While wrestling with this article, I keep thinking about two things.  First, on Sunday, I'll take diet soda to comfort a friend who's grieving.  Second, I recall a story that began when I was a young child.

In my life, I often spoke about wanting to heal and reach a place of peace and clarity, but it was not until this year that I truly learned what it meant to experience healing and self discovery. I learned that these two concepts work together. My healing ultimately led to self discovery and through self discovery, I was able to heal wounds.

The world has the potential to be a profoundly better place; when we choose to see through the lens of kindness and empathy. By replacing judgment with understanding, criticism with compassion, and stereotypes with a genuine desire to comprehend the complexities of one another, we can nurture an environment where people are not confined by preconceived notions of good and evil.

Halloween can be what you want it to be, even if that's absolutely nothing at all. But for those seeking to do something to mark the day, here are some (hopefully) thought-provoking words.

The neighborhood has a one-mile outer loop and no sidewalks. Around the block I went. Children sat at the edge of driveways and yelled diagonally across to children in another driveway who in turn yelled across and down. Crisscross the yelling went—the old fashion telephone game.

I can't look at the time. There are so many things I could be doing; they loom in my mind. I don't put down the phone. I can't put down the phone. Otherwise, I will think how I should be doing something, could be doing something, anything, really. Should've, Could've.

One key article I found in my research talked about artists in particular, how artists who have struggled in childhood experience a boost in creativity. Furthermore, they appreciate the arts on a deeper level because they truly understand the arts’ importance in helping them with their challenges.

Even when you’re down, here’s 5 ways to still be up.

When expectations and the real world collide, the pressure becomes more real than ever.

Preparing for a new school year is essential to starting the year off strong. Most people will feel nerves creeping up on them as the first day comes along, but there are ways to make this fresh start feel less intimidating.

Yet, hidden within the rubble of our disappointments and setbacks, lies a truth it took me time to realize: failure is not the end, but the essential catalyst for personal and professional growth.

Often, people rank their suffering against others’ experiences and give themselves permission to feel accordingly. Here’s my personal experience of how I overcame this toxic mentality.

The more I binge and purge the worse my depression gets. Having said all this there is hope. As I work on my eating disorder symptoms and work on recovery my depression symptoms get better as well. Nutrition is an important part of eating disorder recovery, but it is also an important part of Depression recovery as well.

The desire to belong is inevitable, but sometimes being yourself is more attractive than the you who is desperately trying to fit in. A relatable story on belonging.

Journaling is known to be a very therapeutic activity. It can boost mood, encourage increased memory capacity, and enhance thinking skills. There are endless ways to journal, but it does not all have to be anything too insightful. Because journaling is such a personal thing, there is no right or wrong way of doing it. However, I have listed some of my favorite prompts below.

Change your mindset on sleep - much as how sleep can change your mindset.

Feelings of guilt, overwhelm, and isolation are common among first-generation students. Click here to read more; you are not alone.