Page 132 – Tiny Buddha

How I Found My Place in the World When I Felt Beaten Down by Life

By Robert Babirad in Blog, change & challenges, work fulfillment

“Some people are going to reject you simply because you shine too bright for them. That’s okay. Keep shining.” ~Mandy Hale

After I finished school, I was excited about moving forward with life.

I thought about the career that I hoped to have, where I hoped to live, and the things that I wanted to accomplish.

After starting off as a secondary high school English teacher and becoming disappointed with the ongoing changes in the public school system, I went to graduate school for law. I thought it would open up a lot of possibilities, but it did not.

I …

How I Stopped Dismissing Praise and Started Believing Compliments

By Jan Bates in Blog, change & challenges, love & relationships

“I’ve met people who are embattled and dismissive, but when you get to know them, you find that they’re vulnerable—that hauteur or standoffishness is because they’re pedaling furiously underneath.” ~Matthew Macfadyen

It was impossible to miss the dismissive hand gesture and distasteful look on her face in response to my comment.

“You ooze empathy,” I had said in all sincerity to my therapist.

“And what’s it like if I blow off or disregard that compliment?” she countered. Then, as usual, she waited.

“Ah, it feels terrible,” I sputtered as the lights of insight began to flicker. I was acutely …

The Signs of a Strong Friendship (and an Unhealthy One)

By Lana Goes in Blog, love & relationships

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” ~Oprah Winfrey

“How on earth am I supposed to survive? I have no friends whatsoever!”

These were the thoughts that ran through my mind then when I first set foot in London five years ago. I felt raw and vulnerable in the beautiful new city that I had to make my new home, alone, with my two kids, while my husband was overseas. I wondered how I was supposed to do …

I Won’t Let Anyone Walk Through My Mind with Their Dirty Feet

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

My Attraction Experiment: Why I Created a Dating Profile with No Pics

By Lisa Yee in Blog, love & relationships

“Being attracted to someone’s way of thinking is a whole different level of attraction.” ~Unknown

I have been divorced for ten years now and thought it would be fairly easy to find “the one” once I was set free from the ties of the wrong one. To my surprise, it has been harder than I thought it would be. I have found many but not “the one.”

I have been on Match, Bumble, Plenty of Fish, and blind dates, and even dated a longtime friend to only find myself single going into my fiftieth year on this planet. It …

The Fascinating Reason We Sabotage Ourselves and Hold Ourselves Back

By Debra Mittler in Blog, change & challenges

“Sometimes we self-sabotage just when things seem to be going smoothly. Perhaps this is a way to express our fear about whether it is okay for us to have a better life.” ~Maureen Brady

Have you ever decided to try something new—like getting into a new relationship or doing something that would help you experience success in your career/mission or offer you more vibrant health and well-being—and you were able to follow through for a bit, but then you stopped? Was this self-sabotage? Was it procrastination?

Did you know that self-sabotage and procrastination can be survival mechanisms, and …

Choices, Chances, Changes

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

It Costs $0.00 to Be a Decent Human Being

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

How Singles Can Come Out Stronger After the Pandemic

By Aska Kolton in Blog, love & relationships

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” ~Jamais Cascio

The pandemic has forced us to avoid people, self-isolate, and keep to ourselves.

It might seem like you’re in a position where you don’t have many options. You can’t freely hang out with your friends. You can’t have fun like you used to. Your dating and socializing opportunities are limited. These setbacks can bring to the fore feelings of loneliness, deepen the longing for relationships, and highlight your innate desire for connection.

I know how easy …

When the Right Person Hugs You

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Free 7-Day Sleep Challenge: Meditations, Tips, and Tools for a Restful Night

By Lori Deschene in Blog, change & challenges, healthy habits

Does stress cause sleepless nights, or does a lack of sleep cause stress?

Both have been true for me, especially since becoming a parent, and I’m guessing for you too.

When life gets challenging, it’s hard to shut your brain off at night.

You know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. You know you feel better in the day when you’re well-rested. But it’s hard to relax, physically and mentally, when you have a lot on your mind. It’s like there’s a tornado inside your head, and all the sheep-counting in the world couldn’t pull you out.

And …

Shoutout to Those with Anxiety and Trust Issues

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Learning to Honor My Grief When the World Has Become Desensitized to Loss

By Claire Austin in Blog, letting go, love & relationships

“The answer to the pain of grief is not how to get yourself out of it, but how to support yourself inside it.” ~Unknown

Since losing my husband Matt over eight months ago to cancer at the age of just thirty-nine, I have noticed so many changes happening within me, and one of those changes is a fierce sense of protectiveness that I have over my grief.

We are living in a unique time in history. The world has turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic, and at the time of writing this the UK had just passed 100,000 …

People Who Are Depressed are Not Weak-Minded

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Why I Now Love That I’m Different After Hating It for Years

By Sandra Cooper in Blog, change & challenges

“Only recently have I realized that being different is not something you want to hide or squelch or suppress.” ~Amy Gerstler

I grew up during the traditional times of the sixties and seventies. Dad went out to work and earned the family income, while Mom worked at home raising their children. We were a family of seven. My brother was the first-born and he was followed by four sisters. I was the middle child.

I did not quite know where I belonged. I oscillated between my older two and younger two siblings, feeling like the third wheel no matter where …

You Can’t Change People

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

How I Finally Healed When I Stopped Believing a Diagnosis of Incurable

By Rebecca Tolin in Blog, change & challenges, healthy habits

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” ~Rumi

The quarantine has felt oddly familiar. That’s because I spent thirteen years largely homebound with a mysterious, viral-like illness. It even started with a cold on a flight back from Asia in 2005.

My nose was an open faucet, and my head felt like the cumulus clouds outside my window. When I returned to San Diego, I was so weak and exhausted, I could hardly get out of bed. My brain and body were on fire.

I couldn’t focus or recall names of coworkers. Although I’d previously been …

I Am So Afraid of Disappointing the People I Love…

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

7 Reasons I Was Scared to Take up Space and How I Boosted My Confidence

By Kim Nguyen in Blog, change & challenges

“You are allowed to take up space. Own who you are and what you want for yourself. Stop downplaying the things you care about, the hopes you have.” ~Bianca Sparacino

I deserve to take up more space. Plain and simple. By taking the space I deserve, I further build the confidence I need to live a rich life that resonates with who I truly am.

Over the past several years, I’ve had to navigate a new life after hard breakups, difficult career transitions, and moving back home. I’ve had to face the feeling that I’m not doing enough. …