Lupe Acevedo

03/06/2025

"Being kind does not mean having no boundaries. There is a big difference between holding the door, and being a doormat" - Pamela Storch

24/03/2025

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of regret, choices, and the myriad possibilities of life.

The story revolves around Nora Seed, a thirty-something woman who finds herself in a deep existential crisis after feeling overwhelmed by her failures and dissatisfaction with her life. One fateful night, she decides to end her life, only to awaken in a mystical library that exists between life and death.

In this library, each book represents a different version of Nora's life—one where she made different choices, followed different paths, and pursued alternate dreams. With the guidance of the enigmatic librarian, Mrs. Elm, Nora is given the opportunity to explore these parallel lives, experiencing the outcomes of her various decisions. As she navigates through the possibilities, she discovers the weight of regret and the profound impact of the choices we make.
Throughout her journey, Nora learns valuable lessons about the importance of acceptance, the beauty of imperfection, and the significance of living in the present moment.

Ultimately, The Midnight Library serves as a poignant reminder that every life has its challenges and joys, and that it's possible to find meaning and fulfilment in the life we have, rather than the lives we might have led.

10 Key Lessons from The Midnight Library
1. Embrace Your Choices
Every choice shapes your life.
Acknowledge that each decision, big or small, contributes to who you are and the life you lead.
2. Regret is a Natural Emotion
Everyone experiences regret.
Understand that regret is a common part of life, but it’s essential to learn from it rather than be defined by it.
3. The Importance of Perspective
Different perspectives can change your understanding.
Viewing your situation from various angles can provide clarity and help you appreciate what you have.
4. Life is Full of Possibilities
There are countless paths one can take.
Recognize that life offers numerous opportunities, and exploring them can lead to personal growth and fulfilment.
5. Acceptance of Imperfection
Perfection is an illusion.
Embrace the flaws and imperfections of life; they contribute to your unique story and experience.
6. The Present Moment is Valuable
Focus on the here and now.
Appreciate the present moment, as it is where life truly unfolds and meaningful experiences occur.
7. Connection Matters
Relationships enrich our lives.
Value your connections with others, as they provide support, love, and joy in your journey.
8. Change is Constant
Life is ever-evolving.
Be open to change and adapt to new circumstances; flexibility can lead to new opportunities.
9. Happiness is Not a Destination
Happiness is found in the journey.
Focus on the small moments of joy rather than chasing an elusive idea of happiness.
10. Life is Worth Living
Every life has value and purpose.

17/07/2023

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. Most of us shame, belittle, and criticize ourselves in ways we'd never think of doing to others” Brené Brown

Talking to yourself like someone you love means using positive self-talk to build yourself up in the same way that you would if someone you love was going through a hard time.

We don’t always speak out loud when we talk to ourselves. But the words that we use (even if they are in our mind) make up the story we tell ourselves about the struggles and challenges that we face.

Choosing to speak positively about your strengths and areas for growth is an act of self-love that will help you overcome setbacks. By contrast, being critical of your failures will only keep you stuck in a cycle of negativity.

08/06/2023

How talking therapy works

Watch the "How does therapy work?" video at BBC Ideas. Explore other related content via our curated "Health and wellbeing" playlist.

04/06/2023

Every journey to healing begins with hope

22/03/2023

10/10/2022

It is estimated that 75% of people with mental health problems in England may not get access to the treatment they need.

World Mental Health Day aims at increasing awareness about mental well-being, and is an opportunity for people with mental health conditions to collectively recognise progress in this field and to be vocal about what needs to be done to ensure mental health & well-being becomes a global priority for all.

The theme of World Mental Health Day this year is: "Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority"

13/07/2022

As with many mental health statistics, it’s hard to know if the figures really represent what is happening. They can only tell us about mental health problems that have been reported – many cases may go undiagnosed.

This may be especially true when it comes to men’s mental health.

There are other signs that might give us a better picture of the state of men’s mental health:

- Three times as many men as women die by su***de
- Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest su***de rates in the UK
- Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women according to the Government’s national wellbeing survey
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men

While all this can paint a gloomy picture, there is help and support available if you’re worried about your own or someone else’s mental health.

20/06/2022

Creative therapy is a type of therapy that uses non-verbal expression like art or music as a means to communicate our inner world.

Finding clarity in your thoughts can often be difficult using words alone, so creative therapy can help you to communicate your inner experience and what you’re feeling in other ways. It can help an individual to access and navigate their own thoughts and feelings and discover a sense of self, which can often be lost when struggling with mental health.

Creative therapy can take many forms. Some of the more widely practised types include:

- Art
- Drama
- Movement
- Music

An important thing to remember is that creative therapy is not about making judgements about our artistic abilities. Anyone can benefit from it, regardless of your experience or reservations.

13/06/2022

Are you familiar with the happiness chemicals and how they affect you? Not everyone gets enough of each of the happiness chemicals and this deficiency can make you feel lonely, depressed, hopeless and anxious.

These are just some of the many ways you can get your daily happy hormones. If you have some that already work for you, continue doing those. If you don’t, try picking a few from the list.

When choosing things that will help increase happiness levels, think about how each of them affects your health. There are three states of health (physical, mental, and social health).

Make sure you choose activities that don’t all contribute to one aspect only. Try to pick a few that can contribute to different aspects so you can reap the full benefits of the happiness chemicals.

08/06/2022

THE WORST THING
The worst thing you can be is not fat,
or ugly,
or stupid.
The worst thing you can be,
is not different,
or awkward,
or ‘too much’.
The worst thing you can be,
unequivocally,
is locked in a prison of your own self-doubt,
riddled with insecurities,
afraid to venture out into this life,
lest the world see who you really are.
In short,
the worst thing you can be,
is someone else.
When you were only ever meant to be you.

By Donna Ashworth Words
Art by Lisa Aisato