Yesterday, I opened a newsletter from the writing coach I’ve been working with for 6 months. Within seconds, I felt like shit. I hired him to help me fine tune my writing and the systems I use to create content and newsletters. But this issue was about his clients who’ve scored financially. One landed a big coaching contract from a single comment on someone’s social media post. I immediately felt like a failure because I haven't done that. I spiraled for an hour before I real

Our overthinking, analytic mind doesn’t like some of our ideas. The quiet ones. Whispers. Nudges. It rejects them so quickly, they don’t make it into our conscious awareness. We’re more likely to notice the resistance: I can’t do that. Not now. That makes no sense. No way. But the quiet thoughts we reject can be the most powerful ones we ever have. One summer, while sitting at my desk editing an article, with a window open to catch a late July breeze, this quietly popped into

I was sitting in traffic last Sunday when I suddenly understood something about my partner. I had a epiphanette. Not a full-on epiphany with angels and trumpets. An "aha" moment about something he does that's puzzled me for 15 years. Maybe you have someone in your life whose behavior mystifies you. It could give you an "aha" moment, too. The lay of the land We live in a tiny community and drive 35 miles to a small city to buy groceries. On the way, we go through a tourist tow

I don't usually tell stories about people I work with. But I have her permission to share it with you because she's pretty excited about it. Let's call her Sara. She has a really full life, like most of us. Two kids, a husband, an ex (her kids' dad), starting a new business. Three cats and a new house. We've talked a few times when she was deep in very active overthinking. It happens when her husband gets angry or frustrated. As people do. It's regular relationship stuff, but

This week, I had a conversation with someone about what to do when the person you love withdraws. Everything's fine. Then they're suddenly miles away emotionally and mentally. Not talking, not touching, not tender. Maybe sleeping in another room. You ask what's going on and they don't want to talk about it or say it's not about you. I've been there. Maybe you have, too. It's especially tough when you have an anxious attachment style. (Julie Menanno, couples therapist and auth

I failed to protect my younger daughter. It's that simple. And that devastating. Starting when she was 5, she was abused at her dad's house. I trusted him completely, so I overlooked the signs. Her childhood trauma surfaced in her early 20s. Her entire life imploded. When I found out why, I was shocked to my core, completely numb for a few days. Then regret, guilt, and shame hit me like a tidal wave. I replayed everything I missed. I told no one except my partner. I mentally

I've been creating two things for you. The first is an online quiz that helps you identify your specific overthinking pattern. If you've been following me on IG or Threads, or if you've been reading my newsletter for a while, you probably already have a sense of how your mind gets stuck. The quiz offers deeper insight into your particular pattern. It provides you with a concrete first step to take in the moment. This goes beyond just trying to "stop thinking." You can take it

I started journaling when I was 10 or 11. My dad gave me a leather-bound planner with blank pages he didn’t want. Now Staples are my staples. $2.99 for 100 pages. Even though Office Depot has prettier composition notebooks, Staples is on the way to the grocery store. I covet Moleskine notebooks but they're spendy. I'd feel like every word had to count--which defeats the purpose, as you'll see. The wisdom of writing I've journaled most of my life. Not every day and not regular