Do I Even Matter? Reclaiming Your Self-Worth
This one is difficult to write because it touches on painful questions I’ve struggled to answer most of my life. Do I matter? Do I have self-worth? Do I add value to relationships? Have...
Author: authenticlife
The Healing Power of Belonging
It’s been a while since I posted. Life has felt crazy, and my creative juices have been a bit dry. So, I’m feeling unsure of how to write about this topic. It has been...
Breaking Free from the Wackadoo Game of Life
Several months ago, I decided it was time to officially be diagnosed as a wackadoo. It’s my term for a person whose thoughts get all whacky making the same ineffective choices. My ego then...
Suppressing Emotions Doesn’t Work
I took the picture above because the landscape looked so different from just a few months ago. Where there was once dense vegetation and winding paths, now everything has been cleared away. The dryness...
Trying to Predict the Paths of Life
This past week has been a challenge, and I haven’t been in much of a mood to write. I’ve started a new approach in therapy called Internal Family Systems, to work on trauma from...
The Art of Listening versus Fixing
Recently a friend of mine asked if we could talk. We connected virtually and when I saw her, I knew she was struggling. She related the situation through tears, and I did my best...
When Challenges Collide
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). I honestly had no idea what it meant, and the name made me feel like I had a major defect. However, just like...
The Power of Grief
This is a difficult post to write as I am writing it just prior to the anniversary of my mom’s death and the birthday of my nephew who also died. These were two individuals...
Speak Your Truth
I recently came across a journal entry I wrote in 2007 that I want to share. “I actually think it would help church congregations to be vulnerable and to show our weaknesses. I think...
Rays of Light
I had to admit in a discussion the other day that I was sinking back into depression. For anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves, let me just say it’s a pain in the ass....
The Pitfalls of Avoidance
I feel like I am in a state of avoidance right now using different techniques I turn to when life feels too difficult or there are emotions I do not want to feel. I...
Unexpected “Explosions” in Life
About a month ago, I thought I’d go to the park early before it got too busy or hot. I gathered my stuff, hopped into my car, and felt relaxed as I drove down...
Exposing Shame to the Light
It’s taken a while to post about my experiences with shame, the belief that something is wrong with me. It’s not because I’m afraid to talk about it but because it’s also a topic...
Taking Time to Rest
On my morning walk along a stream where the water is lower, I noticed something sticking out of the water. As I got closer, I saw ducks floating behind it. At first, I thought...
The Illusion of Control
Do you ever feel overwhelmed to the point of feeling paralyzed to do anything? But then you become more overwhelmed because you’re not accomplishing anything to reduce the overwhelm? It’s a crazy cycle I...
