Self Love is Blind

01/07/2022

stateofdepression.org

08/15/2021

“Here’s the thing with self-compassion—our goals are just as high. But when we fail to meet our goals, we’re more likely to pick ourselves up and try again.” 🌉

07/09/2021

Forget the rules and what we’re supposed to do.
It’s time for us to get out from behind the screens, stop fixating on all the bad stuff going on and do more of what makes us smile.
Let’s turn up the music, find some freedom and take the time to energize our souls.
I’m going to do all things I shouldn’t for all the reasons why I should.
I’m going to eat the chocolate.
I’m going to talk to weird people about random things and love every minute of it.
I’m going to hug someone I like, pay for another person’s meal and give a compliment to someone who isn’t expecting it.
Every day isn’t going to be perfect, but I can make some moments in those days beautiful.
Let’s put aside the worries and make room in our hearts for more love, more appreciation, more beauty.
It’s up to us to make this journey called life amazing, so let’s do more of that.
I’m not telling you that we have to stop doing the things we must- that’s not going anywhere.
But we can stop letting the negative weigh us down.
Maybe, instead, we start living a little instead of just trudging through our days.
No, it won’t solve anything or change the bad stuff we have to face, but you might feel a little better each time you start filling your soul with adventure and love.
You don’t have to have good looks, money or any special talent to love and be kind.
Maybe we can start doing more of that- the world needs more love and light in it right now.
So, turn down the windows, turn up the music, dance like no one’s watching and lose yourself in some amazing music.
Our time here is limited, so why don’t we just enjoy the ride while we can?
Live a little louder, love a little harder and laugh a little more..
I don’t know about you, but chasing the stars, loving my life and feeling the wind blow through my soul sounds incredible.
Care to join me?
Let’s leave the world behind for just a while and be ourselves, be free, and be happy.
Maybe we can’t change all the days or even all the moments,
But we can make some of those moments beautiful..
Starting now, with me and you..
We can be free.
|ravenwolf

07/04/2021

Here's some ideas for your own personal independence, on this Independence Day.
(Chris)

06/19/2021

If you use Instagram, follow me here: https://bit.ly/3mJmK5B

06/15/2021

Thissss

05/01/2021

😉💞

🌸 🌱 💕

03/30/2021

My wish for you 🥰

03/17/2021

A lot of people have been feeling the pandemic exhaustion, and using their energy to just get through it.

You are not a bad friend, try not to take it personally and use this article as a reminder, we're all experiencing this.

For many women, friendship insecurity has gotten worse, especially during the colder months.

03/10/2021

There's a lot of truth in this. You are worthy.

"Extreme independence is a trauma response"

This. Hits. Hard.

The inability to receive support from others is a trauma response.

Your “I don’t need anyone, I’ll just do it all myself” conditioning is a survival tactic. And you needed it to shield your heart from abuse, neglect, betrayal, and disappointment from those who could not or would not be there for you.

From the parent who was absent and abandoned you by choice or the parent who was never home from working three jobs to feed and house you.

From the lovers who offered sexual intimacy but never offered a safe haven that honored your heart.

From the friendships and family who ALWAYS took more than they ever gave.

From all the situations when someone told you “we’re in this together” or “I got you” then abandoned you, leaving you to pick up the pieces when s**t got real, leaving you to handle your part and their part, too.

From all the lies and all the betrayals.

You learned along the way that you just couldn’t really trust people. Or that you could trust people, but only up to a certain point.

Extreme-independence IS. A. TRUST. ISSUE.

You learnt: if I don’t put myself in a situation where I rely on someone, I won’t have to be disappointed when they don’t show up for me, or when they drop the ball... because they will ALWAYS drop the ball EVENTUALLY right?

You may even have been intentionally taught this protection strategy by generations of hurt ancestors who came before you.

Extreme-independence is a preemptive strike against heartbreak.

So, you don’t trust anyone.

And you don’t trust yourself, either, to choose people.

To trust is to hope, to trust is to be vulnerable.

“Never again,” you vow.

But no matter how you dress it up and display it proudly to make it seem like this level of independence is what you always wanted to be, in truth it’s your wounded, scarred, broken heart behind a protective brick wall.

Impenetrable. Nothing gets in. No hurt gets in. But no love gets in either.

Fortresses and armor are for those in battle, or who believe the battle is coming.

It’s a trauma response.

The good news is trauma that is acknowledged is trauma that can be healed.

You are worthy of having support.
You are worthy of having true partnership.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of having your heart held.
You are worthy to be adored.
You are worthy to be cherished.
You are worthy to have someone say, “You rest. I got this.” And actually deliver on that promise.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy.

You don’t have to earn it.
You don’t have to prove it.
You don’t have to bargain for it.
You don’t have to beg for it.

You are worthy.
Worthy.
Simply because you exist.

-Jamila White,
-photo credit: Randy Orange

03/10/2021

I literally love every single word these wonderful woman said!!

"It's an act of rebellion to love yourself"

"It seems like when people are practicing true authenticity that's when people are like oh no that's too much and can't take it."

"Call our culture. Not cancel culture."

02/28/2021

👏👏👏

www.manhealth.org.uk

02/13/2021

Just ONE more day until the Launch!!

02/10/2021

Yes!! It looks different on everyone, I had some of these symptoms but not all of them and sometimes worse than other times. I want people to share their strategies for managing it because my way may not be for everyone. Do what works for you 💞 let's end the stigma.

02/03/2021

Wow! That's incredible. It just goes to show that if you don't go for your dreams you will never accomplish them. I'd love to have her on the podcast some day!

01/28/2021

There is no manual to this thing called life 💞

01/27/2021

The more we can communicate and understand anxiety, the easier it will be to cope with, for us and for those around us.

1. They don’t hide their anxiety, they hide their symptoms. To have concealed anxiety isn’t to deny having it – only to do everything in your power to ensure other people don’t see you struggle.

2. They have the most anxiety about having anxiety. Because they are not comfortable letting people see them in the throes of an irrational panic, the most anxiety-inducing idea is… whether or not they’ll have anxiety at any given moment in time.

3. They come across as a paradoxical mix of outgoing but introverted, very social but rarely out. It is not that they are anti-social, just that they can only take being around others incrementally (which is mostly normal). Yet, on the surface, this may come across as confusing.

4. They make situations worse by trying to suppress their feelings about them. They are extremely uncomfortable with other people seeing them in pain, and they don’t want to feel pitied or as though they are compromising anyone’s time. Yet, they make things worse for themselves by suppressing, as it actually funnels a ton of energy into making the problem larger and more present than it already was.

5. They are often hyper-aware and highly intuitive. Anxiousness is an evolutionary function that essentially keeps us alive by making us aware of our surroundings and other people’s motives. It’s only uncomfortable when we don’t know how to manage it effectively – the positive side is that it makes you hyper-conscious of what’s going on around you.

6. Their deepest triggers are usually social situations. It’s not that they feel anxious in an airplane, it’s that they feel anxious in an airplane and are stuck around 50 other people. It’s not that they will fail a test, but that they will fail a test and everyone in school will find out and think they are incompetent and their parents will be disappointed. It’s not that they will lose love, but that they will lose love and nobody will ever love them again.

7. It is not always just a “panicked feeling” they have to hide. It can also be a tendency to worry, catastrophizing, etc. The battle is often (always?) between competing thoughts in their minds.

8. They are deep thinkers, and great problem-solvers. One of the benefits of anxiety is that it leads you to considering every worst case scenario, and then subsequently, how to handle or respond to each.

9. They are almost always “self-regulating” their thoughts. They’re talking themselves in, out, around, up or down from something or another very often, and increasingly so in public places.

10. They don’t trust easily, but they will convince you that they do. They want to make the people around them feel loved and accepted as it eases their anxiety in a way.

11. They tend to desire control in other areas of their lives. They’re over-workers or are manically particular about how they dress or can’t really seem to let go of relationships if it wasn’t their idea to end them.

12. They have all-or-nothing personalities, which is what creates the anxiety. Despite being so extreme, they are highly indecisive. They try to “figure out” whether or not something is right before they actually try to do it.

13. They assume they are disliked. While this is often stressful, it often keeps them humble and grounded at the same time.

14. They are very driven (they care about the outcome of things). They are in equal proportions as in control of their lives as they feel out of control of their lives – this is because they so frequently try to compensate for fear of the unknown.

15. They are very smart, but doubt it. A high intelligence is linked to increased anxiety (and being doubtful of one’s mental capacity are linked to both).

By Brianna West
Artwork by Yaskina Valentina

01/27/2021

01/23/2021

Powerful words! 💞💋

"Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,
they won’t last the journey.
Your sense of humour though, will only get better.
Your intuition will grow and expand like a majestic cloak of wisdom.
Your ability to choose your battles, will be fine-tuned to perfection.
Your capacity for stillness, for living in the moment, will blossom.
And your desire to live each and every moment will transcend all other wants.
Your instinct for knowing what (and who) is worth your time, will grow and flourish like ivy on a castle wall.
Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,
they will change forevermore,
that pursuit is one of much sadness and disappointment.
Prioritise the uniqueness that make you you, and the invisible magnet that draws in other like-minded souls to dance in your orbit.
These are the things which will only get better."

Donna Ashworth

Image: Phillipe Vogelenzang

01/22/2021

I Love this! Always be content with yourself and never settle for less! 🥰💞

How many times have you had your heartbroken??👇 I'll go first: 10+ 😭 Read more on our blog-LINK in bio!

🎨

01/16/2021

Never stop chasing your happiness!!

If you want daily inspiration come and find me on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3mJmK5B

01/15/2021

I love this! I will always share this!

01/13/2021

To others and to yourself! 💞

01/09/2021

And take a deep breath all the way from your bellybutton. Notice how these simple things make a difference.

Friendly reminder. 💛

Artist: Alyse Ruriani Design

01/06/2021

And it can take a hell of a long time to realize that is what you are dealing with if. Especially if you aren't familiar with what depression feels and looks like, it wasn't what I thought it felt like and took me a long time to come to terms with it.

01/05/2021

12/27/2020

Don't be afraid to be who you are, if others don't like it, that's their problem.