Current Blog series: Purpose

Posts tagged encouraging women

The Silver Lining in 2020

The Silver Lining in 2020

Let me be the millionth person to say it: 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year. Whether or not you were personally affected by the worldwide pandemic, terrified of killer hornets or maddened by the ungodly amount of political ads, I think we can all agree that this year was unexpected. Now, with only a day left in 2020, I can’t help but think about the ways that this sour lemon of a year turned into a truly delicious lemonade. Prior to 2020, I was moving through life, just doing what had to be done to get by and follow through on my responsibilities. I was unhappy, anxious and sometimes resembled something of a zombie.

With That I Say, 'Thank You, 2020'

With That I Say, 'Thank You, 2020'

2020 has been a low blow. With a number like that, it was hard for many of us to resist declaring that this was our year; the beginning of a new decade with all of the earmarks of a turning point and a fresh start. But, instead of wins, many experienced struggles and losses. 2020 wasn’t marked with the normal “outside looking in” tragedies. We all felt the hit, and I think many of us are seeing life differently because of it. Your outlook changes when you see what you take for granted. For months now, we have limited our time outside the walls of our homes. In ways, it’s been a wake up call to the constant busyness our lives consist of, but it’s also been a day-to-day struggle weighing the benefits of getting out against the odds of carrying a virus back home.

Nikki CharnstromDecember 24, 2020perspective, new blog, blog for women, inspiring, 2020, family, friends, motivational, truth, mindset, new year, encouraging women, blog Comments

Make Room and Pull Up a Chair

Make Room and Pull Up a Chair

If my brain was a room, I’d be nominated for one of those hoarding shows where there are 50 years worth of newspapers stacked high and 600 ceramic cats scattered everywhere. There is so much going on all the time, except for the moments when it’s so overwhelming that I just don’t do anything at all. Adulthood can be intimidating and every woman I know has a tendency to feel like there is too much on their plate. Still, many of us are pros at carrying five plates on each arm and managing a smile while it’s all falling apart. But it most definitely sucks some days, right?

Becoming Unstuck

Becoming Unstuck

Before we dive in, I think we need to understand the perspectives we have on making room in our lives. Some of us may hear the words “make room” and become overwhelmed by a list of all the things we need to get rid of, while others hear an opportunity to start fresh. I don’t think one is right while the other is wrong, but instead believe we should partner these perspectives if we desire to do the things we want to do, rather than constantly feeling stuck in what we have to do. In order to make room in our lives, we must first begin learning about ourselves and our perspectives.

Picking up the Pieces

Picking up the Pieces

You know that feeling when you actually feel nothing at all? When you’ve been beat to a pulp and your emotions suddenly stop? Where it seems as if every tear shed and every dark space you occupied literally drained the life out of you? I’ve been there. While it’s nice for a moment to not feel a single thing, it is absolutely terrifying to think I must have been through enough to where nothing could phase me anymore. Gosh, that makes me tremble. Believe me, I know the brokenness of this world will never rest. We will forever be at odds with the forces of nature that try to bring us down.

Nikki CharnstromSeptember 24, 2020the art of living, healing, hurt, broken, brokenness, heartbroken, hurting, pain, painful, motivational, real stories, real struggle, truth, women who write, real women, new blog, blog for women, encouraging women, inspirational, hopeful, strong, strong women, resilient Comment

Think Big Picture

Think Big Picture

The art of living is the messy and painful moments dancing with the glorious and exhilarating moments. It’s the mundane and the meaningful. What makes life so artful is how beautifully each piece of our day to day lives fit together to form a picture of who each of us are. Sometimes, when I look at my life up close, it seems so ugly that it cannot be adding up to the something spectacular I used to dream up for myself. For instance, when I decide to wear all white to work just to splatter several shots of espresso across the ensemble. Or, when I think I’ve got my temper figured out, I blow up at my husband for not telling me to have sweet dreams before we fall asleep…true story, YIKES.

Series Introduction: The Art of Living

Series Introduction: The Art of Living

Lately, my “living” has been anything but artful—and as I walk through one of the darkest seasons of my life, I wonder how on earth do I write about this? About five minutes ago, I thought it wasn’t possible. But, then I read these words by Morgan Harper Nichols again and it’s as if the beauty of life washed over me—reminding me that this darkness is temporary and the sun still shines. When I think about “the art of living” I feel it’s not a one-size-fits-all idea, concept or lifestyle. It’s all the beauties, joys, laughs, adventures, and glimmers of magic that light your soul on fire.

Braving the Unknown

Braving the Unknown

Flashback to January 2020: I was in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival with my best friend and all we could talk about was the fact that 2020 would be our year—we would accomplish our greatest goals and find our true path in life. Only two months later, everything began to change. The world was hit with a pandemic and everyone’s lives were affected for the worse in one way or another. Unemployment, sickness, distanced from the people we loved the most. In the blink of an eye, we were all shaken from our everyday routines and forced to face a new reality.

Series Introduction: Holding onto Hope

Series Introduction: Holding onto Hope

I see you. You are not hidden—and goodness, you are so strong. Has anyone ever told you that? I know each new day brings its challenges—but I see you. I do. You’re pushing through the tears, whispering affirmations under your breath, doing whatever it takes to carry on. I know the chaos around you creates unwanted, unwelcome noise. So, you shut it out. You lie there, curled up in a ball in the middle of your bed, wondering if you got up and put on your brave face then would everything be OK? That’s normal. I get it. I’ve been there. I am there.

Things that Do Not Define Your Worth

Things that Do Not Define Your Worth

Your worth is not defined by things like your size, your successes, the moments you fall short, the kind of car you drive, how well you cook, your personality type, or how you style your hair. Only YOU define your worth, sister. Everything else is just a distraction—keeping you from knowing who you truly are.

Nikki CharnstromJuly 23, 2020self-worth, worthy, worth, you are worthy, things that don't define your worth, truth, list, define, blog for women, new blog, motivational, encouraging women, women who write, empowering women Comment

Affirmations for Combating Destructive Thoughts

Affirmations for Combating Destructive Thoughts

Every single day, we are bombarded with less desirable realities and circumstances. Things like heartbreak, fear and anxiety compete for our attention and at times it can all be a bit much, am I right? In those moments when we are on the verge of a breakdown, the lies begin to creep in. We begin to associate our circumstances and the emotions we’re feeling with our worth. When we feel depleted of our strength, we believe the whispers of words like “weakness” and “lazy”. When we lose our grip on our lives, we fear we aren’t tough enough to fight back. When we find ourselves sobbing in bed in the middle of the day, we put ourselves down for not having it together.

Stop Equating Labels with Your Worth

Stop Equating Labels with Your Worth

I found myself wanting to explain what I used to do. I wanted to explain what happened and justify my reasons for moving on. I recognized how badly I wanted to label myself as something I thought was cool. I felt embarrassed that I was babysitting at 30-years-old, instead of just getting a job with regular hours. Then I felt bad about that, because I liked taking care of babies. I didn’t want to feel ashamed for following my own path. It may not work for other people to have the unpredictability of random temp jobs, but for me back then it was exactly what I needed.

Banishing Fear and Finding Your Self-Worth

Banishing Fear and Finding Your Self-Worth

When you’re young, things are easy. You don’t think about yourself at a critical level. You’re in school, have friends, stick to your hobbies, and spend your free time evaluating the world around you and contemplating all of the opportunities life has in store for you. Then you grow up. Suddenly, you find yourself caught up in a world filled with self-doubt, deception and questions about what’s next. I don’t say this to be cynical—I really don’t. I say this because it wasn’t until recently that I realized just how much my own thoughts of myself and my talents were weighing me down.

How to Find Worth in Ourselves and Others

How to Find Worth in Ourselves and Others

Many of us struggle to find our worth. We look at our lives and we see all the areas we fall short in, and we wonder how we could ever be of value. Maybe we have days where we accomplish something great or see a quality in ourselves that we like and we think, “Now that is what makes me worthy.” So, we try to do that thing again. We chase that feeling by trying to do more, be more, accomplish more, but in the end, we are left broken and alone. Feeling worthless once again. The problem is not that we aren’t trying hard enough. The problem is that we are looking for our worth in all the wrong places.

3 Questions to Help You Thrive in Every Season

3 Questions to Help You Thrive in Every Season

Life is filled with seasons. Good seasons, difficult seasons, busy seasons, restful seasons, seasons of gain, and seasons of loss. There is beauty in every season. Unfortunately, we often miss the beauty in our current season because we are too busy either dreaming of the next season or reminiscing and remembering the last season. If we are living in a difficult season, our last season often becomes abnormally good in our minds. We only remember the good parts and often wish we could return, but the reality is, every season has good and bad. We can choose to focus on the good or we can choose to focus on the bad.

Series Introduction: Living Balanced

Series Introduction: Living Balanced

Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived off spontaneity, road trips, clinking wine glasses, and the taste of freedom. She travelled often and dined well—just ask her bank account. Her friendships were blossoming and her heart was full. Every Monday night, she’d get together with the girls to watch some cheesy romance tv show—btw, anyone else still mad at Pilot Peter? She’d roam wildly on the weekends with the love of her life. Sometimes, they’d wind up on the coast, toes in the sand. Other times, it’d be pine trees and thunderstorms. The location didn’t matter much, just as long as it was an adventure—oh, and don’t forget the fresh air. Let’s be real, we’re all writing stories like this one. Reminiscing on the way things used to be and grieving over the things that will never be.

Sister, Now is the Time to Go Deep

Sister, Now is the Time to Go Deep

GO DEEP and you will find you are not a victim to your circumstances. You do not have to respond in fear and anxiety. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This season of life has not surprised Him. He is walking with you. He is grieving with you. He is rejoicing with you. GO DEEP and you will find you can choose to set your mind on things above. You can think about things that are lovely and pure. You can choose to walk in Faith. You can have Peace that passes all understanding. GO DEEP and you will find Joy. True joy that is your strength. GO DEEP and you will find that even when the world around you shakes, you will not be shaken.

Series Introduction: Mind Over Matter

Series Introduction: Mind Over Matter

I understand we’re all wired differently and this is an absolutely difficult time for all of us—how we handle it or what we’re feeling will vary person to person. But, at the end of the day, we all have the same choice to make; how much of ourselves are we willing to give up, as we give into fear and anxiety? I’m not telling you to avoid emotional breakdowns—they’re going to happen and it’s OK to feel whatever it is you’re feeling right now. However, I am telling you to filter your feelings and guard your heart. Choose which thoughts you breathe life into and which ones you sever.

Your Power Lies Within

Your Power Lies Within

My strength is woven into the threads which have held my 61-year-old life together. I certainly did not feel strong at the time. It is only when I reflect on what I have survived I realize it took strength. We all face adversities. For some, it may be family dysfunction, financial insecurity, employment barriers, illness in your family, or other real life roadblocks that stand in our way. The situations are all different—and so is the strength we need to persevere. Consider this. Your journey is as unique as you and it is your story to tell. Find the strength to give it a happy ending.

Finding Strength for the Battle

Finding Strength for the Battle

We are in a battle. A war has been waged against us. Our enemy is real, and he doesn’t fight fair. Often, when we are at our lowest, he intensifies the battle. The truth is, our flesh is fragile. Even the strongest person, crumbles quickly. Many times we act tough. We pretend we have it all together. But the truth is, most of us are one phone call, one cruel word, one bad day away from tumbling into the pit of despair. When our lives shatter, we collapse and wonder if we will ever be able to repair the broken pieces. Our human strength, if we even pretend to have any, is a façade. Often, it is built on good days and desirable circumstances, but throw in a bad day, and our strength is nowhere to be found.