Weekly companion blogs to the Transformative Journeys to Growth and Resilience™ podcast.

Emotional Intelligence: Why Naming and Feeling Your Emotions Changes Everything

Emotional Intelligence: Why Naming and Feeling Your Emotions Changes Everything

Forget the corporate HR buzzword for a second. Emotional intelligence isn’t about performance reviews or trendy employee seminars and workshops - it’s about the hard parts of being human. A bit about survival, a bit about connection, and a lot about healing.

You Don’t Need to Earn Your Rest - Snack Episode 15

You Don’t Need to Earn Your Rest - Snack Episode 15

Rest isn’t a reward that’s only doled out to those who get their list done first. It’s a Requirement.

Choosing Yourself Without Guilt: Why Healing Isn’t Selfish

Choosing Yourself Without Guilt: Why Healing Isn’t Selfish

the same area of our brain that processes physical pain - the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex or dACC (I don’t even try to pronounce this in the podcast…) - also lights up when we experience social rejection (Eisenberger, 2012). That’s why being left out hurts. Why it hurts when someone shows disapproval toward us. Why setting a boundary can feel like danger. And why choosing our own needs over others can feel like a risk. If you’ve experienced trauma, people-pleasing may have become a form of protection… a way to stay safe. Your nervous system learned that keeping others happy kept you safe. But what’s the cost of always ignoring our own needs?

You’re in Good Company (Even Without Your Sh*t Together Today)

You’re in Good Company (Even Without Your Sh*t Together Today)

I’ll be honest… a couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a day. (And there’s a good chance I’ve had one or two since then).

Energy Leaks: Where Your Power Goes (And How to Take It Back)

Energy Leaks: Where Your Power Goes (And How to Take It Back)

Let’s talk about energy leaks. The sneaky, everyday things that drain your mental, emotional, and even physical energy like a slow puncture in a tire. In this week’s episode of the podcast, I go through some of the places you’re letting your energy seep out… and how to start patching the leaks so you can reclaim your power, and feel more like yourself again.

Boundaries Without Guilt: How to Say No and Still Be Kind

Boundaries Without Guilt: How to Say No and Still Be Kind

There’s a reason saying “no” makes your stomach twist. Research shows that parts of our brain (like the amygdala) actually light up when we anticipate social rejection - and not in a good way. Our nervous system responds like we’re in danger. Our heart rate rises, our breathing shifts, and we may even feel panic.