We live in a world that pushes messages that physical health can be “hacked” through physical movement, restricted eating, buying into the industry, and prescribing strict rules for life. It is countercultural to want to live any differently. But it would do far more help than harm to leave behind this lifestyle and adopt one of whole person wellbeing. 

At some point in life, we find ourselves in the space between where we once were and where we want to be. this space is the desert, The Land Between, that gives way to growth, discomfort, and self-discovery. Keep reading for the lessons we learn in the land between.

In today's world, it is second-nature to profess the sorrows and hurts of our days. It is easy to complain, vent, and grumble through our days when asked how we are doing. But what if you responded with joy? Happiness is a momentary feeling that deserves to be embraced, proclaimed, and celebrated. Don't hide your happiness! Read this article on the 3 ways to embrace your happiness and let it shine.

We live in a world made up of high expectations, lofty goals, beautiful hopes, and extreme methods of personal measurement. In a world where it is hard to accept imperfection, we must remember that it is okay to mess up and embrace our humanity. Let's dive into how we release imperfection and know IT"S OKAY TO MESS UP.

Please don’t body scan me. You don’t need to scrape over my body, head to toe, and analyze me with your eyes. Please don’t take in the size of my arms, the shape of my stomach, or the curve of my legs. You don’t need to judge me by the look of my body. Please don’t make assumptions about my lifestyle, my choices, or my morality by the shape of my body. It’s unfair and based on ideal images of beauty. Please don’t default to the snap judgments that accompany the societal implications of what it means to have a body that doesn’t fit ideals. Please don’t justify or validate the size of your body based on the size of mine. You don’t need to compare or despair. Please don’t minimize my existence or your relevance based on how we each look, move, or present. You don’t know my story based on the size of my hips or the structure of my body.

Struggling with mental illness is a hard-lived process. It is filled with confusion, exhaustion, doubt, fear, and a litany of emotions. Most of all, it is the constant internal struggle of believing negative thoughts and lies that you are a burden, that you are not enough, and that you are not worthy of human love and care. YOU ARE NOT A BURDEN. YOU ARE WORTHY OF CARE. YOU DESERVE JOY.

Recognizing your stress states and the risks they pose to mental health, recovery, and relationships is important for overall wellbeing. Use the H.A.L.T Method to assess yourself and take a step back from reactive living. Let's thrive together with self awareness!

Burnout is the one-lane track to exhaustion, depression, and loss of self. Not only do we get swept up in self-deprecation when we fall prey to a defeated mindset, we also lack the focus to realign. However, we can combat burnout before it starts taking a place in our life! Preventative actions are crucial to preventing burnout and leading a balanced life. Such practices allow for peace and joy to enter our life and energize us to keep moving forward.

Today's culture is centered around hustle and constant work as society promotes the idea that success is in tangible rewards. We expect ourselves to be constantly improving, producing, and gaining. But what happens when we face burnout? What happens when we become exhausted? These are the top ways to identify burnout and reflect on how you are showing up in your life right now.

Kindness is the most beautiful thing we have to offer in this life, yet it can be hard at times. We are called to embrace humanity and love other people. We do this by showing kindness and lifting others up. The idea is shown in the small actions and practices. Be willing to treat everyone with kindness; it breeds love and joy within the world.

Self-Worth: the belief that you are fundamentally worthy and valuable as a person. We often let external factors determine how valuable we are, rejecting the notion that our worth is found from within. It's time to speak on self-worth and know who we are is enough.

Talking about anorexia is uncomfortable and scary, but necessary in the face of vulnerability. Be wiling to expose eating disorders and their destructive nature rather than sweeping the conversation under the rug. Let's talk about it, and understand anorexia.

Depression is gaining recognition in today's world as light is being shown on the mental illness. It is being exposed as a mental illness that disrupts daily living and mental processes, damages relationships, and isolates a person. Yet, it takes many more forms than we have traditionally been taught. Let's talk about depression and how it shows up in different realms, the secret ways it thrives, and what happens when we can't see into someone's mind.

Our brains are capable of so many things from creation to logic to love. Yet there are also powerful in how they can darken our outlook on life through negative thinking. However, Positive Reframing allows us to powerfully change these negative thoughts and reclaim a life full of optimism and love.

Choosing recovery is scary and difficult, but there is so much beauty contained within. There are lessons o be learned, love to be found, and fear to overcome.