I didn't sleep for 5 nights straight. I was consumed by worry and desperate for some rest. The guy who helps others with anxiety, the experienced mental health professional, was in a bad place. Thank God for my friends and the doctors who helped me. I was neglecting too much on the checklist below. ...

I'm a middle child from a loud and emotionally expressive family. Growing up, everyone expressed how they felt - except me. I decided at a young age to hide my feelings and live inside my head. Not a strategy I would recommend.

If you want to go deeper on managing difficult emotions—especially ange...

History is filled with examples of people who overcame the most challenging of circumstances. Learn as much as you can from those who overcome. What you'll find is that you CAN improve your self-confidence if you work at it.

People who build self-confidence are committed to not avoiding things, to ...

Many people approach interactions asking, “What’s in it for me?” But when you shift your focus to “What’s in it for them?” you create the meaningful connections you’re actually longing for. Aim to leave people feeling better about themselves than when the conversation began—and your relationships an...

In fifth grade, I had a tough experience that stuck with me. In front of a packed lunchroom, my school principal, Sister Katherine, scolded and intentionally embarrassed me, accusing me of causing chaos—including dancing on a table. None of it was true.

She then pulled me into her office, where she...

Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high, while happiness feels harder to reach. But the research is clear: happy people have different habits than those who struggle.

Happiness isn’t accidental—it’s built through consistent, healthy actions. Make time for your mental wellness now, or life will e...

I'm a middle child from a loud and emotionally expressive Italian family. Growing up, everyone expressed feelings - except me.

I decided at a young age to hide my emotions and live inside my head. Not a strategy I would recommend.

Between 16 and 22, I coped with stress and emotion in unhealthy wa...

On my toughest days, focusing on gratitude has been a lifeline. It shifts my attention from what’s wrong to what’s right.

Gratitude gives me energy and courage. It anchors me in what I have instead of what I lack, helps me see my potential, and keeps me moving forward when things get hard.

When I ...

In seventh grade, on the last day of school, a classmate kept shoving me from behind during a school assembly. I asked him to stop—more than once—but he didn’t. Finally, I told myself, If he does it one more time, I’ll take action. When he shoved me again, I followed through.

Walking out of that ...

I’m capable of courage—and excuses. When I recall how I've grown after facing and engaging with intimidating situations, I’m more motivated to lean in rather than avoid.

Growth has never come from playing it safe; it comes from stepping into what feels uncomfortable and discovering I can handle it....

Most people make one big relationship mistake, both personally and professionally. Stop this tendency and you'll improve your life plus encourage the people you care about most.

I'm referring to the bad habit of invalidating others. It can be subtle eye rolls, sighing, criticizing, distancing, and/...

One of the most impactful things you can do—for yourself and for others—is to reach out and start a meaningful conversation.

All people crave meaningful connection, yet many hesitate to take the risk of starting a conversation. Instead, they overthink what to say or how to engage. Everyone wants ...