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articles categorized as

human being

The Assault of Good Intentions: Boundaries, Consent, and the Wisdom of Not Knowing

When vulnerability meets unchecked advice, good intentions can cause harm. In this raw reflection, I confront a moment of boundary violation in my men’s group, the lessons it revealed about consent, and the deeper wisdom of listening instead of fixing.

Beyond the Acceptable: A Manifesto of Being

A deeply personal manifesto exploring the journey of authentic self-acceptance through 19 principles—from embracing neurodivergence to rejecting societal expectations. A guide to finding wholeness through radical self-compassion, unmasking, and recognizing Love in all experiences.

The Loving Space Beyond My Experience

A vivid dream of dancing and singing contrasts sharply with morning pain, revealing a profound truth: we are not our experiences but the unchanging awareness in which all states arise.

What Happens After Self-Care? What Eight Years of Practice Revealed

A personal journey from burnout to scheduled self-care weeks to an unexpected discovery: when self-care becomes second nature, true freedom emerges. Learn how building a foundation of daily self-care practices can open the door to greater possibilities.

No, I’m not Fine

Are you tired of saying "I'm fine" when you're anything but? This article explores living authentically between joy and struggle, garden and quicksand. Discover how embracing your full spectrum of experiences transforms everyday existence into something beautifully, gloriously complex.

There is No Healthy Shame

Are you carrying the weight of toxic shame? Explore why even "healthy shame" is a harmful myth, and discover the crucial differences between shame, remorse, and guilt. Learn how to heal from shame's poison through self-compassion and co-regulation, reclaiming your innate worthiness.

A Purpose that Won’t Let Go

Your purpose isn't hiding in perfection - it's alive in your glorious human contradictions. Follow an intimate exploration of how embracing Divine Love in ALL experiences liberates your authentic self. Find your way home to purpose that holds space for everything.

My Heart on Palestine / Israel

What if your heart's wisdom on Palestine and Israel comes from seeing each face as divine? This deeply personal reflection explores the historical context of oppression, decolonization, and the path to true peace. Find resources to navigate grief while honoring our shared humanity.

Worthless

"If I can't love myself here—as I am—what makes me think I'll know how to love some other version of myself?" Witness a transformative journey into body acceptance through total vulnerability. Learn how standing fully in your truth can dissolve shame and rebuild the bridge to authentic connection.

Is It Okay If a Man Falls Apart?

What if your emotional collapse isn't weakness but profound strength? This article challenges societal expectations about masculine vulnerability, exploring whether hiding breakdowns from family perpetuates harmful cycles. Discover how embracing our fragmented moments might create deeper safety and model wholeness for those we love.

You Don’t Have to Try So Hard

When was the last time you added perfection, approval-seeking, and insecurity to an otherwise simple task? This article reveals a spiritual breakthrough during a crushing depressive episode that taught Steve to stop overstriving. Discover the profound difference between working hard and trying hard, with practical steps to release perfectionism and find ease.

more love, not less - all-ways.💜™

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Steve Mattus and ∞actualinfinity are anti-racism, support Black Lives Matter Grassroots, AAPI, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, is pro-Trans, and renounce all forms of violence.

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∞actualinfinity is located in Shikaakwa – the Algonquin name for Chicago – which is on the traditional unceded homelands of the Ojibwe, Kiikaapoi, Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi), Myaamia, Hoocak (Ho-Chunk), and Peoria indigenous tribes and people, which was violently stolen and colonized from them.