I can’t image what it would have been like for my parents, in rural Manitoba in the 1950’s, having a child with a severe birth abnormality. Growing up in a hospital 4 hours away from my family led to long-term separation anxiety. My family was rarely able to visit, and when my mother did visit, … [Read more…]
#ThrowbackThursday to back when I lived right on the ocean and used to wake up to see ships just outside my window. There is something fascinating about the ocean. Like human emotions, the ocean can change on a dime – from calm and soothing to wild and scary in an instant. People who spend a … [Read more…]
Did you know there’s a leaning tower in the UK? Caerphilly Castle in Wales is a fascinating destination. Built well over 700 years ago, it’s the second largest castle in Britain, and as you can see in this picture, one of the towers has a significant lean to it. While it makes for a fun … [Read more…]
In the same way that you would want to defend or protect someone you love who was in danger of being hurt, our Managers are the parts of us that protect us from feeling shame, hurt, and fear. Some managers try to control our immediate environment to make it look like everything is going alright … [Read more…]
As a child, I avoided swimming. My manager parts wouldn’t let me go swimming because it meant I would have to take off my artificial legs in front of other people. A young part of me believed that it was shameful to have artificial legs and that no one else wanted to see them. It … [Read more…]
Becoming Self aware is a process that must happen from the inside out. We need to stop and look inside to identify the parts of ourselves that are preventing us from living aware of Self. Those parts that are keeping us from living in Self are also the ones preventing us from living our greatest … [Read more…]
I was pretty confused about a lot of things in my life, and in my 40’s I began having panic attacks and extreme anxiety. Internal Family Systems and my journey to being Self Aware has allowed me to address my past and realize why I am the way I am. I am living and enjoying … [Read more…]
Our Internal Family System (IFS) is made up of different types of Parts. First, we have vulnerable Parts that carry our beliefs and feelings from past experiences, beginning at birth all the way to the present. In IFS, these Parts are known as Exiles. For our purposes, we will refer to them as our vulnerable … [Read more…]
Why don’t I know what I want to do with my life? Why can’t I figure out what I want to take in school? Why can’t I commit to a job or a career path? Why is it difficult for me to commit to life decisions? Why am I not brave enough to do what … [Read more…]
How is it possible that three completely different species, stereotypically known to dislike each other, can get along? In the video below, Gregory Pike explains that it’s not too good to be true. Aside from being a delightfully uplifting story, this video holds special meaning for me. I believe that the same principles can apply … [Read more…]