Dr. Heather Stevenson

It’s never too late to start a new path or a new way of doing things. What gift will you give yourself this holiday season/new year?

If this isn’t perfect for the end of this year I don’t know what is. beautiful. Let’s keep going friends! I know it’s not easy but we’ve got each other and I’m here for you!

The road to change always starts with one small step. Sometimes we only focus on the end result we want, which can feel so far away when we’re standing on the starting line. Looking that far into the future tends to lead to a feeling of defeat before even starting and you might end up paralyzed to even begin. What we need is to remind ourselves that all we have to do today is take one small step forward. To refocus your gaze right in front of you, not 50 feet down the roa...d. If you’ve been stuck at the starting gate because you’re only focused on the finish line, what’s one small step you can take today to move forward even one inch? Maybe it’s picking up the phone and reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Maybe it’s calling your doctor to set up that check-up appointment. Maybe it’s setting a timer for 20 minutes to start working on that looming project. Maybe it’s reaching out for support and starting that search for a therapist. Whatever it is you do, remember that all it takes is that one step to start building momentum. And that all of those baby steps you take will add up to some big changes in your life. You got this! Tell me in the comments what’s one small step you can take for yourself today? See more

Permission to slow down. Sometimes we forget to do this for ourselves, myself included. Despite years of working on changing myself and old unhelpful patterns I sometimes still default into a mode of pushing myself harder. One place this shows up a lot is when I exercise. I think things like... I have to push harder, It needs to burn more, I can tolerate this discomfort. And then my wise mind kicks in and tells me to stop. ... She reminds me I don’t always have to push so hard or do things the hard way or maximize the burn! And then I give myself permission to slow down. To drop into child’s pose for as long as I need. This has gotten so much easier to do while working out at home and not having the pressure of everyone else around me continuing on. I want you to give yourself permission to slow down too. To drop into child’s pose as well if that’s what you need or just take a break. It’s okay. THAT is building a new kind of trust and relationship with yourself. Permission granted. #selftrust #mentalwellness #mentalhealth #slowdown #permissiontopause #burnout #typea #stressrelief #relationshipbuilding #mindfulness #selfawareness #trust

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Need something compelling to watch this weekend? Then please consider checking out the doc ‘Jacinta’ available till the 19th only through Doc NYC, a New York film fest that would be happening in person in normal circumstances. Made, filmed & directed by my friend Jessica Earnshaw, Jacinta tells the story of intergenerational trauma, incarceration & addiction cycles in one family. She followed the subject and her family for over 4 years and was given access to film in prison. ...It’s a powerful glimpse at the complex challenges many face who are impacted by these interweaving life circumstances while trying to break out of the cycle and get their life back. Jess and the film have already won the Albert Maisel Best New Director award at Tribeca film fest and Best Feature Documentary and Critics Choice at Hot Springs film fest. And it’s up for the audience choice award for this fest and many others. So if you watch it please consider voting for it on the site! Awards for this film, such as audience awards help spread the awareness about the film and the issues it captures to a much broader scale. You can purchase a ticket $12 to stream it now through 11/19 here: https://www.docnyc.net/film/jacinta/ Please check it out!!! #intergenerationaltrauma #trauma #documentaryfilm #documentary #addiction #prison #prisonlife #familynarrative #storytelling #incarceration #incarceratedlivesmatter #jacintafilm