Depression brings on many suicidal thoughts, but one thing I’ve found, as someone with high functioning depression, is that suicidal thoughts don’t always mean you want to commit suicide. Thinking about death just seems to be a common plight of those with depression.
I find myself thinking about death quite often, but I don’t want to die, and I don’t want to commit suicide. However, in reflecting on this I realized that I’m not the only one with this problem. In talking to close friends and family who have depression or anxiety, I discovered that they sometimes experience suicidal thoughts too.
So whether you are hanging by a thread or wondering what to do about those thoughts, here are some tips to help you.
Tell someone
Seek help right away if it’s serious. If you are planning a suicide or forming ways you can carry it out, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or a trusted family member or friend. If you are just thinking about suicide but not acting on it, please, please, please still talk to someone.
The first time I talked to my husband about it, he was blown away. He had no idea that I thought those kinds of things. I told him about the various scenarios that would come up and the times that they occurred. Just talking to him about it took a load off my shoulders and helped me not feel so alone. I also tell him each time I have suicidal thoughts so that he can offer assistance if it gets worse for me.
Just letting someone know that you’re having those thoughts, like a spouse or trusted friend, and helping them understand the level of severity will help you. I feel like I see things more clearly when I just tell someone what I’m thinking and can let that load off.
Write about it
Just as talking to someone helps lighten the load, writing about it can too. As a college student in Utah, I felt like I had absolutely nobody to talk to. I didn’t have any trusted friends, and my sisters lived 4 hours away. So I opened up a word document and typed out all of my feelings. Seeing them on written down felt pretty cleansing, as though I could now release all of them. I believe you will feel the same way if you write down your feelings.
Discover your triggers
I don’t always think about death and dying. In fact, I noticed that these thoughts are usually triggered by something else. Extreme stress, fatigue, hunger, and even just random things that people do or say can trigger the suicidal thoughts.
So in addition to the tip before (writing about it), record things that happened before you started having the suicidal thoughts. Did someone say something or treat you a certain way? Were you totally stressed out? Did you feel overwhelmed by something?
By writing down the things that trigger the suicidal thoughts, it makes it easier to know what to avoid and/or let go.
Don’t dwell on it
Suicidal thoughts can last for days. The longest I’ve had to deal with them was probably about 2 weeks, but for some people with severe depression, it can be even longer.
The key to letting go of the suicidal thoughts is to stop dwelling on it. I know that’s hard to say when your brain keeps moving it back to the front of your brain, but as you practice controlling your thoughts and learning strategies to cope, you strengthen your willpower. It makes it easier to stop thinking about suicidal thoughts in the future when you choose it.
Practice self-awareness
Self awareness means that you are conscious of your thoughts, character, and behaviors. Lack of self awareness can make you feel numb, leading to confusion, hopelessness, and even suicide itself.
There are ways to develop self-awareness, such as thinking about thinking.
Really listen to your thoughts and your brain. An example of an internal conversation might look like this. “What am I thinking? Are my thoughts reasonable? If they aren’t, do I have the emotional and mental capacity to be reasonable at the moment? If not, who can I go to for help?”
Let your thoughts be the servant and you the master. You tell them what to think and do.
Don’t be alone
I’ve found that suicidal thoughts stick their ugly heads up when I’m alone. It seems to know that I’m the most vulnerable when I’m alone. I listen to them because I’m not paying attention to something else or being with someone else.
Don’t get me wrong on this. It’s totally ok to be alone, and I enjoy some quiet time to myself. But if you have severe suicidal thoughts, it’s best to find someone and tell them, or reach out to someone. I text my husband and tell him how I’m feeling but I always reassure him that I’m ok because I am self aware and know that the feelings aren’t severe.
I hope something here has helped you with your suicidal thoughts. Thinking about death isn’t something to be afraid of, and you shouldn’t feel bad that those things crop up. However, it is SO important to get the help you need, whether it’s talking to a counselor, friend, family member, church leader, or just calling the suicide prevention hotline.
Developing skills of self awareness and avoiding or overcoming triggers can help you dodge or even completely eliminate suicidal thoughts in the long run.
I am sending all the good vibes and hope your way as you continue your journey through this!
Lots of aloha,
Lei
P.S. If you want to dig a little deeper into strengthening your character to deal with these kinds of things, sign up for my free mini course, 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness! I promise you’ll love it! And it’s FREE!
Summer brings memories of pool parties, popsicles, barbeques, watermelon, and the hot sun. For those suffering from mental illness, however, summer can quickly become a depressing cycle of feeling left out, alone, and downright miserable. It feels like your summer has no joy. It can also feel like there is something wrong with everything, especially yourself.
To get out of the summer funk, try these 10 tips for a joy-infused summer.
Get outside more
It’s really hot outside during the summer, but that’s a great reason to get out! If you can spend even just 15-20 minutes in the sun, the natural vitamins it provides you can help you feel so much better. One great way to get outside is to go swimming because it’s the perfect combo of hot (the sun) and cool (the water). If you’re not feeling confident because you don’t have the so-called “summer body”, look at it as an opportunity to start loving yourself at this point of your journey.
Plan a trip
This doesn’t have to be a huge, fancy trip. Even just a trip up your local canyon to camp or to a nearby town is good enough. Summer is a great time to travel, and the adventure of traveling can do wonders for your mental health. It can also help you create new, fun memories! Now that’s a joyful summer!
Eat good food
Summer has some of the best foods, from barbecues to ice cream and watermelon. Prepare a special meal this summer for yourself or for others. Serving yourself and others can bring satisfaction and joy into your life.
Take more pictures
These can be selfies, wildlife, nature… anything! Create memories by taking more pictures this summer.
Find water
As a Hawaii girl, I’m always looking for large bodies of water. I absolutely love being near water because 1) it’s beautiful, 2) it’s calming, and 3) it cools me off. Like the first tip, get outside more and stay cool by finding water. It can be a pool, a lake, a reservoir, or the ocean… but find water and play, relax, and enjoy the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen though! 😛
Try something new
In a nearby town or city, find a new skill to learn or try. There are many fun activities to do that don’t cost very much. Bowling, ax throwing, making art, ceramics, etc are a few of the many fun things you can try. When I lived by myself as a college student, I appreciated that the city had lots of fun things to do. One of the fun things was a chocolate tasting tour. If you’re feeling down, that’s definitely a pick-me-up!
Get enough sleep
Summer days go on forever. The sun rises early and sets late at night, so it’s easy to stay out super late. However, the inconsistency of your schedule can cause a lot of problems—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Be sure to stick to a routine. A late night every once in a while is ok, but every night will keep you feeling drained.
Sleep under the stars
I had the recent experience of sleeping under the stars at Lake Powell. I marveled at their beauty and felt humbled by my experience. It helped remind me of my sense of place. If you feel down and don’t feel like you belong, sleeping under the stars will remind you of a loving God watching over you. That’s enough to boost the joy for your summer and refresh you for the fall and winter months ahead!
Spend a little more time with people
(and less time on the screen)
Our phones take up so much of our lives and time, so unplug for a day or two. Spend more time with people you love and enjoy being with. People have a little more time during the summer to do things, so schedule some dinners or activities to build your relationships. If the thought of getting together with others feels overwhelming, then take it one step at a time. Maybe get together with just one close friend and work your way up to getting together with a few people.
Keep a journal
With all of the memories you’re making this summer, keep record of it. You will be so grateful to look back at the pictures, your feelings, and the activities you did this summer—including the hard stuff you went through. Keeping a journal provides you with an outlet for the good, the bad, and the ugly. But it can mostly help you focus on the most important things in your life. After all, the quote goes:
The most important things in life aren’t things.
As you continue your journey this summer, I hope you can use these tips to bring more joy into your life! Even if you’re at a very difficult point in your life, know that there is always something to feel mahalo for and something that can bring you joy.
I send all the aloha and good vibes your way for a joy-infused summer!
No matter what kind or level of sadness, it is incredibly hard to deal with depression. Some days are better than others, but when depression hits hard, it hits really hard.
The inability to think, feel, or even speak can leave you feeling worthless, unloved, and so alone. It feels like nobody can understand the grief and that nobody cares—even if you know that people care.
As someone who suffers from high functioning depression, I want to share some of the strategies I’ve used to deal with depression. I am not a doctor or therapist and cannot guarantee these tips will work but these are things that have worked for me. Please also note that I have not taken any medication to help with my depression—I deal with it solely through the tips I will share below.
Exercise
If you can do something as simple and short as a 30 minute workout, this signals to your body your subconscious (or conscious) decision to take care of yourself. For some people, like me, exercise is an outlet and an amazing way to deal with depression. I am motivated to workout because I know it will relieve stress. However, some days, when I’m not feeling motivated, I literally have to drag my feet to get working out… But I always do it because I know I will feel better.
For some people, exercise is probably the last thing they can think about. Just getting out of bed is a chore. However, in the moments that you don’t want to workout, I want you to visualize what it would feel like if you did workout. Visualize how you’d feel after the workout—you might be sore, but what about the satisfaction that you gain from getting out some sweat and having your heart pump? What about the satisfaction of just taking care of your body?
Each time I don’t want to workout, I take a couple of minutes to visualize how I will feel after a workout. This helps me focus on something else, as opposed to the feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and I begin to see that I can totally do a workout and the satisfaction and benefits from it are totally worth it!
Eat healthy
I used to not eat very healthy because I was so poor. I ate whatever I could get my hands on, or whatever was the cheapest thing I could find. This contributed to a lack of energy and a lack of self worth. For example, I would eat half a snickers bar for lunch, and the other half for dinner because I was just so poor. I would have a short whiff of energy from the sugar, but then I’d be sluggish and tired the rest of the day. Also, even though I worked out everyday, I could not get rid of the pooch or extra body fat because of the food I ate. I knew that this was not a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, so I got a job—well, 3 jobs. The work provided better food.
I actually started packing sandwiches and apples, made sure to drink plenty of water, and ate snacks throughout the day (as much as I could afford). These small changes significantly impacted my energy levels. To this day I try to pack snacks and keep myself fed because hunger can be a trigger for depression.
Try to get to know your body and eat intuitively. Some people with depression don’t eat at all, and some eat too much. Find a healthy balance, follow some healthy food bloggers, and then get cooking. You will be surprised how big a difference that healthy eating can make for your depression.
Become more spiritual
My belief in God has literally saved my life plenty of times. I won’t lie: I’ve had suicidal thoughts. I’ve thought about dying more days of my life than I’m comfortable admitting. But every time I’m at a low, I pray to God and ask him to help me see clearly, or at least have the energy to get through whatever I’m doing.
You will be surprised how comforting and how merciful God is. I’ve learned on a deeply spiritual level that God always wants to help us, and he never forgets us. If you are depressed, I encourage you with all of my heart to turn to God for help and answers. If you haven’t prayed before, or don’t know where to start, then
Journal
When I get depressed, I pull out my journal and write. I write everything that I’m thinking and feeling, even the thoughts about death. As someone with high functioning depression, I seem normal and functioning, but my head always feels like a puzzle and most times I feel soooo sad when I should be happy.
When these moments come, I just write everything. Having my jumbled thoughts written on paper (or on a doc on my laptop) somehow helps me organize my thoughts and deal with depression. What seemed like such abstract and complicated situations become doable, and I begin to see clearly. I recognize the things I can control, and the things I can’t control. I let go of the things I can’t control, and as soon as I do that, a weight is lifted off my shoulders.
This has helped me significantly deal with depression because we are our worst critics. Depression makes me feel like I’m not good enough, that I’ve caused all the problems, and that the world would be better off without me. Writing about all of this gives me a good cry, but then it’s all out on paper and I don’t have to think about it anymore. In Hawaii, we say the word “pau” for finished. The thoughts are literally pau because you wrote them all out and you can now continue from a fresh slate. Sure, you might have the same feelings again, but for now you can let those things go.
I always end my journal entries with a positive and uplifting quote or beautiful picture. Putting something positive or beautiful in my journal is like the calm after the storm. I can let things go and continue from a state of peace and love.
Go out in nature
Being from Hawaii, it should come as no surprise that people are so happy because we have access to the sun and to the beach. The beach provides blue space and refreshment. The sun provides Vitamin D and general warmth (I’ve always described the sun as feeling like a “hug from nature”—which is so important for depression, especially if you are constantly alone) for your physical body. However, not everyone has access to a beach. When I moved to the mainland, this was probably one of the hardest things for me.
I missed my turtle friends and the convenience of the healing powers of ocean water and waves. Longing for the sun during the winter months (I have seasonal depression too), I had to find another way to enjoy nature—and I did. To cope with all of this, I long walks—mostly by rivers. I also tried to sunbathe as much as possible, because this warmth reminded me of the Hawaiian sun. More recently, hiking and jogging outside has helped me a ton.
Whatever you need to do to get you some fresh air and sun—do it! 🙂
Replace negativity with positivity
Depression makes you have sooooo many negative thoughts, and they’re all directed at YOU. Words like this pop up: “You’re worthless.” “Nobody loves you.” “Everybody would be better off without you.” Can you feel the negativity in those words? The energy just dulls, and the vibe just dies a little. Something I’ve had to do is replace all of these negative thoughts—and sometimes you can write these things down.
Here are some examples to replace the negative thoughts…
“I am of great worth—to myself, to God, and to (insert name here—for me it’s always my husband). I have great things to offer.”
“I am loved by God, who is a loving Heavenly Father, and my (insert person here).”
Can you feel the energy rise in these statements? Can you feel the calm and relaxation in your spirit? Negativity disconnects and limits our ability to be and feel spiritual. The more we replace the negative thoughts, the more connected we feel with ourselves, with God, and with others.
I want to finish by adding a word of encouragement and good will as you deal with depression. As impossible as it may feel to be happy while in the depths of depression, there is hope. YOU can choose your path, and while depression makes it EXTRA hard to choose a path of happiness and light, you can do it! Your external circumstances can’t determine what happens inside of you. I am sending all the love, aloha, and good vibes that I can your way. You are loved. You are of worth. And you can do this!
Lots and lots of aloha,
Lei
Comment below some of the strategies you’ve used to deal with your depression. I’d love to hear them and I reply to every comment! 🙂
When you are depressed, it can feel as though life has lost all purpose. You may wonder, “what is the point?” Or you may just feel completely hopeless. Depression does a great job of confusing the mind and making simple concepts and ideas–or even simple scenarios in your life–feel like complex and complicated experiences.
The following sentences can help ground you in these moments when you are depressed. These simple statements can remind you of your purpose, your value, and your life.
Reading these sentences aloud or in your head can give you the refocus and refresh you need to rise above the depression.
Probably one of the hardest things about a family falling apart is not being able to talk to anybody about it. Our breaking family may be the only thing on our mind, but when others ask, “How are you doing?” we might respond with, “I’m fine, thanks.” Deep inside, however, we feel like we’re falling apart because our families are falling apart.
Daily activities might feel exhausting because our brain are overwhelmed by the grief going on in our family.
So what do we do in these situations? When it feels like our whole world is crumbling down? Whether mom and dad are getting a divorce, a sibling is choosing a path that breaks your heart, when extended or immediate family starts to get toxic and abusive, or any other difficult family situation, how can we survive? How can we even feel joy during these times?
I’m here to share with you that there is hope. Even in the darkest of times, we can find strength, increase our faith, and discover the light that’s always deep within us.
My story: “My family is falling apart”
Before I jump into the tips, let me backtrack for just a second. My parents divorced when I was in college, so I was a little older and could process things better than a child or teenager. However, the process of the divorce was slow, ugly, and incredibly painful, like many of my readers may be experiencing. Manipulation turned into abuse. I felt trapped by poverty and the situation. Depression crept in as I felt the loneliest I’d been in my whole life. When the divorce was finalized and the abusive family member moved out, it felt like a rope around my neck had been loosened.
Now, years later, I look back at that time and ask, “How did I get through? How did I survive?”
Somehow, as my family fell apart, I managed to keep strong faith in God, work hard and thrive at school, make and earn tons of money, and reach so many of my goals. Somehow, I managed to get through stronger, tougher, yet more compassionate and kinder.
So what does this mean for you? I realize that if I could get through all that darkness, especially when it involved the most important people in my life, then you can too. Despite your circumstances, you have all you need inside you right now to get through this, to stay strong as your family falls apart. I’m sorry this is happening to you, and my heart aches for what you’re experiencing, but I can say with confidence that you can do this. God’s hand is outstretched and ready to help, and you are stronger than you ever imagined.
And please remember… your journey is what you make of it, even when your family is falling apart
Your journey will include finding true friends, processing and healing, creating meaningful relationships (including those with family members), trusting in God, and creating JOY right where you are.
The following tips will help you start from the inside out. We can’t always change our circumstances, but we can change ourselves. What happens inside of us is more important than what happens outside.
So how do you keep it together when your family is falling apart? How do you keep yourself mentally healthy and strong? From this article, I hope you gain the strength and confidence you need to take care of yourself, even when your world is falling apart.
Because, the truth is… you ARE strong, and you WILL get through this.
Seek help
First of all, if you are in danger or have been sexually or physically abused, get help from local authorities, church leaders, and/or trusted friends. If you’ve been threatened not to tell anyone, know that you have the courage within you to get help. The results that come from getting help will be far greater than sticking it out—because you don’t need to stick it out.
I know it might be hard to talk to others outside of the family. It might feel like you’re exposing some secret, or that an abuser in the household might hurt you because of it. But sometimes you don’t know the severity of our situations until you talk to someone about it.
Find someone that you can 100% trust and tell them what’s going on. Sometimes they’ll provide insights that you hadn’t previously thought of. Or sometimes they’ll give you the courage to seek help from authorities or others. Someone you can trust could be a best friend, teachers, mentors, counselors, and even doctors. Use your best judgment to determine who to trust with your information.
Be careful to avoid those who gossip and/or speak negatively about others (if someone tells you something negative about another person, they’re probably talking about you behind your back too). Those who gossip will only worsen the situation, and you don’t need that negativity in your life.
Talk to your siblings or other family members
Sometimes divorce or touchy subjects can divide a family. They create opposing views between family members, making the situation even worse. But please try to find private moments to speak with a trusted sibling or parent. It helps to have someone on the same team as you.
When stuff happens in the home, it can feel suffocating and claustrophobic–both physically and emotionally. Finding a quiet time and space to speak with a trusted family member can help release those emotions. You’re both going through this together, and, when you talk about it, you realize you’re not alone.
It doesn’t solve the solution all the time, but it helps your mental health to have some kind of emotional release.
Sometimes speaking with family members unites people. It can help them come up with solutions together. Speaking to your trusted family members in privacy can change the dynamics in your relationship. You will learn to trust your siblings (or parents) and unite together, standing strong even if the rest of your family is falling apart.
Let this trial bring you together
While the whole situation is devastating, allow yourself to look at what you can control: You can be kind to family members, talk to them, and even understand their point of view. Instead of letting the action of a family member pull everyone down, use this as an opportunity to pull the rest of your family together.
On the flip side, sometimes talking to family members causes more conflict
Sometimes speaking to a family member may cause us to feel more angry, tired, or upset, especially when our opinion differs from their opinion. Please understand that you need not fix everything right now. Sometimes our family members need space and time to process their own emotions, and figure out their own views on everything. Give them their space and, if there are no family members to talk to, remember that God always listens. Seek him in prayer and scripture study, and the answers you seek will come to you.
Write in a journal
Probably the biggest and most obvious pain point of a family that is falling apart is that you don’t have any control over the situation. You can’t control the agency of others, but you can control yourself.
Writing in a journal gives you control. It helps you process and gain clarity on the things in your life that you can control, such as your faith, your desire to be free of this situation, and your willpower to get through.
Through writing, you recognize your true desires, and that helps you use your imagination and creativity. When you’re stuck in the middle of a bad family situation, you might feel like all your hopes and dreams have been crushed.
But that’s simply not true. You can TOTALLY still reach your dreams! Journaling helps you to cope with the negative emotions–it puts all those emotions in a safe place, free from judgment and prying.
Journaling also helps you cope with the dark stuff. Write about your true, dark emotions–how low you feel, how angry the situation makes you–and then let it go. Doing so helps you see that your life won’t always be this way. You won’t always feel trapped or alone. Journaling is your escape.
Later in life I burned all of my journals in a bonfire, which was also very therapeutic. It was the final release of all those negative and dark emotions, a time in my life that I needed words on a page to relieve the words in my heart. I hope journaling can give you that relief too.
Reach out to God
A broken family and the misery that comes with it can you make you feel like God has abandoned you. For a while, I felt like God was mad at me, and this was my punishment for something I did wrong. But the truth is that I did nothing wrong, and God wasn’t punishing me. He allowed this to happen because every person has agency, including abusive or hurtful family members. I learned so much about the power of choice from my family, and I know you can too.
You might feel like God has left you all alone. Or you might feel punished for something you can’t fix. Another common plight involves feeling unworthy or having “too many problems” to get help. But please know that isn’t true. You are never too far to reach out to God. He is always there.
Looking back, I can see how he was always there—protecting me and providing tender mercies.
He is always there. If you haven’t prayed in a while, now is the best time to start. I know that once I started reaching out to a power greater than my own, I felt more strength and comfort than I thought I ever deserved. This gave me great confidence in moving forward.
If you just feel like giving up, think about the hope that the future holds. Give yourself 100% permission to dream big and set goals, because situations of unhappiness and brokenness will push and motivate you harder and further than you EVER imagined. Some of the most successful people have started with nothing, but their stories are inspiring.
For me, I really wanted to serve an 18-month church mission and graduate from college in 3 years. I had my timeline set out perfectly so I could one day be a writer and just have a functioning home (that was my big dream—running water and electricity). At the start of my college life, I was sick of the abuse at home, so I did something about it: I got a job. And then I eventually got two more jobs.
I worked 3 jobs while earning the max number of college credits per semester. Then I volunteered at my church and worked closely with my professors to keep myself on track. In the middle of all of this, I won awards and scholarships– which I used to better take care of myself and save for the future. I participated in the English club on campus and I worked out every. single. day.
It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it
Can you see the push? Firstly, I overbooked myself so I was never at home. That meant less time around the toxic family situation. Secondly, working towards my goals gave me purpose and, more importantly, hope. Hope! It is such a beautiful and high-energy word.
If you write goals and stay laser focused on them, you can do it. They will give you the hope and the elevation you need to rise above your circumstances. YOU are taking the steps to control your life.
By staying laser focused on my goals, I was totally able to earn my bachelor’s degree in 3 years, and serve an 18 month church mission in the Philippines. I was so proud of myself! I did all of that with my own laser focus, and help from God. No matter how big your goals and dreams are, you CAN do it!
If I can offer one last word of advice to you as your family is falling apart, it would be to keep your spirit and body healthy and strong. It’s ok to listen to sad music when you feel sad. I actually allowed myself to listen to one or two sad songs but I had to follow those up with some happier and more upbeat songs. Your spirit needs nourishment just as much as your body. You need to acknowledge the pain and validate it, especially if there isn’t someone there to validate you.
However, if I can influence you with all of the good intentions and energy in my heart… please don’t resort to drugs or alcohol. Don’t resort to binge-watching shows or playing video games. And please don’t resort to watching things like pornography. While these “seemingly harmless” forms of entertainment promise you immediate relief and escape, they will entice you until you have formed addictive habits.
Please take care of yourself. It’s ok to grieve and to feel sad for a moment, but please also feed your soul. You are much stronger than the circumstances around you. If you find that you’ve dug yourself into the hole of addiction, please seek help. There are great resources out there to help you overcome this addiction.
Even when your family is falling apart, even when you feel broken, there is always hope.
Create paradise where you are
The last tip is to create paradise where you are. I grew up in Hawaii but lived in poverty, experienced abuse, and had a lot of trauma from it. It doesn’t matter where you live, or what circumstances you’re in… it’s up to YOU to create your paradise.
I’ve added a brief list of Hawaiian values that can help you create paradise where you are. Check out just a few of the many below:
I want to end by sending you lots of aloha and good vibes. If you are looking for additional ways to raise your vibe and live an aloha life—a life of wellness—please consider taking my free 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness Mini Course.
I hope these tips helped! If you think of any other helpful tips, please comment below as it will help others on their journey!
Nobody likes feeling worthless, but unfortunately most of us feel that way 90% of the time. There may be an occasional moment of satisfaction, where we look at ourselves and think, Hey I did pretty good with that… but for those who suffer from mental illness or just struggle with self worth in general, feeling good—or even just decent—about ourselves is one of life’s greatest battles.
I grew up in a home where we were rewarded and complimented for accomplishments and achievements. I began to think that I was only worth something if I got a certificate, a prize, or achieved a high grade for something. I was never complimented or noted for my strength of character, endurance, or hard work.
I hated the way I felt and I eventually began to hate myself—especially when I couldn’t meet the expectations of my father, family, or extended family. This is why it’s sooo important to know what self worth is in the first place. It is not some thing we gain when we have a certain look or achieve certain results. Self worth comes from strengthening our character, molding our hearts to become better and stronger than it was yesterday. It comes from living a fulfilling life of service. It also comes from knowing how to balance service and self care.
We begin to feel our worth as we develop better habits and balance our lives. We obtain rich satisfaction and inner peace just from serving others and serving ourselves, living an aloha life. When we reach this stage, we know our worth, and this influences our lives in beautiful and profound ways.
Here are some ways to get started in finding your self worth…
Get to know yourself
There are a lot of books and podcasts out there that say things like, When you feel down, just put your chin up and keep going… and I think to myself, that just doesn’t work! I mean, yes—you can psych yourself up and tell yourself over and over again that you’re ok BUT how will that help you?
To find your self worth, you need to look inside yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why do you act the way you do? Are you being rational? If you said your thoughts out loud, do they have any validity? It’s hard to like yourself when you don’t even know who you are. Most times we are too hard on ourselves and need to say things out loud just to hear how absurd and exaggerated our thoughts are about ourselves.
Challenge your fears
It’s ok to be afraid sometimes. Fear is a normal feeling and everyone has fears. The key is to not let the fears take control. They can cripple you from reaching your true potential keeps you feeling pretty worthless.
Here’s a quick activity to try. Divide a sheet of paper into three columns. On the first column, write a list of your desires. They can be anything, from your smallest goals to your biggest dreams. In the second column, write the fears that come up when you think about those goals and dreams. In the third column, write a response to those fears. Are those fears valid? What can you do to challenge them? Sometimes just writing things out helps us realize how strong we are, and that it IS possible to achieve our dreams by overcoming those fears. (For more activities like this, check out my free mini course, 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness!)
Serve others
You’ve probably heard this a million times but you find yourself when you lose yourself in service. Have you ever seen pictures of people going on Humanitarian trips? You can’t help but smile at their big cheesy smiles. They look so happy because they ARE happy, doing something that brings a deep satisfaction you can’t find anywhere else. When we learn how to serve and give of ourselves to others—and it doesn’t have to be a grand scale thing like a humanitarian trip—we learn to look beyond ourselves.
Maybe you’re already doing this and you feel burnt out and overwhelmed because you give and give and give, but you aren’t receiving the satisfaction that you feel you deserve. This is where balance comes in. There needs to be balance in service—definitely give all that you can, but make sure to take care of yourself too. The next tip will help with that.
Serve yourself
Yes, an occasional spa night and massage is definitely healthy for you. But I’m talking “serve yourself” on an even deeper, emotional, mental, and spiritual level. By all means please take care of your physical health, but also take care of the you that nobody can see—the thoughts, the ideas, the dreams… When you serve yourself, you listen to and take care of your own heart and mind.
You recognize negative thoughts and replace them with kind loving words. When I’m not at my best and I feel negative about myself, my husband reminds me, “You don’t say those kinds of things to other people, so why would you say those things to yourself?”
Just think about that. You wouldn’t tell your friend they’re so ugly, they’ll always be ugly, and they’ll never stop feeling ugly—you would NOT tell them that. So don’t tell yourself things like that. Recognize those negative and demeaning thoughts and replace them.
This takes time and practice, but once you start serving yourself too, you begin to realize how powerful your thoughts are and how they motivate you on deep level. You’ll begin to find that you don’t have to psych yourself out to do things because you already have the emotional and mental capacity to do so. You got this!
Look to God
Growing up I was never good enough for my own father. He compared my sisters and I to others girls and didn’t support us in our decisions. He always had “better” ideas and suggestions to our personal goals. He later became very abusive and all of his actions still affect us in many ways, one of which is the lack of self worth.
For the most part of my life, I felt pretty worthless. However, I had a saving grace: my faith in God. I knew that God was my Heavenly Father and because I knew that, I always looked to him. By understanding and getting to know God, I came to understand how a real father should act. I felt a lot of love from him and knew that no matter my mistakes, he loves me for who I am. I felt that, yes! he’s proud of my accomplishments but what is most important to him is the character and strength of my heart. Looking to God helped mend my heart, love myself, love others, and discover my worth.
These are some of the things I’ve found to be helpful on my journey of wellness and self worth. What are some things you have done to help increase your self worth?
We all know toxic people: the ones who make your anxiety raise sky high, and who leave you feeling depressed in the lowest of lows.
Toxic people come in all shapes and sizes but the underlying similarity between them all is that they are narcissistic. That basically means that they are obsessed with themselves, preying on the generosity and weaknesses of others to build themselves up. They hide their own insecurities and weaknesses by pointing out the flaws of others, and they are never sorry about it.
They abuse others, whether it be verbally, mentally, spiritually, sexually, or physically as a way to cover or satisfy their weaknesses.
Whether the toxic person in your life is a family member, an acquaintance, or even a coworker, understand it isn’t YOU that is the problem, and there are ways to deal with them. YOU need to stay sane and take care of yourself, and so here are 5 tips for dealing with constantly toxic people.
Understand that YOU aren’t the problem
Toxic people reflect their own insecurities and problems by bullying and manipulating others. Because they choose to have no control of their own problems, they try to control others. YOU are not the problem.
As an empath, I’ve felt the pain of toxic people, and I’m very susceptible to them because I naturally want to help. Empaths and narcissists are the worst combination because of this reason, so understand that you can only help so much. And, sometimes, you can’t help at all. My mantra is to love everyone, but choose your friends.
Set boundaries with toxic people
Probably one of the best pieces of advice I’d ever given to myself was to set boundaries (bolded because I cannot stress this enough). My dad has a toxic personality—although, he doesn’t come off that way to people (most toxic people don’t come off as toxic until you get to know them).
I tried to reach out to my dad every once in a while but our conversations and interactions left me feeling drained, crazy, and out of control—mostly because he would take control of the situation and manipulate and criticize.
Recognize that you don’t need that. If you can only handle a once-a-year contact or you can only handle a text or email, that’s OK. YOU set your boundaries of what you can handle, NOT them. Express to them the importance of these boundaries to you.
Get help
If you are in a very bad situation, please, please, please get help! Physical and sexual abuse are two of the most common kinds of abuse that people silently suffer alone. Please seek help from local authorities, church leaders, or close friends.
To those who are being abused verbally, mentally, or spiritually please seek help from others as well. There are many wonderful therapists and counselors to help you get through the trauma caused by the abuse.
Avoid contact, if at all possible, with toxic people
If this is an option and you need a break, please do it. My sisters have toxic in-laws and, as such, the in-laws are constantly reaching out, wanting to know every itty-bitty detail of their lives so they can criticize and control.
You DON’T have to deal with it. I will say this again: they are reflecting their own insecurities. Because they have no control over themselves, they seek control over others. They do NOT control you, and they don’t control how much you can handle either.
Bottom line: set boundaries and limit contact. It’s really hard to do this, especially for those of us soft-hearted people who hate confrontations. But you need to let them know how often you’d like to be contacted. Another option is telling them that YOU will reach out when YOU are ready.
Stand up for yourself
This is probably one of the hardest things you’ll have to do, especially if you have a quiet personality like myself. However, there was a time that I was backed into the corner and I snapped back—I came back aggressive, mad, and just plain tired of abuse. It was in that moment I recognized my own courage.
You don’t have to wait until someone backs you into a corner for you to gather courage. Do it now by setting your boundaries or getting help. In common toxic situations, it might worsen the situation for you to share your feelings—it leaves you feeling vulnerable, and it gives the toxic person more “ammo” to use against you.
What I’ve found best is standing up for yourself in situations you don’t agree with or aren’t comfortable with: for example, a toxic person might apologize and say “let’s just move on” when you’re not ready for that. You have 100% the option to say that no, you’re not ready and building the relationship will take time.
Giving into toxic personalities and always agreeing with them may end the conversation, but it also leaves you feeling helpless and dominated/manipulated by the toxic person. Give yourself permission to stand up for yourself and say no to toxic personalities.
Forgive, but don’t forget
Jesus Christ taught us to forgive everyone, but for those of us who have dealt with toxic personalities, the memories will never fade away. The reason for this is that the memories remind us what happened the last time we gave in to the toxic person. Memories can also be a form of ptsd or cptsd from the trauma.
In a sense, the memories protect us. They remind us not to trust that person—ever. They remind us how much it hurt us to cave in again and again.
Forgiveness, however, helps us to move forward. It helps us to let go of the anger we feel towards someone. It helps us to truly, genuinely be kind to the toxic people–not harboring any of the ill feelings we have towards them–but forgiveness doesn’t mean we need to be their best friend and hang out with them.
Forgive the toxic people, but don’t forget what happened to you the last time you gave into a toxic person. Use your experience as a way to grow and build confidence to deal with other toxic people that may enter your life.
You can do this!
I want to end by giving you some encouragement. In Hawaii we say e ho’omau! Which basically translates to move forward and endure well. You totally got this. For most of us, dealing with toxic people is difficult and might not get any easier. The key, however, is to deal with grace, wisdom, and forgiveness, taking care of yourself while still showing kindness. It’s definitely easier said than done, but you can do it, I know you can.
Do you have any additional tips for dealing with toxic people? Share your ideas in the comment section below! 🙂
Mahalo ke Akua literally means “thanks be to God.” If you’re like me, sometimes I look back at my life and marvel at the fact I even survived. How did I get out of some of my circumstances alive and (somewhat) stable? Then it makes me think of all the people who helped along the way, all of the choices I made… and I see how God always had a plan, and when I take the time to be grateful, I see all he did.
Choosing mahalo (gratitude) can change our lives.
God never leaves us
God always had a way for me to succeed. Whenever I made choices, I felt alone. But I reminded myself of the tender mercies he gave to me on a daily basis and I knew I was not alone.
I became stronger, more empathetic, more compassionate, and more patient through my trials. I also had moments of joy and peace. God compensated me with people who raised my spirits and reached out in genuine friendship. Mahalo ke Akua, I’d always think to myself.
These words stuck, not because they’re easy to say, but because of the meaning behind them. When we take the time to express thanks, our perspective changes. It becomes easier to see the good in all things.
In high school, I conducted a song for my graduating class, called “Thanks be to God.” It was a simple Protestant song, but the meaning sank deep in my heart, especially these words, “Thanks be to God for love divine, the hopes that ‘round my heart entwine, for all the joy that now is mine, thanks be to God.”
Mahalo ke Akua for the ocean to provide comfort, for the food we have, for the rain that nourishes the earth, for the sun to shine benevolently, for our families, for the good people in our lives, for the challenges we face, and for the blessings we are so generously given…
Mahalo ke Akua for life
These words have helped me immensely through any of my trials. As I express gratitude for all that I have, even my challenges, my mind is enlightened, I am content, and I have more peace.
This year and always, remember these simple words. Mahalo ke Akua. Be thankful for your life, for the people in your life, for your home, for your health, for the creations on this earth.
I wanted to include the words to the song, “Thanks be to God.” Whether you are alone or with family or friends this Thanksgiving, I hope these words give you encouragement and peace. Mahalo ke Akua.
Thanks be to God for roses rare,
For skies of blue and sunshine fair;
For ev’ry gift I raise a prayer,
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God for lovely night,
For mystic fields with stars bedight,
For hours of dream and deep delight,
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God for love divine,
The hopes that ‘round my heart entwine;
For all the joy that now is mine,
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God for all the joy that now is mine,
Thanks be to God!
Write your thoughts daily
I truly believe that the more we express and record the things we’re grateful for, the more miracles and blessings we see each day. I created a Mahalo Ke Akua gratitude journal to help us get into the habit of recording what we’re grateful for daily. I hope this helps you on your journey to living mahalo! 🙂
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
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