Adventure takes risks; risks encourage us to be daring, and being daring takes courage. It takes courage to put yourself out in unpredictable elements where you may not feel like you have sufficient skills to endure. How do we soar and rise above our obstacles?

Watching the news is a psychologically risky pursuit that can prey on the anxieties that currently exist in individuals — particularly, those who are vulnerable and who have pre-existing mental health issues.

S P A C E is about allowing ourselves to live without limits, or feeling confined by our thoughts, our environments and relationships. Space is permitting yourself to live without feeling imprisoned by the things that tend to withdraw from your reserves and collectively create chaos.

There is value in setting goals - but goals are not achieved on their own. Intentions are the life partner to our goals. Intentions give us a daily rhythm, motivation and accountability to help reach our overall goals.

“The very thing that helps to preserve our well-being, is the same thing that clashes with the inner conflict of pleasing others or protecting ourselves. This often stems from an internal struggle between plugging into our sense of power and worth, and a simultaneous desire to cater to, or foster, a relationship.”

“I fear not which I have seen grow, but perhaps, fear of what lies in the midst of transition. Despite those moments of unease, the beautiful thing about fear is that it is the facilitator of growth.”

“Expectations: The anticipation of things hoped for. Expectations are intentions and the possibility that things will work out as anticipated. Expectations are less about promise and more about trust. Trusting in the process that is intended as part of the journey — whether we planned for it, or not.”

“If we give in to defeat, we are fighting against courage and not moving from our heart — and when this happens, it diminishes creativity and our ability to be innovative.”

Life will continue to throw us challenges, that is inevitable. But if we seek the wisdom that exists within those challenges, the difficulties we face have the power to strengthen us.

January, 2019, will be one year since I walked out of my office, and away from employment I had known for the last 10 years. After much support and encouragement from my employer and colleagues to take some time off due to stress and the evident deterioration of my mental well-being, I made a hard and uncomfortable decision to take a couple weeks off to restore my health. 

Life management can be tricky at times, and I often feel a bit of societal pressure to have a perfectly balanced life.

For many years, I taught Personal Development classes, and often talked about the importance of work-life balance - helping individuals reflect on how we prioritize these areas - how much time spent working, sleeping, spending time with family, etc. etc., and at the time it seemed like a pretty simple task.

Last week, I attended the Canadian Mental Health Association’s national conference in Montreal, Quebec. This was a conference that brought together the voices of people from various backgrounds in mental health, including Government agencies, business, non-profit groups, and course, the very important voices of individuals with lived experiences. 

Have you ever tried to do new things with the old order? I have, and guess what? Sometimes (actually lot of the times), this method does not work. I am in the process of restructuring and reorganizing my life and career, and I’m discovering that I need to refocus for where I am going, and not where I have been. 

This week I shared a post about the value in ‘taking the stairs.’ I’ve received a lot of positive comments about how that message resonated with so many. If you haven't seen the post yet, go check it out now! 

I’ve been a little quiet on the Shattered Silence platform with regard to my blogging — in fact, it’s been since January when I shared my last post about being burnt out. I’ve had every intention of blogging through my journey of healing but that small, still voice inside me had shown me the importance of listening instead of sharing. 

What I’m starting to learn (well ‘trying’ to at least), is that I have more power than I give myself. No, I’m not talking about Superwoman powers because although I ‘think’ I can do it all, I cannot.

Those were the very first words I read, as I opened my book by Shauna Niequist – Present Over Perfect. What a coincidence!

I drove out with every intention to lay by the ocean, to feel the sand between my toes and close my eyes to breathe in the fresh, crisp ocean air.

But something happened to me on the way in …

I’ve had quite a few people ask me, “What is self-compassion?” A year ago, I too learned what it meant, especially within my own life.

Watching sunsets are probably one of my absolute favourite things to do to ease my mind, and is often a part of what I do for self care.