Conscious Connections
When holding on hurts: How to know when it’s time to let go
There may be countless reasons to walk away. If the job is infuriating, the relationship disappointing, the system not working, the situation unsalvageable… the compulsion to be like Elsa and just ‘let it go’ can feel empowering, healthy, or even necessary. And to be fair, there is absolutely a time to let it go. But we can’t ‘call it’ and quit just because something is hard… because, we can do hard things.
Letting go is not always the most aligned choice, but sometimes it is. The truth is there’s a time to fight and a time to surrender. A time to dig your heels in and stay, and a time to say goodbye. But whether you decide to wage war against the odds or accept the unwanted-but-real reality, both choices have a cost.
If you’re struggling at a crossroads wondering if you should hold on with hope or release with peace… friend, this blog is for you.
Hidden addictions - What they are and why they're so dangerous
When most people think of ‘addictions’ they think of compulsive habits with things like drugs, alcohol, sex, and gambling. You know… The ones that have common 12-step programs and the ones that come with the trademark signs of avoidance, denial, defensiveness, stigma, shame, secrecy, etc.
But the source of addictions is less about the what and more about the why. In other words, it’s really not so much about the substance or the behavior, but more about the pain – the anxiety, loneliness, unworthiness, shame, need for control/safety, unprocessed trauma – the individual is trying to escape.
In the end, addictions are simply an emotional regulation strategy and a way to ‘feel better’ – even if that looks like not feeling at all and completely numbing out. With this in mind, let’s go deeper into the world of addiction and explore some of its lesser known, more nuanced forms… hidden addictions.
Internal vs external validation: How to build healthy self-worth
We all need and want to be accepted and valued, but the way we seek out and receive validation has consequences. For example, if we seek validation from other people through work, social media, or societal norms, the dopamine spike never lasts. We may feel good when others take notice of us, but only for a moment. Then the target shifts again, perpetuating a cycle of striving for the next accolade, the next compliment, the next reassuring sign that we still have value and are acceptable.
Internal vs external validation is a hot topic, and in this blog post, we’re turning up the heat. We’ll be exploring validation through the lens of the Adult Chair framework to understand the Healthy Adult perspective on why internal validation is vital for our conscious well-being.
Healthy relationships & interdependence: How to balance individuality and connection
Knowing that we matter and are loved is a universal human need. And so is individuality. We need both meaningful connections forged from healthy relational bonds and a strong self-identity.
But if we’re honest – and we are always honest here – these two needs can feel contradictory at times. Especially when pop-psychology claims that if you need your friends, you’re ‘codependent,’ and if you’re independent, then you’re ‘emotionally unavailable.’ …right?
Not necessarily. But this circulating myth does beg the question…
What does healthy independence look like within relationships?