Rejection hurts. Whether it’s a job or a date, hearing no can feel deeply personal. But internalizing rejection hurts you more than the rejection itself. Internalizing rejection turns an external decision into an internal judgment. Someone else’s answer becomes a story about your identity. When you turn a “no” into “I’m not good enough,” you increase your risk of anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. Internalization becomes that voice in your head whispering, "Don

Focus is praised as a strength, but when it crosses the line into fixation, it becomes a weakness. Fixation narrows our ability to think creatively and consider alternative perspectives. It’s a form of obsession in which the mind gets stuck, and actions become compulsive. If you feel trapped in a cognitive loop that tells you to work harder on the same path (despite a lack of results), you may be experiencing fixation. One way to break fixation is by introducing mindfulness a

’Tis the season to give and receive presents—or at least that’s the message we’ve been bombarded with. The holidays have become filled with shopping lists, comparisons, and expectations that rarely leave us feeling joy. When the focus is on presents, the deeper meaning of the season gets lost. The holidays were meant to be a break, a time to rest, to reflect, and to be grateful for who we are and what we already have. This season, settle for less presents to enjoy presence: s

Fine is one of those words that makes me shiver. Is it fine , as in high-quality, top-tier? Or is it fine as in a penalty? When someone says they’re “doing fine ,” I interpret it somewhere in between: vague, ambiguous, and hiding. Fine closes the door, while genuine responses invite people in. Let's settle for less fine , so we can be honest with ourselves and each other. Share how you really feel to be seen and give people a chance to step closer. If you’re not feeling well

It’s the trick-or-treat season, but when it comes to our well-being, every day is a day to choose treats over tricks. When life hands us stress, setbacks, and struggles, our mental health improves when we treat ourselves with care. Self-care, like visiting a third space, taking a walk in the fresh air, reading a good book, coloring or crafting, or meeting up with a friend, is a real treat that nourishes our mental health. Too often, we trick ourselves. We fall for false narra

We live in a world of convenience. With electricity powering countless appliances, apps delivering our desires, and cars taking us...

Internalization, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is “the nonconscious mental process by which the characteristics,...

When airlines changed their carry-on policies, I was outraged. As a student, I couldn't afford the added fee, so I suddenly had only my...

We choose invisibility when we shrink ourselves through silence. When faced with an issue where we have something to say but remain...

Settle for less echo chambers — because there is danger in a single story. I’m grateful for learning from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED...

In the 1987 film Wall Street , Gordon Gekko famously declared, "The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better...

Learning new skills and growth itself often involve discomfort. Learning requires practice—and inevitably, failure and frustration. All...

In an age where information spreads faster than ever, believing the first thing we see, hear, or read is tempting. But we have a...

When I disconnect from nature, I find myself lost in a maze of overthinking—a tangle of “what ifs” and “should haves” that pulls me away...

Grumbling, " the action or fact of complaining in a bad-tempered way ," is unproductive because it keeps our mind in a negative space,...

It's the holiday season, and in my experience, the holidays bring out energy vampires. Energy vampires are people who sap your emotional...

In today’s fast-paced world, speed is valued. Whether it’s the rush to be first to market or the need to do more, many of us feel we must...

We have all been there, scrolling through social media and seeing everyone else living their best life. We want what they have - to live...

Anxiety is a buzzword these days. We’re constantly bombarded with advice on how to eliminate it from our lives. But what if we stopped...

Fight is a powerful word that invokes visions of violence. There are times when fighting is the correct action. However, fighting creates...