So a bit of health update here.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in August of last year.  I was exhausted, anxious, sad, & had suddenly gained like 10 pounds - seemingly overnight.  It was really scary.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After meeting with an endocrinologist, I started taking 25 mcg of Levothyroxine every morning (reluctantly because I'm intrinsically averse to pharmaceuticals - but I felt so horrible, I was desperate). I also decided to approach my health recovery through nutrition (limiting gluten, sugar, and healing the gut) and hormone replacement therapy (episode 44 of the podcast).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had a blood test 2 weeks ago, and my TSH went from 4.9 to 2.7, and my thyroid antibodies went from 277 to 165.  I am within a healthy range now except that my antibodies are still little high.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm not even 6 months from my diagnosis so this is good, however, if you know me, you will not be surprised by what I did next...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Decided to go off Levothyroxine... I've been off it for a week and I'm starting to feel fatigued again.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Which segues perfectly into today's podcast topic: how to stop giving our power away.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Among other things (and they're addressed in the episode), we have to know when to push & when to pull back.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm rushing my healing recovery by getting off the medicine too soon.  I need more time.  And, in this instance, renewing my prescription so that I can feel the energy I know I have inside, is taking the power back into my own hands.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Don't do what I did, which was: look at your numbers and feel frustration because they aren't perfect.  Choose to see the progress.  That's what I'm leaning into.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And if you need some outside help, it's ok.  We don't have to be islands.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✌🏼 Name one area in your life in which you've made progress! Go!
I HAVE to tell you what Sam and I did this weekend I HAVE to tell you what Sam and I did this weekend (no, we didn't go back to the Grand Canyon 😩).
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We did what Bill Gates calls a "Think Week." But because we couldn't take a whole week rn, we did a Think Week(end).
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We both took Friday off and for 3 days we mapped out what we want the rest of the year to look like individually and as a couple.
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The idea is to:
➕ turn off outside noise, so you can hear your own thoughts (so less media, or ideally no media - I cheated a little on this 😬)
➕ outline a life and a business goal... and get super micro about leading indicators (what you will do on the daily to achieve these)
➕ unplug!!!
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Friends, to say it was glorious is an understatement.  We are going to do this on the regular, AND do a full week at least once per year.  I feel so clear on what I want to do - AND I have a really focused idea of what I need to do to get there.
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Some Highlights:
➕ taking a drive in Sedona and being blown away by the views
➕ seeing @samthurmond_rei take a break for the first time in a LONG time
➕ eating a bunch of fruit (I swear this helped me get over whatever was making me feel sick)
➕ taking some time to learn about essential oils (so into them rn)
➕ watching New Girl and LAUGHING SO HARD
➕ mapping out my plans in my @savorlifeplanner - this is a TOTAL game changer.  I love it so much! - Link to my planner in my stories.
➕ watching The Gladiator & The Pursuit of Happiness (SO INSPIRATIONAL)
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➡️➡️➡️ Do you guys want to hear more about Think Week(end)? I was thinking about doing an Instagram Live on Thursday about it.  Drop a 🤗 in the comments if you are interested in that, and I'll make it happen.
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I learned about this idea from @theskinnyconfidential and it is seriously game changing.  I cannot recommend it enough!
Twelve and a half. 12.5. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Twelve and a half.  12.5.
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That's the number of years @samthurmond_rei and I have been a thing.
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The first trip we ever took together was to the Grand Canyon.  We look like babies.  I was a senior in college, he was fresh out of the Air Force Academy and we were two kids who had no idea what we were doing... just that we really liked each other.  Lol.  That's what we would say on the phone to each other before getting off the line, too. It was before "I love you." "I really, really like you."
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Our love story has not always been rosy.  We've had some amazing times, and we've had some times that have really brought us to our knees.  Like big time, knees aching kind of stuff.  But something I cherish the most about our relationship is the history we have built.
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12.5 years worth of history.  I wrote a song a long time ago and one of the lyrics was this "I know it's tempting to lean into the mystery, but you and me, we got history..." There is something so comforting about those shared experiences.  They ground me.  They make me feel seen.  They are evidence that we keep choosing each other even when we don't have to.
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I have a sinus infection right now and I'm feeling like crud - but I want to continue my habit of looking around me and feeling awe.  Awe that inspires such gratitude in me that I could burst... Knowing my husband is in the next room.  The health of my sweet Pip whose resting on my lap.  The hot tea I am about to make.  The sweet message from my friend who loves me so much and wants to know how I am.
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Another thing I'm so grateful for is YOU.  The friendships I've made on here lift me up.  I hope I can lift you up the way you lift me.
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What's something small you are feeling incredibly grateful for today?
I JUST got off the phone with Pip's vet and she sh I JUST got off the phone with Pip's vet and she shared that Pippin's biopsy results show...
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NO CANCER!  It's been one week since the shocking phone call I received while she was having her routine dental.  The doctor informed me that they thought they found a tumor in her mouth and essentially that I needed to prepare for the worst and that the best thing we could do is try and make her comfortable, but that humane euthanasia would probably be necessary.  7 days have passed without knowing her biopsy results. 
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I've looked at her sweet little face every single day for the last week and I've been filled with gratitude knowing she has been mine for the last 10 years.  I shared in my IGTV video last week the priming God provided leading up to this crazy news (reference that video if you are interested) and I have continued to feel so held and loved and cared for despite the not knowing. 
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So many of you have texted me, messaged me, checked in on me.  You've prayed and shared so much love.  I cannot thank you enough.  THANK YOU from my heart's bottom.  LOL.  I adore the community on here.  You all are my peeps.
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In lighter/far more disgusting/totally unglamorous news:  I woke up and rolled over into a pile of Pippin vomit this morning.  She is a little diva model and when she over eats (she did last night) she throws it up.  And today, I had the immense pleasure of rolling right into it first thing.  Normally, I would've cursed and been angry, but today, I looked at her and was like: throw up all you want, girl.  I'm just so happy you're here. 
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🐶 Perspective is everything, huh?  Have any funny/gross pet stories you can share with me?  I'm in a relief laughing mood.
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Love to you,
J
What a historic day! Couple of announcements/upda What a historic day!  Couple of announcements/updates:
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➕ to those of you who are asking about my precious Pip - still no updates.  We are still awaiting biopsy results.  Your comments, prayers, messages have filled my heart.  She is currently acting like her sassy self.  I'm so grateful.
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➕ with the unexpected Pip news last Wednesday, I failed to share that season 2 of Self Discovery is out (link in bio)! Like right now.  And last Wednesday.  So TWO eps.
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➕ Today's episode is with surgeon @drstephenlober.  I had never considered plastic surgery to be a part of my wellness practice, but I think that thought needs to be shaken up.  Why?  Because the way we feel in our bodies is important.  While I don't want you to ever feel like you need to have plastic surgery to fix anything, I do want to take some of the stigma surrounding plastic surgery away.  That's why I think this conversation with Dr. Lober is so interesting and that's why I'm openly talking about the procedure I had done.  
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You are gorgeous the way you are, but I understand what it feels like to feel self conscious about an area on your beautiful bod.  So, we crafted this episode around your questions.  My intent in sharing this information is to educate, empower, and satisfy your curiosity around the intriguing world of plastic surgery.
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👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽👏🏼👏🏻 Also, how much do you agree that Amanda Gorman stole the show today??? MY GOSH! Tell me your thoughts!!!
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Love to you all!
J
Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the sleeping self.
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Just like a snake sheds its skin, we need times of renewal to rid ourselves of the muck we no longer need to carry.
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To shake the sleeping self requires discomfort.  It requires us to leave the safety and certainty of our homes and routines so that we can open our eyes to the vastness that lies before us.  I think when you feel stuck, the best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to be awed.  Sometimes feeling small is exactly what you need to feel big.
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On this #mlkday, I'm reminded of my smallness.  But, I'm also reminded of my ability to participate in ways that bring about big change.  Like...
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➕Supporting @15percentpledge
➕Choosing to be uncomfortably aware of my white privilege
➕Joining groups and organizations & classes with people who come from vastly different backgrounds than I do
➕Celebrating, sharing, and promoting black owned businesses, accounts, artists, creators, etc. 
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None of the above is hard - it just requires me to get out of my head and into the usefulness of my hands.  To sit in awareness and ask myself: "how can I participate in creating equality today?" 
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Human rights are just that... a right.  Not a privilege.  When one of us is persecuted, all of us are... for we all come from the same source.
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❤️ Who are some of your favorite black creators/owned businesses/artists, etc. here on instagram?  Please share.  I want to follow.  I want to participate.  I want to see the vast beauty that lies before me.
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I want to share the AMAZING artist, @starofonyii (you can commission art from him), the yoga studio @activepeaceyoga (they offer virtual classes), non- profit @divaswhowin, the GORGEOUS blogger @bloggermamahayleyj, and musicians @dwaynenate @blacknerdmonsta & @wesdaruler.
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Participating in community is fun.
Are you feeling stressed right now? Is the chaos Are you feeling stressed right now?  Is the chaos of our current political climate making you feel unsteady?  Me too.
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I want to share a few things I'm finding deep, deep comfort in amidst unprecedented times in the hope that you will feel comfort, too.  The best thing we can do right now is care for each other & care for ourselves.  My individual energy is part of the collective & vice versa.  We are connected me & you.
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Here are a few things that are bringing me solace:
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🙏🏼 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.  Such a beautiful book.  If you cannot afford it right now, DM me.  I'll share insights & help you figure something out.
🙏🏽 Meditation.  I use the @insighttimer app every day right after I make coffee & it helps to calm me before I engage with the outside world.  Nourishing our inner world before going out into the outer world is vital.  ESPECIALLY right now.
🙏🏾 Essential oils.  Whether you believe in their efficacy or not, stopping for a moment, smelling, & breathing help relax your nervous system & transport you into the present moment.
🙏🏿 My @komusodesign Shift necklace.  It's a necklace (not picture above) that you exhale into.  It slows down your breath, calms your nervous system, slows your heart rate, reduces your cortisol, & helps to relax your mind and body.  Do this breathing several rounds after putting your fave essential oil on your neck & wrists.  It's like the bliss of savasana after a yoga class.  I have a discount code.  DM me if you want it.  I don't want you to feel any obligation or trigger pressure to buy more stuff in this moment.
💧 Liquids.  I've been drinking so many smoothies & so much water and tea.  When the outside world is chaotic, nourishing my inside world feels really necessary.  Also, hydration is paramount to thinking clearly.  I need this.
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What are you doing to care for yourself?
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Love,
J
9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow a 9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow and ice at the Grand Canyon.
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This land we call home is pure magic.  Getting out in nature and tapping into my peace of mind does wonders for my soul.  Especially when things feel so uncertain as they do right now. 
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(I realize I am particularly fortunate in that I live in an RV and can safely venture to a lot of places). 
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🌲 Sometimes when I am feeling stuck, it comforts me to think on the beautiful things that lie ahead for me.  If you are feeling in that place of stuck-ness, where is one place you could go in your head right now that would uplift your heart? 
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Is it a lavender field?  Paris?  The Grand Canyon?  You local farmer's market?  I want to know.  And where is the first place you want to go when it is deemed safe?
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I'm sending you so much love right now.  You deserve it.
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Hat is @gigipip (DM me if you want a discount code!), Jacket is @levis, Boots are @thefryecompany, Layered necklaces are @electricpicks
A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday regarding current events...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And she wept.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the soul of a nation on whose soil she was born.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the collective broken heart of the people who call this land home.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the fear, uncertainty, and helplessness that so many are feeling in these moments that will be scrolled into history.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And then as the dawn broke anew, she lifted her face to the sun.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is hope.  Always. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So much love to you all,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
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Music, Self Help, This is Important, Uncategorized, Wellness · September 27, 2018

When No One Responds (and all we hear are crickets)

THE ACT OF BEING VULNERABLE SOUNDS BETTER TO ME THAN IT FEELS.

That being said, I truly believe Brené Brown when she says in her book Daring Greatly that,

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

So if vulnerability is the path, then sharing truths must be the footsteps, and I’m going to take a step right now.

Let me preface my story with something I believe to be universally true: humans want to be seen, to be noticed, to be acknowledged.  It’s when we feel invisible that hope’s beautiful flame slowly burns out.

Before the creation of social media, the way we humans met this need for being seen was through physical social interaction.  We met over a meal, a cup of coffee, or in our sweats by a cozy fire.  Nowadays, in many cases, we humans seek to meet the need of being seen and acknowledged via social media.  Whether or not this is healthy is beside the point because it’s happening whether we like it or not.

Now, I consider myself to be a fairly “woke” person.  I think I’m capable of healthy boundaries with my social accounts and I try not to attach my internal value with the external amount of likes or comments I receive.  That being said, I’m not immune to the lonely feeling that occurs when you post something and it feels like no one is paying attention.

And last weekend, no one paid attention.  I was in the music studio and we were finishing the final guitar track on the final song on the final day of recording for my EP coming out in November.  As we were working, I took a couple photos and videos and prepared to load them into Instagram Stories.  After publishing the first one, I was like “maybe I should use this new Questions feature and ask people to ask me a question about my music or creative process…”  As I was writing out the question, my second thought was “who am I to think that people would be interested in learning about my music or my creative process?… this feels a little pretentious.”  But I did it anyway and I published it because I’m committed to trying new things – especially if they make me a little uncomfortable.

Immediately after publishing, I felt a cringe.  My first thought was “what if no one responds?” It’s not like anyone can see if people respond on Instagram Stories because it goes into a direct message, but the fear was deeper than people not responding.  Upon reflection, I realized the fear was multidimensional and it was rooted in this: What if after all these years and time and energy and effort and blood and sweat and tears and heartbreak and joy, no one cares when this EP comes out?

Fear is a tricky thing and it can make you spiral quickly.  My mind raced to 4 and 1/2 years ago when my first EP was released and not a whole lot happened. There were a few days of hype and then it quickly plateaued.  It was no one’s fault.  Everyone involved poured their heart into that recording, but the truth was, we knew NOTHING about marketing, nothing about promotion, nothing about social media, etc.  We didn’t have the tools in the toolbox back in 2014.

Well, we have the tools now, but there is still no guarantee people will pay attention.  And last weekend no one did.  No one responded.  Not a one.

So why am I telling you this?

  1. Because I want you to know that you’re not alone.  That we all have to start somewhere.  That we all face rejection.  That we all experience failure.  That we’re all just humans doing the best with the tools in the toolbox we have at this moment in time.
  2. Because I want to take away the fear of you being ignored by sharing that I am ignored at times, too.  We’re going to be ignored… until we’re not.  And no one knows when that day of recognition will come, but…

I would rather live my life boldly, risking the fear of rejection and failure and being seen as a fool, than live my life in the safety of never having tried in the first place.

So what no one responded?  So what my first EP didn’t reach the heights I had hoped it would?  So what if this one doesn’t either?  The point is: my hat is in the ring.  Yours can be, too.

Teddy Roosevelt said,

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

I want to dare greatly.  I think so many of us do, right?

But what makes this age old narrative difficult to comprehend sometimes is when our heroes dare greatly and become super successful but forget to tell us all the times they fell on their faces in order to achieve that success.

I don’t want to do that.  And I’m not implying I’m your hero, but still, I want to tell you when I’m scared, when I’ve failed, when I’ve over shot or under delivered because I want you to know that all those things are part of the path… and that if I can do it, you can too.

If you have a dream, get in the arena.  Consider this your kind but forthright kick in the butt.

And I want to tell you one more thing, and I want you to remember it… right now… in this moment:

It doesn’t matter if they don’t respond.  It doesn’t matter if no one pays attention.  It doesn’t matter if the critics voice is at first louder than your own.  What matters is you.  Your mind.  Your heart.  Your dreams.  

While that may sound cliché – I know it to be true.  I refuse to let any temporary feelings of rejection stand in the way of me moving forward.  I refuse to shrink.  I refuse to silence myself.  I refuse to give up because it feels sometimes like no one is paying attention.  I hope we can stand together in this.

Light, Love, & Peace,

Jaclyn Steele

In: Music, Self Help, This is Important, Uncategorized, Wellness · Tagged: being ignored, fear, following your dreams, following your heart, imperfect, in the arena, moving forward, music

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Comments

  1. Jean says

    September 27, 2018 at 11:41 am

    Note to self: Get an Instagram account. I am missing some very important things.

    xo

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      September 27, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I LOVE this comment. Yes, get instagram. It’s so much fun and the whole platform would be better for having you on it!

      Reply
  2. Barbara Thurmond says

    September 27, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    I so admire your spunk, Dear Jackie! Looking forward to listening to your new release(s).

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      September 27, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Thank you dear mother-in-law! And thank you for reading! In a world where there is so much negativity and glossing over the icky stuff, I want to be raw and real – even if it’s uncomfortable. Love you!

      Reply
  3. Lauren says

    September 27, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    YASSSS JACLYN!! I love how raw this post is. Remember that YOU are not alone either. I am super excited for your EP to drop! Getting discouraged is so easy to do when you first start something new. It’s staying tough and powering through the feeling of defeat that makes you even stronger. Everything is a lesson learned! You got this, babe!

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      September 27, 2018 at 3:00 pm

      Thank you, Lauren! It can definitely feel like I am sometimes, but I do know that I am not. And you’re so right, the hardest part is starting and pushing through that time when you don’t know what, if anything, will become of it. So proud of you and so happy to have met you on Monday! <3

      Reply
  4. Rick bedell says

    September 28, 2018 at 12:20 am

    When you “DO” the thing you do and you feel the crickets are the only thing listening you may be suprised.
    I used to give my daughter advice. She never listened. One day I heard her giving somebody else my advice and I knew that it had worked. Though I know to this day she believes that that advice was for somebody else.
    I play Native American flute and though I know it’s a niche kind of music I have played to rooms full of crickets I’m not the draw I am not the person that’s going to pull all the people and with just a Native American flute and I know this. At least not yet but I haven’t given up.
    Really you have to do this for yourself please yourself before you try to please anybody else and if nobody’s listening at least your happy.

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      October 1, 2018 at 9:52 pm

      WOW!!!!! This is such a cool perspective shift, Rick. YOU ARE SO RIGHT! Amen, brother! Keep on playing – I love hearing the Native American Flute. In fact, I listen to meditation music frequently when I am working and the Native American Flute is often high up in the mix. You’re awesome. Thank you for this encouragement!

      Reply
  5. Kevin Hammontree says

    January 11, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    Jaclyn, Truly enjoyed the read, and spot on, in regards to the subject you touched on. Thank you for sharing, and I look forward to your next post. Truly appriciate you, in every way. Havea wonderful weekend.

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      January 16, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      Kevin, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s so important for all of us to share our stories – it is a catalyst for connection and makes us feel so much less alone. 🙂 Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for your comment.

      Reply
  6. Amanda says

    August 14, 2019 at 1:47 pm

    This is perfect! I just started reading your blog and I love how inspiring you are!!

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      October 22, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      Thank you so much, Amanda! I appreciate your encouragement. It means the world to me. 🙂 Have an awesome day!

      Reply

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I Feel Very “Out There”

I'm Jaclyn. Writer. Podcaster. Songstress. Wander-luster. Clean beauty convert & conscious fashionista. I've never met a nude lipstick or personal development section I didn't like.

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So a bit of health update here.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in August of last year.  I was exhausted, anxious, sad, & had suddenly gained like 10 pounds - seemingly overnight.  It was really scary.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After meeting with an endocrinologist, I started taking 25 mcg of Levothyroxine every morning (reluctantly because I'm intrinsically averse to pharmaceuticals - but I felt so horrible, I was desperate). I also decided to approach my health recovery through nutrition (limiting gluten, sugar, and healing the gut) and hormone replacement therapy (episode 44 of the podcast).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had a blood test 2 weeks ago, and my TSH went from 4.9 to 2.7, and my thyroid antibodies went from 277 to 165.  I am within a healthy range now except that my antibodies are still little high.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm not even 6 months from my diagnosis so this is good, however, if you know me, you will not be surprised by what I did next...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Decided to go off Levothyroxine... I've been off it for a week and I'm starting to feel fatigued again.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Which segues perfectly into today's podcast topic: how to stop giving our power away.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Among other things (and they're addressed in the episode), we have to know when to push & when to pull back.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm rushing my healing recovery by getting off the medicine too soon.  I need more time.  And, in this instance, renewing my prescription so that I can feel the energy I know I have inside, is taking the power back into my own hands.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Don't do what I did, which was: look at your numbers and feel frustration because they aren't perfect.  Choose to see the progress.  That's what I'm leaning into.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And if you need some outside help, it's ok.  We don't have to be islands.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✌🏼 Name one area in your life in which you've made progress! Go!
I HAVE to tell you what Sam and I did this weekend I HAVE to tell you what Sam and I did this weekend (no, we didn't go back to the Grand Canyon 😩).
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We did what Bill Gates calls a "Think Week." But because we couldn't take a whole week rn, we did a Think Week(end).
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We both took Friday off and for 3 days we mapped out what we want the rest of the year to look like individually and as a couple.
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The idea is to:
➕ turn off outside noise, so you can hear your own thoughts (so less media, or ideally no media - I cheated a little on this 😬)
➕ outline a life and a business goal... and get super micro about leading indicators (what you will do on the daily to achieve these)
➕ unplug!!!
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Friends, to say it was glorious is an understatement.  We are going to do this on the regular, AND do a full week at least once per year.  I feel so clear on what I want to do - AND I have a really focused idea of what I need to do to get there.
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Some Highlights:
➕ taking a drive in Sedona and being blown away by the views
➕ seeing @samthurmond_rei take a break for the first time in a LONG time
➕ eating a bunch of fruit (I swear this helped me get over whatever was making me feel sick)
➕ taking some time to learn about essential oils (so into them rn)
➕ watching New Girl and LAUGHING SO HARD
➕ mapping out my plans in my @savorlifeplanner - this is a TOTAL game changer.  I love it so much! - Link to my planner in my stories.
➕ watching The Gladiator & The Pursuit of Happiness (SO INSPIRATIONAL)
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➡️➡️➡️ Do you guys want to hear more about Think Week(end)? I was thinking about doing an Instagram Live on Thursday about it.  Drop a 🤗 in the comments if you are interested in that, and I'll make it happen.
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I learned about this idea from @theskinnyconfidential and it is seriously game changing.  I cannot recommend it enough!
Twelve and a half. 12.5. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Twelve and a half.  12.5.
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That's the number of years @samthurmond_rei and I have been a thing.
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The first trip we ever took together was to the Grand Canyon.  We look like babies.  I was a senior in college, he was fresh out of the Air Force Academy and we were two kids who had no idea what we were doing... just that we really liked each other.  Lol.  That's what we would say on the phone to each other before getting off the line, too. It was before "I love you." "I really, really like you."
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Our love story has not always been rosy.  We've had some amazing times, and we've had some times that have really brought us to our knees.  Like big time, knees aching kind of stuff.  But something I cherish the most about our relationship is the history we have built.
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12.5 years worth of history.  I wrote a song a long time ago and one of the lyrics was this "I know it's tempting to lean into the mystery, but you and me, we got history..." There is something so comforting about those shared experiences.  They ground me.  They make me feel seen.  They are evidence that we keep choosing each other even when we don't have to.
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I have a sinus infection right now and I'm feeling like crud - but I want to continue my habit of looking around me and feeling awe.  Awe that inspires such gratitude in me that I could burst... Knowing my husband is in the next room.  The health of my sweet Pip whose resting on my lap.  The hot tea I am about to make.  The sweet message from my friend who loves me so much and wants to know how I am.
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Another thing I'm so grateful for is YOU.  The friendships I've made on here lift me up.  I hope I can lift you up the way you lift me.
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What's something small you are feeling incredibly grateful for today?
I JUST got off the phone with Pip's vet and she sh I JUST got off the phone with Pip's vet and she shared that Pippin's biopsy results show...
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NO CANCER!  It's been one week since the shocking phone call I received while she was having her routine dental.  The doctor informed me that they thought they found a tumor in her mouth and essentially that I needed to prepare for the worst and that the best thing we could do is try and make her comfortable, but that humane euthanasia would probably be necessary.  7 days have passed without knowing her biopsy results. 
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I've looked at her sweet little face every single day for the last week and I've been filled with gratitude knowing she has been mine for the last 10 years.  I shared in my IGTV video last week the priming God provided leading up to this crazy news (reference that video if you are interested) and I have continued to feel so held and loved and cared for despite the not knowing. 
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So many of you have texted me, messaged me, checked in on me.  You've prayed and shared so much love.  I cannot thank you enough.  THANK YOU from my heart's bottom.  LOL.  I adore the community on here.  You all are my peeps.
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In lighter/far more disgusting/totally unglamorous news:  I woke up and rolled over into a pile of Pippin vomit this morning.  She is a little diva model and when she over eats (she did last night) she throws it up.  And today, I had the immense pleasure of rolling right into it first thing.  Normally, I would've cursed and been angry, but today, I looked at her and was like: throw up all you want, girl.  I'm just so happy you're here. 
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🐶 Perspective is everything, huh?  Have any funny/gross pet stories you can share with me?  I'm in a relief laughing mood.
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Love to you,
J
What a historic day! Couple of announcements/upda What a historic day!  Couple of announcements/updates:
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➕ to those of you who are asking about my precious Pip - still no updates.  We are still awaiting biopsy results.  Your comments, prayers, messages have filled my heart.  She is currently acting like her sassy self.  I'm so grateful.
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➕ with the unexpected Pip news last Wednesday, I failed to share that season 2 of Self Discovery is out (link in bio)! Like right now.  And last Wednesday.  So TWO eps.
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➕ Today's episode is with surgeon @drstephenlober.  I had never considered plastic surgery to be a part of my wellness practice, but I think that thought needs to be shaken up.  Why?  Because the way we feel in our bodies is important.  While I don't want you to ever feel like you need to have plastic surgery to fix anything, I do want to take some of the stigma surrounding plastic surgery away.  That's why I think this conversation with Dr. Lober is so interesting and that's why I'm openly talking about the procedure I had done.  
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You are gorgeous the way you are, but I understand what it feels like to feel self conscious about an area on your beautiful bod.  So, we crafted this episode around your questions.  My intent in sharing this information is to educate, empower, and satisfy your curiosity around the intriguing world of plastic surgery.
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👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽👏🏼👏🏻 Also, how much do you agree that Amanda Gorman stole the show today??? MY GOSH! Tell me your thoughts!!!
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Love to you all!
J
Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the sleeping self.
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Just like a snake sheds its skin, we need times of renewal to rid ourselves of the muck we no longer need to carry.
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To shake the sleeping self requires discomfort.  It requires us to leave the safety and certainty of our homes and routines so that we can open our eyes to the vastness that lies before us.  I think when you feel stuck, the best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to be awed.  Sometimes feeling small is exactly what you need to feel big.
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On this #mlkday, I'm reminded of my smallness.  But, I'm also reminded of my ability to participate in ways that bring about big change.  Like...
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➕Supporting @15percentpledge
➕Choosing to be uncomfortably aware of my white privilege
➕Joining groups and organizations & classes with people who come from vastly different backgrounds than I do
➕Celebrating, sharing, and promoting black owned businesses, accounts, artists, creators, etc. 
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None of the above is hard - it just requires me to get out of my head and into the usefulness of my hands.  To sit in awareness and ask myself: "how can I participate in creating equality today?" 
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Human rights are just that... a right.  Not a privilege.  When one of us is persecuted, all of us are... for we all come from the same source.
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❤️ Who are some of your favorite black creators/owned businesses/artists, etc. here on instagram?  Please share.  I want to follow.  I want to participate.  I want to see the vast beauty that lies before me.
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I want to share the AMAZING artist, @starofonyii (you can commission art from him), the yoga studio @activepeaceyoga (they offer virtual classes), non- profit @divaswhowin, the GORGEOUS blogger @bloggermamahayleyj, and musicians @dwaynenate @blacknerdmonsta & @wesdaruler.
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Participating in community is fun.
Are you feeling stressed right now? Is the chaos Are you feeling stressed right now?  Is the chaos of our current political climate making you feel unsteady?  Me too.
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I want to share a few things I'm finding deep, deep comfort in amidst unprecedented times in the hope that you will feel comfort, too.  The best thing we can do right now is care for each other & care for ourselves.  My individual energy is part of the collective & vice versa.  We are connected me & you.
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Here are a few things that are bringing me solace:
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🙏🏼 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.  Such a beautiful book.  If you cannot afford it right now, DM me.  I'll share insights & help you figure something out.
🙏🏽 Meditation.  I use the @insighttimer app every day right after I make coffee & it helps to calm me before I engage with the outside world.  Nourishing our inner world before going out into the outer world is vital.  ESPECIALLY right now.
🙏🏾 Essential oils.  Whether you believe in their efficacy or not, stopping for a moment, smelling, & breathing help relax your nervous system & transport you into the present moment.
🙏🏿 My @komusodesign Shift necklace.  It's a necklace (not picture above) that you exhale into.  It slows down your breath, calms your nervous system, slows your heart rate, reduces your cortisol, & helps to relax your mind and body.  Do this breathing several rounds after putting your fave essential oil on your neck & wrists.  It's like the bliss of savasana after a yoga class.  I have a discount code.  DM me if you want it.  I don't want you to feel any obligation or trigger pressure to buy more stuff in this moment.
💧 Liquids.  I've been drinking so many smoothies & so much water and tea.  When the outside world is chaotic, nourishing my inside world feels really necessary.  Also, hydration is paramount to thinking clearly.  I need this.
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What are you doing to care for yourself?
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Love,
J
9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow a 9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow and ice at the Grand Canyon.
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This land we call home is pure magic.  Getting out in nature and tapping into my peace of mind does wonders for my soul.  Especially when things feel so uncertain as they do right now. 
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(I realize I am particularly fortunate in that I live in an RV and can safely venture to a lot of places). 
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🌲 Sometimes when I am feeling stuck, it comforts me to think on the beautiful things that lie ahead for me.  If you are feeling in that place of stuck-ness, where is one place you could go in your head right now that would uplift your heart? 
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Is it a lavender field?  Paris?  The Grand Canyon?  You local farmer's market?  I want to know.  And where is the first place you want to go when it is deemed safe?
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I'm sending you so much love right now.  You deserve it.
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Hat is @gigipip (DM me if you want a discount code!), Jacket is @levis, Boots are @thefryecompany, Layered necklaces are @electricpicks
A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday regarding current events...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And she wept.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the soul of a nation on whose soil she was born.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the collective broken heart of the people who call this land home.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the fear, uncertainty, and helplessness that so many are feeling in these moments that will be scrolled into history.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And then as the dawn broke anew, she lifted her face to the sun.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is hope.  Always. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So much love to you all,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
It feels good and right to lift our faces to the s It feels good and right to lift our faces to the sun. 🌞 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With so much uncertainty and craziness happening in the world, I'm clinging to a Stoic Philosophy principle: focus on what you CAN control.  My thoughts, my feelings, my actions...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's easy to get bent out of shape with worry, but I when I do, I ask myself: is this worry benefitting me or anyone else?  Spoiler: my worry never benefits anything.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For today, I want to do something kind for someone for no reason in particular, work on a project I'm really looking forward to releasing (like maybe even next week...), write a new podcast episode, and go and enjoy a Mediterranean dinner with my mom and my husband.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When things feel big and messy, I like to keep things simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨ How are you feeling about current happenings?  I want to know because I want to know YOU.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sending you big love today!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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p.s. Also, speaking of living with intention, did you listen to episode 52 of the podcast?  It's all about being intentional, with practical tips and questions, about who you want to be by the end of 2021.  The link to the episode is in my stories AND via the link in my bio.

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