3 Signs You’ve Been “Introvert Shamed”

Do you feel like an introvert living in an extrovert’s world? Key points Introverts are made to feel ashamed for avoiding the spotlight. Signs that someone has been introvert shamed include being bullied or mocked for being quiet or shy. The pressure put on introverts to change their behavior always backfires and causes increased social […]

Understanding High-Functioning Depression

The Keys to Understanding High-Functioning Depression The three most common causes of High-Functioning Depression and three reliable solutions. High-functioning depression, also referred to as dysthymia, can be hard to spot. Unlike significant depression, high-functioning depression is low-level, chronic, and lacking a clear trigger. Interventions for high-functioning depression include self-care, creative expression, and medication. The image […]

The Healing Power of Hate

Key points There are many circumstances when hate is an appropriate and necessary response. The goal is not to oppress hateful feelings but to release them without harming ourselves or others. Hate is a source of tremendous energy that can be channeled into positive change. The word “hate” provokes strong responses. Some parents forbid their […]

Do You Suffer from “Shame Shudder”?

You’re walking down the street, feeling great; the sun is shining, life is good. Suddenly, you recall something regretful you did. A jab of shame stabs at you; you shake your head and shudder in disbelief. “Why did that just happen? I was having such a good day!” You try to push the feeling away. You […]

The Healing Power of Hate

The word “hate” provokes strong responses. Some parents forbid their children from using it; many religions preach against it. But what if hate isn’t the problem? What if the expression of hate can be helpful—and, at times, healing? Like every complex feeling, it’s not “hate” itself that’s the problem. What you do with hate determines […]

The Keys to Understanding High-Functioning Depression

The image most people attach to the word “depression” is of a solitary, lonely figure, despairing and downcast, silhouetted by a bleak landscape. We may wonder, “What happened to that poor soul?”  Yet this image isn’t always accurate. On the surface, some depressed people appear to lead bustling, fulfilling lives; check out their social media, […]

How to Transform Your Pain Into Something Beautiful

Sooner or later, we all face dark periods in our lives. Times when we feel alone and lost. Times when the simplest tasks, such as leaving the house, can feel impossible. As long as we are alive, there will be pain; grief, rejection, financial hardship, illness; the list goes on and on. Sometimes we experience […]

How to Understand Your Boredom and Break Free

“I’m bored.” Someone announces boredom, and we barely notice. It’s a phrase used so frequently by friends, loved ones, or strangers that it barely registers. What kind of boredom is it? A call for help? An expression of fatigue? A form of blame? The internal world of boredom Boredom springs from an internal state of […]

Finding Purpose in Emotional Agony

There is no shortage of tragedy and emotional agony in life. It’s difficult to imagine any time in recent history when so many hardships confronted us and altered the way we live. Wearing masks in public and educating our children online have nearly become routine. But there are 2020 images that will forever remain distressing: […]

Searching For Meaning In Your Pain

There are no shortages of tragedies in life. Yet 2020 proved to be a landmark year for pain and heartbreak. It’s difficult to imagine any time in recent history when so many hardships confronted us and altered the way we live. Wearing masks in public and educating our children on-line have nearly become routine. But […]