personal growth

Society is built for couples. So when months of dates, swiping, and small talk with strangers lead nowhere, it’s easy to land on one conclusion: Something must be wrong with me. Unsuccessful dates don’t mean you’re the problem. Dating is full of moving parts—undisclosed expectations, lingering trauma, timing, circumstance—and most…

If you’ve succumbed to a full-blown temper tantrum as an adult, you’ve likely come face-to-face with your inner child (even if you didn’t realize it mid-meltdown). Your inner child isn’t a mere flashback to your past self—it’s a piece of who you are now. “There’s a space inside of us…

Your identity represents the core of who you are and how you see yourself in the world. It might guide your decision-making process, how you handle life challenges, and how you prioritize your time. So, what happens if you lose your sense of self or begin to question your identity? …

If you are in therapy, or trying therapy for the first time, you might wonder if you can tell your therapist everything, or if there are certain things you should never tell your therapist. It can be especially difficult to know what to say and not to say in therapy…

Gestalt therapy is a counseling theory that acknowledges the separation of the mind, body, and soul and the different “parts” working together. In fact, the word “gestalt” is German for “whole” or a configuration that is greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt therapists focus on the present to…

Do you feel like you’re falling behind everyone else? Are you disappointed with your life today? If you’re in your mid-twenties or early thirties and you feel disappointed with your life—seeing where your friends or family are or were at this point in their lives and starting to despair about…

Have you ever caught yourself actively undermining your own goals? Maybe you decide to take better care of your body, only to inhale fast food instead of buying healthy groceries. Maybe you miss an important work deadline because you spend your final pre-deadline hours doom scrolling on your phone to…

Late-night crusaders, we salute you. We know the joys of bingeing, scrolling, and fridge-raiding during the witching hours of the evening. There’s nothing wrong with winning back some downtime for ourselves, but staying up late to get it comes with a price. When daily life robs much-earned R&R, some people…

Diversity can be celebrated all year round, not just on dedicated months, but it’s naive to celebrate diversity without also talking explicitly about racism and prejudice. Otherwise the evidence shows that our country’s deep social inequalities will just be perpetuated. A famous 2016 study revealed that majority-white high schools tended…

Any family can tell you: There’s no such thing as a perfect relationship. Friction between relatives is unavoidable—but having nosy parents takes it to another level. Having your feelings of independence and freedom cut down by invasive questioning and over-the-top pushiness can get on your nerves. But it’s not as…

The front door open for the last time that night, my friends standing on the front porch, arm in arm, waving goodbye, their silhouettes shimmering against the half-moon behind them. Just beyond, I see another set of friends (another couple) climb into their car, as the cabin light illuminates the…

Learning to accept criticism may not be high on your bucket list, but psychologically speaking, it should probably be recognized as an advanced art form that takes years to master. Because it’s hard. When we hear criticism from others, depending on our self-worth and the nature of the comment, we…