In taking tiny steps and celebrating the tiny wins, I’m bringing so much more joy into the journey along the way. That’s where the dopamine comes from. That’s how I make changes in my life that last. But all that mindset stuff takes practice.

There’s a difference between thoughts you believe in your heart and just need practice to remind yourself of, and thoughts that you don’t believe at all. One of these works as an affirmation, and one isn’t going to work because your brain is going to call bull.

Forcing yourself to try to do something consistently when your brain isn’t consistent is a recipe for bad times. So what if, as we’re trying for that goal, instead of aiming for consistency, we embrace the idea of faltering and restarting. What if any effort is progress, whether or not it’s consistent?

New me uses every negative emotion as information, leans into meltdowns, and holds myself with love and compassion as I sob on bathroom floors, knowing that every emotion will pass and no matter how scary it feels, I am safe, I’ve got my own back, and I can figure this out.