Resources for parents

My soul was dying. Every decision I was making was sending me further into a life that I was baffled was mine. How did I get here??

I spent over a decade sitting in countless living rooms with heart broken families. Functioning as the “Lead” on the family system, with my “trusty” Behavioral Health Professional in tow, I worked to support a child to feel whole in a mental health system that told them they were broken.

It was like beating my head against the wall some days.

Don’t get me wrong, I adored so many of the families. But I wanted to pluck them out of the service where we were all labeled, and place them within new confines. Something a little more warm and cozy, if you will.

Something where the child was whole within a system that was broken.

The longer I stayed the more drained and disconnected I felt. #soulcrushing

After a decade of yelling or crying after my clinical work day, I decided, “Nope, this is not going to be my life.”

When I sat with myself in my most HONEST heart, I knew my soul needed a shift. If I didn’t do something different the crack within me was going to break.

I quit my job as a licensed home-based family counselor, picked up a dog walking gig and headed into the woods with a huge weight already lifted off my shoulders. I stomped all the “shoulds” away with each canine adventure.

It was those quiet moments in the woods that I was able to breathe and be alone with my thoughts. And then without my thoughts. I emerged from those walks with a completely new mindset.

“I am going to spend my days doing what makes me happy.”

Once I realized that awakening also meant I was going to be starting a business – the one that my soul was calling me to create – I knew exactly what to call it.

Trust Your Gut, Inc.

The name came from another life changing experience where my inner wisdom presented itself with utmost clarity. And I did not listen.

In my twenties I began a relationship where my initial instinct before entering the commitment was, “this is going to end badly.”

Fast forward five years and I thought my life was going to be over in a murder/suicide, in my own home.

The message that night had been strong and direct. It was a deep knowing that I ignored.

When I emerged alive, I promised myself I would listen to myself, honor myself, TRUST myself.

This is MY LIFE. The only human experience I get. I am going to let my soul lead the way.

My soul already knows what it wants and needs. And it leads with love.

Your soul knows too.

Are you ready to listen?

Holy shit you guys, are you feeling the pressure too!? The pressure for a drastic change. Like your life depends on it?

I feel it. Big time.

When I was a kid my dream was to save the world. I really thought I could do it too. I didn’t know how but I knew that something within me could do something really f-ing cool. I believed in myself.

And then elementary school hit. And then middle school. And high school.

And all the “shoulds” that I THOUGHT I had to internalize.

I SHOULD be skinny, popular and pretty. I SHOULD go to college. I SHOULD have a boyfriend. I SHOULD say and do whatever makes other people happy with me.

I shifted my focus from self to others as if they had the answer.

And became Miserable (yes, with a capital M) trying to be someone that I am not.

I forgot that I know who I am.

AND I like who I am. 

AND if you don’t like me, I am A-OK with that.

AND I know that I was made for so much more. #unique #different #special #neverperfect

AND SO ARE YOU.

To every preteen and teenager, to every black sheep and square peg, to every young soul feeling lost and lonely…THE PRESSURE IS ON, my dears, because your life depends on it.

Do you KNOW that you are being shoved into a box that you do not fit? Do you know that our culture desperately (I will beg, if need be) needs some big shifts for survival?

The world needs all that unique, different and special thinking because WE NEED A CHANGE.

We need you. #talkaboutpressure

But the amazing news is that YOU ARE ENOUGH. Everything is already within you. Our society and its crappy values clouded you a bit, but no worries. YOU ARE STRONG.

You may be reading this thinking, “yeah right, me? I don’t think so.”

I gotta admit, its thats bull crap THINKING that gets me fired up, ready to bootcamp-cheerleader style you into BELIEVING something different of yourself. #cantstop #wontstop

I am obsessed with people knowing their worth. It’s my souls calling.

AND, my dears, believe me when I say, you can create the exact life that you want. Not the one that your family, or your teachers, or your friends are telling you it should be.

You can CREATE the life that makes you happy and healthy, from your cells to your soul.

You have the power.

#ibelieveinyou Are you ready to start believing in yourself?

Talk soon, peace and love, Kelly

#coach #trainer #counselor #teacher #writer #wife #mom #human #lifer

Oh, my heart! Oh, YOUR heart!

My sweet soul, please check in with your heart. It is not doing well and cannot go on for its entire existence in this state of heartbreak.

YOU cannot continue with this heartbreak!

You know this. You can feel it.

I give you mad credit. You have been so amazing at numbing your feelings for the last few years. And yet there is still this little ping of knowing that you just cannot shake. No matter all the ways you have tried. #ITriedThemToo

That little force within that is swirling, “You were made for more than this.”

“Stop doubting yourself.”

“Start loving yourself.”

That inner urge won’t leave you. It is your internal guidance system. You can continue to ignore it, of course, and stay your course. Which we know will bring you more heartache. #Depression #Anxiety #SelfHatred

You know this.

Or you could take a breath.

What if you chose to breathe in all that you are?

What if you chose to believe that you are worthy?

What if you chose to rebel against our cultural norms and love yourself anyway?

Sit and breathe these questions in, my dear, and jot down what comes up.

This is where my mind goes with that daydream…

What if because you chose to believe in yourself, you helped to change the world…

What if because you fully embraced yourself you brought more love to your life…

What if because you honored every feeling within, you felt empowered to release and invite the energy that serves you…

I think it’s time. It feels like you are ready.

Ready to think some new thoughts, believe some new beliefs, feel some new feelings. Yeah?

Big breath.

You are love. You are loved.

Your heart is ready, friend. Say hello.