The Power of Witnessing and Holding Space in Relationships

I’m so happy to be here checking in with you—it’s been a wild few weeks in our house. After recovering from several viruses, we finally got COVID and it was as terrible as I suspected it might be! We are on the mend now and I’m more grateful for our health than ever. I know lots of folks have been through it lately, whether it’s health-related challenges or just a lot arising in relationships and the collective. I want you to know that I see you and I know it’s hard, but we are moving through it one day at a time.

Loving yourself might look different than you thought

We learn to love ourselves through our relationships with other people. This is supportive if you grew up in an environment where your caregivers and family members encouraged you to express and stay true to yourself, honor your needs, and stand up for yourself in challenging moments.

Assessing Alignment is Attachment Work

I have been focused lately on really fine-tuning my life. This looks like examining each part of my day to day and schedule, structures and routines, and commitments and future plans to be sure everything feels like it’s in alignment. As a result, I’ve had to make some changes that are uncomfortable and stretch me in my commitment to growth—especially because I am so clear that self-betrayal (that looks like over-committing and/or committing to the wrong things) is a path I’ve been down before. I can also say that I have self-betrayed as recently as a few months ago, so it’s an ongoing journey for all of us!

You are your own best resource

Hello and Happy New Year! Do you choose a word for the year? I started doing this a few years ago and it’s been a really sweet guiding practice for me throughout the year. For 2022, my word is EMBODY and I am excited to align my work and personal life with the goal of being in my body and aware of my physical experiences and sensations, as well as embodying the practices I teach in a fuller way. I am looking forward to how this word will guide me.

A Year in Review

I have found personally and professionally that December can be equal parts joy and heaviness. I’ve talked about my mixed feelings about the month of December in a previous blog, and those still stand. I have also found a deep appreciation for utilizing December as a time to review your experiences, emotions, and relationships of the past year, and slow down enough to recognize all that has shifted in your world. It’s easy to be swept up in the chaos and joy of the holiday season, but maybe the time we spend reviewing the year is our opportunity to take care of ourselves and really appreciate the beauty and messiness of our day-to-day life.

Elizabeth GilletteDecember 13, 2017healthy relationships, heirloom counseling, self-care, self love Comment

Boundaries are Badass

I strongly believe that boundaries are necessary in order for us to be truly happy and successful. Boundaries are critical, and "no" is our friend. The thing about boundaries is that often you don’t know you don’t have them. Many of us can get far in our lives, be praised even, for not having boundaries. Especially in our family of origin, our schools, and our culture in general. Even more so as women. We learn that in order to “earn” love, we must sacrifice our desires, comfort, and consent.

Elizabeth GilletteNovember 20, 2017boundaries, self love, self worth, self-care, self care, heirloom counseling Comment

Emptying Our Suitcase Hearts: Letting Go of What Holds Us Back

If you are a human being who has had any experience on this earth with other human beings, you probably have some emotional baggage. If you have a family, you definitely do. Some of us have more than others, and some of us are more aware of how much we carry with us. Bottom line: we all carry experiences from our past, and they often show up in situations where they aren't really welcome or invited. During times of transition or change, this emotional baggage can become very apparent. So can the importance of figuring out how to let it go.

Elizabeth GilletteOctober 19, 2017letting go, let go, healing, healing journey, heal, self-care, self love Comment

Perfectionism: How to Make Mistakes (and Feel Good About Them)

Elizabeth GilletteMay 12, 2017heirloom counseling, perfectionist, Perfectionism, self love, self-awareness, self care, healing, heal Comment

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