This will be short because I have a very important, very exciting gymnastics competition to get back to!

Jon came to the house to pick up the kids this morning and immediately started criticizing, as usual. I try to let it roll off my back but I have so much trouble doing that. I feel like I’ve been working so hard for a year but I don’t actually know if I’ve gotten anywhere. I started thinking, what have I actually done to make myself better at getting past difficult situations? And I can’t really think of much. I go to therapy on a regular basis, first it was once a week, then every other week, then every 3 weeks, now once a month. And I love going. I always feel better after each session. She gives me lots of good tools, makes lots of suggestions, helps me work through things, but I don’t always remember what we’ve done a couple days later. I think the largest tip that I’ve retained is to just notice the emotions, to let them come in as they do, and let them pass as they will. But I get frustrated with this method because it doesn’t change them. Last week I noticed them come in and stay for almost a whole week. I’ve tried meditation, keeping a gratitude journal, writing myself notes and leaving them around the house, talking to myself in the mirror, have read lots of self-help books that have been suggested to me, and probably other things that I’m forgetting now. But nothing has really been the answer to feeling good about myself, for not getting caught up over stuff with Jon. Maybe what I’m looking for doesn’t exist. How do I find the thing that is going to make me happy? How do I remember all the advice I get so that I can use it? Is time the only thing that will really help?