Diane Mouradian, LMFT, TF CBT

04/09/2026

Is Your Hitch Ready?

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star…that’s what Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged us to do. In his 1860 essay, Civilization, he urged us to aim high and dream. Aspire…

It’s a theme that runs through my thoughts regularly…and I love hearing stories about people who seek out their own calling. The familiar phrase is: “I’ve always dreamed of…”

-starting a business
-being in a loving relationship
-having a family
-traveling
-writing a book
-learning to drive
-being single
-going to a festival
-riding a bike
-learning to sew, knit, quilt
-running a marathon
-owning a home
-visiting the National Parks
-having friends
-ziplining
-seeing a favorite show, concert, performer
-making jewelry
-having a pet
-living in a city or in the country
-creating a work of art
-moving to a new state
-going to school
-learning to swim
-skydiving, surfing, scuba diving
-living abroad
-changing jobs, careers
-playing an instrument
-composing a song
-learning a language

So many people, so many examples…so many more possibilities…that’s what makes our world so fascinating…the diversity of dreams.

But that’s not all…the other part of Emerson’s essay speaks to how we impact our society, ie Civilization, when we pursue our dreams and become the best versions of ourselves. A spill over effect…our highest self then impacts the greater good…so, we serve not only ourselves but also others. Think about what we can offer the world when we, ourselves, are filled full of wonder and possibility.

If you could fill in the blank after “I’ve always dreamed of…” how would you finish the sentence? What would fulfill you?

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/04/09/is-your-hitch-ready/

PS For more art journaling reflections, my book Diary of a Curly Top, Everyday Reflections Through Art is available on Amazon at
https://a.co/d/51OjEws

04/09/2026

Is Your Hitch Ready?

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star…that’s what Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged us to do. In his 1860 essay, Civilization, he urged us to aim high and dream. Aspire… It’s a theme that runs through my thoughts regularly…and I love hearing stories about people who seek out their own calling. The familiar phrase is: “I’ve always dreamed of…” -starting a business…...

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star…that’s what Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged us to do. In his 1860 essay, Civilization, he urged us to aim high and dream. Aspire… It’s a theme that runs through my th…

04/04/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/verahartmdphd/p/when-safety-becomes-a-cage?r=47sfk3&utm_medium=ios

03/27/2026

Get your copy today and start your journey of self discovery

03/27/2026

How Much Mud Is Actually Necessary?

Thich Nhat Hanh said “No Mud No Lotus” to remind us that the path to enlightenment is strewn with suffering, the proverbial no pain no gain theory.

But, is there more that we can learn from how a lotus grows? Yes. I say that because I did some reading about the growth cycle of the lotus and I am fascinated:

-lotus seeds lay dormant in nutrient-rich mud during the winter
-as it gets warmer, sprouts grow upwards, through the water, pulling towards the light above the surface
-ultimately, large green leaves appear
-these leaves are water and dirt repellent (hydrophobic)
-this self-cleaning feature enables the lotus blossom to emerge and remain pristine…
-once the season is over, the bloom dries up and drops its seeds into the water/mud to begin the cycle again…

What stands out most for me is how the leaves repel dirt and water. They sit on the surface of the leaves but are not absorbed by them, thereby, making it possible for a beautiful, clean blossom to emerge. I absolutely love that.

So, what does that have to do with us?

It made me think about times when I’ve experienced difficult things and internalized (ie absorbed) the pain. I remember creating narratives about who I thought that I was (internalized) vs what I had experienced (externalized)…I made it about me (personalized) and it was hard to dispel that heaviness. At those times, I didn’t (yet) have a hydrophobic skill to repel the dirt and water, ie let it sit on the surface but not pierce my self-perception. Thankfully, I’ve developed that skill and it works (most of the time). Better said, it’s a work in progress…

Without doubt, the ability to acknowledge a painful experience without making it a perceived, personal flaw is a hard-earned skill. The flip side of that is, once internalized, it is much harder to dismantle a narrative. (not impossible but hard)

So, like with hydrophobic leaves:

-Can you allow things to sit on your surface vs absorb, internalize and personalize them?
-If so, how did you achieve this?
-If not, how might you remind yourself of the process that the lotus follows and mirror it?

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/03/27/how-much-mud-is-actually-necessary/

PS For more art journaling reflections, my book Diary of a Curly Top, Everyday Reflections Through Art is available on Amazon at
https://a.co/d/51OjEws

03/27/2026

How Much Mud Is Actually Necessary?

Thich Nhat Hanh said “No Mud No Lotus” to remind us that the path to enlightenment is strewn with suffering, the proverbial no pain no gain theory. But, is there more that we can learn from how a lotus grows? Yes. I say that because I did some reading about the growth cycle of the lotus and I am fascinated: …...

Thich Nhat Hanh said “No Mud No Lotus” to remind us  that the path to enlightenment  is strewn with suffering, the proverbial no pain no gain theory. But, is there more that we can learn …

03/24/2026

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03/21/2026

A thank you card for all of my supporters…this creative journey has brought support from all over the world and I am incredibly grateful and humbled.

03/19/2026

I’ll Take A Slice…Or Two

*Blueberry Pie *Apple Pie -Two of my mom’s signature desserts -Her talent for baking -Her love language -Every Summer…every Fall…every Year -Baked for family, friends and the community -A gift -Her gift Even now… -My mom has been gone for several years -Whenever I see blueberry pie or apple pie I think of her -Her glass Pyrex pie plate -The image of her standing at the kitchen counter making the pie crust (and that big blue container of Crisco)...

*Blueberry Pie             *Apple Pie -Two of my mom’s signature desserts -Her talent for baking -Her love language -Every Summer…every Fall…every Year -Baked for fami…

03/13/2026

Get a copy today for yourself or a friend https://a.co/d/05ZHja1n

03/11/2026

I’m Feeling So Blue

And I don’t mean sad…

Some context…

Last weekend, I went to a yard sale and there was a large, plastic bin full of plates, cups and saucers, with a traditional blue and white pattern, made in Japan. All for sale…someone’s long time collection being passed along to a new set of fans. Typically, I wouldn’t have even stopped to look but this felt different. The tones drew me towards the bin vs pushed me away.

For weeks, maybe even months, I’ve been drawn to blue tones. Clothes, jewelry, home decor, flower pots…It’s unusual because I’ve never been attracted to these hues. Historically, I’ve always gravitated towards reds, purples and greens. But, now, blues…and it has happened frequently enough for me to notice. When I see tones of blue and white mixed together, I feel peace and contentment. A serenity of sorts…An inaudible sigh rises up and leaves my chest…a calm settles over me. That’s new.

Maybe it’s the ocean that has been influencing me. I do love my spot at the beach (very much) and look forward to it each day. So much happens there while I’m doing so little. All my inside stuff has a chance to swirl around while I’m quiet.

So, maybe it is the ocean making itself known, through color. Or, maybe it’s something else or all of the above. And, possibly, the “why” isn’t important. It’s the feeling that matters.

By focusing more on how we feel, not just emotionally but also somatically, we can tune into subtle shifts that we might, otherwise, miss. To the seemingly, ordinary elements of the external world that surround us and that, in fact, may be influencing us…one way or another.

What colors evoke a reaction within you?
Any associations that you can draw?
What opportunities exist to weave color into how you support your own wellness?

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/03/11/im-feeling-so-blue/

PS For more art journaling reflections, my book Diary of a Curly Top, Reflections Through Art is available on Amazon at https://a.co/d/51OjEws