As I sit down to write this post, I have to be real with you. Though I’m an expert at the intersection of loss and stress, I’m still human. As I write this, I’m a human who is experiencing deep, gut-and-heart wrenching grief. Admittedly, this is also why my articles and outreach have been few and far between the last few months. As I continue writing and you continue reading, I want to be clear with you and myself - writing this article has but two purposes. First, my hope is to care for myself by returning to and reminding myself of the supportive knowledge around grief I’ve learned over the years. And, second, my hope is that by exploring this topic for myself, you too may find…
If you’re like many Americans, you may find yourself feeling a bit more blue now that daylight savings time has gone into effect.
Here in Philadelphia during the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), Philadelphians will get an entire 5 hours and 41 minutes less sunlight than during the summer solstice (the longest day of the year).
Compared to some areas of the US like Alaska that have no sunlight for 60+ days, Philadelphians and others around the country may be luckier than others, but with hours of less sunlight each day the impact can still be staggering. According to Psychology Today, the US alone reports more than 10 million cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder each year…
If you’re like me, at some point in your life you might have thought to yourself (or said to a trusted friend), ‘I’m tired of all the drama.’
Maybe, like me, you thought this because you were tired of fighting, tired of feeling like two ships passing in the night or tired of the exhaustion caused by a relationship you were or aren’t even sure you want any more.
Perhaps it’s drama with a lover, friend, boss or even colleague. Or, perhaps it’s drama with someone or something else entirely.
Regardless, if you’re tired of the drama, you’ve made it to the right place…
"Why can't I take care of myself?"
This is one of the top google searches that lead to my website and it's been awhile since I addressed this question so I thought, 'Welp, there's no time like the present return to the topic.'
Dropping you a line to say...
If you're going through something rough right now, the best thing you can do is be present with your emotions.
Don't google solutions for how to make it less difficult - at least not at first...
One of the key and foundational factors to experiencing emotional freedom is physical sobriety.
I said it before and I'll say it again...
Caffeine, alcohol, and other foods, drinks, and substances actually have the power to activate the nervous system's stress response without ever having a stressor present in the first place…
Do you know what lives at the intersection of loss and stress?
Change.
As creatures of habit and routine, we humans often HATE change.
It makes many of us squirm in our seats just at the thought of it.
And, yet, change is the only constant.
Ironic, huh?
Luckily for us, we've had some badass social scientists do some research on change to help us better understand and navigate it…
Carlee here, back again with my weekly newsletter. :)
Today I wanted to share a little bit more about Step Four of The Stress Less Method: "Remove Your Blocks One by One"
This is the part of the process that so many of us want to fast forward to, to stop the pain and suffering as soon as humanly possible.
Here's the problem...
Do you know why step number one of my signature Stress Less Method™ ends up being so powerful for so many of my clients?
Because step number one of The Stress Less Method™ actually creates miracles.
Miracles meaning shifts in perception that alter the way in which we move through and view the world.
If you don't know what step number one is, don't worry, I'll fill you in...
Dropping you a line to say...
You've got this.
Whatever challenge is in front of you, you got it.
It may feel like you're trying to wrangle a bull gone wild at the moment, but...
As I've mentioned before, we humans love a good problem to fix and, with that in mind, many of my clients and potential clients LOVE the idea of working Step Two to get to the root of exactly what's going on so they can 'make some changes around here.’…
Did you know that relationships are considered one of the top five stressors in the United States?
And did you know that the ending of a relationship is one of the most common types of loss? (i.e. break ups, divorces, quitting a job because of a manager, etc.)
As you may know, my expertise is at the intersection of stress and loss…
Last week I shared with you the definition of Emotional Sobriety. As a reminder, Ingrid Clayton, PhD defines emotional sobriety as follows...
"...Emotional sobriety is less about the quality of the feeling ("good" or "bad") and more about the general ability to feel one's feelings. Being restored to sanity isn't about getting the brass ring—or cash and prizes—or being "happy, joyous, and free" all the time, but it is about being in the present moment, whatever it happens to look like...Sometimes emotional sobriety is about tolerating what you are feeling."
Yep, the secret to emotional sobriety is…
Do you know what the term Emotional Sobriety means?
Whether you're familiar with the term, feel like it's an unrealistic pipedream or something else, I invite you to read on...
Okay… I'm doing it...
I'm jumping on the Will Smith slapping bandwagon.
I know, I know...I, myself, am already sick of seeing headlines and reading articles about it AND there is a perspective that I haven't seen yet that I think absolutely NEEDS to be shared.
Ready?
One of the most common blocks that is uncovered as part of my work with clients is fear of abandonment.
Fear of abandonment can impact our decision making and can easily infiltrate our lives in small and big ways like...
Did you know that the top google searches that lead to my website are as follows?
why do I criticize my partner
how to be less critical of your partner
how to be less critical
how to stop being critical in a relationship
I've decided perhaps it's time to return to this incredibly important topic...
I just finished watching season two of Love is Blind and if this reality tv show isn't a demonstration of how challenging relationships and circumstances can be, I really don't know what is.
Warning: Though I've tried my best to keep things vague and not spoil Love is Blind for you, if you haven't finished watching season two of the show yet, there might be some spoilers in this email. Just know that…
Have you ever shared something with someone and felt like even though they heard you they weren't really listening?
Like they hear you, but they just don't truly understand you?
If so, you're not alone. In fact, almost all of us have likely felt this way at some point or another, especially if we've experienced some sort of devastating loss.
With the experience of loss and grief, we are more likely to feel isolated, alone, and like no one really understands us...
I'm shifting gears on my blog this week in hopes of inspiring gentle and supportive action on your journey to emotional freedom…
Have you ever found yourself exhausted? Like straight up physically, emotionally, and maybe even spiritually exhausted?
Loss can do that.
Loss can make us feel so exhausted, foggy, and in emotional pain that it seems like we can't dig ourselves out of the hole we somehow fell in…
It's that time again! Time for me to sit down, connect in and create a plan for the next few months.
Planning is the best and the worst of things - am I right?
Let's look at the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition for a second:
Plan (verb): to arrange the parts of : design
For someone who has experienced loss, it can be SO easy to use a plan to sabotage ourselves.
Hear me out...
I am really excited to update you on my new direction as an Emotional Sobriety Coach at The Stress Less Company!
As you may know, over the last 5 years I've been working with professionals across the US to manage their stress.
Today, I'm excited to announce that…
As you might know, I love referring to the dictionary for everyday terminology.
This week?
Cabin Fever (noun): irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.
Source: Oxford Languages Dictionary
Yep, cabin fever. This is something that comes up often this time of year…
Did you know that, according to A Course in Miracles, a miracle is defined as a shift in perception?
That's because a simple shift in perception can dramatically change your life for the better.
Let me share a key formula to help illustrate this...
Generally, stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources that individual is able to mobilize. In other words, stress is...
It's 2022. We made it!
Thank God - am I right?
As we transition from new year celebrations back into the day to day grind, I want to share with you a simple tip that's been my saving grace time and time again...
It's called the buffer zone..
I've been doing some thinking lately about the power of the mind.
The mind's power to truly make us...
...or break us.
Over the last few weeks I've had a few calls with folks interested in joining my Emotional Freedom Training Programs and I can't help but notice a pattern...
Two weeks ago I went hunting for the first time with my dad.
I had been preparing for this experience for MONTHS - taking the hunter's safety course, going to the range to zero in the scope on my rifle, practicing my shot for even more accuracy, getting my hunting license, gear and more…
Did I ever share with you the reason I got into Stress Management?
I'm going to warn you from the gate that this is a heavy story that could trigger you *and* I still think it's important to share.
When I was 12 years old, my mom's ex-boyfriend broke into my childhood home...