Last Updated on January 4, 2023

Have new years resolutions ever really worked?

I haven’t set new years resolutions in years, perhaps because one overarching goal for the year feels close-minded to me.

How can I possibly predict that I’ll still want that one goal in even a few months’ time?

My ever-changing mind simply says, “that’s a good joke.”

Though I do believe in the power of goal setting (as I’ve written about many times before), I’ve been resistant to jumping into it right away this year.

Usually, I’d map out everything I’d like to accomplish, but I’ve been feeling the urge to take things a little slower.

If you’ve been feeling a similar kind of way, here’s how you can ease into the year with flexible expectations.

Entering 2023 with ease

This time of year is riddled with other people sharing their tips to help you ‘get ahead of 99% of other people’ in the new year.

But I don’t want to get ahead of anyone else.

That’s not how I measure success.

I just want to (gently) get ahead of my past self.

I could feel bad about wanting to go slow, wondering if there’s something wrong with me because I don’t know my goals just yet. Like it’s my fault that I’m not ambitious, organized, or motivated enough.

But apparently, I’m not in the minority in wanting to go slow. I’ve been seeing a general pushback against setting goals, and there’s an overarching message from others along the lines of ‘don’t worry if you haven’t set goals just yet‘.

Here’s your reminder that you are welcome to hop, skip & even slide into this new year without creating not one resolution.

It is more than okay to enjoy exactly where you are.

— Michelle. (@thegmichelle) January 2, 2023

Maybe it’s just the circles I’m in, but everyone seems to be anti-resolution these days (which I’m not mad about at all).

Perhaps it’s because goals are automatically associated with the hustle, and people are tired of always pushing for the next thing.

We need to shift away from the old way of doing things and realize that slow growth is still growth.

It’s better to move towards goals with intention, rather than rushing simply just to get them done.

Related Post: 5 Tips to Pause Hustle Mode and Slow Down

Choose a word and focus areas

For the time being, I’m using words of the year as my anchors.

I recommend Susannah Conway’s workbook for choosing which words to use.

The words I’ve chosen for this year are pursue, presence, and connect.

Here’s what they mean to me:

1. Pursue: to put effort into the things I want to do, even when it feels scary
2. Presence: to bring more mindfulness to the things I do
3. Connect: to find ways to connect with like-minded people

I’ve also pinpointed a few areas of life that I’d like to focus on for the year: career, mindfulness/spirituality, and community.

These go hand in hand with the words I’ve chosen.

I’m going to give myself time to figure out what I’d like out of these areas, then focus on 1-2 smaller goals for each per quarter/season.

If you want to figure out which areas of life to choose, try going through this wellness wheel exercise.

And if you’re not sure of anything you want just yet, spend time away from the distractions of what other people are doing. Find ways to connect with yourself so you can come back to your own guidance.

Don’t rush to set goals if you’re not sure of them just yet – start with your focus areas and words to guide you.

How are you easing into the new year?

The post How I’m easing into 2023 appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Last Updated on December 16, 2022

I’ve written a lot about self-care over the years, and somehow there’s always more I can say on the topic.

Perhaps it’s because I see people not taking care of themselves and I think, “This could all be so different.”

In my own life, self-care has given me clarity, stability, and a deeper connection with myself. It allows me to be more creative and refuels my energy for the things I want to do.

In turn, I can show up as the truest version of myself around others (I would say ‘best’, but I think ‘true’ is more appropriate).

So if you need a little reminder to keep making time for yourself, here are 40 one-sentence reminders to help you prioritize self-care (inspired by Josh Spector’s post, 40 one-sentence creativity tips).

40 one-sentence self-care tips

1. Self-care is about finding practices that help you stay balanced and healthy – mentally, physically, and emotionally.

2. An important act of self-care is standing up for your energy and time when other people are asking too much of you.

3. Setting boundaries can sound intimidating, but it will give you the freedom to spend time doing what you love.

4. Following your heart is an act of self-care.

5. Listening to your intuition is an act of self-care.

6. Don’t avoid the things that make you feel better.

7. Making time for yourself in the morning will help the rest of your day run more smoothly.

8. The way you talk to yourself manifests in everything you do.

9. “Instead of asking yourself why you’re so lazy, ask yourself why you might need so much rest.” – Dr. Emily Anhalt​

10. Burnout happens when you avoid being human for too long.

11. You’ll show up as the truest version of yourself when you prioritize what you need.

12. You deserve to do what’s best for you.

13. If self-care makes you feel lazy, you might not have found the right self-care method for you.

14. Get clear on why you want to make self-care part of your lifestyle so you can’t make excuses to get out of it.

15. Don’t deplete your emotional, mental, and physical energy on something that doesn’t align with your values.

16. Sometimes all you need is a few moments to recuperate from a setback, and other times you need a whole day to recover; both are okay.

17. If you don’t want to do something, you don’t need to justify your decision to anyone.

18. Instead of worrying about being consistent, focus on being resilient with your actions so you can get back on track when you’re ready.

19. Take a break before you think you need it.

20. Recognize the difference between self-care, self-sabotage, and self-soothing.

21. Small efforts will add up over time.

22. When you’re clear with your boundaries and make every effort to stick to them, you reflect back to yourself that your needs are important.

23. “Showing up for yourself often means not showing up for everything and everyone else.” – Jennifer Healey​

24. Make two self-care lists: a list of things that sustain you when you have high energy, and a list of things that keep you regulated when you feel low.

25. You don’t have to keep pushing yourself to do more.

26. Keeping commitments to yourself is the ultimate act of self-care.

27. Instead of trying to change all of your habits at once, start by setting one self-care goal for yourself and do what you can to stick to it.

28. “Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less.” – The Four Agreements​

29. Don’t get swept into the marketing side of self-care that’s solely focused on selling you a product.

30. To take care of ourselves from the inside out, we need to focus on what we actually need, not what other people tell us we need.

31. All self-care activities and behaviors are learnt from others and are influenced by the external environments in which people live and work. – Self-Care for Health​

32. Whatever is causing you discomfort, you get to decide if you are going to accept it or find a way to change it.

33. Prioritize your support system and get comfortable asking for help.

34. True self-care involves sacrifice, honesty, community, and a commitment to making choices in your best interest.

35. “The soul usually knows what to do to heal itself; the challenge is to silence the mind.” – Caroline Myss

36. Make time for self-care in the “fringe hours” – the pockets of time between meetings, projects, and chores that often get wasted.

37. Get away from social media regularly so you can listen to what you really want.

38. When you’re trying to decide whether or not to do something, ask what would make life easier or better for your future self.

39. Let yourself take up as much space as you need in this world.

40. Don’t break the most important promise – a promise to yourself.

Which is your favorite tip?

Let me know if there’s anything you’d add to the list!

The post 40 One-Sentence Self-Care Tips appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Last Updated on October 18, 2022

I’m in the process of rebuilding my morning routine.

For too long, I’ve been waking up with an immediate sense of overwhelm.

As I lay there in bed, I’d automatically think about what I needed to do that day and whether anyone was waiting on a response from me.

I found myself in the habit of jumping onto my computer right away, determined to get as much off my plate as I could in order to finally “relax.”

But you know how that story goes.

You check your inbox or Slack to see if anyone needs anything, which turns into a whole list of things you hadn’t planned for. You don’t even have time to plan out how you’re going to tackle those things.

Your stomach’s grumbling, your throat feels like the Sahara desert, and the dog’s whining…but you’re stuck where you are now.

The pressure to get things done so you can feel “free” is something that never quite seems to go away.

And that’s why I realized that something needed to change. That pressure is always going to be there. People will always need something.

But I can’t show up as a helpful human being unless I take some time in the morning for myself first. It’s in your best intention to do something for yourself before you give everything to your job (even if you’re self-employed).

How you start your day matters.

Taking that time to be with myself (instead of trying to put out the fires that only exist in my imagination) has made my mornings more mindful – and I’m better off because of it. 

Here are three steps for rebuilding your morning routine if you also want to calm the chaos and start your day with the right mindset.

How to rebuild your morning routine

1. Set your morning intention

I was tired of feeling anxious every morning. As soon as I woke up, my brain would start thinking of the things I needed to do, the potential emails I might have, and the fact that I was already behind on what I wanted to do. 

I wasn’t present in my mornings at all.

What I really wanted when I woke up was to feel prepared for the day so I wouldn’t feel in a rush. If I felt prepared, I could focus on being present.

I asked myself, “What can I do that will make me feel prepared?”

This intention became a guideline I could use to make sure I was starting my day the right way.

How do you want to feel during your mornings? Calm, energized, present, unbothered? Use this as a starting point to figure out how you might make small tweaks to your current routine.

P.S. Get The Daily Bliss Planner to map out your daily intentions and self-care practices.

2. Your first action matters

When my first action out of bed was to check emails or messages, my days never felt like they started on the right foot.

Your first action of the day creates the foundation for the rest of the day.

Obviously, your first action is probably to stumble out of bed and head to the bathroom, but I’m talking about what happens after that.

You want to create what Casey Dixon calls a “self-supportive habit”.

A self-supportive habit is “something that gives you a boost of energy, a sense of clarity, or a bit of structure to follow as your day gets started.”

What would that habit look like for you?

This first action should be enjoyable and easy, no matter your energy levels.

Try to make it something that relates back to the intention you set for your mornings. Since mine is to be prepared for the day, I might review my daily to-do list to make sure I know what to expect.

If your goal is to have a morning of peace, your first action might be to meditate. If your goal is to feel connected, your first action could be to talk to someone you love.

“Chances are you already have habits that guide your daily routine. The question becomes how can you go about changing these behaviors to establish new habits that are more supportive?”

Casey Dixon

3. Recognize what IS working

There’s no need to completely overhaul your mornings. Start by focusing on what’s already working for you.

What things do you do every morning that feel good?

When you know what’s working, you can use these things as anchors to create new habits. Plus you’ll discover something about your priorities and needs.

Here are a few things that were already working for me:

• Take the dog out and get some sunshine (this is, of course, the number one thing sleep doctors and #biohackingbros tell you to do in order to get better sleep at night)
• Empty the dishwasher while I make breakfast. I hate emptying the dishwasher, but I’ve realized it doesn’t take as long as I think it does in my head. Plus, I make it a challenge to empty it before my eggs finish cooking.
• Eat breakfast. If I don’t, I get scary.
• Drink a cup of hot/warm water
• Avoid social media. I no longer sleep with my phone in the bedroom which means I can’t scroll first thing.

Recognizing what is working shows you what to keep prioritizing, instead of getting sidetracked by shiny new habit ideas.

How do you plan to make your mornings more mindful?

Your morning routine doesn’t have to elaborate – it just needs to be intentional. Take time in the morning to make sure you can be the best version of yourself for the rest of the day.

The post 3 Steps to Rebuild Your Morning Routine appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Did you know that trees can use scent to communicate with each other?

According to The Hidden Life of Trees, scientists in the 70s noticed something interesting while giraffes were feeding on acacia trees in the African savannah.

The trees (understandably) wanted the giraffes to stop nibbling them, so they pumped out a toxic substance that made their leaves unpleasant to eat.

The giraffes didn’t like this one bit, so they abandoned the tree – but they also avoided other trees of the same species until they were about 100 yards away.

Why? Because the acacia trees were emitting a warning gas to neighboring trees letting them know that a crisis was at hand. 

In turn, those neighboring trees pumped out toxins into their leaves to discourage the giraffes from eating them as well.

I was in awe when I read this.

It made me realize how much I truly don’t know about trees and what they’re capable of, even though I’m surrounded by them here in the Pacific Northwest.

This concept of awe is something I’ve been exploring since reading Julia Baird’s memoir, Phosphorescence. 

In the book, Baird shares how she experiences awe every morning during her daily swims in the ocean alongside cuttlefish, turtles, and whaler sharks.

She says that experiencing awe is of the ways that we become truly present in our lives. 

While I don’t have plans to go swimming in open water every morning (the Puget Sound would not treat me well), it made me think about how awe shows up in my own life.

In a Carrie Bradshaw sort of way, I couldn’t help but wonder: is awe something we should be pursuing in our everyday lives?

“I think this is how we’re supposed to be in the world – present and in awe.”

– Anne Lamott

Why should we care about awe?

Awe is a fascinating emotion because it can help us appreciate life while simultaneously making us feel insignificant.

When we experience a sense of awe, we become acutely aware that we’re part of a universe larger than ourselves. 

There’s nothing more humbling than realizing you’re insignificant.

And at the same time, we realize that everything we do is so important. We all have an important role to play in our lifetimes.

In that sense, awe seems to be one of the best ways to ground yourself, especially when you’re caught up in the details of life. 

According to mindful.org, “Awe may help stop us from ruminating on our problems and daily stressors. Instead, awe seems to pull us out of ourselves and make us feel immersed in our surroundings and the larger world.”

Those small things that you’re worried about become insignificant when you start to think about the vastness of the universe.

If we can experience more awe in our daily lives, we may be able to quieten the self-doubt and overwhelm that hold us back from enjoying the present moment.

“The central idea of awe is to quiet self-interest for a moment and to fold us into the social collective.”

– Julia Baird

How to pursue awe in your life

If awe can help ground us, it makes sense that we should seek out moments of awe on a regular basis.

How? Let me count the ways.

Awe can come from admiration. You might feel awe when you see someone else doing something you never even thought was possible. Try finding new people to learn from.

Awe can come from hope, like when you see people coming together for good. Join a group of people who care about the things you care about.

It can come from witnessing beauty. French philosopher Simone Weil said only two things pierce the human heart: beauty and affliction. Life brings us plenty of affliction, so we must seek out beauty when we can.

French philosopher Simone Weil said only two things pierce the human heart.

One is beauty.

The other is affliction.

Life brings you affliction. In buckets.

This leaves a longing in your soul for beauty.

But to find it, you must know it.

— David Morris (@wdmorrisjr) February 13, 2022

Awe-inspiring beauty is everywhere. A book or film can change you as a person, music might move you to tears, and art has the power to leave you speechless. Seek these things out as often as you can.

Of course, one of the most obvious ways to find awe is to observe the outside world. 

Look up at the stars at night. Observe how many there are and think about how much is unknown about the universe beyond us.

Look at the trees and ponder how old they are, how long they’ve survived, and how they communicate with one another.

Find a river, lake, waterfall, beach – anywhere with water. Notice how the water flows and let it run between your fingers.

Pay attention to animals and insects. Notice how they’re not worried about their purpose in life. There’s nothing they need to do except eat, sleep, and communicate with each other. They focus on being.

We’re so concerned with what we’re supposed to be doing on this planet. In reality, we just need to be who we are. 

There are so many ways to experience awe in your daily life. The key is to pay attention to the magic.

“If you can be in awe of your life every day — be in awe of everything — then you have a lot of source material for your thankfulness.”

– Jennifer Healey

When was the last time you felt a sense of awe? What or who are you in awe of?

P.S. Know of any other books or movies on this topic? Share your recommendations in a comment below!

The post How Awe Can Inspire Us To Be More Mindful appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

What’s helping you to function lately?

You know, the things that are keeping you together when you’re perhaps one thread away from unraveling?

Maybe it’s journaling, reading, tarot cards, or watching your favorite movie.

We all need supportive tools in our lives, especially when the world seems to be on the brink of collapse week in and week out. 

That’s where the wellness toolkit comes in.

On the Twelfth House Podcast, The Holisticism team discussed the idea of having a ‘wellness house of cards’ that helps you feel supported and grounded. 

“Your wellness house of cards are the things, ideas, actions, and products that are keeping your wellbeing together.”

– Michelle Pellizzon

You can think of it as the threads that are holding everything together.

Creating this kind of wellness toolkit is helpful because it means you have a list of tools to turn to when you want to feel more balanced.

Today, I’m sharing what’s in my personal wellness toolkit and how you can create your own resource library to rely on when you need a little extra support.

What is a wellness toolkit?

A wellness toolkit is a group of habits, tools, and products that make you feel good.

Think of a welder bringing tools along to a work site. Everything they need is in the toolkit. 

They won’t need everything for every job. But when something needs mending or putting back together, they can find the right tool for the situation.

It’s not necessarily a physical toolkit, but rather a collection of things that help you to feel better.

Your toolkit is there to help you get grounded when you need to. You can think of it like anchors for the mind, body, and soul.

What’s in my wellness toolkit

Here’s what’s in my current wellness toolkit:

1. Breathwork. I’ve been enjoying doing a few minutes of breathwork for a quick pause in my day (Breathwrk and o-p-e-n are great tools). If you’ve ever struggled with meditation, breathwork is a good alternative because it helps you be mindful without the pressure of trying to quiet your mind.

2. A journal and pen. I find a lot of my problems get solved if I simply write them down.

3. Music. It heals everything, right?

4. Nature. I spend too much time looking at screens, so a simple glimpse at the world outside helps my wellbeing.

5. A yoga mat. I can quickly roll it out and create space between me and my desk. Stretch, meditate, read, whatever.

6. Walking. I walk for thirty minutes every single day, and my walks are perhaps the main thread holding my life together.

7. Cube timer. This timer cube helps me get started on the things I need to do (because telling myself I only need to do something for 15 minutes means I’m much more likely to start).

8. Sunday social media detoxes. I’m going strong into my second year of staying off social media on Sundays. I actually look forward to this ritual now.

9. Notion. The workspace tool that helps me organize everything from my daily habits to my weekly meal planning.

How to create your wellness toolkit

1. Brainstorm the habits, activities, tools, and products that keep you feeling well.

Do a quick braindump of everything you can think of that feels supportive right now.

It’s best to use things you already know work for you, rather than things you ‘wish’ you would do. Leave out the 30-minute meditation session if you’ve never done it before.

Try thinking of:

1. baseline activities (brushing your teeth, eating a meal) 
2. nice-to-do activities (reading, exercising, calling a friend, putting on a face mask)

You might also want to think of the things that nourish your mind, body, and soul.

For more ideas of things you might include, this post has you covered.

2. Keep a visual reminder somewhere in your space. 

I found it super helpful to make a physical list of the things that feel supportive to me. 

When you find yourself in a state of frustration or overwhelm, it’s hard to think of anything that might get you grounded. If you have this list readily available, you can take a quick look and respond to whichever habit or action sounds supportive. It’s one less thing your brain has to think about.

I keep mine as a handwritten list, but you could create a menu of options in the notes app of your phone or something like Notion. You can pin it to your wall, make it your phone wallpaper, etc.

You could even create physical cards and pull them like a tarot deck to help you find what you need (check out Mindy’s Inner Alchemy Collage as an example).

3. Use your wellness toolkit.

When the going gets tough, turn to your wellness toolkit and see what sounds good to you in the moment.

Your wellness toolkit will inevitably change over time, so be sure to update your list with new discoveries and remove the ones that aren’t working for you anymore. 

What’s in your wellness toolkit?

What wellness practices, habits, and products are supporting you right now? I’d love to hear what’s in your toolkit.

The post What Keeps You Feeling Well? Put It In Your Wellness Toolkit. appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Have you ever noticed that certain days of the week have a different energy to them?

Perhaps we can blame the planets for that

One of the most interesting things I’ve discovered in my astrology deep-dives is that each day of the week is governed by a planet or a luminary (meaning the moon or sun).

Of course, whether or not you believe the planets have this kind of power is up to you. But you may see that your schedule is already aligned with the planet days of the week without even realizing it. 

For example, Wednesday is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication. Without knowing this, I subconsciously (or intuitively?) chose to send my weekly newsletter on the most appropriate day.

If you want a schedule that gives you flexibility and variety, planning a few things in your calendar based on the planetary rulers could be just the thing you need.

Let’s explore which planet rules each day, what significance that holds, and what tasks you can schedule each day for optimal success in your productivity, energy, and relationships.

How to plan your week with the planets

Monday: The Moon

The moon—though obviously not a planet—rules emotions and intuition. The moon also rules Cancer, the mother figure of the zodiac.

If you don’t feel particularly lively on Mondays, feel free to blame it on the moon. The moon can often bring an emotional and shadowy energy to the day. But that doesn’t mean you have to dread Mondays!

This is a great day for reflection and setting yourself up for the week in a way that aligns with your needs. If you’re able to, take this as a chill, no expectations kind of day. Focus on planning, organizing, and easing into the week.

Here’s how to make the most of the Moon’s energy:

• Prioritize relaxation and quiet time
• Spend time in nature (especially by the water)
• Do some emotional self-care
• Journal
• Practice light and flowy movement (think yoga, walking, or stretching)

Tuesday: Mars

Mars is the planet of drive and power. Mars also rules Aries, the passionate and fiery wild child of the zodiac. 

The energy from Mars makes Tuesday a great day to get things done. While Monday was for refueling, Tuesday gives us a full tank of gas for taking action.

You may feel more enthusiastic and passionate on Tuesday. That makes it a great day to start new projects, crush your to-do list, and do the hard things that you won’t have the energy for at the end of the week.

Here’s how to make the most of Mars’ energy:

• Get started on new projects
• Knock out your to-do list
• Declutter and clean
• Do something that scares you just a little
• Get your heart racing with an intense workout (think kickboxing, HIIT, or a team sport)

Wednesday: Mercury

Mercury is the planet of intellect and communication. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, the chatterboxes of the zodiac.

Since Mercury is the planet of communication, this is a great day for meetings, sending emails, and starting new conversations. It’s likely you already communicate with friends more on Wednesdays than any other day without realizing it!

From a creative standpoint, this is also a great day for brainstorming, writing, planning, and organizing your ideas. If you happen to be reading this blog post on a Wednesday, today would be a great day to try scheduling your calendar with the planets!

Here’s how to make the most of Mercury’s energy:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Schedule meetings and calls
• Sign contracts (if Mercury’s not in retrograde)
• Clear out your email inbox
• Plan your editorial calendar

Thursday: Jupiter

Jupiter is the planet of growth and abundance. Jupiter also rules Sagittarius, the wisdom-seeker and world-traveler of the zodiac.

Thursday has a calmer energy than Wednesday, but there’s a lot of energy for expansion and growth. There’s something about Thursdays that lights a fire underneath you, and many people consider this the most productive day of the week. 

This is a great day for learning, practicing gratitude, and working on your finances. If abundance is your goal, Thursday is the day to attract it.

Here’s how to make the most of Jupiter’s energy:

• Learn something new
• Practice gratitude
• Make a vision board
• Review your budget
• Start a new hobby or habit

Friday: Venus

Venus is the planet of love and beauty. Venus also rules Taurus and Libra, two signs that appreciate beauty and comfort.

Friday is typically known as the date night of the week and for good reason. Friday is all about celebrating love, connection, and belonging. This is a great day to appreciate the people you love in your life, and that includes appreciating yourself.

As far as work goes, this is a great day to woo your boss or coworkers with new ideas and to generally try and go about your work with lightheartedness.

Here’s how to make the most of Venus’ energy:

• Wear your favorite outfit or try a new hairstyle
• Treat yourself to flowers or something else beautiful
• Make a fancy dinner and watch a movie
• Call your friends and tell them how much you adore them
• Visit an art gallery or a place that feels beautiful to you

Saturday: Saturn

Saturn is the planet of structure and discipline. Saturn rules Capricorn, the father figure of the zodiac.

Saturday is typically associated with fun. For most of us, it’s the first day of the weekend.  But Saturn actually has a stern and stoic energy about it that can be useful for getting things done.

Whereas Sunday is a day for the inner child, Saturday is a day to be an adult. That makes it a great day to do yard work, clean the house, plan for the week ahead, work on your habits, and tie up any loose ends on projects. Any work done today will pay off in the long run.

Here’s how to make the most of Saturn’s energy:

• Organize and declutter your home
• Prepare for the next week (plan your to-do list, meal plan, etc.)
• Focus on academic tasks like studying or learning
• Finish up projects or tasks from the previous week
• Make progress on your goals

Sunday: The Sun

The Sun represents creativity, expression, and vitality. The Sun rules Leo, one of the most creative signs of the zodiac.

Sunday is typically the day of rest, and its positive energy makes it a great time to relax and unwind. The Sun encourages radiance, growth, and illumination, which makes Sunday a good day to express your creativity.

The vitality of the sun makes it perfect for spending time with loved ones or working on your inner reflection and growth. Try not to schedule anything too demanding and instead look at Sunday as a day of play. 

Here’s how to make the most of the Sun’s energy:

• Prioritize rest and relaxation
• Express yourself creatively – whatever that means to you
• Go grocery shopping and cook a delicious meal
• Spend time outside
• Connect with family and friends

Does your schedule align with the planet days of the week?

I hope this post has helped you think of new ways to structure your weekly schedule. Do you notice any patterns in your productivity and moods on certain days of the week? Where is your schedule already aligned with the planet days of the week? 

I’d love to hear what you think about this topic. Share your thoughts in a comment below!

The post How to Organize Your Week According to the Planets appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

I have some big news! I’ve created a daily planner that will help you be more mindful and intentional throughout your day.

Introducing The Daily Bliss Planner!

The Daily Bliss Planner is a 3-month undated planner designed to help you incorporate self-care, mindfulness, and intentional living into your day. When you focus on being mindful, you’ll find that you can get things done while still having time for yourself.

There’s more to life than your to-do list, and you need space to capture it all. The Daily Bliss Planner is here to help you take care of everything in between.

Included in this hardcover planner:

Goal & Vision Planning Pages

Monthly & Weekly Planning Pages

Monthly & Weekly Reflection Pages

Daily pages with space to work on your mindset, manage your to-do list, track your self-care and habits, and reflect on your day

Dotted Notes Pages (for all of your brain dumps and genius ideas)

Handy 6×9-inch size

191 pages printed on bright white paper

Learn more and order your planner here.

The post The Daily Bliss Planner is Here! appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Post Updated on November 21, 2021

Do you know what’s hard sometimes? Practicing gratitude.

Those gratitude lists that everyone tells you to write aren’t always easy for me. 

And not in the sense that I don’t have anything to be grateful for in my life because I absolutely do. It’s just that gratitude sometimes gets overwhelming because it feels like I’m forcing myself to write a list for the sake of writing a list.

Maybe like me, your mind tends to focus on the things that are going wrong. Or you think you’re a terrible person because you don’t feel grateful for the things you SHOULD be grateful for – things like family, friends, food, a roof over your head, etc.

I often stare at a blank page thinking to myself, “I should probably write that I’m grateful for [fill in the blank]”, but then it just feels ingenuine and forced.

So what are we to do? Well, if you also find it difficult to practice gratitude on a regular basis, I have a few simple gratitude tips that might make it easier for you.

Why your gratitude lists might not be working

Let’s acknowledge that there’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t tend to think in positives or revel in gratitude every waking moment.

I used to think that I was broken because gratitude didn’t come naturally to me, but it turns out it’s not a human being’s standard way of operating.

We’re not wired for positivity

There’s something called the negativity bias which says we react to negative stimuli more intensely than positive stimuli.

Why would we learn more from negative stimuli? Because we need to avoid the harmful, negative things that could hurt us. Our brains need to recognize and remember negative experiences so we can dodge them at all costs.

That means if we want to remember positive experiences, we have to try really hard to savor them.

Once I learned this, I felt less like an overly cynical, heartless being for not being grateful 24/7.

Do we actually need gratitude?

So if gratitude isn’t our standard mode of operation, do we really need to be practicing gratitude? 

One study on gratitude interventions showed modest improvements in people with depression and anxiety, but the researchers still recommended people utilize other forms of support as well.

That means practicing gratitude alone probably isn’t going to change your life. 

But I do think it helps to savor the things that bring you comfort, no matter how small they are. 

After all, the small things are what get us through our days.

And I believe you will attract good things in life when you radiate the kind of energy that tells the universe you’re open to receiving good things. Gratitude is one way to attract that kind of energy.

5 simple gratitude tips

In my experimentation with gratitude, here are some things that have made it feel less forced for me:

Think of things that bring you bliss

I’ve started referring to my daily gratitude as my ‘Daily Bliss’ list. 

Instead of framing the list as things I’m grateful for, I write down three things that made my day blissful. If you need to, just think of the things that made your day mildly tolerable.

This means things like enjoying a new show, finding a new favorite song, reading a good book, talking to a friend, or making progress on a project.

Write your list at the end of the day

So many people tell you to write a gratitude list first thing in the morning, but I can’t be the only one whose brain does not work when I first get up. 

I swear I can’t think of a single thing that even exists, let alone that I’m grateful for when I first wake up. 

Instead, writing my list at the end of the day works much better for me because I can reflect on the happenings of the day, who I interacted with, and the little things that lit me up.

Leave out the ‘shoulds’

Forcing yourself to try and be grateful for something isn’t going to make you feel better.

For example, if you’re not vibing with your family at a particular moment, trying to force yourself to feel grateful for your family isn’t going to do a whole lot of anything.

Instead, focus on the things that genuinely make you feel good. Let go of what you think you should be expressing gratitude for.

“Pretending you’re grateful when you’re actually not will just serve to bury your feelings. You don’t need to force yourself to think about your life in a way that isn’t true to you.”

– Sarah Bence

Related Post: Letting Go Of What Doesn’t Serve You

Ask yourself why you’re grateful 

Writing a gratitude list is one thing, but actually finding the words to express WHY you’re grateful for something gives it more power.

You may take having a roof over your head for granted because you’ve never had to live without a roof, so saying that you’re grateful for the said roof may not have much meaning to you.

What might help is identifying WHY you’re grateful for that roof. For example, is it protecting you from a storm? Is it keeping the heat inside and helping you stay warm? 

Perhaps what you’re really grateful for is the protection and security that the roof provides. Digging deep into why you’re grateful can give you a new perspective on things.

Use gratitude for your goals

If you want to attract more good things in your life, use gratitude to help you achieve your goals. 

For example, if your goal is to improve your physical health, try expressing gratitude for the things that are already helping you to achieve your goal.

In this case, here are some reasons you might be grateful:

• Your body allows you to move in a certain way
• You have access to free workouts on YouTube
• You know people who can motivate you to keep going

Practicing gratitude for the things you have, while working towards what you want, is a great way to attract positive energy in your life.

Free Resource: Get the Free Goal Planning Worksheet

Do you have any gratitude tips to share?

I hope this post has given you a few ideas to make gratitude work for you. Remember that it’s not our natural human state to feel gratitude all the time, but there is power in savoring what brings you joy on a regular basis. Leave a comment below if you have any of your own gratitude tips!

The post How to Practice Gratitude When It’s Not Working for You appeared first on The Blissful Mind.

Post Updated on October 7, 2021

The reminder to ‘let go of what doesn’t serve you‘ is everywhere. You’ve probably seen it floating around on your Instagram feed at some point.

But what does it really mean? How do we know what’s serving or not serving us?

If we use the definition of serve as ‘to be useful or of service to’, the advice translates to letting go of what’s not useful to you anymore.

Ultimately, that could mean things that:

• take away your energy
• drain you mentally and emotionally
• make you doubt yourself
• give you nothing in return
• serve no real purpose in your life

We’re still in a global pandemic, and I imagine that we’ll all be processing these emotions for a long time to come. Even if you haven’t been directly impacted by the virus, the past two years have taken a toll on everyone’s emotions and mental health.

If you’re clinging to the remnants of things that comfort you during this time, who am I to say that you need to get rid of them. We all want and need to feel safe.

But maybe you’re attached to things that aren’t providing any value to you anymore, such as the need to be in control, tasks that could be done by someone else, goals from two years ago, or those wilting plants that aren’t coming back to life.

Does anything come to mind for you?

One thing I know I need to let go of is feeling like I need the answers to everything. Like I can’t start something new or write about a topic unless I already know the answers. But that’s not how life works, is it?

Sometimes in order to let go, you need to figure out what you want to embrace instead. Maybe it’s embracing less and keeping everything minimal for a while (clothing, books, the number of people you follow on social media, etc.).

Try asking what is nourishing you, what is providing you with comfort, and what is giving you the energy to do the things you want to do (or let’s be honest, the basic necessities that you need to keep yourself going).

There is power in making space for what you need.

Here are some super simple ideas for letting go and making space:

Physically:

• dust the corners of your apartment that are accumulating nasties
• get rid of your dying plants (make room for new ones!)
• donate the clothes that you’re never going to wear

Emotionally:

• watch a movie that you know will make you cry (in a good way)
• listen to music from your childhood
• wash the emotional support blanket on your bed

Mentally:

• brain dump everything out of your head onto a piece of paper
• do something for an hour that doesn’t involve a screen of any kind
• close the 100+ tabs open on your computer right now

What will you let go of?

I hope this post has given you something to ponder on when it comes to letting go of what no longer serves you.

The post Letting Go Of What Doesn’t Serve You appeared first on The Blissful Mind.