- Diane DiCola
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
Summer is flying by and here we are already in August. Life has been very hectic this year with moving, getting settled in our new house and welcoming friends and family. In between that we have been traveling, addressing some personal challenges...such as needing to buy a new car (ouch!)...among other things. The stress of it all has taken its toll on me.
Aside from daily journal writing, I have not taken time to express my creativity. No art, no poetry, nothing, nada, zilch. And that has made me very cranky. Truth be told, my journal has been existing mainly for a mind dump, worry beat or complain-a-thon. Wah!
Today, though, I decided I'm finished with starting my day with so much negativity, fear and worry. That's not the tone I want to set for today or any day.
Instead, I wrote down 17 positive affirmations about myself in an attempt to retrain my brain to start believing them. I'm currently reading the book Coffee Self-Talk by Kristen Helmstetter who suggests taking 5 minutes with your morning cup o' Joe (tea, juice, water, whatever you drink) and saying (out loud or whispering) your affirmations. That's it. 5 minutes. I can do that. And I have to say that my day so far has been fantastic! Yes, it's Friday which gives the day a good start anyway, but combining my morning coffee with a new habit of reciting affirmations amplifies the power of positivity. As I write this, it's mid-afternoon and I feel unstoppable!
Supposedly it takes 21 days for a new habit to stick, but because I drink coffee everyday anyway, I'm sure I will have no trouble starting my day with good self-talk.
The rest of my summer promises a little more travel (California here I come...), a commitment to writing more consistently, and deepening my study of astrology.
If you're so inclined, let me know in the comments how you're spending your summer.
Meanwhile, I think I'll indulge in a double espresso over ice!!
