On Valentine’s Day, we often find ourselves looking outward. But what if we used this day to nurture the most important connection of all? Loving ourselves is more than just a feeling; it is a radical decision for our own integrity. It is the steadfast bridge that carries us even through the fog of the "in-between." It holds space for the "not-yet" and creates a realm where you no longer have to fight yourself. True self-care means listening closely to what the body is signaling. Where do you feel constriction, and where does your heart open up? These signals are the language of a force that calls us home to ourselves time and again. How do you speak to yourself when things are stormy outside? Often, we use words against ourselves to force ourselves into a mold. Yet the true power of words lies in finding a language that lifts you up instead of trying to correct you. In this special time in February, as we linger on the threshold of the new, this loving reconnection is the key. It creates the space where we feel safe enough to let go of the old images that no longer reflect who we are today. Love leads us away from self-optimization and toward self-acceptance. It is the foundation that gives us the strength to stop wanting to "repair" ourselves, and instead, to truly meet and embrace ourselves with understanding. Love is the basis for all genuine self-efficacy. It realigns the system and makes meaning in everyday life immediately tangible. Give yourself this moment of pause today. Feel the connection with yourself and trust that this is precisely where the clarity begins that truly sustains you. It is wonderful to experience how this inner order changes everything. Trust this connection to carry you while the new grows beneath the surface. What unfolds in your life when self-love is the foundation from which you truly make your mark?

Hello! I'm really excited to promote this great oppotunity! :) ❤️ Valentine’s Day Special Training — Understanding & Preventing Coercive Control @Christopher Whitehead-Baines is hosting @Serena DAfree for two tailored sessions — one for trauma survivors and one for therapists/counselors and coaches related to this topic. *****Please check out this post for more information!**** free-training-events-understanding-preventing-coercive-control

Posted with permission from @Georgiana D ❤️ Valentine’s Day Special Training — Understanding & Preventing Coercive Control Valentine’s Day often highlights love and connection. We’re choosing to also look honestly at how control, coercion, and harm can hide inside relationships. Love should never require fear, compliance, or self-erasure ❤️ On Saturday 14th February, we are honoured to host the brilliant @Serena DAfree from DAfree Awareness Movement for two tailored sessions — one for trauma survivors and one for therapists/counsellor and coaches. Duration 1 hour, and will be recorded. Live attendance is open to all members. 💜 Trauma Survivor / Peer Support Community Join for free here: Trauma Healing Community VTT 🕑 2pm UK time (check your calendar for local time) Understanding & Preventing Coercive Control We will explore: • what coercive control is and why it can be invisible • how patterns of control create trauma over time• how it appears beyond romantic relationships • the impact on the nervous system, identity & safety• red flags and gentle awareness By the end, you’ll: • recognise coercive control as a pattern, not a single event • understand how harm can exist without physical violence • gain language for experiences that are often hard to name• leave with a more compassionate lens for yourself and others 🌿 Therapist Community (for therapists, counsellors and coaches) Join for free here: Therapist Community TPS 🕓 4pm UK time (check your calendar for local time) Coercive Control Explained for Therapists: Why it Matters We will explore: • foundations of domestic abuse & coercive control • historical, legal & human rights perspectives • impacts on survivors • how coercive control presents in therapeutic work

The OODA Loop I first heard about this acronym when taking a self defense class and it's something that's stuck with me--I may not always remember the acronym, but I do remember it in practice. Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. That's it. It has some drawbacks but it's used in business, military, sports, self defense and other areas of decision making. OODA describes a cylcle where we observe what’s happening, orient by filtering it through experience and context, decide on a response, and act (then the loop repeats). Most missteps happen in the Orient phase. We have the tendency to rationalize red flags, freeze under social pressure, or default to familiar scripts. Type 1 thinking. Under stress, the brain narrows attention, distorts time, and favors habit over reason. If our orientation is off, every decision downstream is flawed and in some situations this can lead to not so great outcomes. In typical decision-making, improving OODA means challenging assumptions, noticing emotional reactions, and updating mental models instead of defending them. Better choices come from clearer perception. In high-stress contexts (self-defense, emergencies),threats exploit hesitation and confusion. Early recognition and decisive action (even something as simple as creating distance or leaving) can interrupt another person’s OODA loop and collapse their plan before it turns physical. When we encounter someone acting/planning to act with bad intent, they've already moved through parts of their OODA cycle and they are in the preaction phase. Our job is to be aware of potentials and interrupt this process. (vigilance/awareness is different than hypervigilance though--more on this below). OODA isn’t about being fearless or fast. It’s about being harder to manipulate, surprise, or trap psychologically. Whoever adapts first has better control of a moment. *******(A quick note: observation/orientation is NOT the same as hypervigilance)******** Awareness and hypervigilance can look similar as they both involve noticing what’s happening around us. Psychologically, though, they come from very different places and lead to very different outcomes. This is important because how we end up acting as a result matters.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting with @Bruno Militz on February 4, 2026, from 7pm to 8pm EST, featuring a guest speaker, Eric Martin, discussing the importance of relationships, consistency, and patience for achieving freedom. Eric has been Bruno's mentor for the past 8 years, has been running his own business for over 15 years, and is someone he deeply respects both professionally and personally. I don't know Eric personally, however, I respect Bruno and I trust that his recommendation is solid. :) On the call, Eric will be touching on • Playing the long game in business and life • How relationships compound over time • Staying consistent when results are not immediate • Why freedom is built slowly, not suddenly • Keeping an open mind and remaining a great student as you grow 🕖 02/04 (Wednesday) at 7 pm EST. 🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5614515373?omn=85017240292 For those of you who have not met Bruno, he has amazing energy, is driven, and he is passionate about helping others grow--while also leading by example! I've appreciated our interactions and love how he shows up in the world. :) I absolutely have been appreciating his Monday Motivation videos/posts too :) You can find his group here :Personal Growth Skool