This weekend I finished the audio version of Brené Brown’s new book Rising Strong.Y’all. This book broke my brain. If you are unfamiliar with Brené’s work, stop what you are doing and watch this Ted Talk. Source: Are people doing the best they can? — bluegrass redhead

It’s easy to shut down when people deceive us, and to assume that most people are out for themselves or out to get us. Here’s why I’ve kept my heart open. Source: Why I Keep My Heart Open Even Though I’ve Been Deceived

You might believe that cats are impossible to train, but really, you can use a similar approach to training a dog. As you can see in the above video, cats can learn a ton of tricks! With some effort and patience, your cat will also have a few tricks down pat. Source: How to Teach Your Cat Tricks

This colour has a primitive effect on attraction, psychological research finds. Source: Wearing This Colour Makes You Look More Attractive – PsyBlog

By Dan Piraro. Source: Canine Confessions | Bizarro!

Welcome back to Mid-Week Meditations, Lifehacker’s weekly dip into the pool of stoic wisdom, and how you can use its waters to reflect on and improve your life. Source: Listen More Than You Speak

I remember the night my father died, a panicked rush of past-midnight calls and crying pleas for me to rush home. Even under the best of circumstances, there would have been no way for me to make it to his bedside. Instead, I sat alone – head in hands and cried. Source: Mindfully Musing – When Loss Makes Us Better.

I first ran across Brene Brown’s work after several friends told me that I absolutely, positively had to watch her TED talk The Power of Vulnerability. They thought I’d love it. They thought it would be just the thing. It all felt so affirming and familiar, you know? I mean, who doesn’t grapple with being vulnerable – in personal relationships, in the body, in the world? Who doesn’t struggle with shame? Who doesn’t struggle with connection? Very few people. But something was missing. A lot was missing, actually. Source: Shame and Disconnection: The Missing Voices of Oppression in Brene Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability”

Curious about what these phases are and which one you are in? Then be sure to watch today’s vlog where I explain each stage. **Note: every person is different, this is not a one-size-fits-all model but one I find fits many. Source: How to Accept Where You Are and Move to the next Level – Positively Positive!! Positively Positive!!

To be seen as you are is the greatest gift one can receive!

“The past always seems better when you look back on it than it did at the time. And the present never looks as good as it will in the future.” -Peter Benchley Source: The past Wasn’t Better. Choose the Present Instead. – Positively Positive!! Positively Positive!!

But there’s a fine line between inspiration and despair. Looking can quickly turn into losing track of your time and fixating on all the wrong things. It can make you feel like maybe you’re doing it wrong, messing something up, or that you could be doing it differently, bigger, better. Source: The Penthouse is Waiting for You – Positively Positive!! Positively Positive!!

A Brief Summary and Recommendation. Source: To Kneel or Stand: The National Anthem | Psychology Today

Lightwork can be a fight. If you think being on the “spiritual” side of progress guarantees you harmony, then either you haven’t been at it long enough or you’ve been playing it safe. Harmonizing, healing, serving, shining…it’s messy work. Beautiful. Worth it. But messy. Source: It’s Not Always Self-Sabotage. It’s Just…what It Takes. – Positively Positive!! Positively Positive!!

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Source: The Secret To Moving On From Codependent Relationships – mindbodygreen