"It can be so easy to limit ourselves, to put up barriers to our expansiveness, create boxes that put limits around us. These limits may be born of self judgement or fear of judgment or lack of acceptance from others. 

Spending time in nature provides many benefits for our physical and mental health. Studies show that being outdoors in natural environments lowers stress, blood pressure, and heart rate. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature have a calming effect that can help relieve anxiety and depression. Walking in the woods or sitting by a lake gives our minds a chance to unplug and recharge. Exposure to greenspace also boosts concentration and creativity. The innate peacefulness of the natural world encourages reflection and mindfulness. Taking children outdoors helps them develop empathy as they observe wildlife. Connecting with nature builds appreciation for the environment, making us more likely to take actions that protect the planet. Even short breaks in a garden or park allow us to destress and feel restored. Regular visits to natural places support overall wellbeing.

No matter where you are, indoors or out, in a remote wilderness or sitting in your front yard, there is always a way to deepen your connection with the natural world. Here are ten examples:

Our conscious and subconscious mind will find all kinds of excuses and rationalizations to keep us in our comfort zone. Our mind wants to keep us safe so this makes logical sense. But…

The key to feeling more peace, joy and happiness lies in developing a bulletproof mindset that allows you to rise above personalization. 

This shift in perspective transforms the way you approach self-improvement. Rather than being hindered by self-criticism, you'll be fueled by positive reinforcement.

it is now rare for me to trigger into a past trauma. And when it does happen, I can now identify it in the moment and have tools to deal with it.

Do you ever feel like you just can’t win? That no matter how hard you try, you still come up short. You might even think, “What’s the point? I should just give up.” Or perhaps you simply berate yourself for not succeeding. I get it. I know I’ve felt that way so many times in my life. 

We often underestimate the power of the questions we ask ourselves. Our minds are wired to seek answers, and the questions we pose can significantly influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. However, not all questions are created equal. The way we frame our inquiries can determine whether we foster growth, resilience, and empowerment or succumb to self-doubt and negativity.

For us humans, we can face a lot of challenges if we have emotional safety. Imperative in creating that emotional safety is connection. And that starts with the connection we have to ourselves. Central to that is the practice of being compassionate with ourselves. Not shaming ourselves for our perceived or real mistakes or short comings.

We often have a tendency to want to push away anything that causes us pain. It’s a natural response to want to avoid discomfort and seek pleasure. However, when it comes to the painful parts of ourselves, this approach can do more harm than good. In fact, it’s crucial that we learn to embrace and love those parts of ourselves, even when they cause us pain.

Play helps us build our neural pathways, improve cognitive function, develop our physical bodies, learn problem solving, develop our social skills and enhance our emotional well being.

It can be scary to try new things, to put yourself out there in a way you have not done before. We may ask ourselves questions like, “What if I don’t succeed?” or “What if other people don’t approve of or like what I did?” or “What if I make a mistake?”

It's not merely the lack of a strength or being good at something that creates our perceived weaknesses. Those things that we define within ourselves as weaknesses, only acquire that definition because there is a desire behind them. 

In order to reduce or eliminate procrastination it’s important to know the reasons why we procrastinate. Often we think, if only I had a better system, I would get so much more done. However if we aren’t exploring the emotions, the blocks and the unhelpful stories that are not serving us then having the best systems in the world are not going to solve the procrastination puzzle.

Early this spring I had the opportunity to host another forest therapy guide, Monique Giroux for one of my forest bathing experiences. The article we collaborated on shares some of the joys and awarenesses available through forest bathing. You’ll gain insights into what drew me to become a guide and more importantly how it will benefit you.

We all have an inner voice. The patterns with which that voice speaks, whether critical and condescending or compassionate and caring can have a major impact on our lives and how we relate to the world around us.

My body often operates like the law of inertia. When I’m moving, whether on a project or on the trail, I can feel the pull to keep going. Almost like gravity pulling a roller coaster down hill. But getting the momentum can feel like a huge effort.

Have you ever wanted to accomplish something, yet could not get yourself motivated to begin? This past weekend I was struggling with procrastination brought on by…

Procrastination impacts so many of us. Maybe it’s just a minor annoyance for you and then again maybe it’s keeping you from living the life you most desire. Why do we procrastinate and how does it keep us safe?

We all deal with procrastination at one time or another, some of us more than others. Perfectionism which is more insidious and comes in more variations than you may think may be limiting you.