by Tina Games | Mar 24, 2021 | Acceptance, Authenticity, Healing, Journal Writing, Life Journey, Personal Growth, Self-Care
A year ago, as the mother of a high school senior – and as a certified journal writing facilitator, I found myself pulling out every personal writing tool I had in my repertoire. My daughter was struggling with what was quickly becoming an upsetting end to her 13 years in public school.
Since kindergarten, she had looked forward to her high school graduation and had already assembled her cheering section, consisting of close friends, teammates, family members, and mentors. In her mind’s eye, she already knew what graduation day would look like – until a global pandemic changed everything.
Even before the coronavirus hit, my daughter and her high school friends, along with other teens and young adults, were already facing intense mental health challenges like academic stress, relationship challenges, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression — just to name a few.
And when you add in tough pandemic realities like virtual learning, social distance from family and friends, and the loss of employment opportunities many are facing, it’s no wonder that many of today’s young people are feeling more isolated, afraid, and stressed than ever before.
The new book, “Be You, Only Better: Real-Life Self-Care for Young Adults (And Everyone Else)” – recently published by New World Library, introduces young people to simple, yet powerful day-to-day practices that promote mind and body wellness. With simple, straightforward tactics like journaling, mindfulness, healthy sleep, and sound nutrition, author Kristi Hugstad empowers young and old alike to take charge of their own wellness.
The book came to me at just the right time – and has now made its way to my daughter, who is in her first year at college, and is being circulated among her friends. It’s making an impact, so much so that I asked Kristi to join me on my blog today to touch on a few key topics addressed in the book.
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by Tina Games | Nov 19, 2020 | Acceptance, Authenticity, Creative Expression, Journal Writing, Life Journey, Life Lessons, Life Story, New Beginnings, Personal Growth, Self-Discovery, Storytelling
As a certified creativity and life purpose coach, and a certified journal writing facilitator, I work with highly-creative and spiritually-minded women who are facing a variety of life and business transitions that lead them on paths of new beginnings that inspire self-discovery and creative expression.
These new beginnings often involve a deeper exploration of their life stories, where miraculous healing can take place and a larger sense of purpose begins to emerge. It’s where they find their authentic voice coming to light.
So much could change in our lives, and in our world, if we just stepped into the power of our life story – learning its lessons, receiving its gifts, and bettering ourselves in the process – then finding our own diamond in the rough, giving it a good polish, and sharing it with others.
We all have a jewel of wisdom that’s meant to be shared with others – in a way that only we can share.
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by Tina Games | Oct 28, 2020 | Authenticity, Autumn, Creative Voice, Darkness, Dreams, Full Moon, Journal Writing, Light, Moon Phases, New Beginnings, Personal Growth, Reflection, Transformation
As we approach one of my favorite times of the year, Halloween – I’m reminded of all the costumes and masks people wear to celebrate this festive occasion.
It triggered my thinking about the many masks we have all worn in our lives – and may still be wearing.
How many of these masks serve as an authentic extension of who we are? And how many of these masks are a cover-up for drowning out our own inner voices?
Have you ever stopped to think about the many labels that you wear in life – maybe you’re a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a loyal employee, a neighbor – and the different masks that are required to show up in these roles?
For some of us, these labels are true extensions of who we are – therefore, there are no masks required. We just show up authentically and shine our inner light in a different direction.
But for many of us, these labels serve as expressions of obligations or beliefs that were imposed on us, by self or others.
On an evening walk two weeks ago, I couldn’t help but take in the beauty of our lunar goddess as she began to make her way out of her new moon darkness and into her first sliver of light. It was a glorious sight!
It was just enough light to see the definition of the moon in the night sky, bringing her out of complete darkness – but not quite enough light for the waxing crescent phase.
It reminded me of those many times in my life, when I would peek my head out of that place of “not knowing” into the light of possibility – with a vulnerability and a curiosity about what life might be like if I stepped out without my masks?
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by Tina Games | Oct 17, 2020 | Authenticity, Creative Voice, Creativity, Curiosity, Darkness, Journal Writing, Life Purpose, Life Story, Light, New Beginnings, New Moon, Personal Growth, Possibility, Reflection
Like the moon, we all go through phases in our lives. We have ups and downs, we go forward and backward – and sometimes we seem to circle back around. We may hide behind the clouds or peek from beneath the clouds. But in the midst of what can feel like a blackout, when we are open to making a connection with our creative voice, we can get to a point where we’re able to beam with full light.
During a new moon phase, the sky is completely black, with the exception of little sparkles of light in the form of stars. It’s the point in every month when the moon takes a retreat and begins to grow again, redoubling her light and reflecting new creative energy on all worldly things.
For creative souls with a desire to live more authentically, this phase represents a time for our own retreat and withdrawal from the outside world. During the darkness, it’s an opportunity to reflect on who we are – underneath the layers of life. It’s a time to turn within and write about our inner thoughts and feelings.
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by Tina Games | Sep 18, 2020 | Connection, Creative Surrender, Creativity, Fulfillment, Personal Growth, Possibility, Professional Growth, Synchronicity
Imagine a white canvas in front of you – and a vision in your mind of blues and greens and purples – so you begin to paint, carefully placing your brush on the canvas as you blend the colors – and suddenly, you knock a jar of brown paint onto your palette. What then?
Do you clean it up? Do you start again?
Or do you wonder what the synchronicity of the spillage might be telling you?
What wants to be noticed? What wants to be included?
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by Tina Games | Sep 14, 2020 | Connection, Financial Abundance, Healing, Journal Writing, Money Story, Personal Growth, Possibility, Transformation
Whether we realize it or not, many of us are stuck in a “money pattern” – and it affects everything we think, see, and do around money.
Our beliefs about money have been handed down to us through generations, in a variety of different ways, shaping how we view the subject of money.
Think about the news you see on television or hear on the radio or read in the newspaper. How much of it is fear-based? How much of it stems from scarcity – the fear of never having enough or being good enough?
Now think about the news you’ve been given through others – about money. What have you learned about money – through your family, your friends, your colleagues, and from society?
Take a moment to ponder the money decisions you make on a day-to-day basis, both personally and professionally.
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