Category: Uncategorized

I had intended to post on here the same day that I had posted on my personal IG account, but that clearly did not happen, so here we are!

Our intent can be incredibly different from our impact. I spend a lot of time reading (and thinking) about the power of our words. 

From a professional standpoint, whether I’m putting on a mic, hopping on a Zoom, sending an email or having a conversation with someone, it’s nearly impossible to know how the other person (or people) are going to interpret my words.

We all have different life experiences, perceptions, preferences, backgrounds, belief systems, thoughts and values. 

What could have a positive impact on one person, or seen as motivating and inspiring, could negatively impact someone else as the words may have an entirely different meaning for them. 

Well-meaning compliments, comments and questions may take just seconds to say, but the person on the receiving end may hold on to them for days, weeks or even years.

Often times, even for the people that we think we know very well, we only know bits and pieces of their story. 

The roller coaster ride that we’ve been on for the past two years, has presented all sorts of discomfort, disconnectedness and awkwardness. I often find myself being hyper aware of almost relearning how to interact with people in person, which is something that used to come far more natural. 

Through all the fumbling I try to find moments to pause, give grace, admit fault and remain open to growth and change to continue to propel myself onward and upward.

Do you ever have moments when you’re driving or working out where you’re like give me a pen and paper right now I need to write this down?

Afterwards, those seemingly magical thoughts don’t come out nearly as wonderful at they seemed when they entered your mind? 

One thing that we can count on to remain constant is change. If we’re not open to change, then we’re often more likely to not feel satisfied…even when the change can seem to be accompanied by discomfort and uncertainty rather than progression and joy. 

Even when we embrace change, we often forget that how, or the rate in which, others are going to change looks far different than our own experiences. 

There’s very little that can be controlled, but I’m working towards controlling how I respond, react and show up. What will I allow in and how can I avoid giving too much of myself? 

We’ve only got so much time in a day and so much of ourselves that we can give. 

If we find ourselves getting frustrated with other people, it’s often that we are actually frustrated with ourselves – for not setting boundaries, for not asking for help, for not having the conversation with the person. Having an endless internal dialogue doesn’t get us where we want to be.

I’ve been focusing more on not comparing myself to others, but possibly more important, not comparing myself to past versions of myself. Each chapter looks different and all of the internal and external factors contribute to why I was … who I am .. and who I will become. 

What I might have been “ok” or not ok with in the past, may not be where I am at now…. and THAT is ok.

Limiting the comparison, but somehow simultaneously being conscious of the progress and growth.

Knowing that I need to show up for myself, so I can better show up for everyone else without having to compromise my physical and mental well being.

Right after class, I pressed play on a podcast that I was listening to, and America Ferrera happened to mention some of the best advice she was ever given, and it was to “learn how to allocate the resource of you.”

Thanks for your timing, universe. ✨ 

I’ve spent a little extra time thinking and overthinking over the past 9 months.  

One thought, and it’s a big one, that I keep coming back to, is the fact that everyone has varying measure points for everything.  Seems pretty obvious, but let me elaborate.

What one individual perceives to be a hard worker, could be entirely different than another’s idea.  While neither perception is right or wrong, how each individual will measure their own work, as well as others, can be drastically different. 

Similarly, we all learn differently — different styles, different speeds — and with that, retain information differently. 

What makes one person upset, may or may not phase another.  

What causes one person pain, physically and / or mentally, may barely be felt by another. 

What one individual has experienced as the worst thing ever in his or her life, often times would be on an entirely different level of what another individual would have experienced.  For the individual who may have experienced something that would be considered by others to be trivial in comparison to what some other individuals have encountered, should still be able to sit with their emotions, move through the stages of grief and not feel guilty for doing so.  Being empathetic is important, but so is taking care of your own mental health and well-being.

It can be a tricky balance of focusing on yourself, while being empathetic and putting yourself in another’s shoes.  I’ve found the best thing that I can do, is to stop assuming.  Rather than spending so much time imagining what another person is going through and feeling, let them tell you.  I am getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable.  I have by no means perfected this, and still have a lot of ways that I can improve on this, but I am truly trying to keep this more top of mind.

I just reread this post, What’s On Your Mind, Danielle? that I wrote on April 6th. I never thought that when I wrote it, almost eight months ago, that we would be where we are right now.  

But, we are. And we can either embrace it, fight for what we want and continue to show up day in and day out for ourselves and those that need us or we can give up, back down and let this crazy beautiful life just pass us by. 

Hang in there, friends.