Many people hesitate to name their strengths because they fear it signals arrogance or lacking humility.... From a therapeutic perspective, accurately recognizing your strengths supports emotional health and deepens self trust. And humility does not mean lying/minimizing your strengths (that may actually be pride masquerading as humility..js..don't be mad at me...). Humility means seeing yourself clearly and responding to the world with groundedness, openness and honesty. Humility supports emotional regulation, flexible thinking and healthier relational patterns. It helps you remain teachable while still letting your strengths matter. (📚 A Brief Background on the Word "Humility" The word comes from the Latin humilis which means "grounded" or "close to the earth." It is related to humus which means "soil." This word is moreabout being rooted and standing on solid ground. Being rooted in truth....not puffed up, not minimizing, just real. ) 💡 Where do We See Our Strengths? Our strengths often show up in everyday patterns which is a nice thing to tap into! Some examples: - People always come to you when they feel overwhelmed- This may reflect strengths in empathy, steadiness and attunement. - You naturally map out details and future steps. This highlights strengths in planning, organization and foresight (take stock and see if this is anxiety or planning---one feels more free/less tense usually) You come alive when solving problems. This shows strengths in creativity and flexible thinking. -You remain calm when tension rises. This reflects strengths in regulation and grounding. - You lighten a room or help people feel safe. This taps into social intelligence and connection amongst other things like humor. 💪How to Identify Your Strengths -Ask yourself what feels natural and energizing instead of draining -Notice where others consistently rely on you (also, notice what areas you are often complemented about) -Reflect on moments when you felt resourceful, capable or effective. Strengths tend to hide in the very things you overlook because they feel so instinctive.

"Will you deny yourself your own greatness because the easy life was a higher priority?" ( @Dan 'Remmy' Stourac , An Arsenal of Gratitude) "Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them" (Joseph Heller, Catch-22) What does this have to do with boredom? Maybe nothing...but maybe part of these have to do with how we decide to "fill the void" that boredom signals. And maybe that makes all the difference. I was reading this morning (see Gratitude book above) and the topic of boredom came up and that got my mind going. I like books that make me think. I also OFTEN tell my clients "Sit in the boredom and see what it has to say (be curious). Perhaps on the other side of boredom ends up being peace". Boredom is a very real thing (in this society at least) and it's an interesting phenomenon. ✨ Let’s Talk About Boredom ✨ Boredom is kind of new in human history. For most of our existence, daily life was filled with survival tasks, community interaction, and meaningful physical engagement. We hunted, cooked, gathered, built shelters, raised children....our time was accounted for with very real things that needed tending to. There was little space for the modern “nothing to do” phenomenon. Ever thought of being grateful for boredom? I haven't, but it DOES signal that there are some things in life that we have pretty comfortable and that's kind of amazing.. So what does boredom signal today? Psychologically, boredom is a signal that our brain is seeking engagement, novelty, or meaning. It’s not a flaw, it’s information. Boredom shows up when we’re overstimulated by screens, under-stimulated by real-life connection, or disconnected from purpose. It’s the mind’s little nudge saying: “Hey, this isn’t fulfilling.” Sometimes this comes with a sense of restlessness that is overwheling... (what a gift it is to be bored--to get signals that tell us that perhaps there is something that is unsatisfying...) (side note--sometimes we are overstimulated by activity and we've gotten TOO used to 'always being on the go' that sitting calmly feels unsafe...In this case, we may benefit from NOT filling that time. Maybe. Sometimes we distract ourselves and fill the voids with things that end up being unsatisfying down the line.

Just started reading @Dan 'Remmy' Stourac book " An Arsenal of Gratitude: Waging War on Mediocrity and Regret " and the first chapter got me thinking about comfort and discomfort and the things that I automatically take for granted by just being where I am in life... (shout out to this read already! If you haven't had an opportunity to chat with @Dan 'Remmy' Stourac then you may not be aware that he has a gift for words--and I do NOT mean that he's chatty..I mean that his words are thoughtful and meaningful..his words do, in fact, improve upon silence.) An additional shout out to @Steve Webb who is currently doing the Steve challenge and what sounds to me like taking life to the limit and really stepping outside of his comfort zone!! This was also part of the inspiration!! ------------------------------------------------------------- Comfort is not the enemy. Safety, ease, routines, familiar people and habits all regulate the nervous system and help us recharge. We need some level of predictability and a sense of safety is something that is beneficial to our psyches and our bodies... BUT!!! There is a quiet danger many of us do not notice: Comfort can slowly turn into complacency. When comfort becomes the only place we operate from, our growth freezes. We stop stretching. We stop risking. We begin to shrink inside the walls that once felt like safety. And when life eventually pushes us beyond those walls we feel overwhelmed, anxious, or helpless instead of capable and curious. (this reminds me of the frog that's sitting in a pot of water and the heat is slowly rising and the frog doesn't notice and then...it's cooked. I don't think that I want to be that frog...but am I? )

“All that is gold does not glitter. Not All Who Wander Are Lost” This quote (from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings) reminds us that exploring, questioning, or taking a non-traditional path doesn’t mean being directionless. - 🌱 Wandering can mean growth, discovery, and seeking deeper meaning. - 🧭 It’s about trusting the journey—even if it looks different from what others expect. - 🚶 Sometimes the best paths are the ones we find along the way, not the ones mapped out for us. ---Below is also a mind mapping worksheet that can help with exploring thoughts and visually organizing thoughts around a topic...Wandering towards clarity :) 💭Question worth pondering: What “wandering” moments in your life have actually led you closer to purpose?

In Internal Family Systems (IFS), every person has a Core Self-a steady/grounded, compassionate, and wise inner presence that exists beneath all of our parts. No matter how much pain or chaos we’ve experienced, the Self is always there. It never disappears and it's waiting to lead. When we are connected to that inner self, we lead our lives with clarity and care instead of fear or reactivity. 💫 The 8 C’s of the Core Self Dr. Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS, describes the Core Self as having eight qualities that naturally emerge when we are aligned with our inner balance. 1. Calm: The mind and body feel grounded. There is an inner quiet that is not easily shaken by outside chaos. 2.Clarity: Our thoughts and feelings feel organized. You can see situations more clearly without being clouded by emotion or defense. Even if you don't have all the puzzle pieces, there's a level of discernment. 3.Curiosity: You become genuinely interested in your inner world instead of judging it. Curiosity creates room for healing. This is one of my favorites as it allows inquisitive questioning. Asking the 'right' questions is helpful. 4.Compassion: You can offer understanding and care to yourself and others, even when there is pain or confusion. 5.Confidence: You trust your ability to make choices and to navigate challenges without needing to control everything. There's a calm behind action. 6.Courage: You face discomfort and truth with openness instead of avoidance. Courage allows movement toward healing. It doesn't mean that it's not difficulty, but it feels more aligned. 7.Creativity: You feel open to new perspectives, ideas, and possibilities. Solutions appear more naturally. Another one of my favorites. 8.Connectedness: You sense connection to yourself, others, and something larger than you. There is belonging without losing authenticity. Connection is vital to survival... When You Are in Self Energy: -You respond instead of react. - You feel open, curious, and steady. -You can care for your inner parts with gentleness.