Have you ever read or heard relationship advice and thought, “I would never say that?” I’ve been there too! Over the course of many relationships, I realized that while some things may feel uncomfortable or awkward to say, they are often worth considering.

Have you ever felt like there’s so much going on in your world that it’s hard to tell left from right or up from down? Let me follow up with this: During these times, how connected do you feel to the decisions you’re making?

Have you ever been absolutely sure of something, only to later discover that your certainty wasn’t quite right?...Realizing that we got it wrong or our information is outdated doesn’t make us bad – it makes us human.

Is there anything you wish your parents had said to you more often growing up? If we were to reflect on our childhood, many of us can remember moments where a few kind words might have made all the difference.

Often, we seek proof that something will work out before we muster the confidence to take a risk or make a commitment. We want to ensure it’s going to work out to avoid feeling hurt or disappointed. That’s understandable – it’s natural to want to feel safe, but what if we’ve got it backwards?

Our individual actions are influenced by, yet distinct from, the larger systems we are part of. Whether it's our families, cultural backgrounds, or the social environments we engage in, these systems impact us, and recognizing our role within these systems can illuminate why certain patterns persist and how we can begin to change them.

Today’s insights are inspired by a poignant quote from psychiatrist Phil Stutz in the documentary Stutz: “There are three aspects of reality: the pain will never go away; uncertainty will never go away; and there’s no getting away from the need for constant work. Everybody has to live like that, no matter what.”

Do you ever find yourself getting caught up in the details? I've learned that an over-reliance on this skill can skew our perspective. We can become so absorbed in the minutiae that we lose sight of the broader context, transforming us into relentless fault-finders.

As adults, we often view messiness as an inconvenience…something more challenging than maintaining order and simplicity. But what wonders might we be missing by not allowing room for the messiness inherent in living a full, human life?

While it’s natural to want to express our frustrations, hurt, and disappointment when impacted by others’ errors, berating someone rarely leads to constructive outcomes. Our feelings are valid and need space, but how can we express them in a way that maintains respect and grace?

Have you ever had a disagreement with someone you care about and then felt awkward, unsure of how to mend the situation, so you just let it slide? Or perhaps, your attempts to discuss it further only led to more conflict?

Have you ever felt a twinge of disappointment when someone promised to call or finish a task but didn’t, or perhaps found yourself apologizing for the same slip-up? You’re not alone – if we’re being honest, we’ve all probably been that person at times, not just for others, but also for ourselves.

Have you ever noticed how some changes, even the ones we want, can feel surprisingly painful? While we often associate grief with obvious losses, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a significant relationship, it can also accompany the smaller, yet significant, transitions in our lives—like changes in our jobs, aging, or even the process of personal growth.

Have you ever stopped to consider what old habits or beliefs you carry that might not be serving you anymore? Today, I want to share five key patterns I've released on my journey to foster a healthier and more balanced life.

How often do you find yourself faced with decisions that seem strictly either/or? How often do you feel pressured to choose this or that? This binary approach often misses the rich complexity of life, creating unnecessary divides and shame when we’d benefit from curiosity and compassion.

Has anyone else ever been in a relationship and thought, “This isn’t what I thought it would be like”? Building healthy intimate relationships can be a beautiful journey, and at the same time, it requires us to release and grieve old stories about the way love is ‘supposed to be’ and accept some harsh relationship truths.

We often wonder why we struggle to change patterns when we know they no longer serve us, or why certain triggers elicit strong reactions; the answers often lie in our past.

“C’mon, hurry up already!” “What’s taking so long?” How often have you heard that? Or said it? While there are moments in life when quick action is necessary, many of us approach our daily lives with an undue sense of haste, and it’s not as beneficial as we might think.

Ever look at someone and think, “Wow, they are so gifted! I wish I could do that!”? Yeah, me too!…It’s easy to assume they’re naturally proficient, but regardless of talent, practice plays a pivotal role. For most of us, developing skills is less about innate ability and more about giving ourselves permission to suck at something and the time to improve.

Ask yourself - are you the same person you were as a teenager, a decade ago, or even three years back? Every experience, whether good or bad, shapes us. The essential question then is: Does this change bring us closer to our true selves, or does it pull us further away?