self-care – Page 3 – A Kintsugi Life

Rebuilding on unsteady ground

Kenetha Lessons from kintsugi September 13, 2017May 30, 2026healing, kintsugi, kintsukuroi, lessons, rebuilding, relationships, self-care, support

eggshell with cracks in it against black background

Reassembling stones that do not have a flat surface is tricky without a solid surface for them to rest on. Rebuilding a life after brokenness is much the same as we try to rebuild in the face of the chaos and instability the brokenness created. Here are some tips for finding and developing good support systems in times like this.

When our wounds are like icebergs

Kenetha Healing September 6, 2017May 30, 2026awareness, healing, self-care, wounds

front edge of large boat with iceberg just ahead of it in ocean

Sometimes, like icebergs, there is more to our wounds than what we see on the surface because a new wound can trigger unhealed parts of old wounds to re-activate. Recognizing when this is happening can help us react better to both the current wound and to more effectively address healing toward old wounds.

The loneliness of hidden grief

Kenetha Grief May 24, 2017May 30, 2026grief, healing, loss, self-care, suffering, support

tornado touching down on open ground with storm clouds in the background

Grief is always a lonely business, but it is lonelier still when our losses are hidden or unacknowledged ones. We stand alone in the middle of a tornado that no one else can see. In times like those, it often becomes necessary to give ourselves the support we need and can’t find elsewhere. Here are a few things I’ve found helpful in times like those. What works for you when facing hidden grief?

How are you treating your broken places?

Kenetha Brokenness April 5, 2017May 30, 2026brokenness, compassion, healing, kindness, relationships, self-care

a brown agate stone heart broken into multiple pieces

An unexpected outcome of paying more attention to how I talk about others has been a much greater awareness of how I talk to myself, especially about the broken places in my life. What began as an attempt to be more of a healing presence in the world around me has taught me a lot about supporting my own healing. Have you ever paid attention to how you treat your broken places?

Navigating the fog of grief

Kenetha Grief February 22, 2017May 30, 2026compassion, grace, grief, journey, self-care

road lined with trees and fields heading into thick fog

A recent morning commute through thick fog reminded me of how similar that is to the experience of grief after a loss. It makes the regular, everyday routine that much more challenging to deal with. Navigating through this fog of grief has much in common with that recent drive to work, and today’s post highlights some of those similarities and the lessons it can teach us.

Creating the best conditions for positive change

Kenetha Personal growth January 11, 2017May 30, 2026change, encouragement, self-care, self-improvement, self-love

cartoon of drill sergeant yelling at viewer

Most of us are convinced that the best way to motivate ourselves to make positive change is to beat ourselves into it, but that actually doesn’t seem to work well for the vast majority of us no matter how often we try it. Here’s what I’ve found to be a much better way of approaching desired changes.

A broken Christmas

Kenetha Brokenness December 21, 2016May 30, 2026brokenness, mindfulness, resistance, self-care

boy wearing Santa hat leans on window looking out on dark, rainy street

So many I know are facing Christmas celebrations this year in the midst of broken, grieving hearts. If this is you, I offer encouragement and support in today’s post. You are not alone. Please let me know if I can be of support.

7 gentle practices that promote healing

Kenetha Healing April 13, 2016May 30, 2026creativity, emotions, healing, intuition, mindfulness, nature, self-care, silence, spirituality, transformation, writing

person sitting in meditation by water with a cityscape in the background

Living a kintsugi kind of life means actively working on healing the broken places in our lives in such a way that our healing does become gold to be treasured. These seven practices form the core of how I work toward my own healing.

I am (still) not a nice person

Kenetha Personal growth November 18, 2015May 30, 2026kindness, relationships, self-care, solitude

Sometimes being a “not nice” person just might make you a kinder—and ultimately happier one—than you can imagine.

10 practices that have changed my life

Kenetha Transformation August 5, 2015May 30, 2026creativity, experiment, habits, intuition, nature, practice, sacred, self-care, solitude, stories, transformation, writing

path in forest with beam of sunlight shining on path

A review of the many levels of transformation I’ve undergone over the last few years revealed that the habits and practices I introduced and cultivated during this time have been key contributors to creating, stabilizing, and supporting these changes. Here are the 10 practices that have been key to this time of intense transformation for me.