Posts tagged with “wisdom”

I’m Doing My Best
A quote from the 2024 calendar. Get Tiny Buddha’s 2025 Day-to-Day calendar here!

It’s Okay to Disappoint People When You’re Honoring Yourself
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” ~Brené Brown
On a recent day trip to the Yuba River with my daughter and two friends, unexpected tensions arose, offering me a chance to reflect on a lifelong pattern that has often complicated my relationships. It was a beautiful day, and I’d been looking forward to soaking up the sun and relaxing by the water—but my friend had a more adventurous day in mind.
Though a footbridge led to a clear trail, she suggested we take a more difficult route over …

Free Yourself from Sugar Addiction This Holiday Season
“Part of the ingenuity of any addictive drug is to fool you into believing that life without it won’t be as enjoyable” ~Alan Carr
“I’m okay, thanks.”
See that? I just turned down a Tony’s Chocolonely from our family advent calendar.
I don’t care that it’s a white raspberry popping candy flavor I have never, ever tried before.
I don’t care that I remember being a kid, opening chocolate coins from my stocking.
I don’t care!
Because this year, I’m going into the holiday month already sugar-free. And I am tentatively walking on air about it!!
I’m forty-five, …

From Pain to Power: Letting Go of Approval to Love Myself
“If you love yourself, it doesn’t matter if other people like you because you don’t need their approval to feel good about yourself.” ~Lori Deschene
For most of my life, I worried about what others thought. Every move I made felt like a performance for someone else. I’d built my life on their approval.
Then came the losses. Three family members were gone in a matter of years. Each time, the grief hit like a fist to the gut.
My mother was my pillar of strength; my father, who might not have always been there for me but was still …

A Beautiful Reminder of How Powerful We Are
“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another… A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” ~Amelia Earhart
When you’re having a particularly rough day, it’s tempting to hang your head in defeat and conclude it’s a cruel world where nothing matters. I had a day like that last month.
A good friend was diagnosed with a horrendous disease. The horse I had been training with for years …

Because I Lost My Mom: 6 Gifts I Now Appreciate
“The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don’t have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how you view it.” ~Chris Pine
I had a happy, carefree childhood up until a point. I remember lots of giggles, hugs, and playfulness. One summer, as we were sitting in my grandmother’s yard enjoying her homemade cake, my mum’s right hand started trembling.
My worried grandmother encouraged her to eat, but her hand continued to tremble. I remember her troubled look. She must have sensed something was wrong.
Just three months later, she was gone. Acute …

“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, …