Holding it lightly
There’s a quiet skill that can change the way we experience life’s hardest moments – and even its sweetest ones. It’s not about denying how we feel or pretending everything is fine. It’s about learning to hold it lightly.
We’re taught to grip tightly. To figure things out, fix what’s wrong, or cling to what’s good in case it slips away. But emotions, situations, and stories about ourselves aren’t meant to be held with clenched fists. They ask for space. Breath. Open hands.
Mindful emotional processing
When awareness lands hard, the next step isn’t always action. It is often sitting with what we’ve seen. Sometimes an awareness activity, like the Two circle check-in I shared before, brings clarity we weren’t quite ready for. If you’ve done the activity, maybe you filled the “Energy out” circle without effort – it spilled onto the page. And the “Energy in” side? Sparse. Uncertain. Maybe even blank.
Let the page hold it
Hello and welcome! I’m Annika, an occupational therapist, coach, and someone who knows what it feels like to care deeply, carry too much, and hit a wall. More than once.
This blog is a space for stories; the kind you don’t always get to tell at work, or in the car, or while doing the dishes. Stories of burnout, of breakthroughs, of the quiet victories we rarely celebrate. Stories of learning how to hold space for yourself while holding so much for everyone else.