Everything in balance

  How to Stop Negative Thoughts from Running Your Life Negative thoughts can be loud, convincing, and exhausting. They show up uninvited—first thing in the morning, in the middle of the night, or right when you’re trying to feel confident. And the worst part? We often believe them without question. These negative thoughts often stem from traumatic voices from your past. Your trauma response system used them to help you survive those experiences. The problem is that the system forgot to shut down!  But here’s the truth: a thought is not a fact . Just because your mind says something doesn’t mean it’s true, accurate, or helpful. Learning to stop negative thoughts isn’t about forcing positivity—it’s about regaining control . 1. Notice the Thought Without Judging It The first step is awareness.  Most negative thoughts run on autopilot and are triggered when you have to trust yourself. Start by simply noticing them: here are a few examples.  “I always mess things ...

  Understanding Your Mindset It’s essential to recognize that thoughts shape our feelings and behaviors. If you’re struggling with the thought “I am not good enough,” you’re likely experiencing low self-esteem. This mindset can create a cycle of negative self-talk and feelings, which can affect multiple areas of your life. Challenge Negative Beliefs 1.           Identify the Thought :            We have to learn to be much more self-aware . We carefully watch our words at work, church, school, and in other social settings—but we rarely pay attention to our own self-talk .                It’s true: we are often our own worst critics. The problem is that many of those self-critical                        thoughts aren’t truly ours . They come from trauma, repeated criticism, or being r...

  The Power of Calm in the Face of Negativity Ai Generated photo Negative people are everywhere—at work, online, in families, and sometimes even within our closest circles. While we can’t always control their behavior, we can control how we respond. Remaining calm, being deliberate, and thinking through our reactions are powerful tools that protect our peace and reflect our character. Calm is not weakness; it is strength. When someone approaches us with anger, criticism, or passive-aggressive comments, the natural instinct is to react immediately. However, reacting emotionally often gives negativity more power. Calmness creates space between what is said and how we respond.  In that space, we regain control of ourselves. A calm response can de-escalate tension, prevent unnecessary conflict, and keep us grounded in who we are. It give US the power to choose our own emotions not just let a random reaction cause trouble.  Deliberate responses lead to better outcomes. B...

If the holidays feel heavy this year, you are not alone. Here are 3 gentle reminders to help you breathe a little easier:                    Photo from unspalsh  1. Protect Your Peace. Yes! You can say no and set boundaries and still enjoy your holiday season! It’s okay to step back from the noise, the expectations, and the pressure to “be festive.” Your energy matters as much as any tradition. Choose what nourishes you. 2. Celebrate Small Wins. Depression can only win if you stop moving forward. Little thing give you power for the next thing - just getting out of bed, answering one message, taking a shower, or simply taking a deep breath—these all count. Healing often happens in tiny moments that don’t look like progress but truly are. 3. Stay Connected in Your Own Way. Reach out to one person, even with a simple “thinking of you.” You don’t have to be cheerful to be loved or give love. You just have to show up as you are for othe...

 The holiday season, while filled with celebration and connection, often brings a surprising amount of pressure. Between family expectations, financial demands, and the rush to “make everything perfect,” stress can build quickly. Fortunately, there are simple and intentional ways to reclaim calm during this busy time. Photo by Octavian Iordache on Unsplash One powerful strategy is setting boundaries . Holidays tend to blur personal limits—saying yes to every event, every request, and every responsibility. Choosing what truly matters and letting go of the rest can create space to breathe. Whether that means declining an invitation, limiting spending, or carving out quiet time, boundaries help protect both energy and emotional well-being. Another way to destress is by embracing small rituals of self-care . These don’t need to be elaborate: a warm cup of tea before bed, a morning walk in cold air, a few minutes of journaling, or playing a favorite holiday playlist. Consistent micro-...

  Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash Somewhere along the way, our society started confusing punishment for crimes with containment — and containment with care. Jails and prisons were designed to hold people who choose to break the law of the land. Laws that have been reviewed and established as true and within the constructs of the U.S. Constitution. The criminal justice system was built to contain crime—not to care for those battling mental illness. Prisons were never designed for people who hold extreme beliefs—only for those who act on them in ways that violate the law. Words alone should never warrant punishment, let alone death. Every year, thousands of people with serious mental health conditions are funneled into the criminal justice system—not because they’re inherently dangerous, but because they’ve broken laws as a result of untreated mental illness. Our systems of care continue to fail them. When someone is psychotic, manic, or deeply depressed and doesn’t receive tim...