Growing with Sol

Holding yourself back usually comes down to low self-esteem and low self-worth. Most of us do it without noticing, telling ourselves no before anyone else gets the chance. So how do you spot it in your own life, and what do you do once you catch yourself? What holding yourself back looks like: Counting yourself out before you even try Telling yourself you're not ready yet Letting a lack of confide...

Throne of Glass book discussion with my bestie Priscilla about Kingdom of Ash. We're diving into character journeys, emotional arcs, and the question of whether some characters got the endings they deserved. This is part one of our Kingdom of Ash deep dive, and there's so much to unpack. What we're getting into: Aelin's emotional journey and what it means to go backwards The relationship that almo...

I've been consuming personal finance content for 10 years and I've noticed a pattern that's driving me crazy. After a decade of every creator, expert, and platform giving me advice, it all boils down to the same thing. The bottom line never changes no matter who's talking. Here's what's frustrating: Every expert says the same message in different ways Once you level up, nobody has real answers for...

Effortless self-care is possible and it doesn't require complicated routines or deprivation. Real self-care is about building simple habits that work for you and make life easier, not harder. I have three things that changed how I take care of myself because they require almost zero energy and they actually stick. What you'll hear about: A habit that sounds too simple but changes everything about...

Productivity slumps happen every year around this time for me and I'm done getting nothing done. Getting out of a productivity slump requires strategy and the right tools. I have three methods that work when I'm burnt out and can't function. One is finding your motivation trigger. One is about how you approach your task list. And one is about rest, but not the way you think about it. What actually...

Gratitude practice and self-esteem are connected in ways that directly impact your confidence and ability to achieve your goals. When you're stuck in frustration, comparing yourself to others, and overlooking your micro wins, you're lowering your self-worth. But gratitude helps you recognize your progress, value what you have, and build the confidence you need to keep moving forward. Why this matt...

Boredom feels like a luxury I can't afford anymore. I'm busy, and constantly reaching for my phone the second I feel even slightly bored. But here's what I've learned: boredom is actually essential for creativity, stress relief, and mental health. Our phones have rewired us to escape boredom instead of experiencing it, and it's affecting our ability to think, create, and rest. Why boredom matters...

Nonfiction audiobooks are my strategy for learning when traditional reading feels like a struggle. I'm out of my reading slump and ready to learn about investing, feminism, economics, and tech through four books that are calling to me. All of these have changed how I think about women, money, and society. What's drawing me to these books right now: Financial independence is a feminist issue (inves...

Reading slumps happen, especially when life gets chaotic and burnout creeps in. But the thing is, reading makes me feel alive. So finding cozy fall books is my strategy to break out of the slump and fall back in love with reading during the season I love most. These four books are exactly what I need right now: low stakes, autumn vibes, romance, and the kind of stories that heal. What I'm looking...

You're not shy and they're not your people. This is about understanding that not vibing with certain people doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means you've found people who don't match your energy or compatibility, and that's completely okay. Acceptance here is powerful. Three things about finding your people: Shy is a label, not who you are (kids are honest, not shy, about who their peo...

Being quiet isn't a character flaw or something that needs fixing. It's about how your brain is wired to process stimulation and manage energy. Understanding introversion means understanding that quiet people aren't antisocial or shy, we're just selective with our energy and the people we engage with. Three things that define being quiet: Energy management is everything (introversion is an energet...

Being introverted isn't a character flaw or a weakness that needs fixing. It's part of who you are. I spent years believing my quiet nature was something wrong with me, something I needed to change. But accepting my introversion became the foundation of real confidence and self-acceptance. Three things I learned: Your introversion doesn't make you broken (accepting yourself is the first step to co...

How to solo date when you have social anxiety. Everyone's watching you. Everyone's judging. But the truth is far less dramatic, and building confidence happens through small, sustainable steps, not forcing yourself into discomfort. Solo dating is how you build your own life and prove to yourself you're capable. Three key strategies: People aren't thinking about you at all (they're thinking about t...

Three books changed how I see the world in 2026. Even though I'm behind on my reading goal, these specific books stuck with me and taught me things I never learned before. Reading recommendations that matter and why these stories need to be heard. Three impactful books: The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio - hidden stories of invisible communities  Everything is Tuberculo...

It's July and your goals have derailed. Instead of pushing harder, sink into yourself and ask three questions that will show you exactly what's wrong. Centering yourself is the key to achieving goals that actually align with who you are. Three questions to recalibrate: Why do you want this goal? (Check your connection and investment) How will you feel when you achieve it? (Remember the emotional p...

Books became essential to my healing journey from trauma, depression, and emotional abuse. Three specific books guided me through understanding what happened, building unbreakable boundaries, and reconnecting with the parts of myself I'd lost. Three healing books: "Whole Again" by Jackson MacKenzie validates your experience and teaches self-forgiveness "Boundaries After a Pathological Relationship...

Mid-year check-in on my two main goals for 2026 and where I stand at six months. Instead of setting goals in every area of my life, I narrowed focus to financial freedom by paying off credit card debt and getting back into shape. This approach is working better than years of overachieving and doing too much. Two goals and real progress: Credit card debt: Started with $12,500, now paying $1,400 mon...

Six life lessons about self-esteem, friendship, and toxic relationships I wish I'd known at 26. Self-acceptance and radical acceptance are the foundation for real confidence. Your flaws are not a moral failing and you deserve to celebrate your achievements. Six lessons across three categories: Self-esteem and confidence: Your flaws are not a moral failing, celebrate your achievements Friendship le...

Poetry and mental health intersect beautifully in this conversation with award-winning poet Leisly Roman about her seasonal poetry collection that guides intentional living and personal growth. Her latest book "All That a Season Can Carry (In Me)" is organized by seasons to help readers explore the emotional landscapes of winter, spring, summer, and fall while understanding how their inner world c...

People pleasing in parenting is costing your children their self-worth, emotional regulation, and healthy boundaries. Kids learn through observation, so if you're a people pleaser, your children are picking up those same behaviors and internalizing them as normal. This is how generational trauma works and how the cycle continues unless you heal it. How people pleasing affects your children: Kids l...

People pleasing in your career is costing you money, promotions, and career growth. If people pleasing is ruining your love life, chances are it's also ruining your finances. People pleasers take on more work for free, can't say no, avoid negotiating, and don't assert themselves for opportunities like promotions or raises. How people pleasing shows up in your career: Taking on more work for free a...

People pleasing in your love life is ruining your relationships, whether you're dating or in a committed partnership. If people pleasing has been ruining your life, I guarantee it's affecting your love life too. I've both experienced and witnessed how people pleasing leads down a path of feeling unloved and unfulfilled relationships. In the dating stage, people pleasers ask the wrong questions: Do...

In this Stories That Shape Us episode, I'm breaking down A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon, a book about depression, hope, and stepping into your power when you least expect it. The unnamed protagonist is 29, depressed, drowning in debt. As a 35-year-old American with three degrees, hard relate. She's saved from attempting suicide by a clairvoyant magical girl and discovers she might be the...

Do you ever struggle with loving yourself at the beginning of your healing journey when you're not a finished product? That constant feeling of not being good enough, not worthy, not deserving, even of things you've worked for. One day you feel confident like "Yeah, one step at a time, let's go." The next day you feel so low: "Is this even for me? Maybe I'm not meant to get better." The highs and...

You want the soft life. You're tired of hustling. I texted my friend this morning: "Girl, I wish I had one job that paid for everything." But who actually gets to have a soft life? And is it even possible for most of us right now? What we're unpacking about soft life vs hustle culture: Trad wife isn't soft life, it's unpaid labor unless you're wealthy enough to hire help for everything Who gets to...