No Matter What Happens Today, Remember
Finding Happiness When Your Big Dreams Didn’t Come True
“Everyone who gives up a serious childhood dream—of becoming an artist, a doctor, an engineer, an athlete—lives the rest of their life with a sense of loss, with nagging what-ifs.” ~Glenn Kurtz
Childhood dreams are a funny thing, aren’t they?
Our adolescent years are filled with nearly unlimited imagination of what we can achieve growing up. Some people become doctors, presidents, and professional athletes, so why can’t we? It just depends on hard work and occasional lucky breaks to get where you want.
Reality slowly starts to set in as you grow into your teenage and adult years. Maybe those …
4 Things You Need to Know About Your Hurting Inner Child
“She held herself until the sobs of the child inside subsided entirely. I love you, she told herself. It will all be okay.” ~H. Raven Rose
The first time I heard about inner child work was in a random article I found on the internet.
It caught my attention because I was struggling to develop loving and compassionate feelings toward myself. Although I understood the role of limiting beliefs and unhealthy habits in my healing process and how to overcome them, I couldn’t feel love and empathy for myself.
Most of the time, I was either very harsh toward myself …
The Powerful Realizations That Helped Me Heal from Chronic Illness
“No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do.” ~Dr. Paul David Tripp
Living with chronic illness can seem like an insurmountable challenge. I felt completely broken and helpless. Amidst my tumultuous journey, I found that mindset is critical to restore vitality.
For years I dealt with debilitating fatigue, severe joint pain, vertigo, loss of balance, and sleepless nights. I pleaded for help over and over, usually in tears. Oftentimes, people blamed my physical symptoms on my mental health. “You need to get more sleep.” “You are probably …
What Toxic Shame Feels Like: 9 People Share Their Experiences
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change.” ~Carl Rogers
My heart races as I raise my hand, eager to contribute yet terrified of the attention it brings. When the teacher picks me, the entire classroom turns toward me, putting me in the spotlight. I feel exposed. Shame floods over me like hot lava, twisting my stomach into knots and flushing my face with heat. I try desperately to stop it, but the throbbing intensity only grows.
I mutter words I can barely comprehend, feeling like a stranger in my own
Insights and Advice from a Former People-Pleaser
“I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.” ~Herbert Bayard Swope
In December 2023, my people-pleasing ways were spiralling out of control.
I found myself experiencing extreme levels of stress in my muggle job, which involves supporting a senior team and helping run a business. I would be on high alert, overly sensitive to any perceived criticism, and unable to relax and get out of my head. A classic chronic stress response.
One night I realized: I’m trying so hard to please so …
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