Author: Laura-Kay

  • Following Your Self-Image (whether you mean to or not)

    Who are you? “I’m a healthy, intelligent capable teacher who will change the lives of the students I teach.” “I’m no good. I’m not talented, I’m not pretty, and I’m not very good at my job.” Which person will do something productive today? Which person will limp along unhappily, not…

  • Agency… Not Control

    Farmer Joe wanted his crops to grow. He planted seeds. He watered them. He fertilized them. He weeded them. He waited patiently. There was a good chance that Farmer Joe would produce a good crop that year. Did he? Was success guaranteed? You Can’t Guarantee Success Farmer Joe can do…

  • Winston Churchill Got Back Up!

    In February 1915, Winston Churchill helped to lead a campaign that cost 214,000 lives. 214,000 lives! He resigned from the government. How does a person keep going after such a catastrophic failure? I personally can’t imagine how I could ever recover from such a catastrophic failure. I’ve made a lot…

  • Goodbye, Perfectionism!

    It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t perfect. Something went wrong! It was only 95% good. The other 5% was bad. It was a failure! What on earth makes us think things like this? It sounds so silly when you step back and read it. But that’s what goes…

  • Do It Badly!

    Got a dream but can’t make it happen? Can’t even get started? Perfectionism could be the problem. Perfectionism causes anxiety that can be downright paralyzing. I’ve had many symptoms of perfectionism since I can remember. This doesn’t mean that I do everything perfectly. This means that if I’m afraid I…

  • Springtime Blues

    I’ve had trouble in the springtime for as long as I can remember. While most people were happily loving the warmer air and the increased hours of daylight, I was often increasingly depressed and anxious. Sometimes I would take more naps just so I could skip part of the day…

  • Letting People Misunderstand

    WOW. This is a hard one for me. I Want To Be Understood There is someone in my life whose approval I want. Whose understanding I want. Whose support and affirmation I want. I won’t be getting it. Ever. I know this… and yet I still try. And try. I’ve…

  • Clutter, Clutter Everywhere

    “Clutter on the desk, clutter in the mind.” A friend said that over 20 years ago, and I still remember it. I have a lot of clutter on my desk. And in my room. And in my kitchen. And around the whole house. And it does seem to be a…

  • Problems: Why the Fish Won’t Grant My Wish!

    It’s Sunday morning. 10:30 a.m. I’m not normally home right now, and I’m not normally writing. I’m normally in church. But since every germ within a hundred square miles seems to have invaded our home, I’m raising the white flag. We’re staying home today. So, since I couldn’t go to…

  • What Helped When I Was Depressed

    Finding Temporary Relief Even during the worst of my depression, there were moments when I felt a little better.  Three things helped. 1. Focusing on the present moment When I was depressed, my mind very much wanted to think deep thoughts. All. The. Time. There’s nothing wrong with thinking deep…