Category: Self Worth & Esteem

Noah Centineo

Posted on by Kendra

NOAH CENTINEO quote on MTV Awards

“I did a little show called the Fosters and over the years since I did that show I learned that external things don’t actually make you happy. They didn’t make me happy. I actually was like really really upset while doing that show. Not because of the show it was a amazing show. I just wasn’t happy with all these things outside of myself and I found that truly things that made me happy that actually fulfilled me was not having a successful career. It was doing what I loved and giving back to other people.”

Laura Harrier

Posted on by Kendra

LAURA HARRIER quote in Cosmopolitan Magazine

“I definitely believe that mental health care should be prioritized just as much as physical health. There’s been such a long history of ignoring mental health problems, of saying, ‘Oh, just suck it up’ or ‘I’m a strong black woman. That doesn’t happen to me.’ All of these tropes that we’ve been taught over generations, when actually, I think given generational trauma, of course there are a lot of mental health issues with the black community. I’ve been working with a really amazing Loa Angeles based organization called BEAM, which stands for Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective. They help people find resources, therapists, and also natural care, like Reiki. I try to meditate. I can’t say that I’m the best with my track record of doing it every day, but I try to at least do some deep breathing. I noticed I literally forget to breathe, which sounds wild, but sometimes I’m like ‘Wait, I haven’t taken a real breath all day.’ and just taking 30 seconds to sit and do deep belly breathing is a game changer. Also, I think it’s so common to talk only about self-care as meditation, yoga, and working out, which are all important, but sometimes self-care is having a glass of wine with your best friend and laughing and watching s***** reality TV . Watching The Bachelor and drinking wine with my girls is awesome. Sometimes that’s the self-care that you need.

Holding emotion in is not only not good mentally but not good physically. Physical manifestations of stress are very real. I’ve had weird little skin things or backaches and it’s like, okay, what is the actual roof cause of this? Maybe it’s because I’m super stressed or upset and I’m not dealing with it?”

Alanis Morissette

Posted on by Kendra

ALANIS MORISSETTE quote in Allure Magazine

“Wellness, to me, doesn’t mean perfection or living by a standard that is unrealistic. Wellness has a lot to do with the word ‘wholeness.’ It’s sort of staying connected to self, God, and other. I’m a big fan of Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz. That model of psychotherapy very much helps me to connect with different parts of myself, some that are deemed by society as negative, challenging, dark parts, like addressing depression or anxiety. I had a panic attack yesterday. I just went, boom, right into my tool kit. Okay, what do I do here? I quickly ran a bath epsom salts, magnesium, lavender. Call in all ops! [laughs]

Personally, because I feel like sharing might be helpful in some way, I have a little life pie that I reference visually. Pretty much every journal I have, if you open the front page, it’s the pie. I just take a glance at them and immediately my eye will be pulled toward that which I have been neglecting. My life pie includes, I’m just going to draw it while I’m talking. Family and friends, body: somatic experiencing, trauma recovery. Spirit: It’s really silence. With three children under 11, I’ve been known to go into my closet on the ground in the dark. If I’m going to a television studio anywhere in the world, my first question is usually, ‘Is there a room with a door that I can close? Where I can go for a few minutes just to catch my breath, recharge my batteries.’

Then there’s being expressed. So much of my depression comes from my not expressing sadness, grief, and anger. Usually, a grief or a loneliness, or some false thought that got into my mind really, really young and I just kept believing it, even though it was never true. Feeling that I’ve processed enough is important, and that can include venting with friends, feeling expressed artistically, designing something. Marriage is a big one. It’s tough with three kids, but my husband, Souleye, and I try to sneak away as much as possible.

Being on top of my business and finances. I feel like the patriarchy just pats women on the head especially artists. I have been shamed for looking after my money and shamed for not looking after my money. You can’t win! So I just keep showing up. Brain rest: binge watching tv. Floating, wandering time. Mind wondering, As an artist and someone who loves to philosophize, I can’t get those messages, for lack of a better term, if everything is jampacked, including my mind and environment. SO just time to sit. Easier said than done last year with three kids schooling at home  my eyes are crossed.” -ALLURE

Keke Palmer

Posted on by Kendra

KEKE PALMER

“I’m somebody who follows my heart. I’ve always loved hosting. I’ve dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety, through my teens and especially as I became an adult. As I did therapy, I wondered what would happen if my generation had a platform to take what we talk about offline and actually let it be televised for everyone to see. I went on a great journey at the end of 2019, a journey of personal love and self-love and really understanding what that means. There was a breakup, not just romantic but friendships too. The concept of loneliness used to weigh me down. But my 26th year has been a golden year, because I’ve come to a lot of revelations about myself.” Cosmopolitan

Michelle Obama

Posted on by Kendra

MICHELLE OBAMA

“There are societal signals all around us telling us that there is something wrong with some parts of us. I thought about what are the messages that I’m giving myself, and how do I light up for myself? So today when I’m looking at the mirror, I still see what’s wrong, but I try to push those thoughts out and say, ‘Wow, you are healthy. Look at your skin, your smile.’ I try to start my day a little more kind.” People Magazine

Melanie C

Posted on by Kendra

MELANIE C
“I’m no longer trying to be perfect. I was living my wildest dreams. But inside I was hurting. I was photographed and commented on constantly. I’d always been pretty confident, but it was a knock to my self-esteem. So much of my life was out of control. So I controlled my eating, my exercise everything I possibly could. I felt like I had to make myself perfect to really deserve all of this wonderful success. I didn’t realize I had depression. It was such a relief knowing it had a name; I can be helped and I can get better. I don’t really like to take pharmaceuticals, and I would go, ‘Oh my God, I’m taking antidepressants’. But there have been low times when they’ve really helped me.” People Magazine

Lily Collins

Posted on by Kendra

LILY COLLINS

“As a human being, I’m constantly evolving and growing, and I’m going to have insecurities. To embrace our emotions and share with other people, we all feel less alone in our struggles. What makes me most happy is being with the people that I love and just knowing that being who I am is enough. Because I know I can take that anywhere.” People Magazine

Beyonce

Posted on by Kendra

BEYONCE

“If someone told me 15 years ago that my body would go through so many changes and fluctuations, and that I would feel more womanly and secure with my curves, I would not have believed them. But children and maturity have taught me to value myself beyond my physical appearance and really understand that I am more than enough no matter what stage I’m at in life. Giving zero F’s is the most liberating place to be. Also knowing true beauty is something you cannot see. I wish more people focused on discovering the beauty within themselves rather than critiquing other folks’ grills.” ELLE Magazine