We are all students, we will all graduate.

A quote that is important, my joy list and human design.

Hi! Hope you’re having a great week so far.

Last October I went on a retreat with my yoga studio in Tulum. On the first day, in one of our first practices, Sarah played a song where the words read “we are all students, we will all graduate.” I went to Sarah’s class on Monday and she played this song at the end of a very challenging class. “We are all students, we will all graduate.”

I want you to sit on those words for a second. Repeat them to yourself.

This phrase is going to be a good reminder in the coming months. We have so much going on in our world with natural disasters, the election, holiday hype. I’m already feeling a little bit of distraction, people’s words pulling me from my own, like everything is a race. I tend to feel a little over stimulated and emotionally drained when I get caught up in trying to please others. You know that feeling when your head is on a swivel? That’s what I feel right now. Trying to do all the things but feeling like I’m falling short on all of it. These moments are when I get trapped in the comparison game and it is sometimes hard to get out. This quote pulled me back.

We are so trained to believe that there is another way to do it. We listen to a stranger online telling us we are misinformed, that we shouldn’t have shared something, we should have stayed quiet. We give power to a different way because we aren’t confident enough in our own choices. I can relate this feeling to so many phases of my life - graduating college and finding a job, getting married, becoming a mom, moving, parenting, running my business and navigating the online world. All the moments of uncertainty for what was ahead and I listened to others thinking “ok! This is the only/better way!” And maybe it is! But I want you to remember that for every person that is telling us what to do or believe or follow, they are students, too. We are all going to graduate.

This time of year my mental health demands a slow down. I have to combat the noise and a busy calendar with a little bit of hibernation. I made a joy list the other day and I want to share it with you (also, highly recommend making your own joy list). Things I can do that spark joy in moments when I really need it. A general reminder to myself to do more of the things that bring the joy.

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MY JOY LIST

Writing - The joy that writing has brought me in recent years! A form of meditation for me. Letting go of the pressure to write something special has let me write more freely.

Cooking - I’ve realized that cooking for me is another creative outlet. Another way to create something beautiful that is also serving the ones that I love.

Getting outside - Honestly I’m mad that I don’t make more time for this. Determined to take more breaks during the day to get outside, even if it is just sitting on our front porch or a walk around the block.

Dedicated time with my kids - This is hard for me. Working and living in the same space means there is a never-ending to-do list of things I could constantly be doing. I’m very distracted by those small tasks and they always take me away from sitting with my family. But those moments are also my most rewarding!

Finding creative inspiration - Coloring, painting, reading magazines, walking through antique stores, chats with friends/other creatives and putting down the phone. Truly being inspired offline.

Conversation - I love to chat. I love to learn about people’s businesses, their experiences in motherhood, life in general, ideas and future goals. All the conversation! I’ve found myself really leaning into this lately - saying yes to more opportunities to catch up with people I admire.

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I reread this post from from 2018 about being too influenced and related it to so many different areas of my life now (not my personal style). Before sitting down to write this email I even thought to myself “should I see what other people are talking about?” NO LIZ. That is exactly the trap I fall into, suppressing my own voice because of fear. What type of influencer are you if you’re following the crowd? Even someone who has been in this space for 12+ years falls into that self doubt, in all areas of my life. This is when getting back to my human design really sets me straight. Do you know yours? I’m a generator and there is a good chance you are, too (70% of humans are!).

When Generators are doing what they love, connected to their values, and following their desires, they create more energy and life force within themselves and the world. Energy well spent becomes amplified.

The Generator aura is naturally magnetic drawing others into their energy field which is why they never need to worry about missing out on life. When you follow your curiosity and say yes to the things that fill you with joy, you pull even more opportunity toward you.

Generators tend to have a harder time answering open ended prompts because their answers aren't created from the inside out. They find their way based on how the outside world makes them feel and recognizing that inner, subtle response.

By nature, Generators are interconnected which is why staying open and paying attention to how you feel in relation to what's happening around you will help guide the way. Because the Generator Aura naturally pulls in, there's not much force that's required for a satisfying life.

They need not go out searching to find something outside of themselves, but rather honor their response to what is already present and allow that to guide their actions.

(you can read more about this here) and if you want more I love Jenna Zoe!

Thank you for letting this Wednesday email be a deep dive into myself. I always want to be learning and growing and it is helpful to get it all out. I have to believe that if I’m feeling a certain way, then chances are one of you are, too.

I appreciate you and am so glad that you’re here! xo

Liz