just begin
ISSUE NO.19
DECEMBER 2021
TIS' THE SEASON TO
just begin
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As 2021 comes to an end I would like to share with you some changes on what's to come for Just Begin Magazine in 2022!
So this past month I’ve taken some time to really go over what I see for the future of Just Begin Magazine:
Since Just Begin launched we have released a new issue monthly for a whole year and 6 months! Totaling to 19 EDITIONS! (I KNOW sometimes I can’t believe it either!)
I see us staying digital but possibly releasing a physical version once or twice a year.
We’ve only been in the publishing industry for a short amount of time but have met some amazing people along the way and have shared our journey transparently with you, our amazing readers.
I see us continuing to lift the voices of small businesses.
Every month we are turning around new editions, content, and interviews for you all to feel inspired to just begin. However, when I agreed to launch a new edition every month back in June 2020 it was just me and my sister Sam. Since then we have had interns, collaborators and many contributors who have shared their work with Just Begin.
After all things considered, I realized we need to change our approach and circulation. Starting in 2022 our magazine will be seasonal, meaning there will be new editions launching at the beginning of every season. With this change we can create with more intention and detail.
I continued to work through the deadlines, staying up the day before the launch all night editing, making final design changes to the magazine, and then began working on the next issue. Giving me no time to really take in the work I and my team had just created.
I see community and networking events.
I see intentional content being created for every issue + our online community.
My goal is to have every edition be another chapter to the overall story of Just Begin. We are so excited to begin this new chapter with our community and team! I wish you a very happy holiday season and hope you enjoy our final issue of 2021 and wish you a happy new year!
I’ve slowly but surely burnt out.
Melly A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
DECEMBER 2021
Thank you to our team & contributors Dr. Claire Muselman Content Writer Barbara Estrada Content Writer Anailis Diaz Content Writer Lindsay Francois Content Writer
Ajhada Gabriel Editorial Kaitlin Dowis Illustrator Olivia Gutherie Editorial Ruth Orellana Delcid Creative Strategy
Melissa Cancio Content Writer
Isabella Canizares Creative Strategy
Rachel Greve Content Writer
Eduardo Ortiz Content Writer
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT & CONTRIBUTION!
ART BY KAITLIN DOWIS
FLOWER OF THE MONTH NARCISSUS
Narcissus conveys that you want your beloved to stay just the way they are. While there are many types of flowers in the genus Narcissus (including the daffodil), the paperwhite is the winter-growing variety and the birth flower for December. Some cultures believe that daffodils bring wealth. In Wales it is said that those who see the first daffodil of the season invite wealth for the following 12 months. Similarly, in China, legend states that if a daffodil blooms in your garden on New Year's Day your house will have good fortune for the rest of the year. The Narcissus flower’s positive symbolism makes it an excellent choice of gift for any occasion, especially when the person gifting the bouquet intends to send wishes of happiness and good fortune.
just begin LISTEN TO THE JUST BEGIN PODCAST TODAY AVAILABLE ON ALL PLATFORMS.
use code "justbegin10" for $10 off your entire purchase at miami beach bum
REBIRTH. Rebirth. To be born again. To see life with a new set of eyes, a new set of thoughts… A new curiosity. A curiosity to take risks as if you are 18 years old. That same teenage spirit that rages from within to spark a revolution, a new lifestyle, a new mentality. This mentality that the old don’t understand and the new speak in tongues that make sense to a generation born again. To see life again is to embrace seasons of change. Change is this concept that looks different to all of us. We are not all the same in the way we speak, think, dress, and… Evolve. We are all on different timelines. We, as a race, are constantly evolving. Let’s adopt this holiday season Everything we’ve ever thought, dreamt, and admired about Ourselves. To remind ourselves that life can always begin again despite The challenges, the setbacks and the changes. Where I am today is what I dreamt about 4 years ago, And where I will be in another 4 years is what I manifested Today. I am a rebirth of what I’ve created, And so is this moment where You and I Live on with the thought of endless possibilities to take risks again as if You are 18. To be born again.
- Barbara Estrada POETRY
DECEMBER 2021
HOLIDAY SLUMPS By Isabella Canizares
We are finally in the last stretch of the year, with Thanksgiving behind us, and the rest of the holidays before us, we are in the middle of the “happiest season of the year”. But for a lot of people this holiday season might be the most dreaded time of year of all.
WHY?
There are a lot of reasons why you might not be feeling as festive as you feel like you should. Holidays are centered around spending time with loved ones and family which, for people who are not close with their family, can make them feel very isolated and alone during the holidays. Another big reason being people are busier, and more stressed out during the holidays, picking out presents, making food, decorating; and this idealistic view of what the holidays should look like permeates our mind so much, that if anything looks less than a Hallmark card, we feel like we failed.
There are many more individual reasons for disdain for the holidays, but most commonly those who feel depressed during this time most of the time suffer from a disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder.
WHAT IS THAT? Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as “seasonal depression”, is a type of clinical depression that people tend to suffer from late fall to early spring. According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include feeling depressed most of the day, low energy, oversleeping, appetite changes, weight gain and more. Some causes can be your serotonin and melatonin levels, as well as your biological clock. And while outside causes might not be the cause of seasonal depression, it definitely acts as a stressor.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? No matter the reason why you are feeling down this season, there are things you can do about it to lift your spirits again. The first, and most important thing to remember is that you are not alone in your suffering. According to bu.edu, they estimate that at least 5 percent of the American population, which is 10 million people, are impacted by seasonal depression. And what is that percentage for the world? It’s estimated that it occurs in .5-3 percent of individuals, that’s over 100 million people. (Flick, 2019) Many people suffer in silence because we feel like no one else understands what we are feeling, or that it is our fault and ours alone we are feeling this way. It’s important to know not only is it not your fault, you are not alone in feeling this way. And now onto ways we can
make this holiday bright again.
HOW TO GET OUT OF THE HOLIDAY SLUMPS
1
SELF CARE
Starting with a pretty basic, but not any less important step. It is super important to put yourself first and prioritize that self-care. And I don’t mean just yoga and face masks (although it definitely wouldn’t hurt). Spend time with yourself! Do stuff that makes you happy, whether that is spending hours making playlists to jam out to, painting all day, writing down your thoughts, reading, watching movies, etc; Treat yourself this holiday season.
2
WRITE IT OUT
Touching back on writing your thoughts, that specifically is a great way to really connect with yourself and express those feelings you might not feel comfortable sharing with anyone else. From bullet journaling, to poetry, writing has power. According to a study on NCBI, out of forty people who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder or (MDD), those who participated in an expressive writing condition showed significant decreases in their depression levels. (Targum & Rosenthal, 2008).
3
STOP FOCUSING ON THE HOLIDAYS
This may sound weird at first, but a big stressor for people can be anything holiday related. If seeing Christmas posts all over your feed makes you feel upset, try muting those posts or consider taking a break from social media altogether. There are a lot of pressures of having this picture perfect holiday season, which is extremely unrealistic. So when things don’t come out like how we feel it’s supposed to, we feel disappointed. Lowering our expectations and refocusing our attention away from the holidays can really relieve any holiday stress.
4
REACH OUT FOR HELP
It’s easy to feel isolated when you're depressed, and while it might be the last thing we want to do, reaching out to our loved ones is one of the best things to do. Even if you don’t want to talk about your feelings, spend time with each other. If that’s going to the movies, chilling out at home, or even talking on the phone, knowing you have someone to confide in can make a world of difference. If your depression becomes severe it’s best to seek help from a mental health professional. They can help you find the root of your depression and work on it together. And with options from online counseling, group therapy, hotlines, and more. There are many ways you can reach out for help.
Q: What do I do if my loved one is suffering from Seasonal Depression? A: The most important advice I can give is to be there for them. Listen to them and their feelings and show them that you are there for them in any way that they need. The best thing you can do for someone who is suffering in silence is show them that they don’t have to. I personally suffer from depressive disorder, and when the holidays come around it is like a huge cloud is hung from over me. It took me a long time to realize what was happening to me and force myself to get help in any way I can. And I will admit, the Holidays still aren’t the cheeriest time for me, there are days where I don’t want to get out of bed. Where I want to curl up underneath my blankets and just disappear. But now what I can do to make those urges a little less big. The cloud isn’t completely gone, but it is smaller now. And for now that’s enough.
WHAT HAS THIS YEAR TAUGHT YOU? Every year offers us something different, it is up to us on how we perceive it. We can either learn from it or grow from it. There is never a time that we face that doesn’t serve a purpose. Although some of the time it may feel more challenging than others, from there we learn about our strengths and our weaknesses. There are always areas that we can improve on, because no one is perfect.
The year 2021 has felt like an interesting rollercoaster WRITTEN BY J.M. GONZALES
ride. We have been placed in situations that we have never thought we would be placed in; we have been faced with obligations that we never thought we would be faced with. We have experienced different emotions that we never knew we could feel, and we may have felt limited with our freedom due to social distancing. Although you are not alone on this journey, there are many others who feel the same way, it’s just that many handle things differently. Part of the growing process is to get uncomfortable. Step out of comfort zones, do things you never thought you could do, or want to do.
It’s not a good idea to always be in the same routine or in the same place, doing the same things. How would you grow from that? How could you meet the different types of people that can get you to where you need to be or introduce you to the ones who can?
How will opportunities arise for you? How will things come together or fall in place? Have you ever heard of the phrase, right place at the right time? We must challenge ourselves on being able to not only make the best of situations we face but learn how to appreciate the value behind them.
Don’t always look at things from a negative standpoint as to why am I going through this but what is this situation trying to teach me? If you try to view things with this type of mindset, you should be able to have a clearer understanding of the bigger picture. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have been faced with scenarios that I always felt were difficult to rise from but once I started asking why, things came by more smoothly.
New years are like fresh starts, you take what the previous year has taught you and see what it is that you can do better or different in the new year. What are your goals? What motivates you? What will you be doing differently? How will you get there? These are some of the things you should ask yourself so that you can prepare yourself to have a successful year.
DECEMBER JOUNRAL PROMPTS
JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE
If the energy of your past year could be encapsulated by one word, what would that word be? What would you like to achieve in the next year? What were your big wins this year? What do you need to shed or leave behind from this past year? What are your personal goals or intentions for this coming year? Brainstorm 10-20 words that encapsulate the energy that you’re calling in to your coming year. Reflect on those words and then choose one word that reflects the overall intention you’d like to set for this coming year. This is your “word of the year.”
AN OBJECT IN MOTION STAYS IN MOTION A 2021 Year in Review
BY DR. CLAIRE MUSELMAN
FORWARD IS A PACE, AND IF 2020 INTO 2021 AND NOW INTO 2022 did not teach us anything but that, I think we have successfully learned our lessons. We have learned the importance of selfcare, setting boundaries, and taking care of our mental as well as our emotional health in new ways, prioritizing taking care of ourselves first. This year, I learned a lot and wanted to highlight some of the imperative things I am taking into 2022. These are the little things that turned into big things when I reflect on the past 12 months and what will propel me into the future for success, health, and the most important, happiness.
MOVE DAILY Holy sedentary for the past 20 months or so! I do not think any of us realized how much movement we have by going into an office. That being said, I learned movement is imperative for my mental well-being. Getting out to walk for 30 minutes a day can be a giant mood lifter and a clarity moment if I leave my phone and simply walk to walk. Whatever your goal or what makes you feel good in life, make sure you do it and move!
AN O B J E CT IN MO TION STAYS IN M O T I O N
DECE M BER 2021
NO WEEKEND/EVENING EMAILS Setting up boundaries for restoring our well-being was at the top of my list this year, and it took some time to figure out what those were going to be. One was to stop emailing my team or work colleagues/strategic partners outside of business hours as much as possible. To lead by example also meant not responding during those hours either and waiting until an appropriate time. We have blurred the lines so much between work:home:life; it took me making a conscious effort to separate so I could have time to simply be. I still find myself checking in to see if anything is urgent; however, most things are not, and I can be fully present with my “outside work” life.
WATER IS IMPERATIVE Hydration. We are all walking around dehydrated most days. Drinking water and keeping up with fluids improves cognitive function, mood, organ function, all over body mechanics, can reduce stress, oh the benefits! And yet, I have had to actively remind myself that coffee is not a component of proper hydration. We can hydrate not only through fluids such as water but also in our foods. I became much more conscious of the foods I was eating, which contained higher amounts of water, such as vegetables!
AN O B J E CT IN M OTION STAYS IN M O T I O N
Now I try to eat a vegetable with every meal. Progress on this end, not perfection. And still trying to get in as much water as possible to stay functioning at optimal levels, especially with winter in the mid-west on the horizon!
GET OUTSIDE Amazingly, a day or two or three can go by, and we do not go outside, but it is a real thing! Making conscious efforts to be out to take notice of the sky, the sunrise or sunset, the crisp air, and the temperature are things I had to make myself pay attention to get myself out and about. When I had my daughter a few years ago, 13 to be exact, I made it a daily goal to get out of the house to run an errand or do something outside the home. Well, bring on the pandemic, and this type of self-parenting reared its head again to get outside and simply be, even if for only five minutes. Getting out to see the sun, feel the rain, look up at the stars. Getting outside to take a deep breath of fresh air can be a mood elevator and a stress reducer. Finding those moments, the small moments of simply being can genuinely enhance your day no matter what has crossed your path.
DECE M BER 2021
TAKE ACTION (3 THINGS) The three-item focus can work for other areas of your life as well. Ever come into a Monday morning with a work to-do list longer than a mile? Think about how to eat the elephant, one bite at a time. Take three items and get them done that day. This can be helpful if you need smaller projects done in a specific amount of time or give you an idea of how to make progress when you genuinely have no idea where to begin. Do you ever have so much going on or feel so overwhelmed you have no idea where to begin? Some great memes reference this to allude that there is so much to do, and then we take a nap. Overwhelm can get you, especially during the holidays. One of the ways I found to combat this was to focus on three items at a time. This three-item focus point could be for the day, in the morning, during a specific time, you name it! Let us look at the fantastic weight gain example from the pandemic. Some of us (ahem, me included) may have added a couple of pounds over the past year. Eeekk! Where to begin, I started with something simple to act on, such as going for a walk. I also wanted to drink more water, knowing the hydrating elements play a significant role in how our bodies feel and respond, so I drank a glass of water. And the third for the day was to find some way to move exercise-wise for 30 minutes per day. Those are the three things I plan to focus on daily to get myself feeling better and moving forward to a happier and healthier me.
You will have accomplished something by the end of the work-day, and tomorrow, you can revisit three things for the next day. Break it down, make it bite-size, and take action. Act to do something to move forward rather than spin your wheels and travel nowhere.
THE QUIET Finding moments of pure quiet has become blissful. Sitting in silence to let my thoughts float, or when I take a few moments a day to meditate, these brief periods feel incredibly good to my mind and spirit. (I am sure there are physiological benefits too…) I used to have difficulty enjoying the silence when I was driving or alone in my house, and now, I understand the benefits of sitting in the quiet to simply be. The pause is a beautiful mindfulness moment to notice what is going on in the world, not think about anything, and simply be. I have a lot of reflection during this time, too, and I enjoy the peaceful moments in life where presence is all that is needed.
SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX I do it. I will scroll and scroll and scroll. I know I should limit myself, yet I find myself reading everything under the sun on LinkedIn or seeing the countless inspiring quotes on Instagram. Before I know it, hours can go by. My social media coma is where I had to set myself time limits through my iPhone, and even more so, it took more than just the time limits because you can bypass those. I started to find ways to replace my social media use with reading, listening, anything that had me turn off the outside world to focus more on me and what I can do to grow myself into the next version. Now, I will say that I found a lot of fabulous gifts for the holiday season, and I am sure my bank account is happy I am digitally detoxing for a bit. I am keeping my time limits in place and holding myself accountable. When I feel the urge to play on my phone and scroll, I now have a book loaded to read and a list (thank you Remember the Milk app) of things to do that are on my agenda for ‘when I have time to get around to it which has helped me get things done!! The accountability piece is progress and not perfection; however, if I stick with this and continue to focus on my dream lists, I am excited to see where I will be at the end of 2022.
OVERSTIMULATION
AN O B J E CT IN M OTION STAYS IN M O T I O N
I had no idea the amount of overstimulation we are exposed to daily until I started paying attention to my surroundings, practicing mindfulness, and enjoying the quiet. So often, we put on ‘background noise’ to then find that the white noise is not what works for another, so more is added to the equation. Think about watching television. Do you have your phone with you? Eek, I do! And even when I am in the bath, trying to take a relaxing soak, I am constantly reading or scrolling when I should simply be present and mindful of the relaxation I am so desperately trying to achieve. I see this a lot with the youngers coming up after us where they will be FaceTiming on one device while playing a game on another, while the tv has a YouTube video streaming or a Netflix series on in the background. I think I know why I lack focus sometimes… awareness is the first step towards progress.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES Being in a space that makes you feel safe, secure, grounded, and happy is a must… especially if you are working from home. I took on being a plant mom during the pandemic because the idea of having these beautiful green beauties throughout my house makes me happy and helps me feel healthy. They are vibrant and change the energy within my space. The colors of my house are dynamic because they trigger me to feel bold and alive. How we surround ourselves in our own physical space is essential as it impacts our energy.
DECE M BER 2021
MY WISH FOR YOU IN 2022 As we move into 2022, I wish all of you the most happiness, love, and health you have ever experienced. If you are looking for ways to focus on yourself and how to move into the new phase of our lives coming into this new year, new environment, and best possible future, here are 20 ideas to keep you moving forward:
say yes
Fall in love with exercise
Eat more veggies.
Trust your gut
See more sunrises/sunsets.
Dance more
Reconnect with an old friend.
Spend less
Unfollow anyone who makes you feel less.
Mediate
Practice gratitude – use a gratitude journal.
Thanks others daily
Give more
Smile
Find space for yourself
WHATEVER YOU
Travel
NEED, YOUR BEST
Learn a new trick or talent
LIFE IS HEAD. MINE
Get more sleep
TOO! START NOW,
Let Shit go
START TODAY…
Celebrate yourself daily
JUST BEGIN!
AN O B J E CT IN M OTION STAYS IN M O T I O N
DECE M BER 2021
YOU ARE ON
THE RIGHT PATH. @JUSTBEGINMAG
CLASS OF
we are so proud to have shared the stories of all JANUARY 2021
APRIL 2021
The sister yard Mano Nail Salon Benestar Wellness
WYN 317 Maureen Langan Peruvian Alps Clean Miami Beach Andromeda District Verde Market Miami Yoga Girl
FEBRUARY 2021
MAY 2021
Nude velvet skin studio Twisted Medium The Green Haven Project Miami Community Fridge The Underline
Gardens for Life The Safety Society Push the Envelope PR Organinut SheThinx
MARCH 2021
JUNE 2021
Macielle Betances The Mujerista Maria Corina Dr. Brook Bello
Kimba Care Solutions Niema Beauty Ana Ono Intimates Baloo Living Cadence Nadya Okamoto
2021
these amazing small businesses and creators. JULY 2021
Millennial Women Podcast Girls Who Do Interiors Dana Taylor of Made on Grand All Skates Go To Heaven
AUGUST 2021 Meadow Collective Bethany Blanchard Harriet Stubbs Sadith Ulloa Amy Trudeau Thibodeau Cheri Timko
SEPTEMBER 2021 Kelly Nishimoto Timur Tugberk Kat Cruz Eclectic Moon Art
OCTOBER 2021 Artist Alex Rudin Mari Diaz
NOVEMBER 2021 Iris Rogers of Homestead Hemp 1787 The Founders of Girls That Invest The Founder of Sunkissed Babe
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BEGIN IN 2022?
WRITE IT DOWN.
WWW.JUSTBEGINMAG.COM
SEE A CERTAIN LIFE FOR YOURSELF AND DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU GET IT.
ONE TWO
MY WHY Add your "WHY" here. This can be a short statement about why you do what you do in life or business.
This will help you keep on track when you lose motivation - your WHY will remind you why you got started in the first place!
Add a summary of your goals here. This can be a list of goals for: personal, professional, long term and short term. Whatever you'd like to remind yourself of goal-wise!
Once you've completed the poster, print it off and put it on a wall to keep you on track!
MY GOALS
MY GOALS
MY WHY
THREE
Love / Purpose / Self Care Creativity / Community / Friendship
MY VALUES
MY VALUES
DOWNLOAD THE JUST BEGIN WEEKLY PLANNER
free download on www.justbeginmag.com
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE have access to every Issue for $99
learn more at www.justbeginmag.com
SELF-CARE CHECKLIST. DRINK SOME WATER FIRST THING IN THE A.M. WRITE DOWN FIVE THINGS EVERY DAY THAT DIDN'T TOTALLY SUCK. MAKE A MENU FOR THE WEEK. MOVE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY. LISTEN TO GOOD MUSIC. EXERCISE. READ A BOOK. TRY SOMETHING NEW. HAVE A FAMILY DINNER. REFLECT ON YOUR GOALS. TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS.
MOVE
WITH
INTENT
magick wick
WWW.MAGICKWICK.COM
JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE
DAILY SUCCESS HABITS This tool helps you build a simple personal framework around which the rest of the day's activities fall into place.
Top 3 Priorities in Life
Top 3 Stressors in Life
What positive daily habits could you introduce? (Write up specific and measurable actions that best support your life)
Habits
Benefits to Me
GET TO KNOW ABOUT SELF-CARE Self-care is taking steps to tend to your physical and emotional health needs to the best of your ability.
Taking care of yourself does not mean being selfish or indulging yourself. Self-care means taking care of yourself so you can live a healthy, fulfilling life, do your job, help others, and accomplish all that you want to accomplish in a day. You can take care of yourself by doing things you enjoy so you can remain physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy for the rest of your life. It's beneficial in many ways, including better health and well-being.
Achieving self-care involves your own physical well-being, such as nutrition, hygiene, and seeking medical attention when necessary. This involves all the steps you can take to manage stress in your life and take care of your own health.
JUST BEGIN MAGAZINE
SELF-CARE PLAN GOALS FOR MY MIND
MIND Mental health Mindfulness and self knowledge
Soul Stimulation and fulfillment
GOALS FOR MY BODY
BODY Self-care Basic hygiene and body care
Improvement Exercise, sleep and healthy food
GOOD RULES & HABITS I WANT TO LIVE BY
PRACTICING SELF-CARE Self-care is anything you do to take care of yourself so you can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well. Its benefits are better physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. Self-care can take many forms, but it always promotes you and your health. Remaining on track with your sleeping schedule, eating healthily, spending time outdoors, participating in a hobby you enjoy, and expressing gratitude are all examples. Start by choosing one self-care practice per week to weave into your daily routine. Observe any positive changes and add in more when you feel ready.
SELF-CARE QUIZ There are no right or wrong answers; simply respond as you see fit and see what you discover about yourself. Score 2 points for each 'Yes', 1 point for each 'S / Sometimes' and 0 point for 'No'.
Yes
1. I am up-to-date with my health check-ups 2. I am happy with my physical fitness 3. I eat well nutritionally most of the time 4. I have plenty of sleep and feel well-rested 5. I take regular breaks from my work 6. I say "No" to others when I need to 7. I have forgiven my past mistakes 8. I know what I am passionate about 9. I have things to look forward to in my life Your total score What did you learn about yourself?
S
No
THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH BECOMING YOUR BEST VERSION
WWW.JUSTBEGINMAG.COM
BY SAMANTHA DIAZ
I choose to make spiritual growth my number one priority in life. I genuinely believe that we humans all share a similar purpose: learning, growing, and evolving. Our consciousness can be expanded and opened up to new truths, and this list of new truths and understanding is infinite. That is one of the reasons we chose to embody on this earth. There is always something to learn and a path of further growth & expansion. What is “Spiritual Growth”? The term ‘spiritual’ may be more recognized religiously, but I refer to “spirit” as in consciousness and energy. Spiritual growth is the expansion of awareness within our consciousness. It results from coming to new awarenesses and truths about ourselves and our lives. It is the absorption of further information or learned truths and the action taken to apply and fully embody these new truths.
Why is spiritual growth essential? Spiritual growth is essential for the sole reason that learning lessons and growing are a part of the reason you came here, embodied as a human in the physical form. You are here to expand, learn, and grow. I can’t tell you what you are here to learn, for that is your truth to unfold. I can tell you that not paying any attention to your own growth is a disservice to yourself and the world you reside in. Besides the purpose aspect, spiritual growth will significantly enhance your human experience.
The #1 key to spiritual growth & becoming your best version To consistently grow and expand, you must make a promise and commitment to yourself to LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY and APPLY WHAT YOU LEARN. Growth is always within your reach. It is always there, waiting for you. You have to make the conscious choice to reach for it. You have to break the habit of choosing the things that hold you back over the things that will move you forward. You already know that your own inner growth is a priority when it comes to living your happiest, most fulfilling life. Knowing this alone is not enough, you must take action and fully COMMIT to your growth.
HERE’S HOW: MAKE A SMALL, EASY-TO-FOLLOW GROWTH ROUTINE. For example: 8 am: Read 1 Chapter and then Meditate for 15 minutes. In my free time: Watch self-help Youtube videos or listen to audiobooks (Instead of scrolling through my phone or watching T.V.) 11 pm: Reflect in my journal about my day, how I felt, and how I can continue to grow and become better tomorrow. Make sure you are APPLYING the knowledge you take in. Otherwise, what’s the point?
SPIRITUAL GROWTH AFFIRMATIONS Declare the following affirmations out-loud or in your journal right now: 1. I am COMMITTED to my inner growth. 2. I am becoming a better version of myself in each moment by learning something new every day and applying what I learn. 3. I am focused on bettering myself and my life. 4. I am committed to learning & applying new knowledge. 5. I am open and ready to receive the guidance and wisdom needed to become the happiest, healthiest, and purest version of myself.
Repeat these daily in the morning if you feel that they are helping you stay focused and committed to your growth! Lastly, no worries if you do slip up and neglect your growth for a while. Go easy on yourself. Take THAT as another lesson to be learned and get back up on your feet.
YOU’VE GOT THIS!
just begin