— If there is something you want to do, you can absolutely do it. The business? The writing? The podcast? The health reset? It is absolutely possible. Most of the time, we are the only thing standing in our way. Action relieves anxiety.

— Along those same lines, I recently heard the quote, “Stop spending 20 hours thinking about it and spend 20 minutes doing it.” Game changing! Some of the best progress happens 15 minutes at a time.

— Sometimes the problem (or the product or the person) isn’t the problem. How we think or talk about it is. Food for thought.

— Sometimes 2.0—a $22 pair of sunglasses can add a big boost of joy, confidence, and zest to the mix when we’re feeling blah. This pair has been my new go-to lately (and is 55% off!).

— I recently experienced a big win in my business. One that will change the trajectory of what is possible for me and future clients. When I got the news, I was overjoyed, and then my mind rattled off about 157 things I needed to do as a result of this good news. “I guess this is the life of the entrepreneur,” I chuckled. One good thing leads to many more things that need to get done. I could sense this reality and took a minute to pause + celebrate. The work and to-do lists will (always) come, but celebrating when we can is absolutely necessary.

— Most of our lives are spent celebrating other people—we only get one bridal or baby shower of our own. The rest of the time we are guests who get to show up and cheer on our loved ones. I want to get really good at this—intentionally choosing gifts (and ordering them well in advance), wrapping them with care, being there with a heart of gratitude and love (vs. a mindset that this is taking up my precious weekend—vulnerable admittance, but a necessary shift). 

— Healthy rhythms (sometimes called “self-care”) is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. If we aren’t getting the sleep we need, moving our bodies frequently, finding ways to regulate our nervous systems, we will burn out. I’m repeating this to myself. Taking care of myself isn’t deterring me from my goals—it’s helping me get there and stay healthy for the long haul. 

— Working out consistently has transformed so many parts of my life. My physical health, yes, but I’ve also seen big increases in my persistence, discipline, and mental toughness. We were made to move! What changed for me wasn’t some New Year’s resolution or big mustering of my own strength. It was the identity shift that “I am a person who moves my body.” Whether that’s 15 minutes of walking around the block after work, a 10 minute strength workout, or longer stretches when I have the time, it’s not something I’m forcing myself to do. It’s something I do because of who I am. Big difference. 

— What once seemed impossible to me (waking up at 6am, working on passion projects before work, being present in the office all day, managing a home + marriage, building a business, writing + sharing my art) is now possible. It seemed like a far off reality because of my autoimmune diseases and lack of energy, and while I have experienced so much healing in my body, so much of the progress has been mental. How we frame things and the stories we tell ourselves make all the difference—for better or worse.

— Now more than ever, my Magic Mind mental performance shots have improved my ability to focus and move through my days with confidence. I am so grateful for them. They give me a clean boost of energy when I need it most and cut through brain fog on hard afternoons. A true gift. Here’s a code for $40 off your first order. I 10/10 recommend! More on my story + experience with the brand here.

— I’ve been focusing on time management/optimization lately and seen so much fruit come from a few small tweaks. As Julia Cameron says, “I control the inputs, and God controls the outputs.” The more we use our precious time to add inputs into the mix, the more opportunity for something to come of those efforts.

Sending love,
AR

Post Script
— If you love journaling, I think you’ll love this. I made it for you with love! xo

— The sacred work of making something—

— Simple ways to stay creative after a 9-5 here—