Let the Verse Flow: Personal Growth Thru a Creative Lens

Do you have difficulty handling strong emotions like anger or frustration? Do you find yourself reaching for distractions like food or shopping, or alcohol to deal with stress or emotional overload? What does it look like to process emotions like anger successfully? In this episode, I walk you through one recent instance in which I transformed my anger without engaging in any negative avoidance or distraction behaviors. I explore how I sat with my feelings, reframed emotionally-charged ...

In this episode, I unpack my wonderful vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, with a deep dive into how the flowers, sea animals, scents, and people inspire and re-energize my energy and commitment to my mindfulness practice. These two weeks of vacation are an important refresh, and the memories I make on these trips come back to me throughout the years, helping me be present for all the facets of my life. On the island of Oahu, flowers hang in full bloom like lanterns, and sea turtles glide beneath...

In this episode, we’ll explore the restorative powers of deep rest -- a quiet, safe, still space that helps re-energize just about every part of your life. Through deep rest, you heal yourself all the way to the cellular level and find a new vitality that helps you be more creative and focused. After a month of heavy life transitions, I found myself needing to rest, not sleep or distraction, but a sort of surrendering. And a few days later, I reaped the rewards of rest with greater clarity an...

In this episode, we explore mindful ways to cope with grief and loss, embracing the changing, shapeshifting nature of grief. If you or someone you know is navigating grief, this episode offers compassionate insights and healing strategies. After nearly four years of dealing with the sadness of handling my mom's Alzheimer's and ill health, I'm noticing some changes in my thinking -- especially when dealing with the disruptive and shapeshifting waves of grief. In this episode, I'll share ...

When does self-improvement cross the line into self-flagellation? Are we using personal development and goal setting to undermine ourselves? How can self-improvement and self-acceptance co-exist in a world that increasingly wants us to choose sides? In this episode, we'll reflect on what's working in our lives and strike a balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance by acknowledging and being mindful of our wondrous qualities. We'll: Explore the ways we feel wondrous or do wondrous t...

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands? Need a buffer to preserve your optimism and sense of purpose in an increasingly stressful world? Then, this episode is for you! Discover how art appreciation can restore energy, inspire creativity, and deepen your connection to the world. Press play and listen to this episode as I explore: the benefits of art-making and art appreciation, especially in lessening emotional burdens and reducing stress, our universal need for self-expression and connec...