There comes a moment on every healing, wellness, or personal growth journey when you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself:

Am I showing up for the life that I say that I want?

That question isn’t meant to shame you. It’s meant to empower you. Because the Truth is, the results we want - whether it’s feeling more energized, creating a peaceful home, finding emotional balance, or healing from childhood trauma - don’t come from wishing, waiting, or wondering. 

Every day, we wake up and step into the same story we've been telling ourselves for years. Maybe it's a story of limitation, of being stuck, of never quite measuring up. Maybe it's a story where we’re the sidekick in someone else’s journey, or the background character watching life pass by through a window we’re too afraid to open.

But what if I told you that at any moment, you can change the story?

Maybe that still seems like a whole lot of crap to you, but hear me out…

STATE, refers to your mental and emotional condition (mindset), which significantly impacts your actions and outcomes. 

Now, this isn’t original, this isn’t news. I learned this from the great Tony Robbins, who emphasizes that a positive and empowered state is crucial for success. And I couldn’t agree more.

One of the biggest epiphanies I’ve come to experience in my healing, and wellness journey is that… One cannot effectively implement a strategy towards a goal, if they have not first corrected their state of being.

But that’s not why I write you today. I wanted to chime in on the EXCUSES that hold us back from getting our movement in... Possibly slipping a disc, or pinching a nerve, or pulling a muscle, is a very good reason to temporarily step back from your movement... but I think sometimes we convince ourselves that much less serious situations also qualify us to retreat, and well... let's just call it what it is... an EXCUSE.

Chakras are energy centers in your body. They're like spinning wheels that help keep your physical, emotional, and spiritual self in balance. 

The word "chakra" comes from Sanskrit (if you've ever done yoga, you might be familiar with Sanskrit) and means "wheel" or "disk." These energy portals are said to help regulate different aspects of our well-being.

Raising your energetic vibration involves aligning your thoughts and emotions, actions, and environment, with the higher frequencies of joy, love, and balance. 

Everything in the Universe—including you!—is made of energy that vibrates at different frequencies. Think of your energetic vibration like your personal frequency or the "vibe" you give off.

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt good energy - or, on the flip side, sensed something felt off? That’s because energy is constantly moving, and we naturally pick up on its different vibrations. Since we are also vibration, we feel these shifts. It’s just a matter of tuning into it.

There is a deep and undeniable connection between the Mind, the Spirit, and the Body. This is what Full Circle Wellness is all about. Emotional and/or Spiritual wounds can ultimately manifest as physical symptoms when left unhealed. While this might sound like it toes the line of pseudoscience or the “woo-woo”, I’m here to personally attest to the fact that… Well, it’s very real. Let’s discuss.

Have you ever noticed that stress seems to lead to headaches? Or, that unresolved grief can feel like a heavy weight in your chest? Have you ever had anxiety for so long, so bad you ended up with a stomach ulcer? Just me?

Many of us feel disconnected from ourselves, burdened by unresolved emotions, and trapped in cycles of negative thinking. And much of this is a result of simply not knowing any better, and being easily sucked into what I’m just going to call, “The Matrix” (think - social media, ads, news media, cultural norms and expectations, systems, etc.)

Without addressing your internal barriers to being in a state of peace regardless of what’s happening around you, achieving peace remains a distant dream. Focus on peace as your state of being.

If I were a human in the Matrix, I’d break out by questioning everything—challenging the narratives I’ve been fed, seeking truth beyond the illusions of comfort and conformity. I’d sharpen my awareness, recognizing the patterns designed to keep me complacent, and push beyond fear, embracing the discomfort of uncertainty. I’d cultivate mindfulness, tuning into my intuition and observing the “glitches”—those moments when reality doesn’t quite add up. Most importantly, I’d rebel not just externally but internally, shedding limiting beliefs, detaching from the need for validation, and choosing freedom over familiarity, even if it means stepping into the unknown.

Or as Polonius puts it in Hamlet, “to thine own self be true,” which simply put means to be honest and true to one's own nature. This line is often used time and time again to encourage people to stay true to themselves regardless of external pressures, which is the true key here, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

All of this sounds so simple out of context, and yet I think so many of us struggle with it. Hands up! It’s me, HI. Is it you, too?

Contrary to how some people like to act, learning doesn’t stop when we leave school. In fact, the most impactful lessons often come from the self-driven pursuit of knowledge, growth and development. When you embrace the power of learning, you unlock a world of possibilities, proving to yourself and others that with curiosity and a little scrappiness, you can teach yourself anything.

This is the essence of doing the work: showing up, even when it’s inconvenient, unglamorous, or challenging, and especially, when you don’t feel like it.

True progress isn’t built on grand gestures but on small, consistent actions that align with our highest intentions and goals. Actions that align with who we want to become, not with who we are right now.

If home doesn’t quite feel like that for you, I’ve got good news! Transforming your space into a cozy haven doesn’t have to require a big budget or drastic changes. It just has to bring you joy! Small, intentional touches can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that truly feels like yours.

Contrary to popular belief, boundaries are not about building walls. They’re about defining what you need to thrive. When you honor your limits, you’re not only prioritizing yourself but you’re also enhancing your ability to show up for others. Remember… you can’t pour from an empty cup!

Looking at all that you’ve gained - all of the progress that you’ve made - allows you to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities. It also allows for flexibility, and compassion along the way. Both of which are necessary when you’re in it for the long haul.

In choosing to focus on your progress, you’ll find greater joy in the journey and a deeper connection to your evolving self.

Remember… The JOURNEY is what is meant to be achieved.

Regularly reflecting on what you’re thankful for can increase levels of happiness and satisfaction by retraining your brain to focus on what’s good. Gratitude journaling, for instance, has been shown to reframe negative thought patterns. Or, try this practice: At the end of the day, ask yourself (and maybe include your partner for a fun conversation before bed): What went well today? What can I be grateful for today? This ultimately helps retrain the brain towards positive thoughts, and away from negative thoughts. The impact this has on your well-being is mind-blowing!

Engaging in activities purely for the joy of it can be a profound way to heal, reconnect with yourself, and create a richer, more balanced life. Joy and Leisure is a of the slice of the Full Circle Wellness pie after all!

If the root cause is not believing we are lovable, worthy, enough… If we don’t validate, accept, or love ourselves first… and we are seeking to solve the problem with external solutions, herein lies the problem, because the solution isn’t outside of yourself, the solution is inward.

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers: They play essential roles in everything from mood and energy to metabolism and reproductive health. When they’re in balance, our bodies can function optimally. However, when our hormones are out of balance, it can affect everything from sleep and nutrient absorption, to mental health and brain function.

Disordered eating exists on a spectrum, and it’s important to note that not everyone with disordered eating patterns will develop a full-blown eating disorder. However, recognizing these patterns is the first step toward understanding them, confronting and changing them, and healing through them.