Exploring The Shadow and Mystery on the Gratitude Blooming Podcast

Getting to do podcast interviews where I talk about my work, mental health and shadow integration is always a pleasure and even more so when I get to talk with people like Omar and Belinda from the Gratitude Blooming podcast.

In this episode we were able to talk about my experiences with mystery, sensitivity and creativity (as well as what kind of flower I might be).

Enjoy the episode below!

Shadow Work on the Black Moon Lilith Rising Podcast

Recently, I was able to join my friend Adama on her podcast, The Black Moon Lilith Rising Podcast. In our episode we were able to talk about shadow work and how Jung unifies the worlds of psychology, spirituality and astrology. I had a lot of fun in this episode and hope that you enjoy listening!Listen to the episode at the link below:

https://www.lilithastrology.com/podcasts/black-moon-lilith-rising/episodes/2147824170

You can also learn more about Lilith Astrology and Adama's work at LilithAstrology.com and on Instagram @lilithastrology.

How Becoming an Author Made Me Fall in Love with Books Again

*This post contains an affiliate link.

If you’re interested in becoming an author one piece of advice you hear often is “read more.” I didn’t get it at first, but after writing my own book, I better understand this advice.

Reading as a student

Over the past 20 years most of the reading in my life has been academic. And if you have gone into higher education then you also know how much of a burden the reading schedule can be (especially in graduate school!). With that, I found it harder to feel the love and magic of books. Most of the writing I was subjected to was scholarly and dry (or boring as all hell) but necessary to advance my career. Following graduate school that kind of reading persisted as I leaned hard on academic journals and the hallmark mental health texts to try and become the kind of therapist I thought I needed to be. I don’t regret it now, but it was certainly a departure from the relationship I had with books at a young age.

Books used to be less informational & more entertaining

When I was young, I used to LOVE reading. So much so that I got chastised (and maybe that’s a strong word) for reading too much and not being outside enough - doing all the kinds of things that other boys do. That’s not to say I didn’t have my fun exploring the woods in suburban/rural North Carolina. I definitely did. I had my own collection of stick weapons and hiding spots that my imagination helped make real.When I was younger reading was a legitimately fun leisure actively. I loved being able to venture into unknown worlds and get to know people I never would have had the opportunity to meet in my small town. I loved being able to see writers delving deeply into the language of feelings, exploring their characters motivations and choices. In my mind I was having conversations with writers (and their characters) about the nature of people and why we do the things we do. I also wanted to win all the pizza parties and buy a ridiculous amount of books for Accelerated Reader. Anybody else?

Coming back to books

As I began writing The Shadow Work Workbook I made a committment to myself (and the author gods) to get back into reading - and mostly for entertainment and leisure. This lead me to Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour⁠ and The Last of the Mentally Ill, written by my friend Joseph Rauch (and oh so good!) among some other really great books that you can find on my Instagram. It's been great to see how both fiction, and non-fiction writers utilize form and voice to share their stories create impact. And, now, as a reader I have a different kind of lens. But more than that, I've noticed that my days feel a bit richer as I dig into these characters' lives, which is definitely something to be thankful for these days.If you've had a similar journey with reading, just know that it's OK to ease your way back into reading for enjoyment and that's not something for which you need to feel guilty. Take your time and enjoy these books just as they were designed for you to do!

Rethinking Coping Skills on the Mood Ring Podcast

Do you ever struggle with guilt after using a coping strategy? If so, you're not alone.

I was able to join host Anna Borges on her podcast, Mood Ring, to talk about out sh*tty coping mechanisms and offered some tips on managing guilt and coping in ways that work best for you.

Listen to the episode below!

Self-Care is Not Always Instagrammable - Sometimes it's Just Banal

Self-care has been commodified by the mainstream as a “lifestyle” that’s only right if it’s complete with certain products and gadgets only afforded to those with the most resources. But self-care is so much more than that.

Self-care can Mean Doing Hard Work

Self-care isn’t only about indulging in bath bombs and other luxurious practices. Sometimes it is also very hard work. It can be doing something that you want to do that you know will bring relief (I personally love a long, warm bath to decompress) but might also look like doing things that are far less desirable. We must not forget that self-care is also all the boring, and sometimes hard, stuff that we like to forget like:

• Challenging your own negative automatic thoughts

• Making yourself exercise when that’s the last thing you want to do

• Holding yourself accountable for your problematic behavior and making restitution

• Washing your dishes, doing your laundry, etc.

• Attending therapy

• Scheduling your annual check ups

• Doing deep introspection and shadow work

• Grocery shopping

• Brushing your teeth and showering regularly

• Paying your monthly bills

• Calling yourself out on your BS

Obviously, these things are a lot less glamorous than the gram would lead us to believe. But, they are also self-care. Not only do they remind us that self-care is self-preservation but it is also progressive. Many of these are the more day to day ways that we take care of ourselves and sometimes that means taking yourself to task.

Self-Care is Also Holding Yourself Accountable

Of course, I don’t generally advocate for people to shame themselves (or others for that matter). For most of us that doesn’t lead to substantive behavioral change. I know that for some, however, that can be motivating in small amounts.

That aside, self-care is also about keeping your word and holding yourself accountable to do the things you said you wanted to do. It’s sometimes saying to yourself, “I know you don’t want to do this but you’ve got to anyway. Let’s go!” It may also sound like, “If you continue to do what you’re doing you’re not going to get where you want to be.”

No shame. Just pragmatic and real.

So by all means, enjoy your CBD bath bombs and down time (I know I will!) but also don’t forget that sometimes showing yourself care means kicking your own butt a bit. We all need that some times.