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Quick bits of therapeutic info and learning, ideas, concepts, and quotes.
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3: Keys
2: Concepts
1: Quick Article
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”
– Jim Rohn
3 Keys to Embrace Transformation in the New Year
Start with Self-Awareness: Before you can create real change, it’s important to understand where you’re starting from. Take a moment to check in with yourself—what are your strengths, what’s challenging for you, and what truly matters? Knowing yourself, your values, what really matters to you and what you want, is the first step to creating a vision for the future. But how? This is the true work of personal development and the bigger reason for “doing your work” in counseling, retreats, classes, and therapy.
Let Go of Old Patterns: The new year is a great time to release old habits or limiting beliefs that have been holding you back. Part of the work of therapy is about identifying what no longer serves you and creating ways to make space for new, healthier ways of thinking and behaving. Personal development is about growth and breaking free from what doesn’t align with your true self.
Commit to Growth Over Perfection: Transformation isn’t about reaching some perfect end goal; it’s about evolving, growing and becoming the best version of You along the way. Focus on making progress, even if it’s small (and please remember to celebrate those wins!)
A Couple of Concepts
Neuroplasticity: Your Brain’s Ability to Change: We really do continue to learn throughout our lives, and the brain is constantly adapting. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, plays a huge role in how we change. By challenging old behaviors and embracing new habits, you can rewire your brain to support those changes, making growth easier and more sustainable.
Emotional Intelligence as a Tool for Transformation: Building emotional intelligence (EI) is key to managing the ups and downs of transformation. By understanding and learning how to regulate your emotions, you build resilience, which helps you stay focused and grounded while working toward your goals. We humans like to be comfortable; that’s what makes change so challenging.
A Quick Overview: Personal Transformation
Transformation is more than setting intentions—it’s about changing the way we think, feel, and act on a deep, neural level. We often talk about neuroplasticity at Better Wellness Naturally because we, as humans, really do have the capacity to effectuate changes at any point in our lives. Neuroplasticity, on a very simplistic level, is the brain’s ability to adapt by creating new neural pathways. This is what allows us to change the way we respond to the world around us, learn new things, adapt to various situations, and replace old habits with new, healthier ones.
Research shows that activities like mindfulness, new learning, or even challenging negative thoughts can enhance neuroplasticity, which, in turn makes it easier for us to sustain changes.
Emotional intelligence is another cornerstone of transformation. High EI helps you understand and manage your emotions and allows you to navigate the challenges that come with personal change. And change can be challenging! Studies from the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence show that people with high EI tend to have better relationships and improved resilience. This makes emotional intelligence not just helpful, but essential for anyone embarking on a transformation journey.
If you’re ready to embrace transformation on a deeper level, please do join us for the Storms of Change Healing Retreat at the beautiful Imiloa Institute in Costa Rica, happening July 12-17, 2025. This immersive retreat offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself through mindfulness practices, healing workshops, and community support in a breathtaking environment. Take the next step in your journey and turn the storms of change into the foundation for your growth.
This year can be the start of something amazing!
References:
Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking.
Goleman, D. (2006). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam.
LeDoux, J. E. (2002). The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life. Simon & Schuster.
Jha, A. P., Krompinger, J., & Baime, M. J. (2007). "Mindfulness Training Modifies Subsystems of Attention." Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience.
Davidson, R. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). "Social influences on neuroplasticity: Stress and interventions to promote well-being." Nature Neuroscience, 15(5), 689-695.
Better Wellness Retreats. (n.d.). Storms of Change Healing Retreat. Retrieved from https://www.betterwellnessretreats.com
We’re Going on Retreat in July!
Limited Spaces Available - We’d Love to Have You Join Us!
In light of what so many of us have endured here in Florida, the Storms of Change Retreat offers a sanctuary to reconnect with inner resilience and rediscover a deeper sense of safety and strength.
Designed for those ready to transform upheaval into growth, this immersive six-day in-retreat experience—to be held at the incredible Imiloa Institute—blends healing practices, expert guidance, and Costa Rica’s natural beauty to inspire meaningful transformation and renew your sense of hope.
Imiloa Institute, a private 5-star wellness and yoga retreat center, offers a safe, supportive, intimate, and thoughtfully designed space to encourage healing, reflection, connection, and lasting renewal.
For more info and to Retreat with us: www.BetterWellnessRetreats.com
by Laura Weber Garrison, PhD
New Editorial Review!:
"Damaged Rudders" is an essential guide for anyone seeking to navigate the challenging journey of trauma recovery. Laura Weber Garrison, PhD, masterfully combines her personal experiences with practical, evidence-based strategies, offering readers a transformative approach to healing. Through creativity, restorative yoga, artistic expression, and spiritual insights, Dr. Garrison provides a comprehensive, science-supported toolkit for building resilience and self-discovery.
This book is not just another self-help manual; it’s a deeply inspiring invitation to reclaim your life and rediscover your inner strength. Each page resonates with Dr. Garrison’s dedication to encouraging creative resilience and promoting lasting change. "Damaged Rudders" helps readers reconnect with their true selves and embrace a life filled with purpose and joy.
For anyone ready to embark on a journey of deep healing and transformation, "Damaged Rudders" is an indispensable read.”
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