DO OVER...

If you have already read my Substack, THANK YOU! Apparently, not everyone is into it over there, and I have the business use cases all wrong, so forgive my misstep. I am back to writing here to all of you, so I am sending this email again to ensure those who are meant to read it can. Thanks for your love and patience. xoG

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Hi Friends,
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I woke up on Tuesday with a heaviness I couldn’t quite explain. I hadn’t slept much the night before (maybe a couple of uninterrupted hours), which I know contributes to that state of mind and body. I think there was also something in the air, as many people I know (friends, family, etc.) felt the same kind of blahhhhh that overshadowed any sense of presence or happiness. The spiral had begun.
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While this is not an unusual feeling for me, I’m not sure if having a mental health diagnosis (ADHD + perhaps a touch of others ;-) helps make more sense of this or less. In the end, I don’t think diagnoses matter, while in some cases it may be helpful. I have a whole other Substack in the works about mental health, diagnoses, and what it all means. Stay tuned for that piece coming soon!
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So I know from years of having this heavy feeling come and go what the root cause is, and it comes from feeling unsafe. I know this current, unconscious thought I have about unsafety is tied to the parts of my life that are currently unsettled, in process, and evolving. And, the truth is, our nervous systems hate uncertainty. The truth is I am absolutely safe even in the uncertainty, and in fact, I’m incredibly privileged.
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Folks, here is where we can see the powerful, yet subtle example of how mindfuckery works. Our thoughts are NOT the truth. READ THAT AGAIN!
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So, in times of uncertainty, we can rely on what we know for sure. Our thoughts lie. The brilliant Louise Hay said, “It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.” However, sometimes it ain’t that easy. So the other day I spent most of it miserable, to be honest. My thoughts were trash, my attitude sucked, I was cranky, irritable, and wholly out of sorts. Even though I knew what to do to help shift it, I couldn't quite get there. Ever have those days?
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I planned to get to the gym for a workout, sauna, and cold plunge, but scrolled Instagram instead.

I even reached out to a friend for motivation, whom immediately responded. I ignored her and went back to scrolling Instagram instead.

I went back inside to meditate but scrolled Instagram instead.

Mid-afternoon, I got to my computer to get housekeeping tasks accomplished because I was too exhausted for any deep concentration. At about 4 pm, I had had enough. I finally moved into action to do what I knew would make the biggest difference with the lowest possible output.

I reached for joy. YES, I took my own damn advice and decided I needed to move my body! And no better place to do it than in nature for a double jolt of joy!!!
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Check out the video I recorded live during my beach walk…and how it shifted things instantly.

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So why do we postpone joy? Why don’t we reach for it when life feels hardest? There are a myriad of reasons; the most important thing to know is that I already did the research for you, and grabbing for joy will actually help us heal. Experiencing joy releases all the hormones we need to feel better; it’s that simple. So the next question is what brings you joy? That’s the fun for you to discover. And if you need a little help, check out my book - it’s workbook style, includes a life assessment to help focus in on what’s working and what could use a shift, and 15 practical joy expressions to explore, including nature and movement!
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If books aren’t your thing, stay tuned here and on my other social channels. I will be sharing joy jolts that include each of the 15 expressions…so you can start to explore for yourself. So choose joy, even on the hard days, and hopefully you won’t wait until 4 pm to make the choice!
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We are more powerful than we ever give ourselves credit for…what could life be like if we led with joy? I can tell you this. I am hella determined to find out. How about you?

xo, Gabrielle