My Top 10 Sources of Inspiration

On getting unstuck and finding my way back to myself

When I find myself in a rut these days, I’ve learned not to panic. These are the voices, ideas, and practices I return to time and time again:

1. I listen to the song Believe by Eminem

Sometimes just once is enough, other times I have it on repeat for hours while I walk aimlessly around the city. When he begs the question, do you still believe in me? I imagine it is my soul speaking to my physical-self.

If you turn your back on me now and walk out, I will never let you live it down – my soul is saying, “if you give up on yourself, after how far you’ve come, you will regret it forever, trust me”

I could go line by line through this track – each one stirs something deep inside me. The way Eminem channels his rage into his art has moved me since I was ten years old, back when The Marshall Mathers LP first came out and lifted my spirit to an entirely new plane of existence.

2. I revisit old emails from people who once dreamed of working with me

Reading those early messages from 2018 – and continuing to receive new ones even now – never loses its magic. What moves me most is how the caliber of talent has long since surpassed anything I once imagined I could reach myself.

For someone who didn’t excel in school and showed no outward signs of potential by any traditional measure until well into adulthood, this practice quietly chips away at my self-doubt. Every time I re-read those notes, it reminds me that belief can take root even when evidence says otherwise – and that sometimes, others see your worth before you do.

3. I walk to the river, I focus on my breath, and I take stock of how far I’ve come

They say that we overestimate what we can accomplish in one year, and underestimate what we can do in 10 years. How true and powerful to remember. Ten years ago, I was working in Private Equity, feeling completely lost, alone, and directionless. I’d come to terms with the fact that Finance wasn’t it for me, but I was in that uneasy middle of having no clue what would be next. Fast forward 10 years, and here I am – the Founder & CEO of my own beauty brand that I built as a creative expression of myself. 25-year-old me couldn’t even process it. This train of thought always inspires me to think about what the next 10 years could look like – full of possibility that’s beyond the capacity of my current imagination. How cool is that?

4. I re-read my customers’ reviews

Self-explanatory, I know. Still, it blows my mind – I made this thing that changed your life? Really? No way. I read them over and over and over again just to double check.

5. I recount all the people I’ve ever worked with and everyone who’s ever invested in me

It’s easy for me to get wrapped up in any one bad moment, mistake, or failure. I still allow it to make me feel like trash more often than I care to admit. When I force myself to zoom out and recall each person – one by one – who I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with over the years, it’s impossible to not immediately shift into a space of gratitude. And when you’re in a state of gratitude, it’s scientifically proven that you can’t feel anything else. The mind/body won’t allow it.

6. I re-read The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

Remembering that you’re just one human who is part of a much grander design, that you’re not nearly as in control of things as you think you are – has saved me. This book not only brings me home, but also inspires me to step back out into the world with my chin up, again and again.

7. I review old screenshots of nice messages from friends and strangers alike

I’m not always in the right headspace to fully internalize kind messages when I receive them. I might throw a heart and say thank you in the moment, but at this point I know better than to brush them off indefinitely. A few years ago, I started a practice of screenshotting every nice text/DM/email/comment I get and immediately add to my hype folder on my phone. I return to them when I need it the most. These messages remind me of the tangible impact I’m capable of having even when self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy cloud my ability to take compliments at face value. That filter has gotten weaker over time for sure, but it’s definitely still there.

8. I re-read You Are the Placebo by Joe Dispenza

My scrutinizing mind tends to creep up whenever I try to visualize my dreams and step into that desired future reality. Does this shit even work? The answer is yes, it does, and Joe Dispenza breaks it down through the lens of quantum physics. There’s no arguing with that! So when I’m feeling low, this books helps me remember that my negative thoughts aren’t serving me, and it’s actually in my best interest to accept any given situation for what it is – not good or bad, just another aspect of my human experience. And, at the end of the day, I always have the power to shape my destiny.

9. I watch an episode of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday

My favorite interviews are the ones with Michael Singer, Brené Brown, and Eckhart Tolle – there’s nothing like some spiritual candy to sweeten my mood and my outlook. Each time I watch and listen, I pick up on something new.

10. I hug my husband, I hold my son

The most powerful and important life-source of all.