Dr. Diana Rivera’s featured writing in Darling Magazine
How to Analyze, Tear Down and Rationalize the False Narratives We Believe
Every word and sentence that people say about themselves tells an enduring and more consistent story of how they perceive and experience life. For example, if someone refers to others as “stupid” and then utters painful stories where they expose ideas of their own worthlessness, it begins to shape a narrative of the way that person suffers.
To Listen or To Censor in a World of Differences
To listen or to silence? To hear or to negate? These are the critical questions of our day and age, and this article will serve as food for thought and help orient us within the dynamic human ecosystem in which we live.
The Value of Dialogue: Why Disagreements Might Be a Chance to Learn
2020 proved to be a year of drastic change, unpredictable sacrifices and vast personal and social disruption. We were urged and demanded to change most aspects of our lives, which led to personal and social disruption. Such sacrifices were meant to serve the wellness of our communities. Thus, we took precautions through drastic lifestyle changes.
What to Do When You Are the Toxic One in a Relationship
Let’s be real: intimacy can be challenging. All of us are filled with fantasy romances of how relationships should be. I have the image of loving talks of admiration, a perfectly timed embrace and the flexibility to argue with an open heart and speak truth in a state of bliss.
The Psychology of Gaslighting: Here’s What You Need to Know
In my last Darling article, “What to Do When People Project Their Stories Onto You?”, we looked at the psychological experience of projection such as how to understand and identify it in current relationships. If projection had a close, dangerous relative that you know for your own safety, gaslighting would be it.
What to Do When People Project Their Stories Onto You
Imagine: You disclose a personal story to a friend about a recent conflict with your partner. Then, all of a sudden, she gets emotional and starts telling you what to feel, think and do. You listen and agree but something doesn’t quite feel right. You reflect later on her frustrated and impatient tone, and think, “Wow, I think she was really talking about her own relationship, not mine.”