Grace-Paced Evolution

Where is yours? What makes it your happy place?

Summer is here! There is SO much pressure for summer to be one thing or another. But remember we all go at a different pace and have different capabilities and thresholds. My challenge to myself and to you is to find something in each day that brings you joy. It doesn't have to be big, and wouldn't need to make sense to anyone but you. Big things are great too and always easier to find when they are there, but work to see the joy in the small things. Give yourself grace and work on extending it to those around you! 💚✌️

Social media wants you to think that every mom:

Keeps a perfectly tidy, minimalistic, and neutral home—

Bakes sourdough and buys only the good, expensive, organic stuff. Non-processed only, from scratch always—

Looks put together every day with the great hair, perfected expensive makeup and a cute outfit no matter where she's headed

Social media would have us believe there’s a whole lot of “perfect”, greener grass out there. When in reality, I think most moms are ...well.... average (which is A OK) . . . like you and me.

A little behind on the laundry, with a home aesthetic somewhere between modern I tried House and bomb-went-off-here—

Sometimes homemade means dumping 3 cans together, it throwing pasta in the oven to bake crispy- and sometimes a Ziploc of Goldfish on the way out the door or a bag of chips in the back of dads truck after school..

Usually in leggings and sporting the same hoodie a lot...and hi might I I reduce you to dry shampoo!

Wearing the same worn out bra she's had since before motherhood because her money is better spent on groceries and kid activities and gas and family fun.

She's doing her best, even when it's hard.
She's short on time, but spreading the love where she can.
She is trying to do it all and not compare

And she's living a beautifully imperfect life, not so different from you and me.

"Happiness is in the quiet, ordinary things.
A table, a chair, a book with a paper-knife stuck between the pages. And the petal falling from the rose, and the light flickering as we sit silent."

~ Virginia Woolf

Art: Esther Bennick

https://estherbennink.nl/hello/

How do you measure success? How do you define success? Is joy and happiness enough? Do you require something tangible like money or a certificate?

It is ok to set high expectations but also remember the importance and slowing down and making sure you have joy, and health, and peace. 💚

YOU can achieve your goals. YOU are worthy enough to strive for better. It's ok to say no, it's ok to mess up, and it's ok to not have all the answers. Still, You are enough.

Do you know why my business is called Grace-Paced Evolution?

We can all change. Some may need to do more changes or bigger changes, but we can all benefit from change sometimes. Some people can do it quickly, especially with small changes. Others create change more slowly-whether big or small. All ways are OK!! So instead of fast paced or slow paced...consider it Grace-Paced. Not being hard on yourself,or others, about the timeframe, but instead extending grace.

We all benefit from a little more grace and kindness. No matter the situation. When it comes to ourselves and how we feel, think, and live - you can never go wrong with grace.

As fall approaches we feel the instinct to slow down and stay in a bit more. This can impact your path to your goals. That is ok. You will still get there as long as you keep pushing forward, think positively, and grant yourself a few extra ounces of grace! 💚

Hello! Happy Sunday!! Take a moment to check in with yourself. Check in with a friend! Need an accountability buddy?-ask for one! Maybe someone in your life needs one in return.

Remember. You matter. You are enough. You deserve good things.

I'm glad you are here 💚

Setting goals is all about getting somewhere. The next part. Turn the page. New leaf. Whatever you want to call it- it's change. Change can be scary, but we cannot achieve our goals or better ourselves if we don't encourage change within ourselves! Embrace it! You will find that most people want to cheer you on. They want to see you win and succeed. Need help setting goals? Getting started? Ask a friend! Ask a Life Coach (hi!!!)!

You can do this. We can do this together. Embrace the change, say hello to a new and improved you!

The season is coming where many find themselves down more so than the rest of the year. Even more so for those already struggling. Always remember you are not alone. Now is the time to prepare yourself with things to bring you joy, or light, or a sliver of those on the days when we it can be hard to find. I love this piece by Lucy Claire Illustration. It reminds us that the light is always there in the darkness. If we can't turn it on, ask someone you trust to help! 💚

📷: lucyclaireillustration

Have you ever thought on how much of a role we all play in our own day to day happiness? Do you often take responsibility or do you more find yourself placing someone else in charge of your mood or feelings? No matter your answer to that, truth is, that we all do play a very significant role in it. While we can obviously have an effect on others, and them on us, when you step back for a moment to contemplate that you hold the power, you may be able to turn it around!

If you only focus on the negative, you will be negative. If you surround yourself with anger and upset, you will be angry and upset. We are in charge of our life, our feelings, and our reactions. Our lives will improve when our thinking improves. Our thinking will improve when we adjust our surroundings. Practice patience. Be grateful. Stay positive, remain in the present. Make changes to maintain these things!

Most of my life I have had a 4 legged best friend. Almost all big and defining moments in my past, my dog was with me. I truly believe we have dogs to be unconditional loving, no judgement giving, heart-hurt helping friends. One of my favorite quotes is "Dogs are my favorite people." ❤️

Share pictures of your 4 legged friends!!

When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. Is your environment fostering growth?

Enough. Does this word mean something to you? Is it positive, or negative? I'll be honest. I struggle with being enough, on all fronts. Some things in life have helped me heal, and some things, and people have hindered my healing.

I recently had some things happen that were, unfortunately,a hindrance. I dwelled on them and let them creep into the thoughts I sometimes let define me. I said out loud, "Why am I not enough?" "Will I never be enough?" These moments hurt. Plain and simple. These particular moments were caused by family, which made it sting even more.

I finally had to sit down and think about what I tell my children when people say unkind things to them. I always say, "if someone says something ugly, that is a reflection of them, not you. You can't control what people say, but you can control how you react and move forward". It doesn't mean it won't hurt. I still get sad thinking about my own memory. Only now, I can see that what happened wasnt a reflection of me.

I need to let go. It's so easy to hold on to the things that we let latch on and define us. But some things deserve a quick kick to the curb. Now, I'm in no way saying this is an easy part of the process. I'm sure ill circle around miine a couple times before I can let go. BUT the goal is to work towards that end.

I'm a big advocate of extending grace to others. Grace and kindness. It is important to remember that these can be given while still putting up boundaries to safeguard yourself. Especially in situations where people, even family, have shown some true colors that your life would be better without. No one should come in and make you question your worth.

I am worth it.
I am enough.

You are worth it.
You are enough.

Together we can do this. We CAN get to the other side stronger and knowing we deserve to feel enough.

It's that time of year in Wisconsin, where the fog of the winter months starts to clear. We are able to focus a little bit more on what lies ahead and what we want to do to get there. This isn't always easy for everyone. Sometimes what we want isn't that far ahead and the road to achieve it is easy and quick. For others, it can be difficult and they can see that from the get-go. It takes courage to acknowledge that big changes need to be made, and then to make them. We all have that courage inside of us, it's there when we need it. So as spring starts to appear in little bits here and there, your courage will appear in bits here and there as you need it also. 💚

Happy !

I've often wondered if, sometimes, what feels like a bad start to the year is more due to societal pressure of it to be "awesome"! In reality, the only thing that changed for some, was a number. This doesn't mean bad things aren't happening obviously, but for SOME people it feels heavier due to the date implying it should be good. Give grace to those around you. Maybe continue to ask how THEY are, not their new year. To those saying it's been an amazing new year, that's awesome and I hope it keeps on! To those saying "ugh", keep your eyes forward and don't compare. There's always sun in the world, but it comes at different times for everyone. 🤍⛅

Happy Monday! Mondays can be chaotic. Sometimes we need to let out that stress, but know the healthy ways to release it! November 2nd is Stress Awareness day so we will be talking about things like that all month on this page!

I got myself a coffee later in the day than normal to give myself a pick me up. Turn up the tunes on the way home so I can sing out my stress and get home to my family ready to be there for them!

What do you do to help out a "Monday"?

Sometimes we all need a reminder that We matter. I matter. YOU matter. Even if it's just one thing you do in a day to boost your mental health. Do that one thing. Take a shower. Make a cup of tea. Walk outside just long enough to get your mail. It isn't always big things we need. And that is ok. 💚

Sometimes things can feel SO big. But is it possible, that sometimes, we make it bigger than it has to be? Maybe some obstacles wouldn't feel as big if we just took a breath and actually looked at the situation!

Keep working on you no matter who tries to stop you!