Faith

Faith means you trust in someone or something. For the context of what is found on Confidence & Chaos, the category FAITH refers to faith in God, particularly in regard to Christianity.

Want to boost your confidence? Are you learning to embrace the chaos in life? Growing closer to God can only help. Sometimes sharing or asking questions about our faith is intimidating. We don’t want to alienate non-believers so we censor ourselves. Instead, seek to share when you feel compelled; that’s God working within you.

Can you lead a fulfilling life with bipolar WITHOUT medication?

March 23, 2021
Faith, Mental Health

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a little over five years ago. At the time, I was only two weeks postpartum with my daughter so medication was off the table. I was breastfeeding & had no intention to stop until we were both ready. At the time, I thought living with bipolar without medication would be a temporary thing. But, now I am wondering if there was something to it… My original psychiatrist told me… Read More »Can you lead a fulfilling life with bipolar WITHOUT medication?

You Do Not Deserve Happiness

March 2, 2021
Faith, Mental Health, Productivity

Depression is a gnarly beast. It tricks you into thinking you are unworthy & unloved. It tricks you by changing your brain & giving you that voice that tells you all the things you don’t deserve & shouldn’t strive toward. But, the one thing it gets right is that you do not deserve happiness. No one deserves happiness. It’s not something to be earned or worked toward in that way. Happiness isn’t some reward for… Read More »You Do Not Deserve Happiness

what would you do if you knew you would be dead in just 2 years? The family took a photo on Easter Day 1998. "Pie" was mom's nickname. Get Well Pie.

What If You Were Going to Be Dead in Just 2 Years?

November 17, 2020
Faith, Mental Health

I’m not really dying. Or, at least, I have no real reason to believe it. But, since I was a teenager, I’ve had this irrational belief that I wouldn’t make it to my 41st birthday. I just turned 39 years old. You do the math! So, what would you do if you were going to be dead in just 2 years?? When I was 16 years old, I got a phone call from my step… Read More »What If You Were Going to Be Dead in Just 2 Years?

Reta Jayne wearing a crown, I believe every year God gives us on this Earth is a reason to be celebrated, and my mama always said to celebrate your birthday all month long, and it's my birthday month. I celebrate my birthday all month long!

How I Celebrate My Birthday All Month Long

November 10, 2020
Faith, Mental Health

How do YOU celebrate YOUR birthday?? Going out dancing? Dinner out with family? Something entirely different? For me, it’s most definitely morphed over the years, but one thing that’s stayed fairly constant is that I celebrate my birthday ALL month long! This doesn’t mean I literally wear a crown around… BUT, I could. 😉 And it’s not about vanity. I swear! It’s about actually celebrating YOU. It’s about taking some intentional time to reflect on… Read More »How I Celebrate My Birthday All Month Long

Your Past Does Not Define You; It Is Only Part of Your Story

March 11, 2020
Confessions, Faith, Mental Health

There are moments in life that mark a very clear before & after. It’s a point in your life’s timeline when, in looking back, you can clearly see a remarkable change as a result of an event. Do you know the types of events I am talking about? Some are devastating. But some are so wonderful. The thing they all have in common, however, is that they are life-altering events that lead to regret if we’re not careful. What we need to remember is that your past does not define you. It can't possibly give a clear picture of who you are; it's just part of your story.

shocking truth about making meaningful change, confidence & chaos, reta jayne, from the heart of pie

The Shocking Truth About Making Meaningful Change

February 26, 2020
Confessions, Faith, Mental Health, Productivity

I recently had quite a shocking epiphany. It's embarrassing, really. Why? My realization, now, seems so stinkin' SIMPLE, but it took my over-complicated mind a ridiculous amount of circles around the obvious before finally settling on the conclusion. Are you ready for this? What if making meaningful change — to be happier, to have the life we want –only required LETTING GO & releasing our expectations of HOW we will get there?

Why can't simply knowing where we are & where we want to be (& that they're not the same) be enough? Why can't we just make small steps each day that get us closer to our objective?

holding grandmas hand dealing with the aftermath of lifes storms confidence & chaos reta jayne

5 Healthy Tips for Dealing with the Aftermath of Life’s Storms

February 11, 2020
Confessions, Faith, Mental Health, Productivity

All major storms have some kind of aftermath. Sometimes, it's flooding or piles of rubble. Other times, it's just a few broken branches in the street & water flowing through the gutters. But, I can't think of a time I've ever seen a storm come & go without there being evidence of its severity once it's gone. Can you? Dealing with the aftermath of life's storms isn't so different.

reta jayne, grandma, & eva lee posing for a picture by the river about two years before grandma died

After My Grandma Died

Lately, I have been feeling… Conflicted — & STUCK.

I don’t know how else to describe it. Since my grandma died last month, I've felt like I've been hit by a truck. I knew it was coming, but it was still a shock when it finally arrived. I cried so many tears leading up to her death I was shocked I had so many left afterward.

But I did.

There were so many, I could hardly breathe.

How Do You Be Empathetic Toward Those Who Lack Empathy?

November 13, 2019
Confessions, Faith, Mental Health

I am, generally, a believe-in-the-best-of-people kind of person, if you get what I mean. I am almost naive that way at times & I know it. But, I have learned I am one of those people who can usually put myself in someone else's shoes. Imagine how they might feel in a particular instance… See their motivation behind their actions, good or bad. I have a good dose of empathy — yet those who lack empathy remain a mystery to me.

EMPATHY. “The ability to understand & share the feelings of another.”

It's one area that I, personally, reeeeeaaaaallly lack in: Being empathetic towards those who seem to COMPLETELY lack empathy. Or maybe they do have some amount of empathy but just don't care?

4 Ways to Stop Feeling Isolated in Your Own Life

October 22, 2019
Faith, Mental Health

Have you ever caught yourself going through the motions of life, just to take a seemingly rare pause & realize you feel all alone? There are people all around you, but you feel disconnected. You don't fit in. There's so much to do & so little time to do it in — & it feels like there's no one to help. It's just YOU. Somehow, you're isolated in your own life!