OnPath Counseling & Wellness

02/20/2026

So much of our anxiety isn’t just about what’s happening right now, but it’s about what’s being reflected back to us through the lens shaped by our fears, past traumas, and experiences.

When we see things through that lens, a neutral situation can feel threatening... a small uncertainty can feel overwhelming... a simple mistake can echo as “I’m not enough.”

Anxiety often grows in the space between what is happening and what we perceive is happening.
Allow yourself to slow down and explore.

Is this fear about the present or is it connected to the past? What story am I telling myself right now? Is there another way to understand this situation?

When we slow down and explore these "reflections," we create room for choice. We begin to separate old wounds and fear from current reality. And in that space, anxiety loses some of its power.

Healing begins when we notice the reflection and choose compassion over criticism. 🤍

02/19/2026

02/18/2026

Your brain doesn’t grow and build new connections when you stay comfortable. It grows when you choose what’s hard.

Every time you lean into a challenge... the difficult conversation, the extra rep at the gym, the cold plunge, you activate a powerful part of your brain called the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC).

This region is associated with:
🧠 Willpower
🧠 Pain tolerance
🧠 Persistence
🧠 Emotional regulation
🧠 Goal-directed behavior

Think of it as your “effort engine.” Research discussed by neuroscientists shows that when you voluntarily do hard things, this area becomes more active. Over time, it can strengthen. In simple terms: choosing discomfort builds mental resilience.

Avoiding difficulty shrinks your capacity.
Choosing difficulty expands it.

The key word is choosing.
Voluntary challenge is different from chronic stress. One builds you. The other drains you.

So today, ask yourself:
What’s one hard thing I’ve been avoiding that would make me stronger?

Do that. Your brain will thank you. 🧠🔥

02/14/2026

02/13/2026

Every step is data. There is no failure, only lessons. Adjust the angle, refine the plan, and keep moving forward.

02/12/2026

🧠❤️

02/11/2026

Sometimes we lose sight that there are so many things within a day that you can appreciate and get excited about. Identify those. Then, allow yourself to tune into gratitude for those things to anchor and expand your present moment and your heart. Allow yourself to see. 🤍

02/11/2026

We continue what we don't change.

02/10/2026

Do you have a tendency to people please? Is it difficult to express yourself, set a boundary, or be ok with the discomfort of letting someone down? Often times, people pleasing gets masked by being kind. If this resonates with you. Allow yourself to pause and notice the energy inside of you. Be curious to explore and go on a journey towards no longer abandoning yourself.