sheesh, what a time we’re living in. let me set the scene for you – it’s 2025, our president is a misogynistic racist hiding behind “Christian principles”, people are being laid off left and right with no warning nor severance pay, LinkedIn says companies are hiring but no one is getting interviews, eggs cost $8 (TF!!!), tariffs are high as F$&%!, road rage is at an all time high, the stock market is crashing, and music is kinda crazy. like, seriously, music these days has no real substantive lyrics…no? just me? i sound like an old head, but i am turning 30 this year, so i guess this is pretty on brand. i still listen to the same songs from the 90s-2019. don’t judge, please and thank you.

meanwhile, each of us are trying our best to show up at our jobs (for those of us who still have them), eat healthy, work out, balance friendships, family, and professional relationships to grow our network, heal from generational trauma, become the best version of ourselves, block out the noise, ignore the news to preserve our mental health but also try to stay informed, while also remaining sane…. :’)

so, like, let’s be real. life is pretty crazy right now. i titled this post, like, are we okay when in reality i know the answer is no. times are scary right now. government agencies are shutting down and once upon a time, getting a government job was the goal for many because of the job security and ability to grow within. people don’t smile anymore, let alone make eye contact. everyone has trust issues – and for good reason, i might add. everyone has the biggest ego – and no i’m not referencing Kanye and Beyonce. people’s egos are SO big, rooted in the utmost insecurity, that they’re damaging relationships and killing the confidence of those around them due to their manipulative tactics they use to undermine/belittle others just to feel better about themselves. to be honest, a majority of people hate themselves and don’t know how to address it.

MORE PEOPLE NEED THERAPY BUT WE DON’T EVEN HAVE F$%*&@! OBAMA CARE ANYMORE. it’s like when you really sit back and think about it – i do this often because i live in my head (i’m working on it. i’m in therapy, don’t worry) – this is hell on earth. it’s terrifying. sometimes it’s so hard to block out the noise around us when everything is so loud.

but can i be honest?

i don’t know about you, but i believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so even in the thick of this mess of a country we’re living in, i have faith and peace that God is in control. if i just keep my mind set on Him, i’ll make it through. i encourage you to do the same.

okay, so yes. the beginning of this post started extremely depressing and gave “dear diary” vibes. however, the purpose of writing this is because lately i’ve been very intentional about my life, my thoughts, and how to navigate this world, so i figured i’d share what i’ve been doing and maybe it could help you too.

HOW TO NAVIGATE HELL ON EARTH

well, first, i have a FOUNDATION. as i mentioned, I believe Jesus Christ is my savior – that is my foundation. and BY NO MEANS am i perfect in my faith. i do not pray every day, i have yet to find a church home, and i obviously still have a crazy potty mouth (this post doesn’t even show the half of it, i’m trying to have some decorum here). but for as long as i’ve been alive, i’ve believed in God – shoutout to Marlo and Steve for raising me with that foundation. and even though, i’m not perfect, i know that my God is a gracious, generous, forgiving, and loving God. that carries me through so much…actually, i’ll need to save that for another post alone because the way God has intervened for me is comical at this point. like, girl, are YOU okay? why do you keep putting yourself in insane situations like this? anyway, the point is whether you believe in God or not (i strongly encourage forming a relationship with Him – it’s the most rewarding relationship you’ll ever have – never a disappointment), during these times, you need a foundation to keep you focused and grounded. i have a lot of Muslim friends and enjoy seeing them so grounded in their faith. so whatever higher being you believe in, rest in that. it’s difficult to navigate this world based on societal norms when they’re forever evolving and based on white men – who, quite frankly hate everyone besides themselves. *this was a blanket statement, but of COURSE, i don’t think all white men are like this. the ones that aren’t are very aware of what their privilege is, so i know you won’t take offense. shoutout to y’all *besos*.

second, you need COMMUNITY. i have the most amazing parents and group of friends i could ever ask for – you know who you are. spending quality time (my #1 love language) with them always gives me the energy and motivation to keep going – and quite frankly, not fall into a deep depression where i lay on the couch all day watching every show on netflix and eating cinnabon and panda express every day. woah, that was very specific. i’ve clearly been there before… anyway, back to the point – having a community that supports you, uplifts you, and allows you to engage in authentic conversation around growth, mental health, current events, music, relationship problems, etc. is literally a life saver.

third, you need MENTAL CLARITY. as i mentioned, this is something i’m working with my therapist on. as an extroverted introvert, i live inside my brain. i overthink. i fantasize and can get stuck in fantasy world for hours at a time – it’s a safe space, right? as you can imagine, my brain is always filled with a million thoughts at a time. so much so, that i have vivid dreams. every. single. night. so, some of the things that help me with my mental clarity are:

• journaling – OMG, i just realized that i hadn’t journaled in 6 weeks, WTF! it makes so much sense because the last 6 weeks of my life have literally been absolutely insane and overwhelming. journaling is such a great way to release your thoughts, be real with yourself, and develop solutions to your own problems. if you haven’t before, you can also try video journaling – set up your phone and talk to yourself as you would one of your besties or most trusted confidant. that was really effective for me at one point but nothing beats pen to paper.
• walking – remember in 2020 when everyone was stuck inside? we started seeing so many people outside just going for walks or playing in the grass. we need fresh air people *queue Future “Fresh Air”*. it doesn’t have to be a fast-paced, workout vibe. just go outside, feel the sun on your skin, put your headphones on and just stroll. enjoy the earth! i’ve noticed that going for a walk after a rough day or conversation just helps clear my mind so much. honestly, body movement in general is so good for mental clarity – a workout or even just a deeeeeep stretch for 15 or 30 minutes will make such a huge difference in how you feel mentally.
• self care – okay, i’m the self care queen so i may be a little biased here. but i do believe there is research to back me up – i might follow up with that research, but just hear me out for now (or read me out? i don’t think it works that way, but you get me). you remember people used to say, when you look good, you feel good? that is SO true. invest in yourself. upgrade your skin care and shower routine. upgrade your hair routine. improve your hygiene – this doesn’t mean your hygiene is terrible currently, but there’s always room for improvement – do you floss twice a day or where your retainer every night? yeah, just think about it. get some quality products and take your time pouring into yourself. cook a nice dinner for yourself, get some flowers, take yourself on a date, whatever. do anything that makes you feel good about you. spending time with yourself is so important. this is for my men, also! that beard ain’t gon’ connect itself!!!
• let go – WHEW! this one has been difficult for me my whole life. luckily, i know the root and am working on redressing that, shoutout to Grow Therapy! when you hold on to old situations, pain, heartbreak, and offense, it’s so hard to pick yourself up and free your mind. Tems said it best. seriously, though, so many of us are holding on to trauma and not letting go of those previous situations that scarred us and caused so many trust issues. it’s time to LET THAT SHIT GO. we deserve to live a full life of peace, joy, and the rest of the fruits of the spirit. IFYKYK. in order to get there, we have to forgive people and recognize that we are souls housed inside of flesh. people mess up, hurt us – intentionally and unintentionally – and it sucks, but majority of the time, their soul isn’t clean. it hurts, but there’s always a lesson. focus on the lesson, take steps to improve for next time, pray for their soul (yes – i said it. pray for those that have hurt you and watch how free you feel), and keep it pushing. baby, we got goals to accomplish!
• MUSIC – yes, i know i was shaming current music. but of course, there are some new songs i like! so hypocritical of me, but build your own bridge because i already got over it. the point of this is that music can be a form of therapy. curate a playlist of songs that just make you feel good. you know the ones. you keep them on repeat every time you get in your car? yeah, those ones. create that playlist and bump it until you get tired and need to add more songs to it. become your own vibe curator and watch how free you feel.
• last, but certainly not least, LIMIT THAT SCREEN TIME! i have been off social media all of 2025 and it has truly been so peaceful. of course, i still read the news, so there’s a disruption in that peace, unfortunately. honestly though, at the end of 2024, i realized that i was becoming too engrossed in people’s opinions (yes, i’m talking about twitter – i refuse to call it X, bite me). i was also highly engrossed in other people’s lives – whether i was on tik tok or instagram. there’s so much access at our fingertips and we’re seeing so much of people’s intimate moments – birthdays, engagements, weddings, breakups (some of y’all are still sending those subs and we see them), new jobs, etc. it can become a bit overstimulating, so block out the noise. obvi, you don’t have to go as long as i have, but just take a break! maybe just one day out of the week choose to refrain from social media and news all together. this has made a HUGE impact on my mental clarity and learning more about who justyce is and what she wants out of life. you won’t regret it.

overall, prioritize YOU in these times. invest in your healing, your growth, and your community.

word to Glo – at the end of the day, the day gon’ end, and that’s why i love tomorrow.

if you want some tips on finding a therapist, a new playlist, a new friend, or just overall want to chat, leave me a comment.

Until then, love yourself. soft life, only moving forward.

Justy