Posts in Self-Discovery
Self-Compassion – A Tender Balance and a Caring Force
Self-Compassion – A Tender Balance and a Caring Force

“Self-compassion is a balance of TENDER – accepting ourselves – and FIERCE – taking action – to alleviate suffering.” – Dr. Kristin Neff 

Like so many things for caregivers, when it comes to feeling compassion for ourselves in the same way that we feel it for others, it can be hard. We become accustomed to showing compassion for loved ones and others who are struggling or suffering, but we don’t always treat ourselves the same way.

Just like everyone else, we have good days and bad days. But on those bad days when we struggle, our inner dialogue may become critical and harsh. And while we may think that we’re just being honest with ourselves and taking responsibility for poor behavior, what we’re really doing is denying ourselves the self-compassion that we deserve – the same kind of compassion that we freely show for others.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerSelf-Compassion
A Position of Strength
A Position of Strength

“The good life is using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification.” – Martin Seligman

As we focus on the theme of self-discovery this month, a key element in truly knowing ourselves is to identify our strengths. This is so important for caregivers because we often fail to recognize all of the strengths that we must draw upon as we focus on helping others. As a result, we can lose sight of ourselves, including all of our unique capabilities and strengths that lie at the core of who we are.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerStrength, Strengths, Identifying Your Strengths
The Entanglement of Joy
The Entanglement of Joy

“(Joy is) the light that emanates from us when we help each other carry our sorrows. And that notion of joy to me, it sort of suggests something of entanglement.” – Ross Gay

We’ve been talking about finding joy for a long time now because joy is a core emotion that can be so beneficial to caregivers when we need to counteract uncomfortable emotions such as sadness. So it may be surprising to find some new ideas on how to think about joy. Yet, that’s exactly what I discovered when I read the remarkable book Inciting Joy, a collection of essays by poet and author Ross Gay.

Gay focuses on the entanglement of joy. He defines joy as “the ways that we practice our entanglement. … And when I say entanglement, I mean like being fundamentally connected to one another. All of these things like gardening or pick-up basketball or skateboarding or … aspects of school at its best. … There are these sites where we get the opportunity to practice being entangled with one another.”

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerJoy, Finding Joy, What Brings You Joy?
February Newsletter: Finding Yourself Again ... The Journey of Self-Discovery
February Newsletter: Finding Yourself Again ... The Journey of Self-Discovery

During my hardest caregiving days, I felt as if I had lost myself - who I was at my very core. I lost sight of myself. It's as if I hit "pause" on my play button - in order to care for others so they could move "forward". In the meantime, during that pause, I was lost. 

It took me a LONG time to notice and ultimately figure out why I was struggling. I had to find peace with focusing on ME again. I had to remind myself that taking care of me, too, is NOT selfish. It allows me to reclaim WHO I am, WHAT I'm doing and WHY it matters.

Throughout February as we explored our theme of Self-Discovery we dug deep to find more joy, identified our strengths and opportunities for growth, and worked hard on our self-compassion. ​​​​​​​​

Self-discovery is the journey of finding your true self. It is a fundamental component of your journey of personal growth. It leads to greater self-awareness and helps you understand and regulate your emotions.

Self-discovery is a journey. Think of yourself as a perpetual perfectly imperfect work in progress. 

It's about exploring your passions, examining your life, and taking steps towards personal fulfillment. 

Check out our entire February newsletter focused on Self-Discovery here.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerSelf-Compassion, Finding Joy, joy, Micro-Joy, Identifying Your Strengths
Strengths, Trust, and Confidence
Strengths, Trust, and Confidence

Our strengths are a big part of our character. They can develop from the way we were raised, the way we respond to challenges, the values we hold dear, and the things that interest us the most. They represent the areas where we excel, and they are building blocks for our self-esteem.

Your strengths are a big part of what makes you special. Be confident in who YOU are and what your strengths can help YOU do!

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerSelf-Confidence, Strengths, Identifying Your Strengths
What If … We Could Stop Focusing on the “What-Ifs”?
What If … We Could Stop Focusing on the “What-Ifs”?

Our topic for this week, finding joy, can be a tricky subject for caregivers. With all the emotions and challenges that we experience as part of our role as caregivers, finding joy for ourselves can be complicated. As we focus on the needs of others, we might put off our need to find joy for ourselves, and we might even feel guilty when we do allow ourselves to feel joy.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerFinding Joy, Joy, Micro-Joy
February Newsletter: Finding Yourself Again ... The Journey of Self-Discovery
February Newsletter: Finding Yourself Again ... The Journey of Self-Discovery

In my most active caregiving days, I felt as if I had lost myself - who I was at my very core. Throughout February, as we explored our theme of Self-Discovery, we dug deep to identify our strengths and opportunities for growth, developed our understanding of self-confidence and worked hard on our self-love.

When I think about who has helped me with my own journey of self-discovery, that's right, you guessed it, the work of Brené Brown has been like having a personal life coach. She's taught me to cultivate courage and live my most authentic self. This is HARD!

Check out our February Newsletter focused on SELF-DISCOVERY here.

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Self-Discovery, NewslettersKristi HornerStrengths, Self-Confidence, Opportunity, Self-Love