Author: Carrie Genzel

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

New blog goes up Tuesday, until then… SLAY on!

Let’s Not Forget Who We Are

It’s easy to fall into the whirlwind of fear, panic, and media overload. It’s easy to retreat inward, to think only of ourselves and our immediate circle. But now more than ever, it’s crucial to pause and remember the truth of who we are.

We are resilient.
We are survivors.
We are, if we allow ourselves to be, heroes.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen us rise in the face of adversity. During times of uncertainty—whether caused by health crises, security threats, or social unrest—there have always been those who stood tall, offering kindness, generosity, and a steady hand.

Lately, I’ve noticed the shift. At the grocery store, I’ve felt the undercurrent of fear, witnessed the frantic hoarding, the wary glances as people clutch their carts. That isn’t our best. Fear shrinks us. But we can choose differently.

Stepping Out of Fear and Into Service

As someone who once lived in constant fear and anxiety, I understand what it feels like to be paralyzed by “what ifs.” I used to hide behind drawn blinds, isolating myself from the world. But not anymore. Today, I show up. For myself. For others.

Fear doesn’t have to define us. When we act with compassion, even small gestures—like offering a smile or a supportive word—can shift the energy around us. Our actions ripple outward. We impact more lives than we realize.

Holding Onto Our Humanity

I know so many of you SLAYERS have fought through personal challenges, faced down fear, and kept moving forward. This moment is no different. We can walk through it with grace and compassion. We can check on our neighbors, offer help, and think beyond ourselves.

Even as we adapt to new ways of showing care—like elbow bumps instead of hugs, virtual support instead of in-person—our core humanity remains. This moment will pass, as all things do. When it does, how will you feel about who you were during this time?

SLAY OF THE DAY

Do you find yourself consumed by fear with the current world events?
Is that fear real in your daily life today—or is it false evidence appearing real?
How can you stay grounded and out of fear?
How can you be of service today—to yourself and those around you?
What can you do today to find a sense of normalcy?
What can you do today that you’ll appreciate or thank yourself for later?
This is your chance to rise above the fear and show the best of who you are.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How are you staying grounded in these uncertain times? What small act of kindness or service are you committing to today?
Share in the comments below. Let’s lift each other up and remind one another of our strength and humanity.
And if you know someone who could use this message, share it with them.
We rise by lifting each other.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions they become habits.

New blog goes up Sunday, until then… SLAY on!

We’re Not Responsible For Our Thoughts But We Are Responsible For What We Give Light

When I first started walking this path, I used to beat myself up for the negative or old thoughts that crept into my mind. I thought I was failing somehow by still thinking them. But what I’ve come to learn—and remind myself of every day—is this: we’re not responsible for the thoughts that arise. We’re responsible for what we nurture, for what we choose to give light.

Negative thoughts will come and go. They always do. But judging ourselves for them only feeds the darkness.

A Journey of “Yes” and the Cloud Analogy

Early in this journey, I made a promise to myself: say “yes” to new ways of thinking. The old ways—the clinging, the control—weren’t working. I even signed up for a meditation class, hoping for relief from the noise in my head.

I’ll never forget that first class. As we settled into silence, a garbage truck began backing up outside. Beep, beep, beep. Instantly, frustration bubbled up in me. How dare this truck interrupt my serenity!

But the instructor’s voice broke through: “Acknowledge the sound. Let it go. Like a cloud moving across the sky.”

That image stuck with me. Over time, I learned to acknowledge the intrusive thoughts, ask if they served me, and then—let them drift away.

Thoughts Are Just Thoughts—Until We Give Them Power

We can’t control what we think. But we can control what we dwell on, what we give voice and weight to. Negative thinking doesn’t make us bad or broken—it makes us human.

What matters is what we do next. Will we cling to those thoughts and let them spiral us down? Or will we choose to counter them with something positive? Something we’re grateful for?

When I catch myself spiraling, I remember the cloud analogy. I visualize those thoughts floating away. I remind myself that I have the power to choose what I give light to.

SLAY OF THE DAY

Do you catch yourself judging your negative thoughts?
What’s the result?
How can you shift that judgment into curiosity or self-compassion?
What triggers those thoughts—and what might they be trying to tell you?
Can you counter them with gratitude or a positive affirmation?
Remember, it’s not about silencing every negative thought. It’s about not giving them the spotlight. Choose what serves you, and let the rest drift by.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How do you handle negative thinking? What helps you shift from judgment to self-compassion?
Share your story in the comments below. Let’s lift each other up with real, honest conversations about our inner worlds.
And if you know someone who needs this message today—send it their way. We’re in this together.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! People are often not disturbed by what they see, but by how they see it.

New blog goes up Friday, until then… SLAY on!

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! If you don’t like something change it, if you can’t change it change the way you think about it.

SLAY on!

Looking Through Different Eyes

Before walking this path, I thought I knew everything—or at least better than most. I saw the world through judgmental eyes, convinced that everyone else was doing it wrong. It was easier to judge than to look inward, easier to point fingers than to take responsibility. My ego told me I was smarter, better, but deep down, I was just trying to cover the emptiness I felt inside—the fear that I wasn’t enough.

That judgment kept me blind. It limited what I was willing to see and locked me into a narrow, self-protective perspective.

Choosing Teachability Over Ego

I’ve shared before that it’s vital for me to stay teachable. It took a long time—and a lot of pain—for me to admit that I don’t know everything, that my stubbornness and ego hurt me more than anyone else ever could. Staying open-minded isn’t just a nice idea; it’s essential for my growth and healing.

When I close myself off, I shut down new ideas, new perspectives, and the chance to improve. This path of recovery and growth doesn’t end with a graduation or certificate. It’s a lifelong journey of becoming, of learning, and of serving.

Being of service means setting aside ego. It means being open to seeing things as they are, not just as I want them to be. When I was stuck in my old patterns, I didn’t care about helping others unless it benefited me. But recovery taught me that my growth and healing are deeply tied to my ability to support and lift others up.

Seeing Beyond Our Own Perspective

We all come from different places, with different life experiences. It’s natural to have a perspective shaped by our journey, but if we only see the world through our own lens, we miss the full picture.

When we stay stuck in our assumptions—what we think we know—we stunt our growth. But when we leave space for discovery, for the possibility that we might not know everything, we create room for connection, understanding, and freedom.

That space in between? It’s where transformation happens.

SLAY OF THE DAY

Do you usually assume you know the truth without investigating?
How has that approach worked—or not worked—for you?
Think of a time when you discovered the reality wasn’t what you thought. What did you learn?
Are you open to continuing to learn from others, even when it’s uncomfortable?
How do you feel when others make false assumptions about you? Remember, it feels the same when we do it to others.
Leave space to grow. Leave space to see.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
How do you keep yourself open to learning and growth? What helps you shift from judgment to curiosity?
Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s lift each other up.
And if you know someone who could use this message, share it with them. Together, we can break free from assumptions and open our eyes to new possibilities.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! The hardest prison to escape is your mind.

New Blog goes up Tuesday, until then… SLAY on!

Break The Chains

There are so many chains we build in our lives—chains that bind us to the past, to old ways of thinking, to hurts that never healed, and to expectations that were never really ours. We start building them early, learning from what we see, what we’re told, and what we internalize. Over time, we add link after link until we’re dragging around the weight of it all, wondering why we feel so stuck, so tired, and so heavy.

We cling to resentment, to unspoken anger, to the life we thought we should have, the love we thought we deserved, and the promises we believed would be kept. Those chains become part of our identity, and we don’t even realize how much they’re holding us back.

The Weight I Carried

Before I stepped into recovery, I was dragging an entire lifetime of chains. They weren’t just memories—they were burdens, binding me to people and situations I should have let go of a long time ago. I thought breaking them would be impossible. They were too heavy, too tangled, too deeply woven into my story.

But breaking the chains wasn’t impossible—it was just uncomfortable. It took honesty, a willingness to examine what was truly mine to carry and what I could release. It meant confronting the stories I told myself, the grudges I nurtured, and the fear that kept me tethered.

With help, I started cutting links, one by one. Some chains fell away easily; others took time, patience, and forgiveness. And there are still chains I’m working on—because some habits are stubborn, and some attachments are harder to break.

Learning to Let Go

As I broke free from those old chains, I realized something important: they hadn’t been protecting me like I thought. They were limiting me. They were keeping me small. Letting go wasn’t just about feeling lighter; it was about opening myself up to possibilities I’d never imagined.

It’s tempting to build new chains to replace the old ones, to reach for safety and control in the unfamiliar. But I remind myself that those chains never kept me safe—they kept me trapped.

Our lives can be as free as we allow them to be. The power is ours to break the chains that bind us and step into the light of a new way of living.

SLAY OF THE DAY

Do you recognize the chains you’re carrying?
Are they old resentments, limiting beliefs, or attachments that no longer serve you?
Why do you hold onto them?
How do they harm you?
What would it feel like to let them go?
Start today—cut one link. Your freedom is waiting.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What chains are you breaking right now? What has helped you find your freedom?
Share your story in the comments and let’s encourage each other to keep cutting those chains.
And if you know someone who’s struggling to let go, send this their way. Sometimes, all we need is a reminder that we hold the key.

Slay Say

Good morning SLAYER! Being kind is giving even when you feel you have nothing to give.

New blog goes up Sunday, until then… SLAY on!

State Of Slay™

Where Self-Love, Mental Health & Real Life Meet

Author: Carrie Genzel

Slay Say