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Why Are We Trying to Solve Sad?
If I’m being honest, it’s a point of pride when I say I practice what I preach. For the most part, it’s pretty easy. That’s not a brag. It’s just that I’ve been doing this kind of work for eons.
You can’t talk to people day in and day out about how our minds lie and distort things, about how anxiety doesn’t usually mean danger (just new or uncertain), and about how important it is to live your values despite whatever inside ick shows up, without internalizing those messages.
From Candy Connections to True Belonging: Why We’re Starving for Something Real
As a high school freshman, I had B lunch, which meant sitting through four classes before getting to eat. In my 4th period class, I sat in front of the hottest guy in my grade. You might be thinking, “Dr. Ashley, that’s awesome for you!” But back then, I was a pretty socially anxious teen, and I was mortified when he teased me about hearing my stomach growl.
Beneath my flaming cheeks and embarrassment, I vowed to eat a bigger breakfast the next day.
And I did.
You Are Not a Burden: Rethinking Independence
A few weeks ago, it was stupid cold in Kansas City. As I was getting ready to walk to the gym (I can’t drive because of a vision impairment), my dear friend, Barb, who lives around the corner called.
“I’m about to go run some errands. Is there anywhere you need to go?” she asked.
It was incredibly thoughtful of her to think of me and how hard it would be to walk to the grocery store during the upcoming “snowpocalypse.”
New Year, New Me: How to Stay Motivated and Actually Succeed
I wasn't trying to be hateful, but I really wasn't making any effort to check my judgmental thoughts at the door.
It happens every January. My regular classes at the gym get bombarded by all of the New Year, New Me folks determined to work on their fitness. It feels too cramped, and it changes the dynamics.
What’s the Meaning of This?
He posed two questions: "What struggle are you grateful for? How has it enriched your life?"
And it got me thinking... about struggle, gratitude, meaning-making, and Goldilocks.
Voting for Your Inner Peace: Staying Grounded Amid Political Tensions
“New favorite quote: ‘What you’re not changing you’re choosing.’”
That was the text my little brother, Joey, sent just as I was crawling into bed Thursday night.
It’s good, right? Kind of a no-pulling-punches-real-talk empowering sort of message.
Do You Trust Yourself…Really?
When you know that you are someone who can do hard things, then you know you can count on yourself to handle difficult feelings, difficult situations, and difficult people.
You can trust yourself.
And that, my friend, is powerful. Freeing. Confidence-boosting.
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