"I am capable; I am enough." Words often hold power over our actions. When we start our day with negative self-talk, we often succumb to that negativity and, inevitably, feel the effects. When we take time to focus on our strengths, goals, and the present mindset; we stray away from automatic negative thoughts, worry, and self-doubt. What is a positive affirmation? A positive affirmation is exactly how it sounds. They are statements focusing on inner strengths and goals des

It seems easy enough to connect the dots to my story as an adult reflecting back to my childhood. The choices and decisions my parents faced and made have new clarity and understanding to my adult perspective. My story has been written and my perceptions of my parents’ part in my story are pretty much set. I view them as the producers of my screenplay. It’s a story that remains in constant editing due to the various perspectives that each person who lived through my story

Take time this Valentine’s Day to show yourself some love. Put on calming music (such as Enya) and draw or paint to the music. Watercolors or oil pastels are very fluid materials and work best for activating a calm and relaxing mood. This sense of calm will continue even when you are finished painting. Get creative and make a gift for yourself. Tapping into your creative side with a project can enhance your mood and improve your energy level. Write a “Thank You” note to yours

In today’s culture, anxiety is at all all-time high, and anxious thoughts often include what we should be doing, what we wish was better, or how we are not measuring up to our own expectations. These anxious thoughts can be consuming, causing a negative effect on our overall mood, energy level, and relationships. If instead we shift our mindset to focusing on what we are grateful for, it can have a multitude of positive effects. According to the Harvard Health Journal, gratit

Everyone deals with some form of anxiety throughout their life, whether someone is about to speak in public or go to a job interview. This is typical, and a little bit of anxiety is a good thing! Anxiety can help motivate us to take on new challenges and to do our best. However, for some, anxiety is much stronger, intense, and persistent than the typical nervous feeling one may get prior to a test or a new social situation. What exactly is anxiety? Why do some people have mor