How does your day typically start? Do you wake up with optimism, looking forward with anticipation to the day ahead? Or do you hit the snooze button, putting off rolling out of bed until the last possible moment? Consider that how you begin each morning determines the quality of your day. I’ve created a little action acronym to help develop a new morning routine to start your day with more enthusiasm, encouragement, energy, excitement, and expectations: N.O.T.I.C.E.

I had this expectation that yoga would be this incredible and joyful experience every time I practiced and was disappointed each time I got on my mat. I thought: I must be doing it wrong. This isn’t the exceptional experience I want. So I resisted. Then a month or two would go by and I would try again and repeated the experience. I was being really hard on myself for not wanting to practice yoga and getting quite angry with myself and not practicing much self-compassion.

Now, I am adjusting my expectations and embracing it and really feeling the unexected emotions as they come. Right now my practice is rather intense and that’s okay. This is what I need right now to heal and move through this transformation; whatever it might be. This is my journey, I can practice compassion, and embrace what is instead of what I expect.

Continuing to remain curious and explore our reactions to our vulnerability and fear allows for realizations that ultimately create transformation. Discovering my automatic easy button, allows me to notice that I use it whenever I feel afraid or uncomfortable, and now something different can be done. I don't have to automatically push that button anymore. I don't have to always feel afraid.

If I’ve realized anything, it is that I am brave. And you can be too.
– Rachelle Niemann

I realize that I go silent here, sometimes for long stretches of time and I wanted to try and explain why that happens. I am a work in progress; I always will be. I am still learning and growing and honestly, I hope that continues forever. But sometimes during especially intense times of growth and discomfort, it’s all I can do is focus on the growth and lessons.

The truth is, for the past 3 years I’ve been in the midst of Act 2. Brene Brown discusses this as starting with an inciting incident. For me, this was the idea of becoming a parent and passing down my pain, fear, and shame to children and not being able to fully show up for them.

Spring has arrived; I’m here and I’m ready to create something real, something meaningful. If I can push through the darkness anyone can, and I’m here to support in any way I can.

When we allow ourselves to accept and feel the whole spectrum of emotions, more space for happiness is available. Striving to only feel one emotion all the time is unrealistic and unsustainable. Let's instead try to really feel all of our emotions, so, in turn, we can feel more happiness.

In order to allow ourselves to feel all of our emotions, we need to rethink how we perceive them. Emotions are not good or bad, or positive or negative; they are just emotions. We feel emotions; we are not emotions, and we have a better ability to feel and manage our emotions when we reframe how we see them.

To have compassion for others, we must first have compassion for ourselves and continue to notice when we are judging ourselves in elusive and hidden ways. Practicing self-compassion helps us discover and overcome our self-defeating criticism and judgement and spur desired growth.

By taking responsibility for our actions, we can implement positive daily habits to create more joy in our lives.

Creating an intentional practice of smiling can help you experience the benefits more often. There are simple steps we can take to incorporate more smiling into our lives. 

October is Positive Attitude month! There are many ways we can practice a positive attitude and smiling has proven to be an effective tool to improve our attitude and overall well-being. Consider making smiling a daily practice to reap the benefits!

When fear feels threatened, it gets creative hiding in new emotions. I spent the last few weeks confused by various emotions, but I finally realized through reflection, meditation, and journaling that fear was the root of them all. Now I must shine light on it, so I can move forward.

It was a rough week. I hesitated to discuss it here, but we must overcome the fear, shame, and judgement regarding mental health and wellness to heal. Let's start with kindness and compassion rather than fear.