This is the second part of a two-part episode on how stress affects our mental health and what we can do to withstand it. In this part, I interview educator Michelle Love-Day, with questions on how parents can help reduce the stress distance learning can cause them and their children.

In this episode, I discuss how stress effects mental health and can cause mental injuries. Life can be stressful, especially these days, so let's dive into how we can strengthen ourselves mentally.

Believe me when I say, criticism is better for you than praise. Praise has the power to make you feel good, Criticism has the power to make you better! Or really you have the power to use criticism to make yourself better. Let's talk about this and why I adopted the idea to welcome criticism.

How do you feel about your body? This can be a hard topic. But the big lie in life is that the value of our body is tied to the appearance of our body. This is 100% not true. Your body is an amazing miracle! And when we know this we can move from shame to power, and we can show ourselves and then others the inner beauty that we have inside us!

No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you are enough. Today, right now, right where you are. When we come to know that we are freed from trying to earn our worth and able to really live our lives.

Do you actually believe you can do anything you 'put your mind' to? I am re-learning this as a truth I once knew as a kid but now as an adult didn't fully believe. Our thoughts are so powerful, and what can we gain from harnessing that power? The answer is everything!

Do you work out? Do you Count calories, or macros? We often spend time, energy and even money working on our physical health. But what do you do to work on your mental health? Do you have a mental health routine? This episode is geared toward helping you come up with one that works for you. Our mental health affects every aspect of our lives.

This episode has the 10 most common thinking errors that keep us from thinking clearly and specific ways we can overcome them. These distortions if left unchecked can really hurt us and warp our perception of life around us. Let's bring them to light, understand them better and become more self aware together. For a typed up list see my blog at hcdesignco.blogspot.com

Today I'm talking about the place no one likes, the downs in life, the bottom, the Pit of Despair! It can feel like that when you are in it. How do we get back on top? Can we do anything about it? I say 100% yes. It's hard but it is so worth it. In this episode I share ideas on how to work our way out. And I also share my own personal feelings. They are real and raw, unedited. I share them so we can all see there is hope, light on the other side.

If we want to live a happy, meaningful, connected life we need to talk about the things that get in the way. This podcast is dedicated to one of those things; shame. And a big part of shame is should statements, do you should on yourself? Or on others? This episode I'm talking about why it isn't helpful and what we can do instead.