Life is Beautiful
Art by Jonathan Carroll II - jpc2.world
I don't gatekeep, I want everybody to eat
It's a cold world, Jermaine wearing a mink
Even with my shoes off, not facing defeat
Appetite for destruction, they was craving deceit
Careful what you put inside, the outside the receipt- 2 Chainz, Life is Beautiful
As I have gotten older and improved my self awareness, I have come to recognize the importance of positive self talk. That inner voice can be a superpower, or it can quietly destroy you, your relationships, and the things you care most about.
I cannot pinpoint exactly where it started, but for most of my life, my inner voice was negative. I am a particular person, and in many ways a perfectionist. That combination often leads to disappointment when things do not go as planned, which is inevitable. I have traditionally been very hard on myself. I have blamed instead of forgiven, judged instead of offered grace, and suppressed instead of expressed. And all of that was directed inward.
I am now deeply committed to improving how I treat myself. Some days are better than others, but I am consistently working toward being my highest and most present self. One of the biggest game changers for me has been daily affirmations. Speaking greatness, self love, and confidence out loud has been genuinely transformative. Over time, those words are rewiring my mind.
Another area I am actively working on is consistency. The days I skip my affirmations often take a very different path than the days I do them. My favorite morning routine is simple and intentional. I wake up, drink water, take electrolytes and apple cider vinegar, have a cup of herbal tea, stretch, and then move into my affirmations. No phone. No TV. Dim lighting.
During that time, I focus on my breath. Years ago in yoga, I learned that when you truly focus on breathing, you can only be present. There is no room for the past or the future. If you have never tried it, intentional breathing is a powerful way to release stress, anxiety, and fear. Like anything else, practice and consistency matter.
Grace.
When I think about my kids, I want them to speak love and life into their thoughts. I want them to be graceful with themselves and with others. I want them to be curious, discerning, and grounded in who they are.
The truth is, we are supreme beings created in the image of God. When we carry ourselves with that understanding and truly believe it, everything shifts. I am actively working on unwiring any thoughts that tell me otherwise.
Because if we do not spread love to ourselves through powerful, positive, and nourishing self talk, we leave space for the lies and half truths the world sends our way every single minute. What we say to ourselves becomes the foundation we stand on, so I am choosing words that help me rise.
-Godspeed
