Not Everyone Is Going to Be Holly and Jolly
“Am I the Narcissist?” How to Tell If It’s You
“Narcissism is voluntary blindness, an agreement not to look beneath the surface.” ~Sam Keen
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Am I the narcissist in this relationship?” If so, you’re not alone. This question can feel heavy and unsettling, especially if you’ve spent years tangled in a toxic dynamic. The more you try to figure things out, the more confusing it becomes.
But here’s something to hold onto: The very fact that you’re asking this question is a sign that you probably aren’t narcissistic.
Am I the Narcissist?
Victims of narcissistic abuse often find themselves questioning their actions, …
Why I Stopped Measuring My Pain Against Others’ Suffering
“A history of trauma can give you a high tolerance for emotional pain. But just because you can take it doesn’t mean you have to.” ~Dr. Thema
I just returned from a walk with a dear friend—one of my favorite ways to catch up and socialize. This particular friend has endured significant challenges, especially over the past year. She faced the immense loss of her pets and many of her possessions in a devastating house fire.
The ensuing tsunami of grief and pain pushed her through a tumultuous year filled with deep suffering and intense healing efforts. All the while, …
5 Practical Tips for Overcoming the Pressure to Do More
“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.” ~Deepak Chopra
There was a time in my life when chaos seemed to have the upper hand. I tried so hard to keep things together, but it felt like the more I tried to control things, the more they spiraled. I had goals and dreams, sure, but the stress of not being “there” yet always consumed me.
I remember one night sitting on the edge of my bed, feeling completely drained. I’d just had a tough conversation with a close friend, one of those exchanges where every word …
How Embracing What I Resisted Healed Me from Chronic Illness
“What you resist not only persists but will grow in size.” ~Carl Jung
Ever since I was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of five, my life has felt like a never-ending struggle against fatigue, pain, and a myriad of symptoms. Despite trying numerous treatments and medications when I was younger, I never felt truly vibrant. My body seemed perpetually at war with itself, leaving me exhausted and unfulfilled.
Multiple flares often took me away from school and friends. I wondered why I couldn’t just live a childhood free of pain and suffering, like the other kids.
I struggled with …
The Silent Struggle: When Saying “No” Is Not That Simple
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” ~Nathaniel Branden
I vividly recall a morning when my son was just five years old. My husband wanted to leave the country we were living in again, this time to escape what he believed was the imminent collapse of society due to COVID.
After years of constant relocations, I had finally started to build a community of friends, my son was settled in school, and I was beginning to feel some sense of normalcy. But he couldn’t stand it. My growing independence seemed to threaten him, and I …
The Art of Being Flawed in a Perfectionist World
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” ~Vince Lombardi
Okay, let’s be real for a second. As I sit here trying to write this perfect essay about embracing imperfection, the irony isn’t lost on me. I’ve rewritten this opening paragraph about five times now. Old habits die hard, right?
Picture this: It’s 2:37 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. I’m pacing the lecture hall, watching my law students furiously scribbling away at their exam papers. Their furrowed brows and white-knuckle grips on their pens remind me of, well, me, not too long ago.
Flashback to …
How to Stop Living in Perpetual Guilt and Forgive Yourself
“I have learned that the person I have to ask for forgiveness from the most is myself. You must love yourself. You have to forgive yourself every day. Whenever you remember a shortcoming, a flaw, you have to tell yourself, ‘That’s just fine.’ You have to forgive yourself so much until you don’t even see those things anymore. Because that’s what love is like.” ~C. JoyBell C.
Have you ever wondered why, despite doing your best to heal and grow, you can’t seem to shake off the feeling of inadequacy and only see minimal results for all your efforts?
Maybe, …
How I’ve Found Relief from Panic Attacks
“Don’t assume I’m weak because I have panic attacks. You’ll never know the amount of strength it takes to face the world every day.” ~Unknown
I was just eighteen when it happened. Sitting in a crowded school assembly, my heart pounded, my chest felt constricted in a vice, and the air seemed to vanish from my lungs. As my surroundings closed in on me, my inner voice muttered, “I think you are dying.”
That was the day I experienced my first panic attack.
Terrified, I fled from the hall. “I need to see a doctor now,” I gasped tearfully …
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