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Monday Mantra: Let Go of Worry

If you were to open my notes app on my iPhone you’d find: mantras, affirmations, grocery lists—and more mantras. When scrolling the many mantras recently I noticed that “let go” showed up in over 5 of the ones I’d had written in the last week.

So, as mindful work goes, I knew I had to pay attention to it…and I knew it had to be front and center for this week’s mantra. But before I could write about it, I had to figure out a few things.

“Let go” is a pretty ambiguous term. I can tell you (or myself) to let go, but how do I actually apply it to my life? And more importantly—why do I feel like I have to apply it to my life?

Naturally the big O (Oprah, that is) was able to shed some light on that during a recent episode of her deep dive into “A New Earth” with Ekhart Tolle.

What’s at the heart of letting go? Releasing the constant need for control. And what’s at the heart of the need to control? Worry and fear.

It’s obvious obvious to want to let go of worry and fear, yet we hold onto it so dearly. I know so many people who use their fear or worry as motivation to be successful. They think that it actually helps them get things done better or faster. But by living in that mindset, you are choosing to suffer. You are putting what’s false, the allusion of success or failure, over what’s real—the natural flow of your existence. Pure love. Natural balance. The truth that you will always be taken care of if you can indeed just let go and be one with the natural flow of life’s cycles.

As Ekhart put it, “worry doesn’t have to be a part of success or accomplishment.” It’s really that simple. Worry and fear are both just mindsets and you can choose your mindset each day just like you choose your clothes. Try this prayer: “Today I choose to release worry and fear. In place of that I’ll put an authentic commitment to making the most out of each moment by being thoughtful, creative, and in the present moment.” 

To let go is to release the mindset of fear and worry. To release the notion that you won’t be okay. To release the notion that you need anything. You will be okay. Just focus on your next step, you’ll be just fine.

Today I choose to release worry and fear. In place of that I’ll put an authentic commitment to making the most out of each moment by being thoughtful, creative, and in the present moment.

Another note: This will be the last Monday Mantra and blog post for a little while as I take some time off to spend with our soon-to-be little girl (due next week!) I’ll post here and there on Instagram, if you’d like to follow along. I’ll definitely be back with fresh content as we get settled into our new life together—and I’m sure I’ll have a lot more lessons to work through and write about. The mindful work is continuous! Until then, thank you so much for your kind words, well-wishes, and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Talk soon.

Have a happy & healthy day, every day.

Love,

Holly

  Monday Mantra: Let Go of Worry was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: I Give Myself Space

As I prepare to become a mother in the next few weeks I find myself on a constant teeter totter.

On one hand, I want to do everything I can to prepare for baby. From scrubbing every baseboard in our house 5 times to wracking my brain trying to figure out how to pack my hospital bag perfectly (yes, I’ve spent far too long on this task and yes I do know it’s silly).

On the other hand, I want to rest, relax, and spend these next few weeks focusing on myself, my husband, and my inner calm. I want to soak up quiet time, indulge in peaceful walks, and do whatever I can to take the pressure off myself.

Let’s say that again: take the dang pressure off myself.

Can you relate? Baby or not. Maybe you’re on or have been on that same teeter totter, going back and forth between all that you feel you “have” to accomplish and what you’re body and mind might really be craving—space.

For me one pressure I’ve put a lot on myself this week was to have the perfect Monday Mantra for you today. To be especially relevant and helpful. I know that coming soon I won’t be able to write for a while and so I wanted these next few posts to be particularly mind blowing, because I wanted to be helpful, but also because I was scared that if they weren’t good, I’d lose your readership forever.

Still a fear (#truthbomb) but one I know I can’t put on myself, it’s one that won’t serve me, and certainly won’t serve you, which is my ultimate goal. I can’t force myself to write something perfect because I’m afraid. I can only write what I’m feeling and practicing in this moment because that’s my authentic self here and now.

And you know what? Though it’s scary to admit, there’s so much less pressure. I was able to write this with ease and then I still had enough time to put my feet up, make popcorn, and watch Mrs. Doubtfire with my husband. Balance.

My wish for you is that you’re able to relieve yourself of some pressure and give yourself the space you need to relax, reset, and reconnect with what matters to you today.

I relieve myself of the

pressure to be perfect. 

I connect to my authentic self

by giving her space. 

Have a happy & healthy week.

Love,

Holly

PS. Here’s a favorite post of mine from the archives, I came across it this weekend and wanted to share it in case it resonated with you.

Monday Mantra: I Give Myself Space was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs

Happy Friday—and happy March! I’m extra excited about this month because it means we’re just a few more weeks away from meeting our little one. This weekend we’ll be going to one of our favorite annual local film festivals and catching up on some reading.

But first… it’s Friday Digs!

This oat milk.

And though I will likely never get this because I try not to gather too many kitchen gadgets, this product is on my dream list.

I was lucky enough to get a bunch of free samples of this and this and I love them, the combo is so hydrating.

I’ve always been a big art history nerd and stories like this always get my imagination rolling with daydreams of when the painting was made and why it had been hidden for so long.

Wishlist.

Tahini. For everything. On veggies. On toast. In place of sweeteners when baking.

Lesson of the week:

Simple acts of self care—even just going to an annual doctor’s appointment—are simple reminders of your worth. Take care of yourself. Your worth it.  

Have a happy & healthy weekend!

Love,

Holly

Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: I Don't Suck

What if when we started something our first instinct wasn’t to doubt it? What if we could have a thought, an idea, or a dream and instead of making a list of all the reasons why we shouldn’t try it, all we saw were possibilities and positive outcomes?

A discerning mind is a good one, but in the face of our own capabilities, we could all use a lot less humility and a whole lot more boldness.

This week’s mantra gives us three words: I don’t suck.

Say it out loud. (No really, do it.) Feels good, right? Freeing.

It might feel comical but the truth is that for so many of us, it’s a worthy reminder. We get caught up in self-criticism, in the need to “be better”—and we replay the past as proof that we can’t do something in the future.

“I’ve never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own bullshit.”

I for one, am tired of the “I can’t do it—I’m not good enough” bullshit. I’m sick of it for me—and I’m sick of it for you, too.

So this week, whether you are trying to prove yourself at work, thinking about tackling a new dream, or simply trying to put together a good looking outfit in the morning, remind yourself this. “I don’t suck.” It’s freeing, it’s empowering, and most importantly—it’s damn freaking true.

I Don’t Suck.

Have a happy & healthy week!

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: I Don’t Suck was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs

Oh baby, it’s Friday! I’ve got a busy final work day today but I’ve got an extra pep in my step knowing a relaxing weekend is right around the corner. I plan on getting some much needed time outside along with indulging in a lot of self care.

But first… it’s Friday Digs!

This and this.

This Instagram account. And this post in particular that provided a good laugh this week.

Whole Foods pickup. Free, curbside pickup—it’s so easy and a super helpful timesaver. Surprisingly, I spend less than I do when I actually go into the store because I’m not distracted by clever displays.

Speaking of display distractions—I fell for one last weekend while I was in Whole Foods… but I’m so glad I did. I’ve finally learned what a sumo orange is and I can’t believe I haven’t known about them until now.

On my spring wardrobe list.

This, this, and this for baby’s bookshelf.

Lesson of the week:

Everything is figureoutable. 

–Marie Forleo

Have a happy & healthy weekend!

Love,

Holly

Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: The Mid-February Call to be Gentle

This was a great weekend. I got a lot done and enjoyed down time. But one thing I didn’t do (which I almost always do on the weekends) was write. I knew what I needed was a break—and instead of pushing through and writing because “I should,”  I took the time to do internal work and simply enjoy my Sunday in all the ways my presence was telling me I needed.

Turns out, this is quite the late-February pattern of mine. As I looked back at posts I wrote this time last year—and the year before—I found that both highlighted the same need. A break. A reminder to be gentle with myself. Permission to not be perfect.

So, here’s last year’s reminder to be gentle. I hope you can give yourself a break at some point this week, too.

“Be quiet my love, it’s okay to say nothing,” I say as I close my eyes and remind myself to be gentle.

So what is it to be gentle? Well, to be harsh is to care too much, to overthink, to push through something without a full thought—mostly it means that you’ve gone outside of yourself for affirmation. To be gentle on yourself is to release the need to please, (yourself or another,) and instead listen to the little parts of self that ask for quiet, solitude, and care.

Coming off a hard week and going into another I sit with the little time that is my own and I begin to write. I write because I love it, I write because you read it, I write because it fills me up. But today, I need a rest. So, I remind myself to recognize that. Instead of a long day banging fingers to a keyboard, I write this from my sweatpants and my bed and with a smile on my face.

As hard as it is, as guilty as we can feel when we don’t meet the expectations we have set in front of us, I listen to myself and my body today and I rest.

My wish for you is to throw away expectation. To hold yourself only to the standard that is directly in front on you, the one your body calls for, the one your mind craves.

When I am gentle with myself I am released. I am able to be—to be a human merely experiencing a moment without the need to impress. I am able to be. To be gentle on myself is to care for myself like I could care for my most loved sweetheart, it comes with ease, without guilt, and with pure love.

Monday Mantra:

Be quiet my love, it’s okay to say nothing. 

[She says to herself

as she takes a deep breath

and remembers to be gentle.]

And here’s the post from two years ago.

Have a happy & healthy week.

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: The Mid-February Call to be Gentle was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs

Happy Friday, to you! It just hit me that I have just about 4 1/2 weeks left until my due date—phew! With that in mind, we’ll be making the most out of this weekend. Lots of cooking, spending quality time with one another, and of course puppy time outside.

But first… it’s Friday Digs!

Everything yellow. From a girl who usually wants everything all black or all white, I can’t seem to get enough yellow. Inspo here, here, and here.

Can’t wait to try these.

Have my eye on these.

And for the little one.

Browsing the “your look” section on Nordstrom’s app.

(Apparently I’ve been in quite the shopping mood this week!I chalk it up to sparking my creativity…and being ready to wear normal clothes again.)

This.

Daydreams. Just daydreams. Because—well—they can get a bad wrap for being unrealistic, but I’m feeling the need to be a little less hard on myself so I am quite alright with embracing frequent daydreams.

Lesson of the week:

The people around me are not my competition. They’re my inspiration and reminders of what I’m capable of. 

Lesson of the week #2:

It’s okay to be gentle with yourself.

Lesson of the week #3:

All you have to do to show your love is give a person your full attention.

Have a happy & healthy week!

Love,

Holly

Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: Just Freakin' Do It Already

You know when all of a sudden you feel the urge to…

+Eat a particular food

+Call a friend

+Turn on a certain song

+Ask a certain question

+Have chocolate

+Stretch

+Cut your hair

Those little pings are a lot more significant than you think. This week’s mantra is here to tell you: when you get those urges, just freakin’ do them.

And you know the best part? Those little pings may seem small, but they are actually a huge benefit to you and your inner guidance system.

Often we can take ourselves and our decision making so seriously.

We put pressure on making the “right decision” all the time. We put pressure on ourselves not to: eat the food, spend the money, give into the pleasure in the name of “being good”—whatever that means.

This exercise of just saying yes to those small urges can help you strengthen your decision making skills and increase your trust in your gut and your inner voice. It’s a win-win all the way around.

So how does it work?

Quite literally, just as it’s laid out above. A small urge comes over you to [drive a different way home, turn onto a street, grab a particular book off the shelf, buy that quirky thing in a window display]—do it. Don’t weigh the pros and cons, even for a second. Just freakin’ do it.

For some of you, this may feel reckless—particularly if you’re “always-in-control” or hyper-scheduled, it may feel like you’re just throwing your hands in the air and saying eff it. But what you’re actually doing is learning to take yourself less seriously and learning to act in flow with your intuition—a strength that will continue to give back to you days, months, and years after you said yes to that one little urge.

Not only will you feel fulfilled in the moment, but you’re learning to trust your gut.

Sure, there are times when this exercise is healthy and fruitful and times when you need to add more discipline. But you know what? I know you. I am you. We could use just a little more “eff it.”

Enjoy the moment. Act in the present. It will do your soul so good.

Enjoy the moment. 

Act in the present. 

It will do your soul so good. 

___

I listen to those tiny little urges in my head. They are more than just a thought, they are my inner voice guiding me. 

Have a happy & healthy week!

Love,

Holly

  Monday Mantra: Just Freakin’ Do It Already was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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What I Learned Being Social Media Free for 8 Months

I’ve been back on social media for a month now. With the perspective of being off the platform and now back on, I thought I’d share the surprising things I learned in the 8 months I spent away from the double tap and the scroll. If you’re contemplating taking your own break—or just trying to be more mindful with your use of social media—consider these.

I quit social media—and you know what? Absolutely nothing happened.

Well that’s not entirely true. Let me clarify. I quit social media and all my problems were still there staring me in the face. Without social media I still had distractions. I still compared myself to others. I still wished for things I didn’t I have.

I think it’s easy for us to use social media as the ultimate scapegoat. So many people are talking about the harmful effects of social media. Truthfully, it’s just an outlet . In reality, it’s our biggest mirror. It’s magnifying that which we need to work on most. The channels that make you feel bad about your own life yet you continue to follow? There’s a lesson there. But if you weren’t following that channel, you’d find another place (in the real world) to find that same lesson.

When I took the social media scapegoat away I was left without an easy excuse for my problems.

Speaking of, I dealt with some of my problems.

Without the excuse of social media I was able to identify triggers that I may have otherwise dismissed. Removing the easily scrollable distractions gave me more time (and more importantly, energy) to dive into much needed self work.

I found new distractions.

I’m here to tell you, if you think that removing social media will make you all that more present—think again. You’ll find new distractions. For me, it was a little more Netflix than I care to admit. This is another reminder that social media is not the only “problem” in our lives. Removing it won’t make all your dreams come true. Maintaining presence is still the ultimate challenge.

Some things aren’t as good when other people aren’t validating them.

This is brutally honest. There were times when I was doing something pretty fun, but I didn’t document it, which means I didn’t share it, which means no one knew I did it, and the experience was only mine. There were times that I struggled with that. I didn’t get the endorphin rush of other people validating my choices or events in my life.

Some moments were just mine.

On the flip side, I learned to love having moments that were just mine. I thoroughly enjoyed being at an event and not taking my phone out to document it. It’s a catch 22, sometimes it feels good to have other people validate you—but it feels even better to realize you really don’t need that.

I got to pretend it was 1992.

I had no idea what was going on with friends or family unless I picked up the phone and called them, and that actually felt like a luxury. It’s amazing how good it feels to learn about a friend’s engagement through a phone call and be able to share with her congratulations and excitement in real-time as opposed to through a comment on a social media post.

On the flip side, I liked that people didn’t know what was happening with me unless they called, it’s fun to slowly reveal news and vacations and stories as opposed to sharing it once and being done with it. I just so happen to find out I was pregnant during my social media hiatus. I enjoyed keeping that news to my close circle for two full trimesters before sharing it with the social world. That’s something I know I wouldn’t have been able to keep to myself if I were on social, so I treasure that time.

It strengthened the way I communicated with my friends and loved ones because I really had to make a point to reach out regularly and not rely on their insta-stories to feel “in touch” with them.

I talked to angels.

This may be too esoteric for you, and that’s ok, but it’s my personal truth. When I was a kid, I had a lot of silence in my life. I lived in the woods and played by myself among the trees regularly. I didn’t watch a lot of TV. I had an extra long bus ride to school where I didn’t have a phone or iPod to plug into. I spent a lot of time thinking, imagining, and talking to myself (ha, yes, really.) Without the distraction of my social feed, I found myself spending a lot more time in silence like I did when I was a kid. My mind wandered more. I was able to connect back to that playful, childlike self of mine and it was really nice.

Social media requires a lot of energy

I shared this the day after I returned back to social because I was so surprised by it. I had totally forgotten the amount of energy it takes to interact with social platforms until I left and came back. It was a real reminder to the introvert in me that social media is like a big party. It’s fun and you can enjoy interacting with people on it, but then you need to balance that output of energy with internal rejuvenation like meditation, yoga, and “me time.” It’s easy to become numb to the energy-suck that is social media—to get used to being without that energy. Returning and being reintroduced to that energy-suck has helped me continue to be mindful of balancing the energy I spend on social.

All that being said, I truly enjoy the connection that social media allows us to have with one another. It can be inspiring, thought-provoking, and enjoyable. The amount of information I learn from you all and the people I follow on social is something I value. Now that I’m back, I’m using what I learned above to help me interact with social in a way that’s more fulfilling, less draining, and ultimately—more fun.

Love,

Holly

What I Learned Being Social Media Free for 8 Months was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: My Insecurities Set Me Free

It’s not often you read insecurity and free in the same sentence. With one, doesn’t usually come the other. Or so, we thought.

Lately I’ve been working on a “let it out” practice. It’s simple: if a thought or insecurity is stuck in a loop in my head, no matter how embarrassing, scary, or uncomfortable it makes me feel, I tell someone about it.

When we trap scary, embarrassing, or fear-based thoughts in our head, their strength grows, their scariness grows, and soon—they are holding us hostage in our own minds. When we let the scary thoughts circulate, keeping them from the world, they control us. But the moment they are brought into the light, it’s amazing how not-scary they become.

In the light, those scary thoughts don’t seem so serious. We can laugh in their faces and we can call them out for being ridiculous.

So how do you apply this to everyday life? I’m not saying that you walk into your bosses office and tell him everything you’re scared about.

Start small. Maybe you have an insecurity that people might think of you as a fraud. First, share that thought with your best friend. Let it out. It’s small, your best friend is safe, but even the first step into the light helps in starting to free yourself from that insecurity.

Achievers: think of it this way, it’s our insecurities that hold us back from expressing and doing what’s in our hearts. We fear judgment, ridicule, and scrutiny. But, when you’re the one to let the insecurity out when you claim it—nobody else can do it first. It becomes your own. Not only is it freeing, it’s empowering as hell.

The truth about our insecurities is that they are entirely and completely made up. As true as they may feel in our heads or even our hearts, at the core of the matter, they are simply your ego and they are keeping you in a small mindset.

Like I said, if this exercise feels scary at first, start with a safe friend. But I encourage you as you work on this to expand beyond that safe person. Let that insecurity out to someone who doesn’t feel so close like in a blog post, a thoughtful social post, or with a group of people.

For me, I do this a lot. If I’m scared about a presentation—I say so ahead of time. If I’m anxious at a party, I’ll tell the person I’m talking to. And you know what? It might sound like a total bummer, nobody wants to be known as the person who complains or brings the room down. But honestly, it has the actual opposite effect. It usually brings the person I’m talking to closer into my circle. I share it, then I let it go, and continue my positive conversations more authentically me than I could’ve if I were trying to mask my truth.

This week, don’t let your fear, insecurity, or uncomfortable feelings hold you hostage. Let them out. Tell a friend. Bringing them into the light will truly set you free from them.

When I bring my insecurity into the light,

I am set free. 

Have a happy & healthy week!

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: My Insecurities Set Me Free was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs: Get Shit Done Edition

Once a month I meet with a group of women called the “Boise Women Who Get Shit Done.” We have guest speakers, panels and group events focused on a different theme each month. From block chain to “having it all” we dive into a lot of different topics, but this month’s theme was intentional goal setting.

It was such a great event that I thought I’d share some of the exercises with you all for a special edition of Friday Digs.

Exercise 1: The Circle

You draw a large circle on a piece of paper. On the inside of the circle you write everything you want in your life, on the outside you write everything you don’t want in your life.

Example: In my circle I wrote things like: Support, flexibility in my schedule, creativity, fulfilling work, family, friends, independence, yoga, healthy cooking. On the outside I wrote things like: Comparison, judgement, unhealthy food, fear on the unknown, doubt, a messy bathroom (yes, really.)

In this exercise you can go as deep or as surface level as you want, the trick is not to overthink what you write, just let everything come up. If you have to start with things like “lots of shoes,” that’s okay. Don’t edit yourself. You might be surprised at what comes up.

Exercise 2: Core Desired Feelings

This exercise is from the Desire Map and it encourages you to shape your goals around how you want to feel.

You start by making a list of how you want to feel. The goal is to have a large list of adjectives (at least 15). The next step is to narrow down your list by crossing out most of your words until your left with 3 – 5 core desired feelings. Don’t worry, the words you cross off can still be a part of your life, but what you’re trying to do is get really clear about the feelings that are most important to you. For even more clarity, define each feeling.

Example: If one of your core desired feelings is “empowered,” your definition might be “feel worthy of and confident asking for what I want and need.” My definition of a word might be different than yours, so you want to get really clear about what that feeling means to you.

To take this one step further, it was suggested that you write out your weekly or daily to do list. Then, compare what’s on that list to your core desired feelings. The goal is to make sure your core desired feelings are being tended to every day.

Exercise 3: Your Goals

Make 3 goals. One for each category: Personal, Career, Health. When thinking of your goals, shape them around how you want to feel instead of what you want to accomplish.

Ex: If “connection” is one of your core desired feelings, maybe your personal goal is to carve out 1 day per week to connect with friends and family, and 1 hour per day to connect with yourself.

Takeaways from the event:

I really enjoyed this event. But, the entire time I was there I was feeling anxious and stressed. I’m used to doing this type of thinking and work but for whatever reason a lot of feelings came up as I was going through the exercises. Though I was feeling stressed, I didn’t let it ruin my time at the event. Instead, I took deep breaths, continued to move through my feelings, and witnessed my stressed without judging. It goes to show you that it’s important to be gentle with yourself and allow what comes up.

On that note: a big theme at my table was the intention to “allow” our feelings instead of trying to suppress or control them. (Shoutout to Kendrick for this gem.)

Another beautiful quote that was brought up was “Anxiety is living in the future, depression is living in the past. The only way to find peace is in the present.” This one especially resonated with me that night.

The “to don’t list” was another popular topic on conversation. Making a “to don’t list” can help you recognize your time as a limited resource and focus on spending that time in a way that’s valuable to you.

Have a happy & healthy weekend!

Love,

Holly

  Note: I may not have used the correct names for these exercises. The core work each exercise was adapted from Rock Your Bliss and Danielle LaPorte’s Desire Map. A special thanks to Ashley Ridgway and Emily Erickson for leading our group event. 

  Friday Digs: Get Shit Done Edition was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: Uncover Your Truth

Earlier this month I shared with you the lessons I’m committing to this year. One of them was to speak my truth.

It’s something that gets said a lot in motivational speeches, conversations on mindfulness, and in inspirational quotes on Instagram and though true—it can be vague. This week’s mantra breaks down how to uncover—and then honor—your truth.

What does it mean to speak my truth exactly?

For me, I always thought that it meant I should say what’s on my mind. As an empath who focuses too much on how her actions or words impact others, it was a good message for me. But it’s only a small piece of the puzzle.

To really speak your truth you have to know what it is.

Not so easy. Because truthfully—we’re all full of shit. (I’m 1/2 joking here.) At some point in time we’re all suppressing what our souls want in order to: fit in, reduce fear (doesn’t work), save feelings, check boxes, the list goes on. Even as young children we’re taught in many ways to fall in line more than we are to connect with or listen to our inner voice.

The first step in speaking your truth is to uncover it.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m trying to reconnect with my truth is to sit down and say a prayer: “Dear [god, angels, universe, self,] please help me remove judgement, expectation, guilt, and fear. Please help me reach my highest self and uncover what it is I need in this situation.” Then, I free-write for 15 minutes straight. Without stopping, I just put my fingers to the keyboard and let everything comes out.

When reconnecting with your truth it’s important that you examine and release the untruths that you’re telling yourself based out of fear—we all do this. We feed fear and the ego by telling ourselves stories that keep our mindset small.

Here are some prompts that might help you if free-writing feels intimidating:

What am I scared of?

What untruths do I tell myself regularly?

What do I see as my limits?

To speak your truth you first have to break down the barriers you have to that truth and to do that you have to release the ego—release your small self (the self controlled by fear and expectations from others,) and invite your highest Self out to play.

Then, once your truth is identified, you have to continue to release blocks and barriers so that you have the worth, courage, and tenacity to honor that truth.

This week, start with step one. Invite more clarity into your week by taking the time to begin to identify the blocks that keep you from living your truth. Start there—you’re worth it.

I release belief systems that keep me in a small mindset. I commit to uncovering my truth by honoring the needs of my highest Self. 

Have a happy & healthy week.

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: Uncover Your Truth was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs

Happy Friday, all! It was a busy week but somehow I’m still going into Friday with lots of energy. Looking forward to a weekend balanced with friend time and cleaning time (can you say nesting?!)

But first… it’s Friday Digs!

Loving the gorgeous aesthetic of these wraps—and the layettes. I ear the wraps work great, too. Can’t wait to try.

The NY Times crossword. Can’t get enough of these—especially the daily mini board that’s on their app—been doing them every day.

This super informative insta account.

This show when I want something light and easy to watch.

This for pretty graphics made easy.

This class for any expecting mamas. (Done it twice already this week.)

This super hydrating tinted moisturizer, it’s perfect for my winter skin.

Lesson of the week: 

Stop holding onto negative stories in your head. Let it go to feed your soul with healing. 

I’ll share more about the lesson this weekend over on instagram, be sure to follow along if you’re interested.

Have a happy & healthy weekend!

Love,

Holly

Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: Focus on What's In Front of You

When it comes to big life events: a move, a marriage, welcoming a new baby, it’s normal to focus on the big picture. And even in our day to day lives, it’s more common than not to have our focus 10 steps ahead of where we actually are in our situations.

Some call it future tripping. Some call it planning. There’s a place for it. But it can also leave you feeling overwhelmed and unfocused.

This week’s mantra invites us to focus on the immediate next step. Though there might be 100 things that you have to do to feel [calm, secure, organized, fill in the blank,] there is power in focusing on the immediate next need and forgetting about the rest (at least, for now).

Here’s a secret: even if you were to do all 100 things in order to feel [your adjective here] — that feeling will likely never be met, at least not fully. You may get relief for a short time, but then another 100 needs will arise and you’ll be in the same cycle.

By focusing on the immediate next step you’re able to channel your energy and focus on that need only. With that type of attention and focus you’re able to nurture that situation as completely as possible.

This gives you more than just a complete task, it gives the situation the nourishment and care it needs so that you can go onto the next step with a deeper sense of knowing and understanding, more prepared than you could’ve been if you were worrying about 100 things at once.

This week, invite yourself to keep your focus on the immediate next step and immerse yourself in it fully. This will help you make the most of what’s in front of you without worrying about what’s to come. The more fully you approach any situation, the more that situation can give you… for your next step, and your next, and your next. Release the worry of what’s to come, embrace what is now.

Release the worry of what’s to come, embrace what is now. I focus and nurture the immediate next step.

Have a happy & healthy week.

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: Focus on What’s In Front of You was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Friday Digs

Ah — how I’ve missed Friday Digs! It’s been amazing to hear from you all since last Friday’s post, your celebration, kindness, and words of encouragement are so meaningful to me.

So I haven’t been on the tidying up train, but this weekend I’ve got my goals set on a little pre-spring cleaning (nesting)! Plus, I’m looking forward to some writing, cooking, and of course—quality pup time.

But first.. it’s Friday Digs.

This website that catalogs quality brands and products that are meant to be purchased once—and used for life.

This sweatshirt and perfect reminder. 

Can’t wait to bake this over the weekend.

For glowing winter skin.

Scarves, scrunchies, bandanas, and bows in my hair… can’t get enough these days.

You’ve seen me share it before, but I’m sharing again because #WalkthroughWednesday Season 2 is out and I couldn’t be more excited!

I’ve got one of these on my 2019 investment list.

This Spotify station.

Lesson of the week:

Wherever you are, someone else wishes they were there. Instead of focusing on what’s lacking, be grateful for any and all progress and allow that to propel you forward.

Have a happy & healthy weekend!

Love,

Holly

Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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Monday Mantra: I Honor Myself

What’s one positive behavior that you’re really good at?

It’s a simple exercise, sure, but one that can be profound.

I was asked that same question in a group of women a few weeks back.

My response: I’m really good at making the best out of any situation.

It wasn’t an accomplishment or a quality of my job. It was just an honest to goodness trait that I recognize in myself and am proud of.

It felt oddly good to make that statement to a group of people. Often we’re taught to show humility, to deflect compliments, and to continue to strive to do more. And even when we are celebrated in a group of people it’s usually for an accomplishment—not just a regular, old, daily behavior.

It’s important that we take the time to celebrate ourselves outside of personal and professional achievements. Just like you might applaud a child for sharing or making a thoughtful gesture—it’s important that we also applaud ourselves for the way we approach situations day to day.

We all have those positive qualities about our behaviors and personalities that we do so well but that other people strive for. What’s yours?

Own it! Celebrate it!

It’s easy to get caught in a constant cycle of critical self talk. When we look at ourselves we see what needs improvement, what needs to change, what we could be better at. And though a healthy dose of self-reflection and a thirst to continue to learn and grow is essential to a mindful life, so is the need to stop that cycle and recognize what is already good.

This week honor yourself by answering that question above. Answer it and then celebrate it. If you can—tell it to a friend, post it in the comments below, or declare it proud on your social media feed.

It’s not egocentric to recognize what your good at, it’s part of being a confident, powerful, and understanding human. Celebrate yourself just like you would a friend—it’s important, you deserve it.

I honor the small everyday behaviors that I know I’m good at. 

I celebrate more than achievements, I celebrate myself and I take pride in that. 

Have a happy & healthy week.

Love,

Holly

Monday Mantra: I Honor Myself was originally published on Good Morning Guru

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A Different Type of Friday Digs

As I shared in this week’s Monday Mantra, one of the lessons I’m committing to this year is telling my truth. To myself, to those around me—and to you.

Though I’ve always been open on this blog, this year my intention is to be as authentically me as I can be and that means sharing all—despite being afraid of what you might think about me when I share. I’ve found, the more we let out of the dark of our minds and into the light of real life, the less we’re controlled by the fear of that darkness and the more ourselves we can be.

And so here it goes, my first big truth of the year.

This March (or April!), my husband and I will be welcoming a little baby girl into our lives!

I’m 7 months pregnant and in full-on nesting mode. We couldn’t be more excited about this new addition to our family, (I’m smiling ear to ear just writing this). Since we found out in July, I couldn’t help but tell every person I ran into on the street, but I didn’t take this announcement to the web until now for a number of reasons.

Some of those reasons I still can’t put my finger on, but others I can. It’s been nice to share the pregnancy the old fashioned way, phone calls to friends and slowly revealing the news overtime as we see people so that we get to experience people’s joy over and over again.

And because, this last year was hard. My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage this past Mother’s Day, (yes, exactly why I have been off of social media since then.) About a month later, we were pregnant again. The journey to pregnancy—although easier for me than some—came with sadness and struggle as well. As happy as I was to finally be pregnant, I was scared, too, and I didn’t quite know how to express it. I needed the space and the time to process it all.

But now, at the start of 2019, I’m ready to share this pregnancy and all that’s come with it with you—my gmg family—because this community means the world to me, your readership means the world to me, and because this blog is made for sharing life and reflections and pushing ourselves to do things that feel a little bit uncomfortable in the name of growth, learning, expansion, and trust that the universe will hold us.

I can’t wait to share more with you about this pregnancy as the months follow.

If the journey to pregnancy interests you, I’m sharing my experience below. If not, have the happiest and healthiest weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Love,

Holly

    My Journey to Pregnancy

Sharing my pregnancy story is not something I thought I’d do. I saw people sharing their stories all the time and I wasn’t sure that I’d have anything new to bring to the conversation. My story isn’t particularly unique or exceptionally traumatic, but it is my story just the same. And so I share it, in case it’s of interest, in case you can learn something from it, and more honestly—because it’s healing for me to share it.

To share it I thought I’d take you on a journey through my personal journal.

Here’s a journal post from May, 2018. 

I’m looking back through my journal and just found this note from February 22:

“Help me, please. Wake me up. Help me grow. Please help me snap out of the routine, out of making the same mistakes. I beg of you, please help me grow.”

That was my cry to my angels. I was desperate to get pregnant—though my husband and I had only started to “try” I had spent the last two years before that convincing him that it was “the right time.”

February 22 continues, “I beg of you please help me grow.”

I had become sick of the repetition that was my life. I felt stuck in the same loop with the same wants and needs that didn’t feel met. I knew I needed to expand my way of thinking, I knew I needed to learn more, get into new habits, work with the universe again. 

“Please help me grow.” I re-read of the desperate girl who so badly just wanted to be a mother. This time it’s May, and for a glimmer of a few weeks I had experienced the start of what it’s like to be a mother. I had gotten pregnant, and then I had lost it… well I’m in the process of losing it. 

And what has happened since then? Well, I’ve created space. I can feel myself growing. Some of that repetition has washed away to make way for my grief. A new kind of desperation has come over me now—this one, though, feels better. I’m carving out time for meditation, for my marriage, for myself.

I remind myself: You’re met with what you need. I needed this to turn back, to pay attention to what I already have. 

Nourish what you already have.

And now here’s the next post from June 17, 2018:

After reading the post above, I’ve fully lost the baby. It’s 100% out of my body. But the pain is still there. The struggle is still there. What do I know right now? I know what I wrote above was true. I don’t want to get into the same loop. I don’t want to control pregnancy. I want to make love to my husband naturally, and I want something beautiful and healthy and happy to come out of that – naturally, on its own terms, when it’s ready to. 

And finally, here’s me today.

What’s so wild about my conversations with myself above is that in moments of some of my deepest sadness, I was the most clear. I may not have realized it at the time, but I was telling myself exactly what to do and I could hear it clearly without second-guessing myself or doubting. I think we all have that in ourselves. Sometimes we have to be pushed to find it, but it’s there. You have it in you. Pregnancy or otherwise, here’s my call to you—listen to yourself—you know what you need, you know what you have to do.

I love you. Self, I love you.

Thank you for listening. Like I said, I shared to be helpful—but more importantly—I shared for me. From the darkness, I step into the light. And this light, is the brightest, happiest, most beautiful I’ve seen yet.

A Different Type of Friday Digs was originally published on Good Morning Guru