Handling The Hard Stuff

Tag: Relationships

  • Give Them an Out

    Have you ever been in an argument with someone and you’re both so dug in to your positions that neither of you can move even a little bit without “giving in”? I have. I am stubborn as all hell. And I always have been. My parents talk about how conflicts with me were a negotiation…

  • It’s Not Your Responsibility to Make People Happy

    Some of us are people pleasers. Some people grew up walking on egg shells because they didn’t live in a safe place. People are averse to conflict for a million reasons. Many of us have to learn how to navigate a new relationship with a new person. I remember in college my roommate would periodically…

  • Quiet Love

    We aren’t all overt in our affection. Many of us are uncomfortable expressing ourselves with words. We show our love in different ways. My dad says he doesn’t want gifts, but he’s the first one to play with the kids’ toys on Christmas morning. He doesn’t say “I love you”, but he makes sure my…

  • Ask Yourself Why

    Why do you do the things you do? Why do you work yourself to the bone or sneak midnight snacks or disappear into a book when you have chores to do? What’s the root cause? Because you can’t expect to change the things that are causing problems for you, if you don’t understand the why…

  • You Don’t Have to Be Polite

    Were you raised from an early age to not make waves? If you’re like me, you were taught to not cause problems. Don’t be difficult. Hug people you don’t want to hug, be nice to people even when they’re not nice to you, participate in the gathering you don’t want to be part of just…

  • Use Your Words

    Stop being okay with things you are really not ok with. Being a good person is not the same thing as being willing to suffer in silence and not make waves. Being kind is not the same as being a doormat. You can be kind and still advocate for yourself or others. It is important…

  • Seasons of Life

    We are not meant to be achieving at the same level forever. So many parts of nature have seasons of productivity and seasons of dormancy, why wouldn’t we be meant for the same? I am my own worst critic when it comes to my productivity. I must be doing something, making something, contributing something, achieving…

  • The Best Revenge is None

    They say the opposite of love is not hate, the opposite of love is indifference. The truest test of your progress or closure about the end of a relationship is whether you can truly just nothing them. The ends of relationships can be so emotionally hurtful. When you’ve been together for awhile, you know what…

  • Find Your People

    There are people in this world that will never support you. They will decide not to like you for their own reasons. There are only so many things you can do to change their mind and you will expend boat loads of energy trying to get them on your team. Only you can decide if…

  • Stop Breaking Your Own Heart

    Only you can choose who you let into your life. There are so many studies that talk about how you are influenced most by the six or so people you spend the most time with. Whether this is your family, your co-workers, your running buddies, friends, or neighbors, this shapes who and how you are.…