Positive Affirmations for Enneagram Twos

This post contains affiliate links, more information can be found in the disclosure policy.

Where my Enneagram Twos at?!

When I first read about the Enneagram and started exploring what number I might be, The Helper, or 2, immediately stood out to me. It really struck a chord...but not a good one. I felt like an open book, but I didn't like what was being pointed out. For MONTHS I told people I was "maybe" a 2, and explored other numbers secretly hoping to find something else that fit but I never did. I once read a joke that all enneagram numbers think theirs is the worst and it must be true; my husband is a 7 and he once told me his had to be the worst number of them all.

The Enneagram is by far my favorite tool for self-realization and character development. In order to find your number you need to be very self aware. The Enneagram is not a simple either/or of various character traits. The Enneagram is related to your deepest core fears and beliefs. It is a tool that reads your secret motivations, and is all about understanding how to become the healthiest (insert number here) you can be!

The Enneagram doesn't allow you to say, aw shucks, sorry I was so shitty back there, it's because I'm a 2/4/9/whatever. It is a tool to identify where you need growth. You must do the work to become healthy. So, for all my 2s out there, I have some affirmations for you!

I use affirmations in a couple of ways. Sometimes I write them all out and read them outloud in the mirror while I'm getting ready. These are written as statements that are true about you, or as things you are currently doing. If you change the wording to say "I'm trying to honor my commitments to myself", the affirmation loses effectiveness. There is power in looking into the mirror and declaring something about yourself. It feels strange at first if you don't believe it, but repeat it a few times and see how that feeling changes. This is the power of affirmations.

I also sometimes pick a specific affirmation based on the season I feel I'm in. If I'm really struggling with trying to do everything myself, I may write "I ask for help when I need it" on a notecard and carry it around with me. Everytime I see it throughout the day, I repeat it to myself. The next time someone asks if I need help and I open my mouth to say no, I typically remember the affirmation and try to honor it by finding a way in which I'm comfortable getting help.

So print off this list, attach it to your mirror, heck, make it your phone background if you need it! But give it a try at the very least!

My therapist is a huge proponent of research, so here is some empirical evidence from an article about the benefits of using affirmations.

1. Self-affirmations have been shown to decrease health-deteriorating stress (Sherman et al., 2009; Critcher & Dunning, 2015);
2. Self-affirmations have been used effectively in interventions that led people to increase their physical behavior (Cooke et al., 2014);
3. They may help us to perceive otherwise “threatening” messages with less resistance, including interventions (Logel & Cohen, 2012);
4. They can make us less likely to dismiss harmful health messages, responding instead with the intention to change for the better (Harris et al., 2007) and to eat more fruit and vegetables (Epton & Harris, 2008);
5. They have been linked positively to academic achievement by mitigating GPA decline in students who feel left out at college (Layous et al., 2017);
6. Self-affirmation has been demonstrated to lower stress and rumination (Koole et al., 1999; Weisenfeld et al., 2001).

Not sure what your number is, or looking for more resources? Here are some great books and websites!

The Enneagram Institute
Eclectic Energies
The Narrative Enneagram
Personality Types by Riso and Hudson
The Road Back to You by Cron and Stabile
The Sacred Enneagram by Heuertz
The Path Between Us by Stabile
The Enneagram by Rohr and Ebert



So for my twos, are there any specific affirmations you use or need to hear? Let me know in the comments!

Fall 2019 Reading List

I have recently gotten back into reading as a form of self care. I was a voracious reader as a child but spent years "too busy" to slow down and read a book.

I have also become  huge non-fiction reader. I am wanting to dip my toe back into fiction but it always feels so hit or miss--I never know what I'm getting myself into with a fiction book and sometimes I just don't like them. My library card is expired right now, but I recently found out that they sell books at the dollar stores near my house. I'm talking full on hard back books that were published within the past 3 or so years. I'm definitely willing to take a chance on a fiction book for a dollar!

So, here are all the books I'm going to be working through this fall. I typically read every morning during my self-care/"dailies" time, but I'd also like to work out an evening routine with some reading time built in as well. When are you more likely to read?

Let me know your thoughts if you're ever read any of these, and definitely leave suggestions below if you have a favorite book you're currently loving and think I should add to my list!

This post contains affiliate links, more information can be found in the disclosure policy.

Woman Code by Alisa Vitti
Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon
Longing for Darkness by China Galland
Boundaries by Henry Cloud
Three Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Start by Jon Acuff
Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
Educated by Tara Westover
The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown
Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno

5 reasons I'm obsessed with Grove Collaborative!

If you follow me on Instagram, you will know from my stories that I have an abiding love for Grove Collaborative. I have been using Young Living's essential oils for a couple of years now, and that was the first step down the road of understanding the toxins all around me--in foods, beauty products, cleaning products, candles, etc. I started making a bunch of my own products, but I eventually relaxed on that over time. I still make a handful of my own items (dry shampoo, dishwashing detergent, moisturizing serum, etc), however I also began searching for toxin-free and low waste products to purchase and use in my home. Enter Grove!

So what is Grove Collaborative? I like to describe it as Amazon Prime for non-toxic products. That's a really reductive way to describe it just because of the amazingly quick shipping they offer, but Grove is honestly amazing--and if these 5 reasons why don't convince you, nothing will!

This is NOT a sponsored post but does contain a referral link, more information can be found in the disclosure policy.

1. FREE gifts

That's right, I said FREE! You guys, when I signed up for Grove I used a code that someone was offering on Instagram because I was interested in all the reusable products they were just planning to just GIVE me! Everything in this picture was my free gift with my first order:

My free gift was a specialized offer a blogger had as part of her partnership, but I have a free gift code you guys can use to get a five piece Mrs. Meyer's set for free with your very first $20 order. That's right, you only need to spend $20 to get aaallll of these love things pictured below.

All you have to do is click here to put in your first order! A few quick points--your shipping will be free and you'll be getting a free trial of the VIP program (more on that below), which you can use for 60 days and either keep for the year ($20 charge), or cancel if it ends up not being your thing afterall.


2. No strings attached

As I mentioned, when you complete your $20 order and get your free gift, you're starting a 60 day VIP trial. So, what's the catch? Nada. Zip. Zilch.

If at the end of your 60 days you are totally loving the VIP perks, you will be charged $20 to keep your VIP services for the year. OR you can change your mind and cancel your VIP trial before they charge you and just walk away. The best part is, they will still let you purchase through them without the VIP membership. You'll simply be paying for your shipping and losing acess to aditional free gifts throughout the year, and early sale access (see number 4 for more info on this!). But you are still completely welcome to purchase with Grove without any kind of membership!

Also, the Grove VIP membership still doesn't require you to make any purchases, ever. Their hope is to be a recurring service, so you can set up all your favorite items to come straight to your door as needed. Need to replace your deodorant monthly? Awesome, you can set that up! Only need your hand soap refills every 3 months? That's cool, you can set that up also! I receive a text message and an email before my monthly order ships, so I can easily cancel or change it.


3. Unparalleled customer service

So remember those recurring orders I mentioned? Initially, I didn't even know I had those set up. I had put everything I wanted into my cart and then my reminder text/email came and went, and I never checked my cart. On the day my process ordered, I noticed it was $10 more than I expected. Turns out I had a recurring item placed in my cart and hadn't paid attention to that....my bad.

Despite being the weekend, I sent a message to their 24/7 text line. Someone got back to me that same day and refunded me. However, they process orders SO quickly that I had already received my shipping notification before my refund. The person on the other end of the text line told me that as a company "with a strong focus on sustainability, we prefer that you gift, donate or keep that item rather than returning it back to us." Shocked, y'all.  They literally just GAVE me the item when it was totally my bad for incorrectly order it. I love that answer so much, that if you're actually reading this I will give that free 48 oz. lemon verbena soap refill to the first person to sign up for your first order/free gift, then come back and leave a comment below.

I called Grove the Amazon Prime of non-toxic products, and that's because they have seriously fast shipping. As I mentioned, the day my order processed was the same day it was boxed and shipped to me. They arrive 3 days after my order date. They are also impeccably packaged. Things arrive upright, with tape over any item that could potentially spill. I haven't had any shipping mishaps to date.

And if all this hasn't convinced you, they also offer price matching. I was interested in getting a bamboo handled toothbrush with replaceable brush heads made of vegetable-based nylon. They are my next step in wanting to use less plastic, and lower waste/more recycled products. But lo and behold, I found out they were cheaper at Walgreens. Sure, I could've just gone to my local Walgreens and hoped they had it in stock, but Grove is a company I am more apt to support...and also I can order from my couch in my underwear sooooo... I emailed Grove, and they adjusted the price in my cart same day. You guys, they are such a stellar service!

4. Presale offers

Before their fall line of Mrs. Meyers products was rolled out, they offered them on presale to VIP members for 25% off. You better believe I got myself this 5 piece set with apple cider cleaning products. Imma be living my best fall scented cleaning life this year thanks to Grove.

5. Values
Grove lists the ingredients for each product so you can easily see what aligns with your own definitions for "green" or non-toxic products. They also have a really straightforward list of values that a company holds. For instance, here are the values for the aforementioned toothbrushes.

They make it so easy to make choices according to YOUR values.



Don't leave here thinking Grove is just cleaning products either. They have a huge array of beauty products, reusable switches, products for pets, kids...nearly everything! I have ordered sponges, cleaning wipes, scrub brushes with replaceable heads, reusable baggies, face masks....I could go on, but I'll spare you! It felt redundant constantly talking about it on Instagram and having to explain myself so I figured I would compile all their greatest talking points for easy reference. But I honestly cannot recommend Grove enough, so at the very least, why not get your free gift TODAY with your first order?!

National Peach (Crisp) Pie Day

Ever since I was 10 and had a birthday cake that was 75% frosting, I have not been a "cake person". I am a pie person through and through.

Even at our wedding we didn't have a cake and instead opted to have just a general dessert bar, lovingly stocked by creative and talented friends and family. I have always preferred pies and custard desserts to cakes, with peach pie as my standout favorite. Peach anything, honestly, but peach pie for the win.

When I'm in the mood for peach pie but can't be bothered with making a double crusted creation, I opt for a peach crisp. I love that cripsy, crunchy, rich topping juxtaposed against the soft, juicy fruit. Crisps are everything, amirite?

So, in honor of national peach pie day, here's a simply recipe you can throw together to celebrate!

In my mind baking is equal parts deeply scientific (you need to be mindful of processes and ratios), while also being intuitive. Sometimes you need to add steps, take out a step, change times, etc. I like to make recipes (especially for cooking) intuitive, so change things as you wish! Also, this is my first time writing a recipe in 8-9 years so please let me know how things can be changed around of changed for clarity!



Super Simple Peach Crisp

Filling:
5-6 peaches
cornstarch (optional)
maple syrup (optional)

Topping:
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp ginger (or cinnamon, cloves, allspice, your call!)
1 stick (1/2 c.) cold butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.

Chop your peaches and place in the bottom of your dish. If they are excessively juicy you can sprinkle a small amount of cornstarch and mix them up to soak up some of the juices during cooking. If your peaches are underripe, you may want to add a little maple syrup for added sweetness.

In a medium bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Cube your butter into small pieces and add it to the dry ingredients. Using a fork, pastry blender, or your hands, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles sand. Sprinkle it over the top of your peaches.

Bake in the center of the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and crispy. Slather with freshly whipped heavy cream or some vanilla ice cream. Or just eat it straight out of the pan with a spoon, again, it's your call!

July 101 Things Update/August goals

If you haven’t seen it yet, my first post on my blog was my 101 Things in 1001 Days list. This is my second iteration after making my first in January 2016, but at the end of my 1001 days I had only completed 48 tasks. I'm determined to do better by using monthly check-ins and planning.

This post contains affiliate links, more information can be found in the disclosure policy.

July Follow-up
July was an interesting month. I expected to have a job in June. So then I REALLY expected to have a job in July. But, August is certainly my month! Right...?

Being jobless did give me the opportunity to begin a cottage bakery. Host was born, focusing mostly on artisan sourdough. Loaves can be ordered here!

I finished four books, which is more than I would have if I wasn't intentional about it! I'm also still working through a couple extra books as well. I forgot my books at home on my trip but I ended up buying a memoir, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, for 50 cents at the local library and finishing that in two days.

We never made it up north, but we did take a trip to Cali to visit my parents. I didn't unplug but I spent that time taking more of a step back from social media and connections.

I also didn't buy myself flowers but Uriah bought me some for my birthday. I ca n't remember what they were but these things are resilient! We left the morning after I got them and they weren't taken care of for 5 days. It's been a week now and they're still perky and haven't lost a single petal!

I made hummus twice this month. I have read loads of things about hummus in the past so I kind of knew what I was looking for in a recipe. I ended up trying this recipe from Bon Appetit.

I also finished a couple unplanned goals: earlier in the month I made macarons again (still hate them), tried new Burmese foods (specifically tea leaf salad), and started making tentative plans for a trip.



In August, I'd like to:
-Buy myself flowers
-Find a new job (optimism)
-Read 7 books
-Make granola
-Finish a knitting project I'm working on