Here's The Thing...Lauren Cardinale, CMS-CHt, FIBH, CPC

For most people, family gatherings during the holidays are rarely stress-free. There's nothing in the world as sticky as a dysfunctional family. You feel good, strong and mature, and 15 minutes into a holiday reunion, you still become hopelessly enmeshed in the same old crazy dynamics. Sound familiar? For many people, family get-togethers require strategies for staying out of such sticky situations. Before you head over the river and through the woods, we’re going to talk about the common sticky situations at family gatherings and what you can do to preserve your good feelings and feel ok afterwards.

Most of us have been badly hurt or even betrayed by someone close to us. We know the healthy thing to do is to practice forgiveness, but how do we forgive when we are still angry or feel that the other person hasn't taken responsibility? We discuss this powerful and important topic to shift understanding of what it really means to forgive - and the balance between forgiveness, compassion, and self-respect - because forgiveness is actually about getting your power back - NOT giving it up!

So, how old are you? How often do you get that question – perhaps not very often past the age of 13, but why? Because of the sensitivities around it! Oh, the expectations with each age - whose expectations? Just about everyone. The age to get married, or have kids, what we're supposed to be doing, look like and feel at 30, 40, 50 and up! Do you hide your age? Do you believe that if people really knew your age, things would change for you? Why do we have so many attachments and expectations?! Tonight we’ll be talking about WHO'S GOT YOUR NUMBER?" Age, the attachments, and why it really is JUST A NUMBER!

EVERYBODY wants it, BUT it’s not something that everyone is actively trying to create. What is that? Confidence. MY question is “why”. What is it about confidence that makes it an attractive feeling, a way of being, and ultimately, an identity trait? I am teeing up the conversation on the topic of confidence – and the differences between confidence, self-confidence and self-esteem. Yes, you heard that right. I believe that by breaking out the three, we can better identify where we are, and most importantly, take the necessary, appropriate and best next action to create the changes we desire. Listen to find out more!

Our negative thoughts can create anxiety, anger, resentment, jealousy—an array of emotions. Negative thinking is normal. However, if this way of thinking becomes incessant, it can lead to depression and self-destructive behavior like addictions, derailing us from what we want most in life. At minimum, negative thinking saps our energy, erodes our self-confidence and can put us in a bad mood. Certainly, many would agree that our thoughts come and go so quickly that it’s seems impossible to notice them, but with awareness and an attitude of self-compassion, we can redirect our negative thoughts to more positive ones. Listen in - and with my special guest, Donna Miller, we’ll talk about the power of thoughts and self talk – as THOUGHT PRECEDES FORM, and Donna will share with us about her journey as an example of what is possible for all of us.