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24/100 | It's okay to admit "I don't know."⠀
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Today I realized just how hard it is for me to say these three little words, "I don't know." I'm currently working on gearing up for the release and promotion of my first published book (#BrightestLifeJournal - Eeeeep!) and in the midst of it I sometimes find myself thinking I *should* know what I'm doing already. I'll have a question and think it's dumb or obvious or like I should magically know the ins and outs of publishing.⠀
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But HELLO, I've never done this before! And HELLO I have a whole crew of people, including my wonderful agent and editor and marketing team and friends who've published books that are more than willing to answer every question I have...all I have to do is ask. ⠀
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But that's hard for us sometimes, isn't it? (Especially hard for women perhaps?) ⠀
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I've learned though, that admitting you have no clue what you're doing is kind of liberating. It means you can ride the wave of an experience, soaking up everything without having to PRETEND. (And y'all know there's nothing I hate more than pretending.) You can embrace curiosity and use each new experience as a chance to learn new things—things that not everyone has the chance to learn.⠀
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New script: "I don't know...but I'd love to figure it out." 😉⠀
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#the100dayproject #100daysoftinytruths⠀

Your real values. Your honest dreams. Your deep, deep down core self. .
However far you stray, when you start to feel the pull of your truest self tugging at your heart, begging you to return, listen. It's never too late to course-correct. It's never too late to return to yourself. 💛
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Written for any of you beautiful friends who are feeling the pull today.

23/100 | If you want change to last, find a way to fall in love with the process, not the outcome. ⠀
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In general, I hate exercise. But I know it's good for like... health or whatever 🙄and so before I turn 30 this year, my audacious goal is just to NOT hate exercise. ⠀
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So many times I've tried getting in shape through various different exercises, but it's always been for the sake of an outcome I wanted. Lose x by this date or do x for 30 days or what not. There's nothing inherently wrong with these things—goals are motivating. But I'm starting to realize that if I really want to make a LASTING change when it comes to a fitness habit, I can't do what I've done in the past. ⠀
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I have to learn how to fall in love with the process itself of moving and challenging my body. And boy oh boy is that a tall order. But already I am starting to sense a shift. If I can get my brain to just focus on finding ways of working out that are fun and interesting, and I can just make the goal to SHOW UP, I know my health will improve the way I want it to. (Right now I'm very much enjoying @orangetheory but who knows what it might be in three months.) ⠀
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Focusing on outcomes is a great motivator to get started or for a short-term goal, but I truly believe if you want to fold something into your life for the long haul, you have to find some way to frame it so that it's enjoyable. If there's a habit you too are struggling to get to stick, keep approaching the process from new angles until you find something you like. ⠀
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#the100dayproject #100daysoftinytruths

When you see someone you're inspired by, don't assume that they have something you don't or that you need that special thing they have. All you need is that special thing YOU have. Don't go chasing your creative voice by imitating other people whose work you love... instead try cracking yourself open and see what pours out. 💗

Today's #BrightestLifeJournal advice: Progress takes patience. (Anyone else feeling this one lately?)⠀
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Probably one of my favorite parts about the journal is that even though it's organized into seven sections, you can flip to any page in the book and you'll find a short, vibrant message of mindfulness that could be just what you need to hear at the time. ⠀
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It's silly because I know it's my book, but I've been keeping my advance copy next to my desk and when I feel stuck or discouraged, I flip it open and there's always a little nugget of wisdom from my former self there to remind me of something important. ⠀
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Things with @wanderingaimfully have been going slower than I wanted, but today's spread reminds me that progress doesn't happen all at once! It requires patience, commitment and perserverence! ⠀
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ps. Your Brightest Life Journal comes out in under two months! 😱(August 7th!) If you want it in your hands the day it's released, you can pre-order at the link in my bio! 💞

22/100 | Humaning is hard, but hold tight to the hope that it can and will get better.⠀
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The news this week has been heartache-inducing. While I haven't struggled with suicidal thoughts or deep depression, I'm not one of those people who says "I can't imagine" how someone could feel that way (nor am I one to shame anyone for experiencing those things.) I CAN imagine it. Why? Because the longer I live, the more I learn how incredibly hard the act of human-ing is. And because, though I haven’t teetered on that edge, I can relate to what that heavy, hopeless spiral *might* feel like. ⠀
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I felt this first in 2014 during the worst of my anxiety and a few other times in the thick of a few mysterious illnesses. I remember getting to a place of silent resignation and desperation, the lingering question echoing in my ear: "Is it really going to feel like this for the rest of my life?" ⠀
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But here’s what I learned from my brushes with despair. When I felt like the weight of whatever I was going through was spinning me ‘round and ‘round, deeper and deeper down a drain of dark panic, somehow I KNEW that the only way to stop the force of it was with HOPE. (I know how cliche and silly that sounds, but bear with me.) ⠀
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Hope is like a stopper in the drain of despair. It stops the forceful suction from the black hole of darkness below. Hope says “It will NOT feel like this forever. It CAN get better than this and it WILL get better than this. Trust me.” Even when my brain was lying, even when consciously I couldn’t muster the strength to believe it fully, somewhere deep down I made the commitment to silence my doubts and hold on to hope that things would improve. That stopper in the drain gave me just enough traction to pull myself up out of the hole I was in at that time. ⠀
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I know not everyone is in a position to do this. It’s not always possible to separate ourselves in those dark times & convince ourselves things can get better. ⠀
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But maybe some of us can be that hope for someone else? Meet someone where they are, and gently assure them: "I see you, I love you, you matter, & there is hope to be found. Even if you don’t believe it, believe that I believe it.”

Look at this gorgeous setup I found in a favorite local boutique of mine! We have fellow @chroniclebooks author and all-around amazing illustrator @anndanger's latest book #LegendaryLadies; @jensincero's #youareabadass; and fellow guided journal creator @merelymeeralee's #startwhereyouare. ⠀
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SO much freaking gorgeous inspiration on one table. Hoping #BrightestLifeJournal ends up here someday soon! (ps. You can check the link in my bio to pre-order!)⠀
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Have you picked up any of these titles? Am I the only one that loves buying books from local shops?

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