Don’t let other’s discomfort slow your growth — The Set-Up Have you been working to improve your mental health? Maybe you are making strides to overcome past trauma? Good for you! Enjoy that feeling of pride and accomplishment while you can because likely others will resist the changes in you. …

The science behind setting goals. — Everyone is pushing goal setting either through blogs, podcasts, or best-selling books. I’ve jumped on that train myself with vision boards and goal setting journals, but I’ve gotten curious about what science says and the best way to write them. Should they be SMART goals? Or maybe written in the…

It’s time to give yourself a break. — Do you have trouble falling asleep? Trouble staying asleep? Do you toss and turn, then wake up exhausted? Whenever I talked to a doctor or therapist about sleep, these were the usual questions. My answer was yes. Yes, to all of them. Sometimes, it could be physical symptoms like joint…

This is not your typical article on writing, and I’m okay with that. — The Bare Facts During the last two months, I didn’t write. Life was in flux as I made significant changes, and writing felt like a luxury that I did not have time for. Yet, I missed it. Writing serves many purposes for me; most importantly, it is a release and mental clearinghouse. When…

Do you spend all your time with your head down, never noticing how far you’ve come? — Stop right now and think back to six months ago and then a year ago. What were the things that you wished you could do? What were your goals? Did you imagine adding something to your life that you longed for? It could be a daily opportunity to write. …

What happens when you don’t walk away from the articles that increase your anxiety. — A week ago, I challenged myself to dig in as a writer and write about everything that made me anxious to put into words. These were all of the topics that I had blocked out basic articles for then quietly closed them, leaving them to linger in my drafts. …

I’m not sure how I should classify myself anymore when it comes to religion. — Somewhere in the Middle I grew up in a Christian family, attended Sunday school and Bible study, and raised my kids in the church. However, now, in my late forties, I don’t quite know what I’d call myself. I know I wouldn’t be considered a good Christian anymore. I have far too many doubts…

When our default for getting healthy is shame and self-bullying, joy can be hard to accept. — Identifying Change I need to lose weight and get healthier. There is no challenge in identifying the problem. I am obese. Why I’m so overweight is tangled up in a myriad of causes. They lead back to diet culture, mental health issues, an illness that causes binge eating, trauma, and unhealthy patterns. …

My wounds from my childhood, combined with chronic illness, hurt my ability to parent. — The Ugly Foundation I always wanted to be a parent. I thought I’d do it well. I had experience with little kids as an elementary school teacher. It seemed like it would be automatic. Yet, for so many years, I was not the excellent parent I wanted to be. Likely you won’t be…