Pause for a reminder to not judge yourself. We all do it. To prove these thoughts true. Somewhere in the depths of your soul you were hearing whispers from a different voice despite the criticism or attention you've received.

There is a moment, perhaps a series of moments in which you realize the way in which life is moving isn’t working. Yes, your job is okay, maybe you even love it, your relationship seems ideal, and your friends are nice. You, however, feel like you’re crawling out of your skin. You look under all the rocks, read through all the self-help books, save all the inspirational quotes in your feed but still can’t put your finger on what to do next. You’re in the perfect place, I promise.

The language we use when talking to ourselves matters. Our words have a vibration. Have you ever had a friend say they should do something and the minute the words leave their mouth you both kind of cringe. It’s because we know on some level the emotional weight it carries.

As you become aware you may notice your current desires coming from hurt and external messages received. I need a new pair of shoes might actually be I want to see my beauty, as it is without expectation or judgment. I want to feel the sensation of being worthy of love. To be enough with or without the shoes. I don't want to feel so alone.

Returning to rhythm with the cosmos can make your life easier as you create supports that reduce stress on your system. When we notice things veering off course and work to realign with universal patterns we work less and feel better faster. Our schedules are jam packed these days so the less we have to do to start to feel good the better.

Productivity is business. It isn't representative of a thriving human, but somehow it has become our daily barometer. It shows up as stress when we think about how much we need to get done in a day, and how many checkmarks we have on our list. It represents how successful we feel at work or home. Modern women have so many pressures, including these stealthy productivity messages that pour in from internal and external sources.

Lunar cycles have been shown to strongly impact animal and human physiology particularly with women in the areas of reproduction and human behavior. Lunar energy is feminine. This means your mental health, menstrual cycle and fertility can be influenced by its movement. Honoring and adapting to it can result in emotional, physical and energetic benefits.

Sleep is a big deal. A poor night sleep tends to throw off the next day, leading to less than ideal dietary choices (i.e. extra cup or two of coffee or sugary treat around 3pm), a lack of motivation to make it to yoga or trouble completing projects. When you're tired it’s harder to get things done and to stay balanced and healthy.

Even if you don't feel like a very competitive person it's completely normal to get sucked into what I like to call the loop. It's a phenomenon that occurs when you think everything is going along pretty smoothly, then you see how fabulous an acquaintance is doing on Instagram and shoot...maybe you're not doing as well as you thought. You completely forget that, in more cases, you are only being presented the shiny things.

We suffer when our sleep is disturbed. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or not sleeping peacefully can impact the way in which the body repairs itself. Without enough sleep it can be challenging to think clearly, negatively impacts your ability to regulate emotions, and makes recovery from damage caused by daily stress or strain difficult. We heal during sleep. The body rebuilds and restores.

So, what is self-care? I like to think of it as actions we take to build our resilience, to nourish ourselves. To prevent disease and discomfort in the body and mind so we can make healthy decisions, bounce back from challenges, and reduce the impact of stress. It’s about intention, even if we don’t do it in the way we planned it still makes a difference.

Ancestral patterns impact your daily interactions, they create chronic behaviors and belief systems that can influence decision making in all areas of life. The energy that is passed down from your lineage can express itself through you. These systems can be supportive, and some are based in a need to survive.

Productivity is business. It isn't representative of a thriving human, but somehow it has become our daily barometer. It shows up as stress when we think about how much we need to get done in a day, and how many checkmarks we have on our list. It represents how successful we feel at work or home. Modern women have so many pressures, including these stealthy productivity messages that pour in from internal and external sources.

Life can be full of tasks, interactions, and obligations. We are inundated with stimuli during the day through our cell phones, computers and televisions. It can be daunting to digest and assimilate everything that is coming at us. Poor digestion of what we eat, see, and hear can result in discomfort and dis-ease. Tension in our mind/emotions is likely to create physical issues. And, physical tensions or ailments can cause psychological discomfort.

Imbalances can show up as symptoms in the digestive system, mental health issues, auto-immune, and so on. You could be unknowingly encouraging the imbalance to embed itself and spread in your body/mind. This can be done through misusing your senses (touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing), or knowingly make poor decisions.

Developing a healthy lifestyle is important on your journey toward balance and well-being, but also challenging because we are asking the youngest versions of ourselves, the deepest attachments we have, to release and do something different. The brain itself cannot recognize a good change from a bad change- it sees change and panics a bit.

Let's keep it simple. Begin by being gentle. Approach yourself as you would a child. Maybe even imagine yourself as a child. Remember, we know you can get things done. This is not a suggestion to give up, and stop trying. Instead, it is an invitation to cultivate a sweet, forgiving, and loving relationship with yourself. 

It's always interesting to experience the weeks following January 1st. To step into the space of witnessing the flurry of resolutions and changes happening around you. It can be intense. Everyone is going to the gym. No longer drinking. Reducing time scrolling through social media. Taking on a new hobby or project. It's as though the flood gates of possibility are open and it's all rushing in.

If your thoughts are focused in a particular direction or you ask a question in a certain way rest assured that your super smart brain will find an answer to confirmation whatever it is you're seeking. This can strengthen the pathways that exist. This is problematic when it comes to the untrue, unhealthy and/or unsupportive beliefs you have about yourself.

Imposter syndrome is powerful doubt, feelings of not making it or doing well despite of all the success or proof otherwise that you are rocking it. Your confidence in yourself and your abilities is low, and there is a danger in resorting to blaming all those amazing moments where things worked on luck, disregarding how much work you put in and your unique gifts.