<span itemprop="author">Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Author's posts

Embracing life’s unexpected turns and finding contentment along the way

I sometimes grieve the life I left behind … and that’s OK. Necessary, even. I wonder if I got in my own way, if I tried hard enough, if I fought hard enough. What would have happened if I believed in myself? Trusted that I could accomplish …

Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

Life coach and author Martha Beck’s 4-Phase Change Cycle begins with Phase 1: “Death and Rebirth.” Martha’s blog contains the Phase I Mantra: “I don’t know what the hell is going on … and that’s OK.” Many…

What was right with me when I developed severe depression?

For several years, I fixated on what was wrong with me rather than seeing what was right with me when I developed symptoms of severe depression. If you’re struggling, too, you’re not broken, either. What is your brain telling you? While I a…

Reflections from a (former) self-compassion and boundary setting skeptic

Self-compassion does not make you soft. Boundaries do not make you closed off or selfish. I had to repeat this many times before I started to understand how true and how essential self-compassion and boundaries are in our lives. I did not realize how m…

What does self-compassion look like in your life?

I’ve spent years deeply uncomfortable in my skin. Wanting to disappear. Last night, a wave of anxiety hit me as it often does when the world gets quiet. In tune with my body for a brief moment, my heart ached. Why? I envisioned that moment when w…