Hello! Welcome to Welcome Back to Try Not To Care.
If you're new here, My name's Ashley and I upload every single Monday and we just hang out, we chit chat, We have some girl talk and we have a good time.
For the most part. I mean, a lot of my episodes are kind of... depressing, a little down in the dumps because I talk a lot about mental health. struggling with mental health, friendship breakups, relationship breakups, just whatever. is on my mind and I like to talk about things that I've gone through, that I've experienced and help you through hard times.
But with that being said, I do want to do more of a feel good episode.
I want to start the week off just feeling good.
I want you to listen to this episode and leave feeling better than you came in.
I also want you to be able to use this episode as something to come back to when you need a little reset. or you need to uplift your mood when you're having a bad day or you're struggling mentally.
I actually thought about this episode when I was redoing the group chat, which is available now.
You can find the link in the show notes if you want to. join the group chat, meet some new friends.
But I made a room in the group chat where we do weekly check ins. and i also made a room for wellness and mental health and i love those rooms and i was like wait i want to do a whole episode like these that's just going to make you feel good and be a tool for you when you need some in your life.
So this episode is going to be full of my favorite things. movies and music, I found myself going back to my comfort shows, my favorite books, things I like to do to pull me out of a funk, my go-to journal prompts, affirmations,
And I also want to end the episode with building a hope box.
So let's just get into it and I hope this episode makes you feel so good.
I think affirmations and journaling do the most when you're being intentional about the words that you're speaking and the words that you're writing.
I like to be intentional about how I want to feel and what I'm struggling with.
And that's what leads me to the affirmations that I'm looking for. and what I want to journal about.
For me, I do have affirmations that I find myself going back to and repeating in my head and saying out loud because The things that I struggle with are pretty consistent and I know that these affirmations will pull me out of that little funk or that little bad mood and kind of bring me back down to earth where i'm like okay everything's fine like i'm just stressing everything's gonna be okay like i'm I'm really okay.
Something that I struggle with pretty consistently and I find myself having to work through again and again is comparison and imposter syndrome.
So here are some of my affirmations that I really like and that have helped me a lot. feel free to write these down or take notes.
Or if you have affirmations that you really enjoy, I'd love for you to share them. whether it be on Spotify or in the group chat.
But these are some that I find myself going back to time and time again and that I just really love.
I am doing enough. I have plenty of time.
I don't need to impress anyone but a past version of myself.
I love the person that I am or the person that I'm becoming.
Younger me would be proud of who I am and I surround myself with things and people that I love.
The same thing with journaling. I think it's so important to be intentional so that way when you're writing, You're going to target the area you need help with.
Specifically for this episode though, I want to give you some prompts that I like to do to redirect my energy to something more positive if I'm struggling, if I'm having a bad day, if I feel lost.
These are what I go to to uplift my mood and put me back in the right direction that's productive and going to make me feel good.
I know for me that I need to be intentional and I need to take action. when I am struggling because if I don't do something like journaling, that negative energy is just going to feed into more negative energy and more negative things and it's going to lead to doom scrolling, it's going to lead to me comparing myself to people, it's going to lead to me laying in bed all day and just adding to my bad mood.
So taking action and sitting down for just like five minutes to journal, is so helpful and it's what I need to do.
I know that I need to do that. I especially love doing these in the morning and at night time, so I either get ready for the day I put myself in a good mood for the day or at the end of the day I like to reset myself so I wake up in a good mood.
So these are a few of my favorite journal prompts that I go to when I want to uplift myself, when I want to reset myself. when I just wanna have a good day.
So three things that I loved about today, I usually do that at the end of the day, three things that I'm grateful for, three things that I like about myself, three things that I'm proud of and then what's my favorite thing about myself And what are things that I'm working on?
And why am I excited about them? Media has also been something that's been very helpful for me when it comes to resetting my day and resetting my mood. it's a way for me to not only stop ruminating on a problem but also to feel good to feel in inspired to feel more productive and just overall better than I felt before diving into it.
Music is so important to me. If I was talented musically, if I could sing, if I could play an instrument, wouldn't shut up.
That's all I would do. I'd probably have to quit the podcast because I would be just singing all the time.
Unfortunately, I don't have a good voice, but I always say that music is one of my love languages.
I am someone who really listens to the lyrics and connects through music.
It's literally like a form of therapy for me because I can find validation and I can find comfort through someone else's storytelling or lyrics.
The lyrics are usually what makes me gravitate to a song.
Obviously, there are songs that I listen to because They're a vibe.
They're a bop. I can shake my ass. I can have a good time.
But... I usually gravitate more towards lyrics, and that's why I love Taylor Swift.
But I think that it's important important that you find what works for you and you look for music that speaks to your soul through the lyrics or through the instrumental, whatever it is, because music can be so helpful.
I love going back and revisiting the music that I used to listen to growing up when I was younger when I was in middle school I love now as an adult re-listening to like Miley Cyrus's debut album Ashley Tisdale, Britney Spears, the Cheetah Girls.
Sean Kingston, 303, Never Shout Never. Just like music that I... was obsessed with and it resonates still so deeply and it hits still just as hard because I feel like when you're younger you don't really care as much what people think. the media that you're consuming is really authentic and true to you because you're not really trying to impress anyone.
You don't care how it looks. You don't care how you're coming off to people.
You're just listening and doing what you want to do.
So I know that that was so true to myself then and now. so when i go back and listen to those songs now, i feel just as good. as I did when I was first listening to those songs.
I just get to bop around, have a good time, and it just puts me in such a good mood.
Like I said though, I am definitely a lyrics girl and I gravitate more towards I don't want to say depressive songs.
I guess they kind of are. Um, like I'll be at a good moon and I'll dead ass be listening to lost. my life but not no not depressive I just I like songs that have very good storytelling and i like songs with a lot of emotion but If we're talking about songs that I want to listen to when I'm not trying to go into a depressive episode, and I want to feel good and I want upbeat.
I just want to have a good time. I have a few playlists that I listen to because I know when I listen to them, I'm going to feel good.
I'll have my Spotify playlist linked But I have one playlist called, I want to be defined by the things that I love.
I have another playlist called manifest your best life, which went like viral a couple of years ago.
So many people. have that downloaded it's crazy but it's just full of songs with uplifting lyrics that call in money and success and confidence.
And it is just... the best playlist to listen to when you're trying to reset yourself or transform your life or you're just working on yourself.
And then I have another playlist that I go back to a lot that's called middle school dance bangers and that's what i listen to when i'm trying to listen to like ashley tisdale, miley cyrus, all the ones that I listed before.
And that trio is just the best. Those are my favorite playlists.
They really just put me in such good mood.
It's kind of the same thing when it comes to shows and movies.
I definitely gravitate more towards very... sentimental, emotional, one might say, depressive movies and shows like my favorite movie of all time is perks of being a wallflower but But when I want to feel good, these are the shows and movies that I always... turn back to because I know they're a safe place for me.
They're not triggering. and they make me laugh or they just make me feel some type of way but in a good way So my favorite feel-good movies and shows, first movies are The Notebook, She's all that.
Matilda, I love Matilda. I literally named my house after Miss Honey.
I called my house Honey House. The Hot Chick, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Parent Trap, and Halloween Town.
And I know Halloween Town is a Halloween movie, a fall movie, I could quite literally watch that movie at any given point of the year.
I could watch that in February. It's just so cozy.
I love that movie so much. It's so nostalgic, but in a good way.
And then my favorite shows i'm probably forgetting some but the summer i turned pretty tell me lies bridgerton Sex and the City, and then The Carrie Diaries.
If you've never watched The Carrie Diaries but you love Sex and the City, I beg you, Please watch The Carrie Diaries.
It is so good. It is young Carrie Bradshaw and... austin butler is that what his name is isn't it it's just such a cute cute series and I love it so much.
Moving on to books. When it comes to books, it depends on what I'm looking for. if I'm struggling with my mental health or I'm just transforming an area of my life.
If I'm working on something, if I'm going into a new era of my life, I will lean more towards self-improvement books I can take information from and learn something from.
But when I just want to relax and read something and Kind of like when you want to sit down and watch a show.
When I want to sit down and read a book, I will... read thriller mystery books.
I'm going to put my Amazon link in the show notes because I have a list of all these books And I'll also add my Goodreads if you're interested in looking at any of these books.
So as for self-improvement books, there are so many, but these are like my all-time favorites that I'll recommend to anyone who will listen.
The first one, the manifestation wheel, a practical process for creating miracles.
Wishes Fulfilled Mastering the Art of Manifesting, The Secret.
The Secret also has a like documentary. It's literally the book, but just, in a show form if you're not into reading but you still want to listen to it.
And then the seven spiritual laws of success, a practical guide to fulfillment of your dreams.
And then for thriller books, which I just recently got into like last year, I grew up hating reading.
I am just one of those people that if I'm not interested, I will literally look at a page in a book and read the page over and over and over again and not consume any of what I'm reading.
It just like does not digest. And then I finally started reading thriller books and I was like, oh, I don't hate reading.
I just hated what I was reading. so i'm really into thriller mystery books. again, i'll add my goodreads if you're interested in any of these.
But I love the Housemaid series, the silent patient, sharp objects.
Dark Places and then Rock Paper Scissors.
All of those books are so freaky. and good if you've read any of those and you have recommendations please let me know because I am in the market for a new book.
I'm trying to go to Barnes & Noble ASAP and get a new thriller book.
So that is some of my favorite media, but I actually want to move on to building a whole box of your favorite things.
I discovered this thing called a hope box or some people call it a comfort box. and it's basically a collection of items that bring you comfort or bring you happiness just very healthy, productive, feel good items that you can go to when you're struggling or you're anxious or you're not having a good day. day and you just need a little pick-me-up i'm gonna be making my own too so i'm doing this with you i I think this is the coolest, sweetest idea and I thought it'd be fun to do together.
So obviously you're gonna get a box big enough that's gonna fit everything inside of it.
I think that you should get a box that you're excited to look at, that you're excited to grab for. that's aesthetic, that's pretty.
Think of the box in To All The Boys I've Loved Before just something to make it more fun.
And I have a few categories that you can add inside of your box.
First one being little keeps from good times, kind of like a memory box or a junk journal, but things that bring back good memories, whether it be a ticket from a show you went to or a flower that your boyfriend gave you or a picture that you took when you're out with your friends.
Photos in general are really good to keep in this box. but obviously only photos of things that make you feel good, pictures of people that you love, places that you love, cards and letters from people that you love, just photos and notes that you can go back to that make you feel loved and appreciated and remind you of good times that you've had with people that you care about.
Another category would be journaling. So you'd put everything that you need to journal in the box.
So when you have an idea or you want to write something down, you could just reach in, grab a journal, grab a pen, maybe some fun, colorful pens and sticky notes.
I also like the idea of keeping notebooks that you've already filled out that have good memories in them.
Don't add in journals of you trauma dumping in really hard times.
Just keep notebooks where you wrote about a fun day that you had or your first date with someone or how much you love your friends and family and your life and... your manifestations, just positive journal entries that you can go back to and read. when you want to feel those emotions again.
Energy objects. This isn't for everyone.
This is more for my spiritual girls or anyone who wants to just like give it a try.
But I really love crystals. I love using crystals to heal your body.
When I first got into learning about crystals, I went to one of my favorite crystal shops and they have these little cards by each crystal telling you what they're good for what area of the body they work on, and how to set your intentions with them. which made it really easy for a beginner like me to work with them.
So I would do something like that. I would pick a few crystals that are going to help you with your intentions whether it bring more love or if you want to feel more confident or if you want to protect your peace Maybe get some rose quartz, maybe get some tiger's eye, maybe get some amethyst.
I really love laying crystals out on my body and listening to a meditation or listening to a healing frequency.
I would also add in some sage to cleanse the space, maybe some tarot cards.
Or even if you're not really into crystals or tarot cards, you can add in a stress ball to help you if you're anxious. or maybe like one of those fidget spinners or fidget toys.
The next category I have is good smelling things.
You could add in scented candles, perfume, lotion, calming essential oils. a piece of clothing or a blanket or a stuffed animal that smells like someone you love or smells like home if you're homesick, like if you moved away, I think any of those can be really helpful.
Another category is activities. When I'm struggling with mental health or I'm going through a hardship, I really like to stay busy and keep my mind focused on literally anything. than the problem, like if I'm going through a friendship breakup, I don't want to be scrolling my phone because more than likely I'll find something that triggers me. or I don't want to be just like sitting around thinking about that person or the conflict.
I want to keep myself busy and do something more productive and that's going to make me feel good.
So obviously the box might not be that big depending on what box you get, but you could add crafts and beads, yarn, playing cards, books, coloring books, clay or Play-Doh, paint puzzles a video game like the switch is pretty small and you can add that in Really whatever you're interested in and that you like to do.
And then lastly, you can add in a bunch of inspirational things Kind of like when you make a mood board but have the physical items.
This could be motivational quotes. This could be affirmations.
This could be your own achievements and awards that you've won.
I really like the idea of adding your own achievements in there because It's a way to remind yourself of the progress that you've made and how hard you've worked. it's really easy to get inside of your head and think that you're not doing enough or that you haven't done enough work and you're behind. and it's really easy to compare yourself to others,
And sometimes we just need to take our attention off other people and look at ourselves and look at our past selves and remind ourselves how far we've come and give yourself that congratulations that you're owed. like one of my greatest achievements ever is my podcast charting number one on Spotify and Apple like to me That will always be so surreal, so cool. a dream of mine.
And whenever I find myself doubting myself or questioning what I'm doing, I look back at screenshots from that time and it feels so... good.
It feels almost as good as it did when it happened.
It's just the best reminder that I need to keep doing what I'm doing and keep pushing.
And what I'm doing is so good and I'm helping so many people.
It just is such a good reminder to myself to not be so hard on myself.
Obviously these are just ideas that I'm giving you to make your own box, but I think at the end of the day, You know yourself the best.
So just add things that you think that are going to help you and make you feel good when you need it.
If you do add anything different than what I shared, I would love to hear about it because I might want to add that to mine.
Like I said before, you can either let me know in the comments on Spotify or in the group chat there's a room called trying not to care weekly episode where we could discuss each week's episode i'll add links i'll add resources from that week's episode and you could just ask me questions and add things in there.
So if you don't want to do that, obviously, like I said, you can add on Spotify.
But if you do. The group chat's linked in the show notes.
But that is it for today's episode. I hope that you liked it.
I hope that... you're leaving with at least one thing that you can incorporate into your life and bring into the next week whether it's an affirmation or a journal prompt or even just the idea of making your own hope box.
This episode's here anytime you need it.
If you need a little reset, If you just need a good pick me up, it's here if you want to come back to it.
I'd also love to hear about what your affirmations are and what you're putting in the box and your favorite shows and books and all of that good stuff.
So please let me know. Like I said, Spotify's there.
Group chat's there. My social media is there.
Let your girl know. But thanks for hanging out with me today.
I hope that this was a good feel good episode to start the week off with.
I hope to see you in the new group chat, but if I don't, I will see you next Monday.
Talk to you next Monday. Love you. Bye. Thank you.
