Since my early twenties I struggle with communication, with true listening, that’s why for the past 3 years my yearly goal was to work hard on “LISTENING to UNDERSTAND, not in order to respond“. The older I get I’ve come to realize that my struggle often lies in my emotional reactions, especially when the conversation becomes triggering or fear-inducing. It’s not easy to hold back the immediate impulse to react when emotions are running high. This realization prompted me to take a step back and reflect on how I could improve my communication especially with my children and loved ones. I want t ..read more

“Imma, I’m so sick and broken. I can’t deal with my pain anymore. I don’t know how to heal, but I do know that I want more than anything. Please get on the next flight to New York and come help me find the right path to healing. I can’t take the pain anymore, but I want to be happy again. I want to be able to take care of my children. I want to live life again, to love life again, to smile again. I want to know the feeling of looking at food and not throwing up. I want to remember the joy of swallowing without fighting the food down. I want to go to bed without fearing the extreme demons that ..read more

It’s usually the most cliched, age-old sayings which hold true significance and stand the test of time. That’s why I keep returning back to the analogy of the clouds as a symbol for life’s ongoing continuity of uphill battles and downward spirals. But first, let’s take a few steps backward. As many of my most avid readers may know by now, pain is no stranger to me. In fact, most of the very successful people I‘ve ever crossed paths with have also accepted this one fact – that our joy today may precede the darkness around the corner, which is waiting its turn and of course vice versa. Instead o ..read more

Often, when people or children don’t adhere to a certain belief, it can feel like rejection. However, it’s important to recognize that this is necessary to allow them the space to discover their own truth in an authentic way. Thus, it’s not truly a rejection but rather a rebirth. Holding space for the process of individuals, be it children, students, or friends, questioning their beliefs and embarking on a journey of self-discovery can be challenging for parents, teachers, and friends. It can be difficult to let go of preconceived notions and allow others to forge their own path, especially wh ..read more

My name is Matana, which in Hebrew means “gift.” Today marks my Hebrew birthday, and I would like to share a little bit about me. During my childhood, people often told me that I was a true gift. However, I never fully grasped the meaning of that statement because I was a shy and timid girl who didn’t believe I had much to offer. I thought that I needed to give physical gifts in order to receive recognition. Growing up, I faced challenges with reading and writing due to being dyslexic. Reading out loud was particularly difficult, and I struggled with writing as well. My handwriting was atrocio ..read more

Last week, I came across a statement that left me contemplating the meaning of being a true friend. It asserted that a true friend is someone who shows up whenever you need them, without any questions asked. As I read those words, they struck a chord within me because, while I strive to be a true friend to many, I realize that I cannot always show up unconditionally without asking questions. This made me question my own authenticity as a friend. Am I failing to meet the standards of a true friend? This introspection led me to reflect on similar statements I’ve encountered, particularly those ..read more

Delving deep into the corridors of pain and hurt is no humble journey. In fact, it takes every ounce of courage we have within us NOT to run back and continue as we once had. Welcome to the final part of our series on the ‘HOW’ behind healing. So far, we’ve learnt how to quieten the resistance and tune inwards. We’ve worn the lens of compassion and kindness and we’ve made our way to the box of shame we all carry within. You’ll be relieved to know that we all carry this box within us. Instead of embracing it with judgement and criticism which only makes it go even deeper into hiding, I encourag ..read more

What I’m about to share is super important because I believe it can be applied to each and every one of our healing journeys. Pain, I have come to learn, has a very tactful and wise way of sneaking up on us, over and over again. Having faced the harsh grips of both anxiety and depression about 13 years ago, I recall just how these ups and downs often felt unbearable. Just when I believed I was getting better, I found myself knocked over with another period of intense depression, rendering me paralyzed and unable to even get out of bed on most days. What nobody tells us is that IT DOES GET BETT ..read more

“Everyone has a story left untold, so never judge someone as if you know their entire life story because the truth is, you probably don’t.” I am brought back to these simple, yet profound words of wisdom as I reflect on a BIG life lesson I recently learnt, while stuck in traffic. It still amazes me how the most profound life lessons come our way in the smallest of moments. I was driving my minivan and found myself behind a smaller car that was behind another bus. From my stance, I could see much clearer than the smaller car in front of me, just enough to judge that the road ahead was clear for ..read more

For our 20th year anniversary gift, I asked Ari for the absolute impossible. He was able to do exactly what I asked for.. Ari managed to organize an interview with a remarkably special guest who shared with me SO many gems of wisdom that I’ll forever keep very close to my heart and remember, especially during my own moments of crisis. If you don’t already know her, Dr Edith Eger is a psychologist practicing in the United States. Born to Hungarian Jewish parents, she is a Holocaust survivor and a specialist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Her memoirs entitled ‘The Choice – E ..read more