Mental Health

See With Your Eyes, Hear With Your Ears

I used to live with blinders on.
Not the kind you wear—but the kind you believe.

I only saw what I wanted to see. I filtered everything through my pain, my fear, and the false narratives I told myself over and over again. If I thought I was a bad person, I looked for proof. If I believed I was unlovable, I focused on every moment that could validate that. If I thought life was unfair, I zeroed in on all the ways I’d been wronged.

I wasn’t seeing the truth—I was seeing my trauma.
And I was listening through it too.

A Filtered Life Isn’t a Full Life

When we don’t see with our eyes and hear with our ears—when we see and hear through the noise of our past or our pain—we miss what’s right in front of us. We convince ourselves of stories that may not be true. We act on distorted feelings. And slowly, we begin to disconnect from reality, from the people around us, and from ourselves.

That’s where I was before I began this path.

My perspective was warped. My sense of truth was tangled in denial and self-destruction. But I couldn’t live that way anymore. And when I started my recovery journey, the very first thing I had to do was get honest—with myself, and with the world around me.

The Moment I Took the Blinders Off

Truth didn’t come all at once—it came in pieces.
Each time I stripped away a lie I had believed, the world became clearer. Each time I sat in the discomfort of a moment instead of running from it, I reclaimed a little more power. I learned how to be present, how to focus on what was right in front of me, and how to listen with compassion.

That’s when I stopped reacting and started responding.

Because here’s what I know now:
We can’t live fully if we’re not looking and listening fully.

The Danger of Disengaging

It’s easy to get lost in our distractions—our phones, our playlists, our screens. But when we do that, we cut ourselves off from the life happening around us.
We ignore truth.
We disconnect from others.
We retreat into the stories we already believe.

But life isn’t meant to be background noise.
It’s meant to be lived, seen, heard, and felt.
And the only way we can do that is by taking off the blinders.

Choose to Show Up

When we truly see and hear what’s happening around us, something shifts. We become part of the world again. We stop reacting through old patterns and start participating in real connection. We begin to move with clarity and intention.

Let go of the need to be right.
Let go of the comfort of the old narrative.
And open yourself to what is actually real, here, now.

Because your truth lives in the present.
All you have to do is look. And listen.

SLAY on.

SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rise

Are you seeing and hearing the truth—or just what you’ve trained yourself to expect?

  • Do you move through life fully engaged, or are you walking with emotional blinders on?

  • What truths might you be avoiding? What stories do you replay that might not be real?

  • How does this affect your relationships? Your inner peace?

  • When’s the last time you truly paused, took in your surroundings, and responded instead of reacting?

Challenge yourself to listen differently.
Look deeper.
And live fully.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What’s something you’ve learned to see clearly—once you stopped seeing it through the lens of your past?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who might be stuck in an old story, send this to them.
Sometimes, truth is what sets us free—but only when we choose to see it.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Walk in the direction where your peace is found.

New blog goes up Tuesday, until then… SLAY on!

Peace Within

You Can Choose Peace

I didn’t know I could choose peace.

When I was living in the dark, peace wasn’t even a concept I believed in. My mind was in constant chaos—racing with thoughts, shame, regret, and fear. I felt like a prisoner in my own head. The noise never stopped. And because I believed I was broken, I thought I deserved the torment.

I wore the label of “victim” like it was a fact, not realizing that the most painful parts of my story were being written by the choices I was making every day. But here’s the truth I wish I’d known sooner:
Peace isn’t something that just shows up one day. Peace is something we choose.

Peace Starts with a Choice

When I finally admitted I needed help, it was like the door cracked open just enough to let in a sliver of light. That sliver? It was peace. Just a little. Just enough. But it was mine. And it showed me what was possible.

I began to see others who had found peace after chaos. People who had lived in the dark and come out the other side. People who had chosen peace—and in doing so, had chosen themselves. That became my inspiration. And from that moment on, I made a commitment to do the work to find my own.

Rebuilding a Life Around Peace

It wasn’t instant. Peace takes practice. It took a lot of honesty. A lot of humility. I had to stop pretending I was fine and get real about how I felt and what I needed. I had to clear out the chaos—the people, patterns, and beliefs that kept me in turmoil—and make room for something better.

I said yes to new things. I kept my heart open. I focused on love, support, and self-care. And as I leaned more into peace, I started to want it. Crave it. Protect it. That’s the thing about peace—once you taste it, you start building your life around it.

Today, I find peace in many ways—through nature, through connection, through honesty, through stillness. I don’t wait for peace to find me anymore. I go and get it. Every single day.

You Are Worth the Work

Peace is possible. But peace requires effort. It asks us to let go of the lies, face the truth, and show up for ourselves—even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s how we earn it. That’s how we grow into it. And that’s how we become it.

Peace is not perfection. Peace is knowing you’re doing your best. Peace is forgiving yourself.
Peace is choosing love over shame—and presence over panic.

You may not feel it right now. But I promise you, it’s within reach.
You have more power than you think. And you are allowed to use that power to choose peace today.

SLAY on.

SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rise

Do you believe you’re allowed to have peace—or are you still punishing yourself?

  • Where do you currently find peace, even in small ways?

  • What’s blocking you from feeling peace more often?

  • Are you still surrounding yourself with things (or people) that fuel your chaos?

  • What is one thing you can remove from your life today that is stealing your peace?

  • And what’s one thing you can add to cultivate more of it?

You are not your past.
You are your progress.
And you are worthy of peace.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What’s one way you’ve created peace in your life—even when it felt impossible?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who feels stuck in the chaos, send this to them.
Sometimes, we all need a reminder that peace is possible—and that we’re allowed to choose it.

Happy 3rd SLAYversary

SLAYERS it’s been three years since I started this blog with my first post Gratitude Is The Best Attitude. We have been through a lot together in these 3 years, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve hugged, we’ve listened, we’ve supported each other, and all of you have enriched my life and filled my heart for every one of those days.

THANK YOU for SLAYING with me as we walk this road, all we have is today and today we are stronger because we have chosen not to walk alone and together we are stronger.

SLAY on!

3rd SLAYversary!

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Those mountains you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.

New blog goes up Sunday, until then… SLAY on!

Not Alone

The Perceived Danger Of Loneliness

There’s a reason loneliness can feel like danger.

Centuries ago, being alone was a legitimate threat. If you were separated from your tribe, you were more vulnerable to predators and physical harm. That primal instinct still lives in us today—so when loneliness creeps in, it doesn’t always just feel sad. It can feel scary. Like we’re under attack. Like we’re in danger.

But the truth is, in most cases today, that danger is no longer external—it’s internal. And that’s why it can be so hard to recognize and even harder to break free from.

Loneliness Isn’t Just Isolation—It’s Fear

When I was living in the dark, I felt completely alone. And I did feel like I was in danger. The danger of being found out. The danger of being consumed by depression. The danger of not making it out alive. My thoughts became a battlefield, and my body was constantly in survival mode—tight, tense, panicked.

Some of that fear was justified. I was making choices that weren’t safe. But much of it was perceived—fed by my mindset and fueled by the lies I told myself about who I was and what I deserved.

And the lonelier I felt, the more danger I imagined. I convinced myself I was better off alone. That no one would understand. That I didn’t belong.
But that wasn’t true. That was just the fear talking.

The Way Out Is Connection

The moment things began to change was the moment I heard someone else’s story. Someone who had been where I was. Someone who understood the darkness. That tiny moment of connection cracked something open in me—and I found the courage to ask for help.

That help came in the form of community. Of people who weren’t perfect, but who were honest. Who shared their truths. Who didn’t try to fix me, but simply walked with me.

And that’s when the perceived danger began to dissolve. Because I wasn’t doing it alone anymore. I wasn’t in survival mode—I was in connection mode.
And connection, not isolation, is where healing begins.

You’re Not Alone (Even When It Feels Like You Are)

We are never as alone as we think we are. Even in our darkest moments. There is always someone out there who will understand—because they’ve been there too.

And when we share our truth, it connects us. It takes away the power of fear.
When we speak our loneliness out loud, we remind ourselves that we are human—and we give someone else permission to do the same.

You don’t have to suffer in silence. You don’t have to go it alone.
There is always a hand to reach for—and a voice waiting to say, “Me too.”

SLAY on.

SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rise

Do you associate loneliness with danger? And what does that danger feel like?

  • What thoughts or fears come up when you’re feeling lonely?

  • Do you tend to isolate or reach out?

  • Who can you confide in—right now, today?

  • Are you filling your loneliness with distractions or connection?

  • What’s one step you can take to reach out and remind yourself you are not alone?

Connection is the antidote to fear. And vulnerability is the path to healing.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What has helped you move through loneliness into connection?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who’s struggling in silence, send this to them.
Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is remind someone they’re not alone.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Your life only gets better when you do. Work on yourself, the rest will follow.

New blog goes up Friday, until then… SLAY on!

State Of Slay Doing The Work

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Today is yesterday’s effect and tomorrow’s cause.

SLAY on!

State Of Slay Different Life

How We Live Today Is What Will Determine Tomorrow

It’s a conversation I keep returning to—both personally and globally.

As the world continues to recalibrate, we’ve been given a rare invitation: to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves what do I want my life to look like on the other side of this? Many of us are eager to return to “normal,” but it’s worth asking—was normal really working?

When so many distractions fell away, we were left with the truth of our lives. The patterns we’d been avoiding. The cracks in our foundations. The parts we loved—and the parts we were merely surviving. Like any breakdown, there’s always a breakthrough waiting on the other side… if we’re willing to do the work.

Building a Better Tomorrow Starts Now

When I first stepped into recovery, I had to rebuild my life from the ground up. It was terrifying. The old ways—my habits, my thinking, the comforts I clung to—felt safer than the unknown. But I knew they were keeping me sick. I couldn’t build anything new while holding onto what was breaking me.

So I started small. I laid one brick at a time. I let go of what no longer served me, even when it was uncomfortable. I reminded myself that I wouldn’t get everything right—and that was okay. Each day was a step toward something stronger. Even my mistakes became blueprints for something better.

I began to understand that how I live today is what determines my tomorrow. And that realization changed everything.

This Is a Chance to Reimagine

This pause we’ve been given? It’s a gift. A chance to slow down and evaluate what truly matters. It’s not just about personal change—it’s about collective change. As we rebuild our lives, we have a powerful opportunity to decide who we want to be, how we want to live, and what kind of world we want to create.

The moments that have stood out to me most during this time aren’t the news updates or daily routines—they’re the simple acts of kindness, the community support, the honest conversations, and the reminders that we’re not alone.

We’ve seen what matters. Let’s not forget it.

Today Shapes Everything

What we choose today—how we love, how we show up, how we take care of ourselves and others—sets the tone for tomorrow. We get to decide what we keep, what we release, and what we build next.

Lay your foundation with care. Fill the cracks with truth. Strengthen your spirit with willingness and action. That’s how we grow something solid. Something beautiful. Something that lasts.

SLAY on.

SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rebuild

  • Have you used this time to evaluate your life with honesty?

  • What habits, people, or patterns do you want to leave behind?

  • What priorities have shifted for you—and why?

  • What healthy changes have felt good? What distractions are you ready to release?

  • What can you start doing today to lay a stronger foundation for the life you want tomorrow?

This moment is a powerful opportunity to build something new.
Lay it down with intention.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you.
What’s one change you’ve made—or are ready to make—to build a better tomorrow?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who’s navigating change right now, send this their way.
Sometimes, we just need to know we’re not doing it alone.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Expecting things to change without putting in the effort is like waiting for a ship at the airport.

New blog goes up Tuesday, until then… SLAY on!

State Of Slay Change Results