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A self-help book editor uses what she learns at work and in life to help herself.

Depression
What If It's Okay to Feel Bad?

Melissa Kirk on October 18, 2019

It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

Relationships
Break the Bad Relationship Habit

Melissa Kirk on April 22, 2019

What if there was a way to end the habit of entering into destructive, unfulfilling, or high-conflict relationships?

What if there was a way to end the habit of entering into destructive, unfulfilling, or high-conflict relationships?

Depression
Depression in the Workplace: Can We Do Better?

Melissa Kirk on March 15, 2018

The struggle of trying to pretend everything is normal at work when it most definitely is not can add to the mental health problems and can make them worse.

The struggle of trying to pretend everything is normal at work when it most definitely is not can add to the mental health problems and can make them worse.

Relationships
A Valentine's Musing

Melissa Kirk on February 15, 2018

So today, can those of us who can see beyond the media and retail hype of this day use the ubiquitous heart symbols to remember to appreciate and generate love of all kinds?

So today, can those of us who can see beyond the media and retail hype of this day use the ubiquitous heart symbols to remember to appreciate and generate love of all kinds?

Friends
So You Want to Write a Book

Melissa Kirk on October 26, 2017

You know you can do it, but there’s a little niggling sense of “What if I’m not good enough?” or “I don’t know how to write a book” or “I’m too busy..."

You know you can do it, but there’s a little niggling sense of “What if I’m not good enough?” or “I don’t know how to write a book” or “I’m too busy..."

Addiction
Writing for the Self-Help Consumer, Pt 2

Melissa Kirk on April 2, 2017

With good organization, there’s no more staring anxiously at a blank page because you don’t know what to write next. What to write next is in the outline!

With good organization, there’s no more staring anxiously at a blank page because you don’t know what to write next. What to write next is in the outline!

Self-Help
Writing for the Self-Help Consumer, Pt 1

Melissa Kirk on October 30, 2016

Probably the biggest mistake I hear when I communicate with potential authors about their books is the author misunderstanding who their audience is.

Probably the biggest mistake I hear when I communicate with potential authors about their books is the author misunderstanding who their audience is.

Dreaming
The Problem with “Follow Your Dreams”

Melissa Kirk on April 2, 2013

Is it really possible for most of us to 'follow our dreams'? And what if our passion is just to be right here, right now?

Is it really possible for most of us to 'follow our dreams'? And what if our passion is just to be right here, right now?

Relationships
A Valentine's Day Musing

Melissa Kirk on February 14, 2013

Love, as we also all know, is wider than the love between a couple of people who have sex together.

Love, as we also all know, is wider than the love between a couple of people who have sex together.

Grief
Is a Meaningful Public Dialogue Possible After This?

Melissa Kirk on December 17, 2012

We all have strong opinions about our recent national tragedy; can we allow others to say what they have to say, and create a positive, meaningful national dialogue?

We all have strong opinions about our recent national tragedy; can we allow others to say what they have to say, and create a positive, meaningful national dialogue?