Have you ever caught yourself saying things like "I hate that I'm so anxious" or "I'm so stupid for feeling this way"? Maybe you've tried to force yourself to be different, to "just get over it," or to silence the parts of yourself that feel uncomfortable or inconvenient. If so, you're not alone ...

I’ve been out of commission for the past couple of weeks—wrestling with winter germs and a cranky lower back. Every morning I would talk myself into seeing this as a good thing: I got reacquainted with the cosy corner in my living room, my knitting needles, and the forgotten art of doing absolute...