How dare I compare Star Wars to Harry Potter, you may say. Well let’s chat and look at the movies from a purely factual perspective. We have young orphan boys, raised by family members who know their inherent power but suppress any inkling of them expressing said power.

We will speak, however, about generational trauma. Now let us talk, heart to heart. Think of the times when we thought that we were not enough, not smart enough, not athletic enough, not pretty enough, not strong enough, not flexible enough.

As kids, we often viewed our parents or parental figures as demi-gods; we idolized them thinking they could do no wrong yet in reality, our parents were complicated flawed individuals who made mistakes and likely hurt us at one point or another.

So, when we talk about "changing the volume" of the different competing voices in your head, it's really about which ones you place your focus on. Easier said than done when the critical voice has been so loud for so long and you don't even know what the compassionate one sounds like. Next week, we'll be talking about how to find that more gentle and kind voice within and what life can look like once you start listening to it!

Throughout our lives, our brains are bombarded with constant sensory input and messages and we do our best to categorize them in meaningful ways.

You have never really questioned the voice that tells you that you constantly need to up your game, to do more, be more, have more. You have told yourself that you just have high standards and are "goal-oriented".

We learn how to function in relationships and in society by modeling our parents. My parents never talked about emotions and it was not the most healthy relationship. It was a very old school, the man works and the wife stays at home and takes care of the kids.

Boundaries are the foundation for pretty much everything. Work… boundaries. Marriage…. Boundaries, kids… boundaries… toxic parent…. Boundaries. Boundaries are the instruction manual of how to be a partner with you. Setting boundaries around our values or when something feels wrong in our gut will allow you the time you need for yourself.

Our emotions are not just to help us interpret our relationships and reactions to others. And if you’re having trouble sleeping it doesn’t mean you should file for divorce. But our emotions can tell us when we are not living our best lives

I feel like talking about being unhappy or feeling lost is dirty and not appropriate. I think everyone loses themselves sometimes, even multiples times and I think it is just a sign that there is a better updated version of you waiting.

Is it possible that our daily and weekly schedules stand in the way of our more significant desires? Are we missing the point in all of our strivings to be good parents and 'do' all the right things?

A big part of giving our teens permission to be themselves is to RESPECT your teen's right to their own feelings.