THE EVERY DAY

Dear Daughter, 

If you're anything like me, you'll naturally gravitate towards newness and novelty, and routine things may not be that enjoyable for you. If you're not like me, then that's cool, too. You can stop reading now. :D Nah, you can still read, maybe it can reinforce something you know to be true. 

When I was in my 20's, I realized that I took routine things like showering or making the bed for granted and just pushed through them every day as though they were just obligations, things I had to do.

I remember I wrote a blog post about this realization one day and decided to go "Back to Basics" and focus on the mundane tasks. To really be present with them. Let me see if I can find the old blog post, and if I do, I'll add it to the end of this one. 

The result of this mindfulness exercise changed my life. It was then I really found the importance of and beauty in my routines and they became rituals, something I hold sacred. 

I recently read an email from James Clear, where he wrote: 

But these are not moments to be dismissed. They are life. Making coffee can be a peaceful ritual—perhaps even a fulfilling one—if done with care rather than rushed to completion. It’s about the amount of attention you devote to these simple moments, and whether you choose to appreciate them or bulldoze through them on the way to the next task.

Find the beauty and joy in your daily rituals and you will find beauty and joy in your daily life. To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life."

And I agree. Let's read it again, "To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is too love your life."

Love, 

Mama

P.S. Whoaaaaaa, talk about a throwback. I found my blog post from 2011 (see below). Wowza, that was TWELVE years ago. I wonder what year you end up reading this letter. Will blogger/blogspot still exist? 

Back to Basics, by Yulree

WHEN IN DOUBT, PART II

My Dearest Daughter, 

Self-Doubt is that person in your life who you think is kind of a nuisance but rather harmless, so you don't really take any action towards that relationship. However, you'll eventually realize if you haven't already, doubt can be the #1 killer of dreams and the main barrier between you and your ability to live out your wildest dreams. It can be quite the soul-crusher. 

So I tell you now, protect your mind from doubt from even entering. Keep doubt at arms length by proactively and consistently taking good care of your mental and physical health. Practice inner self-care, even on the good days! 

Doubt can be a elusive little trickster, and it can creep into your mind, no matter what you do or don't do. Just know you're not any lesser than b/c you have self-doubts! It happens to everyyyyyyone. So when, not if, b/c it will happen...so when it happens, here is what I do to work through it. 

First, I don't deny the doubt. Ignoring it will only make it fester and grow and show up in ways that are fugly. I instead acknowledge it right away. And as silly as it sounds, I actually acknowledge it as though it's a thought that came from outside of myself. As in, really believing that the self-doubt didn't originate within me. Sometimes, I even think of it as a whole separate person. Like, "yo, SD, I see you creeping." Creating distance between me and the doubt allows me to see things with more objectivity, clarity and a lot less judgement. 

From there, I approach with curiosity. That quickly switches my brain to be more open-minded and go into a growth-oriented mode, instead of being stuck and feeling helpless. I ask the thought, "Why are you here?" "Where do you come from?" and "How can I help you go away?" These questions get my mind to start problem-solving, and that fills me with feelings optimism and empowerment, knowing I have full-control and am doing something about it. 

Try it next time SD the creeper comes by. You got this!

Love Always,

Your Mama