Talking With Dr. Toy: Holiday Blues--Navigating Grief and Loss
Release Date: 12/21/2025
Talking With Dr. Toy: Women's History Month--Treasure Your Younger Self
Talking With Dr Toy
In celebration of Women's history month, it's wonderful to acknowledge that we are masterpieces and significantly unique. However, we must also embrace our past with grace and compassion. There are some who continue to live in their past mistakes and failures. We may be angry, regretful, and unforgiving towards our younger selves that has induced shame and embarrassment so much so we may be experiencing fragmentation. Instead of solely judging our younger selves, it may be more helpful to understand, seek healing, and restoration. Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Women's History Month--You're A Masterpiece
Talking With Dr Toy
March has been designated as Women's History Month which serves as a reminder of the contributions women have made in this nation. Although recognizing women's contributions are significant, we should also remember, that our very nature and humanity is just as significant. A passage states, "We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." That word handiwork has been translated as "masterpiece". I encourage women everywhere to remember, you are a masterpiece. Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Self Awareness: Why Am I Resistant?
Talking With Dr Toy
Resistance is powerful especially when it's enacted in the face of injustice and immorality. Resistance is also powerful within our personal lives and at times it can be a double edged sword. On one hand, we resist things intent on damaging our personhood and on the other hand, we may resist things that could enhance our lives. The goal is not to judge resistance, but to understand it. We seek to understand to increase self-awareness and more ways to enrich the quality of our lives. Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: The Power of Resistance Part 2--Black History Month
Talking With Dr Toy
"The power of resistance lies in its capacity to foster personal growth, drive social transformation, and challenge established, often unjust, norms. It serves as a productive,, and sometimes necessary, force for change, enabling individuals to find agency, meaning, and freedom against oppressive systems or personal obstacles. It can be the catalyst for change." Black resistance is rooted in hope as well as a knowingness of authentic identity and empowerment. Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Honoring Black History Month--The Power of Resistance
Talking With Dr Toy
Resistance has been defined as "the refusal to accept and comply with something, the ability to withstand an adverse force, or an opposing action. The attempt to prevent something by action or argument." Resistance is a foundational pillar that fostered the ability and drive of people of color's contributions to a nation that denied their humanity. Despite the challenges and barriers, a spirit of hope, persistence, and resistance propelled dreams, inventions, and imaginations. This Black History month, let's pay tribute to the resistance movement for by it, we reclaim our beauty, strength, and...
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Self Discovery Requires Faith Despite Fear
Talking With Dr Toy
Self-discovery not only takes time, intentionality, and stillness, but it also takes faith despite fear. Self-discovery can be an intimidating process because it often leads us into the unknown and that can be scary. Self-discovery shines a much needed light on areas of our lives that are tucked away and hidden possibly due to shame and discouragement. Although needed, it can induce fear and may cause us to avoid rather than exploring existential questions that may be revelatory and transformative. Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Questions to Living Authentically
Talking With Dr Toy
Living a life instead of solely maintaining an image entails authenticity. "Are you living life authentically"? I like this definition of authenticity, "being genuine, real, and true to oneself, aligning actions with core values and beliefs, rather than being a counterfeit or acting based on external pressure." Self awareness, reflection, introspection, and courage are essential ingredients to living life authentically. Let's talk about it.
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Purposeful Living Beyond The Image
Talking With Dr Toy
Rick Warren published a book entitled the Purpose Driven Life where he addresses that existential question of why am I here? You've probably asked yourself that same question and maybe you're still searching for the answer. Living a purposeful life is worth pursuing, however, what informs your definition of purpose? Does your definition of purpose simply entail impressing others and looking great in the eyes of others? Has your purpose been informed by society's views of success or someone else's expectations? Let's talk about it.
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Exploring the What and Why of My Life
Talking With Dr Toy
Living a life not just maintaining an image requires intentionality, reflection, and exploring some existential questions about life. Two questions entail an acknowledgement that sometimes we live life on a stage where we're constantly trying to control and manage other's perceptions of us. At times we may contort ourselves to conform to an image that is acceptable to us and one that will be embraced by others. Have you asked yourself what image am I trying to maintain and why? Let's talk about it. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Living a Life Beyond Just Maintaining an Image
Talking With Dr Toy
Well it's 2026 and one thing you can most certainly say is that you made it over the threshold to witness the New Year. Now that you've entered, what now? What moves or goals do you desire to accomplish this year? May I offer a suggestion? Could this be the year that you make a decision to live a life not just maintain an image? Erving Goffman popularized the concept of impression management "also known as self-presentation and refers to the ways that people attempt to control how they are perceived by others." Let's talk about it! www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
info_outlineIt's the most wonderful time of the year is a very popular Christmas song but it only speaks to one aspect of Christmas. According to research, the holidays can also be one of the most stressful, loneliness, and depressing times of the year. Stress, depression, and grief are not great marketing strategies, so happiness, gatherings, and gifts are promoted as holiday commodities. There may be few emotional safe spaces for those who are experiencing emotional pain and grief, but just know you are not alone so please identify strategies to navigate those difficult emotions.