Do you ever find yourself stuck in the trap of perfectionism? You want to accomplish something, hell you’d like to just get started but you're waiting for the "perfect" moment or the perfect knowledge base to take action on your dreams? 

I've been there countless times, paralyzed by the fear of not getting it "just right." The fear of what others might think or how I’ll be perceived. But here's the thing: there's no such thing as perfect action. The only way to make progress and achieve our goals is to embrace imperfect action.

Being neurodivergent myself with both ADHD, a history of severe social anxiety and a sleep disorder, and being HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) I know well the impact of a neurodivergent brain. And each of these separate diagnoses magnified the others, making a potent combination that had severe impacts on my life. 

And yet I don’t focus on neurodiversity.

Celebrating small wins can be a powerful tool for maintaining motivation, building confidence, and ultimately achieving greater success. Small wins however, often go unnoticed as if they didn’t happen at all or even worse, we judge them as not enough or even as failures. This can lead us to be blind to our progress until we shift the patterns that keep us from seeing and celebrating our small wins.

Practicing gratitude can leave us at the whims of external forces for our happiness. It can leave us dependent on something outside ourselves to feel good. But if we take ownership for our part and we celebrate ourselves, we are putting the power for our well being in our hands. We are empowering ourselves  to take control over our emotional well being and create the opportunity for feeling good.

A jolt of intense pain gripped my hand. The heat clinging to my skin like an angry wasp as my hand grew fiery red and started to blister. But I had a secret weapon that I used to reverse all of that in short order. I’ll share that in a minute but first…

Nature, in all its glory, is rarely perfect. Trees bear the marks of time, flowers wilt, and landscapes show the scars of change. And has my Facebook posts have shown this week, sea critters can wash ashore in vast numbers to dissolve upon the beach.Yet, there's an undeniable beauty in this very imperfection. This is the essence of wabi-sabi and kintsugi, two Japanese philosophies that can deepen our connection with the natural world and with ourselves.

Perhaps for you self-doubt shows up in a different way perhaps you don’t struggle with any of the things that I struggled with​. ​M​aybe self-doubt shows up in you with its own flavor. Or maybe you can relate to some of the things that I shared. ​What does your story look like and what are the things holding you back? Whether they look similar to mine or not, we all have stories that don’t serve us, we all have traumas to overcome.

Accepting help is obviously a weakness. Right? After all, we live in a world that often glorifies independence. We're bombarded with messages about self-reliance, pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, and conquering challenges alone. But the truth is, humans are social creatures. We thrive on connection and collaboration. And one of the most powerful ways to deepen those connections and achieve success is by accepting help.

The downside lies in the implicit pressure and guilt they impose on you. Creating a sense of obligation, making tasks feel burdensome rather than empowering. Moreover, it can foster feelings of inadequacy or failure if you don’t meet these self-imposed expectations.

“The greatest barrier to belonging is fitting in.
If I get to be me, I belong.
If I have to be like you, it’s fitting in.”

We often celebrate mastery in a particular skill, but seldom do we discuss the downsides that accompany such proficiency.

Is there a demon preventing you from accomplishing the things you desire? If you ever struggle to complete a project or worse can’t seem to even get started, then the answer is yes. That demon can show up in many forms.

 "It can be so easy to limit ourselves, to put up barriers to our expansiveness, create boxes that put limits around us. These limits may be born of self judgement or fear of judgment or lack of acceptance from others. 

Spending time in nature provides many benefits for our physical and mental health. Studies show that being outdoors in natural environments lowers stress, blood pressure, and heart rate. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature have a calming effect that can help relieve anxiety and depression. Walking in the woods or sitting by a lake gives our minds a chance to unplug and recharge. Exposure to greenspace also boosts concentration and creativity. The innate peacefulness of the natural world encourages reflection and mindfulness. Taking children outdoors helps them develop empathy as they observe wildlife. Connecting with nature builds appreciation for the environment, making us more likely to take actions that protect the planet. Even short breaks in a garden or park allow us to destress and feel restored. Regular visits to natural places support overall wellbeing.

No matter where you are, indoors or out, in a remote wilderness or sitting in your front yard, there is always a way to deepen your connection with the natural world. Here are ten examples:

Our conscious and subconscious mind will find all kinds of excuses and rationalizations to keep us in our comfort zone. Our mind wants to keep us safe so this makes logical sense. But…

The key to feeling more peace, joy and happiness lies in developing a bulletproof mindset that allows you to rise above personalization. 

This shift in perspective transforms the way you approach self-improvement. Rather than being hindered by self-criticism, you'll be fueled by positive reinforcement.

it is now rare for me to trigger into a past trauma. And when it does happen, I can now identify it in the moment and have tools to deal with it.

Do you ever feel like you just can’t win? That no matter how hard you try, you still come up short. You might even think, “What’s the point? I should just give up.” Or perhaps you simply berate yourself for not succeeding. I get it. I know I’ve felt that way so many times in my life. 

We often underestimate the power of the questions we ask ourselves. Our minds are wired to seek answers, and the questions we pose can significantly influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. However, not all questions are created equal. The way we frame our inquiries can determine whether we foster growth, resilience, and empowerment or succumb to self-doubt and negativity.