When I know I’m loved, when I love myself, I finally give myself permission to rest. To breathe, to see, and to enjoy.

And that may be our deepest longing of all: we long for joy.

We will never find joy by dehumanizing and perfecting ourselves.

We won’t find joy by shaming ourselves for feeling the way we feel.

We won’t find joy by pushing and rushing ourselves to always be somewhere we’re not…

We will only find love, rest, and joy here. And now.

We can skip all the requirements and all the should’s, and move straight to love, rest, and joy—by just being here, where we are.

Source: When Overwhelmed, Slow Down

Great reminder. Things haven’t gone according to plan recently. As a result, I find myself waking up these days to a little more anxiety, a little less self care and a little more overwhelm with each passing day. I know that slowing down and accepting and loving the situation is the right call to make. And embrace the uncertainty to better understand myself that will be the path to joy. =)