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Monica Frederick

Monica Frederick | Writer

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Learn how to start a Gratitude Journal that actually works and see the positive impact that it makes on your life! In this post, read my gratitude journal ideas and DIY your own gratitude journal. #thankfulness #practicingGratitude #journaling #healthyhabits #dailyhabits #dailyroutines

My Tips to Start a Gratitude Journal that Actually Works

HANG WITH ME ON THE ‘GRAM…

monica.frederick.writes

The seven steps to planning the week in a (somewha

I found my first gray hair. It’s a visual remin

I found my first gray hair.
It’s a visual reminder of what I know in my bones; act one of my life has had its curtain call, and act two is just beginning.

This morning, my hair was in a bun, and the grey shined brilliantly in the bathroom light against my brown hair.
(I wish I could capture how it glinted in a photo, but I can never capture it on the phone, just like when the moon is sharp and radiant.)

As I entered my thirties, I could feel a tidal wave shift within me; for the first time in my life, I could feel all the ways my inner maiden (or inner child, if you rather) was hurt and all the ways she still wanted to express herself, but couldn’t.

This gray hair is a visual manifestation of that.

All the years of abuse, food scarcity, and living without running water badly wounded the innocent young girl within me. Back then, I had to mature light years ahead of my age to mother my own mother and make an income for us.

And though that young girl eventually aged and made her way out of that situation, got married, got a house, and all the other social markers of “adulting,” I never *matured* in a way my inner maiden desperately needed.

I had all the outer markers of maturity, but inside, I was still a victim of life happening *to* me rather than claiming the power to intentionally *create* the life around me.

I refused to step into the “mother” phase of my life (archetypical—not literal).

When I tried something new and failed, I berated myself instead of reacting with compassion and kindness as an inner mother would.

I closed myself off to possibilities for my life instead of encouraging myself that I could be anything I set my mind to, like an inner mother would.

But in the second act of my life, I look back on the young maiden me with compassion. She did her best with what she had and what she knew.

That young girl is still within me and always will be, even when I reach the third act of life and fully step into my Crone phase. But now, I have the tools to treat that young girl with all the compassion she needed then.

Sometimes really fucked up shit is written in anci

Sometimes really fucked up shit is written in ancient texts, but that doesn’t mean I throw them out.⁣
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For example, I resonate with many insights from Marcus Aurelius, like, “Let your every action, word, and thought be those of [someone that] could depart from life at any moment.”⁣
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But a the end of the day, Aurelius was the head of an empire that would’ve collapsed without slave labor. So while I don’t hold Aurelius to modern moral standards, neither do I consider him an infallible god above criticism. ⁣
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Same with the Hávamál. I’m interested in Norse traditions because of my Scandinavian ancestors.⁣
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Because I want to connect with those ancestors, reading the Hávamál is also my priority, as it is “written” by their chief god, Odin. ⁣
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But like other supreme gods in other pantheons, he has many sexual assault stories. So like with Aurelius, I take what I resonate with and leave the rest. I don’t need to take every word of an assaulting god to heart!⁣
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And where to even BEGIN with the Bible?!? Without going into my twisted history with The Church, I spent many years repelling anything Bible related. ⁣
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But there is some wisdom in the text that I *do* resonate with because I know it can help me actively show up as my Higher Self. ⁣
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I can take that wisdom today because I don’t have an all-or-nothing mindset regarding religion or historical texts. ⁣
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👉 That’s the thing with philosophy, mythology, and religion; you don’t have to be all-in or all-out.👈 ⁣
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You can use texts from the past on a sliding scale. If some parts help you write an expansive and motivating story about yourself, then take it! If other parts actively go against who you want to be, leave them behind. ⁣
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My mentor always says, “Everything is a tool for you,” and I genuinely believe that is the case, especially regarding ancient wisdom. ⁣
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An infinite line of wisdom exists, extending from ancient times into your future Higher Self. You get to choose which tools and wisdom to keep with you as you create that future version of yourself.

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© 2023 Monica Frederick

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