57 Comments

“Nail it down, write it down, say it out loud. Own it deep in your inner recesses. Doing this creates a powerful motivator and guide that will direct your future actions.”

I love the message here. Intention is the key to everything! Without positive intention we just bump along like a stick in the river, caught by the currents. It all starts with the decision to DO something about it.

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That was very inspiring Donna, as always 🫶🏻

So many things I’ve done but didn’t believe in it or thought I couldn’t, but I did and of course felt very empowered. I’m really looking forward to your following posts to build up my toolbox.

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Alice, it's great to see you here! Thank you so much for your comment❤ Sometimes it takes practice, other times blind faith, to soften into something that feels different and get to the other side. Once we see how much better it is we can be more willing to step up. But I always find it's effortful😁

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Thank you for your heart and your wisdom. I want to bookmark this and refer back again and again to be reminded and inspired. <3<3

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Emmy what a lovely comment💕 Thank you for being here and taking the time to touch base!

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Thank you so much for sharing this insightful post, Donna! The analogy of Wholeness and Loudypants is powerful. Your transparency about your own journey, particularly in overcoming challenges like quitting drinking, makes your message even more impactful.

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Winston it’s so nice to see you here, thank you for dropping into the comments section!

I’m glad you liked the post. I wanted to convey that the kind of change I’m taking about moves us toward feeling whole. Sometimes that loud voice takes over and has us fix the broken parts, and while that sometimes needs to be done, it doesn’t seem to help us feel better long term.

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-- Donna,

While reading this essay I was reminded of this one reflection I love:

“I chose and my world was shaken, so what? The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not.” -- Stephen Sondheim.

Here is to being spiritually wise, to changing our minds, to flourishing as thoughtful humans. Xo.

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To changing our minds!! Brilliant.

I’ve heard it said the only bad choice is no choice. I think I agree with this because no choice puts us in a life of autopilot.

Thank you so much for being here Thaissa, I love your insightful comments💕

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Love this piece Donna! Right now I’m literally watching myself distract myself from doing the ONE thing I desire most (working on my manuscript). I’m dancing in an awkward tango with it and I trust we will find our flow again soon 💜

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Oh I know that feeling...watching as we distract ourselves. Sometimes we just need to acknowledge and let it be (not saying that’s easy though!).

I’m so glad you liked the piece, thanks for being here💕

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“Loudy Pants”— I love it! Such a good name for that pesky little voice.

This was a wonderful call to action, Donna. You laid everything out in a way that was very inspiring.

This may be a small example of believing in something before it happened, but every time I try to learn a new trick on my skateboard, I have to believe I can do the trick before I actually do it. Because if I don’t believe I can do it, it won’t happen. And after doing this for years, rallying my belief in myself in this way has become something I’ve been able to transfer to other aspects of my life.

Thanks Donna :)

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What an excellent practice of getting very good at belief and visualization. It would be much more powerful when you use it that frequently. I would love to hear more about your process, how you learned to make it so effective and what happens when you see it play out often. Haha! Just dropping this idea here for a future article in case you run out of ideas!

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Yeah, the way skating has helped me, learn to navigate my mind and harness my belief better is something I’m always astounded by. And as for articles about it goes, I’m sure they will come (and thank you for the suggestion) but I’ll let you in on a little secret (it’s not really a secret) I’m working on a book about skateboarding, which is about why I love it, why I can’t stop doing it, and how it has taught me so many lessons about myself that have transferred to other aspects of my life... so I may have already written about this belief stuff in there — but I can always do more for substack.

Thanks Donna :)

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I don’t know what magic you’ve worked here, but this post found its way into my Substack feed and I am so happy it did! My soul feels calm and excited for the possibilities. I will be subscribing and joining this journey. :)

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Rebecca welcome to this neighborhood on the internet, I am so glad we found each other!! That you feel calm and excited for possibility is the very highest compliment you could ever pay me, thank you❤❤

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I love this invitation Donna, it feels soul nourishing and nurturing with all the delicious bits in between. You are bringing such wisdom here that is truly wonderful. 💫🙏

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Louise thank you! It means a lot that you are here and take the time to comment. I know you have so much going on in your own world so I am happy you are here😊

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This is wonderful, Donna! Firstly, written like a master. A jackpot of entertainment plus profoundly informative. Well done, my friend! I love your reminder that this is not about fixing anything. That really resonates with me. I see myself taking Loudypants into my arms, giving her a big squeeze, and letting her know that it's safe for Wholeness to drive now. I acknowledge that all of Loudypants' antics have been, at the root, an (often misguided) attempt to protect me. I just got back from a shitty trip that has Loudypants all riled up and has brought some old patterns front and center. I am really looking forward to following you on this journey of change. Thank you for this work! ❤️

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I'm sorry to hear that LP was the loudest one on your trip Jenna, I have had the same experience this weekend! I like your suggestion to give them a hug, that is what I'm going to do. Yesterday the word RESTORATION was up for me and I think it will remain that way for a bit. I am sending good vibes of restore to you as well.

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Restoration. That feels utterly perfect. Thank you!

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This part hit me between the eyes: "Wholeness calls us to take the harder path, LP tells us to pour ourselves a drink, eat the junk, gamble this one last time, talk about others, or whatever is the very easiest path of distraction and instant gratification." DISTRACTION. Yes. That rings true. Settling for "junk" instead of exerting the effort to find the treasure.

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I hear you Troy. The concept of discipline has had my attention for a couple years. I would like to study it and explore the idea of personal responsibility that is held with tenderness and grace. This feels so much better than the distraction of my lower self. Maybe that's the change I'm being called toward in the coming year, but I'm pretty sure it's FUN -however the two are not mututally exlusive. (Sorry Bud, I just went off on an early morning tangent here😂)

Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it.

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I love Loudypants as the name for the ego and Wholeness for the Higher self. I can now tell Loudypants to take a back seat to my dreams. The ego name has life long connotations that give it too much power.

I still think you would love the book, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself.

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Did you already tell me about this book? I don't remember if you did but I am going to buy it as soon as I can! I love the title and am pretty sure it will be right up my alley. Thank you for this Carissa💕

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I did mention the book to you. It’s life changing. ❤️🙏

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Yep, now that I see which one it is I remember🤣 I just ordered it and will pick up tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me!

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Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

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Just wow, Donna. Another awesome post. 🙌

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Rebecca I appreciate this comment very much! Thank you for being here💕

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It really touched me how you dissolve the constant struggle within us between ego and consciousness and what is dominant at any given time.

If we run away from the struggle, the fear disappears, but then how can we manifest what Life has to offer us?

Maybe and just maybe, we don't need to understand. We just need to listen, feel and let BE what is.

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Thank you Ricardo, I appreciate your insightful comment. It's an interesting thing we do...the desire to dissect everything and fully understand. I think you're right, sometimes we don't need to, and can't, fully understand. Listen, feel, BE...it's a lifetime of work, but so valuable.

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Awesome 👏🏻 deep yes!

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Thank you Jennifer! I appreciate you being here and for taking the time to comment. It means a lot❤

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❤️👊🏼🌟

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Inspirational writing Donna. Love everithing about this

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Rolando I am so glad you find it inspiring. I think offering hope is helpful at this time.

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Totally true Donna. Hope is a light that illuminates what lies ahead, while discouragement is a shadow that comes from the past to contaminate the present and the future

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