Shaky, sweaty palms, light-headedness, and overall fear were my reactions to the sound of my Nokia flip phone. Anxiety-riddled at every moment, I just thought that was how life was. I now answer the phone, fearless, on the first ring. You can too. “To begin, begin.” Peter Nivio Zarlenga What is keeping you from beginning?
I drove over the bridge to surprise a friend. Nearing his house, my heart began to beat very fast, and I could feel the panic attack coming on. The attacks are exhausting, mentally and physically, and I did not want to be in full-on “losing it” mode going into the house. “He probably wouldn’t have […]
“We’re all fragile like Humpty,” Toddford said as he looked over my shoulder and saw this cartoon on my computer. I wasn’t going to post it. I didn’t want to make light of mental health, even though the cartoon is talking about a cartoon. “Put yourself back together,” some have told me, especially after my […]
Brittany Burgunder said, “Mindset is everything.” The author of “Safety in Numbers” battled with eating disorders, and, by changing her fixed mindset to a growth mindset, was able to overcome and finally live. Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you […]
Fear (noun) – an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Key word: belief. What we believe makes us who we are. I sure was stubborn about my convictions…before. Before I allowed the constant put-downs and abuse of other people to wear me […]
“I treasure all of the experiences I’ve had in my life.” Well, that’s what the quote of the day from Wayne Dyer said. I have a box of his “Inner Peace Cards” that I look at every morning and leave in front of the computer, so I have daily positive affirmations. Are you at peace […]
Good Grief! Well said Zig. Hope you don’t mind if I call you Zig. Grief – the price Grief – loving someone Grief is the price you pay for loving someone. This hit home. When I read this quote, my eyes were opened to a whole new awareness and way of looking at the passing […]
Survivor’s guilt -when a person has feelings of guilt because they survived a life-threatening situation when others did not. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a symptom. The guilt was overwhelming. Coby loved life, and I, well… I used to hate that I survived my brother Coby’s passing on to eternity with God. I no longer […]
If you could see what I feel, if anxiety, sadness, and loneliness were physical wounds that decorate my body in red lines and purple marks, would you be shocked at how bloody and bruised I really am?” -Unknown This is your child speaking, crying out for help. You’re tired of your child being bullied and […]
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Aristotle What exactly does it mean to know yourself and to have self-awareness? Self-awareness is the first of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies. Following are a few examples: -To know what makes you tick -To know your triggers, so you can support yourself accordingly -To know […]