Mindset, Productivity and Well-Being Coach
Helping clients make magic in their lives Carmen Smith
778-773-2283
[email protected]
04/28/2026
“The world needs women who are unapologetically themselves, who refuse to shrink themselves down, and who show up authentically in every aspect of life.”
We can only make a change in the world when we feel anchored in our values and safe in our bodies. Only after we empower ourselves can we empower others.
What steps are you taking to be you, unapologetically? Big or small, every step counts.
“Anger delivers us our boundaries, our boundaries deliver us our beliefs, and our beliefs determine how we experience the world.” - Glennon Doyle
How many times have you been told you are ‘too much,’ or ‘too loud,’ or to ‘calm down?’ When you remember these moments, how does it make you feel? If you are anything like I used to be (and can visit from time to time), it makes you feel more angry/sad/depressed and also makes you want to hide it all that much more. And this right here is the problem.
We have been taught from a young age, especially women, that expressing ‘unsavoury’ emotions is inconvenient and disturbing for others. That there is no space for these emotions. But the thing is, these emotions are gateways to powerful transformation. Because they represent the disruption and stirring of the very things that light us up, that make us who we are. That passion holds the incredible power of self-expression at its most potent. And releasing it provides the opportunity for growth and learning.
What would it feel like to stop bottling everything up for the sake of others? What if I told you bottling up your emotions is not only a disservice to yourself, but also to the others around you? Because you are withholding potential growth on their part by way of experiencing your self-expression.
What would happen if you address that anger right at the source? What would happen if you explored that feeling right at the start? What would happen if you EXPRESSED yourself without hesitation? If you want to experience the world differently, you need to change your beliefs. And to change our beliefs, you need to adjust your boundaries. And to adjust your boundaries, you need to express and embrace those hard emotions like anger. Take it from me, the resulting transformation is just the beginning. ✨🧚♀️💖
04/22/2026
You have every right to speak your feelings and emotions. You deserve to have your feelings and emotions seen and heard. How others might react to your self-expression is their business, and their business only. Someone’s lack of respect for your needs is simply a reflection of their own state. Don’t let the fear of what others might think or say hold you back from expressing all of you. Let your light shine out what does not serve you, and attract what makes you shine brighter. ✨💖🧚♀️
❤️ ❤️
04/21/2026
Fear. It’s a feeling we instinctively try to avoid. Being afraid puts us in a vulnerable position, which only escalates the more we try to ignore it. This is why we need to learn how to sit with our fear and accommodate it. When we avoid fear, we tend to do things that are self-destructive or damaging to others. When we can sit with fear, it gives us the opportunity to understand it and surround it with love and awareness.
This is an important lesson regarding ALL emotions we experience. This world has revolved around burying our feelings to better suit the economic machine for far too long, and it has caused many of us to suffer needlessly, especially the minorities. Everyone needs and deserves to feel safe and express and explore their emotions, a privilege ALL should have, but don’t. Only then can we collectively heal and bring humanity back to the forefront.
With every healed person, the world heals a little bit, too.
Let this be your reminder to say the thing, do the thing, be the person, no matter what response you might get. Oftentimes, we hide away our authentic selves, take up less space, to make others feel comfortable. Their response is none of your business, and has nothing to do with you.
We need more people in this world who stand in their boldness, who stand in their truth. Today I want to tell you that you aren’t too much. Who you are, what you love, those things matter more than the comfort of others. Let others be uncomfortable in your space, because you being your authentic self might be the catalyst they need to break out of their own shell.
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04/14/2026
How often are you honouring your curiosity and creativity by doing something you really love or would love to try? Or do you find yourself waiting until you ‘earn’ the time or ability to do so? Or perhaps you don’t believe you have the time for it in general. What would it be like to just take that first step and give your love some time and space to be a priority?
If you grew up, like me, being taught that you need to work hard, sacrifice a lot, and you can enjoy your time in retirement, I am here to tell you this does not need to be the truth. And I am living it right now. I spent many years with a job I enjoyed, and that also made me tired, and feeling like something was missing. But I was successful, by other people’s standards, and so I would be a fool to change my career to follow something that gave me full fulfillment, right?
It took a lot of courage, a lot of trust in what is meant to be, and I now find myself in a place where my fulfillment and joy are only growing. I had the privilege to risk it all, follow my heart, and embrace the unknown and possibilities that now show up on my path. And that leap of faith has changed my life in ways that are hard to describe.
When you align your outside world to what you really feel on the inside, everything starts falling into place. It’s not always easy. There are almost always bumps along the way, and those hardships teach you more, and most of all, give you the opportunity to place trust in yourself to keep going in the direction that feels right.
If you take away anything from my message to you today, please let it be the encouragement to just try the thing. If you are in a position where you can take that leap of faith, or even just an afternoon to try it on and see what it feels like, start following your heart. Listen to your body. Trust your soul. And see where it takes you.💖✨🧚♀️
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04/10/2026
With the current state of the world, I know most of us are walking around, trying to live our lives ‘normally,’ while burying that feeling just under the surface. That feeling that makes your eyes water in the corners. The feeling that makes our breath fall a little faster. That feeling that feels like a weight on your chest. The feeling that, if you embrace it, feels like you won’t be able to get out of it.
It’s your nervous system.
Warning you that something isn’t ok, that something is wrong.
The uncertainty, increased external pressures, and how everything is taking more effort than it used to. The very real fear that comes with looking at the news. This feeling is not wrong. It is true for your body, true for you. When you feel it, if you are in a safe space and able to fully honour it, find a place to lie down or sit comfortably. Take a deep breath, and let your emotions surface. Use a weighted blanket to help your body feel safe again. Find something to ground you: look at a corner or element in your space and focus on it. Have your partner, family member, or friend help ground you. Or even simply run your finger along a seam.
We heal our nervous system through completion. So, even things like completing a little task, like washing a single dish or something more involved, like finishing the task you’ve been putting off, can help.
We are not meant to shoulder all of this stress and trauma. And you are never weak for feeling the effects of the constant distress. And if you need it, reach out for help. We need to be here for each other, stand up for each other more than ever. We can only make external changes when we take the time to nurture our internal security. 💕
The darkness is a teacher. When grief shows up, we often get overwhelmed by the dark, sad and sometimes scary thoughts and feelings that can come with it. But these thoughts and feelings can also teach us so much, often more than the lighter, cheerier feelings. Being able to hold space for these darker emotions is a privilege. It is something that not everyone has the safe space for. The process is not easy, but with the right tools and support, the clouds can clear, shedding light on parts of you you might not have met yet.
03/31/2026
“Grief is not just a feeling; it is a profound transformation.”
And this is why it can be so uncomfortable. Grief can show up as changes in your sleep, energy, eating habits, personality, focus, irritability, creativity, motivation, connections, and so much more. In these moments, we are stripped down and broken open. Personally, I usually feel activated or triggered, with a general sense of irritation. And this reaction is an invitation to get curious about why it’s causing this response in me. It’s a sign that rest is required, with a deep sense of compassion for self.
It can make you feel hollow, as if a part of you is missing. And in many ways, this is what’s occurring. Grief gives us the opportunity to make more space for compassion, understanding, and appreciation for life, and everything in between. These triggers or activations are the map to your healing. They help to guide you to the parts that require your attention and healing. The little gaps that are opening. It is up to you to make that choice to honour and listen to the signs your body is sending you. Immense healing awaits. It’s time to choose you.
03/27/2026
There is no way out of the feelings and pain; we must go through it. We must feel our feelings in order to release them.
It was present in the small annoyance. The lack of patience. The sudden outburst. The random headaches and the sleepless nights. The forgetfulness. And most of all, the numbness. That numb feeling keeps us safe. It’s denial. But it’s also what helps us pace our feelings. I could describe my feelings. I could tell you how I was feeling, the anger, the frustration, the numbness. And yet things didn’t seem to get better.
It was when I leaned in that U found my answer. When I embraced that anger, frustration, and numbness, what I found underneath was everything else. The sadness, the shame, the hope, the despair, the longing, the suppressed excitement and expression, and most of all, the love. When I honoured my feelings and felt them, that’s where the truth came tumbling out. And this is exactly what grief work is, and why it is so important to me.
Having my own intimate experiences with grief has shown me the immense power it holds and how important it is to have support through your grief. The shame, pain, and everything else need a witness. Someone to help you make sense of it all, and, most of all, make you feel seen and heard. This can be from the death of a loved one, a breakup, a change of occupation, a general disruption in your life, or deciding to lean into that numbness you’ve been harbouring.
What lies on the other side is the potential to live fully, embrace you and your feelings, and reconnect with your soul. Trust the process 💖✨🧚♀️