As I first sat down to write this, I found myself facing enormous resistance. I often put so much pressure on myself when I open up a blank page, because I always want to deliver value to you. I want to make sure that I write something that resonates with you and speaks to your heart.

More than that, I find myself writing frequently about subjects that are full of depth, complexity and heaviness. As a Self-Love Coach, this is part of my practice, because Self-Love isn’t just about face-masks and bubble baths. But, sometimes it is. Sometimes, we need gentle self-care practices to balance out the obstacle course of healing. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that it’s okay to be sweet with ourselves in a harsh world.

As we enter the first week of spring, I find myself longing for levity and play, and I want to share something with you that invokes this sentiment. This is not to ignore the very real, very challenging, sad and disturbing events and experiences that we are currently facing in our world. Rather, it’s to inspire you to practice “cultivating the opposite” so that you have the strength and energy to keep living your life and experiencing joy even in the midst of difficulty.

The concept of cultivating the opposite stems from the idea that everything in this world cannot exist without its opposite. Where suffering exists, there is also happiness, where there is prison, there is freedom, where there is hate, there is also love. In times where we feel overwhelmed with negativity, it is vital to cultivate the opposite by planting seeds of positivity, so that our hearts and mind can reach more equilibrium (practice this when you find yourself caught in a doom scrolling spiral!)

The Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh describes this process as practicing “watering the wholesome qualities in us by touching the positive things that are always available inside and around us…We can selectively water the good seeds and refrain from watering the negative seeds. This doesn’t mean we ignore our suffering; it just means that we allow the positive seeds that are naturally there to get attention and nourishment.”

With that being said, I invite you to cultivate the opposite this week by investing in your joy! Whether that’s watching your favorite show, reading a fun book, dancing to some uplifting music, or treating yourself to a delicious face mask. I invite you to celebrate the renewal of Spring!

What I’m Loving this Spring!

(Everything I’m sharing here is completely genuine — there are no affiliate links or paid advertising.)

Book: Notes on the Need for Beauty

I discovered this book three years ago at a used bookstore. It was sitting on the bottom shelf, but my hands were drawn to it like a magnet! Even though I’ve already read it twice, I find myself returning to its pages this Spring, as it is one of the most beautiful, soulfully written books I have ever read. If you desire a more well rounded understanding of beauty, as well as a deeper connection with your own beauty, you must read this book. It will inspire you and stir your spirit in the best way possible.

“Like water, beauty is ordinary and essential, as well as extraordinary and magnificent. Beauty, like water, takes many forms and permeates our environment. Just as water travels across the world and pools in everything from our cells to underground streams to magnificent storms, beauty also travels, gathers, concentrates. It is beautiful to look at and listen to the way the world changes with rain, to trace the path of the river by foot or from an airplane window, to talk at the ocean’s edge, swim under the water. Beauty rinses our eyes. Sometimes beauty moves us to tears. We bath in, drink the presence of beauty.”

–J. Ruth Gendler (the Author of Notes on the Need for Beauty)

Show: Dollface

I have never watched a show that so hilariously and accurately captures the complexity and importance of female friendship as this one. This show made me simultaneously grateful for the gift of all the female friendships I have and have had in my life, and also made me crave more!

Movie: Encanto

This movie hit a deep chord for me, as I know it did for many others. Admittedly, I cried the entire way through! Coming from a big Latinx family, many of the themes portrayed in Encanto really hit home. There are more difficult themes like carrying the legacy of generational trauma, unacknowledged mental health issues, and the weight of familial & societal expectations. And, there are also really positive themes like having a loving, resilient family, the strength that comes from healing together, and the gift of coming from a vibrant colorful community who celebrates life with dance, song and food! I also loved how the characters reflected the diversity of Latinxs, and I saw my own multi-racial family reflected in this. This is not something I have seen often in movies, and seeing that representation genuinely brings me to happy tears.

App: the Shine App

I have tried basically every meditation app under the sun, and this is my current fav. What I love most about it is the accessibility of it. The meditations that are put out every single day are only 5-10 minutes long, and they cover relatable and nourishing themes like setting boundaries, acknowledging yourself and taking care of your emotions. Not only that, but I swear, every meditation teacher on this app has the most soothing, lovely voice! The bonus feature of this app, is that they also offer sleep stories that are 20 minute renditions of 90’s movies, like “The Devil Wears Pajamas,” and “He’s Just Not into Snooze.” Yes, it’s very cute and fun.

Self-Care: Lush Wiccy Vibes Massage Bar

As we ease out of Winter, I find my body still holding a lot of tension. That’s where this little massage bar comes in – it smells like cinnamon and melts right onto your skin. Just rub it on an area of your body that needs some extra love, and take a few minutes to rub in all the oils. I love to use it on my neck and wrists while watching something fun on Netflix! It helps me get out of my head and into my body.

Beauty: Amika “The Kure Bond” Shampoo and Conditioner

Let me put you onto something. When I got my hair cut a couple months ago, my stylist let me know how much my shampoo and conditioner were damaging my hair. She made a convincing argument so I instantly invested in something a little more luxe than I normally would. I chose the Amika Kure Bond set, and when I tell you I have never experienced such a life changing product, I genuinely mean it. My hair is voluminous, wavy, healthy, and strong. In short, Jonathan Van Ness would be so proud. If you’re in the market, try this out.

Movement: Belly Dance

Back in August, I had developed a really painful case of tendonitis and had to lay off any wrist bearing exercise. This meant I had to cut out Yoga and Strength training, which were my two main sources of exercise at the time. Since movement is a big way I de-stress, this was a huge blow. Luckily, it led me to get creative and find a form of movement that didn’t require any intense wrist activity – Belly Dancing! I found a great studio that offered virtual classes in the area and enrolled in beginner classes. I have always wanted to take belly dancing, and it has been so much fun to have an hour every week to get in touch with my sensual, feminine side. I love shimmying, wiggling, and spinning. Not only that, but the instructor is extremely body positive and always encourages us to cultivate a loving, grateful relationship with our tummies and our bodies in whatever state they are in. This is super aligned with everything I believe in, so of course, it is perfect for me. If you are craving some time for sensuality and play, I encourage you to explore Belly Dancing as an option! The studio I practice with, Sahara Dance, is still offering virtual classes, so even if you’re not in the area, you could still join!

That’s all for now my loves! Now, I would love to hear what your Spring Favorites are!!! Let me know in the comments below 😊 Wishing you a joyous season ahead 🌸