Written by Valynne Underwood 

Do you ever sit back and wonder…Is there a way to feel good about yourself? Or how about, “I wish there was a magic pill I could take that, when taken, would magically change my life for the better, and I would experience undying happiness for the rest of my life.  Consider this…have you ever picked up an interesting book, read the synopsis, then hurriedly run to the cash register completing the necessary steps in order to make this potential life altering read yours. By the time you arrive at your favorite reading spot and crack that book open, you have convinced yourself that this is the one piece of literature that will most definitely improve your life. However, after reading this intellectual piece of prose, you are disappointed to come to the end of page after page of psychological doctrine, lecturing how the mind works, but still have no idea how to incorporate all this new knowledge!  You need examples,...

Written by Valynne Underwood

Let me preface the first part of this blog with some background information.  I am a mom of one child.  A daughter.  I am very obsessed with her, proud of her, love being with her, and love her dearly.  She is everything to me.  One day, while in college, she declared she was going to get a tattoo.  Yes, I was that mom.  I didn’t want her to get one.  I said things to her like, “Why?”, “No!”, “Oh hell no!”, “Grandma and Grandpa will not like that!”, and the ultimate mother phrase, “Why would you do that to your beautiful, perfect skin that I created!”  I’ve always tried to be the kind of mom that always accepted her and not try to change her.  I tried to always remember to “act with love” when it came to her.  Well, when I realized what I was doing, I quickly shut my mouth and attempted to internally begin coming to...

Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash 

Written by Valynne Underwood

Isn’t it interesting, when we start something new, we are full of energy, we feel strong, and invincible?  Then, after a while, we notice that our pace has begun to slow a little.  And then a little more, and a little more.  Your mind starts saying things like, “Boy this is kind of hard.” Or “Hmm I’m not really enjoying this.”  Then, “It’s ok to take one quick break.  I’ve been doing so well.  I deserve a little time off.”  And lastly, “Yeah, this sucks!”  The next thing you know, there’s another goal that has fizzled down slowly into non-existence. 

However, ‘fizzled down slowly’ doesn't seem to be in the cards for me.  Try ‘blow up in my face!’  Today is January 9^th.  Only 9 days into the new year, and this past week really knocked me off my path of personal growth.  Let me explain. ...

Written by Valynne Underwood

Whew!  2022 is over, and 2023 has been presented to the world. 

A new year always comes with so many feelings of hope, excitement, joy, relief, anxiety, worry, and troubling emotions.  Events happened in 2022 that were a veritable smorgasbord, a feast!  Some events you would classify as wonderful or even life changing while others will definitely be a hard pass-a no thankyou repeat of this one!  Questions make way to the forefront of the mind full of the unknown which always asks: What will this year hold for me?  Will it be better or worse than last year?  What will life look like a year from now?  Will all be well in my life?  Will there be more moments of good rather than bad?  Who will still be involved in my life?  Will I remain healthy?  Will my weight go up or down?  Will my family circle increase or decrease?  The same question goes with my friend circle and we haven’t...

The more I know, the more I realize I don’t know.

This year has been an absolutely incredible opportunity for growth. I feel it. Life is expanding faster than I’ve ever experienced before. In this time of learning I have realized how much I didn’t know, and how beautiful of an experience it is to say the words ,“I don’t know” with peace in my heart. In ‘not knowing’ my mind can remain open to new ideas, new people, new conversation, and new ways to love. In not having everything figured out all the time, I am open to growth, God, and further revelation.

The old me always wanted to know. This made her feel safe. She wanted to formulate an opinion as quickly as possible, and then stood so dang firm in it—convinced her way was the right way—unwilling to hear anyone who might shake her. The old me thought she knew everything. She was suffering from her “knowing”.

I now realize that to “know” something...

I was at the doctors office the other day and there was a little screen that kept popping up quotes on depression statistics. I thought of you. Any of you who might be struggling with the weight of the world right now. Then this little bit of advice popped up on the screen. It read,

Rules for happiness:
- Something to do.
- Someone to love.
- Something to hope for.

I instantly started smiling at the simplicity, wrote it down and keep looking at it deciding what my three things are.

Here is what I have so far:
Something to do: Come online and spread a little bit of healing in these squares.
Someone to love: The girl living inside of my skin. My husband. My kiddos. Whoever it is that stands before me.
Something to hope for: Our little business adventure down in Blackfoot.

So I’m curious to know, what are your three things? ‍ Comment below