Walk With Me Counseling, LLC

10/09/2025

“There’s a quiet truth I keep rediscovering:
Peace is the highest form of happiness.

Not the temporary kind of happiness we get when things finally go our way, but the kind that doesn’t depend on anything going our way.

And yet — I forget this all the time.

I get caught in work projects, parenting, relationships, ideas about what “should” happen next. My mind starts chasing little bursts of satisfaction — the email answered, the praise received, the next milestone reached.

It’s subtle, but underneath it, there’s restlessness.
A sense that happiness is somewhere out there, waiting for me to catch it.

But the moments I feel truly alive — truly well — are the moments when I stop chasing altogether.

The Happiness Trap
Years ago, after I’d been living as a Buddhist monk for a while, I remember sitting one evening on a flat stone by a small pond in the Thai forest. The jungle was alive with sound — frogs, crickets, and a low hum of mosquitoes testing their luck around my ears.

I’d been struggling that day. My mind was loud, my knees ached, and my thoughts were like children fighting in the back seat. I remember wanting to feel better — wanting to escape discomfort, wanting to be at peace.

But the harder I tried to find happiness, the more agitated I felt.

And then something unexpected happened.
I just gave up.

I stopped trying to fix or improve the moment.
I let the sounds, the aches, the thoughts — all of it — be as they were.

And in that surrender, the strangest thing happened:
The suffering dissolved.

Not because I “achieved” peace, but because I stopped resisting life.

That stillness — that quiet, effortless okayness — was unlike any pleasure or success I’d ever known.
It wasn’t joy in the conventional sense. It was deeper, quieter, unshakable.

It was peace.

The Difference Between Happiness and Peace
Most of what we call happiness depends on getting what we want or avoiding what we don’t.
Peace doesn’t depend on either.

Happiness flutters when conditions are favorable — when the sun is shining, when people approve, when things make sense.

Peace doesn’t mind the weather.
It’s the calm beneath both sunshine and storm.

Happiness says, “I’ll feel good when…”
Peace whispers, “I’m okay now.”

Happiness needs reasons.
Peace just is.

That’s why I say — the highest happiness is peace. Because it’s not fragile. It doesn’t break when life doesn’t bend to our preferences.

Peace Is Not Passivity
Now, sometimes when I talk about peace, people assume it means we should be endlessly accommodating — calm to the point of complacency.

But peace isn’t a doormat.
It doesn’t mean letting others trample our boundaries or staying silent in the face of harm.

True peace has spine.

It’s the stillness that allows us to respond wisely rather than react blindly.
It’s what lets us say “no” without hatred, or “yes” without fear.

Peace doesn’t collapse; it clarifies.

When my daughter’s upset, for instance, peace helps me stay grounded enough to listen rather than lecture.
When my mind spirals with self-criticism, peace reminds me that I’m not my thoughts.
When I’m tempted to overextend myself for approval, peace helps me pause and choose alignment instead.

It’s not about withdrawing from life — it’s about engaging from a steadier center.

A Practice to Return to Peace
If you want to taste this kind of peace today, here’s a simple practice:

Pause. Wherever you are, take a slow breath.
Notice what’s happening. The sensations in your body, the sounds around you, the tone of your thoughts.
Soften. Let everything be as it is for a few moments. No fixing, no fighting.
Listen. Beneath it all, can you sense the quiet awareness that’s always here — even in the middle of everything?
That awareness is peace. It’s been waiting for your attention all along.”

- Sean Fargo, Founder of

Free mindfulness exercises, free meditations, mindfulness courses, guided meditation scripts and mindfulness worksheets for reducing stress.

09/19/2025

“Our actions shape our lives, but what we don't take action on can be just as powerful.
Life is sculpted on a moment-to-moment basis. Every one of the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the actions we take contributes to the complex quality and character of the universe’s unfolding. It simply is not possible to be alive without making an impact on the world that surrounds us. Every action taken affects the whole as greatly as every action not taken. And when it comes to making the world a better place, what we choose not to do can be just as important as what we choose to do.
For example, when we neglect to recycle, speak up, vote, or help somebody in immediate need, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be an agent for positive change. Instead, we are enabling a particular course to continue unchallenged, picking up speed even as it goes along. By holding the belief that our actions don’t make much of a difference, we may find that we often tend to forego opportunities for involvement. Alternatively, if we see ourselves as important participants in an ever-evolving world, we may feel more inspired to contribute our unique perspective and gifts to a situation.
It is wise to be somewhat selective about how and where we are using our energy in order to keep ourselves from becoming scattered. Not every cause or action is appropriate for every person. When a situation catches our attention, however, and speaks to our heart, it is important that we honor our impulse to help and take the action that feels right for us. It may be offering a kind word to a friend, giving resources to people in need, or just taking responsibility for our own behavior. By doing what we can, when we can, we add positive energy to our world. And sometimes, it may be our one contribution that makes all the difference.”

- DailyOm.com

08/26/2025

"You deserve relationships where your empathy is cherished, not exploited.
When you’ve crossed paths with a dark empath — someone who seems to understand your emotions deeply but uses that gift to manipulate or wound — it can leave you feeling shaken, mistrustful, and even questioning your own judgment. Yet it’s important to remember that their behavior is a reflection of their inner struggles, not your worth.

When you’re ready to break the ties, you can begin to heal by reclaiming the parts of yourself that may feel lost in the shadows. But first, give yourself the grace to grieve, to feel the betrayal, and to honor your pain. Then, little by little, let the light in again. Journaling, therapy, creative expression, or simply quiet time in nature can help you process what happened and remind you that your heart still beats with goodness.

In time, the dark empath’s shadow will no longer define your story. You will discover that your sensitivity is your superpower — a profound kindness and capacity to care for others that is rare and deeply needed in this world. In the end, healing is not about erasing what happened but about integrating it in a way that makes you stronger, wiser, and more compassionate toward yourself. You deserve relationships where your empathy is cherished, not exploited — and those relationships are waiting for you as you continue to step into the light of your own healing."

-DailyOm.com

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08/22/2025

"Healing from echoism is a loving journey of finding your voice again and learning that your needs are as important as anyone else’s.
Echoism is a quiet, often unnoticed way of being, but its effects can be felt deeply in our lives. At its heart, echoism is the tendency to put others’ needs first — sometimes so much so that we forget our own. This pattern often takes root early in life within environments where our voices weren’t always heard or our needs were overshadowed, teaching us that the wants and desires of others were more important than our own.

When echoism takes hold, we may find ourselves quietly stepping back, holding back our feelings, and suppressing big emotions, all in an effort to avoid upsetting others. We pour our energy into helping, giving, and being there for those around us. And while these actions come from a place of good intentions — when unreciprocated — they can leave us feeling unseen, unheard, and disconnected from what our hearts truly desire.

But there is so much hope in healing from echoism. It’s a gentle and loving journey of finding your voice again — learning that your needs are just as important as anyone else’s. It’s about giving yourself permission to be true to who you are, to express your feelings, and to set healthy, loving boundaries. By embracing your own worth and stepping into the fullness of your authentic self, you create space for healthy and balanced relationships. Remember, you matter. Your voice, your presence, and your well-being are a gift to the world around you."

- DailyOm.com

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08/21/2025

Real life most often happens during the in-between times — when we are not celebrating a special occasion.

While celebrations are intended to honor life’s more momentous occasions, much of real life tends to happen during the in-between times. While moving from one moment in time to the next is seldom considered a significant occurrence, it is during those in-between times that we are most in tune with life’s most profound, albeit simple joys. Between birth and death, triumph and sorrow, beginnings and endings, we enjoy innumerable experiences that often happen unnoticed. These times are just as worthy of celebration.

The in-between times are seldom about landmark moments. How you choose to celebrate them or which moments you choose to celebrate is up to you. You may want to celebrate the simple fact that you are alive and every day is a chance to spend time with the people you care about or do the work that you love. Then again, when you look at the good that exists in your life, many reasons for celebrating the in-between times may become clear: A cup of your favorite tea, a beautiful sunrise, a good book, and the smell of fresh air can all be reasons for celebration.

Celebrating the in-between times can be as easy as paying special attention to them when they do happen, rather than taking them for granted. It’s your focus of attention that can turn an in-between time into a celebration. You can also pay homage to the in-between times by slowing down and allowing your heart and mind to take in all of your life’s wonders. Far too often, we let those simple moments of awe pass us by. The in-between times are when life happens to us. Without the in-between times, there would be no big moments to celebrate."

- DailyOm.com

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08/15/2025

Life's complexities often lead us down winding paths, far removed from the essence of who we once were. As the world pulls us in all directions, it can leave us feeling adrift, questioning the values and dreams that once guided us. Yet, this state of uncertainty can be an opportunity. It's in these....

08/12/2025

Healing from the effects of gaslighting and narcissistic behavior is possible — and it’s a deeply empowering journey…

It can feel so subtle at first. A passing comment that makes you doubt yourself. A quiet dismissal of your feelings. A disagreement where you walk away wondering if you really did remember incorrectly. That’s the tricky thing about gaslighting — it often starts small, almost invisible, until one...

07/05/2025

06/17/2025

“Many of us do not take the time to notice and acknowledge how beautiful we are as humans. We may be great lovers of beauty, seeing it in the people, places, and things around us, while completely missing it in ourselves. Some of us feel that it is vain to consider our appearance too much, or we may find that when we look at ourselves — all we see are imperfections. Often we come to the mirror with expectations and preconceived notions about beauty that blind us from seeing ourselves clearly. As a result, we miss the beauty that is closest to us — the beauty we are. Sometimes we see our beauty in a shallow way, noticing how well we are conforming to social norms, but we fail to see the deeper beauty that shines out from within and that will continue to shine regardless of how we measure up to society’s ideal.
If we can cut through all these obstacles and simply appreciate how beautiful we are, we free up so much energy. We also become less dependent upon the opinions and feedback of others since we become our own greatest admirers. Many of us know that after a great yoga practice or a long, deep meditation, we are more able to see how beautiful we are. This is because we have released some of our baggage, thus unburdening ourselves and summoning forth the spirit that dwells within us.
To keep ourselves in touch with our own beauty, we can surround ourselves with images that reflect our beauty back to us — photos of a relative or child who has our eyes, images of teachers who embody spirit, or self-portraits that capture our essence in a way that allows us to see ourselves anew. The best way to keep ourselves in touch with our own beauty is to keep looking deeply into our own souls and opening our eyes to the human being we see in the mirror every day.”

- DailyOm

06/12/2025

“Our primary relationship in life is with ourselves. No one else goes through every experience in life with us. We are our one permanent companion, yet we are often our worst critic. To remind ourselves of our magnificence, we can do this exercise: ‘Five Things I Like About Myself.’

Begin by writing down at least five things that you like about yourself. This is not the time to be modest. If you are having trouble coming up with the five items, you know that this exercise can really benefit you. Be sure to include more than your physical attributes on your list since our bodies are only part of who we are. If you are still struggling with what to include on your list, think of what you like about your favorite people. These are traits and qualities that you probably possess too. Another way to complete your list is to consider five things you don’t like about yourself and find something about these traits that you can turn into a positive.

Continue this process for a week, thinking of five new things you like about yourself each day. At the end of the week, read the list aloud to yourself while standing in front of a mirror. Instead of looking for flaws to fix, allow the mirror to reflect your magnificence. You may feel silly standing in front of a mirror and reading aloud a list of your admirable attributes, but it might just bring a smile to your face and change the way you see yourself. Remember, it is when you feel the most resistant that this exercise can benefit you the most. Because we are constantly looking at the world instead of looking at ourselves, we don’t often see what’s magnificent about ourselves. When we take the time to experience ourselves the way we would experience someone we love and admire, we become our best companion and supporter on life’s journey.”

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06/02/2025

“There is freedom that comes with awareness because with it comes the opportunity to make a choice.”

“Life is a journey with many steps on our personal path, taking us down a winding road of constant evolution. And each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that can allow us to transform into our next best selves. One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently when someone in our life rubs us the wrong way; on another day we may find ourselves wanting to walk away from a particular circumstance but are not sure if we can. Eventually, we may find ourselves stuck in a rut that we can never seem to get out of. We may even make the same choices over and over again because we don’t know how to choose otherwise. Rather than moving us forward, our personal paths may take us in a seemingly never-ending circle where our actions and choices lead us nowhere. It is during these moments that awareness can be the starting point to change.

Awareness is when we are able to realize what we are doing. We observe ourselves, noticing our reactions, actions, and choices — as if we were a detached viewer. Awareness is the first step to change because we can’t make a change unless we are aware that one needs to be made. We can then begin understanding why we are doing what we are doing. Afterward, it becomes difficult not to change because we are no longer asleep to the truth behind our behaviors. We also begin to realize that, just as much as we are the root source behind the causes for our behaviors, we also are the originator for any changes that we want to happen.

There is a freedom that comes with awareness. Rather than thinking that we are stuck in a repetitive cycle where there is no escape, we begin to see that we very much play a hand in creating our lives. Our behaviors and choices are always ours to make. Our past and our present no longer have to dictate our future when we choose to be aware. We are then free to move beyond our old limits, make new choices, and take new actions. With awareness, our paths can’t help but wind us forward in our lives while paving the way for new experiences and new ways of being. It is through awareness that we can continue to consciously evolve.”

- DailyOm.com

04/23/2025

"Most of us are familiar with the idea of “keeping it real” and have an intuitive sense about what that means. People who keep it real don’t hide behind a persona to protect themselves from their fear of how they might be perceived. They don’t present a false self or wear a mask in order to appear more perfect, more powerful, or more independent. People who keep it real present themselves as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide. They share their full selves with the people who are lucky enough to know them.

Being real in this way is not an easy thing to do. We live in a culture that often shows us images of physical and material perfection. As a result, we all want to look younger, thinner, wealthier, and more successful. We are rewarded externally when we succeed at this masquerade, but people who are real remind us that, internally, we suffer. Whenever we feel that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down.

People like this inspire us to let go of our own defenses and relax for a moment in the truth of who we really are. In their presence, we feel safe enough to take off our personas and experience the freedom of not hiding behind a barrier. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a parent who was able to keep it real may find it easier to be that way ourselves. The rest of us may have to work a little harder to let go of our pretenses and share the beauty and humor of our real selves. Our reward for taking such a risk — we will attract and inspire others, giving them the permission to be real too."

-DailyOm.com

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