Daily Gratitude: It’s funny I should see this quote now. I’m finishing the first draft of my latest book and it involves IFS (internal family systems) and vol state (of course). But what I realized in writing it and during the race is that although I’ve grown quite a bit (actually an amazing amount) in the last 6 years all because of IFS, i have such a long way to go.

I did think even prior to vol state “I wonder how put together you’d be, Terrie, if you were still working where everything isn’t peaches and cream”. I think I have my answer. Not so good. Ha! What a rude awakening.

But it was the awakening I needed. It showed me I will benefit from continuing to work with all my parts. There’s so much history there. Oh well.

The point is that you will never know where you are in life until you’re tested. We’re all tested in one way or another and some of us are tested repeatedly. My theory on the repeat performances is that we just haven’t gotten the message(s) yet. We may think we have but nope. That’s what happened to me in 2016-2017. I had missed or ignored all the “messages” sent by the universe so in its frustration (ha – the universe doesn’t get frustrated) it gave me a big time message dump and after 5 weeks in the hospital I got the message. Well mostly. Long story but poignant because it taught me so much. It was not smooth seas at all and I certainly was not a skillful sailor.

What tough times have you endured? But more importantly what skills did you recognize needs or needed work? Did you “listen”? Did you become stronger? Tell us about it.

Daily Gratitude: This is a process but an important one. As 2025 draws to a close, why not practice going through the doors of your mind?

Scary huh?

Yes but it’s totally worth it and jt becomes so clear when you reach the other side. If you actually can reach that point at least once, the joy you experience might just be the incentive and impetus for doing it again.

Use the visual of being in a room. You feel a draft and you’re not comfortable at all in that draft. It’s cold, it’s windy, there’s allergens blowing into your face and nose, there’s an odor that’s extremely noxious.

You don’t like it, you don’t like how it makes you feel, you just WISH it would stop. “Why can’t I be warm and cozy?” “What can I do?” “This sucks!”

Well, for starters, you can close the door. That’s the door of negativity by the way.

“Wow it’s stuffy in here. What can I do?”

In your mind see yourself walking over to the other door – it’s the one opposite the door you just closed.

See yourself grabbing the handle and turning it. Do this slowly. Now pull the door open. You can be brave and stand right in the middle of the doorway or if you’re a bit timid, you can back away a bit to feel safe.

Open your arms and feel the gentle breeze. Take a deep breath and feel the sweet smell of your favorite flower or herb (or any other odor that turns you on). Feel the warm air in your lungs and imagine the powerful oxygen flowing through your body. Spreading energy to all your organs.

Which door do you prefer and why? One is the portal through which the negativity in your life comes boisterously blowing into and through your life making everything seem yucky and miserable. The other door is the opening that bathes your body in positive energy.

Whenever you have a negative thought trying to take residence in your mind, go to this visualization and intentionally shut one door and open the other. Make yourself think of something that makes you happy or that you think is good!

Keep working at it and eventually your mind will be wired enough that you’ll be able to use the remote instead of having to walk across the room to the doors. Those of us old enough to know will remember that a right of passage in our childhood was “being the remote” – “Joey! Go change the channel”. This is no different

Daily Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I am so thankful for all members of Team Terrie! You have been through so much with me this year.

I have done so well with all the “issues” I’ve run into only because of you all.

What have i learned? That relationships (with people not things) is the most important aspect of your life. Also that often we put our attention into other things because we’re afraid of relationships or of getting very deep into them. I mean God forbid we should let others see who we really are.

People use the phrase Impostor (or for old folks like me – imposter) syndrome. But usually they are talking about it in terms of a career, a job. To me, it’s much more pertinent to look to see if you’re displaying it in your relationships. You know – that old “you wouldn’t like me if you got to know me” ploy.

Yes it’s scary but it’s so worth it. Be thankful for all the people in your life. Let them know that you are. Let them know what they mean to you.

Then go enjoy whomever you’re with today!

Happy thanksgiving