Belonging. Connection. Support. We hear these words often, long for them and seek them throughout our lives. Despite the popularity of these words, we seldom find ourselves able to talk about how to cultivate them and the pain of their absence. This sometimes leaves us imbued with feelings of loneliness, shame, and isolation. Over time, we become accustomed to this, building greater anxiety around acquiring connections and greater hurt when we struggle to do so. This is painful and challenging. Our shame pushing us further away from the very things we desire most.Sometimes we feel ashamed of needing connection and support from others, believing that we should be able to do everything by and for ourselves. We may have been hurt, experienced loss, and been disappointed when we sought connection with others in the past. We may feel the need to prove ourselves to others, isolating and pressuring ourselves into solitude until we are finally ‘enough’. While this may sound safe, it is often a tactic to avoid our deeper fear of experiencing rejection from others, especially those we long to connect with most.Connection is a profound experience and we are all intricately hardwired for it. In this way, we cultivate a more loving view of ourselves when we accept and extend support, embracing the gift of connection with everything around us. Opening to this gift is different for each of us and is a process that cannot be rushed, making the continued presence of connection both a journey and an honor. The cornerstone of connection is vulnerability; the willingness to embrace ourselves and others in all that we are. Bearing witness to others’ vulnerability and allowing others to bear witness to ours can be both liberating and life changing. We cannot seek connection in isolation. We were never meant to do this alone.On November 16th, 17th and 18th, we are holding the Lanterns and Labyrinths Fall 2018 Retreat for those who feel called to build connections and revolutionize the way they relate to those around them. As part of our weekend retreat, we will explore what it means to be vulnerable, to show up in our lives with courage, and what wholehearted living can look like. We will experience expressive arts together. We will share meals together. We will make meaningful connections with others and especially with our own selves and our own stories.This three-day retreat explores The Daring Way™, a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. During the process, we will explore topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness. We will go deep to examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are holding us back and identify the new choices and practices that will move us toward more authentic and wholehearted living. The primary focus is on developing shame resilience skills and developing daily practices that transform the way we live, love, parent, and lead.Register online today at sanctuarycounseling.com! If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 610-385-3155. [ Edit on 11/02/2018: Dates were updated to reflect rescheduling. ]