You are beautiful as you are, and other important truths.
A pep talk to remind you you're amazing.
Check out these two upcoming events: Imagine It! starts January 6th; and Inner Peace & Power in Portugal takes place next November.
Hi Friends,
Coming at you from Arizona, where I’ve been connecting with absolutely lovely people and giving talks about intention, visualization, and the power and importance of self-love. Lots of self-love talk, as always. We’re all so hungry to be in better relationship with ourselves. And it’s never too late to make real, profound self-love a reality. One of the questions I’ve gotten most often over the years is How do you learn to love yourself? I wrote an essay answering that question, so check it out if you’re curious.
But first…stay here and let yourself be showered with some perspectives that may light you up, inspire a bit more peace and acceptance, or at the very least make you smile.
Let me start by saying you are beautiful, worthy and enough, just as you are. And though you may read that statement and shake your head in denial of it, there is a place within you (your heart) that knows without question the statement is true. Which is to say, no matter what you think about yourself, you are imbued with a heart that knows only how to love you and remind you of your beauty, worth and enoughness.
When we listen to the love of our hearts, to the voice of love, we feel better. It’s the only possibility.
Some other perspectives I’d love you to consider:
There are people in this world who light up at the thought of you, whose hearts warm when they see your face or hear your voice, who feel lucky to call you friend or family. There are people who have been touched by your heart, your wisdom and your gifts, even if you were unaware of it. All this to say, your presence here matters. You matter. If your mind is suggesting otherwise, it’s lying to you again, as minds often do. Sink into your heart and root yourself in the truth of your worth. Again, you matter. We need you here.
Your truth is in no way rooted in the opinions of others, so don’t let the opinions of others uproot you from your truth. Stand strong in who you are, free and undeniable, and let the singular light you cast be colored with authenticity.
Maybe what you’re holding on to isn’t really about the other person at all. Maybe it’s about you not wanting to let go of something that’s been around for so long, not wanting to part with a connection that’s been comfortable enough, even if it no longer is. Maybe you’ll find even greater comfort in the letting go, in the belief that you are worthy of more than they could offer, and more than you together were able to create.
Don’t forget about all those other times you did exactly what you thought you couldn’t do. Instead of focusing on all the times you've failed or fallen short, why not focus on all the times you didn't? Why not consider all the different ways you've already done exactly what it is you're trying to do now? You have confronted your fears before, you have pushed beyond your comfort zone, you have had uncomfortable conversations, and the list goes on. Please don't waste time convincing yourself you can't do it. You can do it. You probably already have done it, many times in many different ways.
It’s what you do from this moment on that matters the most. It will always be what you do from this moment on that matters the most. You are not bound to any path laid out by past traumas, fears or insecurities, not when you decide to open yourself to the endless possibilities that live in each present moment. Your power really does live in the now. As long as you are breathing, it can never be too late to change the course of your life.
There will always be reasons you’re not ready enough and always fears that will beg you not to follow your heart’s calling. Sometimes the only way to overcome all the obstacles your mind presents is to start wherever you are with whatever you have to offer in the moment. To trust that this is enough and that you’re enough. Baby steps count. Really, just begin.
Sometimes it’s about making different choices, and sometimes it’s about finding acceptance with the choices you’re making. Maybe you don’t need to change as much as your mind says you need to. What would happen if you were to bring compassion and acceptance to wherever you are right now?
You are not obligated to give energy to self- abusive thoughts. The moment you become aware of them, do your best to focus your mind on something else, like your favorite sweater or a pretty tree or that chubby squirrel that keeps hiding nuts in your yard. If thinking about yourself makes you feel like crap, then stop thinking about yourself for now. There’s a world of beauty and weirdness to consider without needing to beat yourself up. You can return to thoughts about yourself when you’ve got nicer things to think. Maybe start with some general niceties, like the fact that you’re a kind person most of the time, a good friend to your loved ones, and, if you’re honest, pretty funny in your own way. You get to choose where your energy goes, so give energy to thoughts like these. Starve self-hatred and it dies. Feed it and it thrives. The same goes for self-love. Feed it. Let it grow and expand and thrive. Commit to raising your self-love the way you would your precious child: Tend to it with utter devotion, and decide there’s not one thing more important to you in the entire world. Let self-love, not self-abuse, be your obligation. And see how every single thing in your life begins to change.
There will never be a single reason to give up on yourself. No matter what your mind tells you. Not one single reason. So don’t waste your precious energy even thinking about it, not when you can be putting energy into believing in yourself instead.
It bears repeating once more: you are beautiful, worthy and enough, just as you are. You always have been and always will be. Breathe into this truth and let your willingness and commitment to love yourself without conditions be one of the most potent guiding forces in your life. This commitment always transcends self and serves all. That’s the beauty of love.
Let me know which of the above resonated the most with you, and if you’re inspired, share with us some perspectives that have been helpful to you.
I love you, and I believe in you.
Scott
UPCOMING OFFERINGS:
Imagine It! is a two-week, online workshop in January focused on the effective and joyful practice of creative visualization. We will meet for one hour Monday through Friday for two weeks, and recordings of each session will be sent out if you can’t make it live. This will be my third time offering this workshop in January (the other two were so much fun) and it is a perfect way to get off auto-pilot and enter into the New Year with imagination and intention.
We’ll begin each hour in guided meditation, connecting to our breath, to our hearts, to our souls, and to the Source energy that has created all things.
From meditation we will write for about twenty-five minutes. I will offer up a visualization prompt focused on a specific aspect of our lives, encouraging us to not just imagine but insert ourselves into the vision we desire. The energy here is an energy of boundless creation, of wild imagination, of deep belief in what is possible and what we are capable of making possible. I’m bursting just thinking about it.
After we write together, we’ll put down our pens and end the hour with some discussion and sharing (only if you want to). This will be a time to ask me questions or share epiphanies before we close out the session with connection and gratitude.
After two weeks together, you will have a journal filled with clear, bold visualizations, around which you can center your intentions and actions in order to align your reality more closely with your dreams. What a beautiful way to enter into 2025!
DETAILS HERE. (Huge discount for paid subscribers to this newsletter.)
Inner Peace & Power in Portugal is a weeklong retreat co-led with my buddy David Gandelman, in gorgeous southern Portugal. Here’s the note we shared on the website for the event, to give you a sense of what we’re envisioning:
We are wildly excited to invite you to join us for a week of meditation, breathwork, community, and spiritual growth in the lush and serene beauty of Monte da Orada, Portugal. Dating back to the 12th century, Monte da Orada isn’t an ordinary venue—it’s an ancient sanctuary surrounded by untouched and spectacular nature, an oasis that invites you to slow down, celebrate beauty, and give energy to what truly matters.
Over the course of the week, we’ll guide you to reconnect with your inner peace and strength, both of which are present within you all the time. Our days together will consist of guided meditations, transformational breathwork journeys, self-reflective journaling, as well as other mindfulness practices designed to help you shift your energy, release old patterns, and embrace your authentic self. There will also be plenty of free time for relaxation, massages, the sauna, and simply enjoying the gorgeous surroundings.
This retreat is about more than just self-discovery. It’s a chance to connect deeply with a like-hearted community, share unforgettable moments, and cultivate a sense of joy and clarity that you can carry into your everyday life. And remember, any healing we create in ourselves is healing that supports our world. We truly are all connected.
This will be the fourth retreat we’ve hosted together, and we expect it to be every bit as profound, energizing and fun as the others. We will have the entire retreat center to ourselves, and though it accommodates more than 50 guests, we’ll be limiting the group to a maximum of 35, giving us lots of opportunity to make use of the property.
It’s sure to be one of our highlights of 2025. We can’t wait to see you there!
I love you and I believe in you. ❤ xxoo
Thank you Scott you really do help make life better🌈