Align Counseling & Coaching

01/04/2019

As we move into a new year and we hear people talking about goals and posting their new diets, workout routines, books they’re going to read, etc.- what do you notice comes up in you? Motivation? Inspiration? Shame? Guilt? Fear? We have to be careful in this season of goal setting to not take on the aspirations of others and start telling ourselves all the things we “should” be doing. Instead, I encourage you to slow down, check in with yourself and assess what’s right for YOU. Sometimes that might mean COULD make changes or adjustments and sometimes that means you COULD keep doing what you’re doing bc it’s working for you. Wherever you’re at in this season, I encourage you to give yourself permission to do (or not do!) what’s best for you and to make space for the things that assist you with showing up in the world as you want and need to right now, right where you are.

11/07/2018

Soaking in these beautiful Mountain View’s and enjoying some peaceful morning moments before the hustle of the day begins.

#828 @ Asheville, North Carolina

10/06/2018

Goal- See them through. It’s one of the most beautiful and empowering things in the world to say- I worked my butt off and I did it! and to feel the strength in that accomplishment. Sometimes we need reminders that we are stronger and more capable of achieving things (even and especially really hard things) than we could ever imagine. First half marathon in the books. I did it.

@ Raleigh, North Carolina

10/03/2018

It’s been awhile since I have posted; not because I havent wanted to nor because I haven’t had anything to share, but because honestly - it has felt hard. I pride myself on working tirelessly to be honest and authentic, to show up in the world and with others in the ways I value and want to be known...My dad died tragically and unexpectedly a few weeks ago and even though much of my career has been rooted in grief and loss and trauma, to experience griefs touch upon your own skin, it’s breath upon your own cheek, is a different experience entirely. All the things I know in my head about grief and loss have been working to translate themselves into my heart and I have had to work hard to put down the expectations of myself and the roles I play in my daily life to just be present with my grief; It’s not always an easy thing for me when many of my roles require me to show up for others. But through this journey I am learning about gentleness and compassion. I am learning more about vulnerability and transparency and how thickly rich and connected those are to authenticity. And I am attempting to take it a day at a time and to remind myself that there is no right way to do this and that my timeline may be as endless as the love I have for him. And that’s ok.

09/23/2018

Coming up on the blog this week - how we often (unknowingly) use our words as weapons against others and ourselves and the importance of developing awareness around the languaging we use.

A necessary reminder from Brené Brown.

09/06/2018

Feeling so thankful and blessed to be back in my cozy space and to have been called to a vocation that allows me to hold space, support, challenge, encourage and assist others in their healing & growth journey.

08/08/2018

You’re doing great. Keep going, friends. ❤️

08/06/2018

Give yourself grace and space today to be wherever you are in your journey, knowing that wherever that’s at is ok and right where you need to be.

07/19/2018

So often when our feelings come up our first instinct is to shove them down, s***f them out. Often what follows is our need to figure out, understand, “fix” and change. But the reality is that it doesn’t work like that. We have to tune into what’s going inside us, giving it room to shift, cycle and have a voice. Our healing comes from allowing ourselves to feel and accept what is and giving it space - without judgment- to express itself as it needs to. Our hearts and bodies have the wisdom they need support us; the work comes in learning how to greet them instead of resist them.

07/18/2018

Being vulnerable is hard. It often feels scary and unsafe. I often have people tell me I don’t feel courageous, I just feel afraid. Fair. However if we really pay attention we see that fear is a constant current in our lives. It’s a driving force of what we do or don’t do, say or don’t say. Fear can be a motivator and is a powerful catalyst to courage. Our goal through our work with vulnerability is to be able to say to ourselves I’m afraid AND I’m going to move forward anyway. We take steps towards vulnerability and being courageous not when there is an absence of fear but in addition to it.

07/17/2018

Perfection is a myth and is an unrealistic expectation for us to have of ourselves. Let’s work to change our focus to making progress as our goal.

07/16/2018

Real, permanent or long-lasting healing, growth or change comes from tiny steps and is measured often in increments not in massive steps or by miles.