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Vulnerability Quote

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

“Vulnerability is about having the courage to show up and be seen” Brene Brown

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Quote on Perfectionism –

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” Anna Quindlen

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A Quote About Openness – Pema Chodron

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

“Whether we’re seeking inner peace or global peace or a combination of the two, the way to experience it is to build on the foundation of unconditional openness to all that arises.” Pema Chodron

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A Quote About Truth

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

‎”There are two kinds of truth. Truth that lights the way and the truth that warms the heart. The first of these is a science, and the second is an art” Raymond Chandler

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Tending to Your Heart-Rediscovering the Meaning of Valentine’s Day

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

“How much we know and understand ourselves is critically important, but there is something that is even more essential to living a Wholehearted life: loving ourselves.” Brene Brown February is the month of love. For a lot of people, Valentine’s Day can be a triggering day filled with feelings of unworthiness or sadness. What if you were to break out of the usual V day doldrums and claim the day…

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Conscious Breathing – a quote by Eckhart Tolle

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

Conscious breathing, which is a powerful meditation in its own right, will gradually put you in touch with the body…As soon as your habitual state changes from being out of the body and trapped in your mind, to being in the body and present in the Now, your physical body will feel lighter, clearer, more alive.

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Poem ~ Lead me to the song of my heart ~ Danna Faulds

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

Lead me to the song of my heart and help me sing it unashamed Help me stand before you in bare consciousness unflinching in your light Lead me to the expression of my soul in all its fullness Let me embrace my humanity yet be anchored in divinity. Help me unfetter the joy that I am. Lead me to the stillness of my soul where love and union dwell as…

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What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

“What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.” I recently heard this in a very good Ted Talk by Brene Brown and it resonated with me instantly. For me, it’s so simple and so true. Clients often come into my office trying to hide their true feelings and emotions. At one time or another, we have all done it. We try to hide what really moves us inside. But why? Perhaps…

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Your Interpretation of Reality-a quote from Pema Chodron

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

Seeing when you justify yourself and when you blame others is not a reason to criticize yourself, but actually an opportunity to recognize what all people do and how it imprisons us in a very limited perspective of this world. It’s a chance to see that you’re holding on to your interpretation of reality; it allows you to reflect that that’s all it is—nothing more, nothing less; just your interpretation…

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Drawing The Line

By Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of being in a Vinyasa yoga intensive with an ex military and sober man, Rolf Gates. He is one of the most grounded and approachable well known yogis that I have met. Included in the massive amounts of yoga, Rolf also included some time for journal writing and working with our intentions for the New Year. He spoke about facing our own internal…

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The Social Appeal of a New Year

When it comes to our behaviors, as much as we’d like to think we’re adaptable, we are creatures of habit. But every year, as December comes upon us, amidst the holiday shopping and family planning, we reflect on our journey so far and reflect on ways to improve our lives. Amidst the seasonal shifts in weather, daylight saving time, and holidays, we jump into more change. Whether it’s in our…

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Reclaiming Yourself During a Pandemic

From socially distancing and working from home to living in a post-pandemic world with masks, constant testing, and a new world order. I think I can speak for the majority when I say that am not the only one feeling a sense of not being in control.  With the state of our affairs feeling so uncertain and unbalanced during a nationwide pandemic, how do we regain our sense of self…

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Why creating a routine can be helpful during coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak is a global issue that is causing a lot of concerns for humans everywhere in the world. It is disrupting our lives, our economy, our finances, our social and family circles, as well as our physical and mental health. Our daily habits have changed, our life looks different, and everything happened so quickly, which is anxiety provoking. You might be working from home at this point, or…

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How vulnerability can help you enhance your relationship.

Being vulnerable in a romantic relationship. Throughout my experience working in France and now in the United States, I have observed partners going from regularly fighting and talking about breaking up to being close to one another and having a strong and secure attachment bond. So, what has helped them go from a stage of defensiveness and verbal attacks to a more peaceful lifestyle? I have noticed that couples that…

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New Year, New You! – 3 Ways to Find Your Authentic Voice in 2019

To find your authentic voice, be an explorer. How so? Have you ever been to a new city and felt an undeniable vibe? Like the atmosphere was alive, breathing a certain feeling into your lungs. Some cities that come to mind are New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Francisco, etc. Unmentioned, of course, the hundreds of quaint little towns scattered across the map. What do they all have…

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How Overthinking a New Relationship Can Undermine Your Connection

The start of a fresh romance has its own unique learning curve. If you’re like most people, you may be tempted to analyze every little move. Yet, overthinking a new relationship can actually damage the authentic connection between you. Despite the intense and immediate connection that romance novels depict, usually that initial connection is fairly sensitive. In other words, it requires a bit of nurturing. Think of your new emotional…

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5 Easy Ways to Build Your Self-Confidence—Starting Now

Many things in life can impact your self-confidence. Think back to events in your childhood. Perhaps your parents divorced, you relocated to a new neighborhood or school, or you struggled with a physical illness or disability. In adulthood, you may have experienced a difficult relationship, dealt with a toxic work environment, or trudged through financial losses. Life has a way of twisting and turning in unexpected ways. Often, these experiences…

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Why Self-Care Is More Than a Day at the Spa

Despite the term “self-care” taking on a rather fluffy meaning nowadays, it’s far more empowering than most people believe. And self-care is more than a day at the spa. Yes, daily self-care goes far beyond sweating out stress in a sauna or taking a mud bath. Somewhere along the lines, self-care has gotten a luxurious connotation assigned to it. As if taking care of yourself was optional. It’s vital to…

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Attention, Stressed-Out People Pleasers—Read This and Relax!

As a people pleaser, you may deal with anxiety and stress by the truckloads. All the volunteering is likely burning you out. You probably don’t feel incredibly valued either. Perhaps you already know that people pleasing is rooted in low self-confidence. Essentially, as a people pleaser, you draw your self-worth from others. For this reason, the habit of people pleasing ends up hurting you big time. And stopping this habit…

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Are You Suffering from High-Functioning Anxiety? – 5 Tell-Tale Signs

Many people identify with the long list of common anxiety symptoms. From the racing thoughts to that notorious feeling of being on-edge, modern society has normalized these symptoms. But perhaps you’re not exactly the poster child for anxiety because you appear to have your life together. You’re organized, pay attention to detail, and can focus on several projects at once. Plus, you seem to have eight sets of arms with…

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