I remember sitting at a conference room one afternoon, surrounded by colleagues and senior staff. I’d put on my “professional face and demeanor.” Then something small happened. A person I regarded as a friend said something that hit a nerve; I don’t even remember what was said. I just remember how I felt. An offhand … Read more
You’re going through something difficult. Maybe you’re stuck in a painful situation you can’t escape yet. Perhaps you’re grieving a loss in your professional or personal life. Or, maybe you just experienced a setback or disappointment, and you can’t shake it off. Your reaction to each of these situations is the same: Be hard on … Read more
Rumination. You know the frustration of getting stuck in the mental loop of repetitive, distressing, and at times flat-out obsessive thoughts all too well, right? Something happens — a difficult conversation, a mistake you made, something someone said — and your brain locks onto it like a dog with a bone. You replay it. Reanalyze … Read more
You already know the emotions you’re feeling right now, and you don’t like how you feel. You could be angry, sad, frustrated, resentful, or worried. Maybe you’re feeling ashamed or guilty. Perhaps you’re embarrassed, bitter, betrayed, or just flat-out miserable. Whatever the emotions you’re feeling right now, you just want all the heavy negativity to … Read more
If you keep cycling through the same painful emotions — the same anger, the same shame, the same resentment or sadness — and you can’t figure out why they won’t stop, you’re not broken. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not alone. You’ve probably tried to push the feelings away. Maybe you’ve told yourself to … Read more
“Why do I keep feeling the same difficult emotions over and over, and what will make them stop?” Difficult emotions like sadness, anger, fear, shame, guilt, regret, resentment, helplessness, and jealousy weigh us down and disrupt our lives. Ruminating on the same negative emotions for hours or even days can be highly upsetting, as the … Read more
Failure hurts. Disappointment stings. And a major setback can leave you feeling like the ground has shifted beneath your feet. If you’re in that place right now — replaying what went wrong, questioning yourself, or wondering how to find your footing again — you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not broken. Learning how to … Read more
Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball. ~ Mitzi Chandler Worry can make your mind feel like it is trying to protect you, but never actually lets you rest. You replay conversations, imagine worst-case scenarios, and try to solve problems that may never happen. If you can’t stop worrying, it does not … Read more
Create a Simple Morning Routine: It’s Time to Be Deliberate About How You Start Your Day! How you begin your day has an enormous influence on how you’ll experience your day. How you experience each day will determine how you’ll experience your life. Yes, the habits you embrace in your morning routine have the power … Read more
Optimistic thinking refers to having a positive outlook on life and a belief that good things will happen. An optimistic mindset has several benefits, including increased happiness, better physical health, greater resilience, and improved relationships. An optimistic person tends to approach challenges with a can-do attitude, which can lead to more creative problem-solving and increased … Read more
Are you wondering how to find direction in life? Do you want to start living your life on purpose, but you have no idea what your purpose is or what your next step should be? I’ve been there, and it does not feel good when you feel lost and can’t find the right direction for … Read more
I love the idea of “blessings in disguise.” At its essence, the phrase offers hope that something that appears negative now can put you on the path to receiving something quite miraculous down the road. There are times when we all need this reminder. All in your life is not as it seems. What is … Read more
My friends and I recently had a lively conversation about how to fake being happy. We joked about it, but all kidding aside, it made me think: Is it OK to pretend to be happy? Can you get happier by faking it (i.e., follow the old advice to “fake it till you make it)? … Read more
The best inspirational books do more than lift your mood for a few minutes. They help you see your life from a new angle. Some offer courage when life feels hard. Some help you find direction. Some remind you that change is still possible. This list includes 35 inspiring books worth reading when you need … Read more
You want to be happy. You’re dreaming of being happy. With your whole body and soul, you yearn to find happiness … true lasting happiness … the happiness that you know deep down in your heart has the potential to set you free. Yet, when you’re put to the test of what you’re willing to do … Read more
Do you love an inspiring or thought-provoking quote as much as I do? Then you’re in for a treat! I’ve compiled a list of the best 50 life journey quotes that explore what it really means to see your life as a journey, not just a series of destinations. Whether you’re currently facing tough … Read more
Are you tired of struggling? Recently someone wrote to me here at Believe and Create and told me she was tired: Tired of struggling. Tired of feeling miserable. Tired of conflict. Tired of not getting anywhere she wanted to go. Tired of feeling that her life was a mess. She was also tired of reading … Read more
Sending positive energy or “vibes” isn’t just some touchy-feely thing that touch-feely people came up with. The power of energy exchange among people is backed by science. When that energy is positive, good things happen. When that energy is negative, life gets a whole lot more difficult. Spreading good vibes can make for a happier, … Read more
Every morning you have a chance to decide how you’ll face the day. Starting your day off with a little self-care can make all the difference in how your day will go. Unfortunately, most of us don’t make a deliberate decision to start our days off right but rather leave it up to habit or … Read more
Self-love activities can have a transformative impact on your mental and emotional well-being. They reduce stress and anxiety while helping you feel more valued, accomplished, and fulfilled. Participating in self-love activities helps you build your sense of self-worth and self-appreciation while helping you find the joy that’s been missing in your life. Whether you’re just … Read more
Have you ever thought to yourself, “My life is an absolute mess … and I have no idea how to fix it”? When you reach this point in your life, it can be both scary and confusing. You don’t know what to do. You may even be frightened that the mess is so big it … Read more
There are many ways to hug and many reasons to hug. We hug to show love, support, and excitement. A hug says I care for you, I am here for you, I am happy to see you. We have been hugging since we were infants holding onto our caregivers, bonding and connecting during those beginning … Read more
I Felt Stuck in My Life and I Didn’t Know What to Do Nothing seemed to be working out the way I wanted it to. I made changes … in fact, I’d made a lot of changes, but none were taking me to a place of joy, peace, and fulfillment. I felt totally stuck and … Read more
Affirmations are a powerful way to change your mindset and move forward in the direction of what you want. Affirmations for change can be extremely helpful as you proactively take steps to transform your life or if you are handling changes that have been thrust upon you. We all get stuck in automatic negative thinking … Read more