Awaken To Your Needs

By: Audrey Grunst, LCSW

Throughout the gentle yoga practice, I stopped and journaled. Usually I jotted down a question and continue to move and process. It’s a form of meditation that I’ve learned to use to help with my busy ‘hamster wheel mind.’ My question was, “what is needed?” As I moved and engaged with the women and girls in the room, I had my answer! All I had to do was put my two conscious words together “NEED” and “AWAKE”.

I’ve been lucky in my life. I’ve been surrounded by strong women in my life who always showed up real, unscripted and fallible.

Yesterday at the Mother + Daughter Workshop was no different. I was again surrounded by a group of strong women and girls who showed up for each other in a way that is vulnerable and real. Often times, we moms will shy away from a difficult conversation, like body image and self-care, because the discomfort is too much. Sometimes...

3 Ways Setting Goals Can Harm Us 

By: Audrey Grunst, LCSW

When we set goals without being thoughtful, we lose is the opportunity to pivot, adjust and change our course when it's no longer working for us. What we get is burnt out and dissatisfaction. If we begin to see life as a series of processes and goals we soon realize that the attention should go on the 99% and let the 1% be whatever is meant to bee.

If we could stop and think about our time on this planet, we'll soon realize that we spend 99% of our time working towards a goal or dream, only to meet that goal and start a whole new process again. What I find ironic is that we should appreciate the 'process' because ultimately that's what really matters. Without a process, there is not product. However, I have found myself over and over again teaching this idea to highly successful people. And honestly, I lose sight of it myself more times than what I like to admit. It's a simple concept that most of us don't learn and (in...

Kindness For Fuel

By: Audrey Grunst, LCSW

"KINDNESS DOESN'T SLOW US DOWN, IT'S THE FUEL THAT FILLS US UP."

Many of us have discovered that our body and mind are capable of many things. We study, work, take care of family, pay the bills, plan holidays, and over commit.

We treat our bodies and minds like a vehicle, a transportation mode from point A to point B.

What happens when we teach ourselves to drive faster and faster? The answer is we begin to lose sight of healthy boundaries with our bodies and slowly create a higher and higher threshold. Known as desensitizing, we gradely grow our abilities to fight through discomfort, pain, and sometimes even suffering. The problem is that even when we desensitize ourselves from the moment, our body's absorb the burden and hold on.

What should we do about it?

We need to recognize our speeds. If we go too fast too quickly we often lose sight of what is happening around and begin to leave out friends and family.

What's the price of slowing...

Beautiful, Fearless and Messy

By: Audrey Grunst, LCSW

I knew in order to be my best-self I had to do this. I learned to trust my gut and most importantly how to grow into my mind and body. I carried a growth mindset which is to find opportunity is every moment. So tonight I ended my meditation with an intent to live a "beautiful fearless and messy" life.

Retreat, a word I didn't understand to its fullness. As I drove into the Pochonos Mountains observing the isolation and quiet, I felt my anxiety creep in. I began planning my trip home and thought about changing my flight to leave early. I had my first taste of the “retreat" vibe and I wasn't ready for it. I like to stay busy, my friends even jokingly (but serious too) fully expect me to sit on top of the mountain and meditate with my lovely laptop companion.

Let’s say I like to work. I love talking, counseling and learning how I can help people. The realization that it was going to be on the receiving in was truly...

The Alligator Brain

By: Audrey Grunst, LCSW

Flight, fight or freeze. The alligator mind in all of us.

There’s an alligator in your brain! Ok, well not really. But there is a part of the brain which is linked to the emotional center of the body. It receives messages from all over the body. We’ve all experienced it before because on a fundamental level we respond to perceived threat just like any other animal would.

So..if we all have alligators then why do some of us struggle more with emotions compared to others?

The key difference between those who are emotionally out of control and those who are regulated, the latter has learned to train the alligator. Now, insert <smart monkey or alligator trainer or wise owl> and realize that we can react to the alligator in a way that makes us feel in control.

Step 1

Begin to identify key triggers that makes the alligator storm out of the water. It might be hormones, lack of sleep, or stress. It also might be a bad grade, a...