Spring is a time of renewal. It is the season of new life, when the cold & dreariness of winter finally subsides & hopeful little flower buds poke their heads out into the sunlight. What time could be more perfect to leave our old selves behind & start anew?
Positive affirmations are a great way to change our mindset, & therefore, change our entire lives! Our thoughts have such a profound effect on how we perceive the world around us. Just simply changing the words we speak to ourselves can help us to feel happier & more fulfilled.
Below, I have five positive affirmations that can help you renew your mind & soul this spring. All of them have been designed to be the perfect size for your phone’s wallpaper, so you can put them right where you will see them most. Every time you unlock your phone, you will be reminded of these powerful words. We know that repeating affirmations to ourselves throughout the day can be a powerful way to change our thinking patterns, so having this constant reminder right on our phones is a great way to begin this process!
I hope you enjoy these affirmations, & that they bring you a refreshing sense of peace & joy after a long winter. Leave me a comment below letting me know which one is your favorite, or to share the affirmation you most love to repeat to yourself!
Yoga, for me, has always been a place of learning. On the mat, I learn more about myself than I discover in most other places in my life. I learn of my strength, my will, and my perseverance. I learn about my abilities, my draw to flexibility (both in my life & on the mat), & my limitations. Most importantly, I learn more about who I am, & I learn to love that person more.
Yoga was not always a part of my life. I was not a flexible child. I could not touch my toes if I wanted to. And for a long time, as ironic as it may seem given my current profession as a holistic health practitioner and personal trainer, exercise was not something I normally engaged in nor enjoyed.
However, when I was 13 years old, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This diagnosis came after months of widespread pain in my body to the point that it was difficult to get out of bed in the mornings. I was told then that yoga could help me, both in managing my physical pain & in managing my stress, which would, in turn, decrease the amount of pain I experienced.
At first, I was skeptical. Not only was I uninterested in yoga, but I had no confidence that I could do it. As many of my first-time students think, I thought I had to be flexible to do yoga. It never occurred to me that I had it the wrong way – I didn’t need to be flexible to do yoga; yoga would help me to become flexible.
Me doing yoga on the beach in South Carolina – Photo by Kristina Stout
And it helped me with that in more ways than one. When I finally rolled out the mat & slipped back into Downward Dog, I found that yoga was not just for the body; it is for the mind as well.
The yogic lifestyle began to drip into other parts of my life. As someone who was always easily stressed & angered, someone who lived by a rigid & unyielding schedule fueled by anxiety, yoga taught me patience & flexibility. When challenges came my way, I used the strength yoga had taught me as I held Plank Pose for minutes on end. When negative situations threatened my joy, I learned to flip them around & look at them differently, just as I viewed the world from Plow Pose with my feet sitting behind my head & my shoulders supporting my body instead. I learned to meditate on worries when needed, & to let meditation sweep the worries away when they no longer needed to concern my mind. And at the end of my practice, as I laid back during Savasana, I learned that it isn’t necessarily the work, but actually the rest & relaxation that can be the most important part of my life.
Yoga carried me through some of the most difficult moments in my life. It became a regular part of my daily routine. And I always felt better, mentally, physically & spiritually, when I stepped off my mat versus when I had stepped on.
As I got older, I discovered I wanted to share this joy with others, & so I was professionally trained in the art & began teaching my own classes. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than watching a student come into my class, their body held tight with stress, their mind clearly clouded with overwhelming thoughts, & then to watch them leave with a serene expression, their body loose & mind at ease. Through teaching yoga, I learned another important lesson – my life is meant for so much more than my own experiences. I was given a life to give to others.
Yoga is still teaching me every day. I have a stubborn mind, & I often have to be taught the same lessons again, but Yoga is patient with me, & it continues to teach me to have patience with myself. Yoga has helped me to love the body I have been given, to explore the depths of my mind & spirituality, to believe in my own abilities, & to have grace for myself when I fall. Even though I am a yoga teacher, I still often feel like I am the student in my practice, & this, too, has taught me an important lesson: humility, & in turn, compassion & empathy for others.
Yoga is a journey, filled with ups & downs, back-bending difficulties & relaxing tests of patience & flexibility. But, if you are willing to embark upon it, I promise you will discover so much more than you ever knew about the most important subject you have to learn about in this life: Your self.
Namaste.
P.S. I am currently competing to be the Yoga Warrior of 2021! Voting opens March 9. I would be so very appreciative if you would consider voting for me. You can place your vote here.
The Sunshine Box is not your average self-care box subscription.
We all need more self-care in our lives, but we are terrible at giving it to ourselves. Subscription boxes are a great way to simplify the process – the materials for a perfect self-care date with yourself are sent right to your door! But here’s the problem – self-care is a very personal experience, yet with most subscription boxes, you will be sent a carbon copy of what everyone else (or at least a group of people) are receiving that month.
It’s not the same with the Sunshine Box. By filling out the form below, I get to know you, what you like, & how you actually need to engage in self-care each month. Based on that information, I create a personalized box JUST FOR YOU! It’s a special gift for you every month, & it’s the perfect way to make sure you are making time for self-care in your life.
Learn more about the Sunshine Box & purchase your customized self-care box on the Evolve Wellness website.
There is no doubt about it – 2020 was a crazy year, filled with multiple devastating events. But, despite all of the bad that happened, there were some things that managed to give us hope to carry on. Somehow, while the world was struggling, we were able to keep ourselves afloat by recognizing how resilient and strong we are when we work together and help one another.
So, if you are struggling to remember anything good that happened last year, read below to remember 12 encouraging events that helped us to get through a challenging time.
January – We fought the wildfires together
January was our first taste in 2020 of how capable we are of tackling challenges far beyond our abilities when we work together. People from all over the world donated money, and firefighters from other countries flew to Australia join workers and volunteers in fighting the blaze.
February – The Chiefs won the Super Bowl
They may not be your favorite football team, but everyone loves a good underdog story. This was the first Super Bowl the Chiefs won in 50 years! That is something worth celebrating.
March – The Cares Act was signed
Despite the rifts between Democrats & Republicans, when our country was in need, these two groups came together to sign a document that provided relief to millions of Americans and businesses who were suffering at the beginning of the pandemic.
April – Spotify launched Daily Wellness playlists
In addition to many other mental health resources that became available, Spotify launched its Daily Wellness playlist. This simple daily collection of songs and podcasts gave people peace of mind and a simple way to engage in self-care.
May – SpaceX launched 2 astronauts into space
Elon Musk reminded us just how resilient and tenacious the human race is when he successfully launched two astronauts into space…and brought them home safely.
June – NASA inaugurated the Jackson Headquarters
NASA named its headquarters in Washington, D.C. the Jackson Headquarters in honor of Mary W. Jackson, the first Black female engineer to work there. 2020 was a year for Black voices to be heard and, hopefully, for change to have begun.
July – A COVID-19 vaccine became more promising
In the month of July, deals were made and the first trials of vaccines for the novel coronavirus shows promising results. For the first time, we were able to hope that we would be able to beat this terrible disease soon.
August – Polio officially left Africa
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the poliovirus is no longer present in Africa. This means just two countries are still threatened by this disease – Afghanistan and Pakistan.
September – Meals were donated to HurricaneLaura victims
After the devastation of Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, Rikesh Patel, a local McDonald’s owner, initiated the delivery of 10,000 free meals to those in need. it was a true act of generosity, service and kindness amid a catastrophic event.
October – NASA landed a spacecraft on an asteroid for the first time
2020 was quite the year for space exploration events. In October, NASA landed OSIRIS-Rex on an asteroid. It was a mission that took four years of work, and it may lead to new discoveries about the history of our solar system.
November – A record-number of Americans voted the first-ever female Vice President into office
No matter how you feel about the results of the 2020 presidential election, there has to be a bit of pride for the number of Americans who took on the responsibility to be a part of our democracy and make their voices heard. In addition to this, the first female vice president in history was elected, which is groundbreaking to say the least.
December – The first COVID-19 vaccine dose was administered
After a year of chaos and fear, the first vaccine dose for the pandemic that seemed to characterize 2020 was given. As we look forward now to 2021, we are now able to have hope that life will return to some semblance of normal in the near future.
This list is by no means meant to diminish all of the tragedy that occurred in 2020. But, perhaps by remembering the few good events that did happen will remind us how very much we have to be grateful for, even when life is threatening to make us forget. For me, 2020 was a reminder of just how blessed I am, and it was confirmation that most people are dedicated to helping one another. This past year, I saw more selflessness, compassion and generosity than I have in a long time, and that alone gave me hope for a brighter future.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking the associated link, I will earn a small commission off of that purchase.
Acne is something I have struggled since I hit puberty. I was always told it was something that would go away with adulthood, but thanks to a PCOS diagnosis, the acne seems to be here to stay.
One of the most visible symptoms of PCOS is acne. Because of the excess androgen levels, women with PCOS tend to have more trouble with skin health. Personally, I have tried multiple over-the-counter and prescription acne treatments, and none of them ever worked for me. The reason for this is because the only way to really solve the acne problem is to correct the hormone levels, which is easier said than done. After trying numerous birth control medications, I decided to do a little research to find a skincare regimen that would help me to at least manage my acne so breakouts became less severe.
As stated above, the skincare regimen below has not solved the problem, but when I follow it, breakouts occur less frequently. My skin looks the most beautiful it has in years. The best part about this regimen is it has erased many of the scars I had on my face from years of struggling with acne. For the first time in nearly a decade, I feel comfortable walking into public without having makeup on my face. I cannot even express how freeing that is.
If you struggle with PCOS, or if you are just looking for a more natural acne treatment regimen, I hope you find these products helpful. Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions regarding the products I have suggested, or if you have found a regimen that works for you! The more we share about PCOS and how we have found ways to cope with the symptoms, the more we empower the women around us to take charge of their health and to feel beautiful.
1. Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser
This charcoal cleanser is the first step in my face cleansing regimen. It detoxifies my skin and gets rid of all the dirt in my pores. In addition to my nightly routine, I often use this cleanser after my morning workout because my face instantly brightens after using it. I also love how the cleanser heats up as I use it – every time I wash my face with this product, it feels like an expensive spa treatment.
For a toner, I use Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera Formula Toner. It’s an alcohol-free, gentle toner made with natural ingredients. While I am cleaning my face, I like to know that I am not putting a lot of chemicals into my pores. This product also helps bring a little more moisture into my skin.
4. Tree of Life Retinol Serum
To really work at those scars and to heal my damaged skin, I use this retinol serum. It is made with natural ingredients and has been designed to be used by all skin types. I can honestly say this product has been a life-changer for me – it is the reason I finally feel confident in my skin.
5. Differin Gel
This is one of those over-the-counter acne treatments that is made to get the job done. Differin Gel is a little harsh, so I don’t recommend putting it everywhere on your face; instead, rub a small amount into your skin solely where you are currently having a breakout. This gel often makes my breakouts disappear by the following morning.
6. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
A lot of these products, including the charcoal cleanser, retinol serum, and Differin gel, can cause dry skin. As someone who already struggles with skin dryness, I knew lotion had to be a part of my regimen. I use Neutrogena’s oil-free moisturizer because it doesn’t clog my pores and it’s fragrance free. I strongly recommend finishing this facial regimen with lotion even if you aren’t prone to dry skin – even going a day or two without this step can cause my entire face to become red and irritated. But when I do use the lotion, my skin has never looked healthier.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking the associated link, I will gain a small commission off of that purchase.
I know self-care is one of the most important things I can do to make sure I am functioning at my best, but somehow, I just never seem to have time to fit it in.
Every day, my schedule fills up with work, errands, and other chores. By the time I get home, I am ready to just crawl into bed. And some days, I don’t even give myself the luxury of a good night’s rest – often, I am up late, working on a blog post, finishing an assignment for work, or taking a look at my weekly budget.
As important as self-care is, it always seems to be something I struggle with. The idea of taking a relaxing bubble bath or just sitting for an hour to read a book seems to be too difficult to fit into my day.
I know I am not alone in this. So many of us are rushing from one task to the next – it’s hard to take a step back and notice how we feel. It’s even harder to actually listen to and give our bodies what they need in that moment.
So, to give us all some much-needed help, I have listed below three simple things you can do every day to love yourself better. It takes some practice, but incorporating these three actions into your day every day can help you to be better in tune with what your body needs, and to actually meet those needs during your day. They aren’t time-consuming tasks, but they make a big difference in your quality of life. And when you are feeling good, you are better able to help the other people in your life feel good, too.
1. Do a mental check-in when you wake up
Resist checking your phone first thing in the morning and take the first 30 seconds of your day to do a check-in with your body. How are you feeling, physically, mentally and spiritually?
Ask yourself: How does your body feel? Are you well rested? What emotions are you feeling? Do you feel grounded, or do you feel disconnected from the world around you?
Based on these and other questions you may ask yourself, take note of how you are feeling, and then move on to the next task.
2. Schedule in 30 minutes to take care of yourself, mentally, physically or spiritually
Based on the results of your mental check-in, schedule in some time to take care of any needs you may have. If you are feeling tired, consider scheduling in a 30-minute nap. If your body feels stiff, maybe schedule in a 30-minute yoga session. If you are feeling sad, take some time to do something you enjoy, such as reading, dancing, or singing at the top of your lungs. If you feel like you need to ground yourself, spend some time reading scripture or repeating self-affirmations to yourself. Do whatever works for you.
Thirty minutes is not a lot of time, but it really makes a difference. Taking just this small amount of time for yourself makes sure that your most present need for the day is met.
Schedule in this time on your calendar. If it helps, make it the same time block every day, but change the activity daily based on what you need. You can do your self-care activity first thing in the morning, during your lunch hour at work, or right before you go to sleep at night. Once the task is on your to-do list, it is more likely to get done.
3. Write down 3 things you are grateful for before you go to sleep
End your day with a moment of gratitude. Write down three things you are grateful for that happened that day. This is a great practice to help you remember all of the blessings in your life, rather than focusing on the negatives. Writing down what you are grateful for will not only help you to have a more positive mindset (and positive energy helps attract a more positive life). It also helps to make sure you go to bed thinking about positive things instead of letting your mind wander to everything that is currently stressful in your life. A good night’s rest is a key part of self-care, and it’s easier to achieve that if your head is thinking happy thoughts when it hits the pillow.
Self-care is a very personal journey, and it looks different for everyone. The three practices listed above are simply meant to guide you in your own journey. Always remember to be gentle with yourself – if there are days these tasks don’t happen, simply cross them off your to-do list and promise to take better care of yourself tomorrow. Always give yourself the same love and grace you would extend to others.
What are your favorite ways to show yourself love? Leave a comment below to help spread the inspiration and positivity.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking the associated link, I will gain a small commission off of that purchase.
Fall is finally here!
The long, summer days are slowly waning, and the cool, crisp, autumn mornings are on their way.
Fall is the season for cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and lots and lots of pumpkin. Things may be very different this year because of the novel coronavirus, but there are still plenty of activities I am looking forward to doing.
Check out my fall bucket list to learn more about the activities I am most excited about this year. If you feel inspired, try out a few and leave me a comment below about your experience – I would love to hear how you are making the most of the fall season.
1. Apple picking
I have only been apple picking once in my life, but it is an experience I want to repeat. Nothing quite compares to the taste of a freshly picked, sweet, juicy apple. After collecting your bushel, try your hand at a classic apple recipe, such as apple pie or cider.
2. Drink a pumpkin spice latte
Starbucks has already released its pumpkin spice latte, and it’s just as delicious as ever. The bitterness of the espresso is balanced beautifully by the perfectly steamed milk and sweet, fall spices. It’s the perfect drink to sip on a chilly day.
3. Explore a corn maze
A corn maze is the perfect place to reminisce about the fall seasons from our childhoods. It’s one of the few places where I still feel just as small as I did when I was a kid. Spider Hall Farm is one of my favorite corn mazes to get lost in every year. The farm also has a terrific Mom and Pop’s-style store, a hayride, and a pumpkin patch, so it caters to all of your fall activity needs.
4. Hike in the Fall Foliage
I love it when the leaves change colors. As the weather gets colder, the bursts of yellow, orange and red from the treetops still fill my soul with warmth. Hiking is one of the best ways to take in the trees’ beauty, but if hiking isn’t for you, a drive down a scenic back road would also be a breathtakingly beautiful experience.
5. Pumpkin picking
It wouldn’t be fall without some pumpkin picking. If you want some extra spookiness and autumn vibes, try picking out your pumpkin at dusk. Once you have found the biggest one, take it home to carve or paint. And don’t forget to roast your seeds for a delicious snack!
6. Watch a Football Game
Sports look a little different this year, but I am excited to have a lazy Sunday afternoon with my family, cheering on our team and eating snacks. There is something about rooting on a team together, or booing each other’s rival players, that brings people together.
7. Dress Up for Halloween
Halloween 2019 – Joseph and I dressed up as Clark Kent and Lois Lane
I don’t care how old I get – dressing up on Halloween will always be something I want to be a part of. Every year, I am allowed one evening to be creative and pretend to be anything I want to be, and that’s something I am always going to take advantage of. Trick-or-treating is optional, but always encouraged (if it is approved by the governor, of course – otherwise, I will just eat my candy alone at home).
8. Watch “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
You may find this one strange, but this is my favorite Halloween tradition. Every year, I sit down with my sweet treat (and, as I have gotten older, my spiked drink of choice) to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. As far as I am concerned, the holidays start as soon as the clock strikes midnight (which, incidentally, is also the moment that I play the song, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” much to the annoyance of anyone else in the house). Halloween is the nightmare that occurs right before the Christmas season, therefore I believe it is the perfect day to watch this movie.
9. Spend a Day Reading
I can’t think of a better way to use my time on a chilly, autumn day than to curl up with a hot mug of tea (find my favorite mug here), a fuzzy blanket, and a good book (here is one of my favorite classics). It’s one of my favorite ways to indulge in self-care, especially when it’s too cold to go outside.
10. Spend Time with Family
Thanksgiving 2018 with my family
Thanksgiving marks the end of the fall season, and it’s one of my absolute favorite times of the year. Spending time with family always reminds me of how grateful I am for the people in my life and the love we have for one another. I can’t think of a better way to say farewell to fall and greet the holiday season than to be surrounded by loved ones, remembering just how blessed I am in this beautiful life.
My nails slipped off my fingertips as blood dripped to the ground. My hair cascaded down my back to the floor. My eyelashes drooped and then fell. My lips parted, and my teeth toppled out. And then followed all the parts of me hiding inside: My pounding heart and tired lungs, my inept stomach and intestines, my small liver and kidney, and a number of other forgotten, unidentified parts of me plummeted to the ground.
“We need to discuss something important,” I told them. “I am not pleased at how my body is running. We are not working together as a team. We are not doing the best we can. Every day we are failing to meet the standards that have been set.”
“Whose standards,” a tooth piped up.
“It doesn’t matter whose standards,” I spat back.
“Why isn’t the brain here,” the stomach asked. I paused for a moment, surprised. Until now, I had not realized that the brain had neglected to join us.
“Well, I guess because the brain is the one who convinced me to call the meeting,” I said. “The brain is the one who told me that something is wrong.”
“But the brain is part of the problem,” said the heart. “Every day we all work so hard. We labor day and night to make this body function. It’s difficult, but we strive to do our very best. But even after all of that, the brain looks down its nose at us and says that it isn’t good enough – that we are worthless, incompetent and insignificant. The brain tells us that we will never measure up to the other bodies, even though we work just as much, if not more, most days.”
I looked down at my body in shock. There they were lined up, my capable teeth, my delicate but beautiful hair, my strong heart and my powerful lungs; there they all were, hard-working members of my body that had faced so many challenges without ever balking or giving up.
But I could see they were tired. The brain had been working them nonstop. It never let them rest. It always pushed them a little further; it always made them face challenges that were far beyond what most bodies were capable of. And even when the body succeeded, the brain told them that they had not done enough, been enough, were enough. It made the body feel worthless and incapable. It made the body feel as though it could never measure up, even though it was still working, still facing innumerable challenges and beating the odds every day.
Self-care is always essential, but now it seems even more important than ever. Stresses from back-to-school season, the election, and the looming holidays, all amid a global pandemic, are enough to make anyone feel tense.
Taking care of yourself is an important first step in making sure you can handle the stresses of daily life and still be able to give to others. Self-care is not selfish. It’s a way to make sure your needs are taken care of, so you are able to give more during your daily life.
Self-care looks different for everyone. For some of us, it’s taking hot bubble baths, reading books, or sipping a mug of hot tea. For others, it’s making time to visit with friends and family. And for some people, it’s making time to meal prep, write budgets, and create nightly routines that promote a good night’s rest. What’s important is not what the activity is, but rather that it helps you feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and ready to tackle your next life challenge.
If you aren’t sure what works best for you, check out the free printable below! You can use it simply as inspiration, or follow it for a new, self-care activity each day.
I did not realize how clean and refreshing the air in Colorado was until I woke up this morning in a hot, sweaty car, condensation dripping down the windows in the muggy Kansas morning air. I was covered in bug bites thanks to the mosquito that decided to sleep with me last night. I longed so much to return to the mountains of Colorado, but this was the morning of our second day driving back to Maryland.
Joseph and I started the day with a 5K run around the lake we slept next to. The humidity we had forgotten was heavy in our lungs. We were dripping in sweat only a mile into the run. Nevertheless, we pushed through, and at the end we rewarded ourselves with an unconventional bath in the lake. Joseph had the smart idea of placing our soap and loofah in one of our plastic food containers; it served as a makeshift bath caddy that floated in the water next to us.
The water actually felt refreshing after our run. I was reluctant to get out, but we had a long day of driving ahead of us. Our hope was to make it to Columbus, Ohio, which was eleven hours away. To do this, we would also be crossing over a time zone line, which meant we were going to lose an hour of daylight. But, we were determined to get as close to Maryland as possible so we had less driving tomorrow. Our main motivation for this was to pick up my engagement ring. Our route home is supposed to take us through the town the store is in, but if we don’t get there by six o’clock tomorrow evening, we won’t have a chance to pick it up for at least another week.
We began the drive, both tired from the previous long day of traveling. For much of the morning and afternoon, we were quiet. We listened to podcasts and music, and we tried to relax as much as we could while our backs ached from sitting for so long.
Near the end of the afternoon, we decided to listen to a podcast about my enneagram. The enneagram is a personality test that Joseph and I were interested in at the beginning of this trip. We both figured out which enneagram we are (I am a two and Joseph is a three), but after that, Joseph did much more soul-searching and discovering than I did. A week ago, he mentioned a podcast he wanted to listen to with me about my own personality, but I had put it off until today.
It was illuminating. I feel like I have not understood myself until this moment in my life. Everything about my actions, my motivations, and my thoughts actually makes sense now. The thing that characterizes twos is their desire to give and receive love, which is so strong that it can be achieved in unhealthy ways, such as neglecting self-care and manipulating others. The way to solve this is to make time for taking care of one’s own needs, which then gives the two enough energy to give more love to others without expecting anything in return.
As I have mentioned a few times, I have been struggling with my health for the past year. One of the main reasons for this is because I let it get so much worse than it needed to before finally dealing with it. I thought it was selfish to spend the time and money to take care of myself, as well as to express any needs I had to others. However, because of this, I felt so unfulfilled in the last year because I did not have any energy to engage in the normal service and giving that I am used to doing. I always felt like I was not doing enough for others, which only fueled my disappointment in myself. This, in turn, demotivated me even more to take care of myself.
It has been a vicious cycle, but I am learning now that it is important to love myself in order to love others well. It is the message I have been trying to grasp onto in the last year, but I think now I finally understand it.
The most important thing that I have to remember is this: While loving relationships are important, God is my source of love and care. He gives me everything I need. He loves me unconditionally. I do not need love from others to fill my cup; He is what sustains me. He delights in me and who I am because He created me. And He wants me to rest when I need to and to take care of myself so that I am able to do the work He has created me for.
I was honestly disappointed about the idea of going home after such an amazing trip, but having this knowledge fills me with such excitement about my future. I think something finally clicked into place, and now I feel like myself again.
After learning more about my enneagram, Joseph and I talked more deeply about each of our personalities. I find it interesting how we approach so much of life similarly, yet for such different motivations. It is important to me to serve others, both because I am filled by loving others and because I have an intrinsic belief that this is how I will receive love (which is not necessarily true). Joseph wants to serve others because he believes that is the ultimate way to live, and he is motivated by his desire for personal achievement and to not disappoint others or himself. On the outside, it looks as if we are doing the same thing, but on the inside, we have two very different internal battles taking place.
One of the most important things for any relationship is communication. The fact that we know about each others’ personalities, motivations, and thought processes helps us to have better empathy and compassion for each other. I feel that this trip has helped us both understand one another on such a deeper level, and I am excited to see what impact that will have on our future together.
Joseph and I stopped for dinner at a rest stop. We watched the sunset, feeling content and satisfied. This trip has been an amazing journey for so many reasons. We have learned more about ourselves, each other, and who we are together.
Based on what I have discovered, I could not be more enthusiastic and hopeful about our future together.
P.S. There will be more to come on the enneagram soon, and a little challenge for you! Check out the blog next week for my journey deeper into self-discovery and, hopefully, actualization.
