Passion Provokers

The other day Jami and I were having a discussion about my struggle off and on with body image issues. Loving myself is easy until, well, those days I look in the mirror and only see the “yucky bits.”

Some days are hard, friends!

Jami’s sincere and deep love for me a n d m y b o d y (quite a lot according to him) and his compassionate understanding of my deeper body image issues helped me realize a couple of things (againnnnn):

1) Loving myself cannot stop at my body. Sure it’s gotten much easier to love myself and accept my past issues but I AM MY BODY. I must love ALL of me to truly love myself. My(self) body deserves to be loved!

2) I am the most brave when I take a good look at myself and own my story—the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the ugly ends up being my body image stuff and it’s time to truly let that s**t go.

So here I am throwing this out here so that I am accountable to my healing forward.

I am loved and joyful and beautiful inside AND OUTSIDE! Take that, negative voice in my head.

Thanks for listening, friends.

xoxo

The other day Jami and I were having a discussion about my struggle off and on with body image issues. Loving myself is easy until, well, those days I look in the mirror and only see the “yucky bits.”

Some days are hard, friends!

Jami’s sincere and deep love for me a n d m y b o d y (quite a lot according to him) and his compassionate understanding of my deeper body image issues helped me realize a couple of things (againnnnn):

1) Loving myself cannot stop at my body. Sure it’s gotten much easier to love myself and accept my past issues but I AM MY BODY. I must love ALL of me to truly love myself. My(self) body deserves to be loved!

2) I am the most brave when I take a good look at myself and own my story—the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the ugly ends up being my body image stuff and it’s time to truly let that s**t go.

So here I am throwing this out here so that I am accountable to my healing forward.

I am loved and joyful and beautiful inside AND OUTSIDE! Take that, negative voice in my head.

Thanks for listening, friends.

xoxo

How are you doing right now?

Most days I'm feeling excited, hopeful, and aware... But not every day.

I wish I could say the world's chaos hasn't stolen my joy but some days it does.

So, how are you r e a l l y ???

It's okay to feel overwhelmed...It's okay to feel heartbroken...It's okay to feel angry...

And it's also powerful to move through those feelings and come out on the other side feeling worthy, loved, and valuable--wholehearted.

Choose wholehearted. I will, too.

xoxo

How are you doing right now?

Most days I'm feeling excited, hopeful, and aware... But not every day.

I wish I could say the world's chaos hasn't stolen my joy but some days it does.

So, how are you r e a l l y ???

It's okay to feel overwhelmed...It's okay to feel heartbroken...It's okay to feel angry...

And it's also powerful to move through those feelings and come out on the other side feeling worthy, loved, and valuable--wholehearted.

Choose wholehearted. I will, too.

xoxo

This. 🧡 So much. This. 🧡🙏🏻

It matters.

It matters in your spirit, your health, your love, your intimacy.

When someone knows you—reallyyyyy knows all of your good, your bad, and your ugly—you will start using your beautiful, powerful, magnificent wings that have maybe atrophied a bit or feel weak or maybe are broken beyond repair.

The best news is that it’s all healable, it’s all recoverable and the JOY you will finally have will be so great you will never want to go back.

Stay congruent, my friends. It’s more than worth it.

xoxoxo

#badassingitup #Joy #lovewins #thecoupleshiplove #jamiandmarlalove #brokenwings #itisfixable #vanlifediaries #relationshipexperts

This. 🧡 So much. This. 🧡🙏🏻

It matters.

It matters in your spirit, your health, your love, your intimacy.

When someone knows you—reallyyyyy knows all of your good, your bad, and your ugly—you will start using your beautiful, powerful, magnificent wings that have maybe atrophied a bit or feel weak or maybe are broken beyond repair.

The best news is that it’s all healable, it’s all recoverable and the JOY you will finally have will be so great you will never want to go back.

Stay congruent, my friends. It’s more than worth it.

xoxoxo

#badassingitup #Joy #lovewins #thecoupleshiplove #jamiandmarlalove #brokenwings #itisfixable #vanlifediaries #relationshipexperts

It’s been a grand adventure, love!!! Always and forever you are my lover, best friend, adventure partner, and best Gramps ever! 💓😘💕🥰 #grandadventures #vanlife #vanlifediaries #marriedthirtythreeyears #happyanniversarymylove #relationshipexperts

This is an important question: What are the red flags that therapy is making your relationship WORSE?

Helping a relationship grow into the it’s beautiful potential requires work. We are often shocked when people say that a relationship “should be easy.”

All relationships benefit from experience’s that require us to listen and truly understand our partners. Arguing ought to be a healthy experience that leads to understanding and open agreements that benefit both of you.

Asking for help is the strongest indicator of a strong relationship for growth. Why is marriage therapy 80% likely to put a marriage into separation and divorce when at least 80% are likely to be successful together given healthy agreements?

Here are the critical questions to ask:

Did we hire a person or team that has professional and practical experience helping relationships grow happily together?
Is the therapy leading me to take practical steps for my own and partners benefit?
Are we able to talk about difficult issues frankly and freely with our professional? Seperate or together?
By six weeks, is there light at the end of the work your doing?
Is your relationship growing more insightful and honest about and with each other?
Do you see your relationship as more sustainable than when you started?
Is your personal stress level decreasing significantly?
Finding the right help makes all the difference and that is why we choose a hybrid approach where the two of us help the two of you through consulting, coaching and mentoring that is short term and highly effective. More than ninety five percent of our clients (often starting seperated or even in divorce proceedings) find the love they have always wanted in there relationship.

We look for three things for a relationship to build into love.

1: A head over heels beginning. If you both truly loved each other as you moved into together and there is no abuse involved it is likely workable.

2: Longer than eighteen months of exclusivity.

3: Willingness to forgive and build healthy open agreements.

One very significant danger in most therapy for couples is that often the professional subtlety takes a side. Our experience is that “it takes two to tango”The agreements that were made that caused the difficulty were made by you both. We work together with couples to make sure that each of you are able to do the personal work needed to build a better relationship.

Ask these questions separately and share the answers together, you will know if you need a new professional.

All the best,

JamiAndMarla. Love 💕

This is an important question: What are the red flags that therapy is making your relationship WORSE?

Helping a relationship grow into the it’s beautiful potential requires work. We are often shocked when people say that a relationship “should be easy.”

All relationships benefit from experience’s that require us to listen and truly understand our partners. Arguing ought to be a healthy experience that leads to understanding and open agreements that benefit both of you.

Asking for help is the strongest indicator of a strong relationship for growth. Why is marriage therapy 80% likely to put a marriage into separation and divorce when at least 80% are likely to be successful together given healthy agreements?

Here are the critical questions to ask:

Did we hire a person or team that has professional and practical experience helping relationships grow happily together?
Is the therapy leading me to take practical steps for my own and partners benefit?
Are we able to talk about difficult issues frankly and freely with our professional? Seperate or together?
By six weeks, is there light at the end of the work your doing?
Is your relationship growing more insightful and honest about and with each other?
Do you see your relationship as more sustainable than when you started?
Is your personal stress level decreasing significantly?
Finding the right help makes all the difference and that is why we choose a hybrid approach where the two of us help the two of you through consulting, coaching and mentoring that is short term and highly effective. More than ninety five percent of our clients (often starting seperated or even in divorce proceedings) find the love they have always wanted in there relationship.

We look for three things for a relationship to build into love.

1: A head over heels beginning. If you both truly loved each other as you moved into together and there is no abuse involved it is likely workable.

2: Longer than eighteen months of exclusivity.

3: Willingness to forgive and build healthy open agreements.

One very significant danger in most therapy for couples is that often the professional subtlety takes a side. Our experience is that “it takes two to tango”The agreements that were made that caused the difficulty were made by you both. We work together with couples to make sure that each of you are able to do the personal work needed to build a better relationship.

Ask these questions separately and share the answers together, you will know if you need a new professional.

All the best,

JamiAndMarla. Love 💕

This is our favorite tool to use and teach our clients. What are you feeling right now?
#feelingwheel #emotionwheel #relationshipexperts #feelyourfeelings

This is our favorite tool to use and teach our clients. What are you feeling right now?
#feelingwheel #emotionwheel #relationshipexperts #feelyourfeelings

I love everything about this! 😊

What is it that inspires you? For me, it’s a deeper love of myself and with Jami.

And it’s NOT easy at times. Daring to open up to deeper healing and vulnerability for myself and for our coupleship is freaking scary at times.

And...it’s worth it. Every time. (And, at times, super painful. But, to grow is to experience pain and that’s why sometimes I avoid it like the plague. 😲😵😏🤗🙏🏻)

Dare to love yourself deep into your darkest places where light has been denied for far too long. It will hurt like hell, and it will give you joy you haven’t yet experienced.

How? Well, here’s what I do:

🧡 Find a quiet time and place and ask yourself (or your partner if you are brave because they usually know 😬), “What triggers me the most?” Write out what comes to you.
🧡 Now write the emotions you feel when triggered (three feelings from the Feeling Wheel posted in the comments).
🧡 Feel them: where are they in your body, how big are they, what is your reaction/action around them?
🧡 Now, take another look at the wheel and find the feeling across the wheel from them. These are your goal emotions. Feel them: where are they in your body, how big are they, what is your reaction/action around them?
🧡 Take some time (at least five minutes) and breathe out the trigger emotions and breathe in the positive ones you just identified.

There you go. I dare you...

Dare to create an epic life, my friends.

xoxo

#journalforjoy #relationshipexperts #relationshipgoals #forgivenessmatters #thecoupleshiplove #jamiandmarlalove #vanlifelovers #vanlife

I love everything about this! 😊

What is it that inspires you? For me, it’s a deeper love of myself and with Jami.

And it’s NOT easy at times. Daring to open up to deeper healing and vulnerability for myself and for our coupleship is freaking scary at times.

And...it’s worth it. Every time. (And, at times, super painful. But, to grow is to experience pain and that’s why sometimes I avoid it like the plague. 😲😵😏🤗🙏🏻)

Dare to love yourself deep into your darkest places where light has been denied for far too long. It will hurt like hell, and it will give you joy you haven’t yet experienced.

How? Well, here’s what I do:

🧡 Find a quiet time and place and ask yourself (or your partner if you are brave because they usually know 😬), “What triggers me the most?” Write out what comes to you.
🧡 Now write the emotions you feel when triggered (three feelings from the Feeling Wheel posted in the comments).
🧡 Feel them: where are they in your body, how big are they, what is your reaction/action around them?
🧡 Now, take another look at the wheel and find the feeling across the wheel from them. These are your goal emotions. Feel them: where are they in your body, how big are they, what is your reaction/action around them?
🧡 Take some time (at least five minutes) and breathe out the trigger emotions and breathe in the positive ones you just identified.

There you go. I dare you...

Dare to create an epic life, my friends.

xoxo

#journalforjoy #relationshipexperts #relationshipgoals #forgivenessmatters #thecoupleshiplove #jamiandmarlalove #vanlifelovers #vanlife

Reminding myself to be kind, graceful, and loving to, well, me...💚

Maybe it’s a little reminder for you today, too.

#loveyoself #forgivenessmatters #journalforjoy #relationshipexperts #relationshipgoals❤️

Reminding myself to be kind, graceful, and loving to, well, me...💚

Maybe it’s a little reminder for you today, too.

#loveyoself #forgivenessmatters #journalforjoy #relationshipexperts #relationshipgoals❤️

Who are you?

No, I mean who are you really without the identification of what you DO (i.e., wife, mom, Gigi, mentor, consultant, CEO—all mine and all true)?

Who I really am is someone no longer concerned with approval, someone in love with myself, someone who desires connection over confusion...

So, who are you?

I’d love to “meet” you; the true essence of you. 🧡 Let’s be the real us who loves the real other but who mostly loves our true selves.

xoxo

Who are you?

No, I mean who are you really without the identification of what you DO (i.e., wife, mom, Gigi, mentor, consultant, CEO—all mine and all true)?

Who I really am is someone no longer concerned with approval, someone in love with myself, someone who desires connection over confusion...

So, who are you?

I’d love to “meet” you; the true essence of you. 🧡 Let’s be the real us who loves the real other but who mostly loves our true selves.

xoxo

Oh. My. Stars. I am so excited!!! Masters graduation from Fuller Seminary—June 12 is the day (sadly, online buuuuut I do get to march in-person as soon as they open the Pasadena, Cali campus up) and I’m am so ready!

It’s been a journey since fall of 2017, and I have to say I’m pretty jazzed to have finished my MATM (Masters of Arts and Theology in Ministry) following a brain tumor/surgery and during some of the toughest times in my life. I am grateful, proud, and on FIRE to share my deep love for the earth, all people, and the God of the universe. 🧡🙏🏻🤗

Pub and Spritual Grub will begin again new and improved on May 22 and if you’re at all interested in spiritual conversations, and nothing but spiritual conversations, as they relate to film, tv, culture, justice encompassed by love, joy, givenness, vulnerability, worthiness, etc., I’d love to have you join us. IN-PERSON if you’re in the Boise area at Municipal/@kristenarmstrong park (4 pm). COVID safety will be honored due to our non-profit status (message me if you want the deets)...

Yasssssssssss! Can you tell I’m excited????! 🧡🙏🏻🤗

xoxo

P.S. A massive shoutout full of love and joy to my incredible love, Jami, who supported me with food, encouraging words, and a listening ear to all my papers. I do again and again, my love! 💕🥰💓

#thecoupleshiplove #vanlifelovers #fullertheologicalseminary #masterofsomething #jamiandmarlalove #godself #relationshipexperts

Oh. My. Stars. I am so excited!!! Masters graduation from Fuller Seminary—June 12 is the day (sadly, online buuuuut I do get to march in-person as soon as they open the Pasadena, Cali campus up) and I’m am so ready!

It’s been a journey since fall of 2017, and I have to say I’m pretty jazzed to have finished my MATM (Masters of Arts and Theology in Ministry) following a brain tumor/surgery and during some of the toughest times in my life. I am grateful, proud, and on FIRE to share my deep love for the earth, all people, and the God of the universe. 🧡🙏🏻🤗

Pub and Spritual Grub will begin again new and improved on May 22 and if you’re at all interested in spiritual conversations, and nothing but spiritual conversations, as they relate to film, tv, culture, justice encompassed by love, joy, givenness, vulnerability, worthiness, etc., I’d love to have you join us. IN-PERSON if you’re in the Boise area at Municipal/@kristenarmstrong park (4 pm). COVID safety will be honored due to our non-profit status (message me if you want the deets)...

Yasssssssssss! Can you tell I’m excited????! 🧡🙏🏻🤗

xoxo

P.S. A massive shoutout full of love and joy to my incredible love, Jami, who supported me with food, encouraging words, and a listening ear to all my papers. I do again and again, my love! 💕🥰💓

#thecoupleshiplove #vanlifelovers #fullertheologicalseminary #masterofsomething #jamiandmarlalove #godself #relationshipexperts