Trigger Warning: Gun Violence, Domestic Violence, Trauma Responses I couldn't stop shaking... Have you ever been so cold that you literally could not stop yourself from shivering? Or been so traumatized that you found yourself shaking uncontrollably? This was me just four days ago. I was holding a staff meeting when my cell rang. The caller was someone who rarely reaches out with an unplanned phone call, and in my gut I felt something was wrong. Then, I heard the words, "Allyson, Lisa*'s husband shot her and their twin boys. They are all dead." My body started shaking - almost convulsing - as ..read more

Pause with me, please. Take a breath. Set an intention to fully devote yourself to this break. We are so busy. I’ve come to learn that the busier I am, the more I’m avoiding myself. Focusing all of my attention on everything and everyone else is a great, and what feels like a legitimate, “reason” to not feel, think, or take responsibility for myself. While I do appreciate the holiday season, I don’t like that it mainly focuses on gifts and joy being intertwined. This places so much pressure on all of us to spend, obligate ourselves to family functions, and to be out of alignment with all of t ..read more

We enter a period of profound awareness where we begin to understand that change is inevitable and often necessary for our growth. Behind the Power, October 19, 2023. Photo Credit: Danay Nazaire I’m in such a time now where I know that in order for me, my company, my family, and my personal space to expand then I must shift everything. I find myself curious, and asking, “Now what?!” I’m re-evaluating my priorities, how my business feels, what my clients need, and how I want to serve moving forward. While change can be scary, the passion that drives my life is much stronger than fear. And whil ..read more

Grief. What a loaded word. It’s a tough concept to grasp at first. It even angers people, at times, because the grieving process is so different from what we are often taught growing up. Why? Because we witness trauma reactions everywhere. Parents and others who are walking around in one trauma reaction after the other often influence how we process our own feelings. “Death is different,” is most people’s response when I talk about controlling our response to it. While losing a person or animal is difficult, we still get to choose how we grieve. I want to introduce you to a concept called emp ..read more

Have you ever been so excited to start something new only to find yourself making excuses as to why you CAN’T do the thing? Of course you have, and so have I, because this is the way the brain works. The brain's job is to keep us safe, alert us of danger, and make sure we stay alive. While that’s all great if you’re in a survival situation, it doesn’t help much when you are trying to build a business, expand your bank account, or even do small things like committing to an exercise routine. Have you ever asked yourself why this is? Well, your comfort zone is the problem. I know, I know. I hear ..read more

This blog is going to explore why you may feel like an outcast and some ways to help yourself heal this. Have you ever been sitting somewhere and suddenly felt like you’re very out of place? As if you didn’t belong? It can feel overwhelming. Your body is experiencing a fear response. But what causes this? In a word - shame. Shame is the belief that there is innately something wrong with us. Therefore, we are unlovable, unacceptable, and an outcast. Here are reasons you may feel as though you don’t belong. 1. You have different beliefs. If you’re amongst people with a different core belief sys ..read more

It’s not your fault that… you have social anxiety you are addicted to distractions you struggle in relationships your money story is totally effed up you feel blocked and stuck you live in the past longing for a better future you seek outside approval with your every action you lack boundaries you shut down you feel left out you stay so busy your head spins you numb out for hours to endless screen time you drive too fast you drink too much you have horrible body image you eat too much sugar you break promises to yourself you freeze in new situations you cry at the drop of a hat you feel angry ..read more

We were sitting for our Zoom session and I found myself standing, raising my adjustable desk, and intentionally taking deep breaths. My coach was pretty much letting me have it. That was my story. And because that was my story, I lost our conversation midway through a very important coaching session. Trauma. It sucks. And unhealed, it shows up everywhere. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t allow you to be free in one conversation and struggling in the next. It’s there. Lurking. Do you struggle with constructive criticism? It’s something I’ve been working on this year so that I can climb to t ..read more

It’s not your fault. If you know anything about me by now, you know I love the meaning of words. With that said, let’s look at the definition of “validation.” Recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile. You may not think that you have an issue with this, but here are some examples of seeking validation. Taking a disagreement personally. This is a classic “people-pleasing” issue. The need to be “right,” is so strong that the slightest disagreement can send an attention-seeker over the edge. Changing your opinion in the face of disapproval. Y ..read more

There resides God, also called Source, right inside of each of us. People get so freaked out when I say this. I hear clients say things like, “Who am I to be connected that closely with God?” or “Who am I to be a co-creator?” But even religious literature tells us to believe, and believing IS God’s energy, no matter what God or Source you connect with. When connecting with Divine energy, there is a sense of purpose and truth. Once purpose and truth is discovered, action can be taken to make your calling a reality. In this process, you have to hold onto the belief that you are connected to Sou ..read more