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The Guiding Principles of a Purpose-Driven Life

Jaclyn Baker
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We all search for meaning. Some find it in career, others in family, and some through spiritual or creative pursuits. But no matter where purpose is rooted – it can give our lives meaning, direction, and depth. 

The beauty of purpose is that it isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are still guiding principles that can help us find more meaning in our lives and remind us of what really matters. Here are some ways we can discover meaning and purpose in our daily lives.

Stay Connected to Your “Why”

Our “why” is an inner anchor and the deeper reason behind our goals, choices, and commitments. It’s the push we need to get up in the morning and move forward even when challenges arise. For example, working on a project might feel draining but a motivation for “why” is continuing our passions. The “why” can be a reminder of who we are and what we stand for. 

Embrace Growth and Change

Purpose can be more than one thing and can evolve as we do. Allowing ourselves the flexibility to grow, shift directions, and explore new callings is key. Life can present new experiences and with them can come new callings. We can give ourselves permission to pivot, let go of outdated foals, and embrace new directions.

Align Daily Choices with Your Purpose

Big visions are inspiring but purpose can also come from small, daily choices. It can be as simple as how you choose to spend your mornings or the time you take on committing to the things you love, like writing or reading. We don’t need to constantly overhaul our lives to live with purpose but we can over time, do consistent actions each day that reflect our deepest values. 

Final Thoughts

Living with purpose doesn’t mean everything has to be figured out. Rather, it means we choose to navigate our lives with intention and more direction. Every day is a chance to live with greater meaning, to connect with what truly matters, and to leave behind something lasting.

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How Setting Boundaries and Being Kinder to Yourself Can Transform Your Life

Jaclyn Baker

Many of us find it easier to show compassion to others than to ourselves, especially when it comes to setting boundaries or standing up for our needs. Learning to practice fierce self-compassion can help you protect, provide for, and motivate yourself when you need it most.

What is Fierce Self-Compassion?

At its core, self-compassion is about treating yourself like a good friend. It involves two key components: tenderness (accepting your imperfections with kindness) and action (making changes to improve your situation). Fierce self-compassion takes this further by empowering you to set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and take action to protect and motivate yourself.

How It Helps

  1. Protecting Yourself: Fierce self-compassion helps you say “no” when needed and channel negative emotions into constructive actions.
  2. Providing for Yourself: It encourages prioritizing self-care, ensuring you don’t burn out.
  3. Motivating Yourself: It builds confidence and helps you keep moving forward, even when times are tough.

How to Practice It

  • Be Mindful: Acknowledge when things are tough instead of avoiding your emotions.
  • Stay Connected: Remind yourself you’re not alone in your struggles.
  • Offer Kindness: Treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend.

The Bottom Line

Fierce self-compassion is about being kind to yourself, setting boundaries, and taking action when needed. By practicing it, you’ll protect your well-being, prevent burnout and stay motivated through challenges.

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Fostering a Sense of “Newness”

Jaclyn Baker

By Emi Gilbert, LCSW

“Habituation” is the phenomenon where we become desensitized to the same repeated stimuli. Right now, take a moment to notice the feeling of your clothes on your body. For the majority of us, we were not attuned to this sensation until we deliberately drew our attention to it. We experience the stimulus of our clothes on our skin all day long, so it becomes undetectable. For any stimulus that the body experiences consistently, our brains deem it unnecessary (and overwhelming) to respond. It’s a nifty trick our brains often do to keep us from being constantly overstimulated. However, this is also what makes staying mindfully present so challenging. If we wake up in the same bed, make the same coffee, take the same route to work, sit in the same office, and go home to the same living space, we become more “habituated” to our own lives. The stimuli we are so used to do not warrant our attention. They fade into the background. 

We can break this “habituation” by drawing our attention to our surroundings with mindful intention. Can you pick up the coffee mug you use everyday and find every little thing you have never noticed about it before? Can you feel your chair underneath your legs? Can you even feel your own breath? These are invaluable mindfulness exercises. And yet, in my experience, the more familiar my surroundings, the more challenging it is to remind myself to practice. 

The most natural moments to engage in mindfulness are when I am having a new experience and therefore receiving new stimuli. We may feel this most starkly when we make grand changes – moving to a new house, starting a new job, or traveling to a new city. We are more acutely aware of how everything feels anew. However, substantial changes are not required to evoke this sense of “newness” and vivacity. We have the opportunity to foster this sense in our everyday lives. If I’m walking down a street I’ve never seen, listening to a song I’ve never heard, or rearranging my bedroom in a new way, I am instantly more awakened to the present.

A personal challenge I have set out for myself this summer is to find opportunities to experience something new. It can be anything from a new route on my walk, a new menu item I have never tried, or a new place to read. This is a practice that does not require any particular landmark to begin, so give yourself permission to participate on any random day and tune into your new experience. The more variety of experiences we have, the wider life gets. The more mindfulness we practice, the deeper our present experience gets.

A Midsummer Night’s Check-in

Jaclyn Baker

By: Collin King, LPC and Mindy Laroco, LPC

For many Oregonians, SUMMER (in all caps!) is what we’ve been waiting for.

“This is what I invested in during mid-February!” we might feel. “I’ve got to soak it up!”

But in the glory of all that Vitamin D, it can be easy to over-extend socially, or to feel pressure to make the most of every beautiful day. 

Here are some check-in questions you can explore to help you craft a summer that leaves you both fulfilled and refreshed before the leaves start to turn:

What are your top one or two non-negotiable summer activities that genuinely bring you joy?

How do you typically feel after social gatherings during the summer? If you feel more drained, you may be somewhat introverted, or perhaps the setting isn’t your preference. How can you honor your social battery?

Beyond planned activities, what small, everyday moments of summer bring you peace or a sense of presence? How can you intentionally incorporate more of these moments into your week?

What does genuine rest look like for you in the summer?

Imagining yourself at the start of fall, what would make you feel that you’ve had a truly fulfilling and refreshing season?

“Checking in” doesn’t always mean thinking. Here are some creative ways you might learn to check in with yourself, both for these specific questions and more generally:

Rate your day: How many stars would you give your day out of 5? 

At the end of each day, take some time to reflect on the day and give it a rating. Then, think about what that means to you (everyone’s rating system will look different!). For example, if today was a “3 star day”, what does that mean? What makes it higher than a “2 star day”, but not quite a “4 star day”? 

Don’t be afraid to get creative! 

There are various ways to cater this “rating system” to what you like! If not stars, use grades! (or whatever you would like!) Was your day an A+? B? C-? Why’s that? Make this system work for you so that checking in with yourself becomes a habit. 

Having a “rating system” can be so helpful to continue to check in with yourself. It can be done at the end of the day, at the beginning of the day, or both! This is also a great way to start setting intentions for you day. If today started out at 5 stars, what could you do to keep that momentum? Conversely, if your day started out at 2 stars, what could be done to up that rating? 

Take an inventory of your emotions

Keeping track of how you’re feeling is also an excellent way to check in with yourself. Start at the beginning of your day and write at least 3 feelings words that describe your current state. Then, at the end of the day, do the same thing and compare how your feelings have either changed or not changed from the morning time. (bonus points if you do this mid day as well!) 

This is a great practice to not only keep track of how we are feeling, but to continue to practice being in tune with ourselves and our emotions. If the feelings you logged at the beginning of the day have changed, at what point do you think they changed? Why? If they stayed the same, what do you think helped you maintain that state? The cool thing about these exercises is that after a while. You’ll have a log that you can look back on! You’ll be able to see how you were feeling at certain times, what contributed to those feelings, and understand yourself in different ways. Happy Checking In!

National Grief Awareness Day

Jaclyn Baker

By Claire Butcher, CSWA and Christy Maeder, LCSW

August 30th marks National Grief Awareness day, an important reminder for us to check in with our community, loved ones, and ourselves, and recognize the importance of coping with and de-stigmatizing grief. Discussing grief and loss can be difficult, but it is vital to the healing process. This article will review the common myths surrounding grief, identify the “do’s and dont’s” for supporting a loved one, and discuss the importance of cultural and spiritual components of the grieving process. 

Debunking Common Grief Myths

  • “Grief follows the five stages in order.” → There is no particular order to the ‘stages’; we may skip stages, feel multiple of them at the same time, or go through them in a different order. 
  • “Grief only happens after a death.” → There are many different types of loss outside of biological death, including loss of security, safety, culture, etc. It is not something to box in; all forms of loss are valid to grieve. 
  • “Having ‘good days’ and feeling “less grief” means I don’t love the person anymore.” →  This is not true! We can feel the loss of grief, heal, and move forward with life without losing the memory or love of what/who we’ve lost. 
  • “Ignore it to get over it!” → Addressing grief through crying, revisiting emotions/reminders, storytelling, distractions, and connecting with loved ones are all great ways to cope.
  • “Grief ends” → There is no finish line! Like waves in the ocean, there will be stormier days than others, but this does not mean you’re coping ‘wrong’ by having tough days or seasons.
  • “I’m grieving ‘wrong’” → If you’re not hurting yourself or others, there is no wrong way to grieve (storytelling, revisiting places/memorable objects, cooking their favorite foods, connecting with loved ones, crying, using creative outlets, etc).

The Dos & Don’ts for People Who Are Grieving 

  • Don’t sugarcoat someone’s situation, or use platitudes (example: “At least they lived a long life”, or “they’re in a better place”) – this tells the other person how to feel, rather than giving them space to identify their own emotions.
  • Don’t tell people how to grieve – what works for you may not work for others!
  • Do provide space for any emotion
  • Do continue reaching out over time – remember, grief has no finish line!
  • Do remember anniversaries
  • Do hold space for nothing, or no responses (example: reminding the person there is “no need to respond” when checking in)

Cultural Humility and Awareness in the Grieving Process

It is not enough to review the bare bones of processing grief, as it washes over the cultural, ethnic, and religious components that play a role in bereavement. Systemic racism and oppression seep into all facets of life, including how we cope with death. BIPOC communities experience a disproportionate level of stigma and discrimination while in bereavement – from hospital security staff called on grieving black families at higher rates than white families, to having emotional and physical pain dismissed or ignored entirely in therapeutic settings. It is vital for clinicians in any medical and mental health field to stand with their clients, and not speak for them. However giving BIPOC clients space is not enough, clinicians need to go further to meet clients where they are to provide more personalized and meaningful care.

Spiritual / Religious Components of Therapy 

When working with clients who are grieving, therapists need to assess any religious and spiritual beliefs—because these beliefs often shape how people make sense of death, cope with overwhelming feelings, and find comfort when dealing with loss. For many, faith or spiritual practices (prayer, meditation, sitting Shiva, creating altars, etc) are a core part of their identity. They can be a significant source of meaning-making and finding support. For others, grief may spark spiritual questioning, feelings of anger at “God”, disconnection from their faith, or struggle. Making space for these conversations helps us better understand our clients’ worldviews and provide care that truly aligns with their values and needs.

Often, many therapists feel unsure or uncomfortable bringing up religion or spirituality in sessions. There may be fears of overstepping, offending, or not knowing enough about different practices. But when approached with humility and curiosity, we remember that we don’t need to have all the answers—we just need to be willing to listen, learn, and sit with a client’s experience. Exploring a client’s spiritual or religious background is part of practicing cultural competence, especially when grief is experienced differently across cultures and belief systems. By being open to this dimension of a client’s life, we build trust and strengthen our ability to support them in a way that honors the full context of who they are.

References: 

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Mental Health Acronyms and Abbreviations

Jaclyn Baker

By Christy Maeder, LCSW and Nooshi Ghasedi, MA

The mental health world is so full of abbreviations that it can sometimes feel like learning a new language. Whether you’re navigating therapy, reading about treatment options, or filling out forms, acronyms like EMDR, PTSD, and LPC pop up everywhere. We know this can be confusing, so we created a quick reference to help break it all down. This guide is here to make the language of mental health more understandable and less intimidating—because everyone deserves to feel informed and empowered when it comes to their care.

  1. Diagnostic & Clinical Terms
  • DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • ICD – International Classification of Diseases
  • MDD – Major Depressive Disorder
  • GAD – Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • OCD – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • ADHD – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
  • BPD – Borderline Personality Disorder
  • ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • PDD – Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • SUD – Substance Use Disorder
  • ED – Eating Disorder
  • BP – Bipolar Disorder
  1. Therapeutic Approaches
  • CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • DBT – Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
  • IFS – Internal Family Systems
  • TF-CBT – Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • MBCT – Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
  • MI – Motivational Interviewing
  • PE – Prolonged Exposure (for PTSD)
  1. Assessment Tools
  • PHQ-9 – Patient Health Questionnaire-9
  • GAD-7 – Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale
  • ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale
  • MMPI – Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
  • BAI – Beck Anxiety Inventory
  • BDI-II – Beck Depression Inventory II
  • SCID – Structured Clinical Interview for DSM
  • PCL-5 – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Measurement for DSM-5
  1. Children’s Mental Health Acronyms
  • IEP – Individualized Education Program
  • 504 Plan – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (accommodations in school)
  • FBA – Functional Behavioral Assessment
  • BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
  • IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  • SEL – Social and Emotional Learning
  • LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
  • RTI – Response to Intervention
  • PBIS – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
  • FTF – Face-to-Face (sessions, often used for children)
  • PCIT – Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
  • PMT – Parent Management Training
  • DYAD – Dyadic therapy (child and caregiver)
  • PANS/PANDAS – Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome / Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections
  • DD – Developmental Delay
  • SPD – Sensory Processing Disorder
  1. Licensure & Professional Terms
  • LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  • LPC/LPCC – Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
  • PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
  • MSW – Master of Social Work
  1. Systems & Legal Terms
  • EHR – Electronic Health Record
  • HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
  • CPS – Child Protective Services
  • DCFS – Department of Children and Family Services
  • GAL – Guardian ad Litem
  • IEP – Individualized Education Program
  • FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  1. Crisis & Suicide Prevention
  • QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer
  • C-SSRS – Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
  • NSSI – Non-Suicidal Self-Injury 
  1. LGBTQIA+ and Cultural Terms
  • LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (and others)
  • BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
  • DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SOGIE – Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression

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Strategies for Making Friends as an Adult

Jaclyn Baker

Making friends as an adult can feel like navigating a maze without a map. We don’t have the built-in opportunities we had in school or college, and life’s responsibilities can make it harder to carve out the time and energy for new relationships. Still, meaningful friendships are possible at any stage of life; it just takes a bit of intention and openness.

Here are a few strategies to help you form genuine, lasting connections:

Get Clear on Your Intentions

Before you put yourself out there, ask yourself why you want to make new friends. Are you looking for people to share hobbies with? Support through life transitions? Deep, soul-level connections? Clarity about your intentions will guide your approach and help you find friendships that truly fulfill you.

Identify the Qualities You’re Seeking

Think about what makes a friendship meaningful to you. Is it shared values, similar life experiences, or a compatible sense of humor? By knowing what matters most, you’ll be more intentional in choosing connections that have the potential to grow into something long-lasting.

Be Open to Different Possibilities

Sometimes the most rewarding friendships come from unexpected places. Maybe your new best friend is 15 years older than you, works in a totally different field, or lives in another city. Don’t limit yourself to a certain “type” of friend—be open to the idea that meaningful connections can come in all shapes, sizes, and life stages.

Keep an Eye Out for Opportunities to Connect

Friendship can bloom anywhere at work, during a class, in your neighborhood, or even while waiting in line at the coffee shop. Join community events, volunteer, or sign up for group activities that genuinely interest you. The more you show up in spaces where you feel comfortable and engaged, the easier it will be to connect naturally with others.


Making friends as an adult isn’t about collecting contacts, it’s about cultivating relationships that bring joy, trust, and mutual support. By staying intentional and open, you’ll create space for the kind of connections that make life richer and more fulfilling.

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Practical Ways to Build Confidence at Work

Jaclyn Baker
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Confidence at work doesn’t always come naturally but it can be built. Whether you’re new to your role, stepping into leadership, or just trying to quiet that inner critic, here are five simple and practical ways to start building confidence in the workplace.

Be Prepared

Confidence starts with preparation. When you walk into meetings or presentations well-prepared, you’ll feel more grounded and in control. Take time to understand your tasks, do your research, and anticipate questions. The more you know your material, the less room there is for self-doubt.

Speak Up (Even if You’re Nervous)

Raising your hand in meetings or contributing ideas can feel scary but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Confidence isn’t the absence of nervousness; it’s the willingness to speak despite it.

Start small: ask a question, share a thought, or offer support. Every time you speak up, you’re training your brain to see your voice as valuable and it is.

Keep a Record of Your Achievements

It’s easy to forget your wins when you’re focused on what’s next. Keeping a log of your accomplishments big and small can remind you of your growth and impact.

Whether it’s an email folder of positive feedback, a journal, or a running list in your Notes app, having a personal “brag file” gives you evidence of your worth when imposter syndrome tries to sneak in.

Ask for Feedback From People You Trust

Feedback is one of the fastest ways to grow, but it’s also a powerful confidence-builder. When you ask trusted colleagues or mentors for constructive feedback, you not only show initiative, but you also gain valuable insight into what you’re doing well (and where you can improve).

Choose people who will be honest and kind. Their input can help you see strengths you might be overlooking.

Surround Yourself With Encouraging People

Confidence is contagious. Surround yourself with colleagues, mentors, and friends who lift you up and believe in your potential. Limit time with those who constantly criticize or create self-doubt.

Your environment shapes your mindset and makes sure it supports the version of you that you’re becoming.

Final Thoughts

Building confidence at work is a process, not a personality trait you’re either born with or without. It grows every time you take a small step forward, try something new, or simply remind yourself that you’re capable.

Start with one of these strategies and build from there. Your confident self is already in the making.



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Why Some Changes Energize You And Others Wear You Out

Jaclyn Baker

Change is constant. But our reactions to it? All over the map.

Some changes spark energy and creativity. Others leave us overwhelmed and drained. Why is that?

The difference often lies not in the change itself, but in how we experience and respond to it.

So how can you use your strengths to approach change with more energy and less exhaustion?

Here are three practical ways:

Know What You’re Good At

Start by identifying your strengths as an individual and as a team. This isn’t about optimism or wishful thinking. It’s about taking stock of the resources you already have.

When you know what you’re good at, your brain is more likely to see new situations as manageable rather than threatening.

Try this: Ask yourself:

  • What kind of work makes me feel most engaged?
  • When do I feel at my best?
  • What strengths am I using in those moments?

These patterns can point you toward the tools you need to navigate change more effectively.

Apply Your Strengths to New Challenges

Change doesn’t mean you have to reinvent yourself. Often, it’s about using familiar strengths in unfamiliar situations.

When you match your natural talents to the demands of change, you’re more likely to experience “flow”  that energized state where work feels challenging but manageable.

Try this:
Look at one task related to a current change that feels heavy.
Ask: “How could I approach this using one of my strengths?”

Even a small shift in perspective can turn a draining task into something far more doable.

Adjust, Don’t Overuse

Strengths are powerful but they aren’t one-size-fits-all. Used in the wrong context or at the wrong intensity, even your best qualities can backfire.

For example, being detail-oriented is a huge asset — but too much focus on the details during an early-stage brainstorm could slow things down. The key is to adapt your strengths to fit the moment.

Try this:
Reflect on a recent moment when one of your strengths didn’t work as well as you’d hoped.
Ask:

  • Was the context right for that strength?
  • Could I have dialed it up or down?
  • What would I do differently next time?

Flexibility is what allows strengths to stay effective and energizing over time.

The Bottom Line

Change doesn’t have to leave you depleted. When you lead with strengths not just effort you create a path that feels more sustainable, productive, and energizing.

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How to Live in the Present Moment

Jaclyn Baker

Uncertainty triggers anxiety, and our brains perceive this as a threat. Many people respond by retreating or constantly worrying about the future, which can lead to physical symptoms like headaches and insomnia. Living in the present moment reduces this negativity, increases resilience, and empowers us to make thoughtful decisions.

How to Stay Grounded in the Now

Mindfulness practices like focusing on your breath and body sensations can help you stay connected to the present. Mental reframing allows you to challenge unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more constructive ones. Entering a state of “flow” by engaging in an enjoyable activity that challenges you can also dissolve worries and bring peace to your mind.

Simple Steps to Stay Present

  1. Pause and Acknowledge: Stop and recognize when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
  2. Deep Breathing: Try box breathing—inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 6.
  3. Engage Your Senses: Focus on what you can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste.
  4. Gratitude: Reflect on something you’re grateful for right now.
  5. Physical Movement: Stretch or take a short walk to re-center yourself.

Benefits of Present-Moment Living

Living in the present moment helps you make better decisions, reduces stress, and strengthens connections with others. Mindful living also enhances empathy, which is crucial during times of crisis, allowing for thoughtful action rather than reactive impulses. By staying present, you can improve both your emotional health and your ability to impact the world around you.

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How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Kids Under 5?

Jaclyn Baker

Let’s be honest — screens are everywhere. From tablets and smartphones to TVs in waiting rooms, it feels impossible to keep our kids away from screens 24/7. And for parents who need just five minutes to make dinner or answer an email, handing over a tablet can feel like a lifesaver.

But how much is too much when it comes to screen time for our littlest ones?

Why It Matters

We all know screen time can be fun (and sometimes educational!). But for kids under 5, too much of it can actually slow down their language development and social skills. Little kids learn best by interacting — chatting with you, playing pretend, exploring the backyard. When screens take over, they miss out on that hands-on learning.

So, What’s the Limit?

Most experts, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggest avoiding screens altogether for kids under 18 months (except for video chatting with Grandma — that’s totally fine!). For kids ages 2 to 5, they recommend about an hour per day of high-quality content, ideally watched together so you can talk about what they’re seeing.

Quality Over Quantity

It’s not just about how long they’re watching — what they’re watching matters too. Shows and apps designed for young children can help them learn new words and ideas, especially if you sit with them and chat about it. Think Sesame Street over mindless YouTube scrolling.

Tips for Keeping Screen Time in Check

Let’s be real — no parent is perfect, and screens can be helpful in moderation. Here are a few ideas to help keep things balanced:

  • Make screen time interactive. Watch with your child and ask questions.

  • Set up screen-free zones. Keep mealtimes and bedrooms device-free.

  • Offer other activities. Have art supplies, books, or building blocks handy.

  • Be a good role model. Kids learn from watching you — so put your phone down too!

At the end of the day, a little screen time isn’t the end of the world. But being mindful about how much (and what) your child watches can make a big difference in their early development.

So go ahead — enjoy a cozy movie morning or a quick video call with family. Just remember: nothing beats good old-fashioned playtime, a messy craft project, or a backyard adventure.

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8 Steps To Make Peace With Your Past Self

Jaclyn Baker

Are past mistakes and regrets holding you back? It’s time to make peace with your former self and embrace a more fulfilling future. Here are eight steps to help you heal and move forward with confidence.

Practice Empathy

Start by understanding your younger self. Recognize that your circumstances and limited life experience shaped your past actions. Treat yourself with compassion instead of judgment.

Embrace Your Humanity

No one is perfect. Accept that your flaws and mistakes are part of being human. Embracing your imperfections allows you to release shame and guilt from the past.

Forgive Yourself

Forgiving your past self is essential for healing. You did the best you could at the time with the knowledge and tools you had. Let go of regret and give yourself permission to move forward.

Accept the Past

You can’t change what’s already happened, but you can choose to accept it. Stop living in regret and start focusing on creating a better future for yourself.

Take Ownership

Acknowledge the impact of your past actions and take responsibility. Owning your mistakes shows maturity and helps you grow, making it easier to move past guilt.

Make Amends

While you can’t go back in time, you can still make things right by taking positive actions today. Seek opportunities to make amends and rebuild relationships.

Be Your Best Self

Choose to be the person you aspire to be. Set intentions for your personal growth and align your actions with your values. Your future self will thank you.

Live Your Best Life

Let go of past baggage and focus on living a life full of purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Define what your “best life” looks like and take steps toward it every day.

Move Forward with Confidence

Making peace with your past self is the key to living a more meaningful life. By embracing empathy, forgiveness, and personal growth, you can let go of past wounds and create a brighter, more fulfilling future.

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