col – Healing in Plain Sight

Things I once thought would be the line of demarcation indicating I’m happy and complete

1. When I got my first full time job. 2. When I moved out of my parents’ house. 3. When I could afford to give up roommates and have my own space. 4. When I had a boyfriend. 5. When I became a Vice President at my job. 6. When I was a boss of… Continue reading Things I once thought would be the line of demarcation indicating I’m happy and complete

the five kleshas

according to patanjali, the five kleshas are the five obstacles to yoga … the state of peace and union. my teacher talks about them often, and i can certainly see them at play in my own life. The obstacles are: 1) lack of knowledge (or understanding)2) egoism3) attachment4) aversion and 5) fear I’m sure i… Continue reading the five kleshas

doris

i’ve been in a life transition for a few years and have struggled to get over the hump. i have found myself repeatedly going back to the old, despite knowing it’s time to release it and move forward. earlier this week i met with an energy healer who did a “soul DNA” scan. i was… Continue reading doris

tears tears tears

healing is the way, and it is exhausting. processing 47 years of dysregulation is tiring. it feels lighter, and i wouldn’t NOT do it but it is hard as hell.

Easy

A new thing, a new approach for me is Taking It Easy. Relinquishing control and perfectionism. Little me stayed up all hours perfecting her diorama. She cried when she got even a single problem wrong on her math practice. No one showed me another way. In fact, I remember trying to hide my emotions and… Continue reading Easy

Santosha

Santosha (skt. संतोष saṃtoṣa) literally means “contentment, satisfaction”.[1][2] It is also an ethical concept in Indian philosophy,[3] particularly Yoga, where it is included as one of the Niyamas by Patanjali.[4] exhale. today was a lovely day. i stayed in my body. i told myself many times over: “i love and approve of myself.” i spent time with my mother and brother and was not… Continue reading Santosha

breaking old patterns

i choose liberation, and it is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. it can be so scary to do things differently, especially when our old patterns are calcified. we feel like we will snap if we try to open up to alternative approaches. it is PAINFUL! until we heal ourselves, whether we are aware of it or… Continue reading breaking old patterns

rejection

i have been so externally focused for most of my life … i thought it was my job to regulate my parents’ wildly fluctuating emotions and moods as a child. when i (inevitably) failed to stop their dysfunction, i blamed myself. this hypervigilance and self-blaming and shaming became ingrained and followed me into adulthood. yesterday… Continue reading rejection

embodied healing

Somatic therapy is so interesting. Yesterday i had a very specific experience of it working and helping. I described the experience to my therapist and said, “This is the way.” She smiled knowingly and pointed out that I was quoting “The Mandalorian,” a show I love. 🙂 My anxiety is very strong first thing in… Continue reading embodied healing

COVID and the Four Fs of Post-Traumatic Experience

As we continue to process the time of upheaval we’ve experienced during a pandemic, this is an important time to learn about trauma and the responses… COVID and the Four Fs of Post-Traumatic Experience Great infographic about trauma responses