Why I Forgave My Cruel, Abusive Father
“It’s not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it sets you free.” ~Tyler Perry
I still remember the day when I told my mother that I …
Category “letting go”
How Letting Go of Your Goals Can Make You a Happier Person
“No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.” ~Alan Watts
When I started kicking chairs at work, I knew things had gone too far.
I didn’t kick things when …
Coping with Suicide Loss: 9 Lessons for Hope and Healing
“It takes courage to endure the sharp pains of self-discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.” ~Marianne Williamson
“That boy is one in a million, Jill. He’s one …
A Surprising Way to Let Go of Painful Feelings and the Past
“We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.” ~Marianne Williamson
I’ve struggled with it.
Letting go, I mean. I’ve struggled with moving on from my past. I’ve struggled with …
Why We Shouldn’t Rush or Feel Guilty About Emotional Pain
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche
In July 2012, a conversation changed my life.
Prior to this, I had been struggling to right myself after a difficult loss. Several …
5 Breathing Techniques to Melt Your Stress Away
“Feelings come and go like clouds in the sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Breathing techniques are now such an important part of my daily routine. I couldn’t think of starting a day without doing my breathing …
How High Expectations Can Lead to Disappointment, Depression, and Anxiety
“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” ~Alexander Pope
I was sitting on the couch in my bedroom, at sunset, looking at the trees outside my window. I felt a profound sadness, frustration, disappointment, and …
4 Steps to Let Go of Stress, Negativity, and Emotional Pain
“It’s not the bite of the snake that kills you, it’s the poison left behind.” ~Tom Callos
Have you ever taken it to heart when someone said or did something mean to you? The likely answer is yes; most people …
Dealing with Emotional Triggers: What to Do When You’re Stuck on a Feeling
“As you grow more practiced in noticing your triggers, offering yourself kindness and remembering that the power to heal your life is always available in the present moment, the situations that once set you off lose their explosive potential.” ~Martha …
The Benefits of Minimalism: 7 Reasons to Declutter Your Life
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” ~ William Morris
Have you ever noticed that every time you move you need a bigger truck than the last time you …
How Dealing with Our Emotions Can Help us Heal Chronic Pain
“The part can never be well unless the whole is well.” ~Plato
Our bodies are clever. They constantly send us messages that something isn’t right. It’s our job to tune in, listen, and act on these messages.
That headache, tight …
How to Let Go of Negative, Limiting Beliefs About Yourself
“If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become truth for you.” ~Louise Hay
Have you ever felt like you weren’t living up to your potential? That chasing your ultimate dream is a waste of time because you’ll never …
10 Lessons My Mother’s Death Taught Me About Healing and Happiness
“Grief, when it comes, is nothing like we expect it to be.” ~Joan Didion
This spring marked ten years since I lost my mother. One ordinary Thursday, she didn’t show up to work, and my family spent a blur of …
Calmness Is Contagious, Even If You’re Faking It
“Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it.” ~Unknown
We had just reached cruising altitude, and my friend and I were settling in for the eight-hour flight from Tokyo to …
How Complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity (And How to Break the Habit)
“Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any better.” ~Unknown
When I was about sixteen or so, one of my parent’s friends got into some trouble with the law. When we’d visit him he’d often shake his head from …
We Have a Right to Grieve Losses Big and Small
“Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.” ~Robert Gary Lee
It felt like I was being crushed by the weight of the world.
“Impossible,” I thought.
It’s impossible that people actually suffer this kind of pain and survive to tell …
Release the Stress: Plan, but Know That Plans Change
“Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same, and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.” ~John …
How to Release the Limiting Stories That Keep You Stuck and Unhappy
“It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.” ~Henry David Thoreau
We don’t see with our physical eyes, we see with our minds. I learned this lesson the hard way when I turned fifty-five. Suddenly, new …
How to Move Through Anxiety: A 5-Step Process for Feeling Unfelt Emotions
“Anxiety happens when you try to think what you need to feel.” ~Unknown
Anxiety results from unfelt feelings. I battled anxiety for years because I was scared to admit that I was scared. When I felt a wave of anxiety, …
How to Move from Grief to Relief After Losing a Loved One
“When a person is born we rejoice, and when they’re married we jubilate, but when they die we try to pretend nothing has happened.” ~Margaret Mead
It was five years ago this month that my father passed away from cancer. …
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