December 4, 2024 | Issue No. 5

Each year, I find myself saying “whew…what a year that was.” And I jokingly, but kind of seriously, started questioning whether it was time to investigate if I’m part of the reason each year is packed with these challenges and lessons. Because honey, I am the common denominator lolol.

If you relate, you know how challenging it can be to stay focused on YOU when life feels hard. When you find yourself in these high highs and low lows, it can feel like failure…when really it’s just normal life and everyone is experiencing it, but no one is talking about it.

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Knowing that life is gonna life, I used a lot of my energy this year figuring out ways to bring my energy back to a grounded place when something rocks me and throws me off. These tools also helped me build resilience, so when tough times arrived, I felt full enough to deal with them. Trying to control everything around us is exhausting and not the best use of our time. But developing tools that help you get through hard moments and thrive? That sounds like the sweet spot to me.

Quick Note: I’m thinking of holding a small virtual group to focus on how the small things become BIG things, as I share below. It’ll be intimate and powerful! Reply and lmk if you’re interested.

First up for tools that shift my energy are affirmations. If you recorded the thoughts that replay in your mind on a regular basis, and listened to them, you’d be shocked. So many of us have negative soundtracks on repeat, and they get turned up a notch when we’re in panic, stress, or overwhelm. Spending time cultivating a collection of meaningful affirmations has changed my life. I love to write my own, but if that’s not for you, google topics you love and find affirmations that resonate. Bonus? In your own voice, record your affirmations using the voice notes section of your phone. Now you can play these affirmations on your morning commute, after a hard call, or before you go to sleep.

Affirmation to take with you: The small things, become big things, so keep going.

Next up, moving my body. There’s really nothing else that works like a workout. Going for regular walks, lifting weights, and regular stretching has become my weekly commitment 4-5x per week, and want to know the big difference here? This year I chose flow over perfection. I don’t care if my workout happens at the time I originally scheduled it. I don’t care if I have to walk today instead of the weightlifting I planned. It’s okay if I need to take a break that I didn’t know was coming. Yes, I have a plan of what I’ll be doing when I get to my workout, and I have a schedule, but if life happens I’ve committed to getting it done however I can OVER canceling and falling out of my commitments just because it doesn’t look the way I wanted it too. This can be applied to so many goals we set for ourselves, so if this mindset doesn’t fit for moving your body, apply it wherever you may need it.

Affirmation to take with you: “When I commit to flow, I say yes to peace.”

PS. Flow doesn’t mean not getting things done, or not being responsible. We’ve gotta find what works y’all! LOL

Last up, I leaned into audios in all ways. Audiobooks, podcasts, church - all the audios. This has been wonderful in getting me out of my own way with the “I don’t have time” excuse that often comes up, which is valid sometimes, but no longer a barrier. If I’m doing laundry, washing dishes, cooking dinner, or even in the shower I can listen to something when I need it.

Affirmation to take with you: “I’m a priority and I treat myself like I matter.”

I also love lots of quiet space too, so every moment of every day doesn’t have to be filled with doing something. But if and when you need that something, these daily things have helped me so much.

These could also be great things to bring into your next year, and why wait until January 1st? I find that starting now takes the pressure off. You don’t need a resolution to decide to change your life in any way right now.

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Musings + Moments from the last month:

I celebrated my friend Glory Edim’s, founder of Well-Read Black Girl, new book, Gather Me, and it was such a beautiful time. Love on your people, show up for your people, and do it out loud. We need all need more of this x

It’s advent calendar season, and I didn’t even know this was a thing until I received my first one last December. But I love it and this year I got one as a gift and one for myself as my new Christmas ritual lol. What are your holiday to-dos?

I know pumpkins don’t really go with Christmas, but Wicked has me in a grip!!!! Have you seen wicked? I’m gonna see it for the second time soon because I can’t get enough!!

I HIGHLY considered this Elphaba moment at the farmers market lolol.

I hope you feel encouraged to explore new ways of riding the waves life brings us. Share your thoughts below or reply, I’d love to hear it.

I’ll see you in the next newsletter, next year!

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Gather with Yasmine Cheyenne is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.