intentional living

Slay Say

So many dreams stall not because they weren’t meaningful,
but because they were never given the space to move.

Intentions are easy to hold.
Commitment is harder to practice.

It’s not the grand gestures that create change —
it’s the steady ones.
The choices made on ordinary days.
The decision to keep going when motivation fades and excuses feel tempting.

Momentum isn’t something you wait for.
It’s something you build —
through repetition, presence, and the willingness to return to what matters.

You don’t need perfection to move forward.
You need consistency.

This is your reminder:
What you tend with care and return to with intention
is what carries you where you want to go.

Slay on.

Tell Your Brain the Kind of Day You’re Going to Have

Have you ever noticed how your mornings set the tone for everything that follows? The moment you wake up, before your feet even hit the floor, your brain is already scanning for cues about what kind of day it’s going to be. And here’s the truth: what you tell your brain, your brain will look for.

That means if you wake up thinking, Ugh, this is going to be a hard day, your brain will search for every piece of evidence to confirm it. If you start the day with, I’m choosing peace today, your brain will find moments to validate that choice.

Your mindset is like a compass—point it in one direction, and your day will naturally start aligning with it. The question is, are you pointing it toward chaos or calm? Toward frustration or gratitude? Toward fear or courage?

Your Brain Believes What You Feed It

Here’s what’s fascinating: our brains are designed with something called the reticular activating system (RAS). It acts like a filter, deciding what gets your attention. When you tell your brain to focus on something—whether consciously or unconsciously—it scans your environment to find it.

Think of it like when you buy a new car, and suddenly you start seeing that same make and model everywhere. It’s not that the cars weren’t there before—it’s that your brain is now wired to notice them.

Your thoughts work the same way.

If you tell yourself, This meeting is going to be a disaster, your brain will notice every sigh, every side-eye, and every awkward silence. If you tell yourself, I can handle this with grace, your brain will pick up on the support, the nods, the opportunities to speak with confidence.

This is why starting your day with intentional thoughts is so powerful. Your brain is always listening.

The Power of Morning Scripts

The way you script your morning can shift everything. Here are some examples:

  • Instead of: Today’s going to be so stressful.
    Try: Today I’m choosing peace, no matter what comes my way.
  • Instead of: I’m so tired, this day is going to drag.
    Try: I have enough energy to handle what matters most today.
  • Instead of: Nobody respects me at work.
    Try: I respect myself, and I show up in a way that earns respect.

These aren’t empty affirmations. They are instructions for your brain. And when your brain has instructions, it follows them.

Frustration, Stress, and the Choice We Overlook

Life is going to throw things at you—that’s not optional. Someone cuts you off in traffic, a coworker sends a passive-aggressive email, your plans get derailed.

But here’s the key: those external things don’t decide the quality of your day. You do.

The outside world can invite you to be upset, but you are the one who accepts or declines that invitation.

When you catch yourself spiraling into negativity, pause and ask:
What did I just tell my brain about this moment? Did I tell it to look for the worst, or did I give it something else to notice?

It’s in those pauses that power lives.

Rewiring Takes Practice

If you’ve spent years waking up dreading the day or rehearsing worst-case scenarios, it’s going to take practice to redirect that thought pattern. And that’s okay.

Every time you catch yourself choosing the old script—This is going to be awful—and instead replace it with a new one—I’ve handled worse, and I will handle this too—you are literally rewiring your brain.

The more you do it, the easier it gets. Eventually, your default setting changes. Instead of your brain scanning for stress, it starts scanning for strength. Instead of looking for failure, it starts looking for possibility.

Tell Your Brain Where to Go

Think of your brain like a GPS. If you program it with the wrong address, you’ll end up somewhere you don’t want to be. But when you give it the right directions, it will get you closer to where you want to go.

So before you argue with someone, before you step into that meeting, before you check your email—set the address.

Tell your brain:

  • I’m going to stay calm.
  • I’m going to choose compassion.
  • I’m going to focus on solutions, not problems.

And watch how your day reroutes to align with it.

SLAY Reflection

  1. What’s the first thought you usually have when you wake up? Does it serve you or sabotage you?
  2. How often do you give your brain negative instructions without realizing it?
  3. What would it feel like to intentionally start your day with a thought that empowers you?
  4. When was the last time you caught yourself spiraling, and what did you do to redirect it?
  5. What’s one phrase you can start telling yourself tomorrow morning to shift your entire day?

S – Script your mornings with intentional thoughts
L – Let your brain look for evidence that supports your peace
A – Align your mindset with the day you want to create
Y – Yield to positivity and refuse to accept the invitation to chaos

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What’s the phrase you tell yourself that shifts the entire direction of your day?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who’s stuck in negative loops, send this to them.
Sometimes, all we need is a reminder that our brains believe what we tell them.

Slay Say

YOU GET TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW

Not everything passed down needs to be carried forward.
Cycles of hurt, silence, or survival may have paved your path—
but that doesn’t mean they have to shape your future.

You’re not here to repeat.
You’re here to restore.
To choose with intention.
To lead with clarity.
And to become the version of yourself your lineage didn’t know was possible.

This is your reminder to be the shift they never saw coming.

SLAY on!

Your Best Yes Might Be the One That Scares You

It’s easy to say yes when you feel prepared, qualified, and ready.
But what about the yes that feels uncertain? The one that makes you pause and think, “Can I even do this?”

I’ve learned over the years that these are often the most important yeses—the ones that lead you somewhere you never expected, but exactly where you’re supposed to be.

For me, some of the best things in my life have happened because I said yes even when I wasn’t sure. Even when I doubted myself. Even when it was something I’d never done before.

Those yeses have taught me that courage often comes before confidence.

Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready (I Never Felt Ready Either)

If I had waited until I felt fully ready, I would have missed out on so many opportunities that shaped me.

There have been roles I’ve taken, projects I’ve joined, and events I’ve spoken at where my first instinct was, “Why me? I’ve never done this before.”
But then I’d hear this little voice reminding me:
“Just say yes. You’ll figure it out.”

And you know what? I always did. Maybe not perfectly. But growth never is.

Every time I said yes, I walked away with more than I expected—new skills, new friends, new perspectives.
You become ready by doing. Not by waiting.

The Unexpected Gifts of Taking a Chance

Some of my favorite experiences started with a hesitant yes.

  • Saying yes to a random opportunity led me to discover a new creative passion.
  • Saying yes to a conversation with someone I barely knew turned into a meaningful friendship.
  • Saying yes to a project that felt way out of my league ended up teaching me things I didn’t even know I was capable of.

If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I would have missed out on all of it.

What I’ve learned is that sometimes, that scary yes is simply the universe nudging you toward something bigger.

When Yes Isn’t About the Destination

One thing I’ve come to believe is this:
Not every yes is meant to be the grand finale.
Sometimes, it’s just meant to get you moving.

There have been plenty of times when saying yes didn’t lead me exactly where I thought it would.
But it got me out the door. It opened a new door. It connected me to people and places I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Your yes doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be intentional.
You’re not committing to a lifetime. You’re committing to the next step.

Brave Yes vs. Reckless Yes: Here’s How I Tell the Difference

Let me be real—I’ve said yes to things for the wrong reasons too.
Guilt. People-pleasing. Fear of missing out.

Those yeses? They don’t feel good. They drain you.

But the brave yes?
That’s the one that feels a little scary but also exciting. The one that stretches you in the right way. The one your gut says “this could be good for me” even if your brain is panicking a little.

Now, I pause and ask myself:

  • Am I saying yes because I’m afraid of disappointing someone?
  • Or am I saying yes because it aligns with who I’m becoming?

That pause makes all the difference.

Growth Lives on the Other Side of Yes

Every time I’ve stepped into something new, even when it terrified me, I’ve grown.
Not just in skills or experiences, but in how I see myself.

By saying yes, I’ve learned to trust myself more.
To know that I can figure things out.
That even if I stumble, I’ll get back up stronger.

That’s what your best yes does—it helps you grow into the next version of you.

What’s Your Best Yes? Final Thoughts

Here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t have to feel fully ready to say yes.
You don’t have to know exactly how it will turn out.

Sometimes, your best yes is the one that simply gets you moving.
The one that introduces you to a new part of yourself.
The one that reminds you—you’re more capable than you think.

So, what’s the yes you’ve been hesitating on?
It might just be the beginning of something amazing.

Your Turn: Reflect & Take Action

Now it’s your turn. Take a moment and think about these questions:

  1. What opportunity have you been hesitating to say yes to because it feels outside your comfort zone?
    What’s really holding you back?
  2. Think of a time when you said yes even though you were unsure.
    What did you gain from that experience?
  3. What’s one small, brave yes you can give yourself this week?
    A chance to grow, connect, or simply show up differently.
  4. How do you personally tell the difference between a reckless yes and a brave yes?
    What does your body or intuition tell you?
  5. Who or what could benefit from you saying yes to yourself right now?
    Remember, your courage is contagious.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you.
What’s the yes you’re ready to say, even if it scares you?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who’s standing on the edge of a yes, send this to them.
Sometimes, all we need is a nudge.

How We Live Today Is What Will Determine Tomorrow

It’s a conversation I keep returning to—both personally and globally.

As the world continues to recalibrate, we’ve been given a rare invitation: to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves what do I want my life to look like on the other side of this? Many of us are eager to return to “normal,” but it’s worth asking—was normal really working?

When so many distractions fell away, we were left with the truth of our lives. The patterns we’d been avoiding. The cracks in our foundations. The parts we loved—and the parts we were merely surviving. Like any breakdown, there’s always a breakthrough waiting on the other side… if we’re willing to do the work.

Building a Better Tomorrow Starts Now

When I first stepped into recovery, I had to rebuild my life from the ground up. It was terrifying. The old ways—my habits, my thinking, the comforts I clung to—felt safer than the unknown. But I knew they were keeping me sick. I couldn’t build anything new while holding onto what was breaking me.

So I started small. I laid one brick at a time. I let go of what no longer served me, even when it was uncomfortable. I reminded myself that I wouldn’t get everything right—and that was okay. Each day was a step toward something stronger. Even my mistakes became blueprints for something better.

I began to understand that how I live today is what determines my tomorrow. And that realization changed everything.

This Is a Chance to Reimagine

This pause we’ve been given? It’s a gift. A chance to slow down and evaluate what truly matters. It’s not just about personal change—it’s about collective change. As we rebuild our lives, we have a powerful opportunity to decide who we want to be, how we want to live, and what kind of world we want to create.

The moments that have stood out to me most during this time aren’t the news updates or daily routines—they’re the simple acts of kindness, the community support, the honest conversations, and the reminders that we’re not alone.

We’ve seen what matters. Let’s not forget it.

Today Shapes Everything

What we choose today—how we love, how we show up, how we take care of ourselves and others—sets the tone for tomorrow. We get to decide what we keep, what we release, and what we build next.

Lay your foundation with care. Fill the cracks with truth. Strengthen your spirit with willingness and action. That’s how we grow something solid. Something beautiful. Something that lasts.

SLAY on.

SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rebuild

  • Have you used this time to evaluate your life with honesty?

  • What habits, people, or patterns do you want to leave behind?

  • What priorities have shifted for you—and why?

  • What healthy changes have felt good? What distractions are you ready to release?

  • What can you start doing today to lay a stronger foundation for the life you want tomorrow?

This moment is a powerful opportunity to build something new.
Lay it down with intention.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you.
What’s one change you’ve made—or are ready to make—to build a better tomorrow?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

And if you know someone who’s navigating change right now, send this their way.
Sometimes, we just need to know we’re not doing it alone.

Your Problem Isn’t The Problem, It’s Your Reaction To The Problem

There are so many things in life we have no control over.
But one thing we always have control over is how we react.

Before I started this journey, I didn’t believe that. I saw life as something that was constantly happening to me. I felt like I was always on the wrong side of good—piled under problems that felt too big, too unfair, and way too overwhelming to change.

What I couldn’t see at the time was that many of those problems were the result of my own choices.
And even when I wasn’t in control of what happened, I had still made a choice somewhere along the line—choosing the person, the situation, or the behavior that led me there.

It was easier to blame someone else.
But the truth? The finger I was pointing should’ve been aimed right back at me.

The Power of Radical Responsibility

When I finally got honest with myself—rigorously honest—I had to take a hard look at my role in the chaos.
And it was tough.
It’s not easy to admit that you’ve been the architect of your own pain.

But with that realization came something surprising: freedom.
Because if I was the one who got myself into it…
I could be the one to get myself out.

Owning my choices gave me power.
And from there, I could start making better ones.

Every Situation Is a Choice Point

We don’t get to control what life throws at us.
But we do get to choose how we respond.

Sometimes the best reaction is not reacting at all.
Sometimes it’s walking away.
Sometimes it’s taking a breath and choosing to show up in a way that honors your values—not your emotions in the moment.

That’s how we reclaim our power.
Even in the hardest moments, we are not powerless when we’re clear on what’s best for us—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

We always have a choice.
And that choice becomes the difference between staying in the problem and moving toward the solution.

The Problem vs. The Solution

When I started to shift my mindset this way, life got easier.
That’s not to say I never get frustrated or upset—of course I do. But now I ask myself:

  • Did I invite this in?
  • Can I disinvite it now?
  • What choice will move me forward instead of keeping me stuck?

That’s what it means to get into the solution.

Because staying in the problem only creates more problems.
But the solution?
That’s where problems go to die.

Clearing the Path Forward

I’ve learned that when I make decisions from a place that aligns with who I am—and who I’m becoming—I stop visiting the places that pull me back into chaos.

I stop letting problems define me.
I stop reacting from fear or ego.
And I start creating space for new energy, new opportunities, and new peace to enter my life.

So when the next problem pops up—and it will—ask yourself:

What’s the right reaction… for me?

That answer will always lead you toward your highest good.

SLAY Reflection: What’s Your Reaction Telling You?

  1. Do you let problems define your mood or your day?
    How often are you reacting instead of responding?
  2. How many of your current problems are tied to past choices?
    What patterns can you begin to shift?
  3. What small choices can you make today to create fewer problems tomorrow?
    Where can you be more intentional?
  4. How can you take your power back in difficult situations?
    What boundaries or truths are you avoiding?
  5. What does the “right reaction” look like for you?
    Is it silence, compassion, honesty, or stepping away?

    Call to Action: Join the Conversation

    I’d love to hear from you.
    What’s one situation or relationship where choosing not to engage helped you protect your energy?
    Share your story in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on.

    And if you know someone who’s caught in a cycle of reacting or proving their point, send this to them.
    Sometimes, all we need is a nudge.