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There are people right now that are very upset with Rachel Hollis and her husband (soon to be ex-husband) as they announced their divorce recently. I choose not to be upset. I have learned so much from Rachel Hollis over the last couple of years and I’m profoundly grateful for her influence in my journey. Here are some of the top things I’ve learned from reading Rachel’s books and following her material online:
- I love using a Start Today journal. I created my own and didn’t buy hers, although they do look super cute. Like Rachel says, you don’t need to buy a special journal. Any old notebook will do. I’m working to make sure I write my gratitude and goals daily, but I also added my own twist … I am writing two affirmations daily that I feel I need in these current times. I may change these affirmations as time goes on, just like my goals, but I love this addition. I do believe that this works so much better than writing your goals and not revisiting them daily. Some of mine have come true already!
- I’ve been through hard times and survived. There will be new hard times and I will survive those as well. Rachel talks about her hard times, what happened with her brother when she was a child, her early relationship with Dave, fostering the twins they thought they would be able to adopt, and I’m sure someday she’ll talk more about the tough decision they are making to divorce. I’ve had my own tough times. Paying my way through college as I’ve been on my own since I was 18 years old, failing IVF cycle after cycle, three babies lost before they could be born, having my husband live in Colorado while I hold down the fort in Pennsylvania while our daughter finishes her senior year of high school and now … a single paycheck house (mine), COVID (I do get to work from home!), homeschooling two 5th graders and my husband dealing with the aftermath of his parents not having a will. I’m still having a great time and love my life!
- I can and should be myself, even if others in my family or the world don’t understand. Rachel talks about how her family didn’t understand why she feels compelled to be an entrepreneur and didn’t want to be a stay-at-home mom. She did it anyway. It really helped me. It’s OK for me to love my corporate job. It’s OK for me to geek out over technology. It’s OK I know a lot about cars or how electrical things work. I’m good with tools. I can program in a pinch. I’m the only person in my house that loves to read books, a lot. It doesn’t mean I’m less of a wife or a mama because I like to spend time on those things. I really did need to hear someone else other than my lovely husband tell me its OK to just be me!
- I need to drink plenty of water. I am really at my best when I’m hydrated. I think more clearly. I don’t get foot or leg cramps as much. I’m a busy mama and I truly need to drink enough water to support the health I’m looking for.
- I need to exercise daily. I really need to get back to working out daily. With some of the things going on recently, it did take a back seat, yet again. It keeps my brain together, helps me feel less anxious, more motivated to do other healthy stuff, like eating a salad instead of falling into a plate of french fries. I also hate the aches I get in my body when I don’t exercise regularly. My lower back starts to hurt. I get aches in my pelvis and legs from sitting too much.
- I need tough talk and someone to give it to me straight. Overall, sometimes I just need to hear an old podcast or YouTube video of Rachel telling me to keep trying my best. Stop the excuses. We all have them. They don’t help us reach for the best version of ourselves. They are holding us back.
These are all the things I still love about Rachel Hollis’s content, so don’t mind me over here while I continue to drink the Rachel kool-aid … I mean at least 1/2 my body weight in ounces of water!
Have you read Rachel’s books or followed her online? How are you processing her separation from Dave?