This week’s message might feel like a contradiction with all the pain and oppression happening here and abroad. However, the message remains: You are entitled to have a happy life. Limitless bliss and joy are your birthrights. That doesn’t mean every moment of every day exudes joy and bliss, but it definitely means you are deserving and have access to these experiences. How are you touching joy daily?

This week pushes you to think about what makes you feel loved. We are all worthy of being loved and cherished. And the author reminds us that true love starts with YOU. Don’t wait to get what you want from others. Give love to yourself. Romance yourself. You deserve it!

“I am grateful for every blessing in my life, big or small.” I really am! And yet this week reminded me of some tools I can use to boost my gratitude. Spend some time reflecting on what you appreciate about yourself, your relationships, your life. If you can identify something you are grateful for each day, it can help you see more opportunities for gratitude. The more you look for it, the more you find it. You’ll soon realize, you don’t have to wait for big news or major milestones. Gratitude can come in all sizes!

You’re doing the best you can, and you can give yourself care and compassion even when overwhelmed. Honestly, it can be hard to say these words to myself. It’s easier for me to think about what I might tell a friend who is having a hard time. That fact helps me know that I have work to do to have more compassion for myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed. On this self-love journey, I’m working on giving myself a tender pep talk rather than a harsh scolding when things don’t go the way I planned. Why? Because I’m doing the best I can. 

You can do hard things. Seriously, it might not be your preference, but you can do it! This week’s mantra is “I am strong & capable. I can keep trying even when things are hard.” It’s a good reminder that might help you keep trying, keep getting back up, keep pushing through. Of course, this mantra isn’t for times when the hard thing is toxic. It’s for those challenges in life that make us stronger and for the goals that we can look forward to reaching when the hard work is finally over. Kara Lawson, the coach of Duke women’s basketball said we have to “do hard better.” That sentiment has helped me when things are hard.

Make your peace of mind a priority. While our mood can vary, it’s important to know who, what, and where brings you peace. Slow down to be curious about what adds to your peace and what disrupts it. Practice mindfulness and being aware of yourself in the present moment at different times throughout the day to learn what you’re feeling. Checking in with myself is how I learned spending time in nature is my happy place!  

You have permission to change your mind. As you grow and chance, you get to want different things, and this week encourages us to own that truth. If we’re doing this thing we call life “right,” we aren’t the same people we were in the past. It’s OK if goals… even people… no longer fit who we are and what we want in life. Spend some time reflecting on your current desires and what’s holding you back from going for what you really want.

We’re halfway through!! What is time?! 

Spend some time this week reflecting on your progress. Where have you grown? Where do you need support? If you notice places where you skipped over activities or rushed through content, know you can circle back. Look for new ways to love yourself each day, and congratulations on investing in half a year of intentional self-love!

Mistakes happen. It’s important to forgive yourself and let go of being perfect. Having kids has been a huge lesson in giving myself and them permission to make mistakes. None of us have gone down these roads before, so we can’t expect each other to get everything right. Being patient with myself and others has helped me choose compassion in times where I used to choose judgement. How do you handle mistakes? 

Being open to new adventures and engaging the world with a childlike wonder and curiosity are the topics of this week. It was fun to look back on previous adventures and exciting to think about my dreams for the future. Making my bucket list helps me realize there is lots to look forward to in life and some of the items can happen sooner rather than later. What adventures are you planning? Or, for you, is adventure the absence of planning?! Let me know about your adventures of the past, present, and future!