Tag: emotional wellness

Daily Writing Prompt, Lifestyle, Mindfulness

Find Your Authentic Self: What Andy Sachs and Elle Woods Taught Me About Wellness

Corie Muldoon

True wellness isn’t just about nutrition or exercise; it is about living authentically. I used to think a fast-paced career meant thriving, but working in personal training and real estate left me feeling disconnected from myself. I was constantly drained by the pressure to perform and the endless chore of posting promotional videos online.

Stepping away from that hustle to become a full-time server was my ultimate wellness breakthrough. Like Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada, I had to leave a high-pressure environment to reclaim my life. Like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, I realized that true happiness comes from staying entirely true to myself.

Steps to Reclaim Your Energy:

  • Audit your energy drains: Identify tasks or expectations that make you feel fake or exhausted
  • Prioritize peace over status: Choose consistency and mental clarity over a stressful title or obligation
  • Drop the forced curation: Give yourself permission to disconnect from online trends and just be present, documenting good vibes along the way

Protecting your inner peace is the highest form of self-care. When you stop forcing yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit, your health and mindset will naturally thrive.

Try this today:

Write down one daily obligation that feels forced, and brainstorm one small way you can protect your peace and feel more genuine about it.

For example, I recently realized that I don’t like running ultras. But I do like crewing them. I also like the idea of keeping my heart healthy so I’ve been way more motivated and excited about doing my 20 minutes of daily cardio. Much more me, and I feel great about it! Instead of forcing myself to train for an ultra race, I reclaimed my energy focusing on being genuinely happy, healthy, and fit – however that feels right for me is what I’m leaning into. This concept piggy backs off one of my core philosophies: Plan, Do, Review 🙂

Keep on stepping friends!

Share your thoughts below!

Books, Healthy Habits, Let Them Theory, Mental Health

When Comments Catch You Off Guard: Let Them and Let Me

Corie Muldoon

“Let Them & Let Me” is a mindset strategy from Mel Robbins:

“Let them” means accepting you can’t control others’ actions, thoughts, or moods (e.g. “Let them be wrong” or “Let them act that way”)

“Let me” is the powerful follow-up, reclaiming your agency by focusing on your own control: your responses, boundaries, and choices (“Let me focus on my own well-being” or “Let me choose my reaction”)

It shifts energy from trying to change others to managing your inner world, creating peace and protecting your time.

Using “let them let me” in real life

Someone says something weird about your relationship, your choices, your body – and suddenly you’re spiraling. Here’s your next move: pause and ask yourself two questions before you react or think too deeply.

Why this works: Most uncomfortable comments aren’t actually attacks – they’re projections. But our brains treat social weirdness like threats, triggering overthinking and defensiveness. These questions help you sort what’s actually happening from what you’re making it mean.

The two-question check:

  • “Did this cross a line, or did it just catch me off guard?” (Boundary violation vs. surprise)
  • “Is this about me, or about them?” (Usually it’s their worldview, insecurity, or social conditioning talking)

If it caught you off guard but didn’t cross a line, a simple response like “that’s not really our style” or “we’re good, thanks” works. No explanation needed.

If it did cross a line, you get to set a boundary – calmly but clearly. Try: “I’m not comfortable discussing that” or “That’s not something I’m open to feedback on.”

Either way, you don’t owe anyone your internal processing or justification for your choices.

Try this today:

Next time a comment feels weird, hit pause. Ask the two questions. Respond (or don’t) from clarity, not reactivity.

I just went through this yesterday. A customer at work made a weird comment and I spiraled. I didn’t have these two questions to bounce back on, but I did have my husband. We peeled back the onion together and realized that I didn’t actually want to punch them in the face, that they just made me feel weird and caught me off guard. Sigh of relief.

It’s really never that deep. I’m glad I spoke up because my hubby and I had a great convo and we’re stronger because of it. It’s not surrendering, it’s let them and let me (Joey’s reading Let Them by Mel Robbins!)

Share your thoughts below!

Lifestyle, Mental Health, Movement

Sync Your Wellness: Use the Sun to Move and the Moon to Feel

Corie Muldoon

Our energy shifts with nature, so why wouldn’t our wellness routine?!

Here’s a fun concept: the sun guides movement and the moon guides emotional work. I started to sync physical activity with daylight patterns and shadow work with lunar cycles. It’s really transformed how I show up for myself.

Sun-Based Movement:

  • Summer: Long runs, outdoor workouts, extra sessions
  • Winter: Gentle yoga, indoor strength work, treadmill miles
  • Daily: Our body naturally craves movement in daylight

Moon-Based Emotional Work:

  • New Moon: Set intentions for what you want to release or grow
  • Full Moon: Journal deeply, process emotions, cycles of healing
  • Waning Moon: Examine patterns, release what no longer serves

This natural alignment reduces resistance. You’re working with your rhythms, not against them.

Try this today:

Check tonight’s moon phase and spend 5 minutes journaling about one emotion you’re ready to acknowledge.

Share your thoughts below!

Getting Started, Healthy Habits, Mental Health

Express Feelings Positively with the ‘I Feel’ Framework

Corie Muldoon

Here are my notes for communicating feelings and needs to others in a productive, positive way:

Instead of bottling up emotions or exploding in frustration, let’s work on expressing our thoughts, feelings, and needs in a productive and positive way. This is one of my biggest weaknesses (continuing and never-ending improvement). It’s been fun learning new ways to process emotions and express myself.

The “I Feel” Framework helps you communicate what’s really going on without any blame or judgment.

Why it works: When you start with “I feel” instead of “You always” or “You never,” you take ownership of your emotions while inviting understanding instead of defensiveness. It transforms conflicts into conversations.

The “I Feel” Framework:

1. Name it:“I feel [frustrated/overwhelmed/hurt]…”

2. Link it: “…when [specific situation happens]…”

3. Need it: “…because I need [respect/support/help].”

4. Ask for it: “Would you be willing to [specific action]?”

Example: Instead of “You never help around here” … try: “I feel overwhelmed when the chores pile up because I need some team work”. Would you be willing to handle dishes after dinner?”

This approach validates your feelings, explains the impact, and offers a clear path forward. No one gets defensive, everyone gets heard.

Try this today: Next time you feel frustrated, pause and run through the “I Feel” Framework before speaking. Notice how the conversation shifts.

Share your thoughts below!

Healthy Habits, Mental Health

Own Your Emotions: The Daily Check-In That Changes Everything

Corie Muldoon

The Daily Check-In: A simple 5-minute emotional check-in that helps you express feelings honestly without blaming others or spiraling into self-criticism.

Most of us either bottle up emotions or let them explode… both hurt our relationships and well-being.

The middle ground is taking ownership of your feelings while staying accountable, without dragging yourself or others down.

Here’s how to make it an everyday practice:

1. Set a daily alarm for your check-in – Morning coffee or lunch break works great

2. Ask yourself: “What am I feeling right now?” – Happy, sad, angry? Use the Feelings Chart to get more specific (see end of post)

3. Verbalize your emotions using “I feel” statements instead of “you made me feel” – owning emotions is about your experience, not assigning fault

4. Acknowledge your role without harsh self-judgment – “I could have handled that better” is way better than “I’m such a mess”

This practice builds emotional awareness and keeps small frustrations from becoming big explosions. You’ll communicate more clearly, relationships improve, and that constant mental chatter will quiet down.

Try this today: Set a daily alarm for your check-in. Tomorrow when it goes off, pause for just 3 minutes and run through questions 2-4: what are you feeling, create “I feel” statement, and acknowledge your role in any conflicts. Notice what comes up… no judgment, just awareness.

Share your thoughts below!

The Feelings Chart