BY MICHELLE MCLAUGHLIN
As our life shifts and changes sometimes it’s loud or sudden and sometimes it’s quiet like a soft whisper under the noise of your everyday life that says, “I want something different” but what is it?”
You’ve lived. You’ve given. You’ve held so many things together. But somewhere in the midst of parenting, partnering, working, friending, caregiving and living your best life you’ve learned to put your needs on the back burner, piece by piece.
So, if you could make three simple, soul-honoring changes… not to impress anyone, not to prove anything, but just for you—what would they be?
Here are three to consider. Not trendy. Just true. Just right for you.
- Make Peace with “Good Enough”
You’ve spent years trying to get it all right—home, health, work, family. And you’ve done so much more than you give yourself credit for. What if you stopped measuring your worth by productivity or perfection? What if “good enough” became your new brave? Because peace often starts where perfection ends. Protect your peace at all costs.
- Create a Personal Pause Ritual
You don’t need to escape your life—you need to return to yourself inside of it. A short walk at sunset. A quiet car ride without calls. Five minutes to breathe with your hand on your heart before the world comes in. Not someday. Not on vacation. Now. Life won’t hand you pauses—you must claim them.
- Reclaim One Part of You That Got Left Behind
She’s still there—the part of you that used to sing, write, wander, cook, hike, paint, laugh so easily it surprised even you. You haven’t lost her. She’s just been waiting. Find one way, even a small one, to bring her back. It doesn’t have to be grand. But it has to be real. Because becoming more of yourself is not a luxury—it’s a homecoming.
Journal Prompts
Journal prompts are powerful because they gently guide you inward—not just to think, but to feel, reveal, and reclaim.
Journal Prompt 1: “What Does ‘Good Enough’ Look Like for Me Now?”
Reflect on an area of your life—home, work, relationships, or self-care—where you’ve been holding yourself to unrealistic standards. What would shift if you redefined success, not by perfection, but by peace?
Journal Prompt 2: “Where Can I Create a Pause That Feels Like Mine?”
Think about your current rhythm. Where is there room—however small—for a daily or weekly pause that nourishes you? Describe what that moment would look like, and how it would feel to protect it.
Journal Prompt 3: “What Part of Me Have I Silenced or Set Aside… and What Would It Take to Welcome Her Back?”
Reconnect with a version of yourself from a different chapter—before the world asked you to be everything for everyone. What did she love? What made her light up? And how might you honor her now, even in a small, tangible way?
You’re not starting over. You’re starting deeper. Your life doesn’t need more doing. It needs more being—being true, being full, being you.
So, tell me: if you could make three gentle, game-changing changes… what would they be? I’m here to to walk through these journal prompts with you to get you started. I offer 30-minute complimentary coaching sessions. I’d love to support you in discovery you again!
About Michelle McLaughlin: Michelle is a guide, a wise woman, and an accomplished coach experienced in supporting women as they navigate remarkable, unexpected, and / or some of the most challenging transitions in life. She intimately understands the overwhelming weight of these moments that feel like they might break us. Yet, through her journey, she has discovered something extraordinary: transitions, while undeniably hard, are also powerful opportunities to rediscover who we are, what we’re capable of, and how to live a life of deeper meaning and connection.
McLaughlin has endured cancer, alcoholism, financial loss, divorce, depression, and grief and emerged stronger, bolder, and more capable to lead other women into new directions. A courage creator and pioneer, Michelle is the mentor any woman would love to have by their side — and every woman deserves. For questions and/or a complimentary 30-minute coaching session please email her at im4letitbe@gmail.com
