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Archive for the ‘Self-Help’ Category

Self-Help Home Improvement Project offers support for home weatherization – KRCR

Posted: January 24, 2024 at 2:36 am


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Self-Help Home Improvement Project offers support for home weatherization

by Devin Herenda

(KRCR)

REDDING, Calif.

Keeping your home energy-efficient is crucial, especially during winter weather months.

Self-Help Home Improvement Project in Redding has programs to cover the costs of home weatherization, including services like wall insulation and improving heating and cooling units.

The nonprofit partners with PG&E for one program and also has a federally-funded weatherization program.

SHHIP Program Analyst Hailey Hurley told us, As rates change, it is important for our families to try and save as much as we can on utilities. And so having an energy-efficient home really helps in that area, to keep your utilities down as much as possible.

SHHIP has helped weatherize and/or repair 1,800 homes over the past year in Shasta and Tehama counties. The nonprofit also helps families pay their utility bills once a year.

The SHHIP programs are income-based. Everything is free of charge for program participants who fit the income guidelines. Both homeowners and renters can benefit from the programs, as long as homeowners offer permission for tenants to receive the services.

Hurley added, "It's really satisfying because we do have a lot of people that will call in after the fact and wouldn't be able to replace that heating unit or get that heating repair. And because we have our program, that's something that helped them and their family make it through a winter."

The City of Anderson is hosting workshops educating people on how they can apply to the nonprofits programs.

The workshops will continue monthly at Anderson City Hall through April 2024, with the next event being scheduled for Feb. 17.

You can learn more about who is eligible to apply for SHHIP's programs here.

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Self-Help Home Improvement Project offers support for home weatherization - KRCR

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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Legal self-help now offered by circuit court – News- Graphic

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The Scott County Circuit Court at 119 North Hampton Street in Georgetown is now offering free self-help legal resources through the public workstation on site.

This newly available resource comes from a larger state wide push from the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to provide more access to citizens of the commonwealth without the means to obtain it. The portal was designed as a collaboration between the Kentucky Court of Justice and Kentucky Access to Justice Commission.

The portal went live as a soft launch in March. Scott County was one of the many pilot counties where the AOC installed a public workstation. As of now 48 counties in Kentucky have access to these resources, and by June they will be made available to most of the other 72 counties, according to a press release from the AOC.

The portal features an interactive program that assists users in completing common legal forms including uncontested divorce, probate, child support, small claims, name change, expungement, and more.

Its like a Turbo Tax-like program. Weve got a computer here at the courthouse or you can access it from your own home. Its especially good for divorce cases, those can be uncomfortable, said Scott County Circuit Court Clerk Tina Foster.

The portal also provides links to legal information categorized by topic onkyjustice.org, the online legal advice clinicky.freelegalanswers.org/, lawyer referral services and Kentuckys regional civil legal aid programs. The AOC legal forms library is also available through the portal, which provide access to an array of standardized legal forms, including the recently developed forms packet for uncontested divorces involving no children.

The resources, their centralization into a self-help portal and the workstations are major steps toward our continuous goal to improve access to justice for everyone, Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Laurance VanMeter said. For non-attorneys, the legal system can be a mystery. A one-stop shop with user-friendly technology is our solution to thischallenge. The portal makes it far easier for the many people who cant afford an attorney or choose to handle their own everyday issues.

Its really helpful to folks who dont have access to a computer at home or dont have the money for an attorney. Its a really good resource, said Foster

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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7 Self-Development Books To Help You Level Up – Essence

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Embarking on a journey toward personal, financial or career excellence? Snuggle into a cozy spot and curl up with the self-development books on our list. Tailored for both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals, these handpicked titles serve as roadmaps to success. They offer invaluable insights on disciplined financial habits, strategic leadership and the crucial steps to becoming an influential figure in your industry. No matter if youre navigating the entrepreneurial landscape or climbing the corporate ladder, these self-development books are worth the read.

01 Atomic Habits

by James Clear

This bestselling book by James Clear presents practical strategies to build good habits, break bad ones and master tiny behaviors that lead to extraordinary results.

02 The Mountain Is You

by Brianna West

03 Everyday Millionaires

by Chris Hogan

04 Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter

by Curtis Jackson

05 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People

by Stephen R. Covey

06 Its About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage

by Arlan Hamilton

07 Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less

by Tiffany Dufu

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on the links we provide, we may receive compensation.

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7 Self-Development Books To Help You Level Up - Essence

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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22 Self Care Products For A Night In – BuzzFeed

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BuzzFeed Shopping writerEmma Lordalso swears by this. She writes: "I use this on my skin and definitely have noticed results! While it didn't help completely kick my stubborn pre-period hormonal acne,it has done *wonders* with reducing redness on my face, particularly around my nose, and in dealing with my pores.Since I started using it, my primer and foundation goes on a whole lot smoother, andI'm struggling a whole lot less to cover my pores.After using it a few weeks, I read the advice of one reviewer toput this on when your face is slightly moist from washing, rub it in, let it dry, and then put your moisturizer on top of it I've found that it's what got me the best results!"

Promising review: "Recommended from a dermatologist, which is very important when choosing skincare. I use it in the morning after toner then follow up with a light moisturizer, vitamin C, then SPF, and my skin is glowing. Ive received manycomplimentsafter incorporating this into my routine." E. Rice

Get it from Amazon for $13.88.

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22 Self Care Products For A Night In - BuzzFeed

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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Mental Health Monday: Self care tips to help combat the winter blues – FOX 2 Detroit

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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Self-Reliance Composite Index Monitoring Round 2 Report | Sustainable Social Protection and Livelihood Solutions for … – ReliefWeb

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INTRODUCTION

Lebanon has been battling with a series of unprecedented crises that have intensified pre-existing structural weaknesses as a result of years of neglect, political deadlock, and budget mismanagement with minimal capacity of the government to respond. The Government of Lebanon was not prepared to respond to shocks, let alone an economic crisis ranked among the most severe crises episodes globally since the midnineteenth century, with inflation rates recording highest in the world at 139% followed by Zimbabwe and Argentina , The COVID-19 pandemic rated between the top 6 worst pandemics in history 1 , and the Beirut port explosion rated as one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history as stated by the BBC.

In July 2022, the country was downgraded to a lower middle-income country for the first time in 25 years. Over the course of those crises, the local currency has lost more than 98% of its value since its economic collapse began in 2019 recording an all-time high devaluation of 70% between May 2022 and May 2023 leading to high inflation rates, mostly affecting the North Governorate. That said, Lebanese and refugee households face major challenges in accessing food, healthcare, education, and other basic services leading those households to increasingly rely on negative coping strategies such as child labour, child marriage, withdrawing children from schools, excessive debt, undereating to make ends meet.

To address the current situation, the INMAA consortium including Save the Children, Plan International, Akkarouna and LOST, is delivering an EU funded project under the title of Sustainable Social Protection and Livelihood Solutions for Severely Vulnerable Households in Lebanon implemented in Akkar and Baalbek. The project targets vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugee households supporting them to become less reliant on social protection schemes, paving their way to sustainable pathways out of extreme poverty through focusing on productive inclusion (graduation) by bridging social assistance and livelihoods/ resilience pathways and promoting self-reliance.

For this, the program has four primary results for participants, linked to outcomes in social protection, livelihoods promotion, financial inclusion, and social empowerment.

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Self-Reliance Composite Index Monitoring Round 2 Report | Sustainable Social Protection and Livelihood Solutions for ... - ReliefWeb

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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New Municipal Broadband Networks Skyrocket in Post-Pandemic America As Alternative To Private Monopoly Model – Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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As the new year begins, theInstitute for Local Self-Reliance(ILSR) announced today its latest tally of municipal broadband networks which shows a dramatic surge in the number of communities building publicly-owned, locally controlled high-speed Internet infrastructure over the last three years.

Since January 1, 2021, at least 47 new municipal networks have come online with dozens of other projects still in the planning or pre-construction phase, which includes thepossibility of building 40 new municipal networks in California alone.

Ry Marcattilio, Associate Director for Research withILSRs Community Broadband Networks Initiative, said the latest wave of new municipal networks runs the gamut fromconduit-only networkslike the one inWest Des Moines, Iowathat brought Google Fiber, Mediacom, Lumen and local ISP Mi-Fiber to town to offer residents a choice of broadband providers; institutional networks such as theI-net the city of Alexandria, Va. builtto serve local government operations, setting the stage for the city topartner with Tingin providing fiber-to-the-home service citywide; to open-access networks likeYellowstone Fiberin Bozeman, Montana; as well as the massive municipal fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networkunder construction in Knoxville, Tenn.

The latter network is already offering service to Knoxville residents and businesses, though it will take seven to 10 years before theKnoxville Utilities Board(KUB) finishes building out the entire KUB Fiber network passing all 210,000 households in its 688-square-mile service area. Once completed,KUB Fiberwill be one of the largest municipal broadband networks in the nation, rivaling its Chattanooga neighborEPB Fiberand the multi-state footprint ofUTOPIA Fiber.

Inside The Numbers: Enough is Enough

From the Midwest to the Deep South, East Coast to West, weve seen an incredible amount of new energy by cities over the last two years, said Marcattilio, Associate Director for Research with ILSRs Community Broadband Networks Initiative.

Dozens of cities, ranging from five thousand and a hundred thousand residents alike, have decided that enough is enough. Instead of pleading with, or giving additional handouts to the monopoly ISPs, theyve decided to invest in themselves. Its exciting to see so much happening, especially since we know our numbers are not completely exhaustive as there are no doubt cities building networks that have not yet become active or reported service to the FCC.

The latest ILSR tally does not include the plethora of other community broadband networks such asmember-owned electric cooperativesdeploying fiber networks in many hundreds of rural communities across the nation. It also does not include therising number of Tribal Nationsbuilding and operating their own networks to bridge the digital divide in some of the least connected parts of the country.

ILSR last tallied the number of existing municipal networks in 2021. At that time, there were approximately400 municipal broadband networksserving some 600 communities, with nearly 1 in 3 serving nearly every address in the community.

The 47 new municipal networks have been added to ILSRs database, as an increasing number of local communities look to build publicly-owned, locally controlled broadband infrastructure amid a growing public demand for choice and competition among Internet service providers (ISPs).

Christopher Mitchell, who has spearheaded ILSRs effort to track the birth and development of community broadband across the U.S. for the past 16 years as Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative, said:

The monopoly cable and telephone companies frequently claim that there are no problems with broadband in the U.S., even as millions of students cannot access the Internet from their homes, whether in rural or urban areas. These cities remind us of the work that has to be done to make sure everyone can take advantage of modern technologies.

Overcoming Challenges

The growing success of local communities in establishing municipal broadband systems to deliver ubiquitous, affordable, high-quality Internet connectivity hasnt gone unnoticed by Big Cable and the Telecom Titans who consider municipal broadband an existential threat to their bottom lines.

Dark money campaigns, often funded by the big monopoly incumbents, have been popping up across the country in an effort to persuade local officials and residents to reject municipal broadband proposals, prompting theAmerican Association for Public Broadbandto issuealerts to shed light on the misinformationat the center of these campaigns.

Yet, despiteefforts to undermine municipal broadband, in the years to come we expect more communities will join the rising tide of local leaders, residents, and businesses calling for an alternative to the private monopoly model in addressing local connectivity needs.

Here are a few snapshots of new municipal broadband networks that have been lit up for service over the last three years:

Sherburne, NY (Sherburne Connect)

One offour municipalities in New York State splitting $10 millionfrom the states initialConnectALLmunicipal grant program, the Village of Sherburne (est. pop. 1,300) along with three other municipalities (the towns of Nichols, Diana and Pitcairn) were awarded the funds to build municipal-owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks.

In Sherburne, the villages municipal utility, Sherburne Electric, worked with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to extend NYPAs existing middle mile fiber network to bring last-mile fiber service to the villages 1,800 homes and businesses.

The open access network, known asSherburne Connect, offers residentstwo different ISPsfrom which to choose: Fybercom and FiberSpark. Both offer a symmetrical 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) service for $10/month or symmetrical gig speed service for between $30 and $45/month.

With village residents now getting service, thetestimonialsare beginning to pour in with one couple saying the network has brought us to the 21st Century, giving them affordable access to high-speed Internet.

Waterloo, Iowa (Waterloo Fiber)

Construction of theWaterloo Fibernetwork began last summer with agroundbreaking ceremonyhosted by Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart.

A year ago, the city was putting the finishing touches on a plan to spend $115 million to build a fiber network that passes all 67,695 Waterloo residents, after locals approved the city issuing general obligation bonds to fund the start of the three-phase project.

Waterloo officials recently launchedtheir first limited fiber trial with plans to connect its first commercial customers in February.

The project is on target to deploy affordable fiber service at speeds of up to 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) citywide by 2026.

Competing against the likes of CenturyLink and MediaCom, Waterloo Fiber isoffering residential subscriberssymmetrical 100 Mbps service for $30/month; 300 Mbps service for $50/month; symmetrical 1 Gbps service for $70 a month; or symmetrical 10 Gbps service for $110 a month. Business subscribers have the option of symmetrical 300 Mbps service for $110 a month, symmetrical 1 Gbps for $250; or symmetrical 10 Gbps for $290 a month.

Central Vermont Communication Union District (CV Fiber)

The Central Vermont CUD, one of the states10 Communication Union Districtsestablished to provide telecommunication service to most towns across the Granite State,connected its first fiber-to-the-home subscriberin October 2023 in the town of Calais.Construction crews have now built outthe network into East Montpelier and Worcester, now moving on to Woodbury and Middlesex before expanding into the other 14 towns in CVFibers service area.

In late 2022,CVFiberbroke ground on an ambitious plan to build a 1,200-mile fiber-optic network to bring affordable gigabit broadband access to 6,000 rural Vermont addresses deemed underserved by commercial broadband providers. Total network construction is expected to cost $60 million, $27 million of which is being paid for by federal grants made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The remaining cost is expected to be funded by network revenue, loans, and future grant opportunities.

CVFiberoffers subscriberssymmetrical 100 Mbps service for $79 a month; symmetrical 500 Mbps service for $99 a month; symmetrical gigabit service for $129 a month; and symmetrical 2 Gbps service for $199 a month.

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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Walmart shoppers slam new self-checkout policy that’s led to more need for help – The US Sun

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SHOPPERS are clapping back after changes at self-checkout kiosks have them even more frustrated than before.

Customers at Walmart are especially fed up with the rise in employees assisting at self-service checkouts.

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Theft has become a major issue for Walmart, and the company's CEO warned that shoplifting is higher" than it's ever been The U.S. Sun previously reported.

Now, shoppers are feeling the strain as stores take several preventative measures against it.

One Walmart customer recently took to X, formerly known as Twitter, after a shopping trip gone sour.

In a post, she wrote, "Walmart getting beside themselves. now yall got employees at each self checkout register because people stealing too much."

The store did not respond to her complaint.

According to Walmart's website, the retailer is looking for new ways to offer choices at the self-checkout while saving customers time and money.

"Over the past few years, we have rolled out new Hosted Checkouts in a number of our stores," Walmart says. "Our associates working in the Customer Host role can show customers to available registers, help them through the checkout process and answer any questions they may have."

Walmart claims the new checkout process is designed to "help customers complete their shopping even faster."

The store also offers checking out with a cashier.

Walmart+ members have the option to use our mobile Scan & Go feature, which allows for a contactless checkout experience using the phone to scan items during a shopping trip.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Walmart in a request for comment.

In a further effort to prevent theft, Walmart is having employees check customer receipts at the door following their self-checkout experience.

And the checks have similarly riled customers, with several taking to social media tocall out employeeswaiting to confirm their purchases.

Many haverefused to stopfor the checks, with some arguing they're not legally required to do so, andmany lawyershave confirmed customers' suspicions, perLegal Definitions.

Meanwhile, others have tried creative ways to bypass the policy system, including getting a digital receipt on their phone instead of a physical copy at self-checkout.

In most cases, shoppers aren't required to stop for a receipt check atWalmartand can not be forced to.

Shoppers are shielded by privacy protections and may be able to avoid showing a receipt.

But Walmart can still take action if the company believes shoppers are stealing.

It's important to note that receipt check refusals cannot be legally performed at membership-based stores likeCostcoandSam's Club.

The U.S. Sun has also reported on anti-theft measures at Walmart, including one by a shopper whosaid it "made the shopping experience terrible."

Plus, here's what happened at a Walmart checkout that left an elderly shopper upset.

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Walmart shoppers slam new self-checkout policy that's led to more need for help - The US Sun

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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13 wellness and self-care essentials for 2024 – TODAY

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Now that the chaos and busyness of the holiday season is over, the new year has us reflecting on our routines, daily habits and more so we can set ourselves up for success in the year ahead.

If your New Year's resolution is to slow down and carve out more "me" time throughout your day or week, you're in luck. Makho Ndlovu stopped by the 3rd Hour of TODAY to share some items that can help.

Whether it's treating yourself to a new pair of fuzzy slippers or enjoying a self-stirring cup of joe, these practical self-care items make for relaxing additions to any routine.

Seen on TODAY | More self-care essentials

Before bed, wind down with a self-care step that only takes 10 minutes. For smooth, soft and well-nourished hands, slide these gloves on for visible results after that timer turns off.

Made with oats and shea butter, both ingredients well-known for their soothing and smoothing capabilities, these fragrance-free gloves are drip-free as well, meaning you won't be stressing about a mess.

Eliminate time during your morning (or night) routine with this auto-stirring coffee mug. Whether you're mixing coffee and milk, blending together different tea bags, or protein shake powders, this mug does it all with just the push of a button.

This stainless steel mug also comes with a travel lid, making it easy to take while on-the-go. The brand also notes that this kitchen item should be hand washed only, as it's not dishwasher nor microwave safe.

If it's time to retire your pair of beloved fuzzy socks, upgrade to this pair that can be popped in the microwave for an hour's worth of warmth.

These faux-fur slippers promise to provide comfort, thanks to their lavender scent, memory-foam insole and "one-size-fits-most" features.

For fresh flowers on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or bi-monthly basis, treat yourself to a flower subscription that delivers on its promise of fresh, bountiful stems.

The Bouqs Co. offers three different-sized packages, that can be customized with your favorite flower combinations. Shipped from eco-friendly farms, the brand promises that they'll stay fresher for longer.

Even better? TODAY readers can get $20 off your first subscription delivery with the code TODAY20 now through Jan. 24.

There's very few things that invoke a feeling of extreme coziness more than wrapping yourself in a warm towel post-shower. Luckily, this towel warmer can give you exactly that. Not only does it heat up in a single minute, it also heats it up evenly (no cold spots!) so you'll be enveloped in perfect warmth each and every time.

If youre looking for the tools that can help you get some much needed R&R, lifestyle expert Amy E. Goodman previously stopped by TODAY to reveal everything you need for a little bit of self-care. Whether you enjoy retail therapy or prefer to indulge in your skin care routine, keep scrolling to discover all of the self-care essentials worth considering.

TODAY editors love scalp massagers not only because it feels like the ones you get at the salon, but because of the benefits it brings as well.

It helps hair last longer between washes, promote better scalp health and actually helps your hair grow by increasing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles.

If you like to treat yourself to a hot cup of tea every now and then, these innovative tea drops can help to make the brewing process that much easier. Rather than using tea leaves and a bag, you can toss one of these drops in a hot cup of water and stir, then sip away.

Journaling can help boost your mental health, experts told us. If you're ready to build the ritual into your morning routine, Papier makes journals that are just as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional. You'll find a spot to detail your thoughts, habits and check-ins to keep in tune with yourself.

Another one of Goodman's picks that can help you relax is this hot and cold eye mask, which can help relieve eye strain, muscle tension and stress, according to the brand. The weighted eye mask is also filled with clay beads, which the brand says applies a gentle pressure and blocks out light.

Need some help putting your goals into action? Wishbeads designs jewelry to help you keep your goals within reach, so you can work on achieving them. Once you write your intention on a special slip of paper, you can roll it up and place it inside the bracelet and wear it daily as a fashionable reminder.

Have you ever thought about the role your towels and sheets play when it comes to your mood? Goodman picked these lightweight towels that feel good in more ways than one: The waffle weave keeps it airy while the soft cotton retains its shape and feel over time.

Not only does this steamer look pretty, Goodman says, but it actually works. It can be used as an at-home spa treatment to help give your skin a little bit of a glow and hydrates your skin by allowing the steam to seep into your pores.

Goodman received these cards as a gift and says they are "amazing." She uses the deck of 50 cards with her kids to prompt them (and herself) to reflect more often. They're organized into four categories: Rest & Balance, Insight & Awareness, Curiosity & Joy and Kindness and offer an alternative to traditional journaling.

To help support your emotional awareness and growth, Goodman says this deck is like a "toolbox for your feelings." The cards can start a healthy conversation that can benefit your mental well-being, but your purchase does some good, too 50% of the net proceeds are donated to The Loveland Foundation, which helps bring opportunities and healing to communities of color.

Jillian Ortiz is a Production Associate at Shop TODAY.

Sierra is an editorial assistant for Shop TODAY.

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January 24th, 2024 at 2:36 am

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Self-Growth: What It Means to Cultivate Balance – The Teen Magazine

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Have you ever heard the saying that comparison is the thief of joy? With the rise in social media consumption and content, it's easy to find ourselves lost in comparison regarding our bodies, lifestyles, things we own, and ways we feel. Social media seems to constantly be depicting a life you should be living, and it feels as if no matter how far you have come, it's never enough, and you should always be striving for more.

Image Credit: Adrian Swancar from Unsplash

Along these lines, social media influencers, self-defined life coaches, and role models always seem to be selling this lifestyle. It sometimes feels as if you could package up happiness and fulfillment in a supplement, a workout routine, or a self-help book and ship it off to an eager customer. Yet, this isn't the case at all. Social media constantly depicts a false reality and is curated to show you content that will ultimately convince you to continue to participate in consuming content and products.

During the absolute most transitional periods of growth in my life, I hardly felt the need to be on social media. It was overwhelming to be constantly flooded with information about other people's lifestyles and their own self-improvement journeys, and I began feeling isolated, hopeless, and left behind. When I realized that self-improvement, and by extension, people's struggles and issues, were being monetized off of, I felt freed from this unrealistic expectation I had set for myself, which was ultimately hindering my growth.

Self-improvement has become a trend, and like anything else that gains extreme popularity online, it only depicts a very surface-level portrayal of the truth of the issue. Everyone wants to seem happier and healthier online, so they often cherry-pick content that doesn't match with the rest of their lives, so they gain views, followers, and beyond that, prove something to themselves and their mutuals. I see this every day: my mutual broke up with her partner, and within a week, she was posting a new person on her story. My friend broke up with their friend group and quickly began posting about being free of toxic people in their lives. Social media is weaponized in so many forms, and outside viewers don't have the context and perspective to understand that what you are being shown is not always true and does not mean that the person posting is living their best life.

Image Credit: Artem Beliaikin from Unsplash

The people I have met who seem the MOST well-rounded, happy, and satisfied overall in their lives do not try to monetize or profit off of faceless strangers on the internet, nor are they constantly talking about how improved they are. That's because true healing means realizing that the work is never done. Self-improvement does not mean you won't have bad days and make bad decisions.

Self-improvement is not linear; failing to react well to a trigger does not mean you're at ground zero again. It's a learning process and its hard and embarrassing, which is why most people who take self-improvement seriously are not posting about it concisely. No one ever reaches this apex of self-improvement where their life is suddenly perfect forever; it is a process that we continue to work through our entire lives, and it takes years. No 25-year-old fitness influencer on TikTok is living a perfect life because she takes greens and does hot yoga - Get real! People who are truly self-improving don't show it by telling you about it. They show it by being their authentic self and letting you feel inspired by how they carry themselves.

Does that mean you should completely cut social media out of your life? I don't think so. I think the internet can be a useful tool in your self-growth journey, but in order to healthily incorporate social media into your life, you need perspective.

Constantly consuming self-improvement content is one extreme, but totally isolating yourself is the other extreme. Time and time again, I have seen people claim that they're healed and protecting their peace by cutting off people in their lives and self-isolating. In reality, they are not putting themselves in positions in which their wounds are triggered, and they are forced to react in a healthy and self-serving way. Isolating yourself puts you in a position in which you are never forced to exercise important self-growth skills such as conflict resolution and reactionary behaviors, and language. Cutting off the outside world is not the solution - community is an essential part of growth; it's just about how you utilize your community and resources.

Image Credit: Darius Bashar from Unsplash

In most cases, you don't need to buy a subscription or a meal plan. The resources you need are usually already available and for free, which is why I say the internet and community found there can be a useful tool. Texts and TED Talks about self-improvement are great and freely available, as is access to research about nutrition and exercise, planning and time management, academic resources, and tutoring.

Most of the products marketed to us by influencers are targeted and hyped up to be seen as quick fixes when the sad reality is that there is NO quick fix for healing. The long and hard process and the patience and discipline required are a part of the value of undertaking the journey.

You cannot hate yourself into loving yourself. The actions you take to self-improve must come from a place of love for every version of yourself, including the past, present, and future. If you are trying to hate yourself for improving your life, it will never consistently last.

The solution here is not to go to one extreme and drop a few hundred on workout gear and self-help books. Nor is it to delete all socials and lock yourself in your house. The solution is to refocus the lens.

Understand that you should not be comparing yourself to the people or lifestyles that you see on social media, but rather, you should be comparing yourself to yourself. Compassionately look back at the worse versions of yourself and thank them for getting you where you are today. Redefine the term self-improvement and the frame through which you perceive and achieve it. You are the only standard - the only bar- that you should be setting for yourself.

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Self-Growth: What It Means to Cultivate Balance - The Teen Magazine

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