Why Embrace Being Alone

Why Embrace Being Alone

Being alone has always been portrayed in society as something to avoid. If we were ever alone at school, we worried about being branded “loners.” If we didn’t have lots of friends, we were seen as lame. If we didn’t participate in lots of activities and clubs, we were...
You Are Not Your Thoughts

You Are Not Your Thoughts

If you’ve ever wished you could take your brain out and give it a good scrubbing, you aren’t alone. Our brains seem to enjoy tormenting us with perceived problems so that we can spend the time to “fix” them. From criticizing your diet and sociability, to commenting on...
Pain As The Great Healer

Pain As The Great Healer

Why do we go through such efforts to avoid pain? Especially after something traumatic has happened, such as walking away from a religion that had mapped out your entire life? When a scar is healing, it can itch and sting. When we are hurt by someone, we may feel like...
Developing Resilience After Religion

Developing Resilience After Religion

What does it take to be considered “resilient”? Is it being able to keep a cool head when things don’t go according to plan? Is it laughing off challenges? Is it simply bouncing back when life knocks you down? I’m learning it’s all of those things. It’s being able to...
Letting Go of Control

Letting Go of Control

As a woman who has left religion, learning to let go of control has been one of my biggest challenges yet. I grew up with the Mormon God, and the Mormon God had a big list of rules to follow if you wanted to ascend to the highest kingdom. While a member, I was...
Being The Black Sheep

Being The Black Sheep

When we heard jokes or stories about “black sheep” we knew we never wanted to be one. They were weird. Loners. The ones people snickered about behind their backs, the ones mother’s advised against associating with, and somehow often the ones we were attracted to. Why...