We have all made mistakes in our lives. We have made big, small, drastic, minute mistakes that have impacted our lives in some way or another and some that continue to haunt us even to this day. But we have become so well-versed in avoiding the thoughts that cause us to reflect on our actions and busy ourselves with anything and everything in order to prevent the guilt that comes along with it. From hanging out with friends and partying every night, to drinking and sleeping around in an attempt to block out the pain you have been feeling only builds on the mountain of shame and guilt.

The idea of silence is scary. Not many people want to be left alone with their thoughts and actually be able to reflect on the things they have done. But this is where we get it all wrong. Silence is such a gift! Spending time by ourselves and doing some self-reflection is the only way we can improve our lives. When it's go, go, go all of the time, we have very little time to sit down and evaluate what is good and bad in our lives, what needs to change and what's working well. When we avoid alone time, we are sabotaging ourselves and stagger our growth.

Taking the time to sit down, journal, and pray about all of these things, it allows us to reset and take inventory of how we're feeling about our lives and make a game plan for the next day, week, and month with what to do differently. This is so important to our self-care. It gives us time to focus on our mental health in a world that's obsessed with the next thing and keeping ourselves occupied.

Do yourself a favor and give yourself at least 10 minutes of silence to start out without checking your phone or using social media. Allow yourself to sit in silence or journal quietly and let your thoughts flow. It is okay if it is painful to face your mistakes or your shortcomings. Facing them now slowly tears down that mountain of guilt, shame, and stress you have been feeling. Let yourself to feel all the emotions. "All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone" -Blaise Pasca.