Creative Self Care with Crystal McLain
Why You Think You Suck At Self Care - And 6 Ways To Get Better At It
Have you ever told yourself that you suck at self care? Or have you told yourself that it’s something that just isn’t accessible to you? If so, I’m so glad you’re here because I get to be the one to tell you that that is bullshit. Here’s the thing, you’re actually really good at self care. And I’ll tell you why in a minute. The problem isn’t with you or your aptitude or accessibility to self care, it’s the belief systems you have about it, and the habits you’ve created around that's causing you to believe that you're bad at it....
Representation, Self Care, and Claiming Our Space
Just about every morning I sit alone in the wee, dark hours of the day, cuddled next to my dog, drinking coffee, and spilling my heart and ideas into a notebook. This has become an important part of my self care practice. Not only does it give me space to process what's going on in my head, but it also seems to help release my anxieties so I can get on with life. And if that wasn't awesome enough, it also seems to spark a lot content ideas. A lot of times what ends up on the pages of my...
MISCONCEPTIONS OF A POSITIVE MINDSET- Knowing the Difference Between Practical Optimism and Toxic Positivity
In a culture where toxic positivity is confused with confidence, optimism and resilience, the concept of having a positive mindset was something I had to challenge before I got on board. One of the most destructive things we can do is to gloss over the very real feelings and challenges we face in life. But, on the other hand, one of the most empowering things we can do is to believe in something better. So, today I want to hash out the difference between practical optimism and toxic positivity, so we can process our emotions and move through our challenges in a...
The Spiritual Self
I don't know about you, but there have been (admittedly, many) times when I've felt numb or empty inside. Like there's no joy, meaning, or pleasure in life. It's the same ol' thing, day in and day out, while you try to keep up with life's demands as you watch the world crumble around you. Sorry. That got rather dark, rather quickly. Anyway, a lot of us try to compensate with things like alcohol, shopping, gambling, gaming, binge-eating, social media scrolling or some other pleasure stimulant. And while these things do feel pretty good in the moment, they typically leave us feeling just...
The Social Self
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed hermit or not, the fact remains, humans are social creatures. We need positive interaction with other humans in order to feel safe, to develop and grow. Not only that, but the systems in our world depend on collaboration. But despite living in a time where we have the ability to connect instantly with anyone around the world, I feel like we're actually in the midst of a social wellness crisis. 52% of US adults report feeling lonely 85% have a low self esteem Nearly half experience verbal aggression within their intimate relationships. And the upwards of 68% believe we need to create better trust between one another...