Monday, 12/16/19: Talking about the quote I keep hearing, going to bed early and the book I’m reading
Happy Monday!
It’s another new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter. Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday, a short story and a roundup of positive thoughts to get your week started.
Three Steps to a Happier Monday
Each newsletter starts with three prompts for gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.
Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend?
Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?
Step 3: What is my intention for this week?
GRATITUDE: From my weekend, I am thankful for weather that was warm enough for an outside run on Saturday morning, the group of friends I’ve made in Chicago and the sweetest surprise Christmas present I received from a friend.
TODAY: I am most excited about swinging by the German Christmas market (Christkindlmarket) after work!
INTENTION: My intention for this week is to stay calm as I wrap up work before the holiday week and travel home to Florida.
Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂
Lesson of the Week: Full Hands
I abide by a simple rule. If I hear of something three times, I take it as a sign to lean in. This rule can be applied to books, restaurants, famous people, etc. If the universe is bringing a thing, an idea or a person to my awareness three times, I believe it means I need to read the book, try the restaurant, research the person, etc.
So, when I heard a specific quote three separate times last week, I knew I had to mention it in today’s newsletter. Beyond inspiring my own reflection, my hope is that I heard the quote three times last week because it is exactly what one of you needs to hear today.
Last week I heard that Oprah once said, you cannot receive anything if your hands are full.
“You cannot receive anything if your hands are full.”
I love this quote for two reasons.
The first is because it helps me make peace with the current changes I am facing.
I am someone who naturally resists change. My resistance stems from a place of absolutely loathing endings.
I can remember being extremely sad on the last day of school in elementary school (yes, seriously). To me, the last day of school was sad because it meant that school year was over, I would never have that teacher again or be a (insert grade here) student again. I am someone who loves Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day. I love the anticipation that comes along with the Dec. 24 instead of the sad feelings that creep in the evening of the 25th when the realization hits that Christmas is over.
I try to reframe my thinking and recognize that “every ending is a new beginning.” And that should make me feel better, right? Especially for someone who loves a fresh start (hello, Monday morning newsletter aimed at kicking off a new week).
But Oprah’s quote resonates with me more for some reason. It’s reassuring to know that sometimes circumstances in our lives change, and while we may be sad about the changes, they are making room for something else.
The second reason I love this quote is because it reduces the fear I have toward future changes. I really do love my life. But do I see my life staying exactly the same for the rest of time? Of course not. I am going to continue to grow and evolve, my relationships will continue to grow and evolve and so on. If I don’t accept that I will need to let go of some things from time to time to make room for something else, that growth and evolution can’t happen. I can’t receive anything if my hands are full.
So whether you are going through some changes right now or have a fear of future changes, I hope you find comfort in this quote like I did. We often can’t fully understand why changes are happening in real time, but we can cling to the belief that the changes are making room for something greater.
On My Monday Radar
Sometimes we just aren’t ready to jump into our Monday to-do list right away. In case you want some content to procrastinate with, here is a roundup of a few positive things on my radar:
- I think this may be a controversial opinion, but I totally agree with this article about going to bed at 8:45 PM. After discovering that I’m most productive in the morning, I went through many trials and errors to adopt a routine that optimizes my time in the morning. And obviously, a big part of this routine is going to sleep really early. For me, it’s totally worth it. I absolutely love my morning “me” time. I love that I am focusing on tasks that are important to me (writing, reading, working out, etc.) when I am the sharpest vs. when I am exhausted at the end of the day.
- Currently reading this book about the rise and fall of Theranos, the one-time multibillion-dollar biotech startup founded by Elizabeth Holmes. It’s fascinating! After I’m done with the book, I can’t wait to watch the HBO documentary.
- Used this Olay face mask stick last night and loved it! All the pros of a mask with none of the mess.
- I can’t wait for nutritionist Kelly Leveque’s new book to come out on Dec. 30. I am a big fan of Kelly and her simple approach to nutrition. I have one of her famous “Fab Four” smoothies for breakfast almost every morning. If you aren’t familiar, I recommend checking out her first book (“Body Love”) to learn more!
- This cookie recipe was in one of the first newsletters, but I wanted to resurface after making them again this weekend. So good and easy to make!
That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this!
Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan
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