One question to ask yourself

Why is this triggering me?

We all get triggered: by social media; a comment from someone; the way someone we love chooses to live their life. The problem isn't the post, the comment, the person. The problem is what that means to you. Being 'triggered' is an opportunity to look inwards instead of criticising outwards, to get curious and to wonder, why is this creating this response in me?

As Eckhart Tolle reminds us, "anything that you resent and strongly react to in another is also in you."

Journal on this - what is that person doing that you want to do? Or what are they doing that you too do, that you dislike about yourself?

Something to consider

"You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be" - Elizabeth Gilbert

IJournal on this - Where are you overthinking and hoping and wishing, where you should actually be taking action? Where are you holding your tongue where you should actually be using your voice? 

One thing I'd tell my younger self.

People are attracted to your joy and your mess, more than they're attracted to your discipline

It's not really the message they tell you at school, is it? So we spend our adult lives striving for an unattainable perfection, a tightly controlled body and diet, thinking that in some way it'll make us worthy of the attention and love of others. I wish I knew that everyone who would love me would do so for my optimism, my joy, the messy life I share and sure, my ambition and passion, but too, the mess that comes with that. I wish I knew too, that those things were muted when I was trying to control myself, stifle my changing opinions and body, to fit in. 

Journal on this - what parts of your life are you trying to control? Are you focusing on the process or the outcome? Are they healthful things to be controlling?

One thing to try this week

Exercise empathy for those who are not in their best moments

What would it look like if you did this? I often worry it sounds patronising, to remind myself, people are doing their best from where they are. But then I realise, I'd rather choose kindness than anger, frustration or judgement any day, even with the risk of perceived condescension. I realise that this creates space for me to show myself that own compassion when I act in a way that I wish I didn't. Can you choose empathy over all else in those challenging moments with another person?

"How quickly I judge, and therefore diminish their humanity."

A few things to tell you...

Some of these may have felt familiar this week - that's because I'm actually on real life holiday and I'm a firm believer on hearing things multiple times, and at the right time, for them to really resonate. Maybe they hit different this time

One more thing...

Please share your favourite stuff.

Thank you all for continuing to share your favourite Monday email quotes. I see them all. I know how much I love seeing impactful quotes from strangers, so it means a lot that you allow me to hopefully be that person for someone else. f there's something you really relate to or know someone who'd benefit from something in this email, please share it and pay it forward. Words are magical, and if I've learned anything from writing these emails to you for years, you never know when someone needs to hear the exact thing you've got to say.