I did it! I embarked on a journey of contrast therapy, and it completely transformed my perspective. Some friends doubted my decision, knowing I wasn't exactly a "sauna person," but their skepticism only fueled my curiosity. Little did I know that this experience would be a revelation.

The Confidence and Unexpected Challenges:
As I entered the wellness center, confidence surged through me. With memories of enduring a five-minute cold plunge in 2021, I felt prepared for anything. However, the sauna's sweltering heat pushed my limits, and when I stepped into the cold plunge, my body screamed "enough!" But something inside me urged me to stay, to overcome the discomfort and embrace the unknown.

Last weekend, I went to a park to celebrate Canada Day! I got to enjoy great weather (for some, a little too hot), music, activities for children, games, food trucks, and the company of my children. The park must have around 400 people enjoying themselves and connecting with their family/friends. We arrived early to secure a good spot for the fireworks and enjoy being outdoors. I also brought my book to read. As I read my book, a man sat behind me. I wasn’t paying much attention and kept reading. 

Later on, I played with my kids, and once I sat back down again, this man took his phone and started typing a message on Facebook. I couldn’t help but notice his message saying, ‘On this Canada Day I feel so lonely’. At that moment, I felt compassion for this man.

In our bustling minds, filled with over 6,000 thoughts each day, it's surprising to discover that 80% of them tend to be negative. Unbeknownst to us, these Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) can keep us trapped in self-limiting patterns, influencing our decisions based on past emotions. But fear not, for there are effective strategies to become aware of and eliminate these ANTs from our lives. Inspired by Dr. Daniel Amen's book, "Captain Snout and the Super Power Questions," I stumbled upon a simple method to foster awareness and empower my children to combat their own ANTs. Let's delve into the journey of overcoming these negative thoughts and embracing a positive mindset.

Floating is known as floatation therapy or sensory deprivation. You get into a tank with highly concentrated Epson salt water and float on the layer of water. My friend shared her experience and recommended it to me, and I was intrigued to try it out! 

Isn't it wild that we are always busy chasing the next best thing, and it feels like slowing down is almost like a crime? It’s almost as if we slow down to pay attention to our environment, emotions, and what we want now - we lose control. Because is the present moment really all we can have, and are we even happy with it? 

Depression and the accumulation of negative thoughts for an extended period will hold you back and make you believe you have no power over your life. It always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times!

Letting go is one of the most challenging things that we do in life. Sometimes we are letting go of a job, an experience we had with friends, good or bad, or a relationship that no longer serves us. Whatever you are letting go of - it's not easy. 

Change is not easy! We get so consumed with how we want life to be that when it isn't, we step into panic, anxiety, and/or depression. 

We have all heard of the benefits of spring cleaning, and yes, a lot can be said about WHY this is important. But have you ever heard of an emotional spring cleaning? Before I share more about that, let’s discuss some health benefits of spring cleaning.

Recently, I learned about the concept of having four bodies, and I need to share this with you. Many have written about this concept; what stood out is how everything is interconnected.

Personal development is something that will always continue, no matter how much you have grown already. Right now, I am sitting with various parts of my younger self, letting her know I am here for her. It certainly isn’t easy, but it is time that I started healing parts that I hadn’t yet. 

Grief is a natural occurrence when it comes to divorce/separation/break-up. Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross created a model named, the 5 stages of grief. She explains this model in her book “On Death and Dying”. Divorce/separation/break-up is seen as a ‘social death’ and can trigger a grief response. 

Our actions and in-action tell a lot about us. Yet, we often don’t recognize our own patterns. We hide behind the reasons why we can or can’t do something.

I remember hiding behind so many ‘facts’ as to why I shouldn’t leave my marriage. One of these facts is that, as women, we have to make it work no matter what. I remember thinking I failed because I couldn’t make my marriage work. Not only had I failed myself, but also my children. 

Have you ever allowed yourself to dream that you can have it ALL in life? Or have you thought about what this ‘all’ would look like?

Many of us are given a cookie-cutter life. We fit ourselves in a box and think this is all we can hope/wish for until life goes sideways! Then we are pressured to think of what we want to create. This is what happened to me. 

March is Women’s History Month; on March 8th, we will celebrate International Women’s Day! What does this day represent for you? 

There are so many opinions, good and bad, about this day! Just as there are so many opinions one can have on an individual.

Parenting is the most complex job on this planet. Yet, it can be fun!

None of us got a ‘perfect’ parenting manual that we can follow and get a 100% guarantee that things will turn out for the best. Instead, we learn by trial and error.

Have you ever heard of emotional detox? One where you aren’t suppressing your emotions but releasing them effectively. This is what Emotion Code does for me!

I came across Emotion Code through the documentary E-Motion 2.0 on Amazon Prime. After watching this, I bought the book Emotion Code by Dr. Bradley Nelson. He shares how our energy is affected by past experiences and how to release them.

Separation and divorce bring many mixed emotions, and the equation becomes more challenging when children are involved.

When I got separated, I was emotionally in despair, yet one thing I kept reminding myself of was that MY relationship with him had ended, not my children’s.

This month can be challenging for some because you are exposed to cupids, hearts, and lovely couples wherever you go. But what if we change the narrative of Valentine’s Day – once and forever?!

What if we see it as a day of LOVE? Love for yourself, children, pets, friends, family, and even the community! The essence of love is to care for yourself and one another – regardless of WHO or WHAT it is.

I have felt judged, vulnerable and excited in the last three years of my dating journey! Being on any dating app feels foreign to me. See, I grew up in a household where dating was a NO GO! We were expected to marry within our culture with my parents’ blessing. And so, I did! Sadly, my marriage didn’t end up being the happily ever after I had hoped for.

Our emotions can become our best friend if we take the time to understand them.

Negative emotions can be tough to navigate through, especially when they are clouded with external factors. So how can you work through them without being brought down? You can better understand and work through them in just a few steps.

Another year has passed, and I am so grateful to be alive! Life gives us many experiences, and in 2022 I learned that these experiences are related to the energy we express in the world. My spiritual growth has given me new insights into my soul’s purpose.