Tag Archives: positive

Gym Vibes

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Gym Vibes

Hello!! I am one of those people who never really understood the appeal of going to the gym. I was a competitive figure skater back in the day, which is very much a solo sport. And, in my adulthood, I love the solitude provided by hikes and walks. With that in mind, you can see why being in a roomful of other people working out might not be something I would enjoy very much. However, my sentiments have changed entirely. This past month, I started working out with my brother at the Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls and I have been freaking LOVING it!

My brother has been working really hard to improve his health and we have been visiting the gym at least once a week after he had a tutorial on learning the machines. I wouldn’t say I was chomping at the bit to join him at first, but I was happy to be supportive and the weather has been crap so it’s not like we could hike or walk outdoors anyways. I have to admit, I was extremely intimidated during our first visit. Everyone looked like they knew what they were doing and I so didn’t lol.

As I made my way to the machines I wanted to work on, I felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. But, hey, if I was in a gym then I might as well make the most of it. I floundered my way through several machines and some very nice exercise enthusiasts showed me how to use the ones I was struggling with. Internally, I was kind of frazzled but it ended up being the perfect way to break the ice. After that initial self consciousness was gone, I was ready to rock!

At this point, I am pleased to report that both my brother and I are 1) Accurately using each machine and 2) Enjoying it. We start each work out session by power walking a mile on the track. Afterwards, we complete our machine circuit which gives a fantastic, full body work out. Thanks to my extensive tenure as a figure skater, my legs have always been really muscular. The arm and torso exercises are the real killer because I literally have no upper body strength lol. Although that portion of the work out is difficult for me and I’m screaming profanities in my head the whole time, I love knowing that it will get easier eventually. And, when that happens, you are all invited to the gun show! πŸ˜€

My brother and I aren’t the only ones who have been going to the gym because Johnny is too! He has been going to the one at his work every morning so look out because we’re all going to be super buff soon!

What is your favorite kind of exercise? Do you like going to the gym? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Mental Health Reminder

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Holiday Mental Health Reminder

Hello!! We are SO close to Thanksgiving that I can almost taste the green bean casserole (Don’t hate on it!). And, of course, then we enter the whirlwind of the winter holiday season. While this is an incredibly joyous time, it can also be highly stressful and it’s important to put your mental health first. Let’s talk about a few ways that you can ease some of those get together jitters so you can still have the merry and brightest time ever:

Given the current political situation we are in, it’s very likely that politics will be a topic of discussion at your gathering. This can be a blessing if everyone has the same political views but a curse if not! If the attendees are all across the board on their viewpoints, it might be a good idea to set a Ground Rule of not talking about it period. Unless each guest can engage in polite conversation, then it can turn heated very quickly and that is the last thing you want during the holidays!

If your holiday gathering has you feeling overwhelmed, take a break! There’s no rules saying that you can’t and you can excuse yourself without being obvious. No one will think anything of it if you pop into another room to “make a phone call” or you could volunteer to take the family dog out for a quick jaunt. Once you have a few minutes to yourself, you can enter back into the situation feeling refreshed and better able to handle it.

Sometimes the best way to shake off anxiety is to make yourself busy. There is always going to be the need for an extra helping hand during the holidays so be that person. Take drink orders, set the table, assist in the kitchen – you know the old saying about idle hands! Giving yourself a task to focus on could be just what you need if your mind starts to race or you’re feeling triggered.

There is a high probability that there is going to be someone you can’t freaking stand at the gathering. This can create a lot of tension within yourself so try not to let it fester and focus on the positives, instead. Chances are that when you start looking for the positives, there will be a lot of it! There are people you *probably* like there, the food will be banging, or maybe you will play some really fun games. The festivities are not going to last forever so you could be miserable or try to make the most of it for a few hours!

There is this preconceived notion that you are supposed to be happy AF during the holidays and that couldn’t be further from the case. Holidays can be an incredibly difficult time for people and it makes sense if you think about it. If you are feeling that holiday depression kick in, it could be really helpful to talk about it with a loved one or counselor. Then, you can create some strategies to get you through and try to take a bit of joy in the festivities too.

Whatever you are feeling during the holidays, good or bad, is okay! You’re allowed to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed but with these tips I hope you can enjoy the season more fully!

What is your favorite thing about the holidays? What stresses you out during them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Take It Easier

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Take It Easier

Hello!! The recent election and upcoming holiday season has definitely been causing stress to many, myself included. This time of year often feels like a whirlwind – between wrapping up the calendar year strong at work, shopping for holiday gifts, adjusting to the time change, and attempting to squeeze time in for yourself too. It’s a lot. In fact, I was literally just thinking about how overwhelmed I feel which inspired this post. I came to the conclusion that I need to at least try to Take It Easier and am utilizing the following methods:

One thing that I really struggle with is making time for every single other person and exclude myself. I spend so much time in my own head mentally trying to rearrange my calendar to accommodate to everyone and so be it if I fall by the wayside. The biggest change I have been trying to make is reminding myself constantly that there are only 24 hours in the day. I can’t create more time no matter how much mental Tetris I play with my schedule. With this reminder, I think I have been a lot better about saying no to extra shifts or demands that I am too exhausted to meet. This has been difficult because I am a complete and total people pleaser but I can only do so much and that is okay.

I saw a quote on Facebook that I really liked. It went something or other like this: “If you only had 50% to give today, you still gave it your all”. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the point. Some days, it is just impossible to be firing at 100%. It’s human, so normal, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it. As long as you are doing the absolute best you can regardless of being at 100% or not, you still did your best that day – even if you weren’t feeling it.

I don’t know about all of you, but I am very guilty of eating breakfast or lunch while working. Sometimes it’s a necessary evil and you can’t do anything about it. However, if you can, you should utilize your breaks every day because that is what they’re intended for – giving yourself a break. As often as I can throughout the week, I give myself twenty minutes for breakfast and for lunch. During that time, I will watch an episode of Degrassi and get back at it afterwards. I always return to work feeling refreshed from having a little breather. Remember that some days, you might need to give yourself more breaks if you are feeling burnt out and that’s okay too. For example, if I have a particularly long day at the computer, I will break a few times to do some Tai Chi and work out the kinks from sitting in an uncomfortable chair lol.

When you stop spreading yourself so thin, you might face negativity from the people who benefited from it. In the past handful of weeks alone, I have certainly had several guilt trips and it has sucked. I legit felt SO bad about it to the point of almost adding things back into my schedule and running myself ragged. Don’t do this!! If you succumb to guilt trips, you are going to be right back where you started. It might be hard, but be firm when you say no. It will leave no possibility for interpretation and will introduce people to whatever new normal you are trying to create for yourself. If you are getting any guff from anyone, then they might not have your best interests at heart. And, remember, you never, ever have to justify or explain when you’re doing what’s best for you.

I have been trying to decrease my stress and increase time for me these past few weeks and it has been really… stressful lol. The hardest part has definitely been the guilt trips. As I adjust to my new normal, I will continue to use my new mantras and mindset and keep moving forward. It’s the best thing for me and that’s the best!

Would you consider yourself to be a people pleaser? What changes have you made in your life to decrease stress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

So Simple Self Care

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So Simple Self Care

Hello!! Saying that we live in a high stress world is an understatement and it can be hard to shake off problems that are anxiety provoking. I especially find this to be true for myself. I have an extremely demanding schedule, a lot of family responsibilities, and what often feels like minimal to no time for myself. When I do manage to squeeze in “me time”, I take it very seriously because it’s something that doesn’t happen frequently. That is my time to fully dive into self care mode and even though the way I choose to spend that time is simple, I always end up feeling refreshed afterwards:

My first order of business when it comes to self care is to put my phone somewhere I won’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind. As the social media manager for one of Ohio’s most prominent local celebrities, I am on my phone constantly and it always feels good to take a much needed break from it. Then, I can focus my attention completely on something else instead – even if it’s only watching a quick episode of a comfort show or polishing off a chapter in a book.

This is a method that I employ not just during speedy self care sessions but also when I am officially off the clock for the day. I think it is so easy to fall into the trap of being accessible whenever your phone pings simply because it’s right there. This can be incredibly draining and my rule of thumb is to save responses for times that aren’t dedicated to relaxing. Of course, emergencies are a different situation but you get the point.

I recently started doing Tai Chi with my mom and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s a gentle workout, yes, but the gentle movements are so effective. I can literally feel my body unlocking as we flow through the routine together and it’s almost like a mini massage. I spend countless hours at my computer every day and I can definitely tell that I feel less stiff since incorporating Tai Chi into my schedule. In fact, now when I have an all day computer day, I pencil in a few Tai Chi blocks for when I start feeling crampy. It has made a world of difference!

One change that I have added in the past few months is making breakfast every day. I used to be one of those people who NEVER would eat breakfast and now that it is a regular part of my routine, I genuinely don’t know why I didn’t start this earlier. After a few hours of work, I’ll prepare my breakfast once I get hungry and eat while watching an episode of Degrassi. I have found that I feel way less sluggish throughout the day, I don’t feel ravenous when it’s time for lunch or dinner, and have more motivation to take on the day as best as I can. I guess breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. πŸ™‚

I am the proudest bunny mom to my sweet Melvin and Penelope and they truly are my instant serotonin boosters. Seriously, all I have to do is look at them and it automatically makes me smile from ear to ear. The power of the love between pets and the owners knows no bounds and I often spend my mini self care breaks with the buns. I’ll sit on the floor and give them ALL of the pets and cuddles that they will allow. After a few minutes, they have typically had their fill of affection and that’s fine. I always return back to my computer chair with the warm fuzzies and actual fuzzies – the bunnies shed like crazy!

While I value my more extravagant forms of self care like a trip to the hair or nail salon, they don’t happen all of the time. These mini self care breaks throughout the work day are small and simple enough that I can still accomplish everything I need and feel more refreshed while doing so!

What do you do for self care? How do you like to unwind after work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Moving House: What To Do Before Settling In

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Moving House: What To Do Before Settling In

Moving into a new home is exciting, but it also can be stressful, to say the least. Between unpacking boxes and figuring out where everything goes, it can feel like there is a whole mountain of tasks ahead before you can truly allow yourself to settle in. But the thing is, moving doesn’t have to be so overwhelming! If you approach it with a little bit of creativity and some smart planning, that new house will feel like home right away:

Just imagine for a second that you are standing in your new living room, boxes surround you on each side and you have no idea where to put anything. All of this stress can be avoided by planning ahead! Measure your new space, sketch out where your furniture will fit, and imagine the flow of each room. It is all about putting together a puzzle, but without the missing pieces. When you walk in on moving day and know exactly where everything belongs, it will feel like you’re already home.

There’s something no one tells you and that is that before you even start unpacking, call in pest control. It is one of the best things you can do. The last thing you want after moving all your stuff is to find out you’ve got unwanted roommates. With the house still empty, it’s the perfect time for a thorough inspection. You’ll prevent any issues down the road and can settle in knowing there won’t be any critters creeping around. It’s a simple step, but it makes a world of difference.

Now, this one’s for the detail-oriented or anyone who’s big on creating a clean and calming space. Have you ever thought about the invisible energy around your home? Walking around with a simple EMF (electromagnetic field) reader can help you spot areas where electronics and wiring might create high energy levels. Why does this matter? Well, too much EMF exposure, especially where you sleep or work, can make some people feel off. It is an easy way to create a more peaceful environment by relocating electronics or even considering shielding devices in high-EMF zones.

Moving is more than just a physical shift, it is an emotional and energetic one, too. Whether you’re into traditional rituals or just want to start fresh in a new home, a house blessing can help bring some good vibes into your new space. Have you ever heard of smudging with sage, or just burning some incense? It works on a principle wherein residual negative energy is cleared out and replaced with as much positive energy as possible. You could also use plants like lavender or rosemary to invite calmness. The aim is to start from scratch so that this new house may feel more like your home.

This is a new beginning of one whole big chapter in your life, so don’t forget to take a moment to pause, take a big breath, and enjoy the process. And before you know it, your new house will feel like the perfect place to call home sweet home.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Clean Out Crew

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Clean Out Crew

Hello!!! Johnny and I have been living in our bigger apartment for over two years and it has been great. We moved from a one bedroom loft into a three bedroom, one and a half bath space and it is such a gift to have all of the extra room. While we were in the process of moving, we had a huge clean out and were able to clear up a lot of excess clutter. Since then, we haven’t had a good haul away in a while – only added and I can definitely tell. It feels like there is stuff everywhere! On Monday, I began doing a clear out of my belongings and it was kind of difficult at first. However, it got much easier as I went along and followed these steps:

Johnny and I are honestly both pack rats and I had no idea where to even begin. So, I started small and worked my way up to bigger items. For starters, I decided to go with things that indisputably needed to be tossed – old makeup. I had tubes of lipstick that haven’t been used in years and I’m sure were well beyond an expiration date. Yes, it was a baby step but it got me used to the feeling of letting go of items and I was in a more comfortable place for harder decisions.

After working on smaller odds and ends for a while, I turned my attention to the things that I planned on getting around to repairing and didn’t. The primary culprit was shoes. I have a handful of pairs that needed some semblance of repair done to be able to wear them again. A plethora of time had passed and they had not been taken to the shop down the road. It would have been a ten minute errand to run and I chose not to. With that in mind, the busted shoes went next and it felt good to be rid of them once I thought about it from a more logical perspective.

By the time I was done in the shoe department, I was on a roll and felt ready to tackle clothing next. The standard rule for getting rid of clothing is “toss if you haven’t worn in X amount of years”. I followed that as best as I could and ended up with a bagful of clothes to be donated. As I dived deeper into drawers, I found items that I didn’t even realize I had kept and into the bag they went. If I didn’t like them enough to remember having them, then I certainly don’t like them enough to wear now!

Over an hour into my clear out, the last thing on the agenda was some sentimental items and I am so glad that I started the process with baby steps. The main thing I knew had to go was some of my old warm up gear from my days as a competitive figure skater. I think back on that time most fondly (For the most part!) and have always just hung onto the clothing from the skating club I was in. At this point, I was able to recognize that all they were doing was taking up space in my drawers and was able to toss them without a second thought. I did, however, hold on to my favorite skating dress and don’t ever plan on letting that go. πŸ™‚

I was very much out of practice when it came to a good old fashioned clean out and it was hard at times. Once I was done, though, I felt so invigorated and can’t wait to go for Round Two this weekend!

How often do you clear out unwanted items? What are some of your pro tips for a haul away? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

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Make Your 19 Year Old Self Proud

Hello!! Earlier this week I had the really cool opportunity to facilitate and create a presentation for my boss, Tim, at Kent State University. It was an amazing project to sink my teeth into and I loved joining Tim on campus for his talk. We had the best time! After the presentation, we had a Q&A session followed by a meet and greet. As the students waited in line for me to take their pictures, a gaggle of freshman and sophomore girls were patiently waiting on deck. They were the absolute cutest.

Once they got closer to me, they approached and sung the praises of my outfit (Peep that later!) and asked questions about how I got started with my job. They told me they were eighteen and nineteen and were simply shook when I told them I was thirty! I have got to admit, talking to these teenagers made me feel insanely old lol but I was delighted by the encounter. I am very rarely around people that age and the fact that they thought I was some semblance of cool made me feel… Well, cool.

As I drove home, I thought about my nineteen year old self. I was insanely depressed, engaged in self harm and an eating disorder, and everything sucked. I was working a crappy job in the mall, had no goals, and no sense of self worth whatsoever. Then, I flash forwarded to my life as a thirty year old. I have the best jobs, best friends, best family, and am so happily married. If you would have told me that as a nineteen year old, I wouldn’t have even been able to fathom it.

It took me a long time of struggling with my mental health to get myself to a good place and it was far from easy. The girls I met were none the wiser to any of this and were able to see me as a confident and stylish woman. After our brief meeting, I came to the conclusion that my nineteen year old self would have looked up to who I am now too. This was a very fulfilling feeling because I associate that period in my life with a lot of shame. I was now able to give my young self credit as a kid who was trying her best and I know for a fact she would be proud of who I am today!

Sometimes the smallest encounters are the most meaningful and this one gave me the opportunity to see how far I have come. I am so grateful for it!

What were you like as a teenager? Who do you look up to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Super Casual OOTD Bloopers

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Super Casual OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel to my Super Casual OOTD! Thankfully, Johnny and I took these pictures before leaving for our niece’s second birthday party and not after. Not five minutes into the gathering, I spilled juice on my shirt. This is absolutely TMI but I had to walk around the party looking like I was lactating for two hours lol SMH. Despite this faux pas, a wonderful time was had by all and hopefully my boob stain wasn’t too noticeable! And, of course, the pics we are about to see are nothing short of a faux pas too. Check it out:

A sultry gaze just for you

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A hot new look called “Demonic Possession”

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Wait for it…..

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ACHOOO!

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Dude, where’s my car?

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I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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As summer draws to a close, I realize that I did not achieve a stereotypical “bikini body” this year. Or any year, as a matter of fact lol. This is okay because a true bikini body is just a body in a bikini. However, I have to admit that when I wore the crop top above, I was a bit self conscious. My tummy is far from perfectly flat and I am perfectly aware of it. I guess I was just a little more aware of it that particular day. But you know what I did? I wore the crop top anyways! Because at the end of the day, who cares? I still felt good in the top and that was all that mattered to me.

While I contemplated my belly, I thought about how different my body is as a thirty year old woman as opposed to when I was twenty. Was my stomach flatter back in the day? Absolutely. But bodies change and gaining some extra pounds comes with aging. I also considered my activity throughout the week. I have an incredibly strenuous work schedule and I try to go for a walk or hike at least four days a week. I asked myself if after all of that, did I really want to work out once I’m home from work and the resounding answer was a HARD NO!

During my whirlwind body thoughts, I came to the conclusion that I am happy with how I look and that is a beautiful place to be. Yes, I did initially feel self conscious in the top. But, I thought about it carefully and weighed my options. With that, I decided that there is nothing more for me to do than wear whatever I want, when I want. It was a liberating feeling and when I was done having my think session, I felt much better than I did before. And, when next summer rolls around, my bikini body will be ready. All I need to do is add a bikini. πŸ™‚

Feeling self conscious happens to the best of us, but you have the Lil Red Guarantee that you look amazing just the way you are! ❀

What is something you feel self conscious about? What do you do to feel better about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Pleasant Surprise

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A Pleasant Surprise

Hello!! One of my work days is almost exclusively at a client’s job site. Then, I have a few breaks during that time when I can work my other job on my computer. In the store, there is a cafe section that I like to post up at and click clack away until it’s time for my next shift. While I am at the computer, I am in my own little world and will usually put my headphones on and listen to music while I work. Normally, the cafe is almost always empty. This time around, though, I noticed an elderly man sitting at one of the tables while his wife did some shopping.

As I finished packing up my work supplies, the gentleman motioned for me to come over. I have to admit, I was thinking “oh shit” in my head. As a woman with a ton of tattoos, piercings, and vibrant hair, I don’t have a ton of luck when it comes to older people beckoning me. The comments I have received in the very recent past have run the gambit. I’ve been told that people who look like me will probably end up in jail. The classic “You’d look so much better without all of that”/”Why would you do that to yourself?”. As well as being called flat out ugly. So, yeah, I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to see what this guy had to say to me.

After I approached and braced myself to be insulted, my new friend surprised me. He simply said, “I was just wondering how long it takes to get your hair like that”. You could have knocked me over with a feather! With a happy and huge sigh of relief, I began to tell him about my trips to the salon and the hair style that took over seven hours to complete. He told me he didn’t think he could ever sit in a salon for that long and I talked about how much I enjoy it – especially all the girl talk! He made the “chit chat” gesture with his hands and we both had a laugh. After our encounter, we said our well wishes and parted ways with a smile on each of our faces.

As I thought about my talk with this stranger, I realized that I completely misjudged him and I deeply regret that. In that moment, I was no better than the people who made it a point to let me know their mean comments without knowing anything about me. I was one hundred percent prepared to have been talked down to and, instead, we ended up sharing a laugh. The age old saying “never judge a book by its cover” is such a cliche but it really is the truth. I judged without any reason to think otherwise and my original thoughts were dead wrong. This encounter taught me to be better at keeping this cliche at the forefront of my mind and challenged me to do more than make a snap decision at a glance. I am so very glad for this reminder!

After this Pleasant Surprise, my sense of impending doom when an elderly person calls me near has certainly diminished. I have come to expect hurtful comments and everyone will always have something to say – positive or negative. However, now I will be better at approaching these conversations with a smile, come what may.

Has someone made your day recently? What is something that pleasantly surprised you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Decision Making 101

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Decision Making 101

Howdy!! I don’t know about all of you, but I have a very difficult time making decisions. I stress, ruminate, and let anxiety build up until I just keep doing the same thing without making any changes. It’s understandable – any kind of change can be scary and I find a lot of comfort in the same old, same old. This past week, however, I had to make some really big work related decisions and it sucked lol. I am pleased to report that I made it through on the other side. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t still feeling some residual stress about it, but I know that I will feel much better in time. These are some of the things that helped me as I made choices and maybe they will help you too:

If you’re like me and simply the thought of major changes puts you into a tailspin, then first and foremost, you need to chill. Sound decisions can’t be made when you are in distress so try and relax. Take deep breaths, sip a cup of tea, or have a hot shower. Whatever you need to do to put you in a calmer state of mind. Then, you can revisit the decision that needs made when you are feeling less frazzled.

The most common way to make choices is to weigh the pros and cons and there is a reason for it – it is always effective. Grab a pen and paper, pull up a notepad on your phone, or type on the computer and start thinking about the good and bad that could come with each option. It will be so helpful to see your thoughts right in front of you rather than let them swirl around your head. Your initial pros and cons might be subject to change so don’t make a split decision immediately. Give it a day or two, revisit it, and see if anything or nothing needs reevaluated.

There is a high chance that whatever you are struggling to decide might effect other people. This can throw a huge monkey wrench in the process because, of course, we don’t want choices to negatively impact others. This is where I have the most difficult time and often just resort to doing the same thing. However, you need to think about yourself. Sometimes, what’s best for you isn’t best for the people that it might effect and that’s okay. Yes, you read that right: It’s okay. Doing for you isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary if you want to keep moving forward in a positive trajectory.

Maybe you have weighed your pros and cons and are still nowhere closer to a decision. If that is the case, think about your gut, heart, and mind. This is what it ultimately boiled down to as I made my work related choice. I knew exactly what I wanted and I had a hard time working up the nerve to just do it. Listen to yourself and what your body is telling you. The answers you need are all there so don’t swamp yourself down with the “what ifs” or you might end up getting stuck. I admit that I was stuck for over a month until I was able to do what I needed to do for me. All it did was cause me more stress as the situation festered in my head and that could have been easily avoided. Changes take time, though, and if you need extra time that is totally fine but it might make making the choice even harder if you drag it out.

I feel good about the decision I made because I know it will be good for me, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. I also feel like I have a better grasp on making choices for the next time a situation arises – hopefully!

How do you make decisions? What is something you struggle with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah