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Your Fear of Judgment Is a Crime Against Yourself
The fear of being judged is like a loyal companion who needs to eff off. It makes you doubt your self-worth, hide your true self, and encourages you to post selfies from your invisible cage. (Your slogan T-shirt is not fooling anyone.) But what is a fear of judgment really? My take: It’s your refusal to stand up for yourself. Like really stand up for yourself. Whole and soul. There are parts of you that you’re not owning. And to me that seems like a betrayal of the self. Dissect your fear of judgment What about those little things that define you? What about your relationships? What about the times…
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These 10 Truths have Boosted My Personal Growth, Health and Productivity
My personal growth accelerated and life became infinitely more peaceful when I decided to eliminate personal drama. Affirmations are great, but understanding some fundamental truths about life and the way our minds work is what moved the needle for me. Once I realised the following, I felt tremendous relief. If you’re ready to ditch the drama, these 10 truths that will rock your world (in a good way): I can’t help everyone, even if I love them Trying to fix everyone’s problems can be exhausting and unrealistic. Despite your best intentions, you can only help others to a point. An individual’s personal growth is, ultimately, their personal business. There may…
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30 Days, 30 Truths: How Journaling Unlocked a Month of Breakthroughs For Me
Dec 16, 2023 was a memorable day for me. Apple launched a certain iOS update which, after installing, I found had delivered a new app on my iPhone home screen. Journal. I had been meaning to give journaling a try for some time. Now with the black and lavender app, in which I could start writing with a tap of a finger, it was like the universe had rolled the red carpet out for me. I made my first journal that day, and at the time of writing this on Jan 17, 2024 I’m still journaling. I haven’t missed a day. As someone who had never journaled before on a…
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From Netflix to No Excuses: How I Levelled Up My Life By Turning Pro on Personal Goals
We’ve all been there. Staring at a list of personal goals that carry over from year to year. You set out to learn a language, write a novel, run a marathon â only to be derailed by a “temporary” setback that somehow stretches into infinity. I’ve been guilty of this. There are many personal goals I’ve set that I didn’t stick to. I thought I just wasn’t disciplined enough, or lacked will power. But that can’t be true. I crush my professional goals! So what gives? After studying the patterns I realised that I didn’t bring the same kind of commitment and energy to my personal goals like I did…
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5 Big Mindset Shifts For a Rocking 2024
This past year has taught me a lot. Especially in the final quarter, the lessons have flown in fast and furious. I’ve been upgrading my skills and acquiring new ones to change the trajectory of life. The biggest change, however, has been in my mindset. I’ve gotten a taste of what it will take to actually achieve my goals in the coming year and the big changes I’ll need to implement to make this vision a reality. Here are some of the biggest mindset shifts I’m working on to make 2024 the most productive year of my life yet. Showing up regardless of how I feel “Listen to your heart…
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Heart Meditation. To Live Freely and Love Deeply
What is heart meditation? It is to meditate on the heart, from the heart. Our hearts do so much for us. The heart is the first organ to come to life and once it starts beating, it doesn’t stop until the end. Heartache, heartbreak, heartwarming, heartfelt, hearty – we have so many adjectives that describe the extent to which we rely on this organ to live a full life. But can you live a happy life with a miserable heart? As children, we start with a fresh slate. A heart full of joy, ready to receive and give love. Over time, however, life starts to weigh us down. Sorrow, resentment,…
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Building Resilience: 5 Ways to Overcome Adversity (and Emerge Stronger)
One of my beliefs (right or wrong) is that a period of adversity is inevitable in the life of an individual. It is a universal experience that touches the lives of all, regardless of age, gender, or background. But I also believe that adversity can be a beautiful thing. When careers are ending and relationships are falling apart – it’s time to see the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Building resilience is not about avoiding difficult situations; rather, it is about learning to navigate them with grace and courage. As such, resilience can only be built in the crucible of adversity. It isn’t something to be…
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When Self-Care Feels Like a Chore
We understand the importance of self-care and create daily, elaborate routines to engage in it. But life loves to throw us curveballs. You’ve been busy, you’ve been stressed, you’ve been travelling, your toddler is sleep-regressing, you have a demanding new boss. At the end of the day you’re tired and just want to sleep. That is great. Sleep is deeply restorative. I’m all for it! What I’m not for is forgetting yourself for long periods of time. Forgetting what your body needs, what your mind needs, or what your soul needs. I’ve been guilty of neglecting myself when caught up in the maelstrom of life, so I know how this…
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How to Develop a Daily Mindfulness Practice
The benefits of mindfulness are many and well-known. Mindfulness has been known to reduce stress and anxiety, aid in emotional regulation, and enhance mental well-being. Research has established that mindfulness doesnât just improve our mental health but also boosts our physical health. Itâs a very simple practice that leads to profound changes. But how many of us actually implement it in our daily lives? If you’re struggling with developing and maintaining a mindfulness practice, my experience may help. The following is what Iâve been doing to keep my mind focused on the moment and to let go of the need to control outcomes. I practise mindfulness in small chunks through…
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Why Self-Compassion is a Critical Component in Your Self-Care Routine
Self-care isnât what it appears on the outside. Itâs not necessarily about the things you do. Itâs about why you do them and how you do them. Research on self-care has found that “the beneficial effects of self-care include improved well-being and lower morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.” But what does self-care truly look like? If you engage in what is popularly referred to as âself-care ritualsâ but arenât doing them out of compassion towards yourself, youâre missing a trick. Self-Compassion Could Be the Missing Ingredient Let me illustrate: Scenario 1: Youâve decided to wake up at an early hour and sit on a meditation cushion to begin your day…