“Daring greatly means the courage to be vulnerable. It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need. To talk about how you’re feeling. To have the hard conversations.” – Brene Brown Being brave is not about the absence of fear, it’s about having the courage to be vulnerable – to press on in spite of fear. The first memories I have of someone using the word “brave” is when I was a little kid. For most kids, it usually revolves around doing something scary, such as sleeping alone in a dark room or having to […]
At this point, we’re all aware of the basics of getting enough rest: proper sleep, less screen time, more relaxation. We also know how important it is to get enough rest. But in a world so driven by distraction and hustle, the idea of ‘doing nothing’ can be daunting. In fact, ‘doing nothing’ can actually be counterproductive to true rest. When we’re streaming shows, scrolling through our social media feeds, or even reading a book, our brains are still working to digest content. And while these activities do make us happy and help us unwind, we’re not truly resting; just […]
The Cruel Truth About Mental Health Stigma I remember the first time I encountered it. I was young, maybe 8 or 9, and it happened shortly after an uncle of mine had a sudden explosive outburst during a family get-together. I remember hearing shouting and the sound of dishes shattering from the next room, then seeing glimpses of other family members shushing and steering my uncle away, shutting the door behind them. My uncle didn’t come around for a long while after that; my sisters and I were simply told he went on “vacation” and it wasn’t discussed any further. […]
When it comes to toxic relationships, holding on instead of letting go is, more often than not, the norm. The strength that it takes to walk away from any relationship, much less a toxic one, is huge and the fear of the pain that we might feel in the aftermath is even worse. If you want to find the strength to stop holding on to a toxic relationship, it’s important to understand the reason behind the action of “holding on” – what is it that motivates us to not let go and walk away from something that is only making […]
When it comes to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there’s what you see, there’s what you hear, and after taking it all in, there’s how it all makes you feel. There is no denying that there is an overwhelming amount of changes happening right now. You’re being asked to stay home as much as possible. Restaurants are taking to-go orders only. Bars are closed. Schools are closed. You turn on the news and coronavirus is there. You scroll through your social feed and it’s there, too. It’s a lot to take in, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed or panicked – […]
As a bit of a control freak myself, I may be a little biased here, but being a control freak isn’t all bad! Another way to look at it is you’re super competent, efficient, have high standards, and a go-getter. You get things done right the first time. Plus, when things are spiraling, a little extra control can be a healthy way of coping. It took me awhile to make the connection, but I realized that when the world makes me feel small and helpless, I cope by finding something in my life that I can control. But of course, […]
Being an avid gym-goer, I see many faces at the gym. For the most part, everyone keeps to themselves, but you start to recognize more faces than others after a while. Naturally, it is only a matter of time before other gym “regulars” become acquaintances and those acquaintances slowly move towards friendships. Recently, I achieved something incredible: I actually made a new friend at the gym! Now, while I recognize that describing this seemingly trivial event as “incredible” seems a tad lame, I stick by what I said. Making friends as an adult is NO small feat. In fact, loneliness […]
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! We’re starting to see chocolate boxes and flowers on display at stores. Hearts and Cupid silhouettes are adorning the windows and hanging from the ceilings. For some couples, it’s time to start thinking of fancy dinner plans and extravagant gifts. Other couples treat it as just another day to quietly show their continued love and commitment in simpler, yet meaningful gestures. How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? When we got married, my husband and I decided to reserve big gifts for anniversaries and birthdays, and instead, we opt for a fancy homemade dinner […]
As glorious and convenient as it is to have the entire world at our fingertips, Americans now spend an average of 3-4 hours a day on their mobile phones. For most of us, that includes nearly 2 hours a day on Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. This is bad news for intimate partner relationships, and just about everyone is starting to notice by now. This phenomenon has even coined up a new term – “phubbing”- which is a mashup between “phone” and “snubbing.” Phubbing is when someone you’re with is so involved with their smartphone that you feel they’re […]
Happy 2020, readers! Not only are we entering a new year, but we are entering a new decade. Reflect for a moment and envision what you want this next chapter of your life to look like. If you’ve struggled with finding your voice and confidently speaking your mind in the past, you may be looking to become more assertive. “But wait,” you say, “What if I don’t have a very dominant or aggressive personality?” No problem! The word “assertive” gets a bad rep because it often gets mixed up with the above terms, but the truth is, you don’t need […]