Author Archives: watchwordsblog

If we are honest, most of us went through hell these past years and months. The pandemic, stress at work, no social contacts, isolation, crumbling relationships, unhealthy dynamics. We are in need of finding our way back – back from hell to earth. Let’s ground ourselves in practices of self-reflection. Let’s share how our traumaContinue reading “The past years have been “hell””

Trauma knows no time. It freezes our brain or makes us run away and flee all the time. It makes us angry and we want to fight, or we give in and please others as a way to escape. Some of us nurture others without stopping, all in an attempt to overcome trauma. Yet traumaContinue reading “Trauma recovery”

Sometimes just sitting still and doing nothing, wanting nothing, thinking nothing – can open the door to the joy of being. Just observing the leaves swaying in the wind. Just hearing the kids’ laughter. Just breathing deeply and feeling the body relax: Moments of deep joy, the joy of just “being”. Being refreshed. Being connected.Continue reading “Joy of Being”

Show up for life Sometimes we feel like hiding from the world. It seems so hostile, so corrupt, so difficult. We even consider checking out completely, like living in the woods or disconnecting and just spending time playing video games all day, as a virtual reality. Our thoughts about yesterday, our regrets, our resentments areContinue reading “Show up for Life”

Sometimes all we feel is fear- nothing else. We imagine the worst. We predict that everything and everyone we care about will just disappear. Our heart rate goes up. Our shoulders get stiff. We brace for something that has not happened, but that our brain predicts will happen. Trauma and loss experiences do that. EverythingContinue reading “Sometimes all we feel is fear”

There is space in your heart to hold more than you think… The pain and injustice of the past seem overwhelming – and yet with deep compassion you can hold and transform all of it. It might take a while, yet as you practice self-compassion and forgiveness the space in your heart will grow. ItContinue reading “Your Heart can transform…”

When we grow up in not safe environments physically or emotionally, we develop a judgmental attitude – either towards others as “not being safe”, “not being good enough”, “not meeting our standard or our needs” – or we turn against ourselves, judging us as “stupid”, “deficient”, “not good enough” or “a failure”. Neglect, abuse andContinue reading “Counseling as the practice of non-judgment”

Taking deep breaths can sometimes make all the difference: It grounds us in our bodies. Following our breath with full attention helps us stop overthinking. Deep breathing creates the “time out” experience that is needed to stop the fighting. It calms our reactive brains that feel compelled to fight, flee or freeze. Taking deep breathsContinue reading “Breathing deeply”

Endings What if endings are just part of beginnings? What if endings open up new paths? What if endings produce the “mud” for new lotus flowers to bloom? Why do we fear or grieve endings so much? We might have gotten attached to the familiar. We might have taken the status quo for granted. WeContinue reading