Happy Monday, friends.
We had an incredibly busy weekend celebrating my brother’s 40th birthday. While we’ve always celebrated birthdays and holidays together, this milestone felt different. We celebrated at his favorite restaurant in the town we both live in, surrounded by so much love. In many ways, we’re both ushering in new beginnings and celebrating this new decade of his felt more special because we’re choosing to usher in all that’s new together.
Halfway through the night, I looked around the room and realized I knew most of my brother’s friends since I was in grade school. It is a rare occurrence in life when you can maintain friendships for over twenty years and it’s a testament to him that he has. Through every wave, uncomfortable life situation, and stretch of good or bad times, they all have chosen to come together repeatedly over two decades. The night felt more like a family reunion, and it will be a night that buoys us for a long time.
I woke up today, (Sunday), so grateful for the extended “Framily” we built for ourselves. Life tends to surprise you by giving you what you want, just not always in the way you envisioned, and I’m so grateful we both have friends that are more family. It feels like we have access to a beautiful part of life.
What if I told you I had the secret to a better life?
The secret to achieving all that you desire?
What work pattern and thought process do you need to take your life to the next level?
Would you click through or scroll past it?
Human nature suggests you would be intrigued, at least.
You would want to know the secret formula and how to get it.
You would even maybe justify a price tag to a purchase because “this is the thing you need to motivate you.'“
I get it, because I am this person, too.
In life, at no fault of our own, we tend to focus on what we don’t have instead of all that we do.
Well, what if I told you the secret ingredient to curing all those “I don’t have moments” is you?
Would you believe me or scoff?
The truth is, we spend so much time searching for the faster route out. Don’t get me wrong, a shortcut is needed here and there, but you will always reach the limit line of it. It’s called a shortcut because it’s not meant to last past a certain point.
The truth of life is that we’re the ones making it complicated. We dwell and fixate on what’s wrong instead of creatively finding solutions and working towards what we really want in life. Sometimes, we hold ourselves back because we’re scared of what would happen if we didn’t. We search for secret pills and shortcuts as a way to derail our focus.
There is no secret pill,
There is no shortcut,
There is no secret formula,
The secret ingredient is you.
The work you put in,
The time you dedicate to your craft.
The energy you exert during a workout,
Or, the micro-choices you make throughout your day.
The thoughts you focus on versus the thoughts you let pass through.
You are the only person who can forge forward through all the noise and distractions and find a way to be who you want to be.
And instead of spending energy trying to find the shortcut, you can just use that time to better yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like an early morning working out, or taking a hard look at your habits to adjust them. Sometimes that looks like acknowledging that not everyone is good for your soul. Sometimes that means taking a big leap, and sometimes that means being still.
And, sometimes, we need a night surrounded with love to remember that it is you that attracted that love, and it is you who can continue to grow within it.
If what you focus on is what you get, then my wish for you is that you focus on all you want in life, and let the rest go.
JOURNAL PROMPT OF THE WEEK:
I want to change ::insert habit or pattern:: so that I can achieve ::insert dream::
This week, let’s focus on micro-shifting our thought process. We are the reason our life gets complicated, and taking the time to better understand the things that hold us back is the only way to course correct it all. So, as always- I’ll go first.
I want to change my pattern of thinking I have to “do it all” now so that I can achieve/focus on growing one thing.
Let me explain- During my meditation I realized that I don’t really need the Love Yourself Etsy. I have a Salt with Soul shop. Salt with Soul is my main focus- the place I want to grow and thrive from. So, why separate my worlds? Why not just be completely authentic in my Salt with Soul universe and use all the energy I was using for Etsy, to grow this? Why do I think I have to do it all? That is not what success looks like. If I want to be a writer/photographer who empowers people, why am I distracting myself with Etsy? Sure, a passive stream of income is great, but I could do that with what I already built… I created my own problem, really.
I felt like Elle Woods when she asks “Why now? Why this sperm?” because something finally clicked. New level achieved. Releasing myself from my own expectations is the best freedom I’ve ever given myself, and I want that for you, too.
As always, I’m so grateful you’re here. I’ll admit, today’s Soul was inspired by my first viewing of the Kong Fu Panda. (IYKYK) I resonated with that pudgy panda, what can I say?
In some more personal news, my photography website rebrand is almost finished. I learned this year that as a photographer, I do have something to say. I do belong in the space but only if I show up 100% myself. I had to ask myself “what” I wanted to photograph instead of just “saying yes” to everything. I’ll admit, it’s been hard to retrain myself- to charge my actual value versus lowballing for the job- but, I have to think of the sustainability of my passion. I’d rather allow myself to breathe than keep struggling. And, maybe that’s the theme of my year- breathe, stop struggling.
Anyway, this is definitely a longer Soul than usual. These days are packed with “more” lately, I suppose. I’ll see you Thursday for a little bit of Salt. I think I’ll be trying my hand at homemade empanadas. We’ll see!