Most people are familiar with the five love languages, but relationships are far more complex than a single framework. As our understanding of emotional safety, neurodiversity, and relational needs grows, so does the language we use to describe love. In this post, we’ll explore both the original and expanded love languages, why they matter, and how understanding them can lead to healthier, more fulfilling connections with others and with yourself.

By Maryam Sadeghzadeh

For many, the days surrounding the New Year can feel like a blur, holiday schedules, family gatherings, full inboxes, emotional highs and lows. The pressure to set goals and leap into action can be overwhelming, especially if you're still catching your breath.

So instead of rushing into resolutions, let’s pause.

Now that the initial hype has passed, this may be the perfect time to ask: What do I actually want this year to feel like?
Especially in my relationships with myself, and with the people I call family.

By Léa Chung

The holidays are often imagined as bright and full, yet for many, they arrive with a different texture. There may be distance instead of closeness, stillness instead of gathering, or emotions that feel difficult to name. If this season feels tender, it’s okay to move through it slowly and with care.

Letting go is rarely easy. Sometimes we keep old doors open out of hope, habit, or kindness, even when those open doors keep us stuck. In this post, we’ll explore why closing emotional doors is necessary for healing, how to set boundaries with compassion, and how to gently step forward into the life you’re building.

By Maryam Sadeghzadeh

In many families, love is expressed through closeness, being available, being loyal, being involved. But what happens when that closeness starts to feel overwhelming? When saying “yes” means abandoning your own needs? When keeping the peace means staying silent? That’s where boundaries come in.

By Léa Chung

Internal safety is the inner experience of feeling grounded, steady, and supported from within. It allows you to stay connected to yourself during stress, make clearer decisions, and move through life with greater resilience.

Internal safety is a resource you can build over time, and even small moments of safety can support healing, emotional regulation, and deeper self trust. Let your toolkit grow and change with you, and return to it whenever you need to reconnect to a sense of steadiness.

by Lochleen MacGregor

Setting boundaries can feel surprisingly hard. Many of us grew up having our limits ignored, pushed aside, or disregarded. Over time, we can get so used to stretching ourselves thin that we don’t even notice when our line in the sand is slowly being dragged farther and farther out to sea. When that line finally gets crossed, we’re overwhelmed by the wave. We feel out of control, resentful, or flooded.

But learning to set healthy boundaries is one of the most empowering skills we can build. It starts with understanding what boundaries truly are, and what they are not.

By Maryam Sadeghzadeh

Conflict in families is inevitable. We all make mistakes. We say things we regret. We withdraw, react, or shut down. Sometimes, the rupture is subtle a slow growing apart. Other times, it’s sharp and undeniable: a betrayal, a broken promise, a deep misunderstanding. Whatever the cause, family ruptures hurt. And if you're reading this wondering whether it's possible to rebuild after something has been broken, know this: healing is possible, but it rarely happens by accident. It takes courage, intention, and time.  

By Maryam Sadeghzadeh

“Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.”
Max Lucado

Most of us expect that family should feel like a safe place, a place of comfort, care, and connection. So, when conflict arises within the family, it often cuts deeper than in other areas of life. Whether it’s tension between partners, misunderstandings between parents and children, or long-standing issues with siblings or extended relatives, family conflict is uniquely painful because the stakes feel so high.

(Part 2 of “Moving Through Avoidance”)

By Léa Chung

Fear often whispers that we’re not ready, but what if it’s actually pointing us toward what matters most? This post invites you to practice one small act of bravery each day, reframe self-doubt, and strengthen your inner sense of agency.

by Lochleen MacGregor

Loneliness touches every single one of us at some point. Sometimes it’s a quiet ache; other times it’s an all-consuming emptiness. We’re wired for connection. When we’re isolated, our minds and moods shift. Loneliness can also show up when you’re surrounded by people. That’s a different kind of loneliness, and one that can feel even more confusing.

So what can you do when you feel disconnected? Here are some gentle ways to start easing loneliness and rebuilding connection.

by Maryam Sadeghzadeh

“Families are where we learn to feel—or to not feel.” — Virginia Satir

Every family has an emotional climate. Sometimes it's warm and safe, other times it feels tense, quiet, or full of unspoken things. Whether we grow up with two parents, one parent, stepparents, chosen family, siblings, grandparents or we’re starting a family of our own with a partner or children, there are emotional patterns that shape how we relate to each other.

These patterns can be comforting or confusing, nurturing or heavy. And often, the most powerful emotions in a family are the ones that never get said out loud.

by Léa Chung

"Vulnerability is not oversharing, it's sharing with people who have earned the right to hear our stories and our experiences" - Brené Brown

Practice safe vulnerability by reflecting on your motivations, setting boundaries, and sharing gradually with those who have earned your trust.

by Maryam Sadeghzadeh

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — Michael J. Fox

When we hear the word “family,” what comes to mind?

For some, it's a warm memory of connection and comfort. For others, it may bring up pain, longing, or a sense of distance. In truth, family means different things to different people, and the definition continues to evolve.

by Lochleen MacGregor

Do you ever feel like you keep attracting the same type of person over and over again?

Paying attention to both your own behaviour and the signals others give you in those first few dates can give a smoother start to a relationship.

Here are some helpful Do’s and Don’ts to guide you as you step into new relationships.

by Maryam Sadeghzadeh

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
— Carl Jung

We often think of relationships as something outside of us, our connections with partners, family, friends, or coworkers. But the most foundational relationship we will ever have is the one we hold with ourselves.

And yet, for many of us, that relationship is filled with judgment, self-doubt, and internal conflict. We speak to ourselves in ways we would never speak to someone we love. We ignore our own needs. We try to “fix” parts of ourselves rather than sit with them with compassion.

by Léa Chung

We all avoid things sometimes, big meetings, tough tasks, social events. Start small, set SMART goals, and take one step at a time. Tiny actions add up, and before you know it, those things that felt impossible start to feel doable.

by Lochleen MacGregor

How do resilient people keep moving forward when life gets hard?

They lean into five key areas. And good news, you can too. You don’t have to be born with resilience. It’s a skill — and like any skill, it can be built.

These are 5 things you can do to help you build resilience.

by Maryam Sadeghzadeh

“Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”
— Brené Brown

Connection is at the heart of the human experience. Whether it’s between partners, friends, coworkers, parents and children, or even neighbors, our relationships shape how we see ourselves and the world around us.

by Lochleen MacGregor

A sincere, meaningful apology can help repair a connection, rebuild trust, and show someone that you truly understand their experience.

So what makes an apology work? How can you tell if someone (or you!) really gets it—and isn’t just saying sorry to smooth things over?

Here are 7 steps to help you give (or recognize) a heartfelt, effective apology.