Yoga has been one of the most powerful tools in my life thus far, providing both a physical and emotional way for me to sort through thoughts clogging up my head. It helped me through my crippling anxiety senior year of high school, my depression when it hit hard freshman year of college, the health problems I am currently experiencing and everything in between.

While sifting through my thoughts and trying to empty my head of worry during Shavasana at my Vin-Yin class tonight, I heard some words very clearly that I needed to hear for some time now.

Maddy, it’s not the end of the world. You are O.K.

And just like that, I zapped from my mat on the studio’s floor and into a split second of jolting clarity about everything going on in my life.

Through the pain and the tears, I finally had a good day. A good day that gave me enough hope to make it to the next. And then another. Now I'm thriving.

Copper toxicity wasn't a part of my medical knowledge until about two months ago (and trust me, I have plenty of medical knowledge thanks to previous experience.) I never expected it to affect me and I never expected I would have to detox a heavy metal from my body.

I stumbled upon some thought-provoking questions by Kathleen Hart while reading a book from my sister, and spent some time letting them marinate before writing down my answers in my daily journal.

In the busy rush of life it can be hard to remember what you’re living for, especially for us women being pulled in a thousand different directions. Work, school, relationships, family. These things can bring us just as much stress as they can bring us joy, leaving our souls feeling depleted even when we know God is on our side. Find some peace in the middle of this crazy week by looking outward from yourself and upward to God, remembering how much you are loved and how equipped you are to do something great.

Take some time to think about these questions and answer them for yourself. I have included a bit more depth about each of them as well as some suggested accompanying verses from Hart!

I haven’t been much of a reader since my 9th grade teacher slapped a copy of Great Expectations on my desk. I’ve become an expert in the art of leaving books unfinished. After traveling to New York in March and finishing an entire novel on my way back to Austin, my thirst for literature came rushing back.

If you’re looking for a novel to read (or gift) over Christmas break, take a look at my favorite titles of the year.

I remember being sixteen years old, a junior in high school, laying on our kitchen’s cold tile floor in January after drill team practice. No thoughts were running through my head, no feelings were coursing through my body. I was just there. Doing nothing. Feeling nothing.

Five years later, I return home from college on a sunny, cheerful October weekend to watch my sister walk across the high school’s football field and claim her title as homecoming queen. My parents tell me I look great and ask me how I’m doing. They know I’ve been feeling down lately. I say I’m fine, but I still don’t feel anything.

Depression, for me — it’s different for everyone — never gradually occurs. It hits. It hits hard, like a wrecking ball straight to the mind. It renders me completely useless, leaving me laying in bed staring off into space for hours at a time. Not only that, but my body physically aches. It’s the most uncomfortable feeling. I don’t want to see anyone, I don’t want to talk to anyone.

I know I need to hang out with my friends. My parents tell me I should keep myself busy by hanging out with people, but when I make plans to meet with my friends it’s like I have nothing to say. Even if I have something to say, it's hard for me to form it into a thought I can communicate. I can barely function socially when I'm in the throes of a deep depression. My friends don’t know what I’m feeling, and how can they? How can you explain depression to someone who has never experienced its depths? How can you make someone understand something so personal unless they have felt it themselves?

On the surface, journaling gives you an outlet to explore your feelings, untangle confused thoughts and relax when you’re feeling stressed. On a deeper level, journaling can actually make you a healthier, more positive and successful person.

If you have an interest in journaling but aren't sure where to start, here are a few different methods you can experiment until you find out what works for you. Happy writing!