Ever feel like you’re juggling a million different things and just trying to get by? Me too.
I won’t sugarcoat it, life has been hard lately. It’s been busy, messy, sad, cold, and unpredictable. But there have been plenty of bright spots too (deep belly laughs, hugs that meant more than words, slow mornings with family, and moments of calm tucked between the chaos).
I started my blog, Positivity is Pretty, 6 years ago to highlight the beauty in positivity. To me, positivity is a powerful and intentional mindset, not some superficial, out-of-touch, blind happiness concept. It’s a real practice that takes time, involving actively noticing the good, practicing gratitude, and being mindful of how far we’ve come every single day. Working on this practice is such a beautiful way that we can spend our time, and that’s exactly where the name for my blog comes from.
If you’re like me then you often overwhelm yourself trying to do everything at once. We have to balance so much every day (work, extracurriculars, significant others, friendships, finances, adulting) and the list seems to go on and on. I always have things that I want to do or tell myself I should be doing more of (like working on my blog, saving money, paying off my student loans, cardio, calling my family regularly, etc.) and it’s exhausting. It’s easy to fall into a mental trap where doing nothing feels easier because doing something seems like it will take forever.
However, I know and research proves that even tiny steps can actually make a real difference in our mood, mindset and productivity. I’ve seen it in real life with building my blog, losing weight and becoming a better teacher. None of these things happened over night. The key is consistency! James Clear the author of Atomic Habits writes, “Intensity makes a good story; consistency makes progress.” All it takes is choosing each day to take a step toward your goal, even if it’s a tiny one.
One of my goals for Positivity Is Pretty is to help others, like myself, build the practice of positivity in their daily lives. And what better way to do that than through small, weekly, actionable steps that are simple, manageable, and not overwhelming?
Introducing my new series, “Monday Moment,” a small, calm weekly reset to start our week with intention and grow positivity step by step. So how does it work? This series will appear weekly, both on the blog and in an email. Each “Monday Moment” will include:
- A positive quote- to inspire your week and give a little anchor for reflection.
- A daily simple breath or mindfulness practice- to help you pause, reset, and stay grounded.
- A daily affirmation- to encourage intentional thinking and nurture self-kindness.
- A simple worksheet and habit tracker- to log moments of good, gratitude, and productivity throughout your week, while also checking off your daily breath/mindfulness practice and affirmation to stay consistent without pressure.
- A visual reminder- something to glance at all week for inspiration, which can also double as your phone lock screen.
This isn’t about pretending life is perfect or magically solving everything. It’s about creating tiny, positive nudges that help us feel calmer, more grounded, and intentional.
Monday Moment 2/23
Positive Quote:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
This is one of my all-time favorite quotes because I love its message, and it was written by one of my favorite authors, Maya Angelou. I truly believe in what this quote says. When I think about the people who have had a big impact on my life, it’s always how they made me feel that stands out the most. When I spend time with my friends and family, I try to make them feel appreciated, loved, and valued. So today, let’s take a moment to think about how we make others feel. A small act of kindness or a simple smile can leave a lasting impact on someone’s heart.
Breath/Mindfulness Practice:
This week our Monday Moment is focusing on equal breathing (“Sama Vritti”). Equal breathing is practiced by inhaling and exhaling for the same amount of time. It helps to calm your mind, steady your heartbeat, and bring balance to your body.
Directions:
- Sit or lie in a comfortable position
- Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4
- Exhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4.
- Try to practice at least 4-5 rounds a day, focusing on keeping your breaths even and smooth.
Remember, you can always adjust this to what works best for you! A good starting point is inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 4 counts. If that feels too easy, you can try 5 or 6 counts each. As long as the inhale and exhale matches in length, you’re golden!
Daily Affirmation:
This week our daily affirmation is, “I am loved and worthy.” Try to look at yourself in the mirror and say this at least one time a day. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking how silly that sounds but trust me affirmations work! They help to guide your focus, shift negative thinking, and build your confidence. Like everything, practice makes perfect even with saying affirmations to yourself!
Below there is a free pdf worksheet that we can use to practice positivity with intention. Each week, we will actively notice the good, practice gratitude, and reflect on our progress. Alongside these reflections, the habit tracker helps us stay consistent with our daily breathing/mindfulness and affirmation practices.
I’m excited to introduce Monday Moment, our small, calm weekly reset. I hope these resources help you start the week with intention and add some good along the way! 🙂
Click here to download the free positivity & habit tracking worksheet
