Blog by Whitney Mosier, LCMFT

As a therapist involved in personal development and healing work for almost 10 years- here
are the top 5 most important things I’ve learned.
Over the last almost decade I have done a lot of my own personal development and healing
work. Throughout that time, these experiences helped me learn what I felt was most important
and what wasn’t truly supportive to my wellbeing. I’ve shared a list below of the top 5 things
I’ve learned so far!

1. Small daily consistent changes over time. Making major sweeping changes does happen
   on occasion, but it’s mostly our daily changes that create the biggest difference.
   Whether it’s starting to do 5 minutes of meditation every day, putting the phone down
   when we first have that initial thought we should probably stop scrolling, making a
   healthy meal, applying what was learned in therapy or having that difficult conversation
   again with our partner- small daily consistent changes matter.
2. Try your best prioritize healthy lifestyle habits such as stress management skills,
   exercise, sleep, and healthy nutrition to whatever degree you are able. It will support
   you during your journey.
3. Mindfulness and being present are some of the most meaningful skills a person can
   learn. These are skills a person can learn along their journey and doesn’t require us to
   be “healed” to begin to integrate or practice them. Folks with trauma may want to work
   with their therapist as they begin to explore mindfulness and meditation.
4. Meaningful growth requires that we increase our tolerance for anxiety, but it doesn’t
   mean it has to be stress-FULL. I have found that slowing down, being in silence,
   dropping into the body often creates the necessary experience for meaningful growth
   and deepening self-awareness. You do not need to remain in any personal growth
   activity that asks you to be stressed or feel unnecessary fear.
5. Learn to cultivate your ability to honestly and with self-compassion examine your own
   behaviors and inner mental world struggles. The willingness to identify those, and work
   on improving them is one of the most loving things we can do for ourselves and others.
   It also supports a sense of self-confidence. And don’t forget to see the best parts of
   yourself and your strengths.
6. BONUS: Along the way I learned that staying open to a variety of wisdom traditions,
   forms of therapy and self-help, and ways of dealing with emotions and trauma such as
   art, dance, music, learning a new hobby, breathwork, bodywork, activities in nature etc.
   created a more effective, pleasurable, and fulfilling experience during my own healing
   journey. Boxing ourselves into one healing path sometimes closes us off to some
   beautiful experiences, helpful ideas, or people.