Thoughts

Of course, we can approach hardships and crisis with as much grace as humanly possible but the truth is, sometimes life kicks us so hard to the ground it feels damn near impossible to get up. Our soul might feel sucked from our bodies and hope drained out of our hearts. This is the crucial point. The one where you want to throw in the towel. The one where you want to stop trying. But here’s the thing… you can’t. Because I know you and you’ve worked too hard to quit now. You’ve come too far. Not every knockdown has to be a knockout. Don’t stay down there. Fight for it. Even when you’re tired. Even when hope is low. Because your life and happiness are worth the fight.

As a society, we are convinced that we are to stay in jobs for 50 years until we either jump off a cliff or retire. We are convinced we need to be in marriages until literally someone dies. And we sit in mediocrity, contemplating why life is so freaking boring. Contemplating why there isn’t more. Well, guess what? There is! There is more. But you have to start changing the way you are doing things or you will never, ever see it. You have to be willing to not settle. You have to be willing to cut ties with those who can’t meet you half way. You have to be willing to take a leap of faith out of a soul-sucking job. You have to be willing to sucker punch fear in the face and see what’s on the other side. 

Have you ever had those moments where not a damn thing felt sturdy? Like you’re walking on a tightrope delicately trying to balance, even though the wind is blowing you all over the place?The times where it seems like everything is a bit funky are where hope seems the bleakest. Like someone shoved hope in the jar of grandmas cookies that she used to keep way above the stove. The problem with this is that faith can truly be a reprieve of your darkest moments, if you let it. So here’s how you might find it again, if it maybe got muddied up by the universe, planets, or *gasp* even your own self sabotage.

Look, here’s the thing. I love me, but sometimes I’m not kind to me. Sometimes I joke about my love handles. Sometimes I doubt my ability to do epic stuff. Sometimes I say “good” to someone saying “hi” because I anticipated they were going to say, “how are you?” instead. Face palm. So, I put together a little list to help you out with the things that I’ve learned that boost my self-love up, up, and away.

 I saw this coming. But no fireworks detonated when the clock struck midnight. Confetti didn't shoot out of the ceiling. Instead, I quietly put my kids to bed and fell asleep. But a flip switched in me, and I realized I’m done settling for anything less than exactly what I want. Out of life, out of my career, out of relationships, and out of myself. And that comes with consequences. It comes with hard conversations and loss. It comes with intense clarity and uncomfortable energy.But it comes with FREEDOM and TRUTH. Because to make true change you have to get uncomfortable. Like standing in the middle of the grocery store in your birthday suit uncomfortable. (Don’t actually do that. Unless, of course, you want to.) 

Look, you’re smart. I guarantee it. You know what you want and you’re totally capable. But can I remind you that you didn’t create like, oceans and stuff? That you didn’t create humans and you didn’t give birth to an entire galaxy. Can you trust for five damn minute that the Universe KNOWS what the hell it’s doing? Perhaps you don’t need to tightly grip everything?

You can apologize when you’ve hurt someone or done something harmful. But do not apologize for being a person with wants and needs. You can respect the viewpoints of others without shrinking your own. You can have people say bad things about you without believing it yourself. You can show up each day and try your damn best, and that truly IS enough.

Success isn’t just your achievements. It’s not even always how you impact the world. Some days success is just going to mean that you got through it. Some days success will be domestic goddessing and cupcake baking with your kids on a Saturday night. 

Success is in getting to know yourself. Listening when everything in you tells you to be and not do.