Selfhood

As a therapist, one of my favorite roles is to remind people of their largeness – which I define as living a Self-led life. When describing the qualities of Self, it’s not unusual for clients to look at me quizzically. Recently someone asked “What if my “self” wants to run off to the Bahamas and drink pina coladas all day?” I smiled even though I suspected that hidden within this comical question was a fear that she had no authentic Self.

Brené Brown consistently delivers whole-hearted, thought-provoking material that helps women in their journey of personal growth and self-acceptance. Here she interviews Oprah Winfrey in classic researcher style, asking pointed questions on tender subjects.

I geek out on the work of Brené Brown like no one’s business. How can I not when she repeatedly offers compassionate wisdom with so much grace and humor?

Each of us was born with the perfected wisdom of the awakened mind. We ate when hungry, slept when tired and laughed when playful. By the same miracle that we forget the memories of birth, do we gradually forget the truth of our being.

Feelings are the physical expression of our conscious and unconscious emotions. If we ward them off or attribute them to others, we miss a golden opportunity to know ourselves more deeply.

Wrapped in a cocoon of projected ideals and unrealistic expectations, it’s easy to lose touch with our intrinsic self and believe only what others tell us.

Most of us are satisfied with the lives we lead. We may not be happy with what life has done with us, but we are mostly content with what we have done with life. By leaning into discomfort and shaking up our complacency, we get back in touch our aliveness.

I sit with clients on a regular basis as they find the courage to heal old wounds around shame and my heart always goes out to them. But to see my boy crumble in shame broke my heart. He’s only four years-old.

Before entering the field of therapy, among a variety of careers, I was a whole/living foods chef. I use the term “chef” loosely, as I was really just a passionate self-taught, health-nut who was lucky enough to get paid to do what she loved.

Don’t wait for the research to confirm what you intuitively already know. Health is about restoring a state of harmony. The more we are able to flow with nature, the greater our grace and vitality.