One of the greatest discoveries we can make is that while we don’t always choose our first emotional reaction, we do have far more influence over our emotional lives than we often believe.

Yet how many times have we heard someone say, “I can’t help the way I feel,” or, “You make me feel…”?

When you stop and think about it, “You make me feel…” is a remarkable statement.

It hands another person ownership of our inner world, as though they control our thoughts, emotions, and peace of mind.

Both of these phrases—“I can’t help the way I feel” and “You make me feel…”—quietly rob us of one of our greatest strengths: personal responsibility.

The moment we believe someone […]

Why I Stepped Away from Writing—and What I Found in the Silence

Three months ago, I closed my laptop and walked away. I didn’t make an announcement. I didn’t tell my readers I was taking a break. I simply stopped writing. At first, I wondered if I was losing a part of myself. Writing has been woven into my life for decades. It has helped me process childhood trauma, the loss of people I have loved, and the long, winding journey toward healing. Whenever life became difficult, I wrote. Whenever I discovered something worth sharing, I wrote. But this time felt different. For the first time in a very long time, I didn’t need to find the words. I needed […]