#until i change my mindset and that new mindset becomes habit and until i make a decision and find myself satisfied with it down the road

[studentbyday]

tw: perfectionism, self-doubt, anhedonia, burnout, uncertainty...you are under no obligation to read what follows...i just needed a place to sort things out, it's too messy in my head.

i like to think my perfectionism has mellowed out a little bit....sort of...sometimes...mostly, it now presents itself as "do the best that i know i can" and for better or for worse, my previous experiences have set that bar very high. i mean, what else am i going to do? what could possibly be a better use of my time than preparing for my future while i can?

@zzzzzestforlife wisely told me: it's important to balance preparing for the future and enjoying the present. if you spend all your time preparing for the future, by the time you're about to live it, you might not want it or anything anymore.

perhaps even before then you can get into that place where you don't want anything anymore. but i don't think it's that i don't want anything anymore...at least, not yet. there are lots of things i want that i know i'm not good enough to achieve and/or that current circumstances prevent me from achieving and/or that i'm just too tired to try to achieve rn. perhaps i could achieve them in time but by then, maybe it'll be too late. what if i ultimately fail? does that mean all my efforts have been for nought? it all contributes to a very high level of self-doubt and discouragement. and then i risk a self-fulfilling prophecy because what is the point of trying when i can't do it?

just so tired... it's not the kind of tiredness i immediately notice. it's the kind of tired i only notice only after its crept up on me and done its damage. and i'm not sure what i'm supposed to do. keep working / try to do more, or stop working / try to do less, somehow guilt free? if i keep trying to do more (i.e. focus on preparing for my future), i will eventually get to that point where i'm so burnt out and numb and crumble under the weight of self-doubt and of extremely high personal standards that i stop wanting anything anymore and get depressed. but if i stop working or just do less (or focus on other things that help me enjoy the present more), i will fail as i miss the mark again and again and again, get discouraged, crumble under the weight of self-doubt and of falling short, and get depressed.

but maybe i'm getting ahead of myself. i'm not sure who i will be in three years, if i will be better or worse. but i...still don't quite know what to do to prevent my mental health from tanking further as i know it has done for others in a similar position...those who were driven by passion for their field and felt pressured to work very hard because they needed to.

i'm sometimes terrified of the future. like this september, i will be doing more things than i usually do and what if something drops? and more broadly, will there be jobs out there that i qualify for that don't require me to move away? will it be worth it or will it not? sigh. again, i'm thinking about things i don't need to think about right now. but i don't like how i feel like i'm meandering towards where i'm meant to be instead of shooting like an arrow towards my goals. and i think the sooner i make a choice, the sooner i can course-correct if need be. but i also want to make the right choice because i've seen others make their choices quite quickly and end up feeling like their soul has been drained by them while also feeling trapped in the paths they've set. and i'm scared the same thing will happen to me. and i'm also scared of wasting time, of accumulating knowledge and skills but never having a secure and well-compensated job to use them in. sigh. perhaps i will feel better tomorrow. i've just been feeling really uncertain about everything lately...

oohh, i really don't like the feeling of any of this 😣😖

[thefemigirl]

★ Reset Your YouTube

With the new year approaching, there’s a buzz in the air. It’s the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re heading. This year doesn’t have to look like the last one. If you’re planning a glow-up, stepping into a new mindset, or just becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be, here’s a method that can genuinely change the game: your YouTube feed.

Let’s be real, YouTube isn’t just entertainment. It’s also one of the most powerful platforms for self-improvement and learning. But if your feed is filled with videos that no longer serve your goals, it’s time to take charge and reset.

▸ Step 1: Unsubscribe From the Old You

First things first, go through your subscriptions and be brutally honest with yourself. Ask, “How often do I watch content from this channel? Does this align with who I’m becoming?”

Don’t worry about missing out. This isn’t about cutting off enjoyment—it’s about making space for growth.

Personal Example: I used to be subscribed to a lot of gaming channels because they were my go-to for entertainment. But now? I’m focusing on building my best self, so I said goodbye.

▸ Step 2: Hit the Reset Button

If you’re ready to go extreme (and trust me, this works wonders), delete your YouTube watch history. This is your ultimate clean slate.

Here’s how: Go to your YouTube settings, click “Manage All Activity,” and clear your watch history.

Why this works: YouTube’s algorithm will stop showing you videos based on your past habits. This means no more random recommendations that pull you back into old habits.

Pro Tip: Pair this with your new subscriptions to train the algorithm into showing you content that inspires and uplifts.

▸ Step 3: Subscribe to the Future You

This is the fun part. Fill your feed with creators who embody the energy you want to bring into the new year. Look for channels that motivate you, teach you, and align with your goals for 2025.

Being a femi girl, I will recommend some channels that are personally helping me upgrade myself:

Tam Kaur ▹ link

Alonna Elaine ▹ link

Bahja Abdi ▹ link

Adama Lorna ▹ link

Maya Galore ▹ link

Jillz Guerin ▹ link

Kisha Alejandra ▹ link

Thewizardliz ▹ link

Estelle Richter ▹ link

Simonesquared ▹ link

How to Find More: Search for videos with keywords like “level up,” “self-improvement,” “becoming her,” or “glow up in 2025.” Spend time exploring until you find creators who truly resonate with your vision.

▸ Step 4: Set Boundaries for Entertainment

It’s okay to watch fun and lighthearted content too, but be intentional. Ask yourself, “Is this adding value to my life?” If not, consider limiting your time with it.

Create playlists: Dedicate a playlist to motivational and growth-oriented videos. This will be your go-to space when you need a boost.

Schedule your entertainment: Watch for enjoyment, but don’t let it consume hours that could be spent learning or creating.

Resetting your YouTube feed might seem like a small change, but trust me, it’s powerful. When you surround yourself with content that aligns with your goals, you’re reinforcing the mindset and habits that will take you there!

So, I wish you the best of luck,

[riizebabie444]

𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 🌸

pile one

a new relationship, not necassarily romantic. it could be a friend or a work colleague. becoming closer with a family member. potentially a blossoming romance. you will find yourselves int he early stages of this new relationship.

so for some of you, you could find yourselves in a situation where you or another is abusing their power, or letting emotions rule over kindness and logic. alternatively, it could be that you are shying away from a leadership opportunity.

you could find yourself as someone or with someone who is clingier than expected, someone who doesn't necassarily feel good to be around. it is of utmost importance to prioritise yourself and your self-care over pleasing this person.

you could be welcoming a spiritual, or even religious, awakening. you are aligning your beliefs with your way of life.

an increase of wealth or financial opportunity may find its way towards you this summer. it could come in the form of a gift or as a new job. something with financial value will come to you.

the inevitable confrontation of your darker side. your bad habits, tendencies and mindset will be challenged. you will learn how you are holding yourself back and begin to better yourself against your shadow traits,

you will be introduced to changes which will help you break free from cycles you no longer wish to be a part of.

an opportunity for learning. if you have applied for a school or university, a scholarship or grant to support your education, good news regarding these will come for you. if you are working, it will likely come in the form of training to level up your skills and perhaps ready you for a promotion.

overall, this summer has a lot of self-development and growth in store for you, pile one!

cards: ace of cups, the emporer rv, queen of cups rv, the hierophant, king of pentacles, the devil, four of cups, page of pentacles

pile two

you will experience luck and success in the areas you want/need it most. i see it will all be a result of your hard work up until you achieve it.

material success is also on its way. if you have been expecting or applied for money, it seems there will be a positive result. it could also be unexpected or come in an unexected form.

you will have more freedom this summer, take this how you will it is different for everyone. but i see it will be a more free summer compared to summers you've had in the past. you will have fewer restraints.

you will have a stronger mind and be able to make rational and logical decisions. you could be enforcing more structure in your life, saying goodbye to lazy or negative behaviour.

self-confidence is on its way. you'll also find some more independence in your life, sort of growing up or out of an old phase where you relied heavily on others. as you "grow up" you will also grow more confident.

i see hard work so you may find dedication and determination coming to you and your summer will consist largely of you working on this project, or something you have been working hard for will be achieved.

despite the dedication to this work, i see this summer you will have lots of time left for your own thoughts. you'll have a lot of time to think and reflect on your life and desires. and also time to just daydream.

even when things get difficult, you will find yourself standing strong. by the end of the summer, you will see yourself as brave and courageous, you will have a stronger mentality.

overall pile two, it seems like you guys will be more independent and free this summer, taking control over your routine and life.

cards: ace of wands, king of pentacles, the devil, king of swords, queen of wands, knight of pentacles, the hermit, nine of wands

ʚɞ ─── masterlist. paid readings. exchange rules.

donations. games/events. feedback.

© riizebabie444 — all rights reserved. please do not copy, steal, repost or translate my readings on any site. any act of which will be classed as plagiarism.

[sugarsprinklesoul]

6 Months Till Summer: Your Ultimate 6 Month Glow Up Guide

As the new year unfolds, so does the countdown to summer. You might be thinking, what? This early? YES. Summer is about 6 months away at the time I’m writing this post. This is the perfect time to start thinking about what we want our summer to be like. The earlier you start, the easier it is to achieve all your summer dreams! So rather than feeling overwhelmed by last-minute transformations, let’s start working on our glow up together now.

In this post I will guide you through the next 6 months and what you can do to make sure you look and feel your best when summer arrives.

We are starting off super early. At the time I’m writing this post it is still January. For years I’ve always had goals for summer but I let life pass me by and when May came around I started to panic, thinking how can I look and feel my best when summer is already knocking at my door? This year let’s say goodbye to those feelings and make place for a more empowering approach.

Below is your ultimate guide for your best summer yet! <3 Each month you will be adding new habits to your daily routine. Make sure to keep doing the habits when the month ends. So all the habits you start doing 6 months before summer you will continue doing 5 months before, 4 months before, 3 months before and all the way up until summer! With each new month you will just keep adding more! It would be even more amazing if you could make them apart of your daily life forever.

Action steps:

Vision Boards: Create a few vision boards to visualize your summer goals. Make them inspiring and motivating. This way you have something to reference if you feel a little lost on your summer glow up journey.

Healthy eating: Start adding more healthy, nourishing foods into your meals. More dark leafy greens, vegetables, big nourishing breakfasts. Start seeing food as your fuel, if you don’t provide your body with the right kind and amount of foods, it won’t work in your favor! Healthy food is energy, glowing skin, health and happiness

Daily Walks: Begin taking daily walks to stay active and boost your mood! You can walk in the gym or at home on a treadmill but I would really really recommend for you to take your walks outside. The fresh air does wonders for your mental well being.

Reduce Greasy and Fried Foods: Cut back on ultra processed and unhealthy foods. Especially greasy and fried foods. Not only do these foods negatively impact your health, they also can cause hormonal and physical changes that can worsen your skin and complexion. We want that glowy summer skin! So cutting back on these foods early, will give you enough time to achieve that. Does this mean no more fries? Of course not. Just enjoy these foods in moderation!

Workout Routine: Find a workout routine that works for you and start incorporating it into your lifestyle. Personally I will be adding runs to my routine, Pilates and Yoga and some strength training. I like to have a variety of workouts so I don’t get bored so easily. By starting to build your routine now you can build confidence, resilience and the stamina to enjoy your summer.

Consistency: Start working on your consistency. Remember the promises you make to yourself and keep them. It’s time to let go of the “I’ll start tomorrow” mindset and start your habits today. Even if you think your whole day was a “bad day” you can still finish off strong by doing a evening yoga session for example. Think of the person you want to become and act like her.

Skin Care Routine: Start your summer skin care routine. I’m sure you already have a skin care routine you do daily. Start adding products into your routine that will give you that glowy summer skin! Think about Vitamin C, Niacinamide and hydrating ingredients. Also don’t forget to wear your sunscreen daily when going outside. It’s the ultimate secret to flawless, glowy skin.

Summer Aesthetic: What will your summer aesthetic be? Obviously you look amazing the way you are now. But to me, it’s so much fun to pick a type of aesthetic for summer and dress for the occasion. For example in summer I like to grow my hair out mermaid style and do fun mermaid type hairstyles.

Posture Routine / Stretches: Begin to add a stretch / posture routine to your schedule. Personally I like to do a little yoga each morning to wake up my body. You can do a special Yoga Posture routine to really get all the benefits. Improving your posture will work wonders on your confidence, trust me.

Wardrobe Refresh: Start building your wardrobe with key summer pieces! Maybe buy some new bikinis that make you feel confident. Hair accessories, new shoes, cute workout clothes. Everything that makes you feel amazing during summer and you can wear on your active summer days. Clean out your closet and look for your favorite summer clothes. This is the time to look at your visionboard and build on your summer aesthetic.

Get up Earlier: Now that the days are getting longer, let’s take advantage of the sun and get up earlier. This is a great habit to build for summer, it will make sure that you can enjoy the days and maybe even catch a sunrise. Make sure to start working on you sleep schedule. Early nights and early mornings are key. This will help you be more productive, energized and boost your mood and overall well-being.

Increase Workouts: By now you have been doing your new workout routine for 3 months already! Change some things up and level up on others. Maybe take a few longer runs, do a longer yoga workout, whatever feels good to you! It’s time to really put in the work and make yourself strong and confident. When doing this, make sure to also fuel your body accordingly! You don’t want to under eat and over train as this will hinder your progress and have you feeling dull and lifeless by the time summer comes around.

Fruits, Veggies and Salads: Now that spring is here let’s eat more fresh, cooling foods to keep your body cool and hydrated. Start adding even more veggies and fruits into your meals. Make big salads, fruit salads, protein smoothies and juices. All these antioxidants and vitamins will not only make you feel great but also look great too!

Body Hygiene: With summer just around the corner and spring in full motion, it’s time to take give our bodies a little extra love. When wearing a bikini we want to feel confident, fierce and beautiful. To make sure that happens we can give our bodies a little extra care. Think of getting a laser treatment for unwanted hair, body scrubs, lymph drainage, massages, a bikini wax, a little extra body lotion. Start doing all the things to get your body ready, glowing and looking amazing for summer.

Summer Prep: Start prepping for summer! Organize your wardrobe, add your favorite summer clothes and shoes. Prep your jewellery, bags and other accessories you want to wear. Get your bikinis ready, maybe buy some new ones.

Summer Body Routine: Personally in summer my body needs a little extra love. More sunscreen, more waxing (obviously lol) and I like to have a little more glow by using body lotions and scrubs. I recommend adding a weekly summer prep body routine so you always feel ready to take on the day. It’s the worst when we want to do spontaneous things and then we remember we haven’t shaved for a week. Nothing worse than a last minute shave (ouch). Also start to add cooling ingredients in your skin care routine like Aloe Vera and face masks. To keep our skin fresh and glowing.

Healthy Habits: Keep doing all the healthy habits you have done so far! Like your workout routines, daily walks, better posture etc.

I hope by the time summer comes around you are feeling the most confident you have ever felt in your life. Each time you finish a habit, feel those empowering feelings and use them to keep you motivated! All these tiny steps add up and will help you to have a massive transformation for summer.

Each month I will be going more in depth into what you can do until summer arrives with more examples and a few mini guides. For now, I hope this post has inspired you to take transform your life for the better and start working on yourself because you love yourself! <3

And remember, your summer glow up is all about making sure you have the best summer you have had so far! It’s NOT about being the skinniest or eating the healthiest foods or working out the most. It’s about you feeling amazing and comfortable in your body so you can go out and enjoy summer to the fullest!

[tc-doherty]

TC's Practical Writing Tips for 2025

I am back again! I've said it before and I will say it again now, I'm not coming here to pretend that I can tell you how to use the English language to write a book. That's not my jam.

However I've been writing for over 25 years, and I've written nearly 3.5 million words since 2009 (alas, I did not keep track before then). Whether people like my style or not, my output is undeniable, and I'm sharing the tips that I live by when it comes to the act of writing.

#1 - The Number One Most Important Rule is: write it now, fix it later

The job of any piece of writing, up until the point you decide it's done, is not to be good. It's only job is to exist. You can always fix it later.

#2 - The Second Most Important Rule is: don't let yourself get hung up in the ~mythology~ of being a writer

Writing is art, undeniable. Writing is cool, undeniable. Writing is also just A Thing That You Can Do. It's a physical act. Sometimes you need to pay attention to the part of writing that is just A Thing You Can Do. Being able to disentangle yourself from the IDEA of writing when you need to is a very useful skill.

#3 - It is always permissible – and usually enjoyable – to write the stupidest possible version (see rule #1)

Free yourself from the mindset that the writing must be good. Sometimes you just need to get the words out. Label a draft 'the stupid version' and go ham.

#4 - "Inspiration" is great for poets, but only a bonus for people who write prose (See rules #1 and #2)

If you want to write often, you need to write often. You will find that you don't need to be "inspired" because you've made a habit of it, and it will come naturally. Even one sentence a day is still one sentence a day. One sentence a week is still one sentence a week. It doesn't matter how slowly you go as long as you don't stop Believing in the concept that you need to be inspired to write will trap you into believing in the concept of writer's block If you are having difficulty getting words out that satisfy you, lower your standards and keep writing (see rule #1)

#5 - A few months down the line you will not remember which words came easily and which words did not (see rules #1 and #3)

#6 - Read widely and often, both in your favorite genres and outside of them

You cannot become a good author if you don't read. Pay special attention to things that you love and things that you hate, it will make your writing stronger.

#7 - At a certain point, you MUST write, not just think about writing

You won't get better if you don't practice.

#8 - Never write for the lowest common denominator

Via wise words I once heard: "if you open the window and make love to the world, your story will get pneumonia". Write your work the way you want to write it, and the people who will appreciate it will find it.

#9 - Never write for the bad-faith critic

There will always be people who engage in bad faith, and those people do not matter to you. You will need to learn how to deal with critique, and bad-faith critique, but you cannot live in fear of people like that.

#10- Find the joy in the ACT of writing

It is totally fine and normal to want engagement and praise! However you need to find a way to make the praise the cherry on top, not the entire sundae. Writing is hard work, and it's a lot of work, and it's a lot of work that goes unnoticed. If you lose the ability to enjoy the journey and are proceeding only for external rewards from others, you will gradually write less and less if the ratio of work to rewards is unsatisfying.

#11 - New draft? New document.

For anything other than final copy editing, it's almost always helpful to start in a new document. Any change you make will invariably snowball, and if you're trying to edit within the frame of words you've already written, it will trap you from being able to make large sweeping changes that those snowballs might suggest (or demand)

#12 - Listen when people tell you that something doesn't work for them

Sometimes an outsider can see things that you would miss by being too close, it can be a helpful perspective.

#13 - You are not obligated to listen when people try to tell you HOW to fix it

You are the author, not them. It may not even need to be fixed.

#14 - It is always morally correct to look at critique that you received, even if you asked for it, and decide that it's bullshit and doesn't apply to you (see rule #13)

#15 - "Write what you know" means "write what you're interested in"

You'll learn a lot of new things while you're researching what you're interested in! You will also have a lot of fun putting the things that you love into your work just because you love them.

#16 - "Show don't tell" applies to screenwriting, not novels.

The phrase show don't tell applies to showing the audience in a visual media. Novels are not visual media. They do require a lot of telling. Not all telling, but a lot of it. Both showing and telling are important to novels, but the things that you show are more relevant. The tightrope to walk as an author is "this meeting could have been an email". What does the audience actually have to know (be present at the scene for) versus what can be summarized or relayed through dialogue? Your mileage may vary on which percentage of each works best for you.

#17 - It is always, ALWAYS acceptable to use "said"

Said is invisible. Said is the nail upon which the picture is hung. People will not notice said. People will not get tired of the word said. Using the word said most of the time allows you to really emphasize the times when you don't use the word said. (Also applies to "asked")

#18 - Become comfortable with who you are

Your work is always going to be yours and it's always going to sound like you wrote it, and that is a good thing! That's the best thing! No one else is ever going to write exactly like you, and you should be proud of what you bring to the table as yourself. Of course keep striving to reach new heights and keep improving, but you're never going to outrun your own voice and experiences. Embrace them!

#19- Keep track of your word count in a way that makes sense to you

Some days will be easy. Some days will be hard. On the days when it's hard, it's very helpful to be able to look back and see how far you've come. It helps you remember again that some days will be easy. (see rule #5)

The best thing that you can do is to find the things that you need in order to write at the level of productivity you want to achieve, and find easy ways to wrap them into your own life. Spend some time soul-searching if you need to. You will gradually acquire your own list of tips to live by!

I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful 2025 and that you all accomplish what you would like to accomplish. I'll be rooting for you!

[livingbarbie]

finding a hobby ‧⁺˚*･༓☾

something really key to improving your self esteem and productivity is getting off of that phone !! but i feel like we all know this, and most of us also know that the best way to get off your phone is to find a hobby. this sounds simple enough, but it might be one of the hardest things i've had to do in my growth journey.

finding a hobby can be really difficult for a multitude of reasons:

there are so many possibilities - if you google 'hobbies', you are hit with hundreds (or even thousands) of ideas. while that's promising at first, as you scroll through these lists it can become quite overwhelming and confusing. after ten minutes of scrolling, you're likely to just lay back down and play on your phone again.

lack of interest - the biggest issue for me was simply a lack of interest in ANYTHING. i would scroll through lists on google, tumblr, whatever and nothing at all would catch my eye. this is probably something to do with instant gratification (i don't know much about it), and is most likely a result of the amount of time i spent on my phone doing a whole lot of nothing. either way, know you are not alone in this feeling!

perfectionism - if you do find something that peaks your interest, that's great! however, i know a lot of us struggle with perfectionism. often this can cause you to give up on the hobby almost as quickly as you started it, because you are not outstanding at it immediately. once again, you will probably end up feeling defeated and resort back to your phone.

it took me a long time to be able to push past these obstacles, but once i did it was so insanely rewarding. here are some of the things that helped me to do so:

hide your phone - so silly, but this truly did help. i put my phone in a drawer, and closed it. with my phone out of sight, i couldn't just pick it up out of habit. this forced me to kind of just sit with my boredom, and eventually i found things to do. (usually ended up being something from the MANY lists i had read)

try anything - i mean ANYTHING, anything at all. pick something that didn't really catch your eye at all and just try it. for example. i tried crochet out of boredom. it turned out that i didn't really enjoy it that much, but now i know how to crochet which is kind of cool. just try as many new things as possible, until something sticks.

change your mindset - shift that perfectionist mindset ASAP. find a way to embrace doing things badly. this is way harder than it sounds, but it is so worth it in all aspects of your life. try things and do them badly. learn to accept your bad attempts at things. these hobbies are for you and your enjoyment only, you do not have to show people. the best thing you can do for yourself is give yourself permission to make mistakes.

i have found many hobbies in the past year, some i am more passionate about than others. these are some of my favourites:

reading: an idea you have probably seen everywhere, but it is genuinely a favourite of mine. don't buy into the idea that you HAVE to read in a pretentious way. for many people, classics and books written in the 1800's are not enjoyable and that is perfectly okay. don't be afraid to read something that might seem silly (e.g fantasy, young adult, even children's novels). there is no point in trying to read something you know you probably won't enjoy.

coding: i got into this by accident if i'm being honest, i just got hooked on it when watching my younger brother do something for his digital technology class. this is something i NEVER would've guessed i would like. if you have access to a laptop or a computer, it is so worth trying. there are thousands of free resources online to teach you, and it is super fun learning to code your own little projects.

dance: something i sometimes do in my spare time is learn dances (specifically k-pop dances). i enjoy a lot of k-pop girl group music, so i find learning the dances really fun (and sometimes challenging). i would totally recommend trying this, k-pop or not, as it also doubles as exercise!

learn a language: you can do this in so many different ways, whether you learn the basics of many languages or you dedicate yourself to fluency in a single language. this is such a cool skill to build, and i honestly just find it really fun.

this is a very brief overview of finding a hobby, but the main point i want you to takeaway is to try anything and everything. ultimately, you will not know whether you enjoy something until you try it. please do not feel discouraged when you don't enjoy the first few things you try, there is something for everyone !

stay dreamy, my angels <3

[pinkwonymochi]

Becoming The Perfect Student ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

I want to become ✨THAT✨ student! The one that always gets straight A’s effortlessly!! So these are tips that I’ve gathered for myself…

Three Main Issues ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

things that I personally face, and issues that others might go through as well.

🏹 One, you don’t know how to study.

🏹 Two, you don’t study enough.

🏹 Three, you don’t study efficiently.

Tips For Getting Good Grades ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

🎀 know the weighting of each of your assignments, and know how important the exams/tests/quizzes are in order to put the right amount of your time & effort on the most important things

🎀 asking your teachers what to expect on the exams and tests!! This helps you know what to study and focus on while studying.

🎀 reviewing questions from your assignments or tests that you may have missed (if possible) so you won’t get them wrong again.

🎀 use practice questions to prepare & get extra information.

🎀 recognize where you’re struggling and ask for help!!!

🎀 make your own study guide if need be, rewrite important notes, make quizlets.

🎀 use your time wisely at school! If you have extra time use it to catch up on work, review, or ask questions.

Take Advantage of Outside Resources ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

📓 Quizlet is my life saver!! You can use other peoples study sets or make your own.

📓 Using the internet is helpful, but when you’re truly down bad please go to a teacher.

Mindset ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

💭 Confidence is key!! You need to believe that you can do it!! You have to believe that studying will lead to better grades or that changing the way you study will lead to better grades.

💭 I particularly don’t care for math & science but I’m going to try and treat it as an experiment and really try to improve and learn the subjects until I see tangible results, so I can have better confidence and know that I can change!!!

💭 The growth mindset!! Every “failure” is something to learn from, it shows you what doesn’t work and what you need help on.

💭 This belief will keep you resilient and motivated and determined throughout the semester and not have a mental breakdown every time you don’t get the results you want.

💭 Prioritize grades!! Know why you want to make good grades, is it for your parents? To please others? Academic validation? To get into a good job or college in the future? No matter the reason the stronger your emotions the better! Remembering that reason whenever you get tired or sleep deprived will motivate you.

Things To Consider ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

know you’re strengths and weaknesses, recognize what works best for you!!

📝 what methods prevent you from procrastination?

📝 what time of day do you study better?

📝 what subjects are you best at?

♥︎for me I’m better off when I complete my work as soon as it’s given instead of waiting or putting it off!

♥︎I tend to get stressed or overwhelmed easily! So breaking down what I need to do first helps.

Set up Systems ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

🧸 make it a habit to write in a planner or list things you need to do!!

🧸 set up a notion!! it takes some time to learn how to use but you can eventually make it really pretty and use it to keep your life organized!!

Study Techniques ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི₊ ⊹

🎧 flash cards!!

��� blurting!! Writing down everything you can remember about a topic!! The key terms, formulas, etc.

🎧 don’t wait until you have a big test to use your study techniques!!

🎧 teach someone else!!

🎧 when you come across a new topic or subject read short sections and identify the parts you don’t understand!!

[grimoiregradient]

The Tangle Spell

An uncrossing, sort of, and a road opener, sort of.

Useful when you have gotten into bad habits, negative self talk, and general negative thought patterns.

First, you will need

Paper and Pen

Several colored ribbons or yarn, one color for each major thought pattern you would like to change

One plain/white cord or yarn

Make a list of the thoughts you would like to change, for example, my list went something like this:

"I hate my body"

"I'm tired all the time"

"I'm lazy"

"I neglect myself"

"I'm jealous"

Choose a colored ribbon or yarn for each of these thoughts. Try to focus on the most negative ones that impact your daily life, though really you may do as many as you like, it just becomes difficult to keep track of.

Make a list of corresponding thoughts you wish to replace the previous ones with. For example, mine were:

"I love my body"

"I am full of energy"

"I am proactive and motivated"

"I take care of myself"

"I am full of love for others"

Now.

Take your ribbons and tie, knot, and tangle them as much as you possibly can. Keep tangling. When you feel like you're done, tie some more. Then after that, knot it up a little more. The more tangled it is, the more work it takes to undo, the more thorough the spell will be. As you do this, whisper in each of these thoughts, over and over as you work until its finished. Focus very hard on tying your negative mindset into each knot.

Immediately move on to the next step. Do not allow your tangled thoughts to sit there unattended.

As you untangle each knot, loudly speak or even sing your new replacement thoughts until each and every one is free and untangled, allow yourself to feel relief as each one is undone. Focus on your progress. Be proud of yourself along the way. And feel the negativity dissapate.

Finally, take each ribbon and tie to your cord like so:

As you attach each one, tie the corresponding positive thought into each final knot. Place this on your altar or in your bedroom where it will be around you, and allow it to be a reminder of your new mindset.

[fr0gc4t]

a ramble/confession, and some non-dualism tips

if u seem to already consciously know that ur god AND also think in limiting beliefs, ur not alone. i do it too. it’s way more common than u think.

sometimes we understand a concept and think it’s true, but our egos don’t think in the way that would actually comply with that concept, and that stops us from fully shifting into belief and freeing ourselves from ego. “belief” and “knowing” aren’t always the same thing.

prime example: YOU knowing that ur “desires” r already urs, and then ur ego switching the process completely and being like “so where is it?”. we all know that happens to a lot of ppl in the loa/non-dualism community. the ego is tricky bc its nature is to try and intimidate us. then we slip back into ego-based thinking. happened to me, and is still happening atm. and also i wanna remind ppl that, like healing, awakening to ur true self is often not linear. and that’s totally ok as long as u don’t give up. i was pretty much almost fully realized but then i let my ego get to me again and since then i’ve been trying to get back into that state but just haven’t succeeded at changing my thoughts/improving my self-concept (adhd is making it very difficult).

look. ik it’s kinda weird to have someone post a ramble abt FALTERING at living non-dualism. most of the time, we talk abt the opposite to remind ourselves if our power. but i think it’s important to be open and vulnerable when ur struggling, especially when other ppl could learn from ur struggle.

like i said. not getting i right the first time is OK AND NORMAL. ik ppl say “changing ur self-concept is effortless” but LET’S BE REAL FOR A SEC: that’s not true for everyone, especially neurodivergent/mentally ill ppl, and ppl with intrusive thoughts (i’m all of those, btw), bc our egos r EXTRA spicy.

awakening to ur true self as the god of ur reality is healing, and healing is HARD. in this case, since whatever we are aware of is true, it doesn’t rly have to be, but when u have inner demons, MY GOODNESS IS THIS SHIT DIFFICULT (but still sooo worth it, i promise u).

so good for u if it’s not difficult. really, i’m happy for u. i just also want to bring to light my situation, which is: hearing ppl say “changing ur self-concept is effortless!!” just made it harder to change mine.

I AM NOT TRYING TO SAY ANYONE IS SAYING THESE THINGS MALICIOUSLY. I’M LITERALLY SO HAPPY AND PROUD OF U OMG. i just think that the non-dualism community should be a little more vulnerable, bc FAILING IS NORMAL WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE UR MINDSET, ESPECIALLY FOR PPL LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE NEURODIVERGENCE, MENTALL ILLNESS, TRAUMA, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY ETC.

AND THAT IS TOTALLY OKAY!!!

i see ppl say things like “i don’t want any limiting beliefs near this page!!!” when limiting beliefs and learning to overcome them r a normal part of this process and should not be shunned, and should rather be met with compassion and understanding. AND SOME PPL DO MEET IT WITH THAT!!! but there r also many who don’t. i understand not wanting to hear ppl’s limiting beliefs in some situations, but not being open to hearing them at all just creates more stigma around being vulnerable abt faltering in this journey and needing some further encouragement or advice. positivity is only good until it becomes toxic positivity. (AGAIN, NOT POINTING FINGERS AT ANY ONE PERSON. I’M TALKING ABT ALL OF US, INCLUDING ME)

my adhd makes it so hard to stick to a new habit long enough to get used to it. and as a result, i have faltered a bit. okay, maybe a little more than a bit. AND THAT IS OKAY. THAT IS NORMAL. THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABT MORE.

maybe these stuggles r an “illusion,” but that doesn’t mean we should pretend like we don’t have them. we don’t always have to put on a happy face and go onto tumblr and vaunt to try and fight the intrusive thoughts. if u know anything abt the psychology of intrusive thoughts, FIGHTING THEM DOES NO GOOD. we should accept them and let them be there, knowing that THEY CAN’T HURT US.

even then, they might stress us out. and that’s when we might need to vent. and venting is NOT a bad thing. sometimes it’s the only way i can cool off. but instead of venting into ppl’s inboxes, we should make our own posts, like this one, in constructive language (i suggest writing the angry/anxious stuff first in ur notes, then, when ur calm, rewriting it in a constructive sense and posting it on tumblr). we need more openness to sharing our struggles. mental health struggles r sooo real (even if our human minds r illusions), and we need to make the non-dualism/loa community a safe place to talk abt those struggles and see if anyone can relate, or maybe used to relate and has adivice.

being gentle and open to this conversation is just as important as affirming that we have what we desire. bc, well, if u have the struggle i have, or something similar, u know how difficult it is. hell, i even thought abt going back to loa and trying to get into the void instead of keeping on my non-dualism path bc i thought it would be easier(???) and now i realize that that doesn’t even make sense bc both of these things require improving ur self-concept, which is what i was trying to avoid.

THAT IS LITERALLY AN EXAMPLE OF THE THING I EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS POST (which was supposed to be the main topic… i rambled a lot. oops.). i knew that i had to change my self-concept no matter what, yet i thought that getting into the void wouldn’t require that. sometimes the thoughts just don’t add up. and it’s bc of the ego! i actually only became aware of that now actually.

THE EGO JUST WANTS TO CONFUSE U AND TAKE CONTROL OF U. i’m just still letting mine have power over me… but now that i’m aware of it, i can try again, this time with a different perspective.

faltering is normal. not being able to change ur thoughts the first time is normal. having this kind of weird cognitive dissonance is NORMAL. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO NOT GIVE UP, AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

you failed to change ur mindset and ended up spiraling? needing a break from trying to change it? i don’t blame u, this stuff is hard. it’s okay tho! what u need to do now (or when ur ready) is: FORGIVE URSELF AND TRY AGAIN. and don’t be afraid to start the conversation of “can anyone relate to this?” or whatever helps u.

we can do this. we can change our thoughts, even with any obstacles we may face, bc we are stronger than our egos. WE’RE GOD, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! we can do ANYTHING.

the first step is knowing that faltering is okay. next is realizing that our knowledge of who we are doesn’t always match our thoughts, and that that is the nature of our brains. the next step is forgiving ourselves and moving on.

hopefully this rant wasn’t too jumbled or confusing, i kinda just wrote it here without any planning lolz. i need to figure out a format.

and i hope some of u could relate to my struggle. be as open as u want in the replies. i will not judge. if u need to make ur own little rant, it’s fine by me.

also, sorry for being gone for a while. i don’t use tumblr very much anymore. i’m slowly falling away from all apps except pinterest, amazon and depop 😅 but dw, i won’t let myself fall too far. i luv tumblr and the non-dualism and loa community has changed my life and opened my mind in so many ways. even if i haven’t succeeded at getting all my desires quite yet, it’s okay. i will succeed. maybe not right away, but i will. and so will u. (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ

[mithrilhearts]

What was your favorite fic to write/curremtly writing?

And along that line of thought, do you have a creative process?

(Apologies, English is not my first language, so if I said something wrong,,,)

Hi Chips!! Sorry for the late reply here! Better late than never, though, right?? YEAH!! And I love this ask!!

My favorite fic to write...I think that has to go to Bookbinder//Songwriter - much as it intimidated me to start, it's become one of my favorites to play around with. It dives into two things that I love most (music and literature), and is just some cute slice of life fic that really cheers me up both as a writer and reader. It's one of those fics I feel could go on forever, you know? And to see so many people enjoying it, well, that brings me joy too.

My creative process has evolved so much over the years, and I think I finally have it down! It may not be the most effective, but it works for me both productively, and to secure my mental health.

This isn't in any particular order, it's just how I keep myself organized

I outline my fics by jotting down a series of bullet points in chronological order (which I change to check boxes, so I can mark them off as I go) and then break them up into chapters so I know an approximate length for the fic. I can add or remove details as the story evolves, but this guide is super helpful to me.

I have a spreadsheet that keeps track of damn near everything for me. How many chapters of each fic I've written, when I last updated, what stage my current works are in (what I'm working on, what I'm editing, what I haven't started, etc), and also all my ideas, events, etc. If I didn't have this spreadsheet, I'd probably never finish anything.

I've removed having monthly word count goals - ultimately, for me it just doesn't work. It ruins my self-esteem if I don't reach these goals, and I can't always predict how my brain is going to feel for that month, so I just do what I can, and track what I get done, rather than what I couldn't accomplish.

I've gotten into the habit of working on one chapter to completion before working on another project - this keeps my brain in the same mindset for that project, instead of bouncing around like a ping pong ball.

I have a tier system of fics of importance! So I try to focus the "mithril" tiered fics a bit harder, and slowly make room for new stories (which I try to restrain myself from starting until I've finished other things)

Now as for when I'm actually writing? So long as I have decent music in the background (or some sound), a drink, and a good mindset, I'm content and can write <3

I know my creative process isn't for everyone, and other people have way better processes than I, but this works for me! I expect it will evolve more as time goes on! Thank you for the ask!!

[wormsin]

one of my new years resolutions is to finish my outstanding fics and also to post more ficlets when they come to mind. this post is to help motivate me. I would super appreciate any motivation from you all as well! below the cut I talk a bit about my writing journey with all this.

2025 Finish-Your-Fucking-Fic-a-thon

It's Never Over Until It's Over

☐ Final Chapter [word count 3,232/10,000]

Breakable

☐ chapter 18 [wc: 443/???]

☐ chapter 19

☐ chapter 20

Never Kiss Me

☐ reread

☐ outline

☐ chapter 20

☐ chapter 21

☐ chapter 22

☐ chapter 23

☐ chapter 24

☐ chapter 25

all of my commenters have been very lovely and supportive with the fact that NKM hasn't been updated in 2+ years, and similarly that the last chapter of It's Never Over has been in progress for half a year. I really don't like having these outstanding chapters looming over me, as it tempers my ability to throw myself into other long fics.

I am a firm believer in not forcing creativity. it doesn't make any sense to me to beat myself up over fanfiction of all things. my time and energy is very limited and rest is very important to me. I am also pretty incapable of creating my own deadlines and motivation to do things if I'm not in the mood. also--my interests in things change, and that's ok!

still, having unfinished projects (outside of fandom as well) is stressful. I enjoy life a lot more when I am writing, especially with the kind of feedback I get from fics. I would really like to find the balance between forcing myself, and dedicating time to my crafts. right now, my goal is to set aside regular time for writing, every week or even every day. I also want to get into the mindset of "why am I not doing the thing I enjoy?" this is a curiosity, not a judgement. "why not write down this idea in my head?"

the longer something exists just in my mind, the more uncertain it becomes, and the less likely it is that I put it out into the world. I would like to break this habit.

it's going to be the hardest to work on completing Never Kiss Me, because my pattern with this fic is to post a chapter, immediately write half of the next chapter, and then sit on that for half a year and feel bad. if you like that fic and want to see it complete, some encouraging comments would go a long way. the other issue with that fic is that it is written from a place of depression and uncertainty about what I am writing and why, which is seen through Will's struggles as an author. the headspace for that piece is very stagnant. I don't know why! maybe I'll make this struggle a part of it.

[schizodiaries]

I’ve haven’t really opened up about this on this blog because it isn’t schizoaffective related. But I hope you all don’t mind that I vent a bit about this. In addition to mood and psychotic issues, I also struggle a lot with body image and poor eating habits. It’s apparently not severe enough to be considered an eating disorder, but it’s pretty heavily influenced by decades of diet mentality and internalized fatphobia.

(More under the cut, but I’m putting a content warning for mentions of weight and dieting, as well as potential disordered eating habits.)

I’m overweight. In fact, on my medical records, it says I’m obese according to my BMI. It wasn’t always that way. I used to be quite thin, maybe even underweight. But ever since the pandemic/lockdown, and ever since taking antipsychotics, my weight changed rapidly and dramatically.

I’m trying not to see this as a bad thing, but fatphobia is not easily unlearned especially if it’s been instilled at such a young age. Not only that, but because my weight change happened so suddenly, it came with some health issues. Prediabetes, for one, and some mobility issues too. Being at a heavier weight so suddenly has put so much strain on my legs, feet, and lower back, and walking up and down the stairs has become painful and a struggle for me. I can’t move around, turn my body, or bend over as easily as I used to, and it’s causing me a lot of stress physically and mentally.

Now for the social aspect. As we all know being fat is looked down upon in society. Especially in female bodies. I was already aware of the insanely fatphobic standards that women are often held to but I haven’t been on the receiving end of that until now. I have also gotten so many hurtful comments from family members and people close to me about my weight. The worst one I got was from an older, non English speaking relative who wouldn’t even call me fat to my face. She had to say it in her native tongue and direct it to my parents, while I was clearly in the room. What she doesn’t know is that though I don’t speak my family’s language, I can understand just enough to know when someone is saying “Jesus, she got fat!”

That encounter was the last straw for me. I knew at that point I needed to lose weight, by any means necessary. I put myself on countless diets, tried intermittent fasting, dusted off my fitness watch, forced myself to go on walks despite the pain, weighed myself multiple times a day, and started counting calories. At first, it worked, and I started to see some weight change. My mom commented that i was “getting my figure back.” I was being praised for all my work. But the process was slow. And it wasn’t enough, for anyone. Not my parents, not my doctor, not me.

I gained all the weight back and then some because my heavily restrictive eating habits came back to bite me in the ass and I was so hungry to the point of overeating to compensate for the lack of food. I got burnt out from exercise and became sedentary. My plan had failed, and I am now at my highest weight I’ve ever been. My doctor put me on Metformin, a medication typically prescribed to treat diabetes and PCOS. But it can also cause weight loss. My doctor strongly suggested i take the medicine, and even lamented my thinness on my behalf. In her words, “You used to be so skinny!” I am now at the highest dose of this medicine, which has given me gastrointestinal issues, and I still have not noticed a change in my weight.

I’m trying my best to keep a positive mindset about this. I’m trying to stay body positive, to love and accept my bigger body, and to embrace my change in weight as just another part of getting older. But it’s so difficult. My struggle to move my body like I used to, the nonstop comments I get from family members and healthcare professionals, the fact that I keep outgrowing every new clothing item I buy for myself and having to buy new ones every few months. It’s making me depressed, and angry.

I’ve reached out to my therapist already, who referred me to an eating disorder specialist who subsequently determined that I don’t have an eating disorder. They then referred me to a dietician, where I learned about consistent and balanced eating. I attended webinars about eating skills, body image, and rejecting the diet mentality. I’ve put in the effort to fix my relationship with food and body image. And I’ve certainly made a lot of progress in that regard. But I’m still fat. And the people in my life make it a point to remind me of that frequently.

Today I spoke to my mom about the pain in my lower body. She offered little to no sympathy, and told me to just lose weight and it will go away. She later sent me an Instagram reel about water fasting. I know she’s just trying to help, but i think this hurt more than it helped. The instagram reel I found to be particularly triggering, as now I am highly considering doing a water fast to lose weight.

The only person closest to me who hasn’t made any kind of negative comment about my heavier weight is my boyfriend. He has consistently been my biggest supporter throughout my weight journey. Except for when I relapse. Whenever he catches me restricting or starving or skipping meals, he expresses disappointment and accuses me of “giving up” and “not trying hard enough” to recover. Which is a huge slap in the face considering I’ve been putting so much effort into changing my relationship with food - seeing a dietitian every month, reaching out to an ED specialist, attending webinars about food and body positivity. But apparently, to him, if I relapse at any point, then all that effort would have been for nothing.

So I don’t know what to do anymore. If I try to accept and love my bigger body, my weight stays the same, and I’m bombarded with comments about my body. If I decide to do something about it and end up relapsing, I’m scolded by my boyfriend for “giving up” and “not trying hard enough.” If I reach out to doctors or family members about my weight they just tell me to lose it. But if I try to lose it, I fall back into unhealthy habits. I’m in a real damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.

It’s hard for me to say what I really want to do without feeling like I’m promoting unhealthy habits. So I will just keep it to myself and hope that my efforts will have some results. Until then, I think I’m going to do things on my own terms and not listen to what any family member or medical professional has to say about my body and relationship with food. I’m going to do what I think feels right to me and my body. And I’ll do it by whatever means necessary.

[pookapufferfish]

Going out on a limb here off anon like some idiot stupid person. You don't have to reply if you don't want to. Feel free to block if I'm overstepping my bounds as a non-mutual.

Here's a complementary fish

I just. think you're basing way too much of your self worth off of social media numbers. Idk.. You likely already know this.. It's messing you up. It's worrying to see. I don't even know you more personally than occadionally seeing your posts on my dash.

People just naturally prefer canon characters over people's OCs to the point that it's become a meme. You're not "uniquely awful". People 'responding' more to your Rivulet art doesn't make it inherently better than all your other art. These are all reassurances. I don't doubt your friends already say all this in more familiar words.

I don't think it helps much on it's own, yk? Mental illness has a habit of completely ignoring logic in favor of feelings. There's only so much one can do to combat it with reassurances? You may need a break. You need a change in mindset. Your queue doesn't have to be filled to the brim 24/7 if it causes you anxiety. Your art doesn't have to exist solely for everyone to praise it. The way mental illness saps your energy can isolate you, and it doesn't mean your friends don't *want* to include you in activities, just that people eventually start assuming you'll say no. You're going to burn out if you continue this way :(

Take care

I understand what you are saying and how you are trying to help me. But you are getting some things wrong. and that is understandable, I try not to say much. I have a bad habit of bottling stuff up until I break.

I don't really care about social media numbers much, I just wanna be remembered. and seeing people talk about how much they love the designs or artworks of other artists while just liking or silently reblogging with no comment on my stuff is really demotivating. I just need a "this is really cool!" sometimes

I know people don't care much about ocs. the thing is 90% of my art is canon characters, it's just that riv is the favourite. I can do a 5 second doodle of riv and get 100 notes in an hour all screaming they love it, but a more fun and well done artwork of nightcat gets maybe 60 in a week, no words said about anything. my art of gourm or inv or anybody else also gets ignored unless riv is right next to them.

I know that I am not uniquely awful. I know that very well. I help all my friends with their issues too. a lot of them have it a lot worse. I have a good life, I know that.

Also I don't mind that my friends don't invite me to things. I can't join a lot of the times because of timezones. but they aren't even talking to each other or our group anymore. I feel abandoned by them after helping them, I wouldn't be suprised if there is a whole new server that excludes me. They did it before.

They interact with each other on tumblr and do silly jokes I can't understand. and they comment and reblog each others art but not mine. I just feel like an npc of a friend they only talk to when feeling bad. and then they go to each other for the fun times. I just want a text convo sometimes or something

Also my queue stuff doesn't stress me out. My queue being full is just a bit I like to joke about. it also feels nice because I feel like I won't be forgotten if I keep my queue full

[cryptidsurveys]

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024.

What do you hope you grow out of? Unwarranted self-doubt and feelings of inferiority, social awkwardness, and taking criticism or mistakes too much to heart. My mindset has changed a lot over the last year(ish), but I still have some work to do. Certain employees at the animal shelter (one past and one still present) really made me challenge those beliefs by being the externalized versions of my fears. It was either give in to what (I believed) they thought, or push back and recognize that their opinions might not be entirely accurate. And now, with the new cattery staff, it's about letting my guard down and allowing myself to feel valued by people who actually think well of me.

What is the healthiest and unhealthiest thing you do on a regular basis? The healthiest thing is probably volunteering. It's like a social, mental, and physical boot camp. It's forced me to prioritize other healthy habits in order to keep up with its demands (eating well, sleeping well, time management, keeping on top of my mental health/coping mechanisms, overall consistency/routine, etc). Without it, I don't think I would have grown as much as I have. Everything I learned up until that point was nothing more than "theory," whereas now it's grounded in practice and reality. As for the unhealthiest things, probably smoking and needless worrying/overthinking.

When looking for a SO, what three things are most important (besides looks)? Open and honest communication, the ability to trust each other, and respect for each other as individuals.

How much do you judge a person by their appearance? Not that much…? It's kind of a difficult thing to quantify. Like, it's not "zero," but it's definitely not the main factor. Especially after getting to know someone, I don't even really see their appearance, but their personality instead.

What is the most embarrassing thing you own? My old journals. I would die if anyone got their hands on those. Heck, I might even die if I read them…which makes me wonder why I bother keeping them around because it certainly isn't for the memories. ;D

What is the strangest habit you have? Maybe daydreaming about certain things/fictional people.

What movie made you cry the most? I never really cried over movies until relatively recently. Wild Robot made me tear up quite a bit.

What was one of the happiest moments of your childhood? I can't think of a stand-alone moment. It's more of a collection of vignettes - holidays, snow days, camping trips, sleepovers, pizza + movie nights, hanging out at the park or roaming the neighborhood on my bike…

What was the worst date that you’ve ever been on? I've never been on a particularly bad date.

What’s your favorite vacation memory from when you were a child? We really only went on one big vacation - a trip to California for my dad's best friend's wedding when I was 11. We stayed in San Francisco for a few days, then San Jose where the wedding was held, and on the last full day, we went to a beach (the name of which I have now forgotten). My favorite part was probably the beach.

What impression do you try to give when you first meet someone? These days, most of the people I meet are in the context of the animal shelter, so I try to come across as helpful, friendly, and easygoing. My shyness probably gets in the way of that, but hopefully I succeed to some extent.

Who or what inspires you to be a better person? Again, people at the shelter. I'm kind of rolling a handful of personalities into one here, but I admire their steadfastness, positive attitudes, leadership abilities, sense of humor, social savvy, etc. They don't know it, but in a lot of ways they're my model for how to become a "proper adult." Like, if so-and-so can get up and do this day after day, then there's no reason I can't learn how to do it too.

What’s the TLDR description of your last relationship? Unstable, unhealthy, very "on again/off again," very "hot and cold." Like a bonfire that would flare up only to die down just as quickly.

If you found out your current life has been just a dream, would you choose to wake up? (You don’t know if your real life would be better or worse.) Maaaybe… One thing about my dreams is that they're often a darker, more dramatic, and warped version of reality. Like my various "anxiety" dreams - almost nothing is that bad IRL. So, based on that, if I'm dreaming now, then my hypothesis would be that my true waking life would be somewhat better. But who knows. It's giving "portal" vibes and y'all know I'm not about to go through a portal.

What dumb thing did you believe for a really long time? It's a toss-up between certain conspiracy theories and characters like Santa and the Easter Bunny.

What are some things you would you like to achieve before you die? I don't really have any grand ambitions. I just want to be able to support myself and live a simple, comfortable life. I would also like to know what life is like without an eating disorder.

Where would you like to retire? I honestly haven't given much thought to my retirement.

What brings you the most joy in life? My loved ones (cats included), volunteering, nature, my favorite YouTubers/podcasters, delicious foods, creative expression, the whole holiday season, etc.

What is the best and worst part of your personality? Best - I'm fairly understanding and considerate, I have a good sense of humor, I like making other people feel good/feel seen, I'm helpful, etc. Worst - I can be irritable when stressed, tired, or hungry, I'm a little too drawn to drama/gossip, I can be selfish/needy, etc.

How would your perfect partner treat you? Ughhh. I'm gonna go make lunch now, lmao.

[drjameslongjr]

“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: I am a New Creation

“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: I am a New Creation

As believers in Christ, we undergo a complete transformation—a shift from the old to the new. This is not just a change in behavior or perspective; it is a fundamental change in our identity. In this devotional, we explore what it means to be a new creation in Christ and how this truth impacts our daily lives.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 

Devotional Thought

In Christ, we are not merely improved versions of our old selves; we are entirely new creations. This profound truth lies at the heart of the Christian faith. The moment we place our trust in Christ, a radical transformation occurs—we are reborn. The old life, with its sinful desires and worldly values, passes away, and a new life begins. This new creation is marked by a spiritual union with Christ, where His righteousness is imputed to us, and our sins are imputed to Him. This exchange, often referred to as the "great exchange," is the foundation of our new identity in Christ. As new creations, our values, priorities, and desires are transformed. The things we once pursued no longer have the same hold on us because our hearts have been redirected towards the things of God. This doesn't mean that we no longer struggle with sin, but it does mean that sin no longer defines us. Instead, we are defined by our relationship with Christ and the new life He has given us. Our old value systems, loves, and plans are replaced with new ones that align with God's will. This transformation is ongoing, as we continually grow in our sanctification, becoming more like Christ. We now live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our ultimate goal is not found in the temporal things of this world but in the eternal glory that awaits us. As new creations, we are called to live out this reality daily, letting our lives reflect the profound change that has taken place within us.

Bringing it Home: Applying What We Learned

- New Identity: Embrace your identity as a new creation in Christ, letting go of past sins and failures. - Transformation: Allow the ongoing work of sanctification to reshape your desires, priorities, and actions. - Eternal Perspective: Live with the understanding that your ultimate goal is found in eternal things, not in the temporary pursuits of this world.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. Help me to live out this new identity every day, letting go of the old and embracing the new. Transform my heart and mind to align with Your will, and give me the strength to pursue the things that matter to You. May my life reflect the profound change You have made in me, and may I glorify You in all that I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

- What old habits or mindsets do I need to let go of to fully embrace my new identity in Christ? - How can I allow God's ongoing work of sanctification to transform my daily actions and decisions? - In what ways can I shift my focus from temporal pursuits to eternal goals?

Take the Next Step on Your Journey

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this lesson helpful, I encourage you to explore more resources and support on my website, https://jameslongjr.org/. You can also watch my video on my YouTube channel. Finally, would you consider joining our Lessons for Life monthly membership or our online group coaching, where you’ll find powerful coaching videos, a supportive community, and step-by-step guidance for lasting transformation? Remember, true change is possible when you walk in God’s grace and for His glory. Until next time, may you find peace, hope, and joy in Christ alone. Blessings! Read the full article