Hi, I’m Elaine.
I like helping people to tap into their best qualities and to recognize and encourage them in others. I’ve spent a lifetime learning how to be happy by living authentically. Being true to ourselves and open and honest with others can be daunting, but it’s so worth it. It’s something that can be learned over time, one concept at a time.
As a lifelong reader and curious observer, for me being authentic often means going a little deeper to get to the heart of the matter. In my posts, I’ll be offering a sincere and thoughtful exploration into the most intimate and emotionally satisfying aspects of personal growth. I’ll also make suggestions, based on my own experiences, about how you can look within and discover who you truly are, with the goal of helping you to create a more fulfilling life for yourself.
If you’re ready to get started, read on!
Photo by Jennifer Robertson
Defense mechanisms can help us face anxieties and situations that might normally cause us stress. Projection involves misattributing our thoughts and feelings to another person. Therapy can help us identify the root causes of this behavior.
Read MoreThe armor we often wear with others in order to protect ourselves can actually keep us from enjoying healthy relationships. Therapy can help us drop our shields so we can connect with others in more meaningful ways.
Read MoreShame can cause us to inaccurately assess our skills, making us feel like imposters. When we learn to embrace all the parts of our personalities, including those that make us feel uncomfortable, we can feel whole and real again.
Read MoreOur emotions shape our thoughts and decisions. Expanding our emotional range can improve our health, relationships, and our level of satisfaction with our lives.
Read MoreIt’s not so much what happens to us in life that causes us to be anxious, but how we view it. Focusing on our worst fears robs us of precious moments that we can never get back.
Read MoreIt can be scary to look inside ourselves. If you make a plan, enlist a companion, and prepare for the unexpected, it can lead to increased energy and greater self-awareness.
Read MoreIt can be tempting to take shortcuts when it comes to our mental health. Putting in the effort to explore past experiences that continue to affect our lives and relationships can set us up for long-lasting healing.
Read MoreIt’s hard to be positive during tough times. Even if it doesn’t come naturally to us, we can learn to adopt a more cheerful demeanor.
Read MoreEach of us has some parts of our personalities we’re not proud of. Rather than try to shun our “shadow selves,” we can integrate them back into our core self by becoming curious about their origins, and showing them compassion.
Read MorePanic attacks involve uncomfortable symptoms like a pounding heart, sweating, trembling, and dizziness. Focused breathing can interrupt the cycle and restore calm.
Read MoreAs a nation, we’re having honest conversations about difficult topics. Growing pains are hard. We know we can’t go back. We have to press on, hoping and praying that we will emerge with greater clarity, empathy, and awareness.
Read MoreOur “shadow of possibilities" is the self we will grow into if we continue on our path of learning, stretching ourselves so that we become more fully formed.
Read More
