In times of high stress or anxiety – turn to nature to be your guide to soothe your soul and to nurture and heal yourself. Take a blanket and lay out beneath the stars at night. Immerse yourself in a deep forest of trees and take in a fresh breath. Take a hike up a mountain and let the stillness calm you when you arrive at the peak. Pick fresh flowers from a meadow. Sit and gaze at the vast ocean in front of you. Nature has a way of allowing the mind to rest and feel at ease. Connecting to nature is one of the simplest ways to nurture yourself. Whenever you feel lost – let nature nurture you back to the feeling of being grounded, centered, and at peace on earth.
Creating a Vision Board
A vision board is all about seeing what your dreams and aspirations are right in front of you. It’s a simple focus point that draws your attention and creates a daily reminder when you have it nearby.
Tips to creating a vision board:
1. Be Clear on What you Want – manifestation is all about setting intentions and releasing them to the universe.
2. Seeing is believing – whatever you put on your vision board hold the feeling in your heart that you actually can attain it. It may not work in the time frame you are looking for, but trust and believe it will happen. Hold that positive feeling in your mind and feel it in your body.
3. Spend time gazing – your vision board is for you to look at on a regular basis as a reminder of what you want. The more time you spend looking at your board and believing you can have what is on there, the more power you are giving the law of attraction to draw it closer to you.
Ideas on how you can fill your vision board
Be creative and fill it with anything that inspires you, makes you happy, lights up your life.
Imagine your best self and best life – what does that look like and how does it feel to live that life?
You could include inspirational mantras, quotes, words.
You can fill it with colorful images of people, places, things.
Search for photographs – print them out, tear them from a magazine, or add a small object as a reminder like a key chain to symbolize a house. Bring meaning to that specific message.
Remember that this board is for you, so fill it to your heart’s content. Release any fears or doubts and just imagine the life you want. Most of all…have fun with it!
Trust the path you are on
Life has its twists and turns. Sometimes we may pause and feel we aren’t on the right path, or we aren’t where we thought we would be by this point in our lives. Trust that you are here to grow and to learn no matter what path you have paved for yourself. Some things may not ever be in your control – but what you can control is your optimism and how you perceive life. You can control the things you do today that sets the path for your future tomorrow. Keep facing your true north – put one step forward at a time and listen to that place within you that tells you where to go.
If you come across some challenges along the way, rest assured that you can take what you want from these experiences. It’s never too late to switch your course. If something feels off, doesn’t feel right, then go where your heart leads you. Trust that within you have the right direction. It helps to center yourself from time to time, whether you do that through meditation, yoga, or simply breathing – start to notice how you feel, beyond the unsettled mind there is a deep place that holds stillness, peace, and calmness. Go there, find what you are looking for and forge ahead.
Mindfulness throughout the day
Mindfulness is tuning into the experience of coming alive. Take a few deep breaths. Pause and relax. In the morning as you drink your coffee or tea take the moment to yourself and enjoy the taste of it. When you take a shower revel in the sensations of the water on your body, the smell of your shampoo, the sound of the water. Take note of when your mind drifts and gently bring it back. Observe how you are feeling from moment to moment. When you are eating your lunch focus on all of the flavors that you taste within that moment, eat slowly, and notice what you like about it. Get outside and absorb some sunshine – pause and relax and feel the warmth on your skin. Stop and smell the flowers and come into the moment as you experience it. As you relax for bed allow your body to soften as you focus on your breathing. Intentionally practice mindfulness throughout your day.
Body Scan
Sense your body
Checking in
Notice any holding or tension
Use your awareness to gently soften
Sensing how you feel in the body
Notice where the mind is
Settle here into this moment
The body is naturally breathing
Breath by breath
Sensing the breath for every inhalation and exhalation
The body naturally breathes
Simply become aware of sensations
Bringing awareness to the feet
To the toes
Tops of the feet
Simply allowing and letting be the sensations arising
Shifting awareness to the lower part of the legs
Notice any restlessness
Where in the body?
Softening and relaxing
Bring your attention to your lower back – resting gently on the floor
Coming back to the body breathing
Notice the curve of your spine
All the way up to your neck
Is there tension in your neck
Breathe in to this place and soften to relax
Observe your head resting
Bring awareness to the sensations you feel or notice any areas you don’t feel
Continue breathing here
Sending new energy from your lungs to the tips of your toes
Resting in gentle awareness
A Moment of Joy
Think back to a time when you experienced pure joy. What did it look like? What did it feel like? We can experience moments of joy throughout our day but we don’t pause long enough to take it all in. Reflect on your daily activities – what brings you spontaneous joy? Maybe it’s watering your plants or tending to your garden. It could be as simple as enjoying an evening meditation candlelit or making a fun new recipe to savor. The feeling of relaxing with a glass of wine on your cozy couch as you search through movies to watch.
It’s important to take the time and realize when you are experiencing a moment of joy. These moments will pass by and it’s easy to allow them to blend with the normal and mundane… but do your best to truly experience them as they occur.
Perhaps you reflect at the end of the day with your journal and write about your top moments of joy. You could discuss it with family over dinner or breakfast the next day about the highlights of your week. Joy can be simple and light. Look for more of those moments in your life and hold on to them. Let them become the building blocks, the foundation of your life and of your happiness.
Sometimes it’s better
We often think up scenarios in life – how will things play out? We get wrapped up into fear. We expect the worst, we anticipate more to come that has happened in the past. All of this worry and doubt causes us to become stressed and depressed in the moment we are living. Here’s a thought – what if what you are imagining turns out different than you are thinking? Most often this is the case. Sometimes we might be right on the money, sometimes we are close, but sometimes it’s better than we thought. Life has a funny way of working out. If you hold this core value, this belief system, deeply rooted in your heart, and move through your day with hope, surrender, and trust that it will all work out, then you will go through life with more optimism which will open more doors than you thought.
So, take a step back from your worry and dread. Release the imagination you have so carefully planned and thought out about how life will work out for you, take a back seat and enjoy the ride. See what the Universe has in store and see what you can learn along the way.
Journaling to Vent
The concept of journaling to some people is a daunting task. It feels like a chore or something you don’t have time to do. Some people process their emotions differently. One person may be able to think clearer if they go for a run. Maybe another person has nothing in particular to write about such as what they did that day and how they saw a bunny, nothing really profound. Others may use journaling as a coping mechanism. A therapy if you will – guided all by you! For those who have journaled they may feel better afterwards. How long do you journal for? Do you journal everyday as a way to check in or do you journal when something major in your life happens that you want to work through?
Journaling is an essential tool in wellness. Your perceived thoughts when floating around your mind may be difficult to grasp, but when you write them down you open yourself up, you become honest and vulnerable to the point that you can freely express what’s deep within you. Sometimes you may have layers of emotions and are unable to see what’s bothering you on the surface. This is where the power of journaling comes into play. Start with making it a focus to write every single day. Even if you have nothing to say. Give yourself the opportunity to let the words flow on the page. Be open. If nothing comes up then at least check in about your day – if it’s positive then write what you are grateful for. Whatever it is just write. When you get into the flow of opening up you may be surprised what comes to the surface.
If you don’t know where to start you have a few of options. You can begin with some journal prompts which you can find throughout this guide or you can do a free-writing session where you set a timer for at least 10 minutes and just see what comes up. Another method is the morning pages where you write for 20 minutes first thing in the morning before you do anything – this is a good technique to vent and let it all out before you start your day. This is particularly useful if you have been ruminating on a topic and just need to get it all out. The mornings are when your subconscious is still in its natural state and you can be more open with yourself.
Use journaling to vent. Be open to yourself. Let it all out. Resolve deep seated issues and move forward with your life. Make it a habit. Make it a ritual. If anything, just allow yourself to think clearly instead of mixing your thoughts in a loop on repeat.
In need of change
Do you ever feel bored? Are there times in your life where you feel sick of doing the same thing day in and day out? Perhaps you feel incomplete or unsettled. Maybe you are in need of change. Change doesn’t have to be drastic. Sometimes we need to change our point of view, our perspective and other times we may be in need of something slightly different like a change to our routine.
Are you doing things in your life that bring you joy? Maybe you are in needing of adding more joyful activities into your day. Maybe you are in need of more relaxing moments. It could be you are stuck in the same thought pattern – in a loop of constantly thinking about the same things all of the time. Creating a pattern and a habit that you stick to. Sometimes it’s difficult to get out of that groove. You work so hard to make things feel natural and balanced only to find your life feeling a bit dull. They say variety is the spice of life. Are you incorporating enough of different things that you enjoy? Are there things in your life that you used to enjoy but now doesn’t bring the same spark, but you continue to force yourself to do them because you feel you need to because it used to be a part of you? How can you make simple changes that will make a huge impact?
One simple change to your day can be practicing a LONG meditation. I know 5 minutes may seem productive enough that you can cross it off your to-do list. But maybe the reason you are feeling bored is all of the free time on your hands. You may feel you need to fill up that time and space and be productive with things only leading yourself to feel more and more empty. Try instead to boost your meditation practice to be 5 minutes longer each week. Start with 5 minutes, then 10, 15, 20. You get the idea. Work your way up until you are filling more of your time with meditation. Try doing 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening as a base. When you clear your mind you will make space for cultivating gratitude and joy and will be able to fill the rest of your day with whatever comes up.
Other examples of change could be a change in your diet. Are you incorporating nourishing foods into your lifestyle? What time of the year is it? You may enjoy soups during the winter and juices during the summer.
Incorporate a yoga practice – even if it means spending 15 minutes on balancing poses in your living room. Do something different that you don’t normally do. Switch up your workout. If you are used to taking a spinning class then go to the pool and go for a swim. Sometimes we need to break out of our comfort zones in order to reach new levels even in our fitness. If you love your yoga class try changing up the time of day you practice or try a new studio out for a class or two.
At the end of the day change is up to you. Your life is made up of a series of choices – it’s what you do with your time day in and day out that makes a huge impact on how you feel.
Allowing
How often do you resist life? Do you struggle with what is instead of allowing things to be? Allowing is a state of acceptance and flow. In this way you surrender to life and let go of how you think things ought to be. They are what they are. It is what it is. Is the frustration, anxiety, and depression serving you well? Does this all stem from resisting the life you have at this very moment? Think about a river that flows, if you are going down stream letting it carry you (going through each day from moment to moment) then you float on down the river. If you try to go up stream forcing your way up – it’s much harder, the water feels heavy instead of light and the force of it all weighs you down. Notice where in your life you are trying to swim up stream. Can you release and float with how things are. Can you allow the river to pull you into the direction of wherever it is going without clinging to the branches? One way to practice a state of allowing is to release your grip – unburden yourself by releasing the thoughts you cling to. Take deep breaths in through your nose and sigh it all out.
Repeat this affirmation:
In this moment, I allow things to be just as they are. I accept where I am in my life just as it is. In this moment I am free because I allow it to be instead of forcing it to be what it is not.
Practice this meditation:
Sit comfortably with your eyes still. Allow the breath to flow freely in through your nose and exhale to sigh it all out. Notice what thoughts arise as you find stillness. Continue to rest in this moment – meeting it just as it is breath by breath. Allow the thoughts to come and go. Where are you holding on to tension? Do you feel restless or calm? However, you feel in this exact moment, just allow it to be. Do not judge yourself or this moment. Do not judge your body or your mind or even your breath. Just be. Return to the sensations of your body breathing whenever you notice your mind drifting away with your thoughts. Come back to the here and now. Come back into your body, into the stillness you create from within.
Relax into the Moment
How do you meet each moment? Do you find yourself rushed through life – that when you become aware of the moment it is gone before you realize it as you suddenly slip into thoughts about the past or future? Do you find yourself resisting the present? Unhappy with how things are and wishing for them to be different?
How can you relax into the moment?
One way is to accept where you are at this very moment in time. Acceptance will help you release your grip on life – releasing how you feel things should be and instead allowing the moment to be just as it is.
Another way is to breathe through the moment. If something is bothering, you or you are feeling frustrated or a range of emotions that is uncomfortable. Breathe through it. Realize it is temporary and let your breath guide you out of the discomfort.
Notice your surroundings – use your awareness of the details around you to pull you deeper into THIS moment. Is there anything you can take from this moment that is memorable.
Notice the tension in your body – see if you can soften and relax. If you are unable to let thoughts go that are floating around in your mind then try a guided meditation or a yoga-practice to distract yourself from your thoughts.
Nurture Yourself
There are so many ways to take care of yourself. You can start by getting a good night’s sleep at least 7-8 hours, eating nourishing healthy foods with balanced meals and limiting sugar and alcohol. You can get enough exercise throughout your day either by going for walks or taking a yoga class, maybe even barre, or spinning (whatever suits your fancy). These are some of the main ways to nurture yourself – sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
If we dive a little deeper – how can we show up in ways that are nurturing ourselves from the inside out? To make more time for meditation, to slow-down and enjoy each meal, to be mindful when working out and staying present in the moment, to find gratitude with all that encompasses our life that brings us joy. If we go even deeper to the recess of our minds – how can you nurture yourself in a way that supports positive thoughts and well-being? It all begins with a thought, imagine being your parents guiding you throughout your day – in a non-judgmental way, in a way that is supportive and nurturing. In a way that guides you to be your better self. If you find that you don’t nurture your body through regular exercise, healthy meals, or restful sleep than start there.
Start with the bigger blocks and work your way down. Once you can get that in check with your routine then you can move on to the next layer – incorporating meditation, mindfulness, gratitude, take up journaling and do more yoga. Once you move through this layer it will be easier to unravel your mind to find your thoughts. What thoughts persist? What habits arise based on how you generally think? Strip away the negativity, the toxic criticism that flows through, let it all go and see what you are left with. A clear and calm mind, nurtured by yourself, and when you have a calm and clear mind it’s easier to make healthy choices such as choosing veggies over pizza, going to bed regularly at the same time, and by adding more good into your life that allows you to focus on the positive. It’s important to prioritize your own well-being and have that be at the top of your list. Sometimes we put ourselves all the way at the bottom and make ourselves feel small and unimportant. You are important since this is YOUR life.
Find ways to add more relaxation in, more self-care practices, and just find ways to nurture yourself – however that looks in your life, however joy feels in your body, and however happy takes its place in your mind. Search for it, incorporate it, and live it! Nurture Yourself. Imagine yourself as a gardener – tend to that soil, rake the leaves, add some seeds for growth, and sprinkle it with water to watch it grow and blossom into something beautiful. Nurture your garden.
Curiosity
What sparks your curiosity? What are you interested in? What do you want to know more about? Do you live a rich life? Rich in interests and creativity? What do you do in your spare time? Are there places you want to visit and explore? Let’s face it – inspiration doesn’t always come easily. Passion and purpose are within us waiting to be found. Curiosity sets the tone and allows us to explore this place within us. Do you want to live a full life? If so, what fascinates you?
Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something. To be curious is to live a life in search of meaning, exploration, and understanding. How can you bridge the current gap of the life you are currently perceiving to the life you want to explore? Tap into your creativity through the simple process of curiosity. Open the doors of your mind and peak around inside. You may be surprised at what you find. Curiosity brings a sense of vibrance to your life. So, ask yourself – what am I interested in? What do I want to learn more about? What desires do I want to fill in this life and how am I willing to explore these options?
By piquing your curiosity, you begin to write the unwritten page. You start at this place. If you don’t know where to start – close your eyes and begin to sense your breath as it is occurring in this moment. Begin to breathe deeper as you allow your body to soften. When your thoughts begin to settle, and you notice the silence between them and sink deeper into meditation – allow this to be your centering thought – what interests me? Continue to repeat the question silently to yourself. What interests me? At first don’t try and answer the question, just keep asking. Eventually you will hear a response as if it naturally popped into your head. Go with this thought. See where it leads you. This is a wonderful practice to do whenever you are trying to find the answer. Do this type of meditation throughout your day to boost your creativity and spark your curiosity. The answers are within you, all you need to do is find a few moments of silence so you can begin to listen.
What interests me?
Non-attachment
How do we engage in the practice of non-attachment? Life is made up of attachments. We hold on to experiences, we cling to relationships, we strive for more material possessions.
“The root of suffering is attachment.” – Buddha
Non-attachment is a form of letting go. Letting go of how we think things should be and allowing life to flow just as it is. One way to practice non-attachment is through the art of meditation. By detaching yourself from the outside surroundings, your external world, and drawing inwards, you create the ability to find what you are looking for within
How do you know if you are attached? At the root of attachment there is fear of loss. Ask yourself… what am I holding on to? Find within you a place of comfort with your true self that you can access through stillness and meditation.
It's All Temporary
How much time do you find yourself wasting about what happened or worrying about what may happen? This sounds like the cliché term for anxiety, but it is so common in every living person. We all experience it from time to time the thoughts that take us to the past or to the future. It’s only natural since that is how the mind operates. Some people do it better than others, they can let the thoughts go and don’t hold onto them, they don’t fixate on them. I admire those people.
Besides aiming to focus on the present moment as much as possible another way to release concerns or worries about the past and future is to realize it’s all temporary. This moment. This day. This month. This year. This life. It’s all temporary. Now, mind you this thought alone can bring about anxiety for most as the thought of life ending can be a scary topic. We become attached to the lives we are in, to the people that fill it, and to the experiences and material possessions. We can’t take these things with us when we die. We can’t take any of it. But what do we leave behind? Perhaps our memories with loved ones, maybe we did something great that affected the communities in which we lived, or perhaps, did our part to see the change in the world. I’m not trying to change you or force you to become the person you long to be.
All I am saying is this world is full of opportunities and we shouldn’t waste time on the thought of time when we should be truly living through each moment. Releasing anxieties, stress, and depression, to clear space for what we want to focus on. To live what we love without fear and without feeling stuck in the past. If you are in a situation you don’t like, know that it’s all temporary. Your life will change, and the greatest force of change is you. It’s all perspective in the end.
Jungle Mind
The more I practice meditation the calmer I feel. I see things clearer; I am more observant of my day and life around me. As I spent time in nature during my morning and evening walks, I felt as if I was experiencing everything for the first time, even though I walk the same block every day. The only difference today was my mind was clear. So often we are bogged down with the constant bombarding of thoughts. Especially the negative ones, those are the worst as they suck your energy and remove your focus from the present moment and on to what happened or what could happen. When we begin to navigate through the jungle of our minds, cutting through all the challenges, we find in the center of that forest a peaceful place. To sit as an observer, silently, enjoying the quiet. Enjoying the scenery – this is where true beauty lies. Within us. We all seek to find this place. Sometimes it just more challenging for some than it is for others. It depends on what is going on in your life, what experiences, relationships, circumstances, thoughts you are having has a direct impact on the jungle you create in your mind. I believe that must be what a monk feels – for I found this space for a moment in time, imagine finding it again and again and again. How peaceful this must be? To capture this peace within us for a lifetime. Although, I am sure even monks have their fair share of thoughts that ripple their calm waters. It’s only natural as human beings to seek out problems to solve. We are wired this way. This is what I keep hearing in the wellness world. Our brains our wired to think a certain way. What if through all of these challenges we find a way to navigate a bit better? The next time you are on a walk – allow it to be a moving meditation. Without closing your eyes just see everything clearly in front of you, breath by breath. Be in search for this still, quiet place. It’s very beautiful when you find it. The cessation of thoughts, the calming of waves. Cutting through the jungle to find your sacred space.
Embrace Change
Change is uncomfortable for most. We get settled into our grooves. We do what is easy and comfortable. The thought of the unknown can create anxiety as we dredge up memories from the past in order to prepare us for what we think is our future. Why is it so difficult to embrace?
“Change is the only constant in life.” – Heraclitus
The one thing that is inevitable is that things will be different in time. This can be a scary thought since we build our lives finding comfort with what we have. We seek opportunities that will guarantee us more and more and through this process, we create attachments. The perception of loss is rooted in attachment. We fear we will lose what we have and therefore the very idea of change can be difficult to accept.
“The root of all suffering is attachment.” – Buddha
Find a way to shift your perspective of impermanence to be positive. Enjoy all of the comings and goings of life and find a way to be as present as you can. By learning to live from moment to moment you can embrace change and go with the flow instead of being rigid and stuck and resisting what is happening in the universe and your life.
Acceptance is the key to embracing change. Things don’t always go as planned, by letting go of your attachments, by living in the present moment, and by finding acceptance for all that is occurring you are able to let go of your desire of how things should be and allow them to be just as they are. With this mindset you may be able to find the silver lining and find things can go better than you expected. Finally, see the opportunities in change. Life is full of infinite possibilities, surrender to the universe and see what wonderful events can and will happen in your life.
Morning Routine
What you do when you first wake up in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. When you open your eyes from a restful night sleep, how do you feel? What are the first things you do in the morning? Do you reach for your phone? Do you automatically start thinking of all you have to do? Making simple adjustments to your morning routine can set your day up in an energetic way. Here are a few simple suggestions:
Refrain from technology for at least 1 hour after waking. Do your best not to reach for your phone or however you access social media, emails, messages, and the news.
Wake up with gratitude – as soon as you open your eyes, cultivate a habit to think of 3 things you are grateful for upon waking. If it helps you can keep a gratitude journal by your bedside and can write a list every morning of what gratitude comes to mind.
Make time for yourself
Meditate even if for only 5-10 minutes. Find a comfortable, quiet place, where you can sit and observe whatever thoughts come through and release them without judgment as you return to the natural cycle of your breath. You can listen to a guided meditation such as the ‘daily inspiration’ from the Chopra app or do a bio-feedback meditation such as the MUSE device.
Just breathe – there are various breathing techniques you can practice, whether you would like to feel calmer first thing in the morning if you have an action-packed day, or you need a bit of energy to get you going. Try focusing on breathing techniques that will match the energy you desire.
Nourish your body with a healthy morning breakfast or a delicious smoothie or juice. Take the time to enjoy and savor your meal. Again, try to refrain from distractions such as technology if it within your first hour of waking.
Light Movement – do some yoga to invigorate your body, or perhaps your body is feeling tight and are in need of some yin-yoga style stretching, maybe a gentle walk around your neighborhood is what your body calls for.
Read or write – enjoy a good book whether that be a self-help book, fiction, a novel, a magazine article, whatever it is use some time to relax and unwind. Perhaps you like to write or journal which can be a great way to process whatever is going on in your mind. Just like the day is a fresh start, so too is a blank page.
Savor a cup – whether coffee is your jam first thing in the morning, or a lively tea, or perhaps an adaptogen latte? Whatever gets your blood flowing and energizes you from within use this time to make a lovely ritual, savoring every sip in your cup.
Hydrate – flush out any toxins and simply hydrate your body with that much needed H20. Drinking plenty of water when you first wake is a wonderful way to start the day. Aim to drink at least 2 cups first thing in the morning after you brush your teeth. If you can drink 4 cups of water, you will really feel the benefits! Try not to drink too fast if you are not used to that amount of water in one sitting.
Practice positive affirmations – set yourself onto the path of positivity first thing in your day by repeating positive affirmations such as. I feel energized. I am whole. I am healthy. I am ready to take on the day.
Overall, how you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. Once you get into the habit of incorporating a morning routine, with time it will feel more natural and you will be energized with the very thought of your morning ritual.
Grow From Your Experiences
If there is anything that life can teach us it’s that we are all here to learn, to love, and to grow as human beings. In the pursuit of happiness, we are all waiting to find ourselves, to create the people we desire to be, to allow love to flow freely into our lives, and to find calmness and stillness within. We live in a world full of anxiety, constant stress, and uncertainty.
Anxiety can hold us back from living a full life because one is constantly focused on the past or the future, without truly embracing the here and now. How can you take from life’s challenges and learn from them, grow from them, and seek out opportunities to enjoy the change?
If there is one constant in life it is that everything changes, at some point. When faced with a challenging issue in your life you can either fear it and run from it or you can allow yourself to settle into the uncomfortable and see how this change can bring about good. How can you grow as a person? How can you evolve your perception of the experience so that when faced with another challenge you can handle it differently?
Sometimes as uncomfortable as change can be it is the seeds that begin to sprout your creation. Who you are today is based on what you have become from the many years in your life. From what you learn, observe, and love - you create yourself.
Love Yourself
One of the most important kinds of love is the love you give yourself. What does it mean to love? How do you feel about yourself? Do you deeply care? Do you offer words of encouragement?
Often times we think of love we think of how we feel about others. We love our family, our spouse, or children. We love our pets. How can you show up for yourself more? Make time. Allow patience and grace. How can you love yourself more? Self-love is a state of appreciation – it means taking care of your own needs and making your happiness and well-being a priority. Maybe there are days you don’t quite feel yourself. You feel the need to analyze, compare, and be harsh. Take a few moments to ground yourself and see the beauty in how you unique you are as a person. There isn’t one person on the planet that offers the same kind of light that you shine. It is uniquely yours. Love this about yourself. Love your differences. Love what you love about life.