If I were…………………. Writing letters that you are not going to send can be a really healing and connecting experience. They can transmute experiences: "change in form, nature or substance" the dictionary says. I invite you to write a Sacred Letter to yourself asking the question, “If I were truly loving and accepting myself I …
Tag: depression
The Sun is always Shining above the Clouds
New Brighton beach, Christchurch, New Zealand These words came to me when I was walking on the beach today, hoping to gain clarity and peace. A family situation has plunged myself and other family members into emotional turmoil. Walking on the beach may not change the situation but it can change my brain chemistry and …
It’s OK to not be OK…….
Unknown Source My art © Karen Lighthouse 2022 Namaste. Thanks for reading and take care until next time. If you liked what you read please leave a comment below, like or subscribe to receive my weekly posts straight to your email. Words by Karen Lighthouse. I also offer – One-on-one counselling/coaching via Zoom Group facilitation …
Letters to your ex you’ll never send
We’ve all experienced heartbreak, and who enjoys it? No-one! When a relationship finishes our feelings don’t just automatically stop. So, what do you do with them then? Options: Stuff them down (your feelings), bottle them up, try and pretend you’re OK by putting on a brave face. Mope around, telling everyone who’ll listen (and many …
Hello from the Other Side
New Zealand Fern unfurling - a symbol of hope and new life Don’t live your life by default If you were abused It’s not your fault You can live a life Free from pain Breaking the cycle Again and again. Reach out And start to love yourself With therapy Writing And self-help The future …
Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #7 Gratitude
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is the New Zealand equivalent of an M.O.T. in the UK, being a certificate to say your vehicle is road worthy.) The benefits of gratitude have become more widely understood and appreciated in recent times. Research shows that simply expressing gratitude or having an attitude of gratitude actually changes our brain chemistry. It …
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Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #6 Avoidance
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is the New Zealand equivalent of an M.O.T. in the UK, being a certificate to say your vehicle is road worthy.) Nature hates a void, a vacuum. I am a lover of words, a logophile, and when I found this name for “a lover of words”, I was delighted! I love playing with …
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Nurture the Seed and it will Blossom
Nurture the Seed and it will Blossom. I saw these words on an add on my FB page for planting a native tree. I couldn’t help but relate this to raising a child. What a beautiful metaphor. You may not have been nurtured the way you needed as a child but you can nurture yourself …
Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #5 Assertiveness
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is the New Zealand equivalent of an M.O.T. in the UK, being a certificate to say your vehicle is road worthy.) Assertiveness is that sweet spot, where you can speak up about your needs or opinions. You are neither passive nor aggressive, the two opposites on the continuum of communication styles. To be …
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Spring has Sprung!
Spring in my courtyard As I write this, I’m aware that some of you lovely readers are in the Northern Hemisphere and are embarking on their autumnal journey, another glorious season, filled with colours and different experiences. Spring has sprung early here in New Zealand. Although today is only the 2nd day of spring “officially”, …