Jess Smith’s Post

You may not understand what your purpose is in life, like everyone else got the secret memo but you did not. Sure, you have kids or children in your extended family and you love them and try to raise them well. Yes, you have a career and you put your energy there. You may serve on boards or committees. And you are good at what you do, you're a decent friend, a respectable partner, a valued employee. But what's all this magic people speak about regarding living your passion, finding your purpose, and walking toward some dream? What if you just manage to get through your day job? I get it. You may feel like you are just going through the motions. Wake up, get dressed, go to work, do your best, come home, muddle through dinner, sleep, and repeat. You don't have to feel like there is some yellow brick road. Some dream sequence. Some feeling of euphoria. You just need to find what you love, whatever that is, and make sure you fill your life with it. If you are passionate about it, listen to why. Ask your body to help you do more of it. Sit down with a blank page and write and strategize of how you can marry these passions that you have inately inside of you with your own arms and feet and brain. You'll find the purpose if you follow the passion. www.guardmypractice.com

Here’s what you do when you’re in the middle of working on something and suddenly question everything about it. When you get stuck in the mire of questions like: “Does anyone even care about this?” “Is it even good?” “Am I wasting my time?” 🛑 Do this… 1. Step away. 2. Take a few deep breaths. 3. Do a body scan. Are you clenching? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Need to stretch or take a walk? Attend to your body. 4. Call a friend or colleague. If you’re inclined to skip this one, it’s even more important for you. Creating in isolation is not good for you OR the work. Tell someone you’re stuck and just need to hear a friendly voice. 5. Remind yourself why you started this and imagine how you will feel when it’s done. 6. Imagine the best possible outcome for the work. 7. Embrace the reality that perfection doesn’t exist and decide what “well done” might look like. 7. Reset… freshen up your work space, light a candle, grab a yummy beverage, and set back in with a new resolve to follow the joy you want to feel when it’s done. Feel that joy now. Let it sustain and inspire you until the work is done. 8. Share the completion with someone you love ASAP. Celebrate.🎉 This photo was taken the day Michelle Corrao and I finished the manuscript for her incredible book, “Found”.

Do YOU realize how truly powerful you are? You are the magic that is you. You create your personal reality each second. Does it make you happy, open to possibility, compassionate, and loving? It’s okay if doesn’t, you may not have been taught how you and this beautiful world functions. I wasn’t. It took me 45 years to get to this level of understanding and wisdom 😊 AND it’s beautiful and so are you. It’s all part of this wonderful game of life. ❤️ Everything around us is communicating to, for, and with us. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this! Some tips to create awareness, presence, and openness: -> you are already doing it reading this ❤️ -> check in with your routines (habits) and possessions - are they inspiring you and bringing you joy? -> are you doing things because you “should”? 🧐 or “get to”? 🥰 -> reframe: ———> “I don’t like” or “this place is” or this person is” TO ———-> “not for now” or “let me digest this” knowing you feel inspired when it is right for you each moment. -> set intentions and breathe in your vision before engaging or switching tasks What is your intuition type? ———— Hi, I am Ann-Marie. If you’d like to learn more and teach yourself and your body to work with you to create awesomeness, comment “yes” ❤️. Like and share if this resonates.

I get it; we all have those days packed with tasks that we swear will get done. We scribble down our hopes for the day on that ambitious to-do list and promise to tick every box. But let's be real—sometimes the sun sets before we're through, and that list isn't fully checked off. And you know what? That's perfectly okay. Your worth isn't measured by the number of tasks you complete. It's not tied to your productivity today or any other day. You are worthy of love and respect simply by being you. So, let's all take a deep breath and remember that our value isn't determined by our productivity. You are enough, exactly as you are. 💖 Let this be your pivotal moment to change how you measure your worth and discover the bliss of unconditional self-love. Comment "me" in the comments if you believe this to be true! If you struggle with this, send me a private message, and let's chat. I am here to help you, and I want to help you!

Stop buying into the "Authenticity" buzzword and follow this framework. The pressure to conform is real, and I get the frustration... You're trying to keep your job, relationship or sell your prodcut/service. But I'm telling you right now that being authentic is not a burden - it will set you free to connect with a world you've been waiting for This is how you can process an authentic approach that pulls from your genuine self: 1. Is this thought my own? 2. What will be the outcome if I (do/don't)? 3. Will I feel good tomorrow if I decide to go forward with this? How long does it take? Less then you imagine. Around 5-10 minutes. Conversations, actions or decisions can usually wait. Take the time and you'll be suprised how a couple minutes of deep thinking could save you a world of pain and regret in the future. What makes autenticity important for you? Or better yet, What made you realize that authenticity was the key to freedome and connection? ---------------------------- Do you like this post? Join my newsletter and get monthly insights on how to live a life of balance and integrity.

In my work with clients, I've noticed a common theme of separation and compartmentalization in our lives. Understanding this difference is vital for unlocking our potential and achieving our true desires. Compartmentalization involves segmenting different parts of our lives, like our roles as workers, friends, parents, and so on. While it might seem efficient, it actually leads to energy drain, stress, and confusion. We struggle to juggle these separate identities, failing to realize that everything in life is interconnected. This fragmentation weakens our focus and prevents us from making holistic decisions. A significant downside of this compartmentalization is the belief in trade-offs – that we can't have it all and must sacrifice one aspect for another. This creates additional stress as we manage these separate parts instead of unifying them. It also derails us from our goals, as maintaining divided states requires considerable energy. To transition from a fragmented to a coherent state, we must first recognize that nothing in life is truly separate. Our external world mirrors our inner thoughts, words, actions, and feelings. If we experience chaos around us, it often reflects internal turmoil. By harmonizing our internal world, we can align our external reality with our true selves. We often compartmentalize out of fear to confront our deeper emotions or due to identity issues, thinking we need to act in certain ways to be accepted. Breaking down these beliefs and embracing our whole selves – soul, human, divine being – can lead to profound changes. Reflect on where you might be compartmentalizing in your life. How can you align these parts with your true self? Include every aspect of yourself in your life's narrative. You are divine, meant to shine your light and love into the world. I love you!

Knowing your worth requires self-reflection, self-awareness, and a willingness to acknowledge your strengths, accomplishments, and values. Here are some ways to help you discover your worth: 1. Identify your strengths: Make a list of your skills, abilities, and talents. 2. Acknowledge your accomplishments: Reflect on your achievements and successes. 3. Define your values: Determine what matters most to you in life. 4. Practice self-care: Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 5. Set boundaries: Learn to say "no" and prioritize your own needs. 6. Seek supportive relationships: Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. 7. Embrace your uniqueness: Celebrate your individuality and don't compare yourself to others. 8. Focus on your positive qualities: Rather than dwelling on flaws, focus on your positive attributes. 9. Practice mindfulness and self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. 10. Take credit for your accomplishments: Acknowledge and celebrate your hard work and achievements. Remember, your worth is not defined by external factors like societal expectations, social media, or others' opinions. Your worth comes from within, and it's unique to you. Embrace it, own it, and remember that you are enough!

Coming to you live from Marshall, Texas, I'm here to shed some light on a topic that's close to my heart. But first, let's adjust this lighting real quick... Okay, that's better. Now, let's dive in. You know, for the longest time, I've lived under the impression that we should always plaster on a smile, no matter how we truly feel inside. It's like we're programmed to believe that admitting to feeling off is a sign of weakness. But guess what? It's not. Some days, I wake up feeling a little edgy, maybe even a tad jumpy. And you know what? That's perfectly okay. I've come to realize that denying these feelings only causes them to fester inside, like driving with the emergency brake on. Sure, you can move forward, but at what cost? You're wearing yourself out, burning unnecessary fuel. Life isn't about being perfect all the time. It's about embracing the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows. Just like that gambler in Vegas, winning every hand, every day, sounds like a dream, right? But after a while, it becomes a nightmare. Why? Because it's the contrast of emotions that makes life truly fulfilling. You see, feelings are like guests. They come and go. The trick is not to cling onto them or push them away but to observe them with curiosity and without judgment. As someone who's naturally analytical, I used to try to dissect every emotion, to find a logical explanation. But guess what? Emotions don't always follow logic. Instead, I've learned to simply observe, to be present with whatever arises. Maybe there's a lesson hidden within, or maybe it's just a passing cloud. Either way, I've found peace in allowing things to unfold naturally. So, my friends, as you navigate through the rollercoaster of life, remember this: feelings are not your enemy. They're your guides, your teachers. So embrace them, observe them, and above all, keep them neutral. Trust me, it's a game-changer. Until next time, keep shining bright!

It hasn’t happened yet because… why? Whatever answer fills that blank is your block. That belief is what’s standing between you and what you want. But here’s the good news: you don’t need years of healing or digging to fix it. Your blocks aren’t buried in your subconscious—they’re right there in front of you. The story you’re telling yourself about why you can’t have what you want? That’s it. Here’s the work: Catch the belief. Call it outdated. Let it go. If you want to change your life, start by changing the story you tell yourself. It really is that simple.

“And what is the shot?” A snapshot is a moment or situation that you choose to exaggerate in your mind and record for a purpose that only you can understand. Whether it is beautiful or painful, you capture it—perhaps through a photo on your phone, by writing about it, or by embedding it in the words of a song you heard, a scent you loved, or some other trigger on your memory. These snapshots take the moment to a different place, beyond the ordinary flow of life. Our personalities and thoughts are shaped by the accumulation of these snapshots and moments. If you take a moment to reflect and go back in time, you may ask yourself: If I had the choice, would I change any of these snapshots? Honestly, no—you wouldn’t. We continue to love in the same way, get upset in the same way, regret, and try to learn and grow. But the recorded snapshots—no matter how the people or circumstances around us change—will stay with us. They will carry the same emotions they did at the time they were created and will remain as snapshots of our lives. By our own will, we chose to preserve them, whether they were beautiful or hurtful. And for that, we are proud of ourselves—even if we are no longer in those moments. Even if you were to go back a thousand years, snapshots of pain would still be preserved by your choice, just as snapshots of joy would. You are the author of your own story, and with every moment you record, you write it. So, be sure to record the two most important moments in any story: the climax and the conclusion. If you record them well, you will always be able to recount them proudly, as many times as you wish.