okay in this moment.
Staying Present in Difficult Times
How to Be Mindful of Emotions
So if emotions are SO useful, why have they gotten such a bad rap?
Well... to begin with they feel pretty freakin’ uncomfortable. As humans, we do whatever we can to avoid pain, which can be useful to our health and safety. It keeps us alive. But avoiding all discomfort can cause other problems.
We need the information that our emotions are communicating to us to have clarity, make useful decisions, and lead fulfilling lives.