Ask Polly
Subscribe
Sign in
Home
Archive
About
'I Can't Stop Comparing Myself to More Successful Writers!'
You need to stop seeing the world through the lens of your fears.
17 hrs ago
•
Heather Havrilesky
77
2
11
Latest
Top
Discussions
'Help! I'm a Musician Who Can't Improvise!'
Your heart is seeking a revolution that's not logical, appropriate, or efficient.
Jan 12
•
Heather Havrilesky
31
19
2
'How Does It Heal?'
Teach your mind to stop parroting a rigid fable about how a woman should be.
Jan 5
•
Heather Havrilesky
49
7
3
Six Vibe Shifts For 2026!
This year, I'm determined to make some dramatic changes to how I live. What do you want to change?
Jan 2
•
Heather Havrilesky
386
92
41
'How Can I Stop Being So Afraid of Changing My Life?'
Once you learn to live in the present you'll stop fearing the future so much.
Dec 29, 2025
•
Heather Havrilesky
71
7
8
'How Do You Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Body?'
Love your softest, most painful self every single day with reckless abandon.
Dec 19, 2025
•
Heather Havrilesky
197
29
26
‘I Just Need a Mother!’
Instead of feeling ashamed of your loneliness and longing, you need to learn to give yourself exactly what you need.
Dec 16, 2025
•
Heather Havrilesky
71
8
3
'My Hurt Feelings *Panic* Me!'
It's your punishing, neurotic thoughts, not your feelings, that send you into fight or flight mode. Daring to greet your feelings with enthusiasm will…
Dec 9, 2025
•
Heather Havrilesky
155
18
17
See all
Ask Polly
Advice and wisdom from Heather Havrilesky, published since 2012 (formerly at The Awl and NY Magazine). Paid subscribers receive 1-2 weekly posts on how to navigate our broken world with compassion, realism, and an open heart.
Subscribe
Ask Polly
Subscribe
About
Archive
Recommendations
Sitemap
This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please
turn on JavaScript
or unblock scripts
