Sticky Note Mantras

OCD says: WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT. RIGHT. NOW.”

You: Or… we could DROP ANCHOR.”

When OCD sends you sailing into a sea of what-ifs, overthinking, checking, analyzing, and but what if THIS time it’s different?!”*—you don't have to solve your way back to shore.

DROPA is a simple way to reconnect with the present moment and make room for the thought or feeling without automatically responding to it.

Because the goal isn't:
Make the thought disappear
Get 100% certain
Feel calm immediately

The goal is:
**Notice it. Allow it. Come back. Choose what matters.**

Your brain can keep talking. You don't have to keep taking dictation.

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Exciting news! We were honored to join Richard Zwicky on the High on Healthy podcast to talk about Sticky Note Mantras: The Art and Science of Choosing Your Thoughts! The episode drops around Monday, August 24th!

We explored how simple, intentional thoughts can help reshape patterns, regulate the nervous system, build resilience, and create meaningful change—one sticky note at a time. 💛

A huge thank-you to Richard for the thoughtful conversation and for allowing us to share the science, humor, and heart behind Sticky Note Mantras.

🎧 Stay tuned for the episode-and remember: What we focus on is what we find!

When in doubt... swear that sh*t out. 🤬➡️😌

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do isn't to "stay positive."

It's to let out one perfectly timed, emotionally satisfying, four-letter word.

Research suggests that swearing can actually reduce the perception of pain, release emotional tension, and help regulate stress. It's not about living in anger—it's about giving your nervous system permission to express what it's carrying instead of stuffing it down.

The key? Don't unpack and decorate the emotion.

Feel it.
Name it.
Maybe swear about it.
Then keep moving.

Expression is healthy.
Rumination is exhausting.

A good "Well, sh*t..." can be the bridge between resistance and acceptance.

Because sometimes emotional resilience sounds less like, "Everything happens for a reason," and more like...

"Well... that sucked."

Then you take a breath, adjust your sticky note, and keep going.

📝 Sticky Note Mantra:
"When in doubt, swear that sh*t out... then move on."

Everyone seems to be chasing happiness like it's the last shopping cart in the Costco parking lot.

What if we've been running in the wrong direction?

Happiness is a wonderful visitor—but a terrible life strategy.

Instead of asking,
**"How can I be happier?"**

Try asking,
**"How can I make today more meaningful?"**

Call a friend.
Help someone.
Create something.
Laugh.
Take a tiny brave step.
Live your values, even if your feelings haven't caught up yet.

Meaning has a funny way of inviting happiness along for the ride.

📝 **Sticky Note Mantra:**
**Don't chase happiness. Build meaning. Happiness often follows.**

Remember when you were terrible at driving? Typing? Cooking? Adulting?

Yeah... your brain conveniently deleted that footage. 🎬😂

Somewhere along the way, we started believing we should be instantly good at everything. News flash: that's not confidence—that's perfectionism wearing a fake mustache.

Every expert has a cringe-worthy beginning.

So take the class.
Try the hobby.
Apply for the job.
Dance awkwardly.
Paint the ugly painting.
Lift the tiny weights.
Speak the shaky words.

✨ **Be brave enough to suck at something new.**

Because the only people who never look silly are the ones who never grow.

Our brains are incredible at trying to protect us by predicting danger... they're just not always great at telling the difference between a real threat and an unfinished conversation.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Anxiety loves to write fan fiction—don't confuse it with the facts. 💙

**Sticky Note Mantra: Move Your Body. Move Your Mind.**

Ever notice how your brain suddenly becomes *slightly less dramatic* after a walk?

That's not magic. That's biology.

When you move your body, you're not just burning calories—you’re:
✨ Releasing stress.
✨ Shifting stuck emotions.
✨ Giving your brain a fresh perspective.
✨ Reminding your nervous system that you're safe enough to keep moving forward.

And no, this doesn't require a 5 a.m. bootcamp or running a marathon.

Dance in your kitchen.
Stretch while your coffee brews.
Take your dog on an extra lap around the block.
Have a one-person dance party to that song you secretly love.

Tiny movements create powerful momentum.

So the next time your thoughts feel stuck, don't argue with them.

**Move your body. Move your mind.** 💛