Being Yourself

Now that’s true beauty and that’s what the world needs – more of YOU! 🙌🏻 Be Brave. Be YOU. Be Free. Just be yourself – that is the most beautiful version you can be. ⠀
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Start today with a fresh goal - today, I will be my self. In this moment, I will be myself - not what I think others want, but who I really am. ⠀
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Daily steps of courage. Don't so be hard on yourself when you don't get it right. Learn. Grow. Keep stepping forward. This is a journey and a process.⠀
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👉🏻 What is one thing you can do today, to be more true to yourself? ⠀
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🙌🏻 Who could you encourage and celebrate their unique beauty? Be a part of their story to embracing who they really are. ⠀
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💜Ruth x⠀

Believe In You

We believe in YOU! But do you? Oh girl, I've been there. Thinking I didn't have what it takes, I wasn't enough, I've stuffed up too many times, I don't have what she has, I don't look like her, I've never done that before, I'm not worth it, no one sees me, what have I got to offer... But what we believe about ourselves is vitally important. It will either limit us or empower us.

What are you believing about yourself? What lies have you believed? Let's exchange and replace them with the truth of who you really are. You are valuable, you are worthy, you are strong, you are courageous, you are significant, you are loved, you are capable, you belong... Here's just a few truths about you to get you started.

How is it that we can so often see the worth and significance of those around us, but are blinded to what's in us.
Let's walk into this week knowing who we truly are.

What believes do you need to let go of? What believes do you need to reaffirm?

So grateful to share this journey together x
💜Ruth

Sparkle Like No One Else

Yes you, sweet friend sparkle like no one else... If I prescribed to the world’s idea of beauty, I am not sure how I could get out of bed in the morning. Many days I wear yoga pants, big t-shirts, and my hair in a messy bun. I get zits, my hair normally needs to be washed, more days than not I don’t wear makeup, so if I spent my time following the world’s idea of beauty, why would I get out of bed. Frankly, I would be terrified I wouldn’t match up. But each day I get up, I fight the temptation to give into the lies of the world and I remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and am absolutely beautiful, no matter what my physical body looks like.

Honestly, I wish I could say that everyday, every hour, every minute, I believe this truth but I don’t and frankly some days are just harder than others. Some days I fight the lies of my past life and the lies of the world.

But I remember that I am aiming for grace, not perfection and each time I remember the truth and live in the truth, that is beauty. Beauty surrounds me in the smiling faces of those who love me as my messy broken self, beauty is in the scars of battles won, beauty is living in freedom. The world lies and tells us beauty is in the face but I am hear to tell you it is in the heart. Beauty is all around you and I dare you to see it and live in it this week. Whether you are wearing sweats, a prom dress, a swim suit, a wedding gown, or pajamas, you are beautiful. And in case no one has told you today, you are absolutely beautiful inside and out just the way you are. You my friend sparkle like no one else! - MK

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Who else feels like our weekends can be so full that you need the week to recover from them 😁, but so often they are just as full.

Sometimes it can feel like we're on a spinning hamster wheel, going round and round and round with sometimes no pit stops. And in the spin, we can loose our why, our purpose, our focus, our passion. And find ourselves not even remembering what we're doing or why we started in the first place or even getting bitter about what we once loved.

Let's not let us get to this place of burn out (been on my way to this station many times). And instead MAKE TIME, CREATE SPACE, SCHEDULE REST, so that even in the midst of crazy busy, we're still enjoying life, pursuing our passion, and feeling energized by what we're doing instead of completely drained. Don't feel bad if this is where you're at, to be honest I'm on the edge here too. But as soon as you realize, you can make steps to change. Or get others to help. Sometimes you just need to completely stop, take time off, get refreshed, while other times you can keep going with smaller pit stops. You know what you need. But listen to that louder than all the demands on your life.

So even if you're completely flat out this weekend, carve out even just a little (few mins if that's all you have) of time to be refreshed, do what you love, reflect and remember your purpose/passion/why you're doing what you're doing.

You're doing amazingly. And as we go, let's look for the beauty in everything around us to light up this crazy journey - stop and smell the flowers.

So what have you got on this weekend? x
💜Ruth
📷@floretflower

Rest

Something I need to constantly remind myself. Yes taking time to rest is best for you and everyone around you. Take time to breathe, to be refreshed, to reflect, to regain your strength, to fill your tank, to be inspired, to do what you love... to be refilled so you can overflow into the lives of others.

But you can't give out what you don't have. And you can't flow when you've run dry. If you're feeling empty or running on reserves, make time to fill up, to rest and restore. It's not selfish, it's the best thing you can do right now for all, including you.

Give yourself and others permission to rest. How do you find rest best? x

Some Things To Do When You're Feeling Blue

Sometimes I'll wake up and just feel flat. Sometimes I'll get home after a great day and for no particular reason I feel down, without anything bad happening. Sometimes I feel sad because of certain events.
Emotions can come and go as quickly as a sneeze. There's nothing wrong with feeling. In fact, it's a good thing. But sometimes we feel stuck in that emotion, like we can't climb out. We need perspective. We need to acknowledge the feeling, the pain, the circumstance, find healing and move through that emotion.
These are just a few things we can do when feeling blue. Sometimes we just need a change of scene or shift our mind to something else or remember all the good.
However if you're continuing struggling, and nothing seems to work, please talk to a trusted person and seek help to work through the root of these feelings. You are not alone and there are many people out there that want to be a part of your journey. We all need help in life. It's normal.
What are some of the things you do when feeling blue? x

You Are Not Alone

Been there for sure and actually feeling it right now... For no particular reason, I've just been feeling flat lately. Maybe because I've been sick for weeks. Maybe because sometimes progress is just really slow. Maybe because I've been waiting for some really big provisions and dreams that haven't happened yet. Maybe because I'm really exhausted. Maybe because I haven't made time to get out in nature. Maybe because some of my friends are facing huge challenges and I can't fix it for them. Maybe because I haven't been sleeping well. Maybe because everything feels cluttered. Maybe because this journey can be lonely at times. Maybe because of some disappointments. Maybe because of all these things together. Or maybe because it's just one of those days.

I'm not sure where you're at, but lovely one, know that wherever you're at right now is ok and you are not alone. We all struggle, we all face challenges and change. We all have emotions and feelings and thoughts and don't always know how to cope with them.
And even if we do, we don't always do what we know is best for us - yep me.
So let me encourage you in my struggle... No matter what you're facing or feeling, you are not alone. And this won't last forever. You CAN get through this. And we're standing with you.

Do something that will bring you rest, refresh you, put a smile on your face, re-energize you. When we are just focusing on the struggle, that's all we'll experience. So try and lift your gaze to search for all the blessings around you, be thankful, give to others, encourage someone else, remember the purpose, do things you love.
For me, I'm thinking a hot bubble bath, cooking delicious food, talk with a friend and get an early night. And I really need to clean haha.
We need to be kind to ourselves, especially when things are hard. What can you do to take care of yourself today? What is something you love doing? What is one practical thing you can do to take action in your struggle? What is something you are thankful for? Take time out for you x
💜Ruth

Fresh Start

New day. New week. Fresh start. Let go of whatever you didn't do last week or wish you hadn't done. That is the past. It's behind you. Walk into this week with a fresh attitude, a clean slate. Don't bring the disappointment with you. Acknowledge it, but now you have the chance to let it go and start over.
Don't start the week already thinking you're failing before you even give yourself the chance to make it. You are not a failure.
So let's dive into this week, forgiving ourselves for whatever we're holding onto, letting it go and really giving ourselves our best chance to flourish this week... It's all in the attitude. Be your own cheer squad. Be kind to yourself and celebrate each step. You've got this. And we're standing with you x
📷hellomondayblog

Self Talk

I can be so hard on myself. Thinking I should do better, be further ahead, know more, not slip up, basically be perfect. But that's impossible! And every time I mess up or step backwards or simply have a hard day, instead of being kind to myself, being encouraging, uplifting and understanding... I can be so critical, unforgiving, harsh and have such unrealistic expectations. I would never treat my friends the way I sometimes treat myself. BUT I'm learning to speak to myself the way I speak to those I love. Listen to my own advice. Know that wherever I am right now is ok. That every step forward (even the smallest one) matters. That it's ok not to always be ok. And that I don't need to get it right all the time. I am more than enough, just as I am.

Let's talk to ourselves with love, kindness, grace and forgiveness. Sometimes we're doing the best we can with what we have and that's enough.
Don't be too hard on yourself lovely, we're all on a journey x 💜Ruth

Do Something You Love

Take time out to be refreshed today. Do something you LOVE - even if only for a few minutes.
You are worth it.

Not only will it benefit you, but it will benefit those around you.
When you are filled, you are better able to invest and overflow in others. Instead of overflowing stress, exhaustion, overwhelm, frustration, anxiety etc... You can stop and breathe and switch streams, so that you can overflow peace, joy, generosity, kindness, encouragement, hope... So really giving yourself time to be refreshed can really be a selfless act and better for everyone.
You're worth it. They're worth it x

What do you love? What makes you feel refreshed? What gives you energy? What helps bring release? What fills you with joy? What helps you rest. Do more of these things x

Image 📷 Kelsey Olivia

Let's Celebrate You

Pause. It's time to celebrate! Whatever step forward you have made this week - big or small. Whatever you got right. Whatever you pushed through. Whenever you didn't give up. Whatever goals you kicked. Whenever you made a difference for someone else. Whenever you were kind to yourself. Whatever you have achieved. Whatever you learnt - even through a mistake. Whenever you tried something new. Whenever you chose to be you - the real you - or even tried to discover who you really are.
Every step you take forward, let's celebrate.
Take a moment now to write down a few (or as many as you can) of the points above. Your steps to celebrate.
This will give you a boost and fresh perspective and remind you that even when it feels like you're not - you're still making progress, you're still in the game, you have worth and value. It inspires you to keep moving forward, wherever you're at.
You are winning everyday in all sorts of ways, take time to acknowledge your wins and celebrate.

Go you!!! 🎉💜🎉 Woo hoo x

Adventuring Upstream

So, I've been struggling with exhaustion, busyness and being overwhelmed, and constantly speaking this over my life - "I am so exhausted, I am so busy, everything is so hard and overwhelming" etc.
I know how powerful our words and mindset are. And yet, I kept speaking this over my life. If this is what I'm proclaiming and focusing on, then that is exactly what I am going to experience. How can I experience anything else?
But enough is enough. I don't want to experience that anymore. And I'm sure you don't either.
The words we speak over our lives are so powerful. Often we need to re-word & re-frame how we say things.
So I have decided to RE-WORD and RE-FRAME these challenges.
Instead of "I'm so tired / exhausted"... I

I am being STRETCHED to GROW.

I am being REFILLED and STRENGTHENED.

Instead of "I'm so busy"... I

I am PURPOSEFUL and ALERT and ACTIVE.

I am HIGHLY ENGAGED and ACTIVE.
Instead of "It's too too hard / overwhelming"... I

This is a REFINING CHALLENGE.
I am ADVENTURING UPSTREAM.
I am BRAVING ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
I hope this encourages you wherever you're at.

If you find you keep speaking words over your life that don't help, that hold you back, make you feel trapped and discouraged... Try re-wording and re-framing them too. If these ones speak to you, feel free to use them or find words that would empower you in the challenges.
Maybe you want to reword the way you see yourself? Or how you handle challenges? Or your constant complaints?
This is an opportunity to learn something and grow.

I am strong enough to get through this.

I am more than enough, just as I am.

I am so worth loving.

This might seem impossible, but there's always a way.

Speak life. You've got this.

Are You Going to Believe the Truth

Are you going to believe the truth or the facts? The facts might be saying, you missed the mark, they rejected you, you weren't qualified to do that, you don't have this, you didn't make that, that was a bad result, they didn't include you, the thing you really want hasn't happened yet, that thing you really didn't want did happen... BUT no matter what the facts, you are always enough. More than enough. Just as you are.

Where do you find yourself today? What facts are you staring at? The facts might not be great, but you are. Your worth and value doesn't change. No matter what the facts are.
Remind yourself today. I. AM. ENOUGH. Yes I am.
We're with you x