How I’m Learning to Feel Confident Without Approval
“Children need to feel seen. Adults do, too.” ~Unknown As a teenager, I played the flute for about nine years. I never practiced—apart from that guilt-ridden last half hour prior…
Why I Give Without Expectations (and Don’t Think It’s a “Toxic Trait”)
“Some of the kindest souls I know have lived in a world that was not so kind to them. Some of the best human beings I know have been through…
A Little-Known Truth About People-Pleasing and How to Stop (for Good)
“Being a people-pleaser may be more than a personality trait; it could be a response to serious trauma.” ~Alex Bachert Growing up in a home, school, and church that placed…
Dysfunctional Family Survivors: 7 Myths that Hold Your Healing Hostage
“I have never known a patient to portray their parents more negatively than they actually experienced them in childhood but always more positively–because idealization of their parents was essential for…
How a Barbell Helped Me Confront the Harsh Voice Inside my Head
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” ~Elbert Hubbard I’m breathing fast; my heart rate is off the scale. I…
The Friend I Couldn’t Fix: A Story of Love, Loss and Letting Go
TRIGGER WARNING: This post deals with an account of domestic violence and may be triggering to some. “You can’t heal the people you love. You can’t make choices for them.…
3 Reasons Why Putting Yourself First Is Not Selfish
“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” ~Mandy Hale I have to start off with how I define…