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Tea light candles arranged in a heart shape on a wooden surface, casting a warm glow.

Choose Love

Five simple ways to choose love over fear

Where there is love, there is life. ~ Gandhi

heartcandlespeaceIn a time ripe for seeds of fear to grow, it is easy to feel powerless and go unconscious to how we can make a positive difference. Our hearts are cracked open as we witness the pain that others experience. Bombarded with the sea of social media posts, internet news and television programs our biological fear response is often activated without our conscious awareness.  Once triggered, we are vulnerable to viewing the world through a very dark and guarded lens. It is these times we must remember that love is greater than fear. Love is a power beyond description and measure. It heals all wounds and calls us to seek compassion, mercy and forgiveness. Its’ capacity to mend, resolve and bring peace lets us know it is a divine, universal force of goodness.

Our most celebrated leaders, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Desmond Tutu and Victor Frankl chose love over fear. We can follow their lead by turning our attention to our hearts and activating our endless reservoir of compassion. Now more than ever we are called to do our part in bringing love and healing to the world. This starts within our own communities, families and most importantly ourselves. As the season of thanksgiving, gratitude, generosity, love and peace begins we are given an opportunity to deepen our faith and spiritual practice.

When fear comes knocking at your door, send faith to answer. ~ Joyce Meyer

5 Ways to Choose Love Over Fear

  1. Be a force of healing and kindness in our own relationships with family, friends, partners and communities. Choose to release past hurts, forgive any grievances and let those around you know how much you love them.
  2. Communicate with love and compassion. In other words, if you find yourself wanting to complain, criticize, judge or gossip take a moment to breathe and choose love instead.
  3. Practice the Loving Kindness Meditation. One of the foundational Buddhist meditations for cultivating love, compassion and an open heart.
  4. Ask the questions;   What would love do?  What would the great spiritual masters do?
  5. Pray and meditate daily. Light a candle for peace, close your eyes and go within.

IMG_4943Hilary Stokes Ph.D. and Kim Ward Ph.D. have been a team for 20 years, specializing in mind, body, spirit psychology. They are the authors of the bestselling books The Happy Map: Your roadmap to the habit of happiness and Manifesting Mindset: The 6-step formula for attracting your goals and dreams and founders of Authenticity Associates Coaching and Counseling. They are passionate about combining the best of holistic and traditional approaches to health and happiness.

About the Authors

headshot of Dr. Hilary Stokes, licensed psychotherapist

Hilary Stokes Phd

HIlary Stokes, Ph.D., LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist in California with more than 25 years of clinical experience, specializing in trauma therapy, PTSD treatment, anxiety, depression, and nervous system healing. She holds Master's degrees in Clinical Social Work and Kinesiology and Sports Psychology and a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology with a specialization in Tibetan Buddhist Psychology. Dr. Stokes is extensively trained and certified in brainspotting, EMDR, somatic therapy and other mind body approaches. Her integrative work bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and holistic psychology to help clients process unresolved trauma, rewire stress patterns, and build emotional resilience.

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headshot of Dr. Kim Ward, certified trauma-informed coach and life coach

Kim Ward Phd

Kim Ward, Ph.D. holds both a masters and a doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology with a specialization in Tibetan Buddhist Psychology. She brings more than 25 years of experience in trauma recovery, Brainspotting and mind-body transformation. She is extensively trained and certified in Brainspotting, somatic therapy, and trauma-informed approaches. Dr. Ward integrates neuroscience, nervous system regulation and consciousness-based psychology to help individuals process unresolved trauma, shift limiting beliefs, and access greater emotional resilience. Her work focuses on healing at the root, beyond symptom management, through brain-body therapies that create lasting change.

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Email: contact@authenticityassociates.com

Our office is located in Carlsbad, CA 92009

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founders Dr. Hilary Strokes and Dr. Kim Ward sitting on large rocks with view of sunset at the sea

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