Welcome (back) to another edition of The Journal. In September summer slowly transitioned into autumn as the leaves began to gracefully take on shades of gold, amber, and rust, reminding us of the beauty of change. Reflecting this, September has been a month of change, abundance and growth. I hope you take a moment, pause, and reflect on how far you’ve come, and I hope the learnings I share resonate with you. May these words guide you as you step into the coming month.
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People care about you, but sometimes not in the way you think, hope or expect. Because no one is looking out for you. No one is going to make sure you’re okay. No one will thank you later and nobody is coming to save you. Although there are people who like and love you, they too, have their own lives to live. Love may surround you, but in the end, you are the one who must choose yourself. You need to take care of yourself. You need to stop worrying about what others think. You need to communicate your needs and set clear boundaries. You need to prioritize yourself. You need to put yourself first, just like they need to too. It is beautiful to be there for one another, to move through life together, but always remember that all you ever really have is yourself. You are your greatest responsibility. Only when you choose yourself, when you ensure that you are healthy, safe and content, can you also be there for others.
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Growth does not always come with ease—most of the time, it doesn’t. We grow most in discomfort. Discomfort is essential for development and evolution. When you experience it, you learn to stretch beyond your current limitations, face your fears, question your beliefs, and develop new skills. In these moments, you are confronted with the raw truth about who you are and what you are capable of becoming. Discomfort doesn’t just have the potential to make you grow—it does make you grow. With each step you take beyond your comfort zone, the bounds of that zone expand. What was once uncomfortable becomes comfortable, what was hard becomes easy, and the impossible becomes possible. Each moment initiates momentum you didn’t realize you needed to move forward. It is this cycle of facing discomfort, growing through it, and expanding your limits that allows you to continually rise above.
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There is no such thing as overnight success. It does not exist. What seems sudden is almost always the product of long, unseen effort and relentless perseverance. What you see is something but what you don’t see is everything more. There is more you don’t know than you know. There are so many moments you never see—the fears people have overcome, the doubts they quietly push through, the countless small decisions that accumulate over time. Just because it isn’t visible doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Every single step, every consistent action and all the discipline builds the foundation for what finally becomes the success you perceive. It’s not quick and it’s certainly not easy. Instead, it’s a slow, steady and hard process. Success is the byproduct of daily choices, hard work, and persistence, slowly coming together until one day, the world sees some of the result.
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be kinder to myself. I will be more gentle, compassionate and understanding, focusing on the way I feel. Through subtle changes, I will work on connecting with my heart, body and mind more lovingly.
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not fear making mistakes. I will trust myself and develop confidence, knowing that challenges, errors and setbacks are what allow me to grow. I will look for the lessons in every moment to learn what I can take from it in order to develop and thrive.
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What a month September has been—busy and full of work, but also rich with connection and joy. I’m especially grateful to see my words reaching people I could never have reached alone, without all the people who have supported me. Connecting with you, reading your messages, and feeling your love means everything to me, and I can’t wait for everything to come. Celebrating my mum’s birthday and spending quality time with my family made this month even sweeter. My heart is full.