“Awaken; return to yourself” ~Marcus Aurelius
Darkness. Resentment. Detachment. Extreme discomfort.
Those are the words I would use to describe my internal experience during my adolescent years up to young adulthood.
Depression was something I was all too familiar with. …
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
When it comes to self-esteem, I’ve had a bumpy ride. Throughout my school life I was severely …
“What other people think of me is none of my business.” ~Wayne Dyer
Do you ever worry about what people think about you?
Have you ever felt rejected and gotten defensive if someone criticized something you did?
Are there …
“We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving…Accepting another person’s gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.” ~Alexander McCall Smith
We all …
“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.” ~Gary Spence
Right after college, I joined AmeriCorps. Not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to apply for a program …
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face.” ~Helen Keller
It’s discouraging, isn’t it?
Walking around every day feeling as if you’re never enough?
Comparing yourself to others and continually coming up short?…
“The best possible thing you can get out of a relationship is that you’re with someone who encourages you to be the best version of yourself every day.” ~Nishan Panwar
Let me ask you a question. When was the last …
“Being who you are is another way of accepting yourself.” ~Unknown
Years ago I struggled to be authentic. I was a consultant who worked with senior people in big organizations. As a black female fresh out of graduate school, …
“Sincere apologies are for those that make them, not for those to whom they are made.” ~Greg LeMond
When I was growing up, every time I took my sister’s toy or called my brother names, my mother would grab me …
“In the end, who among us does not choose to be a little less right to be a little less lonely.” ~Robert Braul
I’ve been married to my wife for almost ten years, most of them involving struggle and drama.…
“Joy comes not through possession or ownership but through a wise and loving heart.” ~Buddha
We all have these random little personal philosophies or rules that we live by. Oftentimes, these rules are hidden beneath the surface, not …
“If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone, you have already forgotten your value.” ~Unknown
There’s nothing like being one of the few black kids in your school to make you feel like the odd person …
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” ~May Sarton
Have you ever compared yourself to others on social media?
You’re not alone if you have. It’s human nature to …
“When you give another person the power to define you, then you also give them the power to control you.” ~Leslie Vernick
It’s coming up on the anniversary of when I left a relationship that was both my unhealthiest and …
“Don’t wait for people to be friendly. Show them how.” ~Unknown
When I was in high school I was shy, to say the least. I guess a more accurate description would be to say that I was insecure. Painfully insecure.…
“Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.” ~Walter Anderson
I’m not actually interested in telling you if you’re with the right person. I’m …
“F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” ~Zig Ziglar
No matter how old I get, no matter how experienced I become, ending a relationship is agonizing.
It represents a loss, …
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” ~Brené Brown
I thought I was supposed to have a shiny job, the kind that makes people envious …
“Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.” ~Scottish Proverb
I grew up believing I was never enough. Ever. Not when I got all A’s in school. Not when I was in the talented …
“Be the person that makes others feel special. Be known for your kindness and grace.” ~Unknown
There is someone in my life that has an extraordinary talent for making people feel special. I would call him out by name, but …
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