So… this is me showing up, again. After last week’s post there was still much to say. So again talking about motivation, because motivation isn’t something you find once and then boom you’re set. It’s a muscle. It flexes, it fails, it sometimes flat-out refuses to show up when you need it most.

I used to have a goal of listen to 2 Audible books a month then I went even harder and tried to do one a week. I was in the zone—self-growth stories, inspiring autobiographies, anything that lit a fire in my heart I was rocking it out. And then…life happened. School, responsibilities, and distractions crept in and suddenly I hadn’t hit play in almost 6 months. And you know what? That’s okay. Because I was still growing, just in a different way. I’m working back up and have just recently started You’re a Badass by Jen Sincero it’s really been helping to grease the wheel.

But lately, I’ve missed the feeling, the motivation that came from hearing someone else’s journey. Have you all ever felt like that? The reminder that life is hard for everyone not just you. So as I said I’ve started easing back into it, letting those stories fuel me again—just like I’ve been doing with Mel Robbins’ 3-2-1 method I talked about last week. That method has helped me for several years now but it comes in clutch when I really start having a lag. That countdown works like magic. Just 3 seconds to shut the noise off and move. Whether it’s getting out of bed, hopping on the treadmill, or even handling a task I’ve been avoiding, it’s been my saving grace.

Speaking of treadmills—working out has been another struggle bus for the last few weeks. As summer break creeps in I find myself just not wanting to get back up there. I know when I get up there I do the work. I incline hike, I lift weights, I read ingredients lists like a hawk, I take a literal pharmacy of vitamins. But because of PCOS, my body doesn’t always reflect that effort. Totally fine most days because I know how strong I am but some days it gets in a funk. Some days I feel strong and unstoppable, other days I feel like I’m spinning my wheels and still stuck and wondering how I was in the gym for a solid month and only lost 3 lbs. The battle is worth the fight though so I persevere.

And you know what else helps? I talked about it last week also, it’s the Christian music. Not because I’m some perfect Sunday-school girl (spoiler: because I’m definitely not). Heck even at 36 I’ve been through my own version of hell with a history of addiction, heartbreak, anxiety, shame. But boy do I have FAITH! In fact my name actually means Grace in Greek not that my mom named me Karissa based off that but because irony grace is what I learned it live by going through all that. My life has been messy and unconventional, but it’s mine. And when I’m really low, I throw on worship music to just cry and pray and feel and remind myself how far I’ve come. And like an old record you play for nostalgia it brings me back like a Phoenix rising from the ashes all over again. I’m reminded to be grateful and to find gratitude in every situation. Thank you God for my life.

You may have caught that already and I cheers you for whatever you believe but for me, I believe we’re already walking through hell sometimes. So although I don’t believe in it for the afterlife I do believe we get glimpses of it here in the physical world. The feelings of loss, even grief, and just the daily battles we fight—this world is hard. It is the hell I believe and although we have the option to find darkness in it the ultimate redemption is finding light through the hell of it. But that’s why we need something to believe in right?! For me, it’s God, even if my version of faith with this thinking doesn’t fit in a box I know he’s given me this vision to help me along in my path. I manifest, I pray, I journal, I value therapy and try to breathe calmly through it all. Even if that means at moments I’m crunchy down ice cubes to keep the anxiety monster at bay.

I’m sharing this not just to vent—but because I’m curious:
What are YOU doing to stay motivated right now?
Do you meditate? Do you have a go-to podcast, playlist, or workout routine? Do you journal? Do you hit the gym or hit your knees in prayer?

This is a safe space. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. I just know that I’ve got my own brand of messy, motivated, slightly chaotic magic—and I bet you do too. Let’s share.