What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

  "When your safety once depended on being useful, agreeable, or invisible, you internalized harmful ideas, like: 'Don’t rock the boat.' 'Be grateful for any opportunity.' 'Give your best without expecting anything in return." — Dr. Mariel Burque   This quote stopped me in my tracks. Not because it was new information, but because it voiced an inner dialogue I’ve wrestled with for years.   As I transitioned into speaking, coaching, and providing online courses, the opportunities came fast. I found myself on TV interviews, podcasts, speaking panels—sharing my expertise with eager audiences. It felt like momentum. It felt validating. But something was missing.   While my calendar filled up, my bank account remained stagnant. The responses were familiar: "There’s no budget for speakers."  "It’s great exposure." And at first, I accepted it. Exposure was currency, or so I thought. Until the moment I asked myself—"what now?"   The F...

Over the weekend, I had the profound honor of witnessing and participating in a truly transformative experience—a Rite of Passage retreat with the inspiring young women of the Nina Young Women's Leadership Program. For the first time since leaving State care, these incredible ladies spent the night away, surrounded by the beauty of Tobago, embracing a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.   The retreat centered around *Roots and Wings*—a conversation about claiming our strengths and designing our flight paths. We explored what it means to stand firmly in our personal power and how to create a future shaped by intention and courage. We spoke of *Personal Hero stories*, reflecting on resilience, identity, and the narratives we choose to author for ourselves.   Beyond words, the weekend was an embodiment of freedom and connection. We walked horses to the ocean and stepped into the water with them, a moment symbolic of trust and surrender to the tides of change. We ...

You must learn to let your conscious decisions dictate your day - not your fears or impulses - Brianna Wiest Routine. The word alone tends to conjure images of monotony, predictability, and the opposite of spontaneity—the very things we’re told make up a “good life.” But what if the beauty of routine isn’t found in rigid repetition, but in the consistency of our commitment to it? What if our routines aren’t confining, but instead, liberating? Brianna Wiest once wrote, “Your habits create your mood, and your mood is a filter through which you experience your life.” That single thought has stayed with me, reshaping how I view the patterns I follow, the rhythms I create, and the impact they have on my mind, body, and spirit. My Routine, My Compass For me, routine is a sanctuary. I meditate daily, allowing silence to hold space for my thoughts. Three times a week, I lace up my gloves and let boxing teach me discipline through movement. Every Saturday, the ocean calls me, and I answer—letti...

Devotion begins at home, inside your own awareness .  Debbie Ford Growing up, the word “devotion” carried a very specific meaning—church services, prayers, scripture reading, and acts of faith performed in a church setting. It was structured, expected, and outwardly expressed. But as my  life unfolded, I learnt that  devotion is something far deeper and more intimate than physically going to a church to sit, pray, sing and praise. Devotion is the choice to be in full relationship with our own incarnation. It is the willingness to meet ourselves in every season, every lesson, every transformation. It is staying present—not just when life is clear and expansive, but also in moments of stillness, confusion, and contraction. To be devoted is to surrender—not in weakness, but in strength. It is the conscious decision to trust the unfolding, to listen to the inner guidance that calls us toward our soul’s purpose, and to accept life as it is, knowing that whatever comes, we will...

  "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." – Wayne Dyer How I  see the world is shaped has been shaped by my experiences and mindset at any given moment. But what I have been learning lately is that sometimes  life calls for us to shift that perspective—to see beyond our current beliefs and expand into new ways of thinking. It’s never easy, and it often comes at a cost. Growth doesn’t just challenge our own inner narratives—it challenges the expectations others have for us. When we evolve, some people will resist, insisting, “You’ve changed,” as if change is a betrayal rather than a natural part of life. Some will see our transformation as an act of superiority rather than self-discovery. And that can be hard. But staying the same simply to keep others comfortable isn’t growth—it’s stagnation. And sometimes, the price of evolution is releasing relationships, expectations, and old versions of ourselves that no longer align with who we ...

Even people who have done great work on themselves will not be able to show up as the best version of themselves every hour of every single day . Stacey Hererra  Yesterday, I set out on a hike with one goal in mind: reaching the waterfall. I was prepared, determined, and excited. Step by step, I made my way up the trail, pushing through fatigue and undulating terrain. And then, near the top, just shy of the falls, I stopped. The rocks were slippery. I was alone. I considered taking the final steps but hesitated. Was I willing to take the risk? I sat there, surrounded by nature’s beauty, yet filled with disappointment. I judged myself—harshly. Thoughts of failure crept in: I should have pushed through. I should have made it. But then, something shifted. I looked around and saw the breathtaking view from where I was. I realized that there was beauty in this moment, too. My journey still mattered, even if I didn’t reach the final destination. Sometimes, arriving at a certain point and...

  This life holds so much. May we hold ourselves and each other gently. And may the miracles keep revealing themselves; may we keep finding them amid it all .  Lisa Olivera  Life, like a river, is ever-changing—never the same from one moment to the next. As we navigate the currents of uncertainty, we are invited to embrace the process of learning and unlearning, becoming and unbecoming, facing and feeling. It is not always easy. The water can be choppy, disorienting, overwhelming. Yet, just as a river has banks to lean on and rails to guide its flow, so too do we have sources of steadiness to turn to in times of transition. Over the past few years, I have witnessed this continuous ebb and flow—through jobs, relationships, and friendships that have mirrored back to me the undeniable truth that change is inevitable. The movement of the river does not stop for our doubts or fears. It finds its way around the rocks we place in its path: stubbornness, hesitation, resistance. A...