Happy Monday Reader! Ever heard of the poem "Desiderata"? That's actually where our affirmation this week comes from! The full line I'm stealing from is: And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should But that felt like a bit too much of a mouthful to say 21 times daily, so I shortened it to the most important bit. "The universe is unfolding as it should." "Desiderata" became an important part of my life when I was in high school. You may have heard me talk about my favorite high school teacher, Mr. Farrell. He had this poem posted around his room and would quote from it frequently. When I went to college, he mailed me copies of the poem and I hung them in my dorm room, and later, next to my desk in my home office. Over the years, "Desiderata" has become my secular prayer. I was raised Catholic, but I'm no longer particularly interested in organized religion. Instead, I now consider myself a humanist--a non-theistic view centered on human agency, and a reliance on science and reason. I chose this portion of "Desiderata" this week because I'm still struggling a bit to truly forgive myself for the stupid wreck I told you about last time. I still find myself thinking "If only...." every time I pass by my neighbor's car, the obvious and very public evidence of my mistake. I can't go back and change the past. I can only move forward now. And one way to be at peace with our past mistakes or regrets is to find the lesson in them. To decide it happened for a reason. And this week's affirmation (as well as the entire "Desiderata" poem!) can help us do that by repeating 21x/day: "The universe is unfolding as it should." Virtual Workshop - 60 Second Self-Care at WorkJoin me and NonProfit Connect for a personal & professional development webinar! The holiday season is a time for joy, connection, and celebration – but it can also be incredibly stressful. Self-care often takes a backseat during this busy time, but it’s more important than ever to prioritize your well-being. Self-care often gets a bad rap for being expensive or time-consuming. But what if we told you it doesn't have to be? Join us for a session packed with practical tips and easy-to-implement strategies for incorporating self-care into your busy life without breaking the bank.
As always, affirmations work best when you truly believe them. They need to resonate with you and feel achievable. So feel free to modify any I suggest, or develop entirely new ones! Say them as long as you want. I'm sharing a new affirmation each week, but that doesn't mean you have to switch it up each week unless it feels right. You can add new ones as often as you want and have as many as you want. You can say a different affirmation every day, or at different times of the day. You choose! I'd love to hear the impact it has! (But if you decide affirmations are not for you, click here to be removed from this weekly email.) I hope this affirmation sets you up for a kick ass week and I'll see you next Monday for a new one to try! I always have time for you. ❤️ -- Jen |
Time is the single most valuable thing we have. I help busy business owners get out of overwhelm to work fewer hours in their business (without sacrificing income!) so they can get back to enjoying their business and their life again.
Hello Reader, It's the countdown to the end of the year. In my social feeds I am bombarded with two conflicting messages: the entrepreneurship crowd is pushing for finishing 2024 strong and knocking our goals out of the park. While the more spiritual or self help accounts are usually pointing out that nature slows down in the winter, so we can too, and not feel guilty about hustling less. This year, I am definitely in that latter camp! I'm heavily affected by the shorter days & colder...
Hello Reader, Hooray, we survived Thanksgiving and we made it to December! But also? Yikes, because that means the end of 2024 is almost here, as well as the winter gift-giving holidays. Traditionally, much of the time and labor that goes into "The Holiday Season" is dumped on women, which makes it easy to get stressed and overwhelmed by a supposedly enjoyable holiday. And I don't know about you, but that makes my inner Grinch come out & want to cancel all holidays forever. Because what’s...
Hello Reader, Thanksgiving is coming up this week here in the ol’ U.S. of A., a holiday that is centered around tons of food, family, and gratitude. And it’s the first major holiday after our latest presidential election so it’s very possible things may get…awkward…over the dinner table. Because if your family is anything like mine, there’s always at least one person who wants to talk politics. And it’s not usually a feel-good time when that starts. I'm allowed to both love and disagree with...