I am in Awe & Why you Should be Too

I heard from a lot of girls that they had the back-to-school scaries and I felt it too. Getting into the swing of things can be difficult after break (and now a snow day).

So I decided to make a list of all the resources I had for girls to help make their transition easier, but it turned into a moment where I began to reflect on what I have created. It reminded me of when I used to choreograph for dance. I would hear music and be able to see how I wanted everyone to move in my mind. After months of practice, it was complete on stage. What was once in my head, had become something greater than myself with the help of others. It conjured awe and that’s what looking at my mentoring practice feels like for me. I am in awe. 

Last spring while I finished up school, I started to babysit a precocious two year old. I would try (and fail) to define awe. When we would look at the clear New York City skyline from Hoboken, I’d try to convey awe in terms of wonder. One night we chased a big full moon. Awe in terms of vastness. How I wouldn’t see him for a week and by the next time I was over, he’d have all these new words in his vocabulary. Awe from being amazed. This is what I feel when I look at the girls I’ve mentored. The feeling of being blown away, largely thanks to all of you.

I encourage everyone to seek out moments of wonder, not only because it feels good, but studies have even found, “connections between the experience of awe and enhanced critical and creative thinking faculties, improved health, a sense of embeddedness into collective folds and an increase in pro-social behaviours such as kindness, self-sacrifice, co-operation and resource-sharing,” (Psychology Today). 

Thank you for all the awe and wishing you a 2018 full of wonder. 

Everyone is Lying on Social Media and So Am I

Here’s a super personal one:

Everyone is lying on social media and so am I.

I always remind the girls I work with that people online only show you what they want you to see and I’m included in this. There are a million things I’m not sharing here. I haven’t shared that I was robbed a few weeks ago in my own building or that I have about zero holiday spirit since my grandparents passed away. Even now, I’m purposely leaving things out of my story both good and bad. With how easily it is to mindlessly scroll through social media, it’s important to remember that what we see isn’t the whole picture.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we share ourselves and how much time I spend online after reading statements from an interview Sean Parker, the onetime founding president of Facebook and co-founder of Napster, gave about social media:

“We need to sort of give you a little dopamine hit every once in a while, because someone liked or commented on a photo or a post or whatever. And that’s going to get you to contribute more content, and that’s going to get you … more likes and comments… It’s a social-validation feedback loop … exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you’re exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology… God only knows what it’s doing to our children’s brains.” 

I am hypocritically posting publicly, but Parker’s comments made me think about how I don’t want to be addicted to the dopamine hits of “likes and comments” especially when the forum is inherently inauthentic. Why do I zone out of my own life to watch other people’s fake lives? I’m in my 20’s and struggle with this. Imagine the susceptibility of adolescents who are searching for identity and seeking the approval of peers during an incredibly transformative period of time. Of course, there are benefits to social media, but this is something that has shifted my online usage and that is something I want to share. 

Eclipse Ritual you can do (anytime) to let go of Stress

Did you watch the eclipse today? I was working with a student so we got to witness the event together!  So cool! I wanted to share an eclipse ritual (I share this on Instagram too) that I’ve been doing. It’s so good to do before the start of school. It’s to let go of the old to make way for the new! 

ECLIPSE

✨Eclipse Magic✨ The big eclipse today makes it the perfect moment for a little bit of magic.

🔮Cast your spell by releasing anything that has been holding you back (feeling not good enough, unworthiness, lack of self-love) and set some positive school year resolutions.💫 Write down what you’d like to let go of then rip it up or burn it. After set the intention of what you’d like to bring into your life like feeling more confident, taking  care of your body, picking friends that make you feel good, cultivating inner peace… possibilities are endless! 🌙

Let me know if you do this and what magic happens in your life! Happy eclipse-ing!! 

Big News

I have big news! My meditation album is finally available! When I work with students, whether it’s one-on-one or in a group, I always use these centering exercises. Meditation has been show to reduce stress and anxiety and I know from my personal practice that it’s a game-changer. I produced four different meditations based on what my students liked and wanted most. 

stress release meditation
sleep meditation
test stress meditation
daily reflection meditation

They were a blast to put together! As a way to celebrate, our Friday Night HangIn this Friday November 11th on the album launch and talking about stress and how to relax in order to find more happiness. It’s the last one of 2016!! Can you believe it? Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Thank You!

I’ve wanted to write this for awhile now and since it’s the beginning of November, I felt it was appropriate to say thank you. I’m so grateful for all of your encouragement as I build this community to help raise happy girls. To my students, thanks for letting me be your big sister! To all the moms, thank you for allowing me to guide your girls. I don’t take it for granted. Your support, whether it’s a referral or always trying to feed me when I come over, is more meaningful than you know. It takes a village! Thank you for allowing me to pursue my dream! 

In the spirit of being an ever-growing mentor, I’d love to hear from you. What topics would you like me to cover? Got a group idea? Any questions for me? Feel free to let me know how I can best serve! 

How to Handle Halloween Stress

I’ve received so many SOS texts about Halloween that I actually feel bad that I’m just doing this video now. Between group costumes and parties the drama has been all over the place. Halloween is a holiday that brings up a lot of issues around inclusiveness, which is HUGE and important to middle and high school girls. Today I’m talking about my two approaches to Halloween stress. 

 

Why Smart Kids do Dumb Things

In one of my grad school classes last week, we learned about dopamine in the adolescent brain. It was so enlightening that I wanted to share! Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate emotional responses. Its production is naturally lower in adolescents which may lead to impulsivity, feeling of bored, being overall blah, and makes kids more susceptible to stress. Check out today’s video for more on dopamine and why it’s important! I wish I had known about this when I was a teen!

 

 

 

 

Stay in your Own Lane

The phrase “stay in your own lane” can be another way to tell someone to mind their own business, but today, I’m talking about it as if you’re saying it to yourself. It’s this phrase that I repeat when I find myself putting a lot of energy into others, which inevitably takes away from some of my own magic. Check out today’s video for more insight!

 

What to do if you feel like you don’t look like everyone else

Over the last two weeks, I helped a lot of girls through back-to-school shopping breakdowns. What to wear on the first day of school can bring up a lot of questions:

What do I want to look like?
What if I don’t look like everyone else?
What looks good on my body?

Check out today’s video for advice on what to do you’re worried you don’t look like everyone else!

 

Do you have the Fall Scaries?

Over the weekend, I met with my mentor and told her I was feeling so sad about summer ending. Similar to Sunday scaries, where I would get anxious about the week ahead, I had the fall scaries. For me, it’s all about dealing with the new and the unknown. Check out today’s video for the trick that got me out of my funk!