https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog daily 0.75 2024-10-01 https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/are-you-traumatized-by-invalidation monthly 0.5 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/4517f8da-1f2b-44ca-a5cb-7f1862e93f27/Invalidation-Trauma.png Blog - Are You Traumatized by Invalidation? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/98a853bf-f1ae-4414-a06d-a439ef4b2fcf/Healing-From-Invalidation-Trauma.png Blog - Are You Traumatized by Invalidation? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/understanding-your-emotional-truth-a-path-to-healing-from-trauma monthly 0.5 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/c79646c3-40f6-4fbd-9ffb-e7683e82aed7/Your-Emotional-Truth-A-Path-To-Healing-Trauma.png Blog - Understanding Your Emotional Truth: A Path to Healing from Trauma - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/does-emotional-validation-in-therapy-feel-unfamiliar-if-so-you-are-not-alone monthly 0.5 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/11d2b93b-8bd3-4eb0-a748-ee52ce3dbc07/Emotion-Validation-Therapy.png Blog - Does Emotional Validation in Therapy feel unfamiliar? If so, you are not alone. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/mbryrctgyn3s5ihgy6akf4tz5qqjtt monthly 0.5 2024-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/30dc24a6-da0c-4663-8958-a4780d823502/Strategies+Moral+Injury+Education.png Blog - Worse Than Burnout: Moral Injury is Hurting Teachers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/5010f004-0d9a-43b9-8d5d-3053a250f0c4/Moral+Injury+Education+Teachers.png Blog - Worse Than Burnout: Moral Injury is Hurting Teachers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/541c14ae-5056-4d41-8aa8-a0760da0f6f9/Moral+Injury+Education+Teacher.png Blog - Worse Than Burnout: Moral Injury is Hurting Teachers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/empowering-educators-and-teachers-understanding-moral-distress-and-dismantling-the-ideal-worker-narrative monthly 0.5 2024-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/eb2e794d-51e6-4430-9cdd-9b5c8541685c/Moral+Distress+Teacher+Educator+1.png Blog - Teachers Are Affected and They Don't Know It - Moral Distress & The Ideal Worker Myth - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/dear-cycle-breaker-unraveling-the-complexities-of-intergenerational-trauma-amp-healing monthly 0.5 2024-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/c1b3c7c7-bda1-48b8-8f26-da3305e2d6fb/5b6117a9f360a54147694ff903098bd1faa85a0986f8d10d410f8f0c4ab4839c.png Blog - Dear Cycle Breaker - Unraveling the Complexities of Intergenerational Trauma & Healing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/d38a15ec-7fb1-4c33-8b5a-867ea960241e/c692dd495abe3210a55ef71523f7b4d8a5420a16feafb480f3988f9082920440.png Blog - Dear Cycle Breaker - Unraveling the Complexities of Intergenerational Trauma & Healing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/the-myth-of-the-one-and-relationship-anxiety-debunking-the-fairy-tale monthly 0.5 2024-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/04f6dd47-5c0e-4326-8c7e-ab50fdabf5df/Myth-of-the-one-butterflies.png Blog - The Myth of "The One" and Relationship Anxiety: Debunking the Fairy Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/204b7e34-140b-4cb4-ade5-3d72cfaee5be/The+Myth+of+the+One.png Blog - The Myth of "The One" and Relationship Anxiety: Debunking the Fairy Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/9e81f45e-6cee-42a9-bfa0-6e2fef815f03/Healthy+relationships.jpg Blog - The Myth of "The One" and Relationship Anxiety: Debunking the Fairy Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/the-benefits-of-childhood-trauma-therapy monthly 0.5 2024-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/5f65f0b6-cc14-4579-9982-290de5b88797/Benefits+of+childhood+trauma+therapy.png Blog - The Benefits of Childhood Trauma Therapy for Adults - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/letting-go-of-people-pleasing-how-permission-and-reassurance-seeking-holds-us-back monthly 0.5 2024-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/9ca84534-e6a6-4349-b355-55f42ad6f812/Letting+go+of+People+Pleasing-+How+Permission+and+Reassurance+Seeking+Holds+Us+Back.jpg Blog - Letting go of People Pleasing: How Permission and Reassurance Seeking Holds Us Back - Make it stand out Breaking the Cycle of Reassurance Dependence Reassurance dependence is another common pitfall on the road to self-discovery. It's the incessant need to seek validation and reassurance from others, even at the expense of our own autonomy and well-being. Whether it's constantly seeking approval from friends, family, or even strangers on social media, this addiction can leave us feeling perpetually inadequate and dependent on others for validation. Breaking free from reassurance dependence requires a conscious effort to cultivate self-confidence and trust in our own judgment. It means learning to quiet the inner voice that constantly seeks external validation and instead listening to our intuition and inner wisdom. It's about recognizing that true confidence comes from within, rather than from the opinions of others. Embracing Self-Validation One of the most empowering steps we can take on our journey to self-discovery is learning to validate ourselves. Instead of constantly seeking approval from others, we can cultivate a deep sense of self-worth and confidence that comes from within. This means acknowledging our strengths, celebrating our accomplishments, and embracing our unique qualities without seeking external validation. It also means affirming to ourselves what actually makes us happy, rather than letting others/society tell us what ought to make us happy. Transitioning from seeking external validation to embracing self-validation isn't always easy. It requires getting in touch with deeply ingrained beliefs and patterns of behaviour, but the rewards are well worth the effort. When we learn to validate ourselves, we become less reliant on others for approval and more resilient in the face of criticism or rejection. We no longer need permission to pursue our dreams because we trust ourselves enough to take the leap. Overcoming Fear of Failure One of the underlying reasons we seek permission and reassurance from others is a fear of failure. We worry that if we make a decision on our own and it doesn't turn out as planned, we'll be judged or criticized by others. This fear can hold us back from taking risks and pursuing our goals with confidence. However, it's essential to remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process. Instead of viewing failure as a reflection of our worth or abilities, we can see it as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. When we embrace failure as a teacher rather than a threat, we become less afraid to take risks and more resilient in the face of setbacks. Cultivating Self-Trust At the heart of overcoming permission and reassurance-seeking lies the cultivation of self-trust. This means learning to trust our instincts, intuition, and inner wisdom to guide us on our journey. It's about recognizing that we have the power and agency to make decisions that align with our values and desires, without constantly seeking approval from others. Building self-trust takes time and practice, but it's a crucial step on the path to self-discovery and empowerment. We can start by tuning into our inner voice and paying attention to how it guides us in different situations. We can also practice making small decisions without seeking external validation, gradually building our confidence in our ability to trust ourselves. Empowering Yourself: Seeking Blessings Instead of Approval As we embark on our journey of self-discovery and empowerment, it's essential to redefine our relationship by seeking validation from those we love – our parents, our partners, and our friends. Rather than seeking their approval, we can strive to seek their blessing as we step into the next phase of our lives. In many cultures and traditions, receiving a parent's blessing represents a significant transition from childhood to adulthood, marking the beginning of our journey as independent individuals. What You Actually Desire: Their Blessing Seeking a parent, friend or partner’s blessing is not about asking for permission or approval; instead, it's about acknowledging the significance of their role in our lives and inviting their support as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We can express our gratitude for their guidance and wisdom while affirming our readiness to take responsibility for our choices and actions. Both can coexist. In our modern society, the ritual of seeking a parent's blessing may seem outdated or overlooked, but its psychological importance remains as crucial as ever. By engaging in this ritual, we not only honour our parents but also affirm our own autonomy and agency. It serves as a symbolic gesture of acknowledgment and respect, signalling to both ourselves and our loved ones that we are ready to embrace the challenges and joys of adulthood. Making Your Intentions Clear When seeking a parent, friend, or partner’s blessing, it's essential to communicate our intentions clearly and openly. We can express our gratitude for their love and support while articulating our commitment to forging our own path in life. By framing our request for a blessing in terms of seeking their guidance and wisdom rather than seeking their approval, we empower both ourselves and our parents to embrace this transition with grace and acceptance. It's also crucial to recognize that seeking their blessing is not about seeking validation or permission to live our lives according to someone else's expectations. Instead, it's about affirming our own values, desires, and aspirations while inviting our parents to share in our journey as supportive allies rather than authority figures. This shift in perspective can help us break free from the cycle of seeking external validation and empower us to trust ourselves more fully as we navigate the complexities of adulthood. If you have read this far, thank you! I encourage you to take the first step on your journey to self-empowerment today. Trust yourself, believe in your abilities, and remember that you have the power to create the life you desire. Embrace your autonomy and watch as your inner potential unfolds before your eyes. Did this land for you, and are you interested in working with me? I offer virtual psychotherapy for adults who struggle with people pleasing, relationship insecurities and recovery from relationship trauma, virtually in Ottawa, and province-wide in Ontario, Canada. https://www.roadtoself.ca/blog/nourishing-more-than-the-body-a-holistic-approach-to-eating-disorders monthly 0.5 2024-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658d7fb5db15b912df044323/c5e5148f-20b9-4acc-8631-12f6c6b6b541/Two+hands+and+a+softball+-+ED+recovery+internal+family+systems+IFS.png Blog -  Nourishing More Than the Body: A Holistic Approach to Eating Disorders - Make it stand out Picture this: imagine holding a softball between your hands—it feels comfortable and sustainable. This balance is what we strive for in recovery. 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