Stress

Stress—How to Avoid it and How to Cope when You Can’t

Stress is, well, stressful. Everyone has it, but not everyone has it all the time. Stress, ironically, is a healthy thing, or it used to be. In the past, it kicked our fight-or-flight system into gear when we needed it. But modern humans tend toward a constant state of stress because we face persistent pressures, such as job insecurity, economic uncertainty, and political instability. This tendency keeps stress responses running constantly on high for many. So, what can we do about it? Is there a way to mitigate stress and curtail its effects on us? 

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Motivation and Energy

Motivation and Energy—How to Keep the Ball Rolling

Why is it that sometimes you can keep buzzing along—checking your boxes and making progress—and sometimes you just… can’t. We all have periods when the motivation isn’t there—when we can’t get off the dime and get going. This is fine as long as you are mindful of the dynamic. When you’re not feeling it, it’s essential to maintain self-awareness and know why you’re lacking in motivation. We all need downtime, but if your listlessness is due to something that’s within your control, it can be helpful to identify those factors and find a way to correct or adjust them. Motivation is one of the most important elements in a meaningful life. If yours is waning, it’s necessary to know why.

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Path of Irritability

The Thorny Path of Irritability

It might start with a series of little things, or it might start with a big thing. There are many paths toward irritability, but you only take one. Once you’re down that path, you’re committed. The mood runs its course, and you have to ride it out. But the choice is yours whether to ride it out with eyes wide open or in a state of rage-fueled, self-righteous denial. Either way, irritability can ruin your day, making everything seem heavy and onerous. But even in this state, you have an opportunity to get to know yourself better.

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Poetry and Music

Poetry (and Music!) in Motion

Today, I am excited to announce the release of my first book of poetry, Many Paths: An Exploration of Hope, Healing, and Personal Growth. 

Describing a meaningful and fulfilling life in words is challenging. Although relating the elements of our lives is useful and allows for a practical and detailed understanding, to delve deeper into the emotional aspects of our triumphs and challenges, our passions and pursuits, we need a more creative and nuanced medium. Poetry and music express these ideas in ways that a description could not—in ways that resonate with the reader emotionally and genuinely. I have explored my emotional journey with music and poetry for as long as I can remember, and nothing can compare to these mediums in terms of expressing emotions. Starting about five years ago, I started to write poetry and music based on the ideas in these blog posts and it was the answer I needed to make these ideas whole. 

I have taken one of the poems from the book and put it to music in I Look to the Leaves. Although all of my songs contain lyrics, this is the first that began as a poem and became a song. 

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Living Large in Luxury

Living Large—How Luxury Fits Into Your Life

What does luxury mean to you? For many, the idea conjures the trappings of wealth—maybe yachts, private planes, or opulent houses. But are these things luxurious in and of themselves? Once you get beyond these trappings’ flashiness and comfort, you must still have a meaningful life to make them enjoyable. And you may find that if you do have a meaningful life, you don’t need this brand of luxury. Simple pleasures can be considered luxurious and don’t involve the cost, maintenance, or hassle of the more lavish luxuries. What are the luxurious things in your life? Do they give you pleasure, or must they be connected to other parts of your life, such as friends, to add meaning?

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