I still struggle with that inner harsh voice to this day but I now have an inner self compassionate voice that jumps in quicker and gets me out of that hole of self criticism and self loathing.  It’s harder some days and those are the days I have learned to reach out to friends and family who remind me I am loved and good  enough.  Please remember that you are worthy of compassion just as much as those you care about around you and that you are not alone.  Let love and not fear be your guiding light and I want to remind you that you have lots of people who care and respect you. You just need to open your eyes and self compassionate heart to see them. 

Bonus tip: If you really wanna crush it, ask the members of your audience to stop you in the middle of your speech if they notice that you aren’t using an element of public speaking. For example, if you aren’t using eye contact and are staring down the whole time, one of your audience members would tell you to stop and remind you to maintain eye contact with your audience. Start over and make sure to fix that issue!

One of the things you can do in this letter is give yourself advice from the perspective of your future self. For inspiration, consider what advice your present self might give to your younger self. Think about how different you were 7 years ago, and what you wish someone had told you then. Then, imagine how your future self might be looking at you right now. Think about the knowledge, experience, and foresight they have, and how they might utilize those things to guide a younger version of themself. By considering the choices they make, you can find strength to make similar choices right now.

In one way or another, all of the choices we make in our lives contribute toward one overarching desire: to be happy. But what does happiness actually entail? Some might have you believe that you can achieve happiness through what you buy, where you go, or how you look. Although our society might place a lot of importance on those superficial things, they alone cannot bring people happiness. 

You’ve probably heard of the trend romanticizing your life, but maybe it doesn’t fully resonate with you. Maybe you think of your life as boring, repetitive, and utterly ordinary—what’s there to romanticize? Well, I’m glad you asked! You don’t need to go on exciting vacations, have expensive material possessions, or even be in a romantic relationship in order to romanticize your life. It’s all about taking what you already have and adding some sparkle to it.

If you’ve ever opened up a journal to a blank page only to find yourself paralyzed with uncertainty about what to write, you’re not alone. Journaling offers a wide variety of mental health benefits including reduced stress, increased creativity, and a greater understanding of your thoughts and feelings. But often, the hard part is getting started. 

Research shows that people are more likely to achieve their goals when they write them down. That’s why summer bucket lists are so effective—they can help you set intentions, track your progress, and hold yourself accountable to specific actions. Setting goals centered around fun can be a great way to boost your mood and facilitate relaxation, which is what summer is all about.

We can never completely get rid of self-criticism and insecurity, but that’s okay—it’s part of the human experience. What we can do is challenge our negativity bias by making the conscious effort to show ourselves kindness and self-compassion. These efforts gradually change our perceptions of ourselves, our confidence levels, and our overall well-being. Hopefully, this practice reinforces the idea that you are inherently worthy of love exactly as you are, and you deserve to extend the love that you give others to yourself.

All in all, the point of practicing gratitude is to shift our mindset so that we make the most of our days instead of trying to make the least of them, which is instinctual for many of us. Even if you find it difficult to get into a routine at first, completing this practice at all can still have immediate benefits as it helps you feel a little bit more grounded and hopeful.