Creating wonder is important, as awe and novelty are intrinsic to our lives and our mental wellbeing. This peanut butter taste test is a perfect example of a fun way to manufacture joy and wonder at home. (Because of the wild response I got for this peanut butter taste test on Instagram, I’ve shared all […]
Life Coaching
How To Use Glimmers (The Opposite of Triggers) to Relieve Stress
I first heard about glimmers and the concept of a “glimmers list” when somatic coach Sarah Baldwin mentioned them both in a tutorial about how anxious people can learn to understand and regulate their nervous system. After 10 years of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and about ~3 years of Somatic Therapy, I was surprised that this […]
A Quick Breakdown of Byron Katie’s “The Work”, & How To Practice At Home
Byron Katie is a best-selling author and thought leader famous for her methodology of working with difficult emotions, which she calls “The Work”. She is most famous for this practice, which helps folks who are struggling or seeking greater mental wellbeing identify the root of what is *really* bothering them. In a climate where many […]
Understanding Ho’oponopono: A Beautiful Hawaiian Teaching About Forgiveness
People who struggle with the concept of forgiveness– both for themselves and for others– often find comfort in a deeply healing age-old practice that comes from Hawai’i. The beautiful Hawaiian teaching for Forgiveness is called “Ho’oponopono” (pronounced HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no), and it’s lovely. This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation […]
11 Helpful Tips for Optimizing Postpartum Nutrition, Recovery, and Healing
The postpartum period is one of life’s most truly challenging phases. Postpartum nutrition– aka nutrition during the first 40 days after delivering a baby– plays a huge role in how well new moms heal and prepare their bodies for this next critical phase of nurturing and developing along with their baby. Thus, it’s worth paying […]
6 Science-Backed Tips for Improving Mental Age
Innovative new studies show that how old we feel mentally has a huge impact on how well we fare, physically and mentally, as we age. You can, quite literally, think yourself into better health– and feeling younger. According to the latest research, the younger you feel, the longer you’ll live– or so the theory goes. […]
Ethan Hawke’s Notion of “Art as Sustenance” Is a Salve for Trying Times
Ethan Hawke’s intimate Ted Talk, “Give yourself permission to be creative”, was recorded during the Pandemic and recently recirculated after a clip from the talk– when Hawke speaks about the power of “art as sustenance”– went viral. In this talk– which deals largely with the idea that creativity is not a privilege, but a right– […]
Yes, It’s Okay to Hate Being Pregnant (Many Women Do)
When I was in the throws of early pregnancy nausea with my second child, I remember reading some quote from Kim Kardashian or another celebrity who I usually wouldn’t pay attention to, but it caught my eye nevertheless (thanks, Instagram algorithm!). The quote was simple and cut to the chase: “Being pregnant was the worst […]
A 5-Step Method for Identifying Misplaced Emotions
I believe that ~60% of the emotions we feel on daily basis aren’t really what we think they are– and emerging research is beginning to support this claim. Often, these feelings are better classified as misplaced emotions. Misplaced emotions occur when a feeling or thought doesn’t match the situation at hand. For example, “You’re not […]
How to Get Better at Overcoming Rumination (aka Obsessive Thoughts)
Rumination is the phenomenon of continuously, obsessively thinking about negative or unpleasant thoughts in a way that makes it hard to let go. By definition, it is a repetitive thought process that has a negative tone because it is focused on negative experiences, which often get replayed over and over. Many people struggle with excessive […]