Stephen J Ballard
@stephenballard.bsky.social
Helping people through depression with Dungeons and Dragons, video games and community.
Avid meditator, lover of fantasy novels, novice copywriter, and excited-if-not-excellent home chef.
Avid meditator, lover of fantasy novels, novice copywriter, and excited-if-not-excellent home chef.
Accepting it, leads to it changing.
Trying to change it, leads to it staying the same.
Ever try to change your partner?
Or stop your toddler from having a meltdown?
Forcing them to act differently doesn't work.
Accepting them as they are, and showering them with love. That helps them change.
Trying to change it, leads to it staying the same.
Ever try to change your partner?
Or stop your toddler from having a meltdown?
Forcing them to act differently doesn't work.
Accepting them as they are, and showering them with love. That helps them change.
March 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Accepting it, leads to it changing.
Trying to change it, leads to it staying the same.
Ever try to change your partner?
Or stop your toddler from having a meltdown?
Forcing them to act differently doesn't work.
Accepting them as they are, and showering them with love. That helps them change.
Trying to change it, leads to it staying the same.
Ever try to change your partner?
Or stop your toddler from having a meltdown?
Forcing them to act differently doesn't work.
Accepting them as they are, and showering them with love. That helps them change.
Sometimes the best you can do is try again tomorrow.
That was my day today.
If it was your day too, I'm proud of you. Keep going.
That was my day today.
If it was your day too, I'm proud of you. Keep going.
March 5, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Sometimes the best you can do is try again tomorrow.
That was my day today.
If it was your day too, I'm proud of you. Keep going.
That was my day today.
If it was your day too, I'm proud of you. Keep going.
Complimenting strangers makes you look for more good in the world.
It encourages you to point it out.
You get to see your actions make someone else's day.
You make yourself happier. Them happier. And the world a better place.
Who cares if it feels awkward.
Everything feels awkward at first.
It encourages you to point it out.
You get to see your actions make someone else's day.
You make yourself happier. Them happier. And the world a better place.
Who cares if it feels awkward.
Everything feels awkward at first.
February 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Complimenting strangers makes you look for more good in the world.
It encourages you to point it out.
You get to see your actions make someone else's day.
You make yourself happier. Them happier. And the world a better place.
Who cares if it feels awkward.
Everything feels awkward at first.
It encourages you to point it out.
You get to see your actions make someone else's day.
You make yourself happier. Them happier. And the world a better place.
Who cares if it feels awkward.
Everything feels awkward at first.
The new challenge for men isn't who works hardest.
It's who can support his family and loved ones best, without losing his ability to have fun.
It's who can support his family and loved ones best, without losing his ability to have fun.
February 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The new challenge for men isn't who works hardest.
It's who can support his family and loved ones best, without losing his ability to have fun.
It's who can support his family and loved ones best, without losing his ability to have fun.
All of the business tactics and advice always lead to the same thing: not being who I genuinely am.
And I end up "waking up to it" a few months later when it doesn't work and I feel like shit.
Anyone else notice the same?
And I end up "waking up to it" a few months later when it doesn't work and I feel like shit.
Anyone else notice the same?
February 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
All of the business tactics and advice always lead to the same thing: not being who I genuinely am.
And I end up "waking up to it" a few months later when it doesn't work and I feel like shit.
Anyone else notice the same?
And I end up "waking up to it" a few months later when it doesn't work and I feel like shit.
Anyone else notice the same?
90 seconds.
That's how long it takes to change your conversations and stop worrying if you're talking too much.
It's 3 simple steps at the beginning of any conversation.
From someone who struggled with sharing anything for YEARS, because I thought I was annoying everyone.
That's how long it takes to change your conversations and stop worrying if you're talking too much.
It's 3 simple steps at the beginning of any conversation.
From someone who struggled with sharing anything for YEARS, because I thought I was annoying everyone.
February 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
90 seconds.
That's how long it takes to change your conversations and stop worrying if you're talking too much.
It's 3 simple steps at the beginning of any conversation.
From someone who struggled with sharing anything for YEARS, because I thought I was annoying everyone.
That's how long it takes to change your conversations and stop worrying if you're talking too much.
It's 3 simple steps at the beginning of any conversation.
From someone who struggled with sharing anything for YEARS, because I thought I was annoying everyone.
This is how to change your life.
This is a cycle.
Your identity creates your thoughts.
Your thoughts create emotions.
Your emotions create actions.
Your actions create results.
Your results create your identity.
You can choose to change any part of this cycle.
But the easiest is action.
This is a cycle.
Your identity creates your thoughts.
Your thoughts create emotions.
Your emotions create actions.
Your actions create results.
Your results create your identity.
You can choose to change any part of this cycle.
But the easiest is action.
February 10, 2025 at 12:14 AM
This is how to change your life.
This is a cycle.
Your identity creates your thoughts.
Your thoughts create emotions.
Your emotions create actions.
Your actions create results.
Your results create your identity.
You can choose to change any part of this cycle.
But the easiest is action.
This is a cycle.
Your identity creates your thoughts.
Your thoughts create emotions.
Your emotions create actions.
Your actions create results.
Your results create your identity.
You can choose to change any part of this cycle.
But the easiest is action.
All of my frustration comes from trying to be somewhere else.
A different place.
A different emotion.
A different body.
All from an inability to accept the world as it is today.
And every time I accept what is, I start doing what I wanted to do the whole time. With ease.
A different place.
A different emotion.
A different body.
All from an inability to accept the world as it is today.
And every time I accept what is, I start doing what I wanted to do the whole time. With ease.
February 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
All of my frustration comes from trying to be somewhere else.
A different place.
A different emotion.
A different body.
All from an inability to accept the world as it is today.
And every time I accept what is, I start doing what I wanted to do the whole time. With ease.
A different place.
A different emotion.
A different body.
All from an inability to accept the world as it is today.
And every time I accept what is, I start doing what I wanted to do the whole time. With ease.
Journaling question of the day:
How much your learning and reading is just because you don't want to do the thing badly?
How much your learning and reading is just because you don't want to do the thing badly?
February 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Journaling question of the day:
How much your learning and reading is just because you don't want to do the thing badly?
How much your learning and reading is just because you don't want to do the thing badly?
You have a belief that all of your needs have to get met the same way.
That you need a job that you love.
That you need a partner that shares your hobbies.
You've got a hidden belief that things need to be perfect.
Life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
A letter to myself today.
That you need a job that you love.
That you need a partner that shares your hobbies.
You've got a hidden belief that things need to be perfect.
Life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
A letter to myself today.
January 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
You have a belief that all of your needs have to get met the same way.
That you need a job that you love.
That you need a partner that shares your hobbies.
You've got a hidden belief that things need to be perfect.
Life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
A letter to myself today.
That you need a job that you love.
That you need a partner that shares your hobbies.
You've got a hidden belief that things need to be perfect.
Life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
A letter to myself today.
Doing reviews of my team at work is mentally and emotionally exhausting.
How do you tell someone "You aren't doing as well as you think you are" politely and kindly, but still making sure the point gets across?
How do you tell someone "You aren't doing as well as you think you are" politely and kindly, but still making sure the point gets across?
January 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Doing reviews of my team at work is mentally and emotionally exhausting.
How do you tell someone "You aren't doing as well as you think you are" politely and kindly, but still making sure the point gets across?
How do you tell someone "You aren't doing as well as you think you are" politely and kindly, but still making sure the point gets across?
Building a 3 hour morning routine doesn’t work.
I just pick 1-3 goals that I want to work toward.
Then pick 1 thing I can do every morning to make progress toward that goal.
Maximum 10 minutes.
I just pick 1-3 goals that I want to work toward.
Then pick 1 thing I can do every morning to make progress toward that goal.
Maximum 10 minutes.
January 22, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Building a 3 hour morning routine doesn’t work.
I just pick 1-3 goals that I want to work toward.
Then pick 1 thing I can do every morning to make progress toward that goal.
Maximum 10 minutes.
I just pick 1-3 goals that I want to work toward.
Then pick 1 thing I can do every morning to make progress toward that goal.
Maximum 10 minutes.
It’s harder for me to remove things from my life than to add them.
It's also exhausting to have too many things in my life.
But letting go of things I once wanted is difficult, you know?
It's also exhausting to have too many things in my life.
But letting go of things I once wanted is difficult, you know?
January 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
It’s harder for me to remove things from my life than to add them.
It's also exhausting to have too many things in my life.
But letting go of things I once wanted is difficult, you know?
It's also exhausting to have too many things in my life.
But letting go of things I once wanted is difficult, you know?
I know I'm seeing pieces of myself healing and growing.
But man it feels hard. It feels never ending.
And I know that life eventually ends.
That all of this will come to a close.
But damn if I don't want to just lay in the sun and rest for a few months.
But man it feels hard. It feels never ending.
And I know that life eventually ends.
That all of this will come to a close.
But damn if I don't want to just lay in the sun and rest for a few months.
January 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I know I'm seeing pieces of myself healing and growing.
But man it feels hard. It feels never ending.
And I know that life eventually ends.
That all of this will come to a close.
But damn if I don't want to just lay in the sun and rest for a few months.
But man it feels hard. It feels never ending.
And I know that life eventually ends.
That all of this will come to a close.
But damn if I don't want to just lay in the sun and rest for a few months.
Depression isn't healed by medication and 1 on 1 therapy.
It's healed by understanding, acceptance, love and support by a community.
It's healed by being and FEELING useful, and appreciated for that.
And ultimately a deep understanding and acceptance of ourselves.
But that's harder to market
It's healed by understanding, acceptance, love and support by a community.
It's healed by being and FEELING useful, and appreciated for that.
And ultimately a deep understanding and acceptance of ourselves.
But that's harder to market
January 16, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Depression isn't healed by medication and 1 on 1 therapy.
It's healed by understanding, acceptance, love and support by a community.
It's healed by being and FEELING useful, and appreciated for that.
And ultimately a deep understanding and acceptance of ourselves.
But that's harder to market
It's healed by understanding, acceptance, love and support by a community.
It's healed by being and FEELING useful, and appreciated for that.
And ultimately a deep understanding and acceptance of ourselves.
But that's harder to market
What questions do you ask yourself to flesh out a D&D character?
I like to ask:
"What do they do in their free time?"
"What would they be doing if they didn't start adventuring?"
I like to ask:
"What do they do in their free time?"
"What would they be doing if they didn't start adventuring?"
January 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
What questions do you ask yourself to flesh out a D&D character?
I like to ask:
"What do they do in their free time?"
"What would they be doing if they didn't start adventuring?"
I like to ask:
"What do they do in their free time?"
"What would they be doing if they didn't start adventuring?"
Part of TikTok exodus and refusing to use Meta or X.
Looking to build a community here!
I like:
meditation
somatic therapy
Dungeons and Dragons
physical health
video games
marketing
building a business
creative writing
fantasy and sci fi stories
If you like any of those, I'd love to connect!
Looking to build a community here!
I like:
meditation
somatic therapy
Dungeons and Dragons
physical health
video games
marketing
building a business
creative writing
fantasy and sci fi stories
If you like any of those, I'd love to connect!
January 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Part of TikTok exodus and refusing to use Meta or X.
Looking to build a community here!
I like:
meditation
somatic therapy
Dungeons and Dragons
physical health
video games
marketing
building a business
creative writing
fantasy and sci fi stories
If you like any of those, I'd love to connect!
Looking to build a community here!
I like:
meditation
somatic therapy
Dungeons and Dragons
physical health
video games
marketing
building a business
creative writing
fantasy and sci fi stories
If you like any of those, I'd love to connect!
I women just yelled out her car "You look like JD Vance" and I've never been roasted so hard in my life.
December 16, 2024 at 9:09 PM
I women just yelled out her car "You look like JD Vance" and I've never been roasted so hard in my life.
Everything worth doing feels awkward at first.
December 10, 2024 at 12:16 AM
Everything worth doing feels awkward at first.
People say social media is a waste. They're wrong.
I've learned about:
-Physical health/exercise
-homesteading
-Business building
-raising kids
-building better relationships
-how to relax and enjoy life more
-even how to get better at Dungeons and Dragons (my current hobby).
It's amazing.
I've learned about:
-Physical health/exercise
-homesteading
-Business building
-raising kids
-building better relationships
-how to relax and enjoy life more
-even how to get better at Dungeons and Dragons (my current hobby).
It's amazing.
December 9, 2024 at 9:32 PM
People say social media is a waste. They're wrong.
I've learned about:
-Physical health/exercise
-homesteading
-Business building
-raising kids
-building better relationships
-how to relax and enjoy life more
-even how to get better at Dungeons and Dragons (my current hobby).
It's amazing.
I've learned about:
-Physical health/exercise
-homesteading
-Business building
-raising kids
-building better relationships
-how to relax and enjoy life more
-even how to get better at Dungeons and Dragons (my current hobby).
It's amazing.
I absolutely hate this, but every time I feel like shit I make sure to:
Drink water
Eat something
Get outside
Exercise (even a walk)
Shower
Take at least 5 minutes to myself without stimulation
All these people who say "go for a walk" or "get off your phone" were right. And I hate that
Drink water
Eat something
Get outside
Exercise (even a walk)
Shower
Take at least 5 minutes to myself without stimulation
All these people who say "go for a walk" or "get off your phone" were right. And I hate that
December 9, 2024 at 8:49 PM
I absolutely hate this, but every time I feel like shit I make sure to:
Drink water
Eat something
Get outside
Exercise (even a walk)
Shower
Take at least 5 minutes to myself without stimulation
All these people who say "go for a walk" or "get off your phone" were right. And I hate that
Drink water
Eat something
Get outside
Exercise (even a walk)
Shower
Take at least 5 minutes to myself without stimulation
All these people who say "go for a walk" or "get off your phone" were right. And I hate that
#promoskye
🔥Age Of Empires 2
🔥Minecraft
🔥Meditation
🔥Journaling
🔥Psychedelics
🔥Marketing
🔥Weight Lifting
🔥Yoga
🔥Spiritual Growth
🔥Cooking
Looking for mutuals to dive into any of these topics with!
🔥Age Of Empires 2
🔥Minecraft
🔥Meditation
🔥Journaling
🔥Psychedelics
🔥Marketing
🔥Weight Lifting
🔥Yoga
🔥Spiritual Growth
🔥Cooking
Looking for mutuals to dive into any of these topics with!
December 9, 2024 at 5:15 PM
#promoskye
🔥Age Of Empires 2
🔥Minecraft
🔥Meditation
🔥Journaling
🔥Psychedelics
🔥Marketing
🔥Weight Lifting
🔥Yoga
🔥Spiritual Growth
🔥Cooking
Looking for mutuals to dive into any of these topics with!
🔥Age Of Empires 2
🔥Minecraft
🔥Meditation
🔥Journaling
🔥Psychedelics
🔥Marketing
🔥Weight Lifting
🔥Yoga
🔥Spiritual Growth
🔥Cooking
Looking for mutuals to dive into any of these topics with!
There is a version of you that makes it.
Where all the hard work, pays off.
You get to feel happy, healthy, loving and loved.
Where all the hard work, pays off.
You get to feel happy, healthy, loving and loved.
December 9, 2024 at 2:48 AM
There is a version of you that makes it.
Where all the hard work, pays off.
You get to feel happy, healthy, loving and loved.
Where all the hard work, pays off.
You get to feel happy, healthy, loving and loved.
I am a 30 yr old man. I am going to my 1st ever Baby Shower today, and I am PUMPED!
December 7, 2024 at 12:41 PM
I am a 30 yr old man. I am going to my 1st ever Baby Shower today, and I am PUMPED!
What has been the most helpful thing for your depression?
December 7, 2024 at 3:48 AM
What has been the most helpful thing for your depression?