The daily patterns of our lives are driven by the need to keep ourselves safe, fear is dominating many of our lives. I would like you to consider that the emotion of fear also has gifts, those of preservation and protection.

During this current pandemic where fear and anxiety are running high, we thought it might be helpful for us to talk about the way our brains process difficult situations. What our brain has experienced in the past determines how we respond to the current day happenings.

Codependency is rooted in our self-esteem. According to Pia, healthy self-esteem is created within an individual who knows that they have inherent worth equal to others. We have inherent worth, period. No matter how much we succeed, who our friends are, what car we drive, or the mistakes we make…We. Are. Worthy.

Resolutions can set us up for cognitive distortion patterns like “all or nothing thinking”. We go back to old patterns we were trying to change, and our brain tells us “all is lost”. I know at that moment my brain loses all self-compassion and I think “better luck next year”.

Since March, our kids, and college students have not been in school due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the biggest question right now is…how are schools going to safely have students back on their campuses. Districts and administrators are working tirelessly to come up with plans A, B, C, and D to provide the safest and best school environment possible. As a parent and former teacher, I can only imagine the pressure and responsibility felt.