While I can easily list plenty of its downsides, I love social media more than I wish I did. I enjoy creating content to post, I appreciate how it can spread information and help you waste time, and I thrive off likes.

This is why I find it so funny I was late to download every single platform… but that’s beside the point.

In college, I learned just how much I enjoy running social media. I was heavily involved in advocacy and service organizations, and when I learned about a graphic-creating tool as easy as Canva, I jumped at the…

A few weeks ago, I explained a situation that still bothers me to my therapist. I told her about a professional I worked with years ago, and how I always wanted his approval, and how I hate that. While I was too young to understand it then, I do now: I was under his spell, under his control. He talked to me and others in an intentional, manipulative way that made us constantly seek his affirmations.

This experience was more intense than similar relationships and conversations I’ve experienced. Yes, I’m a people-pleaser and one of my primary love languages is…

As you may have heard me share before, I wrote mystery stories about a detective named Cacktell Jones when I was younger. While those stories may have been cute at the time, I’m thankful I can say my writing has improved a good bit since then. I’m now a full-time freelance writer with articles in several reputable publications, and I’ve learned a lot both in my classes and in my career.

To help you become a better (and hopefully richer) writer, I’m sharing six helpful resources. These can improve your grammar, add effectiveness to your article, increase your pitching success…

I’ve been reading more often lately, and I think it’s for one reason: The books I’ve found have been amazing. Some entail plot twists, some help me fight diet culture, and others simply have beautiful storylines. After I finish these books, I want to find similar ones to continue the high I’m feeling, but finding just the right one can be difficult. I’ve seen “recommended reading” lists, but they don’t always match my interests as much as I’d like.

So, when I came across #booktok on TikTok, I was thrilled. This hashtag, along with others, shares TikTok creators’ book recommendations…

Have you ever taken on a parental role as a child? Or defined yourself by your relationship with your significant other? Or, because of a lack of boundaries, felt confused about where you ended and someone else began?

Those are all signs of enmeshment. But don’t worry — you’re not alone. I’ve struggled with this too.

Enmeshment is when two or more people, usually within a family, are overly involved in each other’s lives, leading to unhealthy interactions and an inability to discern oneself from another.

What’s tricky about enmeshment, though, is it can feel fully healthy and positive. It’s…

Some days, I’m a writing machine. I crank out multiple articles, work for eight hours straight, and feel great about my productivity. Other days, I don’t. Other days, I stay in bed and watch a TV show stressfully, feeling guilty for not writing. I try to work and end up crying. I have no ideas, no motivation, no hope.

I’ve struggled with depression on and off for about six years. Thankfully, I’m high-functioning most of the time, which I want to make clear when I explain some “easy” practices that help me (but may not help you, and that doesn’t…

From mid-December to almost mid-February, my career in freelance writing was not going well. I’d been on a high for a while, but suddenly, everything hit. Rejections, constructive criticism, low stats, you name it.

What made it worse is the fact I didn’t know when it would end. I kept thinking it would end “after the holidays” or “after the new year” or “after the inauguration” — and to no avail.

As someone with an Enneagram type three personality, this sense of failure negatively affected my self-worth and mood. Type threes, also known as “Achievers,” care deeply about success and…

I’ve been single most of my life, and during that time, one of my least favorite holidays was Valentine’s. Other than loving the candy, I was basically a Valentine’s Grinch. Seeing people in relationships when I wanted one so badly made me feel inadequate, and I especially struggled when my friends had partners so I couldn’t spend time with them.

If you’re also struggling this Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to find ways to enjoy the holiday, all while reminding yourself that you’re so loved and worthy of love. For four suggestions on how to do so, keep reading.

1. Spend Time With Friends and/or Family

While…