Happy Couples Prioritize Growth
How I Healed from Addiction One New Belief at a Time
“Recovery is all about using our power to change our beliefs that are based on faulty data.” ~Kevin McCormick
I struggled with what I would consider a disconnect with myself from a very young age. I was born a free spirit, curious and interested in so many things. I was also very shy and sensitive. I was not the type to be put in a box or expected to conform to the norm. That just wasn’t me. I needed to be accepted and supported for who I was.
Instead, my well-meaning parents attempted to “domesticate” me, especially my father. I …
What Unconditional Self-Love Looks Like
“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” ~Louise L. Hay
When I first began painting my art over twenty years ago, it was not my intention to paint about self-love. In fact, at that time, I had no idea what self-love was. I was just painting as a form of therapy.
A few years prior, I thought that I did know what self-love was, but then, when I lost my health to a chronic illness and could no longer do the things I once had been able to do, I lost my ability to …
Beyond the Inner Critic: Choosing a New Reality
“To think new thoughts, you have to break the bones in your head.” ~Jean-Paul Sartre
Respectfully, Mr. Sartre, I disagree. This is that story, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Today Was a Bad Day
Oh no, not again!
The walls were closing in on me, and I could see their faces all flustered and red.
Why are they yelling at me? I mean, are they yelling at me?
I could feel the tension in the room; I just couldn’t hear anything. Well, actually, yeah, I could.
I could hear her.
I could hear Annabelle.
I knew it …
My Path to Purpose and an Unexpected Impact
I wanted to be Mary Tyler Moore’s “Mary Richards” TV character from the 1970s. She had exactly what I wanted: independence and an exciting life! But growing up as the first girl in a traditional Italian family, I knew she was not the right role model.
Nonetheless, I ignored the expected path (much to my parents’ dismay) and spent twelve years in corporate America becoming Mary. That is, until two questions rocked my world. I dramatically left my job, career, and Mary for a more purposeful path that was mine, and I never looked back.
As a nine-year-old girl in …
6 Mindset Shifts to Overcome the Need for External Validation
“Relying on external validation to understand your worth is not sustainable. If you depend on people to build you up, you also give them the same power to break you down. You are worthy regardless of their opinion.” ~Unknown
In my heart of hearts, I knew I wasn’t supposed to rely on others for validation. Yet, for the longest time, I found myself seeking external approval to define my worth.
I was constantly seeking reassurance from friends, family, and even strangers. Their validation became the measure of my self-esteem, leaving me trapped in a cycle of doubt and insecurity.…
Forge Your Own Path: How to Know When It’s Time to Walk Away
“Walk away from people who put you down. Walk away from fights that will never be resolved. Walk away from trying to please people who will never see your worth. The more you walk away from things that poison your soul, the healthier you will be.” ~Shaista Saba
“Are you coming to my dress fitting tomorrow?” Sam asked.
Holding the phone to my ear, puzzled, I replied, “I didn’t know you had a dress fitting tomorrow.”
My stepsister, Sam, paused. “Didn’t Mom invite you?”
“No, but I’d love to come,” I offered.
“Oh, I assumed she asked you. You’re my …
The Magic of Celebrating Every Little Win
“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” ~Tom Peters
In a world that often only celebrates grand achievements, it’s easy to overlook the small victories that pave the way to lasting change.
BJ Fogg, PhD, a Stanford behavioral scientist and author of the transformative book Tiny Habits, offers a powerful insight: If we want to get great at creating habits, we must celebrate. He insists that immediately after we do our new habit, or even approximate it, we must celebrate. This. Isn’t. Optional.
Why is celebration so crucial? That’s what wires the habit into our brain. When we …
4 Ways to Help Someone with Mental Health Challenges
“Just being there for someone can sometimes bring hope when all seems hopeless.” ~Dave G. Llewellyn
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone told you something deeply personal and traumatic and you were stuck on what to say to them, how to act, and how to behave?
This happens to me regularly, and it’s not that I don’t have feelings or emotions about what’s happened to the person. I feel deeply sorry for them. But I sometimes freeze and don’t know what to say or do.
When it comes to mental health issues, this can be even …
The Truth About Grieving: There Are No Rules for Healing
Here’s what I know about grief: There is no measuring stick.
The loss of a mother, father, sister, brother (or all of the above), the loss of a husband, wife, lover, boyfriend, girlfriend, or life partner, the loss of a best friend, dear friend, or close friend, the loss of a mentor, teacher, guider, inspirer… Who’s to measure? Who’s to say how profoundly those losses may or may not break our hearts?
There are no rules.
The loss of a happy, loving relationship may be far easier to survive than the loss of a troubled one.
A lover may feel …
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