Posts tagged fear
Cultivating Security ~ Part 2: Do Relationships Fan the Flames of Our Insecurities, Or Do They Put Out the Fire?
Cultivating Security ~ Part 2: Do Relationships Fan the Flames of Our Insecurities, Or Do They Put Out the Fire?

Romantic, professional, platonic, familial… The relationships in our lives can significantly influence our physical, mental and emotional vitality. Meaningful relationships help us experience a sense of safety and trust, and have been shown to be a critical protective factor against common emotional or social ailments (eg. depression, addiction, etc). Yet we can also be hurt in relationships, which can ignite our insecurities and internal defenses. When we listen carefully and pay attention to our needs and feelings in the context of our relationships, we discover more about how to trust ourselves and others, and we access the incredible healing potential of relationships.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonsecure relationship, relationships, healthy relationships, attachment, insecurities, couples, codependence, discovery, defense mechanisms, fear, trauma, heartbreak, love, loss, opportunity, safety, self-confidence, trust, threat, vulnerability
Redefining Forgiveness and How to Heal Without It
Redefining Forgiveness and How to Heal Without It

“Forgiveness makes me feel weak and vulnerable.” We can be hurt in a plethora of ways, from overt abuse and injustice, to social infractions and insensitive oversights. The latin word for forgive is “perdonare,” which means “to give completely, without reservation.” This literal and limited definition seems to disregard context. Sometimes it is not possible to offer forgiveness to another person, either because they are no longer alive or accessible, or because it doesn’t feel safe or appropriate for us to do so. If we disqualified the term “forgiveness” from any given transgression, what would be our goal for resolving it? In prioritizing resolution instead of reconciliation, healing rather than pardoning, we may discover more clarity of our own experience.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonavoidance, ambiguity, choices, conflict, decisions, defense mechanisms, emotion, empathy, fear, freedom, forgiveness, growth, grief, health, healthy choices, heartbreak, loss, letting go, peace, parasympathetic, release, resilience, safety, security, self-preservation, protective, threat, trust, survival, vulnerability, values, adversity, experience, healing
Let Go of Control and Find Freedom
Let Go of Control and Find Freedom

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” she repeated over and over from the edge of her hospice bed. It still echoes in my ears, along with a residual compulsion to make it better somehow. The powerlessness was palpable. My mind said, “do something!” but my heart knew there was nothing to be done. It’s unbearable to witness the suffering of someone you love. The grasping and sense of urgency is instinctive, but I felt overcome with a haunting paralysis. Then, something shifted. Throughout life we are taught in various ways how to master a sense of control. We think of it as the capacity to determine, restrain, or manage any given situation. But ultimately, control is fleeting and elusive. It’s like trying to chase the ocean waves or catch a bubble in your hands. Just when we think we have it, it eludes us. Are we ever really in control?

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Navigating BalanceErin Masoncontrol, freedom, grief, decisions, powerlessness, empowerment, trust, fear, anxiety, paradox, awareness, acceptance, transition, present moment, spontaneity, ambiguity, discovery, defense mechanisms, equanimity, flexibility, healthy relationships, loss, liberate, letting go, navigate, openness, opportunity, courage, practice, release, resilience, safety, vulnerability
An Abundance Mindset: 4 Ways to Shift Out of Scarcity Thinking
An Abundance Mindset: 4 Ways to Shift Out of Scarcity Thinking

Scarcity is synonymous with inadequacy, deficiency, lack or dearth. Many of us experience scarcity when we operate from a place of not-enoughness. Concepts that characterize this not-enoughness (e.g. scarcity mindset, inferiority complex, imposter syndrome, etc.) have become common vernacular. Scarcity mindset implies a tightening, grasping, fearful and defensive stance. Just as we can get caught in a cycle of threat, shutting down, immobilization and fear, we can also embark on a self-perpetuating journey of choice, openness, flow and enoughness. Approaching our circumstances, decisions, and relationships from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity, allows us to relax, open-up, and trust that whatever is, is enough.

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Cultivating WellnessErin Masonabundance, discovery, empowerment, flow, freedom, fear, growth, gratitude, growth mindset, mindset, openness, opportunity, perspective, resilience, scarcity, trust, threat, transformation, trauma, survival, wellness, awareness, self-worth, self-awareness, choices, security, safety, process, agency, letting go, creative solutions, perception, awe, wonder, values
Why Winter is the Right Time for Reflection
Why Winter is the Right Time for Reflection

The hum of the holiday season is past, and along with it, the social festivities and whirl of excitement and anticipation. Midwinter represents a season of contrasts—cold and cozy, dark and light, death and life. We might find ourselves more susceptible to physical illness, depression, fear, or anxiety during the winter. Yet, this season also offers us an opportunity to reflect, restore our energy and resources, and focus more on what nourishes us. Inside this article are six interesting ways to inspire your winter refections…

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Self-DiscoveryErin Masonreflection, depression, seasonal, water, flow, transformation, healthy living, health, balance, fear, courage, stress, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, self-discovery, hibernate, restorative, restore, introspection, wellness, empowerment, release
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 1 ~~ When We're Closed
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 1 ~~ When We're Closed

As different as our modern life may be in comparison to the primitive threats to survival our ancient ancestors faced, we still encounter a plethora of real and perceived attacks—natural disasters, social and economic injustices, political rivalries, bullying in schools and social media, viruses run amok, and perhaps above all, vastly conflicting views on how to address those threats. When we feel threatened, we contract—physically, emotionally, and mentally. In this defensive position, we tend to operate from a place of fear, judgment toward others (or ourselves), and a need to protect or preserve what we have. What causes us to feel closed, cautious, and uncertain?

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonadversity, authenticity, ambiguity, awareness, defense mechanisms, protective, self-preservation, cancel culture, control, decisions, discovery, empowerment, expansion, covid, collaboration, curiosity, compassion, creative solutions, contraction, fear, resilience, perspective, perception, brain function, survival strategies, risk, threat, trauma, courage, connection, open minded, opportunity, empathy, experience, flexibility, forgiveness, growth, gratitude, health, inspiration, loss, liberate, trust, survival, transformation, negativity bias