“For the most part, we are too busy doing just about everything, that means just about nothing, to just about nobody, just about anywhere…and will mean even less to anyone a hundred years from now!” ― Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life: Living Everyday with Passion and Purpose (Shoutout to @Joshua Haag and @Dayna Kanouna for mentioning this book in our 'favorite books' post previoulsy) This quote hits because it exposes an uncomfortable truth.We stay busy doing things that feel urgent, productive, and necessary. But when we view it from the balcony, a lot of that busyness does not actually matter. Not deeply at least, right? Not long-term and not to the people we think it does. Busyness often becomes a distraction from asking harder questions.. (guilty)...Am I doing this because it’s meaningful, or because it fills the space? Am I spending time with these individuals because this is a good connection or because it makes me feel less alone for a short time (but maybe even more lonely and bankrupt long term)? Am I moving with intention, or just moving? Being busy can feel safer than being purposeful because purpose requires choice and choice requires clarity. Aaaand clarity asks us to let some things go. Also, sometimes it's hard to have the clarity and then we feel restless and we fill in the discomfort with staying busy...full circle. Poll: Most of your busyness right now is driven by: QUESTION to ponder: What’s one thing you stay busy with that you secretly know doesn’t matter as much as it claims to? ACTION: This week, take some time and write down how you fill your time. Identify what 'truly' matters and maybe pick one thing that doens't matter in the same way and start letting go of it. (this first week may be a tough one because a lot of people are engaging in more intentional usage of their time).c

Caught myself thinking about all the things that "I have" to do today. The reality is that, I don't "have to do anything". I "get to" or "I choose to" and in some cases, I even "want to". @Joshua Haag and I must have been on some kind of similar wavelength because after thinking about this and how I could incorporate it in a post, I saw his own IG post regarding 'get to' language. Notice the difference between saying “I have to do this” and “I get to do this” or “I choose to do this.” Same action, totally different internal experience. And your brain absolutely notices! What’s actually going on psychologically? “I have to” frames an action as a demand or threat. Your brain tends to interpret this as a loss of control. That can activate stress responses, especially in the amygdala, the part of the brain that scans for danger and pressure. When that happens, motivation drops and resistance increases, even if the task itself is small. ******“I get to” or “I choose to” shifts the frame to agency. Yay FREEDOM!! This engages parts of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making, meaning, and long-term thinking. Instead of feeling coerced, your brain feels like it is participating. That sense of choice boosts intrinsic motivation and reduces stress.***** Choice language matters beeecause: 1)It restores a sense of autonomy, which humans are wired to crave 2) It reduces threat perception and stress hormones 3)It increases follow-through because the action feels self-directed. 4) also...It builds identity. You are someone who chooses, not someone who is pushed or coerced. *This is not about toxic positivity or pretending everything is amazing. Forget that noise. Sometimes things are annoying, boring, or genuinely hard. The shift is about acknowledging reality while also reclaiming agency. You can still dislike something and choose it at the same time! :) (the video talks about the paradox of choice---talks about how choice has made us more paralyzed as opposed to more free...I may add this video to a different topic later on but I liked that it touched on freedom and in this way it is relates to today's topic).

Been thinking about how to optimize my time more and how to get more sneaky with some habits and then I remembered habit stacking. I'm not sure if this is self induced gaslighting, but I'm here for it. You may be familiar with it and even if you're not, you may already be doing it! ✨Habit stacking is the idea of attaching a new habit to something you already do consistently. Instead of relying on raw motivation (which is an elusive sneaky lil fella), you use existing routines as anchors. Your brain already knows the old habit, so the new one gets a free ride. I mean...who doesn't like a free ride? Habit stacking works on a simple formula:After I do current habit, I will do new habit.Because the first habit is automatic, the second one feels easier and less dramatic. How do you actually do it? 1. Pick a habit you already do every day without thinking. Brushing your teeth, making coffee, opening your laptop, getting into bed. 2. Add a tiny habit that takes less than two minutes at first. Keep it SUPER small! 3. Be very specific. Vague habits die fast. 4. Keep the order the same every time so your brain starts linking them. We're getting ourselves conditioned! Yay. Examples of habit stacking in real life: *After I brush my teeth, I floss one tooth. Yes, one. Momentum usually does the rest. *as soon as I get out of bed, I'll do one pushup--more will follow. • After I pour my morning coffee, I write one sentence in my journal • After I get into bed, I name one thing that went well today Your brain loves patterns and hates extra decisions. Habit stacking reduces friction and decision fatigue. Instead of asking “Should I do this?” or "what should I do?" You are saying “This comes next” Decision made. Common mistakes to avoid: • Stacking too much at once. One habit is enough (guilty of this!) .• Making the new habit too big. If it feels heavy, it will not stick (guilty of this too..biting more than I can chew) • Picking an anchor habit that is inconsistent. If the first habit is shaky, the stack collapses.

Hello! 😀 Welcome to a community that will serve to empower you to live your most fulfilled life! Excited for us to be part of a supportive environment where we will be encouraged to explore and increase self-awareness, gain perspective, develop insight, take action and thrive through our journey in life. ♥ I believe that you have value and worth and who you are as a person matters and this will guide many of the posts that you will see. Posts will take into consideration the different dimensions of life: social, emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, occupational, etc. 💡You are welcome and ENCOURAGED to share material, insights, inspirations, questions, and anything that you think that will be helpful towards growth.💡 ❤️Let's live wholeheartedly and with intention!!! ❤️ So honored to be part of this journey with you! Thank you for allowing me to be part of it. 🙂 🌟Please introduce yourself and also share something that brings you joy and makes you feel alive🌟 ***Feel free to self promote either here or under the life wins category***