We all have behaviors we want to change for the better. We want to eat more vegetables, be more patient with our children, go to bed earlier, exercise daily, practice loving ourselves. Why, is it such a struggle to make these changes for good?

Last year when I was thinking about a name for my new coaching business, I had lots of ideas but nothing felt right. For weeks my head was spinning with possibilities to the point of being stressed out about it. I was scheduled to get married in July of 2020 and was beginning to think about my new last name.

I hear a lot about self-love and worthiness. The kind of self-love I am talking about today is not the kind where you have a manicure, a massage or a nap (although these are awesome too!). It is that deep down love for yourself. Completely as you are at this very moment. 100% worthy and 100% lovable.

Write 3 Sentences Everyday to boost your Productivity and Happiness.:

“I will focus on…”,

“I am grateful for….”

“I will let go of…”

I love how my dog greets me when I come home. Tail wagging, barking jumping up, full of excitement just from seeing me. Even when I am gone only a few minutes, it is as if I’ve been gone for days. There is an unconditional love from him.

When I was pregnant with my now 19-year-old daughter, my sister lovingly drew stickmen poses that were safe for me to do during my pregnancy. She folded it up and sent it to me in the mail. That was the beginning of a Saturday morning ritual that I rarely miss.

When we don’t speak our truth to our partner, we end up angry and condescending. Then there is resentment that bubbles up stemming from not being courageous enough to stand up. This usually comes from thoughts we are having about what would happen if we DID speak the truth. Is there fear that our partner won’t love us or may leave us? Then what?

I have my “Happy Place”. I’ve just been there in the photo above. Still salty and wet with the ring of my mask imprinted on my forehead, I’m sitting at peace with the world. Snorkeling in warm, clear, salt water is the place for me. The sun on my back and the fish darting this way and that, I can become part of their world. I’m not in a hurry. I hear each breath in my head, ears muffled by the water, slowly in and out, rhythmic and calm.

It’s an Option to Stay In Your Relationship and Work on Your Mind

Wanting to leave…breathe. The only thing you are in a hurry about is to get out of pain. You don’t need to change your circumstance to get out of pain. You can change the way you are thinking about it.

Even just thinking about breaking away from what you have can be scary. Your brain keeps telling you all the reasons why it’s not a good idea and that’s perfectly normal.

Therapy is usually diagnostic based. Therapists help people who are having a difficult time functioning in their day to day life. They focus on diagnosing the non-functioning problem that needs to be solved. The goal of Therapy is to take you from dysfunctional to functional.