You are not a burden for being mentally ill. There is nothing wrong with having a disorder, a sickness, or an illness. Having mental health needs is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Every single person on this planet has needs. Every single person struggles and you have a right to struggle too. Even if your needs come up a little more often than your peers because you have a mental illness, that’s okay. You’re not...
Wish you could instantly stop an oncoming anxiety attack? Fortunately for all of us with anxiety disorders, there are powerful ways we can use our body’s biology to stop anxiety. I’ve saved myself from many panic attacks with these techniques. Your body is a powerful and capable entity. It gives you the ability to rush into flight or fight mode when threatened and this response—which evolved over millions of years—is something that can save your...
This single trick can help you take some of your most critical thoughts and use them to grow faster, better, and stronger. All it takes is a little mental reframing. So, what is this cool thing? It’s that positive and negative thoughts are a myth. Every single thought has a purpose. It has something it can teach us, show us, or help us heal. We can have feel-good thoughts or thoughts that hurt, but this doesn’t...
Being a victim is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Victimhood means you have lived through and are overcoming abuse, day in and day out. That’s strength, not weakness. And yet, despite the strength us survivors have, we often feel powerless. I remember thinking I would feel empowered after overcoming abuse, only to have the opposite happen. Instead, I was faced with debilitating mental illnesses and a long road to recovery. I thought I’d lost my...
Imagine you’re going along at a great pace, jogging and confident in your every stride. Then zoom, a friend flies past you, seemingly sprinting the marathon you’re running! If you’re anything like me, you might think “hey, wait! Why can’t I run that fast?” I’m not a marathon runner, but I’ve faced this same feeling up close and personal with my own personal development. And I doubt I’m alone in feeling this way. So many of...
Have you ever been given advice by a well-meaning friend, only to think “that so doesn’t apply to me”? It might have even felt unhelpful. Coincidentally, some parts of the self improvement field act in much the same way. Sometimes leaders forget just how hard life can be. They act like we can just snap our fingers, think positively, and feel way better. If only! Many thought leaders mean well, especially when they’re trying to...
You are not a burden. In fact, you are a gift to this world. There is no one on this planet with your unique skills and experience. You and only you have lived your life and, as a result, there are insights that only you have. This makes you an essential part of the world around you. Your natural talent is irreplaceable. You are irreplaceable. You can achieve amazing things when you rely on your...
You’re really super awesome and, with that awesomeness, you can change the world. The power of a single voice is often overlooked. We think we need to be a famous speaker or celebrity to make an impact. But, the real work happens with those of us who aren’t these people. We’re the ones that change the mindsets of our communities and families and friends. If none of us ever spoke up about the things we...
Joy is like a sun shower. It’s complex. It’s when a storm and bright sunlight coexist. Emotionally, joy comes from a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose and aliveness. Just like the clap of thunder at the same time the sun is shining in your eyes. Because of this, feeling joyous requires one thing from us. When we live a meaningful life, we will find great joy Joy is vivid and expansive and transformative. And the emotion arises...
Living with a mental illness takes some serious strength, and that’s a strength you have. You didn’t choose to have a mental illness, but you are choosing to continue to better yourself and your life despite the challenges you face. This is a choice, to keep going in the face of this hardship. It’s not an easy choice to make, either. When you decide to get up each day, knowing that it’s probably not going...