The Story in My Head: Healing & Self-Improvement for the Lazy

Today I am practicing new coping skills to help reduce stress and anxiety.  I've learned I need to practice when I am NOT feeling stressed or overwhelmed.  I'm committed to setting myself up for success; and I invite you to join me in my latest experiment.  Today we are going to practice Being Present.  anxiety, grief, depression, addiction, stress, coping, change, awareness, self care

Over the last week I have used visualization to help me inventory the tools I have to reduce anxiety, and then I began creating an Anxiety Toolbelt.  The process has been more difficult than I had expected.  The process has proven quite effective in increasing my self awareness about the coping mechanisms I currently use, as well as the ones I want to practice.     anxiety, depression, grief, self...

I'm starting a new project...REDUCING ANXIETY!  I am motivated to do the work required to make the changes.  I am determined to tackle this project honestly.  I am hopeful I will succeed in this project once I have the right tools for the job.  Today I began building my Anxiety Toolkit.   anxiety, fear, stress, coping, change, self talk, self aware, self esteem, self care  

We all have stories of good versus evil, the heroes and the villains, the good guys versus the bad guys.  Where do your stories come from?  Are they based in YOUR experiences or someone else's?  The villainous characters in the stories in our heads are just that...characters!  Sometimes we need to change the story, and sometimes we just need to change the characters.  This is my story of how...

The Story in My Head this week was a product of my insecurities, my attitude and my imagination!  I re-told an event in my head several times, and I changed it slightly each time.  I ended up with a whole new version of the event and shot myself in the foot.  Here is a mid-week quickie about changing the tone of your story.  anxiety, insecurity, communication, tone of voice, self awareness, relati...

The Story in My Head about being a failure changed dramatically (and quickly) when a man in a coffee shop called me a failure... and my insides went nuts!  Today's mid-week quickly is my experience changing my definition of being a failure.   self esteem, self image, anxiety, depression, failure, success, change, healing  

The Story in My Head has completed creating Frank the Forgiveness Octopus.  Today's quickie is the fifth segment of my story...my journey of forgiving myself and others.  apologizing, making amends, self care, transformation, healing, grief, addiction, change, relationships, communication  

The Story in My Head has a main character named Frank.  He's a forgiveness octopus.  I'm focusing on Frank's 8th leg (tentacle / arm) of my forgiveness octopus...forgiving myself!  Today's quickie is the fourth part of my story...my journey towards forgiving myself and others.  self esteem, worth, anxiety, depression, relationships, self care, transformation, healing, grief, ad...

I've decided it will be helpful for me to practice apologizing and asking for forgiveness.  The Story in My Head has told me making amends is just too hard to do sometimes.  I want to practice and make it easier.  Today's quickie is the third part of my story...my journey towards forgiving myself and others.  forgiveness, apologies, amends, relationships, self care, transformation, heali...

I've decided it will be helpful for me to practice forgiveness.  The Story in My Head about forgiveness is a long one and I'm working to sort it all out.  Today's quickie is the second part of my story...my journey towards forgiving myself and others.  forgiveness, amends, relationships, self care, transformation, healing, grief, addiction, change, marriage, parenting

I've decided it will be helpful for me to practice forgiveness.  The Story in My Head poses a lot of questions about forgiveness.  Today's quickie is the first part of my story...my journey towards forgiving myself and others.  forgiveness, amends, relationships, self care, transformation, healing, grief, addiction, change, marriage, parenting 

Even as an adult, the Story in My Head still includes a longing for and, at times, a need for permission.  Permission to act, to speak, to react, to change.  At times I feel a desire for someone to offer permission for me to be me!!!!  In this mid-week quickie I'm changing the Story in My Head by giving myself some permission.  self care, self awareness, acceptance, forgiveness, healing, chan...

Pushing boundaries is part of human nature.  It allows our curiosity to wonder and it encourages us to explore new things.  We push boundaries to investigate the consequences and discover our limits.  But when someone pushes MY boundaries? I get pissed! Today I'm working to have realistic expectations about my boundaries.  People are gonna push them.  So I'm gonna tighten them to keep my...

Letting Go seems daunting at times.  Today I present a mid-week quickie visualization to experiment with for yourself.  I've practiced it a lot and found it to be helpful so I decided to share this Story in My Head.  boundaries, change, grief, relationships, marriage, parenting, addiction, self care

The boundary between helping and enabling is not always clear.  In my quest to set new and healthier boundaries for myself, I must first admit I often enable my loved ones (and myself).  I'm sharing the Story in My Head about my enabling, and the questions I am asking myself to help me STOP!     boundaries, relationships, recovery, addiction, co-dependency, self care, parenting, marriage, cha...

Minding my own business has proven to be more difficult than one may expect.  There are so many instances I find myself using my time, energy and attention on things that do not serve me or move me in the direction I want to go!  Your business is a distraction to me and this week I became aware I want to set a new boundary...How much time and energy am I willing to spend on someone else's bus...

It's time for me to re-evaluate and set some new boundaries.  But where do I begin? At the beginning of the Story in My Head of course! Here's a mid-week quickie to start thinking about new boundaries. self esteem, boundaries, change, relationships, self care, mindfulness, awareness

Whatever thoughts I am focusing on in this moment determines the direction my body will go in the next moment.  If I want to change my direction, I must change my focus.  This is easier said than done!!!  When I'm having a hard time not focusing on the Story in My Head, I'm learning to focus on a feet instead.  Strange!   ADD, ADHD, goals, direction, change, awareness, mindfulness, anxie...

I got sick and had to put all of my energy and focus on my healing.  Everything else became less of a priority; as though nothing outside of myself existed.  I started to become aware of all the signals my body gives me. The good, the bad and the urgent!!! I also became aware of all the signals I ignore. Then came a new, quick experiment to try.  I'm going to practice taking a few minutes eac...

Ever judged how long it takes you to heal, grieve, change?  Me too!  And now I want to stop.  Here's a quickie about embracing your natural pace.  trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, healing, change, motivation, goals, timing 

I'm not saying a "Service Agreement" in a romantic relationship is sexy, yet I am suggesting some form of a maintenance schedule to 'check in' on how things are going.  Like taking our favorite vehicle to the shop for an oil change; our relationships are worth the time, hassle and cost of our attention and service.     relationships, marriage, co exist, friendship, parenti...

In honor of my friend who encouraged me to tell this Story in My Head about feeling overwhelmed and viewing the feeling as 'getting prepared' for the next adventure!  Hope you enjoy this mid-week Quickie about stress, stamina and new challenges.  overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, burned out, change, coping, challenges, capacity, capable, ready 

I'm beginning to learn how beneficial it is to 'speak my truth'.  To me that's not just about being honest.  It's about telling the story in my head, sharing the experience I am having, showing someone else my perspective and asking others to show me their points of view.  Here's a quickie exploring how I and others take in the world. perspective, communication, relat...

I once saw a moose in a public bathroom.  It took me kneeling down on the gross floor in order to see it.  Sometimes it takes getting dirty to see something different or new.  For your mid-week quickie... GET DIRTY!!!!!!  perspective, change, growth, healing, relationships, communication

I'm grieving the death of a dear friend.  The story in my head is telling me no one can relate and everyone is saying stupid shit!!!  In truth, I know we can all relate to loss and most of us have no idea what to say to someone who is grieving.  Today I am just telling my story and owning my shit. grief, loss, addiction, fear, sadness, love, loneliness, hope, change, relationships