Rachel Morgan

The Author's Club of Augusta is hosting the Literary Lounge at the annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Georgia on the weekend of September 18-20, 2026. This is a must-do...

I may be selling at the Evans Market when they reopen in the Fall! Keep an eye out for new announcements!

Today I feel overwhelmed at all the things I need to do, the things that need to happen, the things that worry me and make me sad. Anxiety escalated and when panic began to emerge, I made myself sit down with one of my favorite mindfulness exercises from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) called Leaves on a Stream. In case you are having one of “those days” too, I encourage you to try this out. Therapist Aid offers a helpful worksheet here as well.

1. Find a quiet, peaceful place devoid of...

“You can’t dwell on those thoughts.”

“Stop thinking so negatively.”

“Think positive thoughts.”

People have told me these things repeatedly over the years. I have told myself similar things too. And yet, sometimes I truly feel like I have no control over my thoughts. That they control me instead.

If I ruminate on a negative thought, it often spirals out of control (especially when it’s something negative about myself). The problem with this is, that the more I think things, the more I start to...

Be kind to yourself.

Show yourself compassion.

Give yourself some grace.

Take care of yourself.

Give yourself positive affirmations.

Stop that negative talk!

I hear these things all the time now from therapists, other mental health patients, friends who love me, other well-intentioned people, and society. There is definitely a movement towards self-love in our culture, but to be honest, I've felt left behind. If we got grades on how well we loved ourselves, I would get a resounding F.

Or at least I...