NOT A DEAD END. A SPIRAL STAIRCASE

{first_name}.

Ever noticed how when you try to pretend you’re THIS, not THAT, you feel tired, drained, exhausted, even a little bit fraudulent (!)?

It's by design.

Bc it’s not real. It’s not true.

We are all of it.

Sometimes we're sweet. Sometime's were spicy.

Sometimes we're brilliant. Sometimes we're dim.

Sometimes we're generous. Sometimes we're stingy.

Sometimes we're clear. Sometimes we're cloudy.

When we can remember (at least acknowledge!) that -- instead of running around, contorting ourselves energetically screaming, "NOT IT!!!"...

We can literally feel our power coming back online. ⚡️

The challenge, should you choose to accept it:

Next time somebody calls you [insert undesirable noun / adjective here]...

OWN IT.

Ask yourself:

How is that actually true in some form?

How can I ❤️ and appreciate myself even then?

BEST CASE:

Re-membering that part helps you feel more honest, whole, and grounded.

WORST CASE:

Takes all the wind out of their sails. 😛

Try it and lmk how it goes.

P.S. bonus round: 🎪 If your weekday mornings feel like a circus / comedic time lapse / movie montage - having a go-to playlist of sentimental songs can help you WHEW and anchor back in to real time (by remembering that it legit won't be like this forever).

Here's mine. 🎶

P.P.S. Sharing more on FB lately as a means to enhance my creative circulation and because I'm inviting 40 fam, friends, clients, classmates, and colleagues to join me for quick reconnection convos in celebration of my upcoming bday.

It's been a beautiful and powerful experiment so far.

If we're not connected there - page and profile, click the links above change that. ❤️

Hi 👋 I'm Nikki (Elledge Brown).

Writer, podcaster, and creative advisor for brilliant women who love their work, their people, and their alone time.

As a professional overthinker who believes strongly in INTEGRITY > BALANCE, it's my nerdy pleasure to create and share tools, questions, and frameworks that make it easier to feel good about how we’re showing up — on paper and in practice.

Around here, living like a whole human is the way.

That's what we call On Her Terms® living.