Hi y’all,
Sister Lucy was a significant wisdom figure in the religious community of nuns, of which I was a member for eight years.
She was in her early 90s and well-loved by the sisters. Originally from Houston, Sister Lucy had a quiet disposition with her soft-spoken Texan accent of gracious hospitality. Her face and smile reflected genuine kindness and unconditional love.
During her visit, I was working on my annual review and preparing to enter the novitiate, the time of intense study in becoming a nun.
I was in the community room using the one desktop computer in the convent, which included a floppy disk drive. Juxtaposed to this technology, Sister Lucy was also in the community room, working on a puzzle at a table nearby. Her quiet presence was soothing and calm.
The stillness between us eventually gave way to a conversation on what it takes to live a meaningful life.
Sister Lucy's wrinkled smile lit up the room. She told me that life begins at 30 (an age I was fast approaching at the time). Sister Lucy then shared, "Of all the education we receive in our lives, the most important education is the education of the heart, which takes a lifetime to learn."
Listening to Sister Lucy felt peaceful and was a moment of grace.
The heartfelt wisdom she shared came from the depth of her experience of living a long life. For Sister Lucy, growth happens when your heart moves, changes, and transforms you into the fullness of who you are, which inspires your acts of compassion and love for others and yourself.
Her last words to me were, "Begin with the heart."
I share this story about Sister Lucy because, even now, when technology is advancing at a faster pace than it was in the 1990s, the journey of learning, self-awareness, and growth still begins with the heart.
And beginning with the heart helps us embrace self-acceptance.
In today’s culture, remember that you don’t have to hustle for your worth.
Yet most of us do, especially when life feels messy, deadlines pile up, or you're just trying to keep it together for everyone else. We judge ourselves for not being more productive, more present, more everything.
Here’s a small but powerful way to interrupt the cycle of the inner critic and begin with self-acceptance from the heart.
1 Technique: Notice Your Self-Talk in Transition Moments
We’re the hardest on ourselves between tasks, such as walking into the next meeting, loading the dishwasher, or switching from work to family mode. These micro-moments of transition often go unnoticed, but it is here that quiet judgment sneaks in.
Most people miss this: they think self-acceptance has to be a big emotional breakthrough.
It doesn’t. It can start in 30 seconds or less.
Try This: Swap the Criticism with a Grounded Phrase
Use a self-talk mantra anytime you transition from one thing to the next, something like: “I’m doing the best I can,” or “I’m allowed to be human today.”
Say it in your mind or out loud, whatever fits the moment.
Why this works:
It anchors you. It gives your brain a different message to run with. Repetition matters, so your nervous system starts to believe what you repeat with intention.
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s about creating micro-pauses of kindness, moments that remind you to begin with the heart of self-acceptance. You are already enough.
That's it.
Here’s what we covered: A micro-mindfulness practice to try today: A practice in self-acceptance:
Pause for a moment between tasks: before you load the dishwasher, switch from work to home mode, or head into your next meeting.
Notice the tone of your inner voice in that transition moment.
Replace any self-criticism with a grounded phrase like: “I’m doing the best I can” or “I’m allowed to be human today.”
Say it silently or out loud. Let it interrupt the loop of judgment.
Repeat it each time you shift roles or responsibilities to create a micro-pause of kindness.
Remind yourself: the goal isn’t perfection. You are already enough.
Begin with the Heart
Life is not solely a head trip of being and doing.
It's about embracing the fullness of life with your whole heart, soul, mind, and being.
How is your heart nudging you to grow into the fullness of who you are?
What steps are you taking to transform your heart and soul into your best self?
Remember, take what you like and leave the rest.
Thanks for listening. I appreciate you being part of the journey.
Have a mindful week, and we’ll see you next time. Thanks.
Denise
I'm a former nun who, at midlife, pivoted to corporate life with zero business experience and became an award-winning program manager. I want to help you find stillness in the ball pit bouncy house of life.
Mindfulness begins with tiny steps toward being present. You can start micro-mindfulness right now without adding one more thing to your calendar. Join my newsletter, and I'll share simple micro-mindfulness tips every week that you can start using today.
In my book Burn Without Burning Out: 7 Micro-Mindfulness Habits for Clear Thinking, Decisive Action, and Recovery from Burnout, I share other skills I learned as a nun. Grab your copy today.
Let me know what you thought of today’s podcast:
❤️Good. Drop a🙌below.
🥱Not so much. Manage your subscription here.
📣I want more. Check out our reader favorites here (and all our free & paid products here).
Did you find the techniques easy to try out? Which one resonated with you the most?
Hit reply and share your thoughts.
PS...If you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend. Help them discover simple ways to find clarity and calm. Thanks.
Share this post