Category: Empowering Discussions

Empowering Discussions

An Open Letter to the Outcasts and Trend Setters, Lovers and Haters, Wild and Tame

Impower You

Dear World,
You are such beautiful souls. Life can be rough and you may sometimes feel tired, unappreciated, alone or worthless, but you are never alone and you have worth. You are a squishy mess of bones and muscles just like everyone else. I want you to feel accepted and feel connected.


You are such beautiful souls. Life can be rough and you may sometimes feel tired, unappreciated, alone or worthless, but you are never alone and you have worth. You are a squishy mess of bones and muscles just like everyone else. I want you to feel accepted and feel connected.

Some people may be full of too much fear and be cruel toward you, but remember that is their reflection, not yours. Hopefully one day they can unlearn their hate and prejudice, but until then we must keep on our own path, live our own truth, be the change we want.

I accept who you love, your heritage, your beliefs, your hopes and dreams and fears and doubts. I want you to know that I will never judge you, use you or be cruel to you. Nobody deserves that. We all have our own paths to walk, our own riddles to solve. We have to do it our own way even if we don’t understand why.

Your smile makes me smile. Your kindness lifts me up. Your laughter brings me joy. You are unique and I love that about you. Sometimes you will teach new lessons to others. Sometimes others will teach you lessons. You will learn and unlearn so much in your lifetime. Allow that to happen. Don’t fight change. Use change to grow and expand your compassion and knowledge. We all need these changes because life is a journey and there is so much to learn and unlearn.

All the different languages you speak and places you are from, the different causes you stand up for and passions that give you that special spark, the work you do, the places you volunteer, the art you create, the shared belief that we can create a healthier world for EVERYONE; all of that from YOU gives me hope and a sense of belonging.

You makes life interesting, happy, worthwhile.

When you want to give up, remember that you are capable. You are stronger than you think. You matter and so do your dreams. Without you the word would be a different place. It wouldn’t be as rich. You are an integral part of this world.

Your voice and vision are important.

You will bend, but never break. You will hurt, but you can heal.

As long as your intentions are to support everyone and everything with love and acceptance the world needs you. We need more acceptance, not tolerance, but flat out acceptance that we are all different, but equal. We are all important and our individual journeys are equally important.

I’m so grateful for the diversity of our world, for those who never stop believing and for those who tried, but gave up. Thank you for being you. I hope you continue trusting your true self and exploring new paths on your journey.

If you’re still discovering who you are and feeling lost, than know that you will find it one day soon. I don’t know how or what form it will take, but you will. Look inside and listen to your voice, only your voice. Just keep trying, keep believing in yourself, respect yourself and know that you have a friend who believes in you, wants you to be happy, wants you to be healthy.

You matter. You always have and you always will.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other free creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

D.I.Y. Therapy

DIY Therapy: Biological Response of Love and Love of Self

Impower You

Love is an emotion, a biological response that encourages species survival. With love, parents care for and protect their children and children care for their elderly parents. A love of self is also a biological response that encourages survival in personal self-care. So let’s strengthen the naturally occurring sense of self-love. with daily actions.

Create a daily routine of self-love. If necessary set three reminders per day. Saturating yourself with love in the early stages of healing or recovery will keep you from going down that unwanted, unhealthy space. Set the calendar on your phone to remind you. If you can’t do that, put sticky notes by your bed, at your desk, in your pockets, on the fridge, wherever you will see those. You can even do this with your friends and be support for each other.

When writing affirmations or love-notes your own voice and preferred words. Below are examples for you to use or build upon.

Morning Affirmation: 

“This morning I choose to love myself unconditionally. Today is a gift that I am ready to receive. I choose to let go of drama and anger. I will live this day in love and compassion. I am deserving of self-love.”

Afternoon Affirmation:

“Despite any negative thoughts so far today, I must remember to love myself unconditionally. I know that I am loved and supported by true friends and family. I also know that I am not here to be perfect, I am here to be myself.”

Evening Affirmation:

“Today I practiced self-love because I know that. I am loved, that I am capable of loving myself, and that I am made of love. I choose to celebrate my successes and to accept my failures. I go to sleep knowing deep in my bones that I am capable of creating my best life and that I can handle whatever comes my way.”

It was many years of practice, failure, and success to become a loving person to my self. It was even more years of stretching to share that love with others. Now that I am fully aware that I can be my own hero, I can hold space for others. I hope this inspires you to continue your journey until you also reach this awareness.

Peace and hugs, Leah

 If you desire extra support to stay on top of your self-care practice, check out my 3 month challenge: Dive Deeper Into Self-Care.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other free creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for a higher contribution.

Empowering Discussions

Quotes and Books for the Grieving Process

Impower You

Two years ago I was researching death and grief for my book Jody’s Garden. I recently stumbled over some notes that reminded me of how little our society respects grief and how we attempt to ignore death as part of our journey. Below are a few quotes from books that stood out in my research. If you are dealing with death or grief, I hope this give you some sort of healing.

“I am not advocating that humor should cover up grief or that laughter need replace tears. It is important to grieve the loss of a loved one. Unresolved grief often causes problems down the road. What I am saying is that laughter and tears are both valid in the dying and grieving process.” Allen Klein In the Face of Death and Dying.

“…it certainly seems time to move beyond our current habit of using untested theories to create lengthy and agonizing models for loss, ones that I believe have created more fear and anxiety about the experience.” Ruth Davis Koigsberg, The Truth About Grief: The Myth f it’s Five Stages and the New Science of Loss.

“Sometimes we need help to break through our decorum, In many parts of the world, professionals are hired to cry at funerals. Wailers, usually women, stand by the grave and openly grieve, their high cries a kind of ululation, spread among the mourners until they too break down.” Eve Joseph, In the Slender Margin: The Intimate Strangeness of Death and Dying.

Let it go or talk it out. Whichever method is best for you. Grief is an opportunity to heal wounds, settle feuds, let go of anger so that you can heal. Grief is frustrating because it is so final. You might be angry and you are allowed to feel that way. Find ways to forgive the transgressions of your loved ones, before or after death. At least try.

Thank you for subscribing to my blog. I hope you find the content helpful as you walk through this interesting world.

 

I’m an artist and writer on a mission to bring healing arts into the mainstream. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

Empowering Discussions

How to Tell if a Woman is a Bitch

Impower You
It’s not always easy to spot a bitch, but once you know what to look for it becomes easier to identify, label and put a woman in a box.
1. She stands up for herself and others. Think Harriet Tubman or Wilma Mankiller.
2. She doesn’t care about your opinion of how she should dress or that you want her to smile. Think Serena Williams or Angelina Jolie.
3. She is comfortable with her sexuality, even if it doesn’t exist in a standard form.
4. She is a feminist who publicly speaks for equality. Think Margaret Cho or Jessica Williams.
Now you now how to spot a bitch. What did I miss? Leave a comment below about how you are a bitch or a bitch you admire.
 I have a seesaw relationship with “bitch”. I don’t like the negative connotations, but at the same time it offends me less and less as I really don’t care about a word holding that much power over me. I get called a bitch when I’m walking down the street and ignore the men who sexually harass me. I get called a bitch by internet trolls when I speak for compassion, and by men who don’t understand my NO is as valid as their yes. I was often called a bitch in school when I stood up for myself or talked back to boys and girls. So, yes I am a bitch most of the time and I have no problem with that.
You deserve to love yourself completely, totally, fully as much as anyone does. Keep healing and I will hold your heart in my heart. If you desire extra support to stay on top of your self-care practice, check out my 30 day challenge Dive Deeper Into Self-Care.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for a higher contribution.

Empowering Discussions

Short Hair and Freedom: Releasing What I Don’t Need

Impower You

Releasing things that no longer serve me. I took scissors to my long locks last week. I just don’t need long hair anymore. I don’t need long hair to feel feminine, to look pretty, to take care of. This is a freedom I’ve yet to experience. I just put on a headband or wrap and I’m out the door. I’ve always loved my hair, but I needed a change.

It’s been a summer of letting go. I let go of devaluing my work by giving it for free. Now I charge what I’m worth. Wow what a difference that makes! 


I let go of friends who said they loved me, but blew me off after I visited them in the hospital when others didn’t, and friends who called me their bff and didn’t even say goodbye when they moved. I don’t even feel sad because I know they aren’t really friends, just beautiful people I met on this journey.  I am not their priority and they are no longer mine.


I let go of the worn out habit of putting others before myself and I’ve never felt better. I feel loved, supported and valued by myself and my true friends and family. I wish everyone could feel this way. Thank you to all who respect me with your words and actions. I hope you feel supported by me in the same way.

What do YOU need to release? How can YOU give yourself more freedom to focus on what is truly important?
Peace and hugs, Leah

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

Empowering Discussions

Walking Downtown in Broad Daylight

Impower You
This is what it’s like to be a tween girl and realize that in our culture, your body doesn’t belong to you.
I understood this when I was in the 5th grade and noticed adult men leering at me, even when I was with my mom or brother, people that I was supposed to feel safe with, I didn’t. I felt exposed and embarrassed.
I have taught self-defense for seven years now. I feel safer to walk alone at night and in shorts. Yet, even just two weeks ago when it was 90 degrees and I chose to wear shorts, I was sexually harassed by a much older man. He was DISGUSTING. I had headphones in my ears to appear as if I wasn’t listening, but I could hear all the gross things he mentioned wanting to do to me. This was not a safe area. I did not feel safe in telling him chinga te. So I waited for the light to change and crossed the street. My stomach felt sick and my heart was so angry. I so wanted to hit that man, but I knew that if I did, I could be considered the assaulter and be arrested. Or worse, he could have hurt me. He was a large man. So I ignored him.
On the same walk at the same time, another younger man was following me on my scooter vying for my attention trying to start a conversation. I ignored him. He wasn’t saying anything rude. but it was clear by the third block I wasn’t talking to him. So at that moment he said ” I know you can hear me” and scootered off. It was annoying, but I wasn’t in the mood to have a conversation with him about how to leave women alone when they are not interested.
It is exhausting being female in this sexist culture we all contribute to creating. This is why I rarely say hello to men when I am walking. It’s why i always try to make eye contact with other women. It’s why I was uncomfortable and often fearful for most of my life to be alone in public. It’s why I don’t have any close straight male friends. I just don’t trust men. Why would I after decades of being sexually harassed?
 If you desire extra support in transforming your life, check out my Dive Deeper Self-Care Challenge.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for $12 per month.

Empowering Discussions

Money Guilt and Privilege

Impower You
Yesterday I was chatting about earning more money with my friend Clarice Connolly (Check out her awesomeness) and she asked if I had considered dog walking. I jokingly said, after this current dog sit for an anxious dog who glares at me, I would never do it again. What I realized in that moment is I’m done with focusing my energy on jobs that help pay the bills, yet don’t resonate with me and have nada in common with my goals. Another realization was that I have felt very guilty about my privilege of being able to get by when others are less fortunate. My being poor and my guilt doesn’t stop their suffering. It only adds new suffering to our community.
I feel so much joy with my new mindset of earning what I am worth and knowing that if I continue focusing on writing and creative work, I will continue to succeed. Just a few years ago I would only occasionally find odd writing jobs. It was frustrating, but it didn’t need to be. All that time, I have been building my writing portfolio. I simply wasn’t looking at it like that. I am good at it and my client reviews are 4-5 star.
As my perspective shifts I am feeling a shift in my whole body and my heart. It’s wild, I love it an I’m not going back to my old addictions of guilt and poverty.
Check out the previous post on my new definition of rich.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for $12 per month.

Empowering Discussions

Transforming the Definition of Being “Rich”

Impower You
Since August of last year I have been working on changing my money story. Finally, I have a healthy story. What a year! WOW! There were times I really doubted myself, but each time that happened I resumed my practice of self-care, reached out, and returned to challenging myself.
Recently I have felt the physical change. My body feels lighter. I’m no longer worried or fretting over lack. I am at this joyful place. I’m not rich with money yet, but I plan on changing that soon. I’ve also changed my definition of rich from having everything to having enough to afford all the experiences of my personal, authentic life.
I feel a bit like a magical creature in this moment. I feel this way because I know that money was the last major blockage I needed to work through. So yea, I feel magical. I just conquered the last peak of a long climb.
The final push was reading a book with a title that turned me off. But I was bored so I flipped to the first page. I was waiting at my friends casa while she got ready to go out when that first page grabbed me by the shoulders and said “THIS IS MY STORY!” HA! The lesson is don’t judge a book by it’s cover, flip it open. Same can be said for most things I believe.
The book is “You Are a Badass At Making Money” by Jen Sincero.

 

 If you desire extra support in transforming your life, check out my Dive Deeper Self-Care Challenge.

 

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for a higher contribution.

Empowering Discussions

Issue Eight of Radical is Here!

Impower You

Issue Eight is here and I’m stoked to announce we have new artists!

In this issue you will meet Sarwat Pawar from Dehli, and Chief Ladybird and Aura from the US and Canada.

We also have our regular contributors Inisa Fajra, Iris Orpi, Amanda Kazemi, and Kendal Fong.

Download the current copy for free only on Patreon.com/Loviedo.

Read previous issues on the Radical archive page of this site, and Issuu.com.

You deserve to love yourself completely, totally, fully as much as anyone does. Keep healing and I will hold your heart in my heart. If you desire extra support to stay on top of your self-care practice, check out my 3 month challenge: Dive Deeper Into Self-Care.

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other free creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can also receive also receive art in the mail for a higher contribution.

Empowering Discussions

Join the Dive Deeper Self-Care Challenge

Impower You

The Dive Deeper Self Care Challenge has begun! This will be a time to dive into that all the stuff you’ve been avoiding, uncover the roots of your pain or why you’re stuck, and learn how to practice regular self-care for you and your situation. If I can bounce back from a 17 year depression, I believe in others abilities to heal their life. During the challenge, unwanted emotions will arise because that’s what happens when we don’t practice self care or heal our traumas. Trauma lingers withing us until we heal it.

I started this challenge for a few reasons. The first reason is through my own healing and recovery work I’ve learned the importance of regular self-care. Through recovery I have learned that when I didn’t practice often enough I began to feel the negative impact in my daily routine.

The second reason is that many of us hear this message that self-care is about feeling happy and doing anything to make that happen even if its not necessarily good for us, just so we can not feel pain. Things like spending money we don’t have in the instant gratification of retail therapy, or drinking and getting high with friends so we can forget our troubles, or gambling all our spending money on chance and expecting to WIN BIG someday. It could also be working 60 hours a week to earn more money and not focus on what makes us happy from the inside out. These become unhealthy when we don’t use moderation. But by forgetting or ignoring what causes us suffering we are intensifying our problems. This is not self care.

The third reason is to guide those who are desiring to transform their life. This is for you if you really, really, really want to be healthier and love yourself or because you’re sick and tired of being sick and tried. If that’s not enough reasons for you to practice self-care regularly, how about knowing that poor mental health can cause poor physical health and shorten your lifespan.

Are you ready to cultivate a sustainable self-care practice? Are you intrigued and want to learn more? Join me at https://impoweryou.org/divedeeper.

Want to share this with someone who is wanting more self-care in their life? Please do!

Peace and hugs, Leah

I’m an artist and writer with a focus on art therapy. If you would like to support my heart work, please consider becoming a monthly patron on Patreon.com/Loviedo. For $1 a month*, you can fund programs like my D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression E-course, my monthly “Radical” e-zine and other creative healing projects, like “Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists & Writers“.

*You can receive art in the mail every month for only $12 a month.