I give myself permission to be happy

“The hardest challenge is to be yourself

in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.”

~E. E. Cummings

Hi love,

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your happiness at this moment? If it’s above a 5, what’s working? If it’s below a 5, what’s getting in the way?

I’m no stranger to life’s ups and downs. As I write this, I’m currently staying with friends because a gigantic, centuries-old oak tree came crashing down on my house last week. It’s an easy time for me to feel like a victim and be unhappy. But I’m trying to make the best of it and practice what I preach. I’m allowed to be happy, even though there are some challenging things occurring (ever have to deal with insurance adjusters before??).

The theme for this month is: Tell Yourself a New Story. While we can’t control the things that happen to us in life, we can control our perspective and the stories we tell ourselves about what is happening. What I often see is that someone is so familiar with the shame coming from their family or society, that they no longer believe that they have permission to be happy. They reinterpret every experience as if they are cursed or that they bring more negativity upon themselves. Let's change that!

Use this week’s journal prompts to help you think about the story you want to be telling yourself and how you can choose authentic happiness no matter what. 

Journal Prompts for the Week:

1. Where in my life do I have feelings of unworthiness for my own love? How can I be kinder to myself?
2. What makes me unique? How can I use this uniqueness more in my life?

Be sure to find the support you need for more self-love:

Join Mindful Moderation.

Work with a therapist or coach on my team.

Sending good vibes your way,

Dr. Hannah

P.S.: Check out the Mindful Moderation Instagram for an inspirational version of this week’s affirmation and quote. Screenshot it for your week!