I never set out to transform my life or dive into self-care. My personal development journey started completely by accident—with a planner. Not just any planner, but a beautifully designed, astrology-themed law of attraction planner that caught my eye on Freedom Mastery. As a planner addict, I already used digital calendars like Outlook and Google, but there’s something so special about writing things down on paper. The layouts, the colorful notes, the different colored pens, the stickers—yes, stickers are a must!
The Planner That Changed Everything
In 2021, after two years of using a Happy Planner, I wanted something new—something more than just a calendar. I searched for one with extras: conversion charts, space for birthdays, motivational quotes, and, of course, stickers. When my Freedom Mastery planner arrived, it was AMAZING! But as I flipped through the pages, I felt completely overwhelmed.
This planner wasn’t just for organizing appointments; it had a Success Roadmap, a vision board, goal-setting sections, and deep, introspective questions—questions I was supposed to answer about my life and future. Cue the panic attack! I was a full-time working mom with six kids, juggling sports schedules, housework, and a never-ending to-do list. How was I supposed to have time to set goals when I could barely keep up with daily life?
Discovering the Law of Attraction & Manifestation
For two months, I ignored the goal-setting pages. Then, I noticed the planner referenced the Law of Attraction. At the time, I had no idea what that was, but curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos, books, and articles. That’s when I discovered Rhonda Byrne, Louise Hay, Esther Hicks, and Neville Goddard. I became fascinated with the power of manifestation and how mindset shifts could shape my reality.
A Year of Challenges & Realizations
To put things into perspective, in February 2020, I was diagnosed with HIV—news that shook my world after a random blood drive at work. A month later, the world shut down due to a global pandemic. Then came murder hornets, toilet paper shortages, riots—it was one thing after another. Through it all, I stayed strong, but in May 2021, one of my best friends moved away… I felt lost. That’s when I turned back to my planner.
For the first time, I started prioritizing myself. I realized I had no boundaries—I let people treat me poorly because I wanted to make everyone happy. I believed self-care was selfish. But as I embraced the lessons from my planner, everything started changing.
Small Changes That Led to a Big Transformation
- I set boundaries—I stopped overcommitting to PTO and school committees.
- I carved out morning “me time” before everyone woke up.
- I asked for help instead of trying to do everything alone.
- I invested in small conveniences, like a car-wash membership, to free up time.
- I let go of guilt and embraced self-care as a necessity, not a luxury.
These little adjustments led to a massive mindset shift. I stopped running on autopilot and started creating a life I actually enjoyed.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll share the exact steps I took to transform from a stressed-out, overwhelmed mom with low self-esteem to someone who set and achieved BIG, ambitious goals. If you’ve ever felt stuck in survival mode, I promise—you can break free and create a life you love.
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