In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the reasons behind our choices. How often do we take action out of genuine alignment with our values versus simply following an ingrained sense of obligation? Understanding the difference can be transformative. Today let’s dive into the world of choices, particularly exploring the concepts of primary and secondary choices, and how becoming conscious of these can help us live more authentically.

What Does It Mean to Have a Choice?

At its core, a choice is something you can either do or not do—it’s that simple. But in society, the term choice is often used interchangeably with obligation. When you feel obliged to do something, the element of freedom is lost, leaving you with compliance rather than true choice. This blurring between choice and obligation can have a profound impact on how we navigate our lives and relationships.

For instance, think about commitments. Once we commit to something, we often feel that we must...

I invite you to step into the past with me to learn about a client’s transformative journey using the Mind Body Method in a session with a horse.

With eyes closed and arms outstretched, my client delved deep into her inner world, accompanied by my faithful horse.

Unraveling the layers of fear and inhibition, she confronted childhood conditioning that stifled her emotions and hindered her expression. Memories of her father's stern admonishments to "stop crying" flooded back, leaving her feeling unseen and unheard in her experience of life.

With tears and vulnerability, she acknowledged the pain of hiding her true self, even from herself. The weight of expectations and the need to be strong for others weighed heavily on her shoulders, leaving her feeling disconnected and alone.

With gentle guidance, she learned to trust her body's wisdom and embrace her authenticity. Through a series of exercises, she tapped into the sensations in her body, naming her fears and emotions as they...

Several years ago I chose to take a course that opened a new doorway that forever transformed my life. I followed my heart.

In the moment, I was facing forward, I got really honest with myself about two distinct challenges I was experiencing. One, the nurturing of my 15-year-old son, my steadfast priority as I homeschooled him. Second, the endeavor to cultivate confidence as I stepped into the spotlight within my community, with the intention to establish myself as a valuable asset.

In the transformative realm of Kathy Pike's Mindful Horsemanship Program, my vision was laid bare before me. As I stood beside Diva, ground reins in hand, Kathy posed a pivotal question: "What challenges lie ahead in pursuit of your vision?"

Contemplating her query, I assigned symbolic representation to my aspirations and perceived obstacles. The large barrel embodied my son, a significant presence in my life, while the smaller barrels signified the confidence I sought to project my vision outwardly.

...

How do I know it’s possible to cultivate lasting relationships? Because this is my life's journey, the path that led me to where I am today. When I face uncertainty, I reach out for help without shame. I take the time I need to make decisions so that I can choose either a full yes or a full no. My voice matters in this world, and the way I show up influences others, especially my children and loved ones. I want to model authenticity and sincerity so they, too, can pay it forward in their lives.

I embrace this path because I understand that all my emotions make sense. Every single one of them matters, and it's crucial to dispel distortions that label some as "bad" or "wrong" while elevating others. It's essential to learn to listen to your body's wisdom. When your body contracts or withdraws, it's a signal to slow down and be present because life is truly for you.

Life can only seem against you when you're pretending to be someone you're not. So, how do you step into being...

Today I’m going to talk about a modality that's been gaining popularity in recent years: family constellations.

Family constellations is a therapeutic approach that helps people understand and heal from the negative patterns and dynamics that exist within their family system. It's based on the idea that our families are complex systems, and that problems within those systems can affect us on a deep, emotional level. By uncovering and addressing these problems, we can heal from emotional wounds and live more fulfilling lives.

The practice of family constellations originated in Germany in the 1990s, and has since spread to other parts of the world. It's been used to address a variety of issues, including trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. And as more people have experienced the benefits of family constellations, its popularity has continued to grow.

So, how does family constellations work? Essentially, it involves creating a physical...

As a little girl, one of my biggest dreams was to live in the country, with my own herd of horses, providing a safe haven where others could experience relationships very differently. Even radically. To experience relationships that endure, ones that maintain connection and communication - especially when it feels hard. 

Especially when emotions oscillate high or low, I want to experience relationships that choose to stay, to accompany one another with curiosity and understanding. Rather than trying to fix you, tell you what to do, or make you wrong, or try to make you better. Because you are whole. You are complete. You are perfect as you are. 

It may be that you need to get to know yourself with new eyes - through the eyes of a horse, or two, or three...

I am honored to share with you the story of a magnificent being who has begun to live her life on purpose - she is living her dream. Enjoy! 

"I sought out and have experienced deep healing at this sanctuary in...

As I leaned forward in my chair, trying to navigate a virtual high school, I could feel the desperation mounting inside of me. I needed to get a program installed so my son could do his homework, but the computer set up was unfamiliar to me, the mouse was super sensitive, the type on the screen was smaller than my eyes could easily read, and the screen was positioned so I had to look up at it. The strain on my neck tightened by the moment.

"Relax, Mom," my son said gently, noticing how tense I was. "It doesn't have to be so hard. Take a deep breath and let go of the stress."

I took a moment to really hear him and looked into his face. He had grown so much since we began homeschooling him. We had chosen this path because public and private schools didn't meet his unique needs, and we wanted to be able to empower him to learn and grow at his own pace. It wasn't always easy, though. He experienced high anxiety and sensory processing difficulties, and I had to learn how to support him...

I remember a powerful experience when I had just held space for a team member who was triggered, and I was beginning to debrief with my co-facilitators. As I looked into another team members eyes, I felt a lightness in my chest and a sense of resonance. But suddenly, I felt a drop of energy in the room, like a void, a dark cloud of energy.

Glancing to my right, I noticed one of the women sitting quietly, still-faced, and looking away. I recognized a familiar sense of dread and nothingness waft over my felt sense of existing in that moment. I felt like doom was eminently near.

Immediately, my Compassionate Self silently acknowledged this inner felt part, saying gently, "I see you. I am here with you. It is safe to be you, especially now."

Breathing into my belly, I turned with curiosity to the still-faced person and said, "I'd like to check in with you. I sense it may feel as if I rolled over you, and that was not my intention. I apologize."

"Well, I understand people get...

Today I’d like to share the story of a client of mine that at the tender age of 14, they had been sexually assaulted. Now in her 50's she had begun experiencing memories being triggered, stinging, painful memories she had not been aware of before. As a result, she found herself swirling in such incredible shame she just wanted to stay in bed and hide.  Forever. 

When I received the phone call from my client, requesting another personal session with horse, she said the horse of her youth had come to her in a dream and reminded her that she wasn't alone. She felt hopeful receiving this message, and trusted that just as the horses had nurtured her when she was young; they were calling her to trust them again to receive the energy to move forward. 

How do we begin to heal our inner wounds? How is it possible to begin to feel the pain of the past without falling into overwhelm? How do we hold onto hope? When our hurt was created interpersonally; our healing must be...

I found my way to Nonviolent Communication and Interpersonal Neurobiology out of desperation to experience something different, and gratefully have received a TON of empathy support over the years. Being held in a container of warmth, understanding, and acceptance, has allowed the embedded patterns of my conditioning to unravel and new neural pathways of resilience to lie down in my nervous system. As I consistently received resonant empathy support, over time I developed my own resonating self-witness. 

This inner-witness is not simply a compassionate voice; it is a deeply responsive, warmly curious, and generous voice. These new pathways empower us to live into a new way of being in our relationships, with ourself, and with others. 

I remember receiving a correspondence from someone who began their communication acknowledging the value they experience for the gifts I bring into the world, and I noticed how my heart felt soft and open in response. The next sentence,...