A coaching client of mine is going through a tough time at the moment. She is experiencing a lot of difficult emotions. What makes it even worse, though, is that she feels alone and isolated amid these challenging times. Toward the end of our coaching call today, I told my client about this conversation between author Cheryl … Read more
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dillard When I returned to Canada after spending over two months with family and friends in India, I found myself a bit listless and disoriented. The kids went back to school. My husband resumed his routine. But even though there was a … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, I was taking my kids to school/daycare. It had been a hectic morning and we were running late. As I got them into the car, fastened their seat belts, and sat behind the wheel, I let out a big sigh. Finally, I thought to myself, we’re on our way. And then, a thought … Read more
Of all the companions I’ve had in my life, My fears have been one of the most loyal. The fear of making mistakes, The fear of saying the wrong thing, The fear of rejection, The fear of losing what I love. And at the core of it all, The fear of not being good enough. … Read more
A few days ago, I was looking for the first draft of an article I had written a while ago. In the process, I stumbled upon a journal entry I’d made in January 2022. It wasn’t very long, but spending a few minutes reading it gave me a headache. There was so much…chatter in it! … Read more
As an introverted entrepreneur, I like to spend a lot of time reading, reflecting, and creating by myself. I try to design my weeks in a way that gives me open, interruption-free mental space (e.g. I set aside 2-3 days a week where I am not on calls.) However, things often don’t go as planned. … Read more
Ever since experiencing how transformative self-compassion can be, I have found myself bringing it up in coaching conversations more often (and with greater conviction) than I used to. However, since I don’t have any “agenda” as a coach except for serving what my clients want for themselves, I bring up self-compassion as a gentle offering to see … Read more
Over the past few months, I have had a relatively steady practice of self-compassion. I have learned to turn inward with kindness when dealing with difficult situations at work and in life. This approach usually helps me feel better and approach the challenge more constructively. However, a few days ago, I had a different experience. I … Read more
When I was in my twenties, I experienced a series of crushing heartbreaks. From unrequited love to deep friendships that didn’t last to people I trusted letting me down, I went through painful experiences involving other people over and over again. Each time, I picked myself up and tried to move forward, only to get … Read more
In the first couple of weeks of January, I shared a few examples of what self-compassion looks like and invited you to reflect on something you want to grow in your life. Today, I want to introduce you to the 3 core components of self-compassion as per Dr. Kristin Neff, who has studied this topic for decades. I will also … Read more