De-centering is the process of recognizing what we have placed at the core of our lives—and deciding whether it is truly serving us. It’s not always something we consciously choose, yet each of us orbits around a central theme, belief, or pursuit that dictates how we make decisions, measure our worth, and structure our days. Often, this center is something we assume will fill the gap and bring us what we most long for—a relationship, success, financial security, approval, personal growth—but in reality, it can become an invisible force that keeps us trapped in a cycle of striving, waiting, or self-judgment.

When it comes to healing from trauma, many people feel an overwhelming urge to “fix” themselves and get through it. The initial reaction is often to do more—to read every book, attend every workshop, and analyze every moment of their past in an effort to move beyond it. While education and active self-reflection have their place in making sense of what happened, one of the most underrated aspects of healing is the exact opposite: resting, doing less, and slowing down.

Individuation is the process of integrating all parts of yourself—your strengths and struggles, your conscious choices and unconscious patterns—into a cohesive, authentic identity. Jung believed that true psychological growth isn’t about “fixing” ourselves but about understanding and embracing all aspects of who we are. This means acknowledging both the light and shadow parts of ourselves, rather than rejecting or suppressing what feels inconvenient or uncomfortable. Individuation isn’t about becoming perfect; it’s about becoming whole.

Spiritual bypassing describes the tendency to use spiritual ideas or practices as an escape hatch from difficult emotions and unresolved wounds. Instead of addressing pain, grief, anger, or fear head-on, spiritual bypassing slaps a shiny, mystical band-aid over it and calls it “growth.” On the surface, it seems like healing. But underneath? Those emotions don’t go away—they just go underground, where they can quietly shape our patterns, relationships, and self-perceptions in ways we don’t even realize.

In today’s world, busyness is often worn like a badge of honor. From packed calendars to endless to-do lists, it’s easy to conflate being busy with being productive. But are you truly being productive, or are you stuck in the cycle of busyness? The difference lies in whether your actions align with your values and lead to a fulfilling life or simply perpetuate a reactive and exhausting existence. Intentional productivity can help you live a value-led life and avoid the burnout caused by aimless busyness.

As the year winds down, many of us find ourselves naturally reflecting on what’s passed and wondering about the road ahead. This transition can be bittersweet, marked by both accomplishments and challenges, joy and sorrow.

While we can’t control what life throws our way, we have an incredible power: the ability to choose how we respond and how we show up for ourselves in the midst of challenges.

Failure. It’s a heavy word, isn’t it? Most of us define it as not achieving the outcome we hoped for or expected. But we don’t stop there. Oh no. We often add an extra layer of meaning: "And that means I’m a failure." Suddenly, it’s not just about the thing that didn’t work out. It’s about you.

As we grow up we inherit a particular set of guidelines and frameworks for life—many of which shape how we view ourselves, others, and the world around us. These frameworks come from those we grew up with, shaped by their own beliefs, experiences, and even the emotional and psychological readiness (or lack thereof) they brought to parenthood. Our sense of self is formed not only through their reflections and observations but also through the biases they inherited from their parents, influenced by historical, cultural, and personal contexts.

Intention is the invisible force that drives our actions. It's the energy, the feeling, the motivation, and the purpose behind what we do. When we act with positive intention, we infuse our actions with positive energy. This positive energy can manifest in countless ways, such as increased motivation, improved relationships, and greater overall well-being.

Journaling is for anyone, it’s easy to start, and you don’t need to have any special skills to get started. If you’re feeling resistance to journaling, it’s normal, but don’t decide ahead of time that you don’t like. Give it a try! Take these reflections as gentle reminders that there’s no perfect way to journal. Whether it’s through a gratitude list, freewriting, or even doodles, a journal is a space just for you—flexible, nonjudgmental, and supportive.

Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes that can occur in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. It involves the development of new perspectives, increased appreciation for life, and a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. While not everyone who experiences trauma will experience post-traumatic growth, it's a testament to the human spirit's incredible capacity for resilience.

When it comes to navigating life's challenges, our perspective plays a crucial role in how we experience and respond to them. One key aspect of this perspective is our locus of control – the extent to which we believe we have control over our own outcomes. This concept can be divided into two primary categories: internal and external locus of control.

Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a never-ending self-improvement cycle, but instead of feeling more at peace with who you are, you keep finding new deficiencies to “work on” and end up feeling worse about yourself?

Quitting is frequently seen as weak and undesirable, but here is a different perspective. Quitting things we've outgrown leaves us with energy available for things we enjoy.