Author Archives: Amanda Bowers

Recently, I have been nostalgic for the carefree days of childhood. I was privileged enough to have most days feel free and fun, filled with crafts and creation. Whether that be in my imagination, with friends, or alone for hours at a time caught up in a project. When we get older and have moreContinue reading “An Ode to Play”

Often, we fear change. Humans seem to be incredibly adaptable. We get comfortable, get used to something, and we enjoy that predictability, even if we don’t like what it is we’re doing. Often, change knocks us off our feet, takes us by surprise, and shifts our footing. Most of the time, we don’t want it.Continue reading “The Power of Change”

When it comes to negative thoughts, illnesses, defeating the “bad guy”, monsters or what have you, our culture is obsessed with fighting. If you’re reading this, I bet that fighting your thoughts hasn’t worked for you. When we consistently try to ignore, suppress or push away something, it only gets stronger. The same goes forContinue reading “How to Deal with Negative Thoughts”

This evening I tucked myself into my favorite corner by the window, a few candles lit, sitting cross legged on my bed. I was studiously listening to the Bliss and Grit podcast with my notebook opened in front of me so that I could write down the little tidbits of gold that come out ofContinue reading “There is No Perfect Way To Live”

When we sacrifice ourselves to please others, be it saying yes when we mean no, or listening to your friend rant when you don’t have the mental energy to really be there, we do a disservice to ourselves. Often we see these self sacrificing behaviors as admirable, when we put another’s needs before ours. ItsContinue reading “Why Taking Care of Yourself is Not Selfish”

You are not required to be anything for anyone but you. When we hear this, we start to come up with reasons why we can’t be who we want to be, usually because of other peoples needs. And this is understandable. We get into patterns of being things for others to survive when we’re little,Continue reading “Who Are You Doing This For?”

It is easy to believe that we are sole entities having a unique experience, that we are the only one having that experience or feeling. Especially in our increasingly (dis)connected world that we live in. And your experience is unique. But it doesn’t mean that others have never felt that way before, or experienced similarContinue reading “You Are Not Alone”

Being human is hard. As Brene Brown so eloquently puts it, “we are wired for struggle”. Yet we often continue to indulge in the fantasy of one day getting there, to that magical place where we are at peace, we’ve figured it out, got it together and we’ve made it. In a lot of ways,Continue reading “The Foundation of Our Mental Health”