Letting go of the past is breaking free from what was. It’s breaking a free from a cycle to move forward from dwelling on what you used to have and moving on to something new. Finding yourself stuck in the past is a part of being human. We aren’t perfect and make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes haunt us for days, months, and even years. Let’s explore what drives us to get stuck in the past and ways we can move forward.

When it comes to mental health, one thing that isn’t mentioned often is hygiene. To most people, going days without brushing your teeth, showering, or combing your hair is disgusting. But for those who struggle with their mental health, it’s the norm. Living with mental illness is a challenge, and even on the best days. It’s a struggle to get out of bed most days let alone take a shower. You start telling yourself you’ll do it later, but keep putting it off. It feels like a fog is hanging over you and it becomes harder to find the motivation to care for your hygiene. You know you need to take care of yourself, but it’s easier said than done. Tasks that seem simple to most are a challenge to take on with a fog hanging over you, and crawling back into bed seems like the best option.

With winter comes cold and shorter periods of daylight. And for some, the shift from fall to winter brings seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A type of depression that’s related to the changes in seasons and begins and ends at about the same time every year. Those who experience seasonal affective disorder tend to feel unmotivated, depressed, or changes in their appetite. I’m no stranger to seasonal affective disorder. When winter hits I find myself struggling to get out of bed most days. My energy level dips, and it’s harder to stay on top of things. But I’ve found a little self-care can help during the winter months.

When is the last time you nourished your soul? We tend to take care of your physical body exercising or eating healthily. But your spiritual body is often ignored. In order to live a happy and thriving life, all aspects of self-care must be acknowledged in order to maintain your overall well-being. So when you notice an area of your life needs some attention. Shift your focus to improve those areas and boost your overall well-being.

It’s not uncommon for your thoughts to shift to the worst possible scenario when we’re faced with something stressful, overwhelming, or embarrassing.  I have anxiety, and when I faced with any type of social situation. My mind tends to turn to irrational thinking and I jump to worst before it even happens. Thoughts of how I’m going to make a fool out of myself or how everyone won’t like me swirl around in my head.  And I scare myself out of trying. But in reality, none of this is true. Our thinking can either motivate us to try new things or hold us back. So let’s look at the differences between irrational and rational and how to shift our thinking. So we can live life to the fullest.