I think that one of mankind's greatest inventions has to be the sticky note. I especially love the serendipity of a post-it. I'll write down little notes to myself and stick them all over my desk at my apartment or at the office, and then later on I'll feel just a little bit of joy when I discover them accidentally stuck to my desk chair or to my butt when I look in the mirror.
I recently started using post-it notes to write down little self-help reminders, like "Be kind to yourself today" or "Stop should-ing all over yourself" (if you're reading that last one and finding yourself a little confused, check out my forthcoming essay "The Case Against 'Should'"). I then compiled my favorites into a list on a giant sticky note that I taped to my mirror, so that I have to read through it at least twice a day or more, depending on how vain I'm feeling (I'm kidding. Sort of).
Here are my ten reminders:
Everything is happening exactly as it's meant to
We can do hard things*
Happiness is a skill
They're just thoughts
Have a resilient mindset
I am not for everyone (and that's ok)
Keep setting your boundaries
Honor your values
This ends, so stay
Everything that matters will last
Some of these are self-explanatory, and some might look a little puzzling at first glance, but each of these reminders has a story behind it that helps provide me with some perspective for whatever I'm dealing with in the moment. They're my mantras for when I start to feel regretful about the past, anxious about the present, and worried about the future. Repeating these brings me back to myself and reminds me that no matter what comes next, I have the tools and the strength to face it.
*This is a line from Glennon Doyle's third book, Untamed, which is one of the books listed in my Resources section. It's so simple but so powerful at the same time. I really like the collective "We." There's something about it that feels very comforting.
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