This Valentine’s Day, Give Yourself a Gift… Self-Compassion

Take a Self-Compassion Break Learn more Think of a situation in your life that is difficult, that is causing you stress. Call the situation to mind, and see if you can actually feel the stress and emotional discomfort in your body. Now, say to yourself: 1. This is a moment of sufferingThat’s mindfulness. Other options include: 2.Continue reading “This Valentine’s Day, Give Yourself a Gift… Self-Compassion”

Step 9   Trauma-Informed

by Terrie C. The Aqua CoDA book for Step 8, which is the preparation step for making amends, advises that the first person we need to have on our list is ourselves.  We have harmed ourselves the most and been unable to escape ourselves.  Yet, what most often happens is that we skip over that,Continue reading “Step 9   Trauma-Informed”

The codependent parent trap

Parenting is hard. Being a codependent is challenging. Being a codependent parent is, well… something else. And even better, I find myself faced with the colliding specters of my own menopause and my daughter’s adolescence. The compulsive nature of my behaviors can be frustrating. For many years, I kept falling into a codependent parent trap.Continue reading “The codependent parent trap”

Love is an ability

I was listening to an interview of meditation teacher and author, Sharon Salzberg this morning. She quoted a line from a movie which said, ‘love is not a feeling, love is an ability”. She went on to ask what if we thought about love primarily as an ability? Sharon explained…That means it’s not in theContinue reading “Love is an ability”

Accepting all parts of ourselves

The Self is who I truly am. I know I’m in Self when I am compassionate, curious and connected. I know I am in Self when I accept, without judgment, all my parts…even those that may create problems in my life. I know ALL my parts are trying to help and protect me in theirContinue reading “Accepting all parts of ourselves”

Loving Myself Back Into Wholeness

Bringing Compassion to our Personal Inventory by Charlie B I am Charlie, and I’m still recovering from the codependent survival patterns I learned so well in childhood. I’m also grateful I’ve come so far!  So many of the program promises have come true for me in so many good ways!   Yet I still have muchContinue reading “Loving Myself Back Into Wholeness”

Meditation practice in difficult days…

Thanks to Tara Brach for providing this beautiful resource, an at home retreat. When the crowded Vietnamese refugee boats met with storms or pirates, if everyone panicked all would be lost. But if even one person on the boat remained calm and centered, it was enough. It showed the way for everyone to survive. ZenContinue reading “Meditation practice in difficult days…”

Boost your immunity with kindness and self-compassion

As the news reports on this outbreak of the coronavirus, feelings of fear, stress, and worry often emerge. These feelings are normal. Lives may be impacted in large and small ways. Social distancing is happening as a way to decrease the risks especially for those with health issues and the elderly. For some people withContinue reading “Boost your immunity with kindness and self-compassion”

True Happiness: Realizing Well-Being

True Happiness: Realizing Well-Being – Well being is the deep contentment that arises from a relaxed, wakeful presence. This talk explores the beliefs and habits that contract us away from presence, and several key ways we can nourish our natural capacity for happiness. Lots of messages in this podcast that resonate with what I amContinue reading “True Happiness: Realizing Well-Being”