This hit me during my first writing session…
First, thank you for all the messages responding to last week's email where I shared that I started writing my first-ever book.
I sat down for my first writing session and it took about 10 minutes of clunky words to find my rhythm. Then the last 50 minutes? It felt like the words were flying from my fingers.
I’ll keep you updated.
But that session led to an epiphany.
When I was in high school,I shattered my leg riding a four-wheeler. I had a massive external fixator attached to my leg so the bone could heal.
In the middle of the night, if I had to use the bathroom, it was a production. Crutches. Swing the leg. Hobble slowly. Every step took effort.
I remember thinking,“I can’t wait until I can just wake up and walk to the bathroom.”
I couldn’t WAIT for that moment.
And I remember the first time I walked there on my own. Ialmost broke down in tears. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for something so simple.
Now, 10 years later, I wake up and walk there without thinking.
Sometimes I even get annoyed.
“Ugh. I have to get out of bed.”
What was once“I can’t wait to”
became “Ugh, I have to.”
And that made me realize something…
How much of our life do we take for granted simply because we’ve normalized it?
I’ve normalized walking.
I’ve normalized getting to help women get better in my job.
I’ve normalized waking up and having Captain greet me during my morning routine.
All things that were once dreams.
Now they’re just “normal.”
But when I shift my perspective — from normal to gift — everything changes.
I don’t dread my workday. I get excited for it.
Because at any moment, it could all be taken away.
Scroll left and see my leg in high school here
What I think
When we feel “blah” or “ugh,” we assume something external needs to change.
My job needs to change.
My routine needs to change.
My diet needs to change.
My circumstances need to change.
And sometimes that’s true.
But more often?
It’s the lens.
Perspective is like a pair of glasses.
If I’m wearing pink lenses, the whole world looks pink.
If I’m wearing red lenses, everything looks red.
Nothing around me changed.
Just the filter I’m looking through.
Your brain is wired to scan for what’s wrong. It’s trying to protect you from pain. So it will naturally hyper-focus on problems, threats, and inconveniences.
That’s survival.
But thriving requires intention.
It requires consciously choosing a different lens.
Instead of asking, “What’s wrong?”
Ask, “What’s a gift here?”
Take a moment today to step back and look at your life from that angle.
The health you once prayed for.
The opportunity you once hoped for.
The relationships you once asked God for.
You might realize you’re far more abundant than you’ve been allowing yourself to see.
That’s the shift.
The one degree shift
List 5 big blessings or gifts in your life every day this week.
Make your brain look for what's good in your life.
You'll be amazed at how that changes so much.
Want to learn more?
Last week I interviewed Dr. Claire Paxton on how the brain affects the body— and it was powerful.
We unpacked how your nervous system shapes your healing, performance, and even your outlook on life. We also dove deep into women’s health and how to begin rewiring your brain and body to look for the good instead of defaulting to stress.
This one will shift how you see your body.
Take a listen here.
