Day 8 of the Self Love month:

This is a highly personal question that is going to be different for every single person. If I were to ask “what is the biggest stressor in your life?” Chances are, many will answer with finances, family, health, their partner or the lack thereof.

However, when it comes to beliefs, there’s SO many factors such as upbringing, religion, trauma, social economics, nationality, etc. Everything will affect what you think and how you formulate your thoughts – and, therefore, how you answer today’s question.

It’s also hard to narrow it down to just one or two words or phrases. Life is too much for that, so let me share some of my favorite words/phrases:

"Be willing to give up who you are for who you're meant to become"

Sometimes we cling onto who we are – or who we think we are – including trauma. Or we get a vision of who we think we’re meant to be; sometimes we get blinded to other opportunities; of your true path.

The saying is why butterflies are common throughout my tattoos because it’s about transformation. Caterpillars have to give up that life in order to become a butterfly.

Here is always changing, but here is where you are

This is something that my favorite yoga instructor said one day during class. It hit me so hard that I actually stopped to write it down. I will probably get it tattooed on me eventually! Basically, the way I interpret this is to always be present…. but it could be interpreted differently by different people depending on life experience and spiritual journey.

The fire inside me burns brighter than the fire around me

For anyone healing from trauma, you can probably relate to this quote. Be stronger than the problems around you.

Words can be very powerful tools. I use mantras and affirmations daily. At the start of every year, instead of a “New Year Resolution,” I select a word that I want as a theme for the year. Last year’s word was “Create”… though considering the year I had, “Survive” would have been more accurate, lol!

This year, my word is “PERSEVERANCE”. With all the problems from last year, most of them still haven’t been resolved. I have a lot of work to do, but a lot of it will be setting me up for 2024. This year is all work with no guarantee of resolution. That can be a little frustrating, to be honest! It will take perseverance to keep going.

What quotes do you live by? Affirmations? Did you choose a word for 2023? If not, it’s not too late! Choose one today!