When struggling with depression, joy can feel difficult to find. It often appears in simple, everyday moments—a loved one’s smile, the scent of blooming flowers, a shared laugh, or the satisfaction of creative expression.
Trying something new almost always stirs anxiety. No matter the stage of life we find ourselves in, life inevitably provides us with amble opportunity for learning something new or starting over.
When we step into something new, our first instinct is often anxiety. What if I fail? What if I look foolish? What if I can’t do it? But what if we shifted that energy into curiosity? What might I discover?
For many, August signals back-to-school season—whether that’s elementary classrooms, college dorms, or graduate studies. Some adapt to this back-to-school shift with ease, while for others, moving from one rhythm to another can feel disorienting and stressful, and induce depression.
A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with friends when one of them shared her personal challenge: to try something new each month. As she recounted the experiences she had pursued so far this year, I felt admiration rise—and then something else.
We hear a lot about self-care—eat well, sleep, meditate. These things matter. But sometimes, what we need isn’t more advice or another routine. What we need is a deeper way of relating to ourselves.
Life moves quickly. Between work, relationships, and the daily demands of living, there’s often little space to pause.
Resistance is information.
When we face a blank page or a creative block, it’s easy to assume something is wrong. But it’s often part of the process. It reflects our fears, perfectionism, or inner doubts—not failure.
It’s a quiet question that lives in many of us: Do I truly deserve love and self-worth?
For some, the answer feels clear. For others, it’s complicated. And for many, it’s buried beneath layers of overachievement, perfectionism, or silence.
A friend recently challenged me with a simple but profound invitation: practice deservedness.
And ever since, the word has been echoing in my mind.
Deservedness. Deservedness.
What do I believe I truly deserve?…
