Living in Abundance: 5 steps to Loving What You Have
"If you look at what you have in life, you will always have enough. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough." Oprah Winfrey.…
Are You a Control Freak? 7 Ways to Cope with Anxiety Induced Control
Do you struggle with anxiety-induced control? Are there times where you feel like a control freak when things don't go your way? Is controlling anything you can, a coping mechanism…
Tolerant? 5 Ways We Can All listen to Each Other Better
The definition of tolerance is non-judgmental and open to difference; tendency to be generally free of prejudice. International day of tolerance is on November 16th, and I was just thinking…
Why is Healing So Hard? Five Pitfalls That Kept Me Stuck In My Healing Journey
When we deny the story, it defines us. When we own the story we can write a brave new ending. Brené Brown Why is healing so hard? If you have…
How Body Neutrality Taught Me to Appreciate a Body I Don’t Like
Every body is different. And yet I know I'm not alone in having this image of how my body should look. For years I've worked to love my body. For…
Embarking on Growth: Purple Sweet Potatoes Brought Me Closer to My Grandfather
"Where there is no gardener there is no garden." -Wolfgang von Goethe . This quote reminds me of a conversation that my grandfather and I had after we lost my…
4 Things You Can Do When Your Best Doesn’t Feel Like Enough
I sat on the couch watching my daughter play with her toys; my eyes starting to fill with tears. Feeling overwhelmed and beating myself up for how the day had…
Your Past: How to Let That Shit Go and Move On!
I'm sure you've heard the saying, "the past is a lesson, not a prison" or something close to that. Dang, why did it take me fortysomething years to figure this…
Four Disability History Topics That Should Be Taught In Schools
American history is the story of African Americans, Native Americans, women, immigrants, the LGBTQ and all marginalized people. The version of history taught in classrooms is often just one side…
Beautiful natural autumn background. Red maple leaves against the background of the evening autumn sky. Shallow depth of field.
Let Go with Fall: 7 Ways to Change with the Season
My favorite season is here, welcome Fall! The trees are beginning to transition and it's time to acknowledge a similar change within ourselves. The changing seasons can be a guide…
The Power of the Pause: 5 Ways to Add a Little Space in Your Life
Pause. Feel your heartbeat. Take a big breath in and let your lungs inflate as full as they can. Pause and hold. Now exhale and let all that luscious breath…
Footprints Outlined in Wisdom: A Poem for the Heart
Footprints Outlined in Wisdom: Poetry by Natasha Ross Full Sun Full Moon, Full Sky, Full Bloom, looming at the end of summer. Drawings of your love fill my heart. courageously…
How to Have a Clean House: A Mom’s Guide to Peace With Your Home
I feel like a maid. I spend my day just cleaning up after everyone and I feel lost in the to-do list. I'm on Pinterest yet again trying to get…
Spite is the Enemy, Not the Woman Next to Me.
Successful women surround me and it's so incredibly beautiful until I get a knot in my stomach. It happens slowly, but then quickly. Spite blurs my vision and creates lies…
Four Things The Mental Health System Taught Me
I have been utilizing the mental health system since I was 10 years old. It was at that age that I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Major Anxiety…
Kindergarten Is Calling: The Bittersweet Blessing of Letting Go
I’ve been counting down the years, watching them turn into months. Always keeping my eye on the proverbial clock that’s been ticking away since she was born. And now, according…
Tips How NOT to Pass Your New School Year Anxiety onto Your Kids
Were you one of those kids that couldn't wait to get the school supply list? Run to the store and gather all those clean crisp notebooks and markers? Well, I…
24 Favorite Inspirational Quotes for Women to Empower and Uplift
No matter what stage in life you are in, let these 24 inspirational quotes for women help you see and know your worth. Life can get hard sometimes and as…
Losing My Religion: An Imperfect Journey to Finding My Faith Again
If you’re anything like me, the title of this article may have scared you away. Losing religion? Finding faith? Yikes. Religion can be a touchy subject; delicate at best, offensive…
Friends and Friendships…Healthy or Toxic? How Do You View Yours?
How do we view our friends and are our friendships? Healthy or toxic? Have you found yourself arguing with your friends after they've disagreed with you? Do you see your…
A Love Letter To A Graduating Senior: Signed, a 30-Year Post Graduate
Dear Graduating Senior, I write to you as one who is now a 30-year post-high-school graduate. One thing I can say is: hold on---oh, what adventure and joy lay ahead…
Guilt Trippin’: Reframing Our Guilt for the Greater Good
Recently, I was chatting with a friend of mine. School had been cancelled for consecutive days in a row, thanks to massive amounts of snow dumped on our side of…
Living Out Her Legacy: Five Life Lessons My Grandma Taught Me
I’m cuddled up under one of my grandma’s blankets. A Mendoza painting of hers is now hanging in my entryway, a statement piece I’d overlooked countless times when it hung…
Stop Calling Yourself a Recovering Perfectionist: Perfect Isn’t Always Bad
I used to say it all the time. "I am a recovering perfectionist." What I really meant was more along the lines of, "Yeah, yeah, I know it's a bad…
Do I Complain Too Much? 7 Things That Can Help
As I listen to my internal and external dialogue, it strikes me that I hear a lot of complaining. Coming from me. I'm the one doing all the complaining. So…
3 Ways to Own Your Story, Unmask the Past, and Take Back the Future
A Different Kind of Mask Recently I found a series on Netflix called Imposters. Essentially there is a crew of thieves that create lives to leave their victims heartbroken and…
Kindness: Make it Part of Your Legacy!
Perhaps the only legacy worth having is to have been known as a kind and compassionate person. -Unknown What exactly is kindness? A quick google search gives a simple definition;…
Extreme Self-Care: 3 Big Takeaways from 5 Days by Myself at the Beach
Due to a series of unexpected events at the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to spend 5 days of extreme self-care by myself at the beach. I'd…
The Aftermath: Pressing Through the Pain to Find Healing After Trauma
Warning: traumatic birth story detailed below. Please read on with caution as the material or descriptions may be triggering. Every January, as his birthday draws near, I have a tightness…
Seeing My Daughter in a New Light: Through the Lens of COVID
I was 26 years old when I birthed my daughter, the final child we were to have...the icing on our cake. She was, like her older brothers, a joy to…
New Year’s Resolutions: What 2020 Can Teach us About Goal Setting
Each year around half of Americans set a New Year's resolution. In contrast, less than 10% stick to it or remember the goal past February. However, I think most people…
Enjoy Your Holiday Food Without Guilt! Busting Myths and Answering Your Intuitive Eating FAQ’s
If you’ve been following me for even a short time, you probably know that I am passionate about Intuitive Eating. It is my absolute delight to help my clients free…
Rejection is Necessary: Why We Don’t Have to Fear It
“Thank you for your interest, but unfortunately your post was not chosen this time around.” Those words were tough to read, and even tougher to swallow. When I started writing…
This is What 59 Looks Like: Redefining the Aging Process
Old Before My Time I thought I was old at thirty-nine. Through no fault of our own, my husband and I had suffered a devastating financial setback that left us…
Mom Burnout: Finding Balance in a Season that has us Burning at Both Ends
What do you think of when I say the word balance? Do you picture the perfect system or a schedule that FINALLY makes motherhood feel balanced? What we experience in…
Calling All Peacemakers: Making Peace with the Need to Keep the Peace
Being a peacemaker is a lot of work. I’ve been trying to keep the peace in one way or another, with one person or another, for years. And in today’s…
Embracing Distraction with Kindness: Tips for Intentional Writing
With my cup of coffee steaming, the notion was simple: it was the perfect morning to enjoy some creative writing. Free from any plans and distraction-free, I was excited to…
Becoming Solution Oriented: 4 Tips to Shift Your Mindset
So often we focus on the problem we have at hand, we obsess over why it happened. We complain, we vent, we get it off our chest. I do this…
Change: Transitioning Well Through the Different Seasons of Life
As she entered this world, she needed me to physically care for her every need. It was essential that she have me hold, change, feed, bathe, clothe, and nurture her. Then,…
Making Sense of Who We Are in a Nonsensical, Non-complacent World
I love the recognition that humans are never complacent creatures, that we embody different versions of ourselves during different times of our lives. This concept is as equally exciting as…
I Believed the Lie that I was Unworthy; Turns out I am Worthy
Worthiness. I am going to be honest with you. This word makes me uncomfortable. Like, to my core. I suffered years of emotional and verbal abuse in my childhood and…
Confessions of a Procrastinator: From Procrastination to Productivity
I have a dirty little secret. Actually, for those who know me well, it’s no secret at all. I am a procrastinator. On the surface, I seem to be a…
My Husband’s Happiness is Not My Responsibility
June 30, 2002, I walked into a random church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Little did I know that a handsome man would hit on me there and later become my…
Lessons I’ve learned From My Curly Hair: Wisdom for Navigating Life
Lessons I've learned from my curly hair. Where do I begin? Curly hair. Love it or hate it, it’s mine. There’s no escaping it. Since the moment my hair began…
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: We Adjust and Move Forward
The doctor glanced up at me after examining my daughter and gently explained, “We’re going to go ahead and make an appointment for her at the children’s hospital downtown.” Well,…
What Perspective Am I to Hold on to?
These last few months have been disorienting. To gather enough focus to put pen to paper and write down my thoughts has been daunting. The struggle to identify up from…
The Power of Remembering: Reflections from Childhood
Remembering back to my childhood, I reflected on arriving at the base of my favorite tree. I was ten years old looking up and squinting into the Texas sunshine. I…
Help and Be Helped: What Makes Accepting Help So Hard?
I love helping people. It makes me feel purposeful and fulfilled. Every time I’ve taken an Enneagram test, I’m a 2. “The Helper.” I want to bring meals to you…
It’s Not Only Okay To Talk About The Hard, It’s Necessary!
"Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage."-Brene Brown Life is filled with so many amazing moments. There is so much to celebrate, so much to be grateful for, so…
Asking for Help: The Hard. The Beauty. The Freedom.
I. Need. Help. Three words that bring rise to a myriad of feelings, emotions and physical reactions. To ask for help is to be vulnerable. It’s scary. It’s risky. And…
Your Legacy is Still Yours to Create- How Will You Build It?
My maternal grandmother lived in a small town in Iowa. She wore curlers in her hair at night and didn’t leave the house without lipstick. Just thinking about her lasagna…
Let Yourself Go: Breaking Free From Harmful Self Control
How many of you cringed just reading the words "Let yourself go"? From a very early age we are exposed to external forms of control. Parents tell us when to…
The Power in a Personal Development Conference
I recently attended a personal development conference called Rise, created by Rachel Hollis (more info here). This excited me so much that I bought the tickets the day they released.…
The Importance of Having People Like Us and Un-like Us!
I'm a big believer in finding our circle, squad, or tribe. Individuals who have similar ideas, beliefs, and values is important because they will encourage, support and cheer us on.…
Losing My Voice, Gaining Perspective: Two Lessons I Learned from Staying Quiet
The quieter you become, the more you can hear.Ram Dass Losing My Voice; Literally Last week, I lost my voice. And I mean that in the literal sense. I went…
Just Begin Again: The Power of Your Personal Reset Button
We've been sold the lie of perfection. Perfection lies out there, somewhere, with someone else. However, life has never been about being perfect. It's always been about being and becoming. And one of the greatest tools we have on our journey of being and becoming is our personal reset button.
Your Kids Are Going To Leave: Stop Expecting Them To Fill Your Needs
Our children are miracles. They make us proud, frustrate and challenge us and they teach us a lot about ourselves. However, they are not ours to keep. We don't own…
Exchanging Our Agendas for a Posture of Curiosity this New Year
It’s the New Year and we all know what that means….New Years Resolutions. While I think the idea behind the practice of making goals for the New Year is good,…
Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect: Embracing the Imperfect
There’s nothing quite like one’s first-ever blog post to serve up a big helping of vulnerability, is there? But really, the craving to be more vulnerable is largely what nudged…
Put Me In, Coach: Why I Quit Therapy to Hire a Coach
I walked into my very first appointment with a therapist around the age of 12. I don’t remember if there was a particular instance that led my parents to make…
Looking Back: A Heart-Centered New Year’s Eve Ritual
Rituals are an integral part of the holiday season. They are shaped by ancestry, faith, and culture, varying from person to person, family to family. A tree with ornaments collected…
Looking Back to Get Ahead: Gratitude and Presence, not Perfection
Does the quest for perfection in the world and in your own heart constantly nag at you? Looking back to get ahead can become a key factor in living well…
This Isn’t A Hallmark Movie! 6 Ways to be Present, Not Perfect, During the Holidays
If you know me, you know I really love a good, sappy Hallmark movie, especially a Christmas one. During the holiday season there's little I enjoy more than snuggling up…
Embracing The Woman I’m Becoming: An Ongoing Journey
"Life is a lively process of becoming"-Douglas MacArthur Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a kid? Perhaps a teacher, a doctor, a ballerina or all…
I Got You, Babe: Creating Authentic Female Friendships
Every December for the last five years or so, when my husband and I sat down to list our goals and intentions for the next year, I’ve included “make new…
Caution Work Ahead: It’s OK to be a work in progress!
My life is in a current state of unrest. I'm a wife, mom of three kids (two are 5 and under), an employee, and an entrepreneur. In my quiet time,…
I’ve Been That Girl! Forgiving Myself For Not Knowing Better
"Forgive yourself for not knowing better at the time. Forgive yourself for giving away your power. Forgive yourself for past behaviors. Forgive yourself for the survival patterns and traits you…
The Power of Our Words in Life and How They Shape the Future
The power of words in our life is something that is so underrated that we trip and fall over it! We don’t recognize this power and neither do we teach it…
Three Core Life Values: Inspiration for the Game of Life and Football Fans
Fall is in the air, which means it is football season! Whether or not you love the game of football like I do, there are some really great life lessons…
Never Is Determined By Our Attitude: Discovering The Word Never
Understanding The Attitude of Never "Never, never, never give up." Was a speech that Winston Churchill gave at his boyhood school one October and was passed on to me as…
Three Ways to Deal with Rejection and Live a Healthy Life
No matter what form it comes in, rejection carries side effects that can throw us off track. Rejection can take away precious moments with loved ones, distract us from doing…
It’s Never Too Late; You Are On Your Own Timeline
"The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something."Antoine de Saint-Exupery I just recently celebrated my birthday, my 31st birthday to be exact. Birthdays are a…
The Siren Song Of A Broken Heart: The Aftershock of Trauma
July is hard, August brings healing. Trauma is a strange thing. Every year I think I’m over it, I think I’ve processed enough. Then September comes, and my mind is…
Oh Lordy I’m Turning 40! Embracing the Other Side of the Hill
Today I turned 40 years old. I am now what is considered "mid-life," "middle aged," and "over the hill." All joking aside, It stops me in my tracks to think…
Be the Dog: Lessons I Learned from my Greyhound
Cat people vs. dog people I am not...strike that. I WAS not a dog person. It's been said that there are two kinds of people in this world...dog people and…
What Happened to the Fairy Tale? Embracing the Reality of Marriage
This year my husband and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary. That's 9 years of some hard work, let me tell ya. I'm not here to tell you about…
Motivation Schmotivation: Why It’s Not Sustainable and What to do About It
We've all been there before. You've decided to change a habit or start working towards a goal. For the first two weeks or so, you're on fire! You keep with…
Self Care: It Isn’t Just About Bubble Baths
Take a minute to imagine your typical work week. At what point in the week do you generally begin to yearn for Friday at 5 pm? (And if you said…
Hitting Rock Bottom: Finding the Blessings in the Hard
"Something very beautiful happens to people when their world has fallen apart; a humility, a nobility, a higher intelligence emerges at just the point when our knees hit the floor."-Marianne…
Young woman and man studying for a test or an exam. Tutor books with friends. Young students campus helps friend catching up and learning. People, learning, education and school concept.
Dave Ramsey is WRONG: Learn a New Way of Doing Things
...well...not entirely. But, if he was the only one I continued to learn from in balancing my budget, then I would have lost an opportunity to grow in my ability…
The Elephant and The Rope: What You Believe is Powerful!
Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt.
There is good, and Not-so-good that comes from Personality Tests
The Good and Not-So-Good Truth About Personality Tests
How many personality tests have you taken lately? There are dozens that all put people into categories of colors, animals, numbers, letters, or languages. There are some good, and not-so-good…
The Problem with Broken: Stop Describing Yourself That Way
I hear people say ALL the time that they are "broken." As a therapist, I would be a rich person if I had a dollar for every time I've heard…
Summer Fun or Summer Bummer? 5 Steps to Help Summer Overwhelm
It’s summer! Does that mean it’s time for lots of fun in the sun or time to find a million ways to entertain your kids who are bouncing off the…
I’m Sorry for Judging You: What Judging Others Really Reveals!
Judgement Reveals I'm sorry for judging you! Recently I stumbled upon a similar title while scrolling through my social media feed. Immediately, without even reading the article, my mind summoned…
I’m Not Where I Thought I’d be at This Point in Life and That’s Just Fine.
Some of you will laugh at me. Mostly those who are older and have already been where I'm heading. Others of you will completely relate in this moment right now.…
The Evolution of my (S)Heroes
Every kid wants a hero. Someone who is bigger, stronger, and more powerful, who will defeat the bad guy, and inspire them to be more. Often it is quoted that…
Closing A Chapter In My Life And Preparing For A New One
I recently started a new phase in my life. A phase that, with all honesty, terrified the heck out of me. I made a decision that had been on my…
Powerful Words – Long Lasting And Far Reaching Effects
Words Are Powerful He was hurting! It all began years before. He was too young to connect the dots of what was happening. It was just life. He didn’t know any…
Grief Happens: Enduring Hardship
Grief is shifty and can be such a thief. Especially in moments where there are squeals of laughter peeling through the air as children chase each other. Or, shrieks of joy…
Living in the Moment and Measuring in the Decade
I have a vivd memory from my childhood of going to a birthday party with my parents for someone who was turning 40. There were black balloons and black signs…
Slow Down: 4 Reasons it’s OK to Slow Down and Ask for Help
We all have times of overwhelm, exhaustion, sickness, and just plain frustration. I'm here to remind you that you have a choice of how to handle those times. Many times…
What a Headache Taught me About my Life
April 2018 I was worried that 6 weeks of daily headaches meant I had a tumor or something major going on. I had put off calling the doctor for fear…
Learning to Love the Hard Times- A Lesson From my Children
Hard times. Are they fun? Do we like them? No! Never! We normally don’t even want to talk about them! They make us cringe and tuck our tails and run!…
Growing Forward: 3 Life Lessons I Learned That Aren’t Taught in School
Recently I was reminded that in order to grow forward, we must embrace our past. It is a part of me that made me into the person I am today,…
The Beauty of Birthdays- Let’s Celebrate
I love March! Not only is it the start of spring when daffodils start popping out their bright yellow heads out of the ground, it's also MY birthday month...and a…
4 Easy Steps to Creating Your Vision and Why You’ll Want to Do It NOW!
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.” - Oprah Winfrey Have you ever thought about what your vision for your life is?…
Opening up to Pain and Not Showing up With a Smile on Our Face.
“Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain. In reality, the strongest people are the ones who feel it, understand it, accept it and learn from…
Which Comes First: Self-Acceptance or Personal Growth?
TRUE OR FALSE? You can't accept yourself and desire personal growth at the same time. Go ahead and think on that for a second. I’ll wait.
Growing Up Together: Part 1 – Setting The Scene & Being Honest
If you’ve arrived here in this sacred space you are probably like me; a fellow change-maker, peace-creator and sprinkler of love on our planet. I answered a call from the…
Our Mind is the Enemy: Control Thoughts Before They Become Actions
*Disclaimer- Experiencing depression and anxiety are incredibly real and frustrating situations. If you find that you cannot pull yourself out of dark thoughts, you need to talk to someone immediately…
January has 70 days, it’s the longest month of the year.
By the title of this article, you are probably interested in what is actually going on in my head. You might say “Julie, do you know how many days are…
The We Podcast #3: Guest Maryanna Brunkhorst
On this episode of The We Podcast I interview Maryanna Brunkhorst. Maryanna is a writer, dancer, explorer, lifelong learner, woman, and veteran. She talks to us about her story and…