Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges.
In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines.
Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.
Something inspirational: “Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.” DORIS LESSING Thinking for yourself means more than having your own opinions. It means owning your words, your choices, and ...
Something inspirational: "We are not what happened to us. We are what we choose to become.” JAMES HOLLIS "I am drawn to James Hollis's words: 'We are not what happened to us. We are what we choose ...
Something inspirational: "Healing begins when we can hold our own experience with compassion." TARA BRACH Brach's quote reminds us that healing begins when we meet our pain with kindness instead of judgement ...
We can all learn from this Jane Eyre quote. She was independent and principled, but emotionally controlled, and yet she chooses to be kind in spite of the abuse she suffered as a child.
This demonstrates the strength of her own identity instead of allowing herself to be influenced and shaped by others.
With all that is going on in the world right now, we can resonate with that.
I have an independent will, but I dare say I'm free, although I have a reputation of being such. That's what you should expect from a guy who had to play Houdini tricks to survive most of his life.
Of course, I have no problems pretending to be free, just like a bird, but it comes with a half smile and a wink.
I am sorry you have also had to 'survive' Tim. Reading your words, although sad because no child should be subjected to playing 'Houdini tricks to survive.'
Although our experiences are physically different, it is the emotional ties that bind us together and makes our mental and emotional stress the same.
We've just had different physical issues to deal with that's all. Mental and emotional abuse manifests itself in the same way.
It is important we think about that because ignoring it invites illness in.
I love this quote, no one should feel like they're being stifled. I truly believe we all should be free to do as we wish, granted that they must be legal endeavors.
It's awful when your partner tries to hold you back from fulfilling your dream. That would be a reason to part with that person, if they don't wish to work on loosening their thoughts.
Thanks Maria. Yes, I couldn't agree with you more. The problem with parting and many struggle with the concept is that you're familiar with that life, however bad you have it.
People are more scared about the prospect of being alone, more than they are having to navigate their relationships. Like you, I believe it is always better to part. That way you can work on your own terms, to be the best version of yourself.
No one should be allowed to have a negative influence over someone in that way. If anything it's abuse.
We can all learn from this Jane Eyre quote. She was independent and principled, but emotionally controlled, and yet she chooses to be kind in spite of the abuse she suffered as a child.
This demonstrates the strength of her own identity instead of allowing herself to be influenced and shaped by others.
With all that is going on in the world right now, we can resonate with that.
Thank you. Yes, it is important we are allowed to be 'free' in that sense. Strength of character is important, but not at the cost of lives.
It has become even more important that we influence and shape our world that fits in with us all moving forward together.
Where we use freewill and freedom that doesn't serve all of our long term survival, then it is time for us to rethink.
I have an independent will, but I dare say I'm free, although I have a reputation of being such. That's what you should expect from a guy who had to play Houdini tricks to survive most of his life.
Of course, I have no problems pretending to be free, just like a bird, but it comes with a half smile and a wink.
I am sorry you have also had to 'survive' Tim. Reading your words, although sad because no child should be subjected to playing 'Houdini tricks to survive.'
Although our experiences are physically different, it is the emotional ties that bind us together and makes our mental and emotional stress the same.
We've just had different physical issues to deal with that's all. Mental and emotional abuse manifests itself in the same way.
It is important we think about that because ignoring it invites illness in.
I love this quote, no one should feel like they're being stifled. I truly believe we all should be free to do as we wish, granted that they must be legal endeavors.
It's awful when your partner tries to hold you back from fulfilling your dream. That would be a reason to part with that person, if they don't wish to work on loosening their thoughts.
Thanks Maria. Yes, I couldn't agree with you more. The problem with parting and many struggle with the concept is that you're familiar with that life, however bad you have it.
People are more scared about the prospect of being alone, more than they are having to navigate their relationships. Like you, I believe it is always better to part. That way you can work on your own terms, to be the best version of yourself.
No one should be allowed to have a negative influence over someone in that way. If anything it's abuse.