Lo’s Prose
In these regular blog posts, I will share musings, insight, and strategies to help you set boundaries, speak up for your needs, and create healthy relationships with others in your life. Learn to show up for yourself with curiosity, compassion, and kindness as you become your own cheerleader, best friend, and most loving parent!
Happy Spring!
Happy Spring! March is often the time when our thoughts shift toward more sunshine, longer days, birds singing, and flowers blooming. After a long winter of staying indoors, turning inward for reflection, and focusing on warmth and comfort, we are often excited to return to the outside world with renewed energy, joy, and purpose. We engage in spring cleaning at home, doing extra projects to help our living spaces feel fresh and rejuvenated. I’d also like to invite you to do an internal spring cleaning to clear the clutter in your mind and realign with your values and goals.
Embracing an Authentic Life
As I reflect on how codependent tendencies show up in my daily life, I notice that sharing my full authentic self with others can still be a challenge for me. I have a tendency to keep the focus off myself, asking others questions about themselves and not providing many details about what is happening in my own life. I am so accustomed to caring what others think of me and wanting to present as the person who “has it all together,” especially because I am a mental health provider. In truth, no one has it together 24/7 because that is not realistic for humans going through the ups-and-downs of daily life. And I know that deep, genuine, and meaningful social connection occurs when we are vulnerable with one another. That is how we relate to others and feel less alone in this world.
Celebrating Mothers
As Mother’s Day approaches, I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate ALL types of maternal relationships - moms, step moms, chosen moms, grandmothers, new moms, adoptive moms, grieving moms, pet moms, single moms, those people who miss their mothers, those with a painful and/or strained relationship with their mom, and those longing to be a mom themselves. I truly honor, respect, and celebrate all of you! I know this holiday can bring up a lot of intense, overwhelming, and even unexpected emotions for people. No matter your situation, please be sure to treat yourself with extra kindness, compassion, and love as Sunday approaches. YOU deserve it that day and everyday!
Fear of Abandonment
When I share about overcoming codependency, people pleasing, and perfectionism, people often respond with concerns that making these changes will lead to them being disliked, rejected, and even abandoned. If I ask my partner for what I need, they might leave me. If I don’t agree to pick up a shift for my coworker, they might not want to be friends anymore. If I make a decision that my family doesn’t like, they may criticize and reject me.
Spring Journal Prompts
While spring may seem far away for those of us living in the Northeast, March is often the time when our thoughts shift toward more sunshine, longer days, birds singing, and flowers blooming. After a long winter of staying indoors, turning inward for reflection, and focusing on warmth and comfort, we are often excited to return to the outside world with renewed energy, joy, and purpose. We engage in spring cleaning at home, doing extra projects to help our living spaces feel fresh and rejuvenated. I’d also like to invite you to do an internal spring cleaning to clear the clutter in your mind and realign with your values and goals.
Personalization: Challenging the Codependent Thought Error
Learn to challenge the common codependent thought error of personalization to stop taking things personally, over-apologizing, and assuming responsibility for things that are out of your control.
Befriending Your Inner Critic
A unique way to silence your inner critic voice with gentleness and compassion.