Lessons from Penny: you don’t have to know. Sounds simple and obvious, but for so many of us humans - it is so difficult to be in the unknowing. But, in an “I don’t know” there is actually a lovely space for a pause. That pause gives us time to listen for our inner wisdom and to feel our feelings. Yes, that space may uncomfortable - I vacillate between being anxious and avoidant of it - but the space is important. Feeling our feelings is our body’s ways of processing important information. Allowing ourselves to sit with our true experiences as they emerge and being conscious of our emotional world is how we do the inner work of psychological growth - and move towards finding our particular answers … or our acceptance of what we simple cannot know. ——- Learn more about slowing down and tuning in in my new online course. Link in bio. #emotions #emotionalawareness #theunknown #therapy #therapydog #therapydogs #goldendoodle #therapywisdom #wisdom #austin #atxlife #mindfulness #hillcountry #onlinecourse #spirituality #travelphotography #texascounselingassociation #therapist #goldendoodles #doggo #healing #presence #mindful #choices #unansweredquestions #intuition #spiritualquotes #quotes #life #nueroscience

I read a book over the summer that ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ changed my perspective on free time, rest, and sleep. It all finally clicked for me! 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, starts to pull apart the relationship between sleep and rest and dives into what the different types of rest actually are. This has helped me build so much discernment around what I am actually needing at different points of time. This concept is actually really important when we’re working towards feeling better in our physical bodies and inner psychological world. It also has a role in supporting the healing process. So, Penny and I have even more reason to sit on the porch and take rambling walks and linger in our treasured free moments… And we are loving it 🩵 Learn more about our systems and how to support them in my new course on healing. ʟɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ.

Penny caught in that exact moment when the desire for something new or good collides with an inability to let go 🎾🐶 Penny would say (1) it’s hard to let go (2) you gotta do it before you have space for something new Letting go is an interesting process. It forces you to reckon with what you really want, what actually is, and what won’t be. And when we can’t get our original heart’s desire, resistance and grief and anger are natural responses. Of course it’s hard to say goodbye to a dream, an imagined future, a once was … or a favorite ball. Often, letting go is about moving through the emotions that come, owning the reality of the situation, and making some space for something different. Then hopefully finding a way to 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦. I wonder … 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖? #wantwhatyoucanthave #lettinggo #possibility #loss #grief #opportunity #therapydog #therapy #grow #newopportunities #texas #atx #doggo #goldendoodle #godoggo #future #goodbye #dreams #moveforward #acceptance #accept #austin #hope #gratitude #grateful #letgo #therapyhelps #tgif #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling

“Pain is meant to wake us up… Pain is something to be carried around, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It all depends on how you carry it.” -Fritz Perls- I remember reading this quote years ago and feeling an angry rejection of the message. “I don’t want to carry around my pain, I want to avoid it and when it comes, I’ll make it go.” And yet, we live in a world that offers opportunities of both intense joy and deep suffering. We live in a world of inevitable change, loss, choice, and chance. And when we touch our hand to the stove, it hurts. What I take from these words now, is that despite the inevitability of painful things coming into our lives, we have a choice about how we chose to hold them. There are times when the pain lets you know you need to grieve, to change, to be angry, or to take your hand off the stove. There are times when you look back and realize how those experiences of pain have made you both strong and tender 🖤 #fritzperls #gestault #quotes #perlsquotes #pain #emotions #emotionalmessages #listen #therapy #therapydog #doggo #experiencelife #healing #growth #sitwithit #austintx #atxlife #depthwork #godeep #goldendoodles #saddness #grief #existential #chaos #coping #tx #fbf #trauma #mindfulness #minidoods

Penny knows nothing of boundaries or consent 🐶 She’s in your face all the time - ready to play, to be loved on, or fed 😂 But we humans need and appreciate them. One simply way to bring more respect of boundaries into your relationships is to consider consent when initiating conversations and requesting time. “Is now a good time to talk about XYZ” “Are you available to hear me vent?” “I have a concern, when will you be free to talk?” A simple check in can do wonders for building trust in the relationship, allows the other person to be prepared and settled for the discussion (which can increase the likelihood of having a productive and connecting convo), and generally communicates respect of your partner/friend/child/coworker’s experience. Small and intentional changes can create big impact in relationships. Give it try and let me know how it goes! I’ll keep working with Penny 😉 #safeconversations #communication #communicationatwork #couplescounseling #couplestherapy #marriageandfamily #hearbetter #nonviolentcommunication #communicationtools #tools #activelistening #nvc #empathy #consent #connecting #changes #leadership #parenting #therapy #counseling #respect #austintx #atx #therapydogs #doggo #solutions #intention #boop #boundaries #texas

A few words on shame: We feel it because we’re human, not because we’re bad… Healthy shame says, “My behavior was bad.” Healthy shame is guilt -> which leads to prosocial repair & reconnecting. Read: apologizing, taking ownership, corrections for the future. Toxic shame says, “I am bad.” Toxic shame is internalized, interferes with our ability to reconnect or find understanding, and feels terrible (and yes our brain’s and bodies physically respond). Next time shame comes to the door, I’d invite you to notice and listen. What is that sense of discomfort and regret trying to let you know? And when you hear the message, can thank it for coming. #compassion #mentalhealthresources #selfcompassion #mentalhealth #coping #mindfulness #meditation #change #austintx #dogsoftexas #goldendoodles #miniaturegoldendoodles #doddlesoftexas #tx #texans #atx #atxlifestyle #healing #changeyourinnervoice #innervoices #bettertomorrow #kristinneff #selfcare #dogsthatgram #cutnessoverload #animalsinfluence #anxiety #depression #atx_dogs #texas

It’s a rare treat to see snow in the hill country ❄️ Penny doesn’t quite know what to think 🐶 #goldendoodlesofinstagram #texassnow #texas #hillcountry #austintx #atx #atxlife #atxlifestyle #snowday #minigoldendoodle #play #snowdog #dogsofinstagram

Invitation “Oh do you have time to linger for just a little while out of your busy and very important day for the goldfinches that have gathered in a field of thistles for a musical battle, to see who can sing the highest note, or the lowest, or the most expressive of mirth, or the most tender? Their strong, blunt beaks drink the air as they strive melodiously not for your sake and not for mine and not for the sake of winning but for sheer delight and gratitude – believe us, they say, it is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world. I beg of you, do not walk by without pausing to attend to this rather ridiculous performance. It could mean something. It could mean everything. It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote: You must change your life.” By: Mary Oliver An invitation for the new year to slow down and enjoy the wonder of the world around you ✨🐤🕸🍃 #appreciation #linger #change #slowdown #maryoliver #poetry #poetrylovers #nature #appreciatethelittlethings #appreciatingnature🌿 #2021 #grateful #gratitude #tgif #goldendoodlesofinstagram #smile #happydog #happydoghappylife #therapydog #fallcolors #wintervibes #joy #happyfriday #dogsofinstagram #austintexas #atxlife #atxlifestyle #texas #minidoodle #heyyall

New Years Resolution: Stop eating hats 🎩 🐕 Been talking about change all week. Often when we think resolutions, we have all these ego based ‘shoulds’ motivated by things we don’t like. “I should lose 10 pounds.” “I should find a hobby.” “I should stop eating hats.” And while these are great ideas relevant to what we want in our lives, they often lack that deep internal motivation that is necessary in making big and lasting changes. We usually need a little more soul for that. Sitting with the deeper meaning can help us understand our motivation AND work towards our goals. From deep within, why is it so important to lose weight or find a hobby or quit destroying hats? What good things could come? What unmet needs will be met? As you reflect during this transitional time of year, I hope you will listen for what the soul really wants for you. #newyears #resolutions #2021 #newyearsresolutions #newyearnewme #goldendoodles #therapydogs #therapy #counseling #change #inspiration #depth #inspo #newyearinspo #changing #motivation #austintx #texas #dogsoftexas #therapydog #atxlifestyle #newyearmood #goals #newyeargoals #atx #soul #mentalhealth #selfcare #grow #wellness

Ends and Beginnings. It’s been a year of unrest, worry, loss, and change. And yet, at the end I am finding myself feeling resolute and hopeful. I’m leaving this year with a clearer picture of who I am, what I can handle, and what I want. And that feels good. Whether today is a full of gratitude, hope, or exhaustion - I hope you’ll remember to “Breathe. Let go. Remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” (Oprah Winfrey) And then use it well. ✨ Happy New Year Dear World ✨ #newyear #goodbye2020 #resolutions #resolute #newyears #happynewyear #gratitude #2021 #grief #poetry #quoted #change #loss #oprah #dogsofinstagram #dogsofig #dogslife #dogsofaustin #hotsprings #journey #atxlife #therapydogs #goldendoodles #fallcolors #austintexas #austin #wellness #movingforward #movingon #empowerment