Spoiler: There's nothing wrong with you
"What's wrong with you?"
How many times have you asked yourself this question,
Beat yourself up over something that you said or did
Or didn't say or do?
How many time have you tried to make yourself into something else
Because you didn't feel like you were good enough as you are?
This quest for Better that you're always on -
To do better, to BE better
You may not even be able to articulate what better means.
But you know you want it.
How often does it feel like a punishment?
And one that you can't even get right?
What if you just stopped for a minute?
What if you could entertain the thought that there is nothing wrong with you -
That you are beautiful and special and exactly enough just the way you are.
That there is a special kind of magic you bring to the world -
Something you can do in a way that no one else can.
Being better is a gift -
To be able to keep polishing yourself to shine brighter
Not because you have to make up for any kind of lack
But so you can bring more of your goodness to the world?
What would this reframe do for you?
What it do for you to know that the universe adores you?
Yes, you. Exactly as you are.
That you can both love and accept yourself for you who are now
While continuing to learn and grow and improve.
You don’t have to be better to earn your worth.
Who would you get to be if you stopped worrying about being better all the time?
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
Where did your need to be better come from? Think back. When did this tendency start showing up in your life?
Why is becoming better such a priority for you? What do you hope you’ll achieve or be through your striving?
What benefit does striving for better bring you?
How does the constant quest for better hold you back?
What would your life look like if you did less striving for better and accepted yourself for who you are?
One Journaling Idea I Love:
Vacation Journals
The summer before I entered fourth grade, my aunt took my sister and I on a cross-country road trip. And I’m not sure if it was her idea or my mom’s, but I kept a journal along the way. Every day I’d make a short entry capturing where we went, what we saw, where we ate, who we met, how carsick I got that day. I still have a copy somewhere, and reading it brings that trip back, even though it was thirty-something years ago.
Consider keeping a journal for your next vacation. Detail your itinerary, rate what you see, describe the food you eat in depth, capture the stories that come as you travel (especially the plans that go awry). Paste in ticket stubs and stickers. Draw or sketch if that’s in your wheelhouse. Create a one-of-a-kind souvenir for yourself and preserve your memories of your trip!
More Good Stuff
Good Things Come to Those Who Journal: The Livestream - Tuesday at 8pm Eastern. This week I’ll be talking about guided journals - the pros and cons and how to choose the best one for you. Tune in to LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook.
Registration is open for my May journaling group, which begins on May 8. Our theme for the month is Better Money and we’ll be digging into our relationships with money, how our archetypes influence those relationships, and what we can do to improve and strengthen them so we can welcome more abundance in our lives. Want to see if it’d be a good fit for you? Let’s have a conversation!
Happy Journaling!
Amanda! You always tell me exactly what I need to read - thank you! ⭐️