My new book: Finding Your Authentic Self: An Illustrated Journey to Well-being
Thank you to everyone who’s ordered a copy and left a review. Your support means a lot to me and helps the book reach even more people.
Hello friends,
New post: How to embrace your shadow
Do you ever feel extra triggered by specific people - like a parent, sibling, colleague, or neighbour? Chances are, what you are triggered by isn’t entirely them, but also a part of your self.
The shadow is an aspect of our self that we have rejected or suppressed because it is too painful to acknowledge. Instead, we unconsciously project this part onto others. Shining light on our shadows is an important step in truly accepting ourselves and developing emotional mastery.
For me, the “3-2-1 Shadow Process” has been a helpful way to do this, and I’ve shared illustrations of it on my blog. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Treasure I’ve found recently
[TV Show] My partner and I have been binge-watching the Good Place, which is a delightful mix of comedy, philosophy, and fantasy. Each episode feels like a bite-sized snack seasoned with a bit of existential questioning - kudos to the writers for pulling that off.
Moments that made me smile
Adorably fat squirrels staring down at me from naked trees on my morning walks around the neighbourhood. I’m glad to know they’re thriving this winter.
A friend who I haven’t seen in many years unexpectedly dropped into virtual Cozy Cafe last week. We had a beautiful heart-connecting conversation about our life journeys, spiritual growth, and cultivating creativity. We were both delighted by several synchronicities, including that she was temporarily staying in my neighbourhood! We’ve since grabbed coffee in-person and have scheduled a creative writing session together.
Gathering with friends to celebrate Lunar New Year by making dumplings, eating hotpot, and being distracted by the stunning performances of the Spring Festival Gala on TV. I love the diversity of the friends who joined - people born in mainland China, Hong Kong, Canada, US, and Albania. Amongst those of us from Canada and the US, we have backgrounds of Chinese, Korean, Indian, and Italian. I appreciate how curious we are to learn about each other’s traditions, and to live in a country where all cultures are appreciated. Amidst the many conflicts happening in the world right now, it’s a nice reminder that this peaceful reality is possible and very much alive here in Canada.
This washroom in a local cafe, labelled as “The Thinking Room”.
Questions for reflection
On the topic of shadow:
In what ways is your shadow showing up in your perception of others?
On the topic of diversity:
In what ways are you helping others understand and appreciate your own culture?
In what ways are you learning about and appreciating the cultures of other people?