The CHERISH Mosaic

Don’t we all want to be seen and appreciated for our uniqueness

and for the perspectives we bring-

like a puzzle piece in the jigsaw puzzle of life?

Free to be ourselves and love wholeheartedly?

To not have to strive, compare, people please or numb out?

To enjoy contributing our gifts for the greater good-

not to impress, compete or power trip,

but taking deep satisfaction in what can be achieved together?

And to not feel lonely, fearful, and depressed - but to

belong in genuine community - relationships, home, school, work,

neighbourhoods and beyond-

where everyone is safe, appreciated, needed and matters

Is this even possible in real life?

Because experience has shown us that it can be unsafe to express our real selves?

We’ve been misunderstood, judged or shamed when we drop our defences.

What DOES make it safe to wholeheartedly be the genuine us?

Let’s reflect . . .

Isn’t it safe to be real when we feel

cherished and appreciated by someone

- and by ourself?

Because, when we’re cherished and appreciated we feel we are :

• genuinely seen and delighted in

• believed in, even when we inevitably mess up- as all humans do

• heard and understood for our perspectives

• a creative expression of our experiences, skills, dreams and passions

• uniquely contributing to the greater good

• as worthy of respect, belonging and compassion as every other human being

• calmed, as our nervous system unconsciously becomes co-regulated

  with the person cherishing us

• aware that our current struggling self

  . . . and our future mature self are equally valuable

• comforted in our pain

• able to repurpose suffering

• able to be non-defensive, curious and open to wisdom and wonder

Being cherished is a liberating experience-

for both the cherished - and the cherisher!

Cherishing softens defences and opens hearts - for everyone - even observers

But many things can get in the way of cherishing

Like misconceptions, misunderstanding, triggered pain and stress

And. . .

not knowing how to cherish

Can we actually learn how to cherish ourself and others?

To think and respond in ways that

create safety, soften hearts, and open minds?

Freeing people to wholeheartedly thrive as themselves?

The answer to the question - can we learn to cherish ourselves, our relationships, our neighbours

and even strangers

has been my personal and professional quest since childhood!

After much training and life experience, I can say . . .

YES, we can LEARN how to cherish!!!

There IS a mindset, heart set & skill set

that influences us to cherish

ourselves & others,

freeing us to live wholeheartedly

I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you!