Awareness and Self-Compassion: Two Powerful Tools for Chronic Pain

“Pain is not wrong. Reacting to pain as wrong initiates the tangle of emotional resistance against what is already happening.” ~Tara Brach The wooden meditation hall creaked softly as sixty people shifted in their seats, trying to find comfort in the silence. Outside, winter rain tapped against the windows, a gentle metronome marking time. I […]

Skill-Based Apps for Developing Emotional Awareness

I sometimes work with individuals who can’t put words to their feelings or can’t understand the emotional responses of others. It’s not that they don’t want to—it’s more that they don’t know how. The clinical term for this experience is alexithymia, which is defined as the inability to recognize emotions and their subtleties. The word […]

5 Pillars of Mindful Awareness That Transformed My Life

“When things change inside of you, things change around you.” ~Unknown When I was twenty-three, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was not until two years later, when I stopped taking medication, that I discovered I had a Mental health disorder linked to my menstrual cycles. Meditating daily has been foundational for my […]