Laura Bazal

“I think it is a strength, feeling tenderly about the nuts and bolts and tools of one’s trade. But maybe it’s not so much a strength, more like an indicator—strength implies that I had some role in it, and I don’t believe I did; I was simply born with a fondness for letters and language, and was predisposed to enjoy playing around with them and it. There is this anecdote from Annie Dillard: A painter was asked why he became a painter. He replied, Because I love the smell of paint.”
― Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal

“Remember, even if a thought or emotion feels urgent and is demanding a response from you, you are the boss. You don’t need to respond to every emotion, word, or action.”
― Caroline Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking

“It’s in the quiet stillness of the moment, when we think deeply about our thinking, that we can draw on our courage to go into the depths of our nonconscious mind and embrace the chaos to find the message of truth. Your mind loves this. Your brain loves this. You will love the peace this eventually brings.”
― Caroline Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking

“When you use the 5 Steps, your self-regulation improves and you can start getting a handle on managing your anxiety. This doesn’t mean it will go away entirely; you actually don’t want it to, because anxiety is telling you something about your life that you need to know. It does mean, however, that your anxiety will decrease over time, and you will learn to manage it—it will work for you and not against you. Anxiety is not an illness; it is a warning signal that something needs attention in your life. It is normal to feel periods of anxiety. The Neurocycle method can help you find and manage what needs attention.”
― Caroline Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking