Lmst

"I can't cut out the pieces of my heart that still love him and set them on fire," Cassandra reflects in Sergei 2.0, the second book in The Stain series.

Love lives eternally in moments that cannot be undone. Do we really need to harden our hearts to one love before finding another?

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #romance #relationships #acceptance

A tiny yellow boat by a massive grey cliff at the water's edge. Words in a thought bubble say, "Love is not an all or nothing arrangement."

The first step to breaking old patterns is to recognize a precious gift when it arrives. Like a second chance.

People who appreciate gifts tend to receive more.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #focus #positivity #gifts #recognition #blessing #gratitude

A woman approaches the end of a dark tunnel, about to step into the light. The caption reads, "We only get so many second chances."

Once the initial shock wears off, we can turn it around and use the experience to empower ourselves. We build strength by overcoming adversity.

Then we can help others in similar circumstances - and that is the most healing practice of all.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #focus #positivity #empowerment #strength #empathy

A woman walks toward the camera down the center of a foggy road. The caption reads, "Feeling like a victim only gets us so far."

Say we have a crush on someone who drives a red car. It's likely we will start to see red cars everywhere - is that our crush? Omg!

Now imagine we have an expired registration and something illegal in the back seat. Aren't we going to start noticing police cars?

I could extol the virtues of avoiding legal entanglements, but I will not. Be as bad as you want to be.

Simply consider this: What we look for sees us too. This is not just an energetic thing - slight changes in our behavior can have huge impacts "out there."

Perhaps we get a friendly wave from a red car driver who notices our smile. Isn't that better than seeing police lights come on in the rear view mirror?

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #focus #positivity #empowerment

A cute red car parked next to a tree. The caption reads, "Think about the red car."

"Broken" is a feeling that will pass, not an identity.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #strength #resilience #identity

A close up of broken glass. The caption reads, "We aren't glass. We cannot be broken."

It's a shame life doesn't come with eject buttons to blast us out of bad situations. Fortunately, we always have the power to remove ourselves.

Today's mindfulness challenge is to use the 'eject button' at least once. Say someone is engaging us in a boring conversation, why not say, "Hey, that's cool but I have a thing in five," and just walk away?

Don't forget to give yourself a nod of satisfaction for a job well done.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #humor #ejectbutton #empowerment #exit

A woman looks back over her shoulder as she flies up through the air. The caption reads, "Sometimes we just need to hit the eject button."

There is no need to run from memories or be consumed with worry about the future when we can be here now.

Pause. Look around. Breathe.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #relaxed #presence #pause #refuge #calm

A boy smiles from inside a hollowed out pile of snow. The caption reads, "Take refuge in the Now."

Take a fresh look at the situation: Do we need that door to open or can we simply go around?

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #relaxed #presence #perspective #shift #solution #flexible #adaptive #clarity #purpose

A sheep waits in front of a closed iron gate between two stone pillars. The caption reads, "There is only one way to escape reality."

In French class we learn the concept of the "faux ami" - an English word with a different meaning in French. A good example is 'blesser,' which means 'to wound.'

There are false friends in real life too - those who are secretly jealous when things go well for us and take deviant pleasure in our suffering when they don't. They tend to draw our attention back to our failures and all the things that could go wrong.

We may not be able to put our finger on how they've done it, but we always feel worse after spending time with them.

Today's mindfulness challenge is to simply notice who brings you up, and who brings you down.

Sometimes the "blesser" is a curse.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #awareness #relationships #friendship #fauxami

A woman hides behind a mask. The caption reads, "Friend or Faux Ami?"

I once visited a mansion with a perfectly manicured lawn. The sprinkler system was running and there was a new Mercedes parked in the driveway. When the door opened, I was shocked to see the rooms were empty inside. The family was eating from paper plates on a wooden picnic table in the dining room.

Relationships can be like this too - impressive from the outside but empty without a deep, genuine, heart-to-heart connection.

We know something is wrong because we feel empty when we "should" feel happy.

Today I invite you to look around your life (e.g., job, titles, possessions, relationships) and ask, "Is it stuff or substance?"

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #intention #substance #joy #connection

A fashionable couch sits unused in a space devoid of people. The caption reads, "Is it Stuff or Substance?"

Imagine coming home to a supportive relationship with someone who not only accepts and appreciates you for who you truly are, but understands the pain and struggles you've had in your day.

"Come in, come in," they say with a relaxed smile as they welcome you into their peace. Home should be a refuge of love where troubles are left at the door.

You deserve this.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #intention #acceptance #intimacy #peace #home #love #understanding #commitment

A short, elegant staircase leads to the green door of a solid home. The caption reads, "Leave your burdens at the front door."

When are fully relaxed, open, trusting, and accepting of each other, we are in a state of intimate presence.

This is one of the most profound divine joys of human experience, and one that I wish for you.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #intention #acceptance #intimacy #peace #connection

A couple peacefully relaxes into each other on a sofa. The caption reads, "Sex is a shallow form of intimacy without intimate presence."

I'd rather knock on one right door than a thousand wrong ones, wouldn't you?

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #intention #action #focus #selfknowledge #integrity

A woman's hand holds a round brass ring as she is about to knock on an impressive door. The caption reads, "What we don't know we want is harder to find."

People tend to look forward to when they'll get to an island that represents a "better" time or event in the future.

Sometimes we feel we've overshot the island. Is the bear looking back to fond memories or mispent time with regret?

And yet, the present moment is the only place we exist. We are already there.

The time to feel joy is now.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence

A polar bear stands on floating ice looking at an island in the near distance. The caption reads, "We're already there."

This is a gentle reminder that ideas are passive without action.

* Practicing honesty builds trust in relationships.

* If "someone" should help the poor, we can roll up our sleeves and start right where we are.

* Praying for peace is much more effective if we embody peace in the challenging moments in our own lives.

Pause to consider what is most needed, then honor its importance with action.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #intention #action #ideals #principles #integrity #empowerment #change

A woman dressed in black sits in a chair looking confidently at the camera. The caption reads, "Practice your principles."

Too often we are running away from something (e.g., bad feelings) thinking we are running to something better. We believe we are thinking clearly, when we clearly are not. This is when obstacles and delays offer the gift of a pause.

Stop running. Place your feet firmly on the ground. Take a deep breath, place your hand over your heart, and check in. Ask, "What do I want most of all?"

Then ask for guidance.

The good things in life are worth doing right.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #guidance #heart #connection

A chain link gate blocks the way forward on a path. The caption reads, "Obstacles offer a chance to get it right this time."

We know how hard it is to change each other's opinions, and yet we try anyway, right?

Why not listen for the problem as the person sees it, and state it. "Okay, so you are concerned with (e.g., fair elections), is that right?" The other person should feel heard and validated. Perhaps they nod.

Then shift from blame to a solution with a question like, "What do you think we can do locally to ensure (e.g., elections are fair)?

This is how we shift an argument to a discussion.

www.catherineiversnorton.com

#ReadTheStain #writer #coach #psychology #spirituality #mindfulness #presence #opinion #discussion #solution #commonground