Kathleen Smith > Quotes

“...story is a powerful stimulant with tremendous influence over how we think and act. Like meth, only safer.”
― Kathleen Smith, The Fangirl Life: A Guide to All the Feels and Learning How to Deal

“I watch television like it's a spectator sport. I laugh, I scream, I cry. I even jump up and down. Then I get on the computer and do it all over again with a group of people who totaly get it.”
― Kathleen Smith, The Fangirl Life: A Guide to All the Feels and Learning How to Deal

“Many would be surprised to find that there is a whole world of woemen and girls who dedicate a significant portion of theri energy and emotions into the concept of story found in countless genres. These woman are often left out when you limit your definition of fangirl to geek or musik culture.
This book is a tribute to my fiction-loving tribe. It's for the law student who unearths strength from the strut of a TV attorney. For the mother who unwinds with a glass of wine and a little bit of zombie apocalypse. For the teenage rwho points to a novel's heroine and says, "Yes. I'll have more of that please." To the woman and girls who get that forming online friendships isn't a symptom of isolation from reality but an opportunity to from commmon bonds that will cheer us through our victories and comfort us when life gets rough.”
― Kathleen Smith, The Fangirl Life: A Guide to All the Feels and Learning How to Deal

“You are your author, your protagonist, and your audience.”
― Kathleen Smith, The Fangirl Life: A Guide to All the Feels and Learning How to Deal

“ACTING RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMEONE OFTEN LOOKS LIKE: Assuming you know what they think. Trying never to upset them. Instantly dropping everything to help them. Trying to manage their distress. Telling them how to function. Teaching others how to interact with them. Discouraging their independent functioning. BEING RESPONSIBLE TO SOMEONE COULD LOOK LIKE: Being curious about their thinking. Being honest about your interests, beliefs, and challenges. Showing up for important events. Letting them know when something isn’t okay. Respecting the boundaries they set. Being responsible for managing your own distress. Letting others be in charge of themselves. Promoting their independent functioning.”
― Kathleen Smith, True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself

“I truly believe that the opposite of anxiety is curiosity”
― Kathleen Smith, Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down

“A decision with less self is automatic and rooted in emotion. One with more self has that heartbeat or two’s worth of time when you can ask yourself, What is my responsibility here?”
― Kathleen Smith, True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself

“A LESS DIFFERENTIATED PERSON: Ignores the role their own emotional reactivity plays in relationships. Works on appeasing others instead of managing themselves. Treats people like they are incapable. Treats relationship challenges like they are impending catastrophes. A MORE DIFFERENTIATED PERSON: Observes their own reactivity and its influence. Works on managing self rather than managing others. Treats people like they are capable. Can take on relationship challenges with more curiosity.”
― Kathleen Smith, True to You: A Therapist's Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself