Morgan Harper Nichols' Blog

Tag: personal-growth

  • What It Feels Like to Remember

    What It Feels Like to Remember

    When you encounter joy again, let it in. Let it in knowing that this does not mean you are ignoring the realities of all that remains unresolved right now. Instead, it means you are allowing yourself to remember what it feels like to enter into the kind of experiences that don’t have to explain themselves, amidst it all. Even when it is as subtle as a slowly rising sun, and the warmth on your skin is ever-so-gentle, may you know it still matters:

    The laughter that reminds you: you are worthy of release.

    The music that reminds you: you are free to feel the full range of your emotions.

    The random story you share with someone you care about that reminds you: you are allowed to seek out moments where you feel seen.

    When you experience moments like this, you do not have to write it off as “nothing.” These small moments may not be everything, but they still matter. These moments are still flickers of sunlight finding you again and again. Let any little bit of joy help you remember, recall, and continue to build upon what is good, restorative, freeing. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Smallness does not equal insignificance.

    Smallness does not equal insignificance.

    Smallness does not equal insignificance. The little things you do matter, too.

    And the small ways you are learning to be present here matter more than you know.

    And, even by taking a single breath in this space, you are making progress.

    Even the way you are learning to move through each day
    is worth acknowledging.

    Being present in this space takes courage.

    Be kind to yourself here.

    Be gentle with yourself as you move through this space.

    Yes, there are mountains ahead, and there are mountains behind, and mountains you have won to come so far, all grace and grace has been given to you.

    The goals you have yet to reach don’t take away from progress already made.

    And however you can,
    pace yourself…
    for needing to pause
    and slow down
    doesn’t take away
    from your growth.

    Allow the echoes of your own forward movement and the beat of your own heart become reminders of how you’ve been learning to make progress at a mindful pace.

    -Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Seeking out spaces where you don’t feel like you have to be “on”

    Seeking out spaces where you don’t feel like you have to be “on”

    Amidst all of the roles and responsibilities, may there be room for you to pursue a space where you do not feel obligated to perform. As you move through each day, considering all of the many things that are asked of you, that is all the more reason to remember: you are free to seek out places where you do not feel like you have to be “on” all the time. Even if it starts small, allow yourself to seek out that space to just be. Whether you need to stretch, not smile, close your eyes, or turn on the music––let this be something you pursue and something you build upon. Let these small practices become something you expand upon in other areas of your life. Create space by asking questions like this:

    What kind of music or sounds help me unwind and feel more at ease?
    How can I communicate my need for personal space and downtime to those around me?
    What small things give me a sense of renewal?

    If nothing else, allowing yourself to sit with one of these questions for the day is a way that you are beginning to create space, beyond the obligations and the need to be “on.” Start small and keep seeking space to just be, right here. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Welcome gentleness however you can

    Welcome gentleness however you can

    With gentleness, there is room for both strength and care. There is room for looking ahead while also embracing a slow and steady path. Like a garden’s ecosystem that is able to be sustained through gentle interactions over time, you, too, can nurture steady growth over time.

    You don’t have to force everything into neat rows; instead, you could allow aspects of your life to grow in harmony with the surroundings.

    Rather than focusing solely on rapid progress, you can cultivate a range of experiences that all bloom in their own time. Instead of striving for perfection, you could let your journey unfold organically and beautifully.

    While there will be areas in life where urgency is necessary, there may also be areas where a slower, gentle approach could be welcomed. Welcome this kind of gentleness however you can. Consider these journaling prompts to help you get started:

    –

    -Regular Prompt: What future achievements do you strive for?
    -Gentle Alternative: How can you work towards mountain-like endeavors while being kind to yourself?

    -Regular Prompt: What are your goals for the next year?
    -Gentle Alternative: What small efforts can you make toward the things that are becoming increasingly important, over the course of the next year?

    -Regular Prompt: What skills do you want to learn in the future?
    -Gentle Alternative: How can you slowly explore new practices or activities that build bridges and make connections that you’d like to make?

    –

    There is nothing wrong with the original prompts; however, if you ever find yourself getting stuck, you’re allowed to go beyond them. Just like a gardener adjusting their approach based on what the plants need, you can modify your prompts to suit what you need. And this something you can do through subtle shifts, over time,

    On the surface, these subtle shifts may seem like a matter of semantics or word choice. However, the specificity here allows for a more considerate approach to life in which you can welcome gentleness. Like choosing the right soil, thoughtful language can support steady and expansive growth. Welcome gentleness however you can. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Discovering new depths, even in the smallest things

    Discovering new depths, even in the smallest things

    You are free to discover new depths, right here where you are.

    You are free to engage in a practice of finding meaning in ordinary spaces, revealing depths that you have never realized before.

    Look for small moments that remind you of how you can explore new ways of doing things, right here where you are. This could look like:

    -Encountering someone rearranging or organizing something in a way that inspires you to try your own version.
    -Hearing someone you know recall a story you’ve heard them tell before, but you think of a new question to ask them about it.
    -Turning on a free calming nature music video on loop, transforming a noisy space into something slightly more calming.
    -Giving energy to something important that often gets overlooked.
    -Taking a photograph of something that isn’t typically or socially deemed as “photogenic” because it’s seen as too ordinary, but choosing to observe the beauty in it anyway.

    What all of these examples have in common is their potential to transform the mundane into something meaningful. These moments may not feel like they take you into the furthest depths, but just as dipping your toes into the water still lets you feel the ocean’s embrace, these are small moments that provide meaning and value in ways you might not expect. No matter how many times you have traveled the same coasts of everyday experiences, there is still more beyond the shore. Stay open to the small details in daily life that remind you of the hidden depth that awaits in the simplest things. And as you begin to notice these small things more, you might just begin to discover even further depths you never noticed before. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • the value of gradual changes

    the value of gradual changes

    There’s so much we can learn from the smaller shifts. Even when it comes to ways we think about rejuvenation, and creating space for it.

    Consider the sun’s daily journey. We rarely notice its moment-to-moment movement. Yet, at dawn and dusk, these accumulated small shifts suddenly become obvious. The sun’s gradual change, which is harder to notice throughout the day, reveals itself dramatically as the sun begins to set.

    As the sunrise and sunset show us, these gradual changes add up over time. When it comes to creating space for rejuvenation, small cumulative shifts matter, too.

    Here’s a way to think about rest and feeling refreshed over a longer timeframe. Reflect on these questions about the past decade:

    How has your idea of “feeling refreshed” changed over the last ten years?
    What things do you do differently now to rest and recover compared to 10 years ago?
    What activities have always helped you feel rested and energized?
    How do you think the way you recharge could continue to change with time?

    Taking a long-term view allows you to spot subtle shifts that might go unnoticed in shorter periods. It’s like watching the sun’s journey across the sky – individual moments may seem unremarkable, but over time, the change becomes profound. Like horizon lines stretching out before you, this broader view can help you appreciate how far you’ve come and how your small, consistent efforts have gradually built up over time.

    Through the years, you’ve been learning more about what it means to find rhythms, rest, and rejuvenation than you realize. And even if you still have ways to go, what you’ve already been discovering matters more than you know.

    Remember, in the same way the sun’s position becomes clear at specific times of day, your cumulative efforts for rejuvenation will show themselves in noticeable ways over time, too. Keep giving attention to those small shifts. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Learning to hear the piano in the background (searching for harmoniousness)

    Learning to hear the piano in the background (searching for harmoniousness)

    May you be grateful for what is subtly, yet meaningfully harmonious wherever you find it.

    When people are singing and their voices are harmonizing together, it creates a pleasant sound that blends seamlessly and it can be deeply appreciated whether you have a trained musical ear or not. However, if those voices were singing over the sound of someone playing a piano, it might be harder to hear the chords that the piano is making because it’s more subtle and in the background. However, even though it’s more subtle, there is still harmony coming to life there, too.

    It’s a beautiful, satisfying thing to experience things coming together in life, like vocals creating harmony. However, before, after, and in between those moments, there are also the subtle notes, like the piano in the background that might get overlooked but are still worth paying attention to.

    You stumble upon something small that you’ve been looking for.
    Someone explains something to you in a way you can understand it.
    Moments when you’ve identified your role as a part of a larger initiative.

    These small, and even serendipitous moments may not seem like very much on the surface, playing softly in the background as we listen out for the bigger moments, but in reality, like piano notes in the background, they are still a part of what composes harmonies in life.

    So in those moments where you find yourself longing for those bigger harmonies in life, like dynamic voices all singing together in a melodic, rhythmic fashion, may you know it’s okay to long for that. It’s beautiful and it’s only natural to desire this. And at the same time, in those in-between moments, notice when more subtle harmonies begin to feel a space. Even if they are subtle, allow yourself to practice training your “ear” for them. And this process might just help you find value in the greater harmonies, too. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Breaking through to begin again

    Breaking through to begin again

    There will be times in life when you are aware that you are outgrowing old constraints. You may realize that something you used to do all the time no longer feels like a part of your journey. Or perhaps, there are people you used to be close to whom you’ve had to say goodbye to. These are moments where you can feel the shift happening, and you may even notice things changing within yourself.

    And then, there are also moments when the outgrowing of those old constraints may happen in more subtle ways, and it’s worth noticing those, too. In the same way a plant might not initially look like it’s about to outgrow its pot before it suddenly sheds old leaves to make room for new growth and reaches for the sun in a new direction, perhaps the same is true in our lives, too.

    Perhaps, it might look like this:
    The shift: You used to be driven by a strong image of how things were supposed to go, but now, you’re becoming less attached to those rigid expectations. You’re starting to be open to unexpected possibilities.

    The subtle outgrowing: There might not be a dramatic action taken in this sense, just a quiet shedding of tightly-held blueprints. Instead of resisting when life doesn’t follow the script, you are slowly cultivating an openness to what may unfold.

    The shift: You once could only see strength as holding on with all your might, but now you’re discovering the importance of letting go, too. You’re learning that flexibility and adaptability are forms of strength as well.

    The subtle outgrowing: This transformation might not come with grand gestures. Instead, it’s a gradual realization that there are some things that need untangling and unwinding. By releasing them, you’re not giving up; you’re making room for growth and new experiences, gently becoming a little more free, easing your way into new beginnings.

    In both the larger and more subtle moments, may there be more room to observe all of the steps you’ve taken to move through this. Like a growing plant, may you continue to turn and face the rising sun and shed what is no longer needed so you can continue to grow as you were meant to. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • To Begin Again

    To Begin Again

    Words to repeat to yourself:

    “I embrace little moments that remind me: it’s not too late to begin again.”

    Whether you’re

    Changing course on past goals or dreams,

    Wanted to try something new but worried about failing,

    Want to do something different but don’t know how…

    Let it be the little moments that remind you: you don’t have to rush into new beginnings. You can start small, gathering the ingredients you need to make something new. Look for places in your environment that can remind you of this.

    Here are some examples:

    Think of the ingredients lined up on the counter before you’re getting ready to cook something. It’s like seeing all the pieces you need, reminding you that you have what it takes to start and create something new. This could be a useful way to think about a new beginning if you feel overwhelmed by a blank slate. Think of the ingredients of life as being a base to work with.

    Think of the fresh book smell. It’s like a reminder that you can take your time with it. You don’t have to rush through every page. As you move through it, things will begin to make more sense. Think of moving through the month like that; as the fresh month feel wears off, just like a book, you’re getting deeper into the story. This could help if you feel overwhelmed by starting fresh. Think of the process as a journey that unfolds over time.

    Think of a cleaned-off shelf, ready to be rearranged. Even though there’s nothing on it yet, the shelf has enough structure to imagine what you can fill it with. Think of moving day by day like that, with each set of 24 hours offering new opportunities to add something meaningful. This could be useful if the idea of a blank canvas feels daunting. Consider the shelf’s structure as a foundation to build upon.

    While starting over in life in big ways often involves so much more than this, these smaller, daily things serve as inspiration for thinking about the bigger things.

    May these simple, everyday things remind you that you are free to begin again, no matter how big or small the steps you take. Embrace the little things and let them be a part of what helps you create space toward new possibilities. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • And somehow, morning sunlight persists

    And somehow, morning sunlight persists

    there may be unknowns up ahead of you,

    and perhaps, this is also true:

    there will also be sunrises that continue to

    expand all around you.

    and what makes sunrises distinct

    from the full-light of day

    is that they carry traces of night with them

    and illuminating the path before you, anyway.

    yes, there are shadows out here.

    and you do not have to pretend they don’t exist

    before you start how flickers of morning-sunlight-possibility

    somehow, still persist.

    -Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Discovering New Ways to Be Present

    Discovering New Ways to Be Present

    Being present doesn’t only mean thinking quietly or sitting still for a long time. Sometimes, being present is being attuned in a conversation, being aware of a feeling, or being attentive in a particular setting.

    Even when the days are long, busy, crowded, you are still free to notice the small moments are still worth acknowledging. You are still allowed to observe and recognize the ways you are learning to be alive, right here. Let moments of attunement, awareness, and attentiveness be a reminder that you are being present, even in small ways. Let them be reminders that even when you notice others being present in different ways, the way you’ve learned to move through the actual space you’re in right now matters more than you know.

    So whether you feel like you’ve been able to find enough quiet time or not, it is never too late to allow yourself to explore new ways of being present. And you can do this by acknowledging the ways you’ve already been attentive in your life right here, recognizing that this is something you can continue to be build upon. Allow yourself to keep exploring new possibilities for engaging more fully right here where you are. – Morgan Harper Nichols

    I’ve just announced a new in-person writing workshop in the Metro Atlanta Georgia area (where I’m from!) on Saturday, July 26. Would love to see you there! Tickets now available

    There’s also a few more spots available for the free virtual writing workshops in July. Click here to RSVP

  • To Create is to Exhale

    To Create is to Exhale

    Even here, it matters to create. Not because everything is figured out, and not because you have to make a product or because you must be a “creative,” but because day by day, you have been taking so much in, and it matters to have space to let go. To create is to exhale. To create is to realize that after all the taking-in and the processing, you need to room to breathe.

    Create space

    Create conversation

    Create connection

    Create room for rest, where you need to

    Create a sense of motion, where you need to

    Create something worth sharing

    Create something worth keeping

    Sometimes, creating will take on the form of art, written words, or something tangible and also, many other times, it can take on the form of anything that reminds you: you don’t have to hold it all in. You are allowed to make room for letting go, even here, and no matter how small. To create is to exhale.

    – Morgan Harper Nichols

    This is an excerpt from this week’s series in the Storyteller app. The app is available on Apple and Android.

  • Creating space to think more clearly

    Creating space to think more clearly

    Whenever you start to feel like you need a space where you can just breathe and explore possibilities, it can be hard to find ways to do that intentionally. However, you can start with one small thing at a time, and watch it grow with time. Spider webs are examples of this. Spiders create beautiful, symmetric webs using their amazing silk produced by special body parts called spinnerets. Radial threads provide a sturdy framework, while spiral threads catch prey. The web’s design allows it to bend in the wind without breaking. These intentional connections create strength and flexibility. When we observe the intricacies of a spider’s web, it reminds us to bring the same thoughtfulness to our own lives. By building our spaces with purpose and care, strand by strand, we create environments that allow us to think more clearly and live more intentionally. Right here, you are free to grow, reflect, and create in a gentle, intentional way.

    -Morgan Harper Nichols

  • When you encounter joy again, let it in

    When you encounter joy again, let it in

    For the one whose heart is healing:

    When you encounter joy again, let it in. Even when it is as subtle as a slowly rising sun, and the warmth on your skin is ever-so-gentle, may you know it still matters:

    The laughter that reminds you: you are worthy of release.
    The music that reminds you: you are free to feel the full range of your emotions.
    The random story you share with someone you care about that reminds you: you are allowed to seek out moments where you feel seen.

    When you experience moments like this, you do not have to write it off as “nothing.” These small moments may not be everything, but they still matter. These moments are still flickers of sunlight finding you again and again.

    When you encounter joy again, let it in.

    -Morgan Harper Nichols

  • A repeatable practice for overwhelm

    A repeatable practice for overwhelm

    Prepare for what’s ahead with thoughtfulness and intention.

    Take your time so that you can develop a steady cadence.

    Take a moment to pause and figure out what you need right now.

    When you feel overwhelmed by the number of things you need to do, and it’s been hard to know where to start, thoughtfulness and intention could look like this: take time to assess where you may need refinement and where you can let go. Take time to ask yourself thoughtful questions to help clarify your intentions:

    “Do I thrive more in routine or spontaneity?”

    “Which could I benefit more from right now: more social interactions or by solitary reflection?”

    “Do I gain clarity through planning in detail or by allowing things to unfold naturally?”

    “Am I needing something new or just a renewed sense of focus?”

    The difference between these questions and more standard questions such as “What’s my top priority?” or “What’s the next step?” is that they help you assess what your needs are, beneath the surface, instead of just focusing on task completion. There’s nothing wrong with the more general questions, but in those moments where you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by the unknown future, clarity and intentionality can make all the difference, and take the pressure off feelings like you need to have all of the answers right away.

    Create a steady cadence by welcoming the kind of questions that cause you to pause and reflect. Allow yourself to explore how you can be specific with what you need right now as you prepare for what’s to come. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Connection, even from far away

    Connection, even from far away

    When bioluminescent algae light up the ocean at night, it makes the water glow. This happens when lots of tiny algae come together and react to the water’s movement, creating light through a chemical process.

    What if we could see meaningful relationships in our lives in a similar way? As we react to the “movement of the water” in daily life, where we adapt and interact, we’re not the only ones seeking to produce light, seeking to navigate each experience. Like algae, we are in community with one another, whether we are directly connected or spread out in different places. And when we come together and interact, there’s this exchange of thoughts, emotions, and stories that together create a vibrant, illuminated network. This exchange can lead to new ideas and connections…just like how the algae’s chemical reactions produce a visible glow.

    It might be hard to see in a very literal way how algae lighting up the ocean is like our relationships, but think of it like this: both are about small, individual things coming together to make a larger group. Just as algae create a glowing ocean, our relationships and interactions create a network of shared experiences that enrich and brighten our lives. Think of moving through the day in a way you might think of algae moving through water: reacting to the movement and mixing with other algae to make a glowing web of light.

    Just like algae in the ocean, we move through our days reacting to what’s around us and mixing with others to create a glowing web of connection.

    Being present in our relationships isn’t about always finding a large, ideal group of friends or always spending lots of time together. Of course, it can be those things, but it’s also about noticing and asking questions about how you’re moving through things together. Even if it’s just noticing that you have moved from Monday to Tuesday with others, these shared moments are meaningful and worth noticing and talking about, wherever we are. Like bioluminescent algae in the sea, our small actions and interactions can spark a bright web, creating and deepening relationships in more ways than we realize. Connection can be created up close, and perhaps, like bioluminescent algae show us, far away. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Courage is an ongoing process of small shifts

    Courage is an ongoing process of small shifts

    Dragonflies are known for their ability to hover and swiftly change direction which is surely a testament to their agility and precision. Their two pairs of wings can move independently and this mechanism is what actually allows them to maneuver effortlessly in all directions, even backward, when they need to. Their 360-degree vision makes them adaptable and agile, like a courageous dream could be: gliding over serene ponds and through lush wetlands.

    To dream is to explore possibilities beyond the constraints of what’s been done in the past, yet still slowly learning to use patience to navigate. And this practice of dreaming leads to the freeing act of learning to hover, despite our fears, even before the fears fully go away. To hover amidst the reeds. To glide even in the winds. Like a dragonfly, we can find our way through the reeds and lily pads of all of the curiosities, convictions, and stories that make up the dream.

    As dragonflies pivot and adapt in mid-air, when it comes to our dreams, no matter how old or new, how vivid or fleeting, perhaps, we too can pivot, adapt, adjust, and thrive. Courage, like a dragonfly’s precision, can continue to transform paths we journey through, as we learn to adjust and evolve, like the dragonfly in the ever-changing winds. It’s okay if courage requires adjustment. You are free to let it become an ongoing process of small shifts.

    Amidst all of the wonder typically associated with dragonflies, there’s a flexibility we gain from dreaming. And even as we face the unknowns of those very dreams, like a dragonfly, we still learn to fly right where we are. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Small Joys, Even in Fragments

    Small Joys, Even in Fragments

    Remember the small moments that bring warmth and joy to your life, for even if they feel far away or no longer as potent or relevant as they used to be, the fact that you can remember them at all is a reminder that through it all, you have been connected to this life. Through it all, you have been alive. Notice how many things that bring warmth to life are connected. Whether it’s spending time with other people or spending time with other people’s stories as you read books or listen to music, it’s all connected somehow. Even if you’re just passively observing or vaguely remembering those warm moments, that’s still something worth holding on to and building upon, no matter how small it is.

    And when it comes to the present moment, and how you seek to find joy and warmth in the days to come, allow yourself to think of the smallest things. In addition to all the good things that could be connected to other people, these things can also be connected to your senses as well:

    What specific color makes you think of joy?
    What song seems to have a sense of warmth to it?
    What scents or textures help you remember joyful moments yet again?

    Increase your ability to notice what might grow right here by allowing yourself to ask these kinds of specific questions. Use your available senses to anchor yourself in these small joys and let them be a pathway for finding warmth and happiness in the present and in moments to come. And if you’d like, you can also ask someone you know to answer these questions and explore the many nuances and ways different people move through these more subtle experiences and how they connect to a bigger picture. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Reframing what it means to even “try”

    Reframing what it means to even “try”

    Sometimes it’s hard to engage in new experiences when you feel that you might not be able to do it perfectly or avoid making mistakes.

    What if you said “yes” only to realize it’s not what you expected?
    What if it doesn’t go as planned?
    What if you find it overwhelming or challenging?
    What if not doing it correctly leads to new kinds of judgment from others?

    It’s only human to have these worries. It’s only human to ask “what if” when you’re faced with new unknowns. And at the same time, it is also only human to allow yourself room to breathe as you ease your way into new things. Allow yourself to acknowledge the courage it takes to move through something new: even if that something “new” is just a new day you’ve never experienced before.

    For instance, when it comes to moving through a new day as a new experience all on its own, it’s easy to overlook the strength required to do the most simple things or the energy needed to navigate even the most subtle changes.

    If you’ve made it through anything today, even if it’s just a series of regular breaths you took without thinking about it, no matter how small and whether anyone noticed or not, take this as a reminder of how you’ve been engaging with the new experience of a new day. Reflect on how, even when you weren’t thinking about it, you were breathing and moving through each hour. You were subtly but surely learning to be present in this new experience of a day, even without being able to make perfect sense of everything.

    Carry this with you as you engage in new experiences that ask more of you. Remember the countless, everyday ways you’ve been moving through each new day with courage, even when you weren’t fully aware of it. Look for areas in your life where you try something new, knowing the courage to move through unknowns has already been rising up within you.

    So here’s to moving beyond the need for perfection by reframing what it even means to “try.” Let this be a form of grounded hope, allowing onward and upward movement to arise gradually.

    -Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Permission to name needs

    Permission to name needs

    You are allowed to create space to name the need.

    …Here are a few words (of many) you could consider:

    acceptance
    appreciation
    beauty
    closeness
    community
    companionship
    ease
    flexibility
    friendship
    hope
    inspiration
    movement
    space
    structure
    understanding…

    Of course, having needs met is very important, but at times, it can be easy to forget an earlier step: naming them in the first place. This alone can be a powerful act. Consider friendship. If you were to say, “I need friendship right now” to someone, it’s the kind of thing that is sure to, at least, spark attention and awareness. It may not immediately lead to the dream friendship you need right now in the next five minutes, but naming it provides a language for your needs, helping you articulate and express what you are seeking. It could lead to deeper, more specific questions:

    Do you need the kind of friendship that is supportive or adventurous? Consistent or spontaneous?

    Specificity not only helps you identify what you may need but narrows your focus in such a way that you may begin to explore what necessary steps are required for it to become possible.

    Allow yourself to get specific. For instance,

    If you need “acceptance,” ask yourself — “what kind?”

    If you need “ease,” ask yourself, “What might ease look like on Saturdays?”

    If you need “space,” ask yourself, “Where? What kind of space has been helpful in the past?”

    -May there be space for you to identify what you need and how it might help you move through the day. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Creating Breathing Room, Even here

    Creating Breathing Room, Even here

    Taking a pause when there’s much to do can feel like putting down a heavy book in the middle of an intense chapter – the story keeps pulling you in, yet the break helps you absorb what you’ve read so far.

    Just like in a story, taking breaks helps you process everything you’ve been taking in. By taking small breaks, you give your mind time to rest and think.

    For whatever it is that you are processing right now, taking a pause isn’t the opposite of finding clarity. A break might be the very thing you need to figure out what you should do next. Even if this starts in small ways, allow yourself to notice the pauses that already exist and allow yourself to identify more.

    The quiet moment on the elevator before you reach your floor and go on to the next thing.

    The few minutes when the phone battery has lost its charge and before it’s charged again.

    The silence while waiting for the microwave to finish.

    The moment between seeing a notification and opening it.

    There was a brief silence after saying goodbye before hanging up the phone.

    These moments are so brief it is easy for them to go unnoticed, yet, at the same time, they are places where you can begin to pay attention to the pauses that allow you to reset, regroup, or recharge, and return to whatever it is you need to do with clarity.

    And remember if it’s not an automatic reset that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. Sometimes, it’s like seeds quietly growing underground. Recognizing that resets can vary in length can free you up from the pressure of instant results. By recognizing that progress in understanding things can grow slowly, even with pauses, you can find clarity in time. Start small in whatever way you can and build from there. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Embracing the depths of your story

    Embracing the depths of your story

    If you were to think of your life as a story, there are likely chapters that you could easily recite over and over. For some, it might be the story of how you grew up, and for others, it might be the story of how you ended up in the city you’re currently in or the story of your middle name. These stories become a part of us in a way that can be very useful. This is especially true if you have parts of your story that people might not be familiar with, such as having a rare name or being from a small town that few have heard of. However, one of the challenges of having familiar stories is that they can feel fixed and stuck in time. You may even get tired of telling other people the same old stories. You may even get tired of telling those stories to yourself, too. So what can you do?

    Here’s something you can try:

    Think of a book you’ve read where you’ve been able to watch or read an interview that features the author of the book. It’s likely that upon listening to them talk about the story and its characters, you learned something new about the book when hearing them dive into all of the details that weave the story together, even if it’s not written on a page. They share details that only they know because they’re the only ones who have been telling that story. What if––if only for a moment––you could imagine yourself as the author of a fictional book you’re writing, where you’re sharing the behind-the-scenes later on:

    What are some details of your life that may have been overlooked or forgotten? What are the untold stories and hidden layers that add depth and richness to the narrative? The details you might share face-to-face or with certain people? The things that were beautiful and meaningful but hard to put into words?

    You don’t have to put words into a perfectly publishable narrative to take a moment to reflect on the details. Even just acknowledging them is a way to be reminded that your story is alive with a richness that is worth paying attention to.

    May the hidden layers of your story help you realize the depths of it. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Small Ways to Expand A Sense of Possibility

    Small Ways to Expand A Sense of Possibility

    Allow yourself space to explore new connections, even in small ways. There are so many things that you can pay attention to that might seem small or seemingly insignificant but that can actually tell a story of something so much more.

    Consider the photos on your phone. When was the last time you printed some of them out? How might looking at a moment that you were really grateful for in a physical piece of paper help you remember it more? It doesn’t even have to be a formal photo print. You could print something on a black and white piece of regular paper, fold the page, and use it as a bookmark in your journal.

    Of course, a printed photo might not change everything, but in a life where so much is fleeting, it can become a symbolic act of taking a little extra time and effort to find value and appreciation in an easily overlooked place.

    This is an example of making new connections—allowing yourself to connect one small thing to the other in pursuit of something forgotten or never realized before.

    A new connection could be a photograph you took years ago; that’s “old news” that takes on new life when you print it.

    A new connection could be a moment when you think of two people who don’t know each other but know you, and you introduce them so they can become friends.

    A new connection could be realizing that you already have a skill in one area of your life that comes naturally to you and that you can apply to another area of life.

    These are just a few of many examples and you are free to go in search of many more, one connection at a time. – Morgan Harper Nichols

  • Creating Space to Think Things Through

    Creating Space to Think Things Through

    Whenever you’re faced with a conversation you need to have, a dilemma you’re trying to figure out, or something else that requires some serious thought before taking action, having a go-to place where you can really think things through is something that can help in the process. Having this kind of space allows you to organize your thoughts and explore new possibilities.

    However, trying to find a way of doing this that works for you is something that can be practiced. Here’s a simple exercise called “Subtle Shifts” to help you create that space and practice organizing your thoughts:

    Step 1 – For the next 3-5 days, take a photo of something ordinary or mundane in your daily life, such as the view from your window or the arrangement of items on your desk.

    Step 2 – Review the photos you’ve taken at the end of the week.

    Step 3 – As you review them, open up to a blank page in a journal and write “Subtle Shifts” at the top of the page. Then, write down what subtle changes you noticed from day to day. If everything remained the same, that’s perfectly fine. Challenge yourself to identify at least one small difference. You can format your entry as a list or a paragraph – there’s no right or wrong approach.

    This may feel like a small exercise, but in reality, it can make a significant impact on how you process your thoughts, observe, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.

    By creating space to organize your thoughts, even before the smallest thing, you are engaging in a valuable process that can grow and even give form to new ideas. Through these simple observations, you might even begin to notice new things you’ve never paid attention to before.

    Of course, organizing thoughts is not the only part of working through something, but it’s a part that can be overlooked because it can be overwhelming. So give yourself permission to start small and create a space where you can practice giving form to new possibilities. – Morgan Harper Nichols