Posts tagged love
Love Contradiction
Love Contradiction

Love is confusing. We navigate family pressures, social comparisons, and childhood fantasies as we try to make high-stakes decisions about our future. We encounter conflicting messages ranging from “You deserve better” to “It could be worse.” We are told not to depend on anyone else to make us happy and fulfilled, and yet, studies show that people in meaningful relationships tend to be healthier and happier. Online dating (curating and perusing profiles, responding to messages, coordinating meetups, etc) has been referred to as a full-time job. Analysis paralysis, dating fatigue, and disillusionment are rampant as more people withdraw from daunting dating prospects or settle for unfulfilling partnerships to avoid the risk of starting over. What if we accepted that love is fickle and stopped trying so hard to control it? Rather than white knuckling our way into love, what if we let go and throw our hands in the air. Not in defeat. In liberation and in trust.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonlove, dating, relationships, discovery, breakup, letting go, openness, security, vulnerability
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
The Dance: How to Ask for Space Without Stepping on Each Other's Toes
The Dance: How to Ask for Space Without Stepping on Each Other's Toes

Overlapping work demands, social schedules, and family obligations can take a toll on our relationship with our partner. We may feel like we’ve lost connection. We may feel taken for granted. We may crave time alone or separate from our partner. How can we ask for what we need without potentially upsetting our partner? What if one person wants more time together and the other needs time apart? It can be painful when the needs of our partner conflict with our own needs. Yet the tension of conflicting needs and the process (“dance”) of discovering resolution can help us to recalibrate, reconnect, and ultimately establish a deeper level of intimacy.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonboundaries, balance, couples, couples therapy, relationships, connection, discovery, healthy relationships, interdependence, independence, love, mutuality, perspective, security, secure relationship, trust, truth, transition, exploration, vulnerability, values, time, space, conflict, honesty, non-judgement, curiosity, self-awareness, communication, self-regulation, partner, attunement, intimacy
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 2 ~~ Why and How to Open
~~ Expanding Inside Out: Part 2 ~~ Why and How to Open

As we enter into the holidays, we may find ourselves challenged to be around people with whom we disagree. We seem to increasingly judge those who don’t think, believe, or vote like us, and lash out against one another based on vaccination status, political affiliation, and personal priorities. Life is not binary. It’s not as simple as good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, black vs. white, blue vs. red, you vs. me. Life is a continuum of experiences and perspectives. How can we challenge ourselves to imagine what it’s like to see through another person’s eyes? Empathy is the art of figuratively stepping into another person’s shoes, and imagine what it’s like to be them. The ability to imagine an experience outside of our own helps to connect us with compassion. Compassion is the bridge to our shared experiences and our common humanity. In this article, consider four questions to inspire an expanded perspective, an abundant mindset, and curious compassion…

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonadversity, authentic life, ambiguity, aspirations, connection, compassion, choices, empowerment, empathy, growth, gratitude, healthy relationships, hope, intention, letting go, liberate, opportunity, courage, paradox, practice, perspective, resilience, trust, transformation, vulnerability, strength, love, openness, expansion, curiosity, abundance, mindset, security, equanimity, values
The Olympics of Relationships
The Olympics of Relationships

Navigating relationships should be its own Olympic sport! It requires endurance, practice, perseverance and commitment, not to mention to ability to skillfully overcome hurdles. We bring our own values, beliefs, aspirations and expectations, and we speak our own respective “love languages.” Finding ways to interconnect and interact with one another is not always smooth, easy or straight forward. Exploring five basic categories of romantic partnerships (independence, mutuality, interdependence, dependence, and co-dependence), we are reminded that relationship dynamics fluctuate. Sometimes we need more closeness. Sometimes we need more space. Experiment and discover what feels right for you in your relationship... it's an ever-evolving process.

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People and RelationshipsErin Masonrelationships, romance, love, codependence, interdependence, mutuality, identity, discovery, flexibility, harmony, healthy relationships, perseverance, resilience, independence, trust, integration
The Power of a Broken Heart
The Power of a Broken Heart

It may seem unusual to write an article about heartbreak in honor of Valentine’s Day, but somehow it feels fitting considering the experience of the last year. The impact of chronic stress, self-neglect (poor diet, sedentary lifestyle), and lack of social connection (supportive relationships) all contribute to poor cardiovascular health. As much as we may be susceptible to heartbreak or heart disease, we are also full of potential for heart fortifying and heart healing. We can support the heart, not only through improved lifestyle choices, but also in recognizing and honoring the profound power it holds. Discover three simple ways to connect to the heart and why it’s important…

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Cultivating WellnessErin Masonadversity, breakup, connection, discovery, emotion, empowerment, yoga, heart, heartbreak, healing, love, loss, mindfulness, hope, perseverance, resilience, strength, trust, vulnerability, breathe, confidence