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SEW Balance • Mental Health + Wellbeing

@sewbalance

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😩Overwhelmed? Stressed?
🧠We got you because mental health shouldn’t start with a crisis
📚 Well… Now What?! available now👇

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POV: Depression tried to steal my joy… so I got dressed, left the house, and acted a fool instead. 😂

Y’all… sometimes the best thing I can do for my mental health is get dressed, leave the house, and act like a complete fool in public. 😂

Because sometimes, when grief, loss, and depression start creeping in, the couch becomes a little TOO comfortable.

You stop making plans. You avoid people. You get stuck in your own head. And before you know it, you’ve spent way too much time feeling sad and yucky.

And listen, some days you really DO need to rest, feel your feelings, and give yourself a break.

But other days? You need to interrupt the cycle.

Take the shower. Put on something that makes you feel good. Get out of the house. Do something silly. Laugh at yourself!

Not because any of that magically fixes what you’re going through.

But because you can be sad AND still make room for a little joy. 💜

I’m still navigating my own grief and loss, and I’m learning that taking care of my mental wellbeing doesn’t always have to involve some profound breakthrough.

Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up for a photoshoot and letting my ADHD turn the whole thing into a comedy routine. 😂

And if my ridiculousness makes someone else smile while helping me feel a little more like myself?

Even better.

Now tell me… what’s YOUR go-to way of getting yourself out of a funk? 👀👇

And please tell me I’m not the only one whose ADHD can turn a perfectly normal activity into an entire production. 😂

#SEWBalance #MentalWellbeing #GriefAndHealing

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Y’all!!! What in the last 10 years was THAT?! 😂💩

Seriously. If your 2016 self could see everything you’ve been through by 2026, would they even BELIEVE you?!

Because I don’t know about you, but this last decade has been one hell of a ride.

The plot twists nobody warned us about.

The losses we never imagined.

The plans that went completely sideways.

The people who came into our lives.

The people who left.

The things we thought would break us.

And all those moments when we looked around and thought…

Well… NOW WHAT?!

I swear, if 2016 me heard even HALF of what was coming, she’d probably ask to speak to whoever was in charge of this operation. 😂

But you know what?

I think she’d also be pretty freaking proud.

Not because we handled everything perfectly.

Not because life got easier.

And DEFINITELY not because we’ve mastered the art of having our shit together. 😂

But because somewhere along the way, we learned a few things.

How to recognize when something isn’t working.

How to stop fighting what we can’t change.

How to take better care of ourselves when life gets messy.

And how to keep finding our way back to balance, even when life keeps throwing us off.

That’s what @sewbalance has always meant to me.

Not a life without shitstorms.

A better way to navigate them. 💜

And if there’s one thing I’d want my 2016 self to know, it’s this:

You have NO idea what’s coming. But you’re going to surprise yourself with what you can handle.

Would she be exhausted by the recap?

ABSOLUTELY. 😂

But I think she’d be proud of who we’ve become.

Now I need to know: If your 2016 self met your 2026 self, what would their FIRST reaction be? 👀👇

1. WAIT… WHAT HAPPENED?! 😳
2. We survived ALL THAT?! 😂
3. Damn, look at us now! 💜
4. I need a vacation before you continue. 🏝️

Drop your number below! And if you’ve got a plot twist from the last decade worth sharing, I want to hear it. 😂👇

#SEWBalance #PersonalGrowth #MentalWellbeing

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What if the discomfort you’re trying to get rid of isn’t actually the problem?

I think we’ve gotten a little too good at treating discomfort like a warning sign.

This feels hard.
This feels awkward.
I don’t like how this feels.

So naturally, something must be wrong.

Except sometimes discomfort is exactly what makes sense.

Setting a boundary can be uncomfortable.
Having the conversation can be uncomfortable.
Doing something differently can be uncomfortable.
Slowing down can be uncomfortable.
Letting yourself feel something instead of immediately trying to make it better can be REALLY uncomfortable.

I’m being reminded of that one in real time.

There are things in life we can change, things we can work through, and things we simply have to learn how to carry.

Knowing the difference matters.

That’s part of balance too.

A SEW Check for this week:

What feels uncomfortable in your life right now, and have you automatically assumed that means something is wrong?

Maybe it is.

But maybe uncomfortable is exactly where you need to be right now.

#SEWBalance #MentalWellbeing #PersonalGrowth

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Losing my dad has reminded me of something I already knew but apparently needed to learn all over again:

There is no being “good” at grief.

You don’t get better at losing people just because you’ve survived loss before.

Eight years ago, I lost my mom. I know what deep loss feels like. I know grief can be messy and unpredictable. I know there’s no right way to move through it.

And still, losing my dad is its own thing.

He was his own person.
Our relationship was its own relationship.
And this absence has its own shape.

I’m learning that I don’t need to compare the two losses or expect myself to know how to navigate this one just because I’ve been here before.

I haven’t.

Not here.

So right now, I’m giving myself permission to experience this loss exactly as it comes: the sad parts, the ridiculous parts, the frustrating parts, and the memories that make me laugh when I thought I was going to cry.

All of it.

Because grief doesn’t care how much experience you have.

It simply asks you to figure out how to love someone who isn’t here anymore.

And that part really sucks.

If you’ve lost someone close to you, know that I feel you. And if you haven’t, hold the people you love a little closer today.

Call them. Hug them. Tell them you love them.

You’ll be glad you did.

#sewbalance #grief #mentalhealth

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Mentally, I’m in a hoodie by a bonfire. Physically, it’s still hot as Hades outside. 😂🍂

But listen… I am READY.

Ready for cooler mornings.

Falling leaves.

Bonfires.

Leggings and hoodies.

Pumpkins everywhere.

That warm fall glow that somehow makes everything feel a little cozier.

ALL. OF. IT. 😂🙌

And maybe that’s why I love the idea of making room this time of year.

Fall is such a visible reminder that seasons change.

But they don’t change all at once.

Apparently Mother Nature did not get my memo that I am DONE with summer. 😂

So there’s some patience involved too.

And honestly, that feels a lot like life.

We can be ready for something different before we’re actually there.

A new routine. A slower pace. Better boundaries. More rest. More joy. A change we’ve been working toward.

Sometimes there’s this weird in-between where you know what you’re ready for…but you still have to give yourself time to get there.

That’s @sewbalance too! 💜

Not forcing the next season.

Just paying attention to what you want more of and making a little room for it as you go.

So while I impatiently wait for the temperature to get the freaking memo… 😂

What are YOU most excited to make room for this fall? 🍂

And I need to know:

What officially makes it feel like fall to you?

Cool mornings? Hoodies? Football? Pumpkin everything? Bonfires? Changing leaves?

#SEWBalance #FallVibes #MentalWellbeing

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Think you know what’s throwing off your mental health and wellbeing? You might be surprised. 👀

I created the SEW Balance Assessment…and I STILL take it.

Because sometimes I think I know exactly what needs my attention, and then my results are basically like:

Ummm… Lepa? We actually need to talk about THIS. 😂

And THAT is why I keep checking my SEW Score.

In about 5 minutes, the @sewbalance Assessment looks at 15 areas of your everyday wellbeing - including sleep, stress, movement, nutrition, routines, relationships, technology use, support and more.

Not to diagnose you.

Not to tell you everything you’re doing wrong.

And definitely not to see whether you’ve achieved some magical state of perfect balance. 😂

It’s a quick way to step back and see:

What’s going well?
What might need my attention?
And what can I actually DO something about?

Because taking care of your mental health shouldn’t only happen when life goes completely sideways.

Sometimes you just need to check your freaking dashboard. 😂💜

So… what’s YOUR SEW Score telling you? 👀

Take the FREE SEW Balance Assessment at www.sewbalance.com or through the link in my bio.

Then come back and tell me: Did your results confirm what you already knew, or did something surprise you? 👇

#SEWBalance #MentalHealth #MentalWellbeing

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The daily struggle of figuring out whether I’m overthinking… or whether I’ve just noticed something everyone else missed. 😂

Because sometimes my brain takes one tiny detail and builds an entire case around it.

And sometimes I’m like…

Wait a damn minute. 👀

That math is mathing.

Be honest: which one are you today?

DA = Dumb🍑overthinking everything

SA = Smart🍑 putting two and two together

Comment DA or SA - and then add the detail your brain is currently investigating. 😂👇

Bonus points if your answer is:

“Both. Obviously.”

Before you send the text, make the assumption, or mentally write the closing argument, try a quick reality check:

What do I actually know?

What am I assuming?

What else could be true?

Because sometimes you’re overthinking.

Sometimes you’re onto something.

And sometimes you just need a pause before your brain turns one tiny detail into a full-blown investigation. 😂

#Overthinking #mentalhealth #SEWBalance

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Sometimes the person hurting your feelings is… you. 😬

Not because what you’re feeling isn’t real.

But because you’ve replayed the conversation 14 times.

Analyzed the text.

Rewritten what you should have said.

Decided what they probably meant.

And now you’re emotionally reacting to a conversation that never actually happened.

Overthinking has a sneaky way of turning our fears, assumptions, and worst-case scenarios into facts.

And when we’re already stressed or overwhelmed, it can be even harder to tell the difference between what actually happened and the story our brain created around it.

That’s why this week at SEW Balance, we’re talking about moving from overthinking → action.

Not reckless action.
And definitely not “just stop overthinking.” 🙄

Sometimes action is simply giving your brain somewhere else to go.

Ask the question.
Have the conversation.
Write it down.
Take the walk.
Make the decision.

Or admit: I actually don’t know what they meant.

Because sometimes peace doesn’t come from thinking your way to the perfect answer.

Sometimes it comes from realizing you’ve thought about it enough. 💜

SEW Check: What have you been overthinking that might need an action instead?

And if you’ve been spending a little too much time stuck in your own head lately, Well… Now What?! was written for exactly these moments.

It helps you recognize what’s throwing you off, figure out what you can actually do about it, and find your way back to balance. 📚💜

#Overthinking #MentalHealthTools #SEWBalance

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Apparently my definition of “making it” has gotten VERY specific. 😂

The man has listened to me talk about @sewbalance for YEARS.

The ideas. The books. The pivots. The “Wait… I think I figured something out!” conversations. And probably more discussions about mental health and wellbeing than any husband ever signed up for. 😂

The least I can do is make his future explanations easier.

“Just Google her.”

That’s the dream, people. 😂🙌

Okay, maybe helping change the way we think about mental health and getting practical wellbeing tools into the hands of more people is the ACTUAL goal…

But as a mental health therapist turned author and founder, I’m not gonna lie.

Having my husband casually drop a “Just Google her” someday would be pretty satisfying. 😂

Until then… back to work.

Happy Saturday Ya’ll! 💜

#SEWBalance #MentalHealth #WomenInBusiness

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POV: You used to be a club kid and THIS is where all the fun happens now. 😂

Saturday night.

Face mask on.
Puzzle out.
Serotonin playing in the background.

And you know what?! I’m not even mad about it. 😂

Apparently somewhere along the way, staying home, taking care of my skin, working on a puzzle and protecting my peace became a REALLY good time.

Who even am I?! 😂

Maybe this is another version of Well… Now What?!

Life changes. WE change. And sometimes the things that used to make us feel good aren’t the same things that make us feel good now.

So we adjust. We figure out what works for THIS version of ourselves. And apparently, we buy really good face masks and get excited when two puzzle pieces fit together. 😂🧩

Who’s with me on this self-care adventure?! 🙋‍♀️

And what does a wild Saturday night look like for YOU these days? 😂👇

#WellNowWhat #SEWBalance #SelfCare

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POV: You kept trying - and something finally grew. 🌱💜

If you’ve been following along, you know my orchid journey has been a JOURNEY. 😂

I’ve tried different methods. Researched. Changed things. Killed more orchids than I care to admit. 😬 And had plenty of “Well… now what?!” moments along the way.

Eventually, I stopped trying to grow them the way I thought I was supposed to and started paying attention to what MY orchids seemed to need.

I switched from the traditional bark and moss approach to more of a hydroponic setup, where I could actually see the roots, watch what was happening, and adjust as I went.

And LOOK!!! We have new stems growing! 🥹🌱

I know it’s just an orchid, but there’s something really satisfying about finally seeing growth after spending so much time wondering if you’re doing any of it right.

And maybe that’s your Sunday reminder too.

Sometimes learning something new looks like trying.

Failing.
Adjusting.
Trying something different.

And occasionally killing a few orchids along the way. 😂

It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bad at it.

You might just not have figured out what works yet.

So if you’re learning something, building something, healing from something, or trying to make a change in your life and you’re frustrated because you’re not seeing the growth yet…

Keep going. 💜

Your “Well… now what?!” might eventually turn into “OMG… LOOK!!!” 🥹🌱

What are you still trying to grow - personally, professionally, or literally? Share it below, and let’s encourage each other through the messy middle. 👇💜

#WellNowWhat #GrowthMindset #PersonalGrowth #KeepGoing #OrchidCare

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Y’all be out here buying the GOOD wine thinking maybe if you pay a little extra, you’ll feel a little less stressed. 😂🍷

No judgment. I get it.

But if you’re dealing with stress, overthinking, or emotional exhaustion, my book gives you practical tools to understand what’s really driving it - and what to do about it.

If you’re tired of just coping and ready to feel more grounded, clear, and in control, grab your copy today. 📖✨

Link in bio.

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