Month: December 2025

If You Want To Live Your Life Courageously Every Day, These Quotes Are For You

by Bright Osadiaye, posted in Motivational Quotes

Empower yourself.

‘By empowering yourself to shift your thinking patterns, you can change the way you perceive fear and courage.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Extend kindness to yourself.

‘Try to always extend kindness and understanding to yourself when you make mistakes or encounter difficulties.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Reframe your thoughts.

‘Reframing is not about making every negative thought a positive one; it’s about placing an unhelpful thought into the light of reality.’– Mary Poffenroth

Transform your expectations.

‘If you can transform your expectations from fear based to courage based, your behavior toward yourself and others reflects those expectations, leading to braver choices and a more courageous mind.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Engage in positive activities.

‘By engaging in net-positive playful activities such as games or art without ambition, our attention is diverted away from these negative thoughts and toward something far more enjoyable and uplifting.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Practice gratitude.

‘Gratitude is a powerful practice for bringing more joy into our lives– and there are so many ways to weave it into your routine.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Focus your attention on things you enjoy

‘By focusing your attention on something benign, like spinning a tiny ball bearing around on a ring, you can help yourself not focus quite so much on a stress trigger.’- Mary Poffenroth

Be brave.

‘Living courageously means being willing to move through fear rather than avoiding or denying its presence in your life.’- Mary Poffenroth

Name your fear.

‘By assigning a specific name to your fear, you solidify the experience you’re having.’- Mary Poffenroth

Control your thoughts.

‘By spotting our fear-influenced thinking patterns and understanding their root causes, we can start building bridges away from those invisible fear cages that keep us trapped.’- Mary Poffenroth, PhD

Further Reading:

Mary Poffenroth (2024). Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day

What You Should Know About A Controlling Person

by Bright Osadiaye, posted in Motivational Quotes, Personal Development

Freedom is life. It is everything. If you are not free, you are not living. Freedom is more than just walking around.

Freedom is when you have the power to control your life, when you have the courage to do what you love to do. Freedom is when you are comfortable with yourself. It is not when you are under the control of another person.

A controlling person, according to Dr. Lisa Aronson Fontes, ‘often feels stronger when he makes his partner feel powerless and ashamed.’

‘A controlling person asserts power by setting rules and micromanaging his partner’s everyday life.’

‘A controlling man might accuse his partner of flirting or being involved sexually with friends or coworkers.’

‘A controlling person feels threatened when his partner’s life doesn’t revolve entirely around his own.’

‘A controlled person cannot reach her full potential.’

‘A controlling man tries to become the only authority in the house and encourages children to disrespect their mother.’

‘The controlling person defines reality. If he says it’s ‘love,’ then it’s ‘love,’ even if it feels like control.’

‘A controlling person communicates: ‘If you cared about us a couple, you wouldn’t make problems.’ Women keep silent to avoid making waves.’

‘Controlling people often consider themselves victims, evoking their partner’s pity and compassion.’

‘It is difficult for controlling men to change, But staying the same is also difficult.’

No matter what you are going through in your life, remember that ‘you are the one who decides how much is too much.’

As always, you are not a victim; you are a victor. Stay safe!

Further Reading:

Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD (2015). Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship