Posts by PAULETTE BETHEL, PHD DISCOVERIES COACHING
My Differentness: A Child’s Journey to Self-Discovery
For as long as I can remember, I always had a sense of being different. It wasn’t something I could put into words, but it was a feeling that lingered in the background of my everyday life. This subtle sense of being othered was especially apparent in my mother’s interactions with individuals when we would…
Read MoreThe Resilient NPE: An Emergent Concept
It’s Not What Happens to Us. It’s How We Respond Six years ago, I stumbled upon a secret that would forever change my life. In 2018, driven by curiosity about my storied racial and ethnic origins, I decided to take a commercial DNA test. Like many others from the African diaspora, I was eager to…
Read More‘Tis The Season Of Réveillon: My Cultural Holiday Tradition
Originally published by Culturs Magazine. Like many in the U.S., I have been watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, I readily admit I am among the millions who tune into these formulaic films, especially now that they and other networks are introducing more BIPOC characters and storylines. These are usually set in small towns and…
Read MoreDisenfranchised Grief: When Others Don’t Understand Your Loss And How To Cope With It
Originally published by Culturs Magazine. This article looks at disenfranchised grief, what it is, how it manifests in the culture and how to cope with it. In 2018, I unexpectedly learned information that shattered the foundation of my life. In the aftermath, I moved through a multitude of emotions. Even with my professional background as…
Read MoreFamily Genetic Secrets Revealed: Who Am I Now?
Originally published by Culturs Magazine. In the early summer of 2018, I received my highly anticipated results from a home genetic testing kit purchased through AncestryDNA.com. I became very excited and couldn’t wait to see my results. From a very young age, I would hear stories about my family’s diverse, multiracial and multiethnic backgrounds –…
Read MoreHow Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’ Sparked Allegations Of ‘Blackwashing’ And A Conversation Over Culture, Race And Identity In Modern Egypt
Originally published by Culturs Magazine. The world recognizes ancient Egypt as a civilization characterized by its openness to other cultures. It was a melting pot of different civilizations and ethnicities, and one of the ancient world’s premier civilizations because of its legendary history, culture, art and ethnic fashion. The nation also was a crossroads where…
Read MoreYuletide Around The Globe: 9 Holiday Traditions
Originally published by Culturs Magazine. In last year’s holiday column, I wrote about one memorable customs, cuisines, traditions, and practices in my Louisiana Creole home culture of New Orleans that were created though a myriad of enchanting and global crossroad cultural traditions that have been passed down through the generations in my family. I received feedback…
Read MoreNavigating The Winter Blues: An Adult TCK’s Guide To Embracing Mental Well Being Through The Winter Season And Beyond!
Originally published on Culturs Magazine. This article aims to delve into the multifaceted aspects of being global nomads and its impact on our psychological well-being, including shedding light on the gifts it bestows and the challenges it presents. More importantly, it offers insights and practical strategies to effectively navigate these mental health nuances that come…
Read MoreEmbracing Summer’s Light
As I sit looking out the window of my Houston, Texas home office on a beautiful summer’s day, observing a bright blue sky and an abundance of beautiful trees gently swaying with a small breeze passing through, I find myself vividly reminiscing about my great grandmother Bella’s front porch. Perched atop creaky wooden steps and…
Read MoreUnthought Known: Navigating the Unseen Impact of NPE Revelations
Influential psychoanalyst and writer, Christopher Bollas coined the term “unthought known“ to describe those deep-seated, unconscious truths that influence our lives without our direct awareness. These latent truths can be profoundly disorienting when brought to light, as many Not Parent Expected (NPE) individuals have discovered. I first encountered this term during a panel discussion that…
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