Have you ever heard of atychiphobia? It’s an extreme and irrational fear of failure that can clash with your daily life, preventing you from taking risks or causing you to delay tasks that you feel will result in defeat. Some classify it as a non-diagnosed anxiety disorder. I considered this terror to be one of ...

Who I am Is sinful in every way. Why was I created? I do not wish to stay. If I could leave, This world would be happier. No one would grieve. The Lord Himself And Heaven would cheer, If I were no longer here. These lonely nights will take their toll. These thoughts spiral out ...

Is it really poetry if we're forced to create it? Only the poet knows.

How can I loveIn a world full of hate? How can I growWhen I’m crushed by the weight? How can I learnWhen ignorance is bliss? How can I succeedWhen jobs are remiss? How can I governWhen politics are a joke? How can I speakWhen my words always choke? How can I thriveIn this world that ...

It climbs from the east. Those beams that signal a new day and the promise of a fresh start. That offers the chance to shed the past, like dry, unwanted skin flaking away in the wind. That brings renewed optimism and the possibility of favorable terms. And I sigh I wait under my covers and ...

Off to work on school assignments. God forbid I have a life. All college ever does for me Is bring me stress and strife. All I ever learn here Is how to view my grades with fear. I learn how to fabricate the truth. I learn to be deceptive and tell lies. To lie is ...

The biggest epiphany I had was the realization that no one would save me but myself. I needed to stand up to the monsters in my brain. It fell to me to take control of my environment and decide whether to change or nourish it. No doctor or handbook existed to show the perfect way ...

Author’s note: This piece includes brief mentions of suicide. Please read with discretion. “The Trump Administration Orders Termination of National LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Lifeline, Effective July 17th.”  I recall seeing these words appear on the explore page of one of my social media platforms. A storm of shock and denial consumed me with each word ...

I often ask myself when writing a piece, “Am I doing this well?” “Could this be better?” “Am I good enough?” Perfectionism weaves a false narrative that I’m lackluster despite overwhelming proof of otherwise. It’s a consistent roller coaster of emotion, wondering if I come up short when I’m right on time. Too often, I’ve ...

The reality of the human experience is often draining. Hopelessness expands like gas in a room without you realizing it. Despair is accessible and easy to notice. There’s direct access to the news at your fingertips, enough to make anybody anxious. Therefore, hopefulness isn’t uninvolved; it’s intentional. You scratch, claw, and fight your way to ...