the ward method

Tag: mindfulness

  • 4 Simple Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Child (and Actually Have More Fun)

    4 Simple Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Child (and Actually Have More Fun)

    Somewhere between responsibilities, routines, and trying to “have it all together,” many of us forget how to have fun. Real fun. The kind that isn’t scheduled, productive, or shared for validation, just light, curious, and a little bit silly.

    Tapping into your inner child isn’t about being immature or avoiding real life. It’s about reconnecting with parts of yourself that knew how to feel joy without overthinking it. The parts that didn’t need a reason to laugh, create, or play.

    Here are four simple, realistic ways to invite more of that energy back into your life.

    1. Do Something Just Because It’s Fun (Not Useful):

    As adults, we’re conditioned to justify everything. Workouts have to burn calories. Hobbies have to turn into side hustles. Even rest has to be “earned.”

    Your inner child didn’t operate like that.

    Think back to what you loved doing as a kid, drawing, dancing in your room, baking for fun, riding a bike with no destination. Try reintroducing one of those activities without attaching an outcome to it. No goals. No productivity. No posting it online.

    When you allow yourself to do something purely for enjoyment, you remind your nervous system that life doesn’t always need to be so serious.

    2. Let Yourself Be Bad at Things:

    One of the biggest blockers to fun as an adult is the fear of being bad at something. We don’t want to look silly. We don’t want to fail. We don’t want to be seen trying.

    But kids learn through mess and experimentation, not perfection.

    Sign up for a class you’ve never done before. Try painting, pottery, surfing, or learning an instrument. Give yourself full permission to be awkward, slow, and imperfect. The joy is in the trying, not the result.

    Being bad at something can actually be incredibly freeing.

    3. Create Little Moments of Play in Your Day:

    You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel more playful. Sometimes it’s about small shifts.

    Wear something fun just because. Take a longer route home if it’s prettier. Dance while making dinner. Buy the colourful mug. Order dessert for the table. Watch a movie you loved when you were younger.

    Play doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic, it can be quiet, cozy, and woven into your everyday routine.

    4. Spend Time With People Who Make You Feel Light:

    Notice how you feel after spending time with different people. Some connections feel heavy, performative, or draining. Others make you laugh, relax, and feel more like yourself.

    Your inner child thrives around people who don’t require you to explain yourself or have everything figured out.

    Make space for the friendships that feel easy. The ones where conversation flows, laughter comes naturally, and you don’t feel the need to be “on.” Feeling safe and light is one of the fastest ways back to joy.

    Tapping into your inner child isn’t about escaping adulthood, it’s about softening it. It’s about remembering that joy, curiosity, and play are not things you grow out of. They’re things you grow back into.

    Life feels lighter when you let yourself enjoy it again.

  • How to manifest without forcing (the power of gratitude).

    How to manifest without forcing (the power of gratitude).

    For the longest time, I thought manifesting was all about willpower, writing down what I wanted, visualizing it, and somehow trying to force the universe to deliver. The harder I pushed, the more frustrated I got when things didn’t show up. It felt like I was stuck in a constant loop of trying and failing, and I started wondering if manifesting was just one big scam.

    Then I realized something: manifesting doesn’t have to feel like a full-time job. In fact, forcing it usually backfires. The key isn’t in chasing; it’s in noticing. It’s in being grateful for what you already have, for the small wins, for the everyday moments that often go overlooked. Gratitude shifts your energy in a way that chasing or stressing can never do.

    I started a simple experiment on myself. Each morning, I wrote down three things I was genuinely thankful for, not “I’m grateful for coffee because it’s trendy,” but real, specific things. Maybe it was the way sunlight hit my apartment floor, a text from a friend that made me smile, or even the fact that I had clean water to drink. Over time, I noticed a shift. My mindset started feeling lighter. Opportunities that I’d normally overlook began standing out. I wasn’t forcing anything to happen, but I was more open to receiving.

    Gratitude, in its simplest form, is like telling the universe: I see what I already have, and I trust that more good things can come my way. It doesn’t mean ignoring the things you want or pretending life is perfect. It’s about balance, honoring the present while staying open to growth. And the more consistent you are, the more it becomes a habit, a natural way of seeing life’s little gifts without stress or struggle.

    Manifesting without forcing doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not about performing rituals or hitting a checklist. It’s about pausing, noticing, and appreciating what’s here right now. Once you start practicing gratitude regularly, you’ll notice that the things you’ve been trying to manifest sometimes show up in ways you didn’t even expect, effortlessly, naturally, and often at just the right time.

    So if you’ve been trying to force outcomes or feeling frustrated that your dreams aren’t coming fast enough, try this: start with gratitude. Shift your focus from chasing to appreciating, and watch how your energy, and your life, begin to align in its own gentle, powerful way.

  • How to focus on yourself (without disappearing from the world).

    How to focus on yourself (without disappearing from the world).

    There’s this moment we all hit , usually after giving too much of ourselves to people, jobs, situations, or just the chaos of life, where you’re like, wait, when did I stop checking in with myself?

    Focusing on yourself doesn’t mean going full hermit or cutting everyone off. It’s about redirecting your energy inward for a bit. Slowing down enough to ask, what do I actually need right now?

    If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or a little lost, here are 4 ways to gently shift the focus back to you, without guilt, drama, or disappearing completely.

    1. Romanticize your solo time

    Start small. Take yourself for a drive, make your morning coffee slower, read in silence, sit in the sun. You don’t need a full “main character energy” routine to reconnect with yourself, you just need to stop filling every moment with noise.

    The more time you spend alone (and actually enjoy it), the more grounded you feel. It’s like your nervous system finally exhales.

    2. Stop tracking everyone else’s timeline

    You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re not missing out.
    It just feels that way because we’re constantly scrolling through other people’s highlight reels.

    Remind yourself that comparison isn’t clarity. You can’t hear your own voice if you’re tuned into everyone else’s channel. When you notice yourself spiraling into “they’re doing more than me,” take a step back. Ask, “what’s one small thing I can do for my life right now?”

    It’s a quiet shift, but it changes everything.

    3. Take inventory of your energy

    Think of your energy like a bank account, every conversation, habit, or thought is a transaction.
    Start asking, is this giving or taking?

    If something constantly leaves you drained, a person, a routine, an obligation, it might be time to adjust your boundaries. Focusing on yourself is sometimes just saying “no” more often. Not out of selfishness, but out of self-preservation.

    4. Do something that reminds you who you are

    Not who you were , who you are now.
    That might mean picking up a hobby you dropped, dancing in your room again, taking a walk without your phone, or starting that project you’ve been scared to do.

    It’s so easy to lose yourself in the noise of “what’s next.” But you already know who you are, you’ve just been too distracted to notice.

    Final thought:
    Focusing on yourself isn’t about becoming some perfectly put-together version of you. It’s about getting back to the version that feels real, the one that isn’t trying so hard to prove anything.

    When you start treating yourself like someone worth prioritizing, your whole world starts to shift quietly in your favor.

  • Ghosting your negative thought patterns.

    Ghosting your negative thought patterns.

    We’ve all been there, caught in a loop of overthinking, self-doubt, or that one embarrassing thing we said in 2016. Negative thought patterns have a sneaky way of making themselves at home, like uninvited guests who refuse to leave the party.

    But here’s the thing: just like you can ghost a toxic ex, you can ghost your own negative thoughts. The trick isn’t pretending they don’t exist, it’s deciding they don’t get front-row seats in your mind anymore.

    So, how do you actually do it? Here are two practical (and kind of freeing) ways to start:

    1. Call them out like a bad Tinder date.

    The next time your brain tells you: “You’re not good enough” or “You’re never going to figure this out”, don’t just accept it. Call it out. Literally say (in your head or out loud if you’re dramatic like me): “Cool story, but not true.”

    It’s wild how much power negative thoughts lose when you stop letting them be the authority. Label them for what they are, fear, insecurity, old conditioning, and move on.

    Think of it as swiping left on mental clutter.

    2. Replace the story with a better one.

    Ghosting isn’t just ignoring, it’s choosing something better for yourself. Once you’ve called out the negative thought, replace it with a new story.

    Example:
    Negative thought: “I’ll never be successful.”
    Replacement: “I’m still learning, but every step I take is proof I’m building something real.”

    You don’t have to jump from zero to “I’m a billionaire genius” (though hey, manifest away). Just shift the story into something that feels possible, true, and kind.

    Ghosting your negative thought patterns doesn’t mean you’ll never overthink or spiral again. You’re human. The goal is to stop letting those thoughts run the show. Every time you call them out and rewrite the story, you’re proving to yourself that you’re in charge, not the voice in your head.

    And honestly? That’s the kind of glow-up no one can take from you.

  • 4 ways to feel more positive (even on the messy days).

    4 ways to feel more positive (even on the messy days).

    Let’s be real, life isn’t always Instagram-perfect. Some days you wake up, spill coffee on your shirt, and wonder if anything’s actually going right. But positivity doesn’t have to be some grand, unattainable state. Sometimes it’s just about the little things that help you shift your vibe. Here are four ways I try to feel a bit lighter, even when life gets messy:

    1. Move Your Body Without Pressure

    You don’t need a full workout or an intense gym session. Walks without a destination, dancing around your room to that one album you’ve been obsessed with, or even stretching while your coffee brews, all of it helps shift your energy. Moving your body reminds your brain that you’re alive, capable, and ready for whatever comes next.

    2. Give Yourself Small Wins

    Positivity grows when you actually see yourself doing things, even tiny things. Make your bed, finish that podcast episode you’ve been putting off, or make yourself a snack you genuinely enjoy. These small wins tell your brain, “I’m doing okay, actually.”

    3. Curate Your Mental Diet

    What you consume affects your mood. Music, books, podcasts, even the social media accounts you follow, all of it adds to your mental landscape. Surround yourself with things that uplift, inspire, or entertain you, not just things that stress you out or make you compare.

    4. Celebrate the Small Joys

    It sounds cliché, but noticing little things makes a difference. That matcha you’ve been obsessed with, a hilarious show you can’t stop bingeing, a cute outfit, or just the sunset on your evening walk, these tiny moments are the fuel for positivity.

    Bottom line: positivity isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff. It’s about creating pockets of light, energy, and comfort in your day, the things that remind you life isn’t only chaos.

    Sometimes it’s just that small shift that makes the whole day feel a little brighter.

  • 3 ways to live life that feels like you.

    3 ways to live life that feels like you.

    Life is messy, beautiful, confusing, and sometimes just plain exhausting. And honestly? There’s no one “right” way to do it. But after a lot of trial and error (and some awkward detours), I’ve found a few simple ways to live that actually feel like me, and maybe they’ll resonate with you, too.

    1. Show Up for Yourself, First.

    Before you can really show up for anyone else, you have to be in your own corner. That means honouring your needs, feelings, and boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s saying “no” without guilt, carving out time to recharge, and choosing what lights you up instead of what drains you. When you prioritize your well-being, the rest falls into place more easily.

    2. Embrace the Uncertainty.

    Life rarely looks like the perfect plan. Sometimes, things get messy, and that’s okay. Instead of fighting the unknown or trying to control every detail, lean into the uncertainty. Be curious about what might happen next. Growth happens in the in-between spaces, not just the clear-cut milestones. So take a deep breath, trust your gut, and remember: it’s okay not to have all the answers.

    3. Create Your Own Definition of Success.

    Forget society’s checklist of success, the perfect job, the “right” relationship, the dream house. Your version of success might be slower, softer, and way more aligned with your values. Maybe it’s about meaningful connections, creative projects, or just waking up feeling calm and grateful. When you define success on your own terms, you stop chasing and start being.

    Living life your way isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about choosing what matters to you, even when it feels scary or unconventional. It’s about being kind to yourself through the highs and lows and trusting that you’re exactly where you need to be.

    Here’s to living a life that feels less like a checklist, and more like you.

  • Q3 energy = soft goals + steady growth.

    Q3 energy = soft goals + steady growth.

    Somewhere along the way, we decided that planning your life had to feel like a part-time job.
    Colour-coded calendars. 5am alarms. Daily “power hour” blocks and quarterly vision boards.

    Cute in theory. Exhausting in reality.

    So here’s a radical idea:
    What if Q3 didn’t need to be your grind era?
    What if it could be your soft launch season, the one where you slow down, tune in, and grow at your own pace?

    That’s where I’m at.

    I’m calling it my “slow mornings, soft goals, steady growth” era. And no, it’s not a fancy routine with 17 steps. It’s more like a gentle rhythm I can return to when life feels a little loud.

    Here’s what it actually looks like:

    Slow mornings.

    Not “no mornings.” Just… slower ones.
    Ones where I actually pause before reaching for my phone. Where I write something down, make coffee, open a window. Where I let the day greet me instead of chasing it.

    You don’t need a 6-step skincare routine and a sunrise yoga flow (unless you love that). Sometimes, it’s enough to just sit with yourself for a few minutes and breathe.

    Soft goals.

    Not lazy goals. Not vague goals. Just goals that don’t make you want to cry.

    I’ve stopped trying to do all the things at once. Now, I pick 2–3 focus areas for the quarter, things that genuinely matter to me. Things I want to grow, not force.

    It’s less “reinvent your life in 30 days” and more “what can I pour into, slowly and meaningfully?”

    Steady growth.

    This is the part no one talks about.
    The quiet wins. The baby steps. The kind of progress that doesn’t show up on Instagram but feels huge in your own life.

    For me, that means checking in once a week.
    Not to critique, but to reflect:

    • What actually worked this week?
    • What felt off?
    • Did I move in the direction of the life I want?

    I do this with a notebook. Or sometimes in the notes app. Or on a walk. No rules, just realignment.

    We’re so used to pushing for more that we forget how powerful it is to move with intention instead of urgency.

    So if your brain’s been loud lately, if the world feels like a group project you didn’t sign up for, this is your sign to slow down. Pick a few things that matter. Create a rhythm that supports your peace, not just your productivity.

    Because Q3 doesn’t have to be a sprint.
    It can be the season where you finally stop rushing and start savouring.

  • June gloom got you spiraling?

    June gloom got you spiraling?

    You know that weird, foggy stretch of time where the sky’s grey for no reason, your motivation’s missing, and everything feels a little meh?

    Yep. June Gloom. It’s a thing. And if you’re anything like me, it messes with your vibe just enough to make you feel off, even when everything else seems fine.

    And while it’s not full-on seasonal depression, there’s definitely something about grey skies and that weird middle-of-the-year limbo that makes you question… everything?

    So if you’ve been feeling low-key tired, uninspired, or just kind of over it, here are 3 ways I’ve been dealing with the gloom, without pretending I’m suddenly a productivity machine:

    1. Romanticize your routine, even if it’s boring

    Yes, I said it. The only thing getting me through this grey weather is making my everyday routine feel like a low-budget indie film.
    Warm matcha in a real mug (not a to-go one).
    Reading a chapter of a book instead of doom scrolling.
    Putting on a playlist that sounds like main character energy in the rain.

    It doesn’t have to be aesthetic or perfect. Just intentional. A moody walk in a hoodie. Cooking something warm. Writing a list. Let the weather slow you down, in a good way.

    2. Stop forcing sunshine energy when you’re in a fog

    This one’s for my overachievers. You’re not lazy or broken if you don’t feel like doing it all right now. There’s nothing wrong with needing more rest, silence, or solitude when things feel heavy.

    Your body and brain are responding to lower light, lower serotonin, and the subtle stress of “mid-year pressure.”
    So instead of pushing, pause.

    → Take the pressure off.
    → Do what you can, then give yourself permission to chill.
    → Let yourself feel cozy, even if it’s June.

    3. Get outside, even if it’s just for 10 minutes

    Okay, hear me out, this sounds basic, but it actually helps.
    Even on cloudy days, natural light (especially morning light) can reset your circadian rhythm, boost your mood, and help you feel slightly more alive.

    Grab your hoodie, throw on headphones, and step out for a walk. Go to a yoga flow session. You don’t need to hit 10K steps or see the sun, just move. Let your eyes look far away. Let your brain defog a little. It’s underrated magic.

    June doesn’t always feel like summer mentally. Sometimes it’s grey skies, hot coffee, and being kind to yourself for showing up anyway.

    You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re just in a season. And it’s okay to meet it with softness instead of resistance.

    Now go pour yourself something warm, romanticize the fog, and maybe cry to a Slow Pulp song. You’re doing great.

  • Distraction is the enemy of vision.

    Distraction is the enemy of vision.

    We live in a world where everyone’s doing something.
    Launching something. Building something. Manifesting something.
    It’s constant motion, but what’s the intention behind it?

    Because here’s the thing no one really talks about:
    Distraction doesn’t always look like scrolling TikTok or binge-watching another comfort show.
    Sometimes, distraction looks like productivity. Like staying busy with everything but the thing that actually matters.

    We signal instead of do.
    We post about healing before we’ve even taken a breath.
    We say yes to everything because we’re scared of missing out, but end up missing ourselves in the process.

    The Age of Signaling

    In a hyper-online world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of signaling, showing people that you’re self-aware, evolving, healing, successful, whatever. And while there’s nothing wrong with sharing your growth, there’s a fine line between expression and performance.

    Are you actually becoming the person you want to be?
    Or are you just signaling that you’re on your way there?

    Because true vision, the kind that leads you to your purpose, isn’t loud. It doesn’t need applause.
    It’s quiet. Internal. Often messy and deeply personal.

    And it needs your full attention.

    Distraction Dilutes Clarity

    When you’re constantly consuming other people’s goals, routines, aesthetics, timelines, it’s easy to start questioning your own.
    You lose clarity. You lose time. You lose you.

    Distraction isn’t always the obvious stuff.
    It’s also:

    • Comparing your pace to someone else’s
    • Saying “yes” to things that feel like a “meh”
    • Getting caught up in aesthetics over alignment
    • Reaching for validation instead of connection

    And worst of all?
    Distraction keeps you almost fulfilled, busy enough to feel productive, but not grounded enough to feel purposeful.

    Vision requires boundaries

    If you have a vision for your life, a business, a book, a lifestyle, a version of you who feels more at peace, you need boundaries.
    With your time. With your energy. With your attention.

    That doesn’t mean being rigid or robotic.
    It means making space for the real work.
    It means tuning in instead of tapping out.
    It means choosing depth over noise.

    So how do you focus again?

    You don’t need a digital detox and a silent retreat (unless you want one).
    You just need to come back to yourself.
    One decision at a time.

    • Ask yourself: what am I doing right now, and is it aligned with where I want to go?
    • Stop signaling. Start building.
    • Let the vision be enough, even if no one claps yet.

    Because distraction may be loud, but clarity is louder, once you get quiet enough to hear it.

    You don’t need to look like you’ve got it together.
    You just need to stay connected to what actually matters.

    Let your vision lead.
    Not the noise.

  • 5 Affirmations that will actually shift your mood.

    5 Affirmations that will actually shift your mood.

    Let’s be real. Sometimes life just feels… heavy.
    Maybe you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or the endless to-do list has you spiraling, or you’re just plain tired of carrying the weight of your own brain.
    We all have those days when our mood is less “I got this” and more “please send coffee and a hug.”

    That’s when I turn to affirmations, not the cheesy, crystal-gazing kind, but real, grounded little phrases I say to myself to get back on track.

    Here are 5 affirmations I use that actually shift my mood and help me breathe easier:

    1. “I am allowed to feel all of this.”

    Sometimes the best permission you can give yourself is to just feel.
    There’s no timeline on emotions, and telling yourself it’s okay to be upset, anxious, or even bored can take some of the pressure off.
    When I say this, it’s like telling my brain, “It’s okay. I see you. You don’t have to fix everything right now.”

    2. “This moment is temporary.”

    Nothing stays the same forever, even that weird cloud of stress or sadness you’re carrying.
    Reminding myself that whatever I’m feeling will pass helps me hold space without panicking or overthinking.
    It’s a small phrase that gives me big relief.

    3. “I don’t have to do it all today.”

    Perfectionism and burnout love to sneak in when your brain tells you you have to be perfect, always.
    This affirmation is a little rebellion against that.
    It lets me slow down, break things into chunks, and remember that progress > perfection.

    4. “I am enough just as I am.”

    Some days, the voice inside your head is your harshest critic.
    This one is a soft hug.
    A reminder that you don’t need to prove your worth or hustle harder to earn love or respect.
    You’re already enough, messy hair, overthinking brain, and all.

    5. “I choose to focus on what I can control.”

    There’s always going to be noise and chaos out there, but this affirmation grounds me.
    It’s about gently letting go of what’s outside my control and putting energy into what I can do, whether that’s a deep breath, a small task, or reaching out to a friend.
    It’s a reset button when everything feels overwhelming.

    I don’t chant them for hours or try to “manifest” a perfect day.
    Instead, I pick one that fits the moment, sometimes just whispering it under my breath when I’m in the shower, or writing it down in my notebook, or repeating it while making coffee.
    It’s the small, gentle reminders that add up over time.

    Give it a try.
    Next time you feel stuck or heavy, pick an affirmation.
    Say it out loud, write it down, or just sit with it.
    You might be surprised at how much a few words can shift your whole day.