Tag: love

Mantra #4: I Am Creating A Beautiful Life

A mantra for rebuilding, reimagining, and reinventing your life—
one choice at a time.

There are times when life falls apart—when the job ends, the relationship is over, and the future you expected fades away. I’ve experienced those moments too, looking at a life that no longer matched the one I had expected.

In those moments, repeating “I am creating a beautiful life” gave me hope. Not because anything felt beautiful, but because I needed to remember that beauty can be rebuilt. That I could begin again. That I could create something new, one choice at a time. And, I did.

This mantra isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about remembering your power to create something meaningful, even in the middle of uncertainty or loss.

A beautiful life rarely arrives fully formed. It’s built—often in the middle of days that feel anything but beautiful. It grows from the choices you make about how you spend your time, who you allow in your life, and what you give your energy to.

When life feels confusing or unsteady, this mantra becomes an anchor. Those moments may feel like endings, but they’re also opportunities to design your life from the inside out.

In those moments you tell yourself: “I am creating a beautiful life. Not someday. Not when everything is perfect. Now.”

What is a beautiful life?

There’s no universal definition. Each of us must decide what beauty means in our own lives. But it helps to begin with the pieces that shape your everyday experience.

1. Your environment

Your surroundings influence how you feel. For me, a beautiful environment is the lake outside my window—water, trees, sky. I need nature. I need color. I need reminders that the world is bigger than whatever I’m worrying about.

Your version may look different:

  • A cozy apartment filled with plants
  • A high-rise view that glows at night
  • A tiny home tucked in the woods
  • A kitchen that smells like coffee and possibility

Ask yourself: What do I want to see when I wake up?  How do I want to feel? What surroundings help me breathe easier? What fills me with gratitude?

If your current environment is anything but beautiful, think about improvements you can make. Just adding plants, a vase of flowers, and a little color can make a big difference.

2. The people you choose to be around

A beautiful life is supported by beautiful relationships—not perfect people, but people who help you grow.

I’ve learned to limit time with chronic complainers, not because I don’t want to help, but because negativity spreads quickly. So does hope. So does courage. So does joy. And those feel so much better.

Consider the people in your life:

  • Who lifts you up?
  • Who drains you?
  • Who believes in your dreams?
  • Who makes you feel small?

A beautiful life is built with people who support your goals—not those who question your sanity when you talk about your dreams.

3. How you spend your time

Time is your most valuable resource . How you use it determines your direction.

An important question to ask yourself is “When was the last time I did something for the first time?”

A beautiful life isn’t lived on autopilot. It’s shaped by curiosity, courage, the willingness to imagine something better for yourself—and to try something new, even if you’re not good at it yet. Especially then.

Trying new things reminds you that you are still growing, still capable, and still becoming. It also allows you to connect with new people who might be better suited to be part of the life you want to create.

A beautiful life begins with one belief

You deserve the best life has to offer. You don’t have to settle. You have the power to shape your future. Don’t hand that power to others by living to please them. You’re the one who lives with the results of your choices—so choose the ones that lead you toward the life you want to create.

A beautiful life isn’t something you find. It’s something you build—with intention, courage, and a deep belief that you deserve more than just surviving.

So when doubt creeps in, or the path feels unclear, return to this mantra. Let it remind you that you’re not waiting for beauty—you’re creating it.

I am creating a beautiful life. And every day, in ways big and small, you already are.

Mantra #2: Now is Not Forever

“Now is Not Forever:” A Mantra for Life’s Ups and Downs

You and I both know how quickly life can change. One moment feels like it will last forever… until it doesn’t. That’s why this mantra means so much to me. It’s a mantra that steadies you in chaos and softens you in joy. It’s helped me savor the good times and survive the hard ones. And it’s been with me ever since a Christmas morning many years ago — a moment I want to share with you. Let me take you back to that morning.

My 4-year-old and 8-year-old daughters were on the floor that Christmas morning, completely absorbed in the magic of tearing through wrapping paper to open their presents and make a mess in our living room. Their laughter filled the room.

My husband looked over and smiled at me, and in that quiet moment — coffee in my hands, our daughters lost in joy, love settling over us like a warm blanket — I felt a wave of tenderness. You’ve had moments like that, too, the warm, fuzzy ones you wish you could freeze.

And it was in the middle of that sweetness that something shifted.

As clearly as if someone had whispered it in my ear, I heard the words: Now is not forever. I felt a sudden ache as I realized this moment was already becoming a memory. It was precious because it was temporary, and I wanted to hold it close before it passed.

If you’ve raised children, you know how quickly those moments slip through your fingers. In that moment, I knew that one day I would look back on this time and want to relive it. I thought to myself, I’m never going to forget this moment because now is not forever.

Cherish the Good Times and Survive the Bad

What I didn’t realize then was how often I would return to those words.

That moment didn’t just stay in the past. It became a mantra I leaned on again and again — especially when life became harder than I ever imagined. This mantra didn’t just help me feel joy; it helped me survive pain. You’ll be surprised how quickly this simple phrase can steady you.

I learned that most clearly during the hardest seasons of my life.

Repeating “now is not forever” carried me through serious illnesses and surgeries, with too much time spent in MRI machines and critical care units. You’ve had these moments too — when you’re scared, exhausted, or wondering how you’ll get through. Repeating this mantra will strengthen you in hard times.

But this mantra isn’t only for the big crises, parenting, or illness. It’s just as powerful during the quieter, confusing in-between times. It can be a compass to help you navigate any personal or professional transition you face.

We’ve all had good relationships that turned bad, and jobs we thought were secure until they weren’t. Loss made you believe you would never be happy or feel safe again — and then you were. Repeating “now is not forever” during lonely, insecure times gives you hope that this feeling won’t last and that you will be happy again.

Change brings a time of transition and a roller‑coaster ride of emotions. You feel the pain of loss alongside the excitement of possibilities. If you don’t have a clear vision of what’s next, you will feel lost and confused during the in‑between phase that seems to last forever.

Repeating “now is not forever” will help you get through the in-between time until you once again feel happy and as if you belong in the new world that change creates.

Because I want this mantra to support you as it has supported me, here are a few simple ways to use it when you need it.

  • Repeat this mantra at any moment you’re feeling impatient, overwhelmed, or just plain miserable. It will calm you and help you gain perspective on your life right now.
  • If you’re struggling, “Now is not forever” offers you hope during difficult times. It means better days are coming; the pain won’t last forever.
  • During times of happiness, “Now is not forever” encourages you to cherish the moment and recognize that even good times change and evolve.
  • When you’re longing to relive a happy moment, “Now is not forever” reminds you of life’s constant flow of change. Instead of longing for the past, focus on how you can experience and treasure the present.

Life keeps moving, and so do we. But the beauty is that new moments always find us.

I can’t relive that moment with my children, but I’ve been fortunate to share similar moments with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wherever you find yourself today — in joy, in uncertainty, or simply trying to stay afloat — let this mantra deepen your gratitude for the blessings you’ve received and soften the edges of the challenging moments.

Let it remind you that this moment is not forever. Everything changes. Everything passes. No season lasts forever. And as life shifts around you, this mantra will help you breathe a little easier and trust a little deeper. It will remind you that you’re going to be okay. You always have been. You always will be. You are far more resilient than you know.