The Problem With Weight Loss Compliments
Complimenting someone on their weight loss is often seen as a gesture of kindness. After all, if someone has worked hard to lose weight and achieve a goal, it’s natural to want to acknowledge their success. However, what many people fail to realize is that weight loss compliments can have harmful effects, especially when it […]
Reframing My Job Rejections: A Beautiful Period of Growth
“When we are kind to ourselves, we create inner conditions that make it possible to see clearly and respond wisely.” ~Dr. Kristin Neff Searching for a job can feel like an unrelenting test of resilience—a labyrinth of rejection, silence, and self-doubt. When I embarked on my journey to apply for 100 jobs in a single […]
Eight Ways to Bring Families and Schools Into…
While there are certainly many bright spots to celebrate, our public school system is struggling. At both the school and district levels, there are unprecedented levels of divisiveness, overwhelm, and fatigue for both families and educators. Politics and culture wars have increasingly entered the classroom and, with them, a cloud of mistrust has descended on […]
Eating Disorders and Trauma: The Missing Link
Eating disorders are among the deadliest and fastest-growing Mental health conditions, yet they remain largely misunderstood. Popular portrayals reduce these illnesses to superficial stereotypes, obscuring their true complexity and hindering meaningful intervention. Eating disorders are complex, brain-based illnesses that affect up to one in ten people over their lifetime. They manifest through behaviors such as […]
4 Ways to Stay Close When Growing in Different Directions
Like with all living things, our relationships are constantly evolving. The person we’ve become can look very different from who we were at the beginning of our relationship. Our needs and desires should naturally change, hopefully, as we grow closer to our true selves. This is a good thing, right? Absolutely. Continued development is the […]
How to Embrace Elective (not Mandatory) Forgiveness After Trauma
Do I need to forgive my abusive mother to let go of the past? This is the question I found myself grappling with when I started to recover from the pain of childhood neglect. For most of my childhood, I did not have access to a consistent adult who valued me. As a result, I […]
Emotional Intelligence vs. Being Emotional
In recent years, “Emotional intelligence” has become a buzzword in conversations about Self-awareness, communication, and personal growth. However, despite the term’s growing popularity, a widespread misunderstanding remains: Many people equate Emotional intelligence with being emotional. While both involve emotions, they are vastly different concepts. This confusion can lead to misconceptions about what it means to […]
How I Found Emotional Freedom and 3 Unexpected Benefits
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~Maya Angelou What if the person you’re trying hardest to please is you? For years, I wore a mask—a professional, composed, always-on version of myself that I thought everyone expected. My need to please […]
The Growth That Happens When You’re in Between Chapters
“The most powerful thing you can do right now is be patient while things are unfolding for you.” ~Idil Ahmed When one door closes, another one opens, or so the saying goes. From experience, I know that the new door doesn’t always open right away. Often you spend some time in the hallway, the state […]
Eight Tips For Talking With Your Kids About Death
Parents have many tough conversations with their kids. We explain to stubborn toddlers why it’s important to share their toys and talk with disappointed elementary schoolers about their feelings after losing a game. Some conversations are more challenging than others, such as discussing why Mommy and Daddy don’t live in the same house anymore. Among […]