Self-Regard

This episode explores the power and pitfalls of labels in defining our identity. While labels can help us understand ourselves and connect with others, they can also reinforce biases and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. It's important to use labels as a starting point for self-exploration and personal growth, recognizing that our identities are fluid and constantly evolving.

Labels are a powerful tool for personal and societal g...

The complexities of body image and identity run deep. I have always had a pull towards body neutrality; focusing on celebrating and appreciating my body for what it can do, apart from its appearance. This is a tricky practice. It's hard not to care about the way my body looks. I'm not sure I ever won't. But the language I attach to thinking about my body has proven to be incredibly important. It starts with observation, acceptance,...

Welcome to Part 2 of Reflections. In this episode, I expand on the definition of love as an active word; a verb that isn't solely about attraction or compatibility, but moreover: effort, intention, and understanding. While this episode is relevant to all relationships – friendships, familial ties, romantic flames, and platonic connections – I largely use my 13 year long relationship as my lens. One of the biggest lessons I've learn...

I lost my dog baby, George, suddenly; and I am devastated. Everything feels unfamiliar without him. As his primary caregiver, he offered me pure, unconditional love and unselfish devotion. This part of the series was intended to cover the importance of relationships in our identity and livelihood. It felt relevant to share this grief because the loss of George – the loss of a relationship – has challenged my home life and compelled...

There is a deep connection between solitude and self-regard. When they are in harmony, we can collectively lead more fulfilled lives. In this first episode of the series on Reflections, Riley ponders the peace and quiet that solitude brings and how it allows us to elevate our identities to a place of contentment. Sharing her personal experiences, she discusses the difference between the ego and the self and the importance of having...

We’re back with a brand new name. Self-Regard will delve into the intersection of mental health, identity, and creativity, with the underlying truth that: a strong self-regard affects our approach to challenges, relationships with others, and views of our place in the world; and a healthy self-regard is marked by faith in the unseen, resilience, and self-compassion.

In this first series, over the next few weeks, I am drawing bac...

Every kind of sleep serves some functional, evolutionary, fundamental significance. In this episode, I break it down in sections: why it’s hard to get to sleep, terms like "revenge bedtime procrastination" and "sleep debt", the effect of lack of sleep, the relationship between sleep and mental health conditions–and bipolar disorder specifically–and ways to improve both sleep and mental health including my favorite strategies and ri...

My writing practice is everything. It’s how I sift through my thoughts in a way that feels meditative, and it helps me put words to what’s intangible.

I have found many answers and had epiphanies about the world around me and the world within me through writing.

Paper holds power. The most beautiful thing about it is that it doesn’t talk back – not really. It sits there holding crystal clear space, so that you can pour your mind onto...