Author: coco yoga

embracing lifestyle by design
Snippets

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

coco yoga

Did my annual run-through of 28 questions to ask yourself and I discovered some weaknesses and areas of improvement. Below are my notes:

Top 4 weaknesses:

1. negative thinking –> reframing
stay aware & be ready with positives

2. procrastination –> 5 sec rule, 5 min rule
do it right away or schedule it in

3. indecision –> decision book
think it out before deciding yes or no

4. fear of criticism –> self confidence formula
consistency over perfection

How to limit, avoid gossiping:

  • become aware
  • don’t fuel the fire
  • use words of encouragement
  • walk away if needed “oh shit I gotta go, hold that thought”
  • change the subject

How to forgive and let go:

  • acknowledge the hurt and emotions
  • understand and gain perspective
  • make a conscious choice to forgive

Working to get 1% better everyday. I’m not perfect, not near perfect. How can I improve so the quality of my experiences improve? How can I be better to have a more positive impact on those around me?

CANI: Continuing And Never-ending Improvement

Share your thoughts below!

Snippets

What are your feelings about eating meat?

coco yoga

Friends not food! I’m fortune enough to have a grocery store close by that sells fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, grains. If I have the choice, I’m not choosing meat. I’m going for beans, peas, tempeh, or tofu for protein. I love the whole-food plant-based diet – tons of health benefits and eco-friendly! Here are some of my notes on the affects of industrial animal agriculture. And more about how plant-based diet protects wildlife. I’ve been following this since 2017 and am loving it! Here’s my good eats album with all my food pics, enjoy (-:

Healthy Habits, Mindfulness, Mindset

How to Forgive and Let Go for Emotional Healing

coco yoga

With the Scorpio New Moon here (deep, intense, and super transformative), I challenged myself to sit down and think deeper.

What am I holding to? What am I not forgiving myself or others for? Do negative thoughts keeping popping up around certain situations? I may need to add it to my list of Forgive and Let Go.

After sitting down for a few minutes, I wrote out 10 situations involving multiple people that still bother me. I was blown away at how much I’ve been holding onto, not fully letting go of. They came quick to mind once I let it all come up without judging right or wrong.

How am I gonna juggle all these situations emotionally moving forward? I know this pain is real, there’s no denying – but in order to heal, I know I have to truly FORGIVE AND LET GO. BUT HOW?! Here are my notes below:

3 Steps to Forgive and Let Go

1. Acknowledge the hurt and emotions 

  • Recognize the pain: Acknowledge the emotional pain caused by the offense and how it has affected you.
  • Name your feelings: Recognize and allow yourself to feel emotions like anger, sadness, betrayal, or resentment without judgment. Suppressing them won’t make them disappear.
  • Process your feelings: Share your feelings by journaling, talking to a trusted friend or counselor, or taking a similar action, like writing a letter you don’t send. 

2. Understand and gain perspective

  • Consider the context: Reflect on the surrounding circumstances to better understand what happened.
  • Humanize the other person: Try to understand the other person’s motives or circumstances without excusing their behavior. Empathy for their frailties as a human being can make it easier to show compassion.
  • Let go of unrealistic expectations: Release the belief that things should have been different. Expect reality to be as it is, which can reduce resentment. 

3. Make a conscious choice to forgive

  • Decide to forgive: Make a deliberate choice to forgive, understanding that it is for your own emotional and mental health.
  • Release resentment: Practice letting go of negative feelings and thoughts and replace them with healthier coping mechanisms.
  • Commit to it: Forgiveness is an ongoing process. Recommit to letting go on days when feelings resurface. Focus on today and the future instead of dwelling on the past.

Personal growth is all about getting a little bit better, stronger, healthier, more open-minded each day. Bringing awareness to the things that have been pulling me down is liberating. I’ll be working on them on-goingly and will report back here about how my overall well-being and peace of mind have been affected.

Forgive and let go my friends!

“Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” – Richard Carlson

Remember: techniques like journaling, talking to a trusted friend or counselor, or setting boundaries can help majorly with forgiving and letting go.

I also found that genuine prayer helps me heal. I pray for myself and those around me. The more I pray, the more I forgive, let go, and ultimately heal. I can feel the transformation within, and can feel the energy around me and those I pray for shift. Deep calmness. Almost like an emotional and spiritual reset.

It’s my responsibility to tend my garden, to pull weeds and water flowers. Using this blog as a tool to work on emotional pain and forgiveness.

Progress over perfection.

x Cor

> see free mental health resources here <

Getting Started, Healthy Habits, Mental Health

Express Feelings Positively with the ‘I Feel’ Framework

coco yoga

Here are my notes for communicating feelings and needs to others in a productive, positive way:

Instead of bottling up emotions or exploding in frustration, let’s work on expressing our thoughts, feelings, and needs in a productive and positive way. This is one of my biggest weaknesses (continuing and never-ending improvement). It’s been fun learning new ways to process emotions and express myself.

The “I Feel” Framework helps you communicate what’s really going on without any blame or judgment.

Why it works: When you start with “I feel” instead of “You always” or “You never,” you take ownership of your emotions while inviting understanding instead of defensiveness. It transforms conflicts into conversations.

The “I Feel” Framework:

1. Name it:“I feel [frustrated/overwhelmed/hurt]…”

2. Link it: “…when [specific situation happens]…”

3. Need it: “…because I need [respect/support/help].”

4. Ask for it: “Would you be willing to [specific action]?”

Example: Instead of “You never help around here” … try: “I feel overwhelmed when the chores pile up because I need some team work”. Would you be willing to handle dishes after dinner?”

This approach validates your feelings, explains the impact, and offers a clear path forward. No one gets defensive, everyone gets heard.

Try this today: Next time you feel frustrated, pause and run through the “I Feel” Framework before speaking. Notice how the conversation shifts.

Share your thoughts below!

Snippets

Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

coco yoga

It really depends on the time of year! I love the beach during the summer months – laying out all day with a cooler of snacks, a good book, and my hubby! Maybe a cold six pack and a long sleeve for when the sun starts to set. Then in the spring and fall seasons, the mountains are perfect! Ideal camping weather. Even in the winter to hit the slopes and snowboard. I guess I love both really! I’m making beach and mountains trips a priority in 2026 by planning my Kevin’s rule now. Good vibes only! Sending many blessings your way!

Snippets

What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

coco yoga

Our house loves rice, beans, and veggies! Cook em up, season to perfection, and eat up taco style, maybe make some quesadillas, or a classic rice bowl. Pita bread always hits and I love making homemade honey mustard (spicy brown mustard and pure maple syrup) or bbq tahini dressing (bbq sauce & tahini). We try to keep the diet whole-food plant-based (90%) and check all labels (like for the mustard and bbq sauce for example). Quality vs quantity. All vegan diet, limiting process foods, emphasizing plant protein, fibers, and minerals. We also love a night out to local vegan restaurants as a little treat. Here are some recent creations: 6 Easy Plant-Based Recipes: Med Plates, Tofu Burgers & More