TODAY'S MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE
Just for you, {{ First Name | Friend }}
Your strength is being renewed. You are being prepared for what lies ahead. This transformation may feel challenging now, but trust that soon what once felt heavy will be replaced with… Continue Reading
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Are You Your Own Parent? 7 Signs You've Been Self-Parenting Since Childhood
Some kids grow up with parents who guide, comfort, and help them make sense of the world. And some kids? They figure it out on their own.
If you were the child who learned early on that no one was coming to help—that you had to manage your own emotions, solve your own problems, and essentially raise yourself—you might be familiar with something psychologists call self-parentification, also called, to some degree, parentification.
And it’s not always obvious. From the outside, you probably looked fine. More than fine, actually.
Maybe you were the “mature” kid, the one adults praised for being so independent and put-together. Or maybe you “grew up quickly,” and were the person people, even your friends, turned to for support.
But inside, maybe you were also just a child trying to survive without the emotional support you needed.
It might feel like you’ve always given to others, but never really taken much for yourself. And it can be very hard to break free from this role, as well as hard to truly see yourself in it…
This Week’s Mental Health Recipe
Thai Peanut Fish Tacos if You're Craving Something Different | Mental Health Recipes
Some nights, you just need something different. That same ol’ frozen lasagna won’t cut it. And soup—maybe you’ve had that a million times over the last month.
And no, you’re definitely not having another boring chicken breast. Or the same old stir-fry you’ve made a hundred times. So, it’s time to spice things up!
These Thai Peanut Fish Tacos deliver the plot twist you need.
We’re talking flaky, tender fish wrapped in a warm tortilla, drizzled with a creamy peanut sauce that’s a little savory, a little sweet, and just the right amount of bold (yes, that sounds so good, right?!).
And it also might sound fancy… and like too much work. But this comes together faster than you’d think!
And here’s the bonus: Fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which your brain absolutely loves. So, you give your mental health a leg-up and give your tastebuds what they need all in one go…
One Positive Action
Give Grace
We are our own worst critics, even when we don’t mean to be. We always expect the worst of ourselves. We see ourselves in a bad light, we critique our bodies, our brains, and overthink every minor mistake or wrong word we say.
The truth is, you’re stuck with yourself. You don’t get to pick out a new body, new brain, or new voice. So why spend every day picking yourself apart when you can learn, over time, to be your own best friend?
Self-love is a really abstract concept for most. We see it popularized in culture as this great acceptance of self, taking daily baths, doing face masks, and buying so many products with the hopes that we’ll crack the code on self-love. When it’s presented in an abstract way, it can be extremely hard to put into practice. While there’s many ways to love yourself better, and to become your own best friend, we all need a place to begin.
Here’s yours: For the next week, show yourself some grace.
This isn’t a grand erasure of negative things you may need to work through, but instead of beating yourself up or overthinking things constantly, show yourself some grace and compassion. When something goes wrong and you can’t fix it? Accept it, and choose kindness. When you feel you said something wrong, acknowledge where those words came from, and then forgive yourself.
Pay close attention to how it feels as you begin to forgive yourself and accept the reality that you are not perfect, and that this is your first time living just like everyone else. Forgiveness goes a long way, but self-forgiveness is radical.
Today’s Quote
Today's Affirmations
I act from a place of clarity and presence.
I am expanding my view of what’s possible.
I can sustain my optimism no matter what… Continue Reading