Toxic shame is a feeling that you’re worthless. It happens when other people treat you poorly and you turn that treatment into a belief about yourself. You’re most vulnerable to this type of poor treatment during childhood or as a teen. When you feel toxic shame, you see yourself as useless or, at best, not as good as others. Read more ›
A 2022 Pew Research Center study revealed that nearly 80% of 13-17 year-olds check at least one social media feed at least hourly, and over a third said they did so “almost constantly.” How can we develop healthy social media practices that support, not hinder, our mental health? Read more ›
By learning to “identify, express, and harness our feelings, even the most challenging ones, we can use those emotions to help us create positive, satisfying lives,” says Marc Brackett’s best-selling book, Permission to Feel. Read more ›
In our interactions with our children, each of us has the choice to respond in ways that either strengthen or weaken our relationships with them. Read more ›
Self-criticism is a common problem, and not one to be overlooked: the way you talk to yourself plays a vital role in wellbeing. Luckily, the problem of the harsh self-critic is fixable. Below are five ways to help you overcome your inner critic by strengthening your self-compassion and fostering a sense of self-acceptance. Read more ›
In this NPR interview, mindfulness expert and psychologist Susan Pollak discusses letting of constant self-judgment and treating yourself with the same kindness and caring you strive to offer your kids. Read more ›
Do you ever hurt your own feelings?
A curt reply to that thoughtful work email, zero responses to that happy hour invitation – little slights like these get my inner critic going. What a dumb thing to say! Of course they don’t like you. Who do you think you are?
This kind of negative self-talk can get in the way of creating strong relationships with ourselves and others. Read more ›
Everybody has those inner gremlins talking to them, bringing up the worst thoughts, second-guessing their instincts and being generally unkind.
Where exactly do those critical voices come from? And why are they so mean? It’s negative self-talk, and no one is exempt from it. Read more ›
