Fantasy world-building as a therapeutic tool has been around in some form for a long time. Some call it “co-storying,” “collaborative story writing,” “therapeutic storytelling,” or “writing therapy.”

One major theme of “Myth of Normal” is humans’ tendency towards inauthenticity. The book argues that when we are not true to ourselves – when we say “yes” when we mean “no” or when we suppress our anger for the sake of others’ feelings, for example – we end up only harming ourselves.

We've all been there: reaching for our phones mindlessly, scrolling through social media for "just a minute" that turns into an hour, or feeling a phantom vibration when our phone is safely in our pocket. Cell phones have become an undeniable part of our lives, but for some, their constant presence can become a struggle.

You’ve likely heard both these terms before, and on the surface, they may seem interchangeable. But in practice, the acts of self care and self soothing differ slightly, and understanding these differences might be key to taking better care of yourself.

I’ve been a fan of Dan Harris’ podcast Ten Percent Happier for a while now, but I was particularly excited when he posted an episode featuring James Nestor, the author of “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” – a book I’ve had on my want-to-read list for ages.

I think a well-curated selection of newsletters can bring joy to our day, keep us up-to-date on topics we care about, and inspire us to reach whatever goals we’re working towards. If you’re looking to boost your inbox with some mental health and wellness goodness, then you’ve come to the right place.

You can find a TED Talk on just about any topic you’re interested in. As a mental health professional, I’m highly interested in what makes people happy. Luckily for all of us, there are some brilliant researchers out there who are wondering the same thing.