Fears, Phobias, and Fresh Starts

Let’s talk about phobias. Wikipedia defines the word ‘phobia’ in the following way: “A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, defined by a persistent fear of an object or situation. The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months. The affected person will go to …

Axe the Act: Making a Shift from Fake to Free

As I’ve opened up about my struggles over the years, I have had numerous people—ones that know me fairly well—tell me that if I hadn’t said anything, they never would have guessed that I struggle with social anxiety. I can understand why they would say that. I know that I can tend to come across …

Facing Fear – 5 Discoveries Made on the Road to Recovery

Today is Day 5 at Braver Than Before, and I can’t tell you how much I have been enjoying this experience so far! I have learned so much, connected with so many friends (both new and old), and taken some really big steps forward in my journey with fear and anxiety. Not only that, but …

Apology Not Accepted

“I’m sorry.” This is one of the most commonly used phrases in my life. I am constantly apologizing. And I find that the closer my relationships become, the more these two words make their way into my everyday vocabulary. It’s not that I’m constantly walking around offending people or doing things wrong. It’s that I …

Of Doves and Donkeys

We all have those embarrassing childhood memories that forever stick in our minds and never really go away. Sure we can laugh about them now, but somewhere, deep inside, there is this small part of us that remembers the emotion we felt in that moment when humiliation struck. Like that time in grade 3 when …

Dark Island Moments

It’s 3:30 in the morning. Well, it won’t be when you are reading this. By the time you read this, I am trusting that I will have snagged a few more hours of sleep, woken up feeling refreshed, enjoyed a deliciously nourishing breakfast smoothie, and put in an extremely productive morning in the office! That …

A Story and an Invitation

I had been living with an eating disorder for seven years. My life was an unqualified mess, laden with addictions, anxiety and depression. But that night, in the basement of this random church, I did something brave. I opened up...