When hope dims, affirmations rekindle the flame. Here are my six favorite affirmations. Exerting effort at anything and not seeing positive results can be discouraging, I learned this after job rejections, friendship losses, breakups, poor grades, and failure to meet personal goals. Perhaps you’ve had some of these experiences, too. …

Although mental health stigma has declined over the last year, it is still a major issue. Here are some ideas on how to recognize and reduce it. Mental health stigma affects how we perceive psychiatric disorders. It also affects self-esteem and progress in mental health treatment. This post contains more…

The healing effects of a cool and gentle wind — After spending all day inside, typing on my computer, my head began to throb. I realized that I needed fresh air. As I took a walk around a hill, the wind played with my hair. Under a hot sun, the wind seeped through my skin and cooled me off. Then it…

Last night, I listened to the music you didn’t like; The same music I listened to before I met you. I hoped it would help me to forget you for a night. Hoped the lyrics would help me figure out what to do. Maybe they would help me learn how to stop missing you…

A morning poem to go with your coffee — In the morning, many people drink coffee to wake up. Some of them drink several cups because one is not enough. Some people need more coffee later in the afternoon. On stressful days, they crave the way that coffee boosts their mood. Some people like to get caffeine from other…

The moment I said I loved you, you couldn’t say it back. You said you felt awful about it. You said you were sorry. Despite feeling sad and ashamed, I was understanding. I told you it wasn’t your fault. You just didn’t love me. Minutes later, regret kicked in. So I…

Remorse shows that you have a big heart — Dear Human Who Made a Mistake, Everybody makes mistakes: those things we accidentally do that have negative consequences. They could be things like getting an answer wrong on a test, lashing out at someone you love, or losing a child in a grocery store. But feeling genuine remorse shows that…