Life hits us hard sometimes. Our experiences, whether present or past, can overwhelm us by the chaos and confusion of the intense emotions they bring. Or, we can become stuck in place, not able to make a move at all, shutdown and numb to it all. Feeling too much, or, too little, impairs our minds natural, innate capacity to transform life’s difficult experiences into something we can grow from and integrate into our new and meaningful life narratives. Sometimes, our relationships can also become chaotic and confusing or just plain mired in repetitive patterns that feel automatic, lacking in intimacy. We can lose ourselves in our relationships, giving more than receiving. Or, we can avoid becoming vulnerable by disconnecting and withdrawing because of the pain of past loss or betrayal. Then, we are missing out on the beauty of human connections to nourish us when we are hurting and even heal us when at their best. To transform “a me and a you” into a healthy “we” is both an art and a science grounded in the learnable skill of empathic communication, mutual understanding, kindness and compassion. Feeling unseen and unheard is the loneliest human experience of all–at any age.
