I use this powerful shadow work approach for healing trauma, increasing authenticity, and improving relationships. — I used to think dream tending, like sleep dreams, was a bit “out there.” But I’ve been engaging with my dream work practice for over two years now, and I’m so excited to write about it. At this point, I feel thoroughly convinced about the value and validity of exploring…

Narcissistic men convinced me I’m “too sensitive,” but actually, it’s a superpower. — Recently I’ve reconnected with a male friend. We used to travel together. I noticed myself feeling forceful and drained after a long conversation with, let’s call him Jason. That’s when I noticed my lingering shame about being “too sensitive.” Two years ago, I got into shadow work and depth therapy…

Psychologist Marion Woodman helps us reconnect with our buried feminine — “So… it’s not working out. We tried. You’re just not a good fit for this environment,” my male manager sits across from me with serious eyes. Our human resources person walks in with paperwork. Game over. I burned out from my profitable tech career, then ended up in another male-dominated…

Menstrual expert Maisie Hill inspires us to embrace our cycles. — “…Maloney stated, ‘We need to stop acting like women’s daily needs are something we can’t handle…’ Men who want to be allies, take note,” — Maisie Hill, in Period Power. For two years, I’ve been pouring into women’s literature and reconnecting with my femininity. Supporting my changing body empowers me…

When I accept painful realities, I open the door to healing. — Up until two years ago, I didn’t realize how intensely my childhood influenced my adult life. The quality of our relationships with our parents is crucial. I learned how to cope in dysfunctional environments. That mostly meant prioritizing other peoples’ feelings and needs, while suppressing my own. Discovering emotionally immature…

And I’m taking a break from publishing this month. — Dear reader — I feel compelled to share my processing with you because you deserve to be in the loop. You signed up to receive notifications about my writing, and now I’m taking a pause from publishing to check in with myself. (I highly encourage regular pauses.) Sharing my immense…

As a freed American woman, here’s what I know about body love. — So last week, I got pretty physical with this guy I’d been crushing on. It felt sweet, safe, and honest, and… my legs were clearly hairy: long, dark hairs up my thighs. Somehow I still felt like a beautiful sex goddess. I even gave him ongoing directions about what I…

Expand what excites you while releasing unhelpful social conditioning. — Two years ago, I said my final goodbyes to coworkers at Facebook. I was burning out and began questioning my entire career with technology. My boss had wanted to promote me, and my friends and family would probably never understand my decision to leave. But I’ve made a habit of…

As a creative person, removing distractions feels essential. — Before owning a smartphone, I discovered and dove headfirst into a minimalism journey. In a small college dorm, I got overwhelmed by all my clothes and physical possessions and began the process of letting go. As I became intentional with my things, I realized I could apply minimalism concepts to…