The most important life hack of all (do you agree?)

cereal bowl with tiny person swimming on one last cornflake in a sea of old milk

It wasn’t just the cereal bowl. It was everything.

Every morning, my first husband would sit in the living room and eat a dish of cereal. When he was finished, he’d set the bowl on the floor next the recliner with half an inch of used milk still in the bottom. Then he’d go on about his day and not think about it again. I, on the other hand… couldn’t NOT think about it.

But that wasn’t what bothered me most. What turned a minor nuisance into a raging insult was my interpretation.

What if your Dig Deep button broke?

shovel digging a hole

I know I’m not the only one who seems to get around to solitude, creativity, and recharging only after all the “serious work” is done (i.e., never, in some cases). What if you broke your Dig Deep button and put coming alive first?

Are you highly sensitive?

a line drawing of an anxious brain, representing the way highly sensitive people feel in many situations

I used to think something was wrong with me. I need to eat frequently or I get grumpy, then stupid. Shrill noises give me a headache. I can’t think when there’s too much going on or if there’s a loud environment. A scratchy tag in my shirt can ruin my whole day. If someone makes a careless remark, it can bother me for days afterward. Sound familiar?

Let go and do more: One piece of the puzzle

overcome sadness and learn how to feel better

When you fight against yourself, you’re guaranteed to lose. Here’s one way to stop struggling against yourself and your feelings.

Taking off the mask I didn’t even know I was wearing

Live life to the fullest by overcoming fear: take off your mask!

I pride myself on being real, but I feel like I’ve been putting on a false front here lately. It’s made it impossible for me to work. I’m tired of being afraid, so today I spill all.

Overcoming Post-Holiday Blargh1

A dog feels the letdown after tearing all the stuffing out of a new toy.

Some people spring into the new year, filled with energy and resolutions, ready to take on the world. I am not one of those people. If you’re not either, here’s what I’ve found that helps.

Dear media, hands off my gravy before I hurt you

The table is set for a delightful feast

Why is it that everywhere I look, there’s a magazine, newspaper, or website trying to tell me to restrain myself this Thanksgiving? If I sign a waiver conceding that I’ll probably die very soon, fat, ugly, and alone, will they get off my case?

What if you just did what you wanted?

Have you ever loved something so much, you let it take over your whole life? It’s a tricky balance: to be really great at something, you need to devote a ton of energy to it. But if you do too much, you burn yourself out. Where do you draw the line?

How Adam Baker paid off $18,000 in debt: an interview

The Baker family with their RV

Money can be one of the most stressful things in the world. After I quit my job, I started worrying more about money. I have my freedom fund to live off of–it’s not that I’m broke–but it still makes me kind of nervous not to have that cash infusion I […]

Stop letting fear hold you back and start doing what you want.

Overcome fear and follow your dreams.

Anything worthwhile that you can do, will likely scare you. You probably woke up today wanting more. But something got in your way, didn’t it? Fear. It’s time to overcome fear and start controlling your own life.