Narcissists leverage your greed .  I came across a video one day on narcissism that had me floored. The host, Richard Grannon , explained narcissism from a point of reference I've never been exposed to before. Using the movie Renfield , he offers a picture of this psychological disorder that hones in on the crux of the manipulation technique. What is it that a narcissist seeks? As my first line indicates, they seek what you are greedy for [3:40] and then use that to trick you "into being complicit in your own servitude" so you'd have no one to blame but yourself [7:55]. I don't know about you but that's rather revelatory to me.  For those of us who have dealt with the narcissist, what are we greedy for? Well, in familial and romantic relationships, it's usually love and affection, to be seen and heard, and to be valued. When it comes to business relations, however, it may be the standard money, prestige, and title or merely acknowledgment and appreciation....

We've all heard of astrology influencing the character. Perhaps, many of us also know Myers-Briggs or even the Enneagram. But, if you're anything like me, you've either never heard or just come into awareness of Human Design. Somehow I came across it over a year ago and the more I delve into it, the more a rabbit hole it becomes. Someone recently (on a Reddit post) stated that it's a theory, not science, which might be the best way of looking at it. It's a very good theory though, perhaps rather genius. On the surface, it's like our introduction to astrology - rather generalized for the masses and can work across the board depending on how we're feeling that day or how we're choosing to identify. However, like Human Design, the more you delve into the details, conjunctions, nodes, planets, and day-to-day minutiae, it becomes more apparent that it holds validity.  My purpose today though is not to get into whether or not Human Design can be authenticated ...

  Have you ever made that decision to change your life? I'm not speaking of changing a job or moving. I mean EVERYTHING. Literally, everything. I'm talking about delving deep into all your deepest, darkest secretive places that you hide from even yourself, rediscovering your joys, shunning people who have manipulated you so thoroughly that you became imprisoned in your own mind (even if they are "family" and you're supposed to love them no matter what), and relearning how to truly love yourself and know your worth. I'm talking about the 180° turn-around that seems to scare the shit out of those around you. Yah, that. Those of us who have been under the imprisonment of enmeshment trauma or other psychological manipulative tactics can understand this. We've spent our entire lives under such enforcement of "never good enough" - unless you are like me, or the determination of our worth is congruent with what we provide to others, never what we may ...

  I've heard so many stories of how people felt relief when receiving a diagnosis for some disease or other conditions and I will admit I didn't understand, until now. Coming across one of Teal Swan's videos on this subject, I actually felt that relief. I've described this phenom to myself in so many ways over the years, particularly recently but to pinpoint it with a name rather sealed it into place so that now I can take steps to work through it. Isn't that weird how that works sometimes? The fact that I needed that name to validate what I felt I was experiencing is also telling of how traumatic an experience enmeshment is. So, if you've never heard of it, let me do some explaining... Usually, it begins in childhood in which one parent (at least) raises you in such a way as to force you to identify with him or her as a unit, not as individuals. S/he demands allegiance by controlling what beliefs and ideas you express to the actions you take to the emotions yo...

  You know that feeling like you've been wearing a leaded vest and then one day, you just decide to take it off? Yah, that feeling. The feeling of lightness almost sends the body and mind into an apoplectic fit. I'm having one of those moments right now. Though I have been known to go on the offense in a vicious dog attack mode in the past, for the last couple of years, for the most part, I've been pretty even-keeled due to the wonderful effects that qigong has on me. To clarify too, the only time I have gone on the attack was when someone had taken their bullying, words, or behavior too far. It was always when I was at the end of my rope. (And, mind you, I always mean what I say. Even in anger, I believe in absolute truth as well as absolute love.) There was one time I remember that I had been bullied for months by a coworker that I finally snapped so hardcore that the entire office was like "Oh, shit." I never lost my cool. I've spent the last year centerin...