You’re not supposed to be able to control how other people live their lives — that’s their thing, not yours. I wrote these affirmations to help us both keep our focus on what matters most in difficult situations and conversations: what we CAN control. And what we can control is enough.

Here’s an enchanting candle gazing meditation that’s easy to do and doesn’t require a whole lot from you. It’s from my book Sleep Rituals, reworked and given an appropriate name: Burn Your Thoughts. Give yourself that mental space — to clear away whatever isn’t letting you be fully in the moment, or fully in your life.

There’s a reason, a time and place for everything we feel. We hurt because it mattered. We grieve because we’ve loved. Being human means being awake to every season and storm we walk through, and finding what helps us get through “the worst” without giving up or turning to stone. See if these grief affirmations help you do that.

True, wholesome, meaningful forgiveness doesn’t stop at saying a few magic words. But it could start there. Like every facet of healing, forgiveness is a process. If certain experiences in your past still weigh heavy on your soul, and you’re ready to confront them, then explore your own "things I forgive you for" list.

A large part of healing involves setting boundaries. Boundaries, in my own language, are the intersection at which I can take care of myself and be fully present with you. They’re guidelines for how I want to be treated and how I choose to respond. It’s when I don’t set those guidelines for myself that I lose myself in other people. Your personal boundaries communicate to others -- and to your own self -- what works for you and what doesn’t.

If you've ever thought things like "Why me?" or "What if... ?" here's another, more helpful question for you: now that you’re here, after all you've been through, what will you do? Instead of trying to change the past or escape the facts, this one simple question puts you in the present moment: where new life can grow.

It’s not too late to be the person you needed when you were younger. It’s never a wrong time to give yourself what you need. If what you need is forgiveness for past wrongs or acceptance of who you are today or appreciation for how far you’ve come, this open letter is yours to read. It's what I wish my younger self knew.

A shattered heart needs to be held together, and prayer is an age-old ritual that can heal and mend the spirit like nothing else can, or when nothing else can. However you pray, even if you don't, I hope these quotes about prayer inspire you to open your heart, and to consider that, itself, a form of prayer.

May we have the courage to greet each new beginning (and each decision) with an open heart. Whether you need to start over or keep going, I hope this prayer inspires you to keep hope alive, to trust in love one more time, and to take care of yourself along the way. The best changes start on the inside, with you.