I’ll be honest, I haven’t kept up with my journaling practice as I normally do. Ironically, whenever I need slowness most, it feels furthest away. Yet, that very resistance to writing it out is exactly when we need the practice the most.

Let’s face it, the majority of our day consists of scrolling on social media the second we wake up, spending our days in the internal battle between rest and productivity, consuming more content, and constantly convincing ourselves we are not doing enough, as if we should be further ahead.

This is no surprise, as we have approximately 60,000 thoughts daily, with 80% of these thoughts being negative and 95% repetitive. If we’re not careful, we continuously live our lives on autopilot. Yet there is a powerful way to slow down and make the subconscious conscious…

Journaling.

And no, not every day needs to feel like a self-improvement project. But what is never wasted is curiosity about our lives and actions, cultivating intentional joy, and creating true moments of stillness to hear our own voice beyond the noise (because it’s so rare nowadays!). Journaling helps us feel less like life is something that is happening to us, and more like something we are actively creating.

How This Challenge Works

I live by this: every person’s practice will look different. Here are some tips to create a consistent journaling practice that works for you.

Timing

I personally love journaling in the mornings because it sets the tone for the rest of my day. This will look different for everyone. The most important thing is that you find a moment in your day that works for you.

Convenience

Place your journal somewhere you’ll be reminded of it. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to start. For example, if you love journaling in the evenings, place it on your bed.

Consistency

If you go to the gym once, you may feel sharper mentally and even stronger physically. But true results are visible and felt over time. The same goes for journaling. It may be more transformational to write a couple of sentences a day than 10 pages every two months.

You may want to use the prompts below as inspiration. Don’t worry about “catching up” if you miss a day. You may even want to start with 2x a week if that works better for you!

The September Journal Prompts

• September 1st: Something I’m looking forward to this month…

Looking ahead, what is something in the short term you’re really looking forward to, and why?

• September 2nd: If I could remove one word or sentence from my vocabulary, which would I choose, and why?

Our words hold tremendous power. Do you speak to yourself kindly? Do you speak about yourself highly? Is there one word or sentence that reflects a limiting belief that is not for your ultimate, highest good?

• September 3rd: Describe your dream ordinary Tuesday.

Instead of counting down to specific holidays or weekends, what would your dream ordinary day, like a Tuesday, feel like?

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But I do wonder whether we’ve become so focused on replicating the formulas that worked for someone else that we forget about our own pace, our own voice, the experimentation required to find what works for us, and the knowingness that success shouldn’t (and wouldn’t) arrive overnight. Here are 4 reasons why.

1. What’s the rush?

The internet loves a good success story. Sometimes, that’s all my Instagram algorithm shows me. Someone grows from 500 followers to 100,000 in a matter of weeks. Another launches a business and explodes within days. When we see this, we automatically internalize the belief that this is what success is supposed to look like.

It excludes the reality that every successful person has also gone through weeks, months, maybe years of nothing happening. The journey is anything but linear. My Instagram account once blew up from 1K followers to 10K within days, but that only happened after posting every day for a year, spending hours editing on Canva, refining my message over and over again, with sometimes only five people liking a post (on a good day!)

What we often forget is that there is a long, often invisible stretch where nothing seems to be working despite putting in our best efforts. And the hurry you feel during this period? It’s not always because of future excitement, but because of current discomfort.

The truth is, as long as you feel an immense urgency to move past it, you will not move past it. That’s the lesson in itself. Can you sit in the unknown? Can you allow yourself to be a beginner? Can you cultivate the resilience to keep going? Those are the skills you will need when the success you dream of finally arrives.

2. What happened to authentic self-expression?

We may become obsessed with following the “right hooks” or someone else’s strategy as a Band-Aid to cover the real block: a fear of being seen for who we are. As a result, we look at what others are doing and subconsciously determine that that must be safe.

I have a theory that every single successful person has mastered the art of being themselves. They know what they are incredibly good at. They know what they are not great at. They are confident in their message. They are not threatened by the success of others, because they know it lives within them too.

From this deep knowingness, art is created. When you learn who you are and what you feel passionate about, when you learn how to express this message, you attract others who align with it. Everyone, and I mean everyone, holds their own unique blueprint for the message they are meant to share and how they share it. The whole point is discovering what that is. Finding it becomes increasingly difficult when there are “proven” ways to achieve success. Spoiler: there are none. There is only your way.

3. You have the success, now what?

In our hurry to escape current discomfort and reach the success we dream of, we forget that we are also becoming the person who can hold the vision we are yearning for. Imagine for a second if you woke up tomorrow morning with 1 million followers. Ask yourself, and ask yourself honestly: would you know what to post next? Would you genuinely feel safe being seen? Would you be able to hold it? Would you be able to keep it?

The first time I went viral, in December 2023, my initial reaction was “make it stop!” My nervous system could not process that many eyes on me yet. Any glimpse of an increase in followers would automatically result in days of convincing myself I didn’t know what to post next. I was afraid.

So please know that any time growth does not feel immediate, it may also be for your protection. Use this time to become the person who can hold what you’re asking for.

4. The internal work

When I look back on my own journey, virality, followers, or success never came from the perfect hooks or the “right” strategy. It came from crafting my unique voice, sharing my authentic message, and leaning toward honest self-expression.

The truth is, when you are no longer creating solely to be validated, you start to express authentically. That’s how your people find you. The work is internal too.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn’t follow any hooks. Please do educate yourself, take a writing class, buy a course, and become 1% better every day. But there is a distinct difference between doing those things from a place of love and a place of fear. The fear will ripple into every other area of your life. Others will feel it too, even online.

Moving forward

If there’s one thing this essay is not meant to do, it’s to make you feel discouraged in any way or convince you to do nothing and simply wait for success to find you. Instead, sit with the following: If no one was watching, what would be your go-to way to create? How is your soul yearning to express itself?

Please remember that you are the best way to gauge where you may want to pivot or challenge yourself. You are the only way to determine whether you are creating in a way that feels right to you. You are the doorway you must walk through to achieve the success you dream of. Allow that voice to guide you forward.

It’s safe for you to be seen. It is safe for you to be yourself. It is safe for you to express authentically. There is no one to mess up a timeline that is uniquely yours. Above all, please follow your heart; I promise you, it knows the way x

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When I reflect on this past weekend, for example, nothing particularly extraordinary happened. And yet, it was one of the best weekends I’d had in a while. I spent most of it with my family, swam in the ocean a little longer than I normally would, truly savoured every sip of my morning coffee, spent Saturday night watching Friends in bed, but most of all, I was present and aware. I wasn’t thinking about what I needed to do next or wishing I were somewhere else.

It reminded me that while there is so much in life we cannot control, there is also a lot we can influence: how we spend our time, the habits we cultivate, what we feed our minds, and who we choose to surround ourselves with.

Here are 7 ideas to help you cultivate happiness this week:

1. Monday: Do one thing you’ve been putting off. Just one. It can be the biggest, most daunting task on your to-do list, or something small that you know will only take five minutes, but you haven’t made time for it yet.

2. Tuesday: Make a gratitude list. Challenge yourself here: think of at least 10 things. Nothing is too big or too small. It could be a meal you loved, a person you love, the feeling of sunlight on your skin, your health, anything that made you smile lately…

3. Wednesday: Do one thing purely for fun. We severely underestimate this one. Somewhere along the way, we started tying almost everything we do to productivity. Even when we have a second to distract ourselves or to recharge, guilt can be the first feeling that comes up. Notice it, but don’t let it lead the way. Color, craft, bake, play a game, listen to music, do anything that makes you feel alive… simply because you enjoy it.

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A few years ago, I was experiencing massive change. But at the time, it mostly looked like the tiniest shifts in my day-to-day life. My day looked fairly simple. I’d wake up at 6 AM in my tiny studio apartment in The Hague, bike to the nearest train station, gaze outside the train window for about an hour, and dream about the life I’d hope to one day live. I didn’t know yet when or how, but I desperately wanted to write.

I’d get out at Amsterdam Central Station and walk to my corporate job. It was paying my bills, but it didn’t fulfill me the way I hoped it would. I knew deep down that there was a different path I was meant to walk.

After work, I’d take the train back. If you had asked me then, I would have most likely complained about the commute. I hated how much time it took; I was constantly overwhelmed and would have preferred to be anywhere else.

If you asked me now, I’d tell you those were some of the most transformational train rides of my life. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was laying the foundation of the life I live today. It was during that time that I decided that there was a different possibility for me, and I was slowly taking action toward it.

It was during those train rides that I first started to write. It’s where I posted for the first time, where I’d make a content calendar, extended my workday to create art, came up with the idea to launch and journal, and the rest is history…

No one was reading any of my work yet, but I just loved doing it.

The ripple effect

Then life happened. I quit my job, moved away, kept posting, my account grew to 60K followers, opportunities were finding me, and I spent the majority of my time travelling outside of the Netherlands.

A few months ago, I found myself sitting in that train again. The departure station was the same: The Hague.

As I sat in the train, I looked out the window at the long fields, cows scattered across the landscape, listening to my favorite music in my headphones, and thinking about the version of me who used to sit on this train writing, dreaming, and wondering if any of it would ever become real.

The destination, though, was different this time. I got off one stop earlier, at Schiphol Airport, on my way to Washington, DC, to attend a book launch for a book I had written the foreword for. It was a true full-circle moment. It almost felt like two worlds, or two versions of me, were colliding.

What it taught me

Looking back at that time, I now understand the following:

So much of our lives ultimately comes down to how courageous we allow ourselves to be, how we decide to spend our time, how willing we are to listen to our inner voice and work toward something without any evidence that it is possible for us. How it’s okay to be a beginner at something and to figure it out as we go.

The rest is trust. Deep, immense trust.

I hope you allow yourself to follow that voice. It’s already carrying you forward.

I don’t take that train often anymore, but I like to believe that there is a version of me still on it… dreaming.

With so much love,

Isabelle

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This story reflects a central Taoist idea: events rarely arrive with meaning attached to them. Instead, we are the ones who assign it.

While this is a deeply liberating thought, it can also feel profoundly uncomfortable because it goes against the way our minds are wired. Within a fraction of a second, we instinctively judge what is happening around us.

Judgment: An illusion of control

Cognitive psychology has shown that we make between hundreds and thousands of evaluations every single day. We judge people, ourselves, situations, ideas, and possibilities. While this is, in itself, not necessarily a flaw because it helps us stay safe and navigate the world, the problem begins when we mistake those judgments for certainty.

We convince ourselves that if we analyze a situation long enough, replay every conversation, or anticipate every possible outcome, we can somehow soften its impact. It gives us the comforting illusion of control. Yet, our judgments are never purely objective. They are shaped by past experiences, emotions, fears, beliefs, and learned patterns. They are interpretations, not facts. And who can say with complete certainty that our first interpretation is the complete truth? According to whose perspective? And who is to say that the future must unfold according to the patterns of the past?

The hidden comfort

The truth is surprisingly simple: we cannot know in advance what any experiences will come to mean. How often have you believed something was the best (or worst) thing that ever happened to you, only to realize months or years later that you could not have been more wrong?

Maybe the heartbreak that shattered you became the catalyst for meeting the person you were meant to love. Maybe losing your job was the very thing that gave you the courage to pursue the life you’ve always felt called toward. Maybe every delayed train, missed flight, or traffic on your commute was protecting you in ways you’ll never know about.

you don’t know.

The Perspective Still Missing

There is something liberating about accepting that there is always more to a story than you can see from your current perspective. Especially in the middle of hardship, when life seems to make the least sense, your story is still being written. Start entertaining the possibility that, like the farmer, the wisest response sometimes is “Maybe.”

With so much love,

Isabelle

At first, it feels unsettling.

You find yourself explaining your choices more often, justifying your dreams, and softening your truth so it feels more acceptable to the people around you.

You tell a friend about your business idea, secretly hoping they’ll share your excitement, but instead they’re concerned.

You express your desire to leave your job to follow your passion, and while it feels like destiny to you, others see it as reckless.

Slowly, you begin to second-guess yourself. You question your intuition and start making decisions based on how they’ll be perceived rather than what feels right, because somewhere inside, there’s still a part of you that believes being understood is the same as being safe.

Why it hurts us

You may brush it off, pretend not to care, or convince yourself that it does not bother you. But deep down, it can create an overwhelming sense of loneliness. It is in our nature to want to belong. It’s human to seek and nurture connection and to want to be accepted by those around us.

So when we make decisions that are different from those around us, decisions that may be questioned or misunderstood, we feel as though our relationships are being threatened, and ultimately, we fear not being accepted by those we love.

The painful truth is that not everyone will accept or understand every decision you make. It’s simply not possible. Everyone carries their own perspective, traumas, conditioning, and beliefs about what is possible.

It’s also not your job to convince them otherwise.

The solution is not to adjust your explanation, give more examples, or keep trying to convince them until they understand.

But rather, to let it be.

The blessing in disguise

The truth is, the people who truly love you will continue to love you regardless. Those who fall away may not have been meant to stay forever, but rather to serve as a lesson in guiding you closer to yourself.

As you continue to walk an authentic path, one that reflects who you truly are, you will naturally attract people who are walking a similar path.

But perhaps the greatest gift of being misunderstood is the invitation it gives you to turn inward, and the door it opens to deeper self-acceptance. It confronts you with how deeply you trust in your vision, regardless of external validation, and gives you the chance to keep choosing yourself, until their opinions no longer have the power to disturb your peace.

Until your self-trust and deep inner knowing are so strong that nobody’s approval (or lack thereof) changes what you know to be true deep inside.

The journey of authenticity will temporarily threaten your sense of belonging, but in return, you will be rewarded with the most miraculous story of how everything came together.

Whenever you feel triggered, remember this: You were never meant to fit into the path that was expected of you, but into the one you know deep down you’ve always been meant to create.

And while the journey will no doubt challenge you, to arrive at the end of your life having lived for others is something you simply cannot do.

So the next time someone doesn’t understand your path, don’t immediately assume you’ve taken a wrong turn. Perhaps that, in itself, is the biggest sign that you’re walking your own.

And that may be one of the greatest blessings of all.

With so much love,

Isabelle

There are days when self-doubt doesn’t announce itself in obvious ways. You don’t wake up thinking, I’m not good enough.

Instead, it whispers. You may occasionally think to yourself: “I can’t fully go for it yet”; “I should probably heal this part of myself first”; “I’m not deserving of this opportunity”; “That type of love will never find me”

It’s often far more subtle than we realize.

The hidden question beneath every dream

In the English dictionary, self-worth is defined as “the intrinsic, unconditional belief that you are valuable and deserving of love and respect, simply for existing.”

And perhaps, on the surface, you do believe you’re worthy. Most of us would probably say we are. But if we go a little deeper—if I were to ask whether you can rest for an entire day without feeling guilty—you might notice some discomfort. Or if I asked whether you truly believe you’re worthy of receiving what you desire without first having to prove yourself, you might feel resistance arise.

These subtle moments often reveal the beliefs we carry beneath our awareness.

Whenever we deeply want something, there is often a question hiding underneath the surface. One that shapes whether we take action, how boldly we move forward, or whether we hold ourselves back altogether. The question is:

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In these moments, it can be difficult to tell whether something is no longer meant for you or whether you’ve simply encountered a challenge you’re meant to work through. You may find yourself wondering if it’s time to pivot, and whether what you’re hearing is intuition or fear.

When clarity feels out of reach, it can help to return to your inner wisdom and listen to the voice that trusts. Here are five questions to help you reconnect with it and gain clarity on your next step.

The questions

1. One day, would I be at peace knowing I didn’t see this season through?

This may be a difficult one to answer because, ultimately, you may not know. But spend a moment reflecting on it anyway. Imagine you’re 90 years old and looking back over the course of your life. You’re reflecting on everything you pursued and ultimately accomplished. Would you like for this moment to be part of that story? Maybe the answer is yes, then all that’s being asked of you right now is to build up the courage to continue. The answer may also be no, and that may mean there is another path available to you.

2. What feels worse: the pain of taking your next step or the pain of leaving the dream unfinished?

Sometimes our nervous system subconsciously discourages us from taking the next scary step simply because it’s unfamiliar. And to the nervous system, unfamiliar often equals unsafe. The reality is that growth is not meant to feel comfortable. As you learn, expand, and grow, there will undoubtedly be discomfort. The question is whether it feels worth it to you, and whether you're willing to accept temporary discomfort for the possibility of what lies ahead.

3. If fear wasn’t part of the equation, what would I do?

If you could ask yourself completely objectively—if no one was watching you try and stumble, if you weren’t afraid of being judged, if the opinions of others didn’t matter—what would you do? When fear is no longer leading the way, we open the door to true authenticity.

4. What would someone who really loves themselves do in this situation?

The irony of self-love is that sometimes we must put ourselves in incredibly painful and uncomfortable situations because we love ourselves. The truth is that self-love does not mean avoiding discomfort. It means that sometimes we must do scary things that are outside of our comfort zone because we want to grow. It could be that the part of you that loves you deeply is nudging you to pivot because it knows that there is something more aligned ahead. Or it’s encouraging you to keep moving forward, because it knows that this is meant for you.

5. What part of me is asking to pivot? The fearful part or the wise part?

Often, the voice that tells us to stop—to not take the next step, to go back to how things once were—is the part that’s afraid of disappointment, judgment, or not seeing the results we hope for if we continue. The wise part knows that those things do not define you. If your desire to pivot comes from the wisest part of you, the part that does not scream, but instead nudges with confidence and trust, you’ll know that that may be the best step forward.

Ultimately, there is one truth you must not forget: you will never miss out on what is meant for you. Even if you turn away from it, even if it takes longer than you expected, even if you are not ready for it yet, it will find its way back to you.

These questions are meant to guide you, but remember that no decision is ever final.

With so much love,

Isabelle

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Sometimes, life can feel like a series of “not yet” moments. We tell ourselves, “I’ll be happy when…”, convincing ourselves that happiness exists somewhere in the future, or waiting for life-altering moments to finally allow ourselves to feel joy.

But what if the moment you’ve been waiting for is already here?

Finding happiness in the ordinary

I’ve found that one of the simplest ways to feel happier is to truly notice and honor the blessings that already surround me. On the days when I rush from one destination to the next, happiness finds me when I choose to walk a little slower. It finds me when I stand still for a moment and feel the sun on my skin, when I truly taste my food, or when I notice the colors of the sunset.

And I think that’s the beauty of joy: it often lives in the ordinary moments we move through too quickly to notice. Not every beautiful moment arrives as fireworks or life-changing news. Sometimes, joy exists in the smallest moments of being fully present with your life.

This week, challenge yourself to slow down and immerse yourself in the present moment. Whether you’re walking down the street, watching the sunset, listening to music, or talking to someone you love, allow yourself to truly be there.

Week 3: Joy (25th-31st of May)

May 25th / day 25: What are three small moments from last week that made life feel beautiful?

May 26th/ day 26: What did true joy feel like to me as a child?

May 27th / day 27: What does a happy and fulfilling life truly mean to me beyond success or achievement?

May 28th / day 28: What are 5 things I truly love and appreciate about myself?

May 29th / day 29: What am I still learning to let go of?

May 30th / day 30: If I had permission to feel exactly how I feel right now, with no need to fix or explain it, what would come up?

May 31st / day 30: What did I learn about myself during this past month of journaling?

I hope you loved this journaling challenge. More than anything, I hope it brought you closer to yourself, helped you reconnect with your inner voice, and gave you a few minutes of calm every day.

If you feel ready for your next step, I would love to invite you to join my live online Summer Solstice Journaling Workshop on June 21st. A deeper experience centered around self-discovery, courage, visibility, and stepping into the next version of yourself.

With so much love,

Isabelle

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

• Join the Summer Solstice Journaling workshop on the 21st of June.

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Nothing breaks my heart more. I truly believe that if a seed has been planted in your heart, one that is asking you to share your magic, it’s because someone, somewhere, is praying for what you have to offer. I don’t think we always realize the ripple effect that following our dreams can have not only on our own lives, but on the lives of others, too.

Like that moment you listened to a podcast and heard the exact piece of wisdom you didn’t even know you needed. Or that time you walked down the street, heard someone playing an instrument, and felt your entire frequency shift. Or that post, book, conversation, or offering that reached you at exactly the right time and reminded you of who you are.

Everyone has a gift to share. Yet most of the time, we are afraid to honor it because we fear being misunderstood, worry about how we will be perceived, and, on a deeper level, fear what we may have to let go of in the process.

If we are not aware of these fears, they often turn into self-sabotage.

Spending hours editing in Canva, but never posting, turning down an opportunity because we tell ourselves we are not qualified enough, waiting until everything feels “perfect” before we begin, only to remain stuck exactly where we are.

I want to emphasize that this often has very little to do with a lack of structure, determination, or time, and everything to do with what we are afraid will happen once we finally take action.

The lesson beneath the delay

I know this pattern intimately because I’ve lived it too. But I’ve learned something important: even though I was doing all the “right” things to support my dream (working hard, posting daily, taking action)…, I was missing one crucial piece. I wasn’t yet the version of myself who could actually hold the life I was asking for.

Behind the woman who longed to share her words was still a little girl afraid of truly being seen.

Behind the woman who dreamed of building her own business was still a little girl who didn’t believe she was worthy or capable of real success.

Behind the woman who wanted to inspire others was still a little girl terrified of being judged.

No matter how big my dreams were, I couldn’t fully live them until I faced the part of me still holding back.

The biggest breakthroughs came every single time I shone a light on what I was actually afraid would happen if I took action, accepted it, and decided to move forward anyway.

It was the inner work.

Changing the story I told myself about why something wasn’t possible. Accepting where I was not yet free, consciously deciding what I wanted, releasing resistance toward what I knew deep down to be true, asking myself what my fears were trying to protect me from… and then changing the conversation.

The way forward

If there is something you’ve been wanting deeply but you feel like it’s not showing up as ‘quickly’ as you’d like, instead of becoming frustrated, I encourage you to reflect on the following (and be really honest with yourself):

• “Do I have the capacity to hold what I’m asking for?” Dig deep with this one.

• “Am I embodying the version of myself that truly aligns with my desire?” And be honest.

• “Am I truly open to receiving, or is there resistance within me?” Feel deeply into this.

If your answer is “no” to any of these, then perhaps it’s not just about doing the strategic work, it’s also about doing the energetic work.

As you do this, I want you to remember, and truly feel this in your bones: the universe is not making you wait. It is preparing and protecting you, so that when your wish arrives, you are ready—and it stays.

You got this.

With so much love,

Isabelle

P.S. If this resonated, these are exactly the themes we’ll be exploring together during my upcoming journaling workshop: fear, visibility, inner resistance, self-expression, and learning how to move forward even when part of you still feels afraid.

A gentle reminder that early bird pricing and free shipping for the workshop end tonight at midnight.

Inside this experience, you’ll receive access to the live online journaling workshop, a replay afterward, and your own journaling kit delivered to your home. Spots are limited, and they’re filling up quickly.

I’d truly love to see you there!

If you’re a paid Substack subscriber and would love to join, reach out to me. You’ll receive an additional discount.

With so much love,

Isabelle

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

• Join the Summer Solstice Journaling workshop on the 21st of June.

• Check out this undated digital productivity and wellness planner designed for both your ambition and well-being.

• Ready to deepen your journaling practice? This journal makes it easy.

• Let’s connect on Instagram!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently made a big change. I rebranded from “The Mindful Journal” to “Isabelle Marguerite”

This shift has actually been on my heart for a long time. But if I’m honest, stepping into a personal brand felt incredibly scary for me.

As someone carrying a deep visibility wound, the idea of being fully seen under my own name brought up a lot of fear. For as long as I can remember, I did everything I could to avoid the spotlight. I was always considered the “quiet” one in class, hated speaking in front of groups, and subconsciously did everything in my power not to draw too much attention to myself.

The irony is that while I feared being seen, I also craved it deeply and felt called towards it. I had a rich imagination, a longing to share, and so much creativity inside of me. Wanting an outlet for that expression, I created an Instagram account in 2019 called The Mindful Journal. I posted once… and then completely “forgot” about it until I picked it back up again in 2023.

When I started posting consistently, I still rarely showed myself.

It took a lot of inner work, sitting with my fears, and writing page after page in my journals to build the courage to peel back the layers of fear and reconnect with the inner voice that has always encouraged me to express myself from the deepest parts of my heart.

One day, while journaling, I realized something: I don’t want fear to lead the way. It can show up; I’m human. But it no longer gets to decide the direction of my life. Next to that, I found a fear greater than visibility: the fear of never taking action at all.

So I leaped.

When fear no longer leads the way

I never could have imagined that just a few years later I’d be living as a writer, launching two journals, and reaching millions of people online every month. That little girl inside of me would be proud.

And through this experience, I’ve learned something I now hear echoed in so many others, too: we often have a vision, a dream, or a deeper calling, but hesitate to move toward it out of fear of being judged, misunderstood, or fully seen. That breaks my heart.

I’ve learned that the extent to which you live your dream life is the extent to which you allow yourself to be courageous. Both in admitting to yourself what it is you truly want, and taking action towards it.

Therefore, for the next 10 days, I invite you to connect with the courageous side of yourself each day. It’s already within you, waiting to be felt.

Week 3: Courage (15th-24th of May)

May 15th / day 15: What parts of myself am I learning to embrace more deeply?

May 16th / day 16: What does the most courageous version of myself look and feel like?

May 17th / day 17: What is one brave thing I can do this week?

May 18th / day 18: What dream or vision keeps returning to me? How can I start taking small steps towards it?

May 19th / day 19: What limiting story about myself am I ready to let go of?

May 20th / day 20: Write about a time you acted courageously and what it taught you.

May 21st / day 21: What would I do differently if I fully believed in myself?

May 22nd/ day 22: Where in my life am I allowing fear to make decisions for me? What may it be trying to protect me from?

May 23rd / day 23: What is something I’m ready to forgive myself for?

May 24th / day 24: If I had an unlimited amount of confidence, resources, and time, what would I love to do next?

PS. On June 21st, I’ll be hosting a live online Summer Solstice Journaling Workshop centered around visibility, fear, self-expression, and learning how to move forward even when part of you still feels afraid.

If you choose to participate, you’ll receive access to the live Zoom workshop, along with a Journaling Kit shipped directly to your home, including the journal, a pen, an affirmation card, and a few other surprises.

Until May 20th, I’m offering free shipping + early bird pricing.

Reserve your spot here (limited spots available!)

Paid Substack subscribers, please reach out to me if you want to join. You get an additional discount, and the early bird price stays valid even after the 20th.

Here’s to shining as the brightest, most authentic versions of ourselves!

With so much love,

Isabelle

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I’ve been travelling recently and am currently in Valencia, Spain, my first of four places I’ll be visiting this month. I always feel most inspired when I’m on the move, and journaling every day has only deepened that experience. It’s been bringing me a lot of comfort and clarity.

I’m really excited about this week’s theme, which is all about trust.

Trusting Life

Trust exists in so many layers: trusting in others, trusting that life has a plan for you beyond what you perceive right now, and trusting yourself to make the decisions that are right for you. Whether that means walking away from something you know isn’t aligned, or diving headfirst into something you know is, even before your outer reality confirms it.

The truth is, self-trust is cultivated. We won’t always feel it naturally, but I’ve found the fastest way to reconnect to it is by sitting with myself and remembering the truth of my life:

I’ve made it through every hard day so far. The moments I thought I’d never survive, the decisions that terrified me but paid off, and everything I’ve had to let go of that ultimately led me here.

I survived all of it. And so have you.

Whether you’re just coming out of a season that required immense trust, currently finding yourself in the middle of one, or still trying to find your way… these prompts are for you this week.

Week 2: The Prompts (8th-14th of May)

May 8th / Day 8: Write about a moment when letting go ultimately led you somewhere better.

May 9th / Day 9: What’s a decision I made recently that I’m proud of?

May 10th / Day 10: What is one thing I can thank myself for today?

May 11th / Day 11: Write about a time in your life when you surprised yourself and discovered strength you didn’t know you had.

May 12th / Day 12: What’s something I used to worry about that no longer matters today?

May 13th / Day 13: If I fully trusted myself and my path, what would I do next?

May 14th / Day 14: What’s something I want to say yes to more often?

Keep going. It doesn’t matter if you’ve skipped a few days or if some entries are only two sentences long. What matters most is that you keep showing up for yourself. x

With so much love,

Isabelle

PS. If you’re not already subscribed, you can enter your email below to receive the prompts for week 3 of our journaling challenge.

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I experienced firsthand how it helped me hear my inner voice again, take some scary steps, and stay calm in moments when I needed it most.

So I’m challenging myself to journal daily throughout May, and I want to take you with me. I’ll be sharing the prompts that instantly lift my mood and bring me so much clarity.

Here’s how it works

Every week in May will have a different theme. Week 1 will be all about gratitude. At the end of each week, I’ll share the prompts for the following week, and so on. The themes for the remaining weeks will be revealed as we go.

It’s completely up to you whether you prefer to start your day with the prompts or take some time in the evening; this is a deeply personal practice. What matters most is that you carve out a few undisturbed minutes to listen to your inner voice and feel into gratitude.

If you’ve ever attended one of my workshops, you’ll know I often mention this: the first (and arguably most important) step takes place before the writing begins. It is: giving yourself permission to write anything down. To let go of judgment, expectations, and perfectionism, and simply allow the words to flow. There are no right or wrong answers. The more honest you can be with yourself, the more powerful the practice.

Week 1: Gratitude (1st-7th of May)

If there’s one thing gratitude has taught me, it’s that it isn’t about chasing the next best thing, it’s about appreciating what’s already yours. It’s about noticing what is already here, because there may be so much more than you can initially see.

The simple fact that you woke up today, have loved ones around you, are breathing, and are trying to become a better version of yourself… that alone is something to be grateful for.

For the first week of May, reflect on one gratitude journal prompt every single day.

The prompts

May 1st / day 1: What part of my life today would my younger self be deeply proud of or amazed by?

May 2nd / day 2: What is one good thing that happened today that I might have overlooked?

May 3rd / day 3: What was a difficult lesson I’m grateful to have learned?

May 4th / day 4: What is one small thing I can do this week to bring genuine joy into my life?

May 5th / day 5: Write about someone who has shaped your life in a positive way, and reflect on why you are grateful for them.

May 6th / day 6: Write about a memory that instantly makes you feel grateful.

May 7th / day 7: Think back on a time when you truly felt at peace. What was happening? Who were you surrounded by? What were you doing?

Let’s do this together. Feel free to take a photo of your practice and tag me on Instagram, or simply reach out if you have a question or want to share something. I read every message!

Next week’s will be all about TRUST. Remember to subscribe if you haven’t yet, so you can receive the prompts in your inbox next week for week 2: (if you received an email you are already subscribed).

With so much love,

Isabelle

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If you’re currently going through something similar, I’m sending so much love your way. I know from personal experience how painful it is to live in the unknown. In fact, my biggest frustration over the past couple of weeks has been the inner dialogue between my mind and my heart.

Mind vs Heart

My heart has been whispering that it’s time to be courageous and leap forward, while my mind has been begging me to stay where I am.

Some context for my Substack family: I’ll be announcing a big change in my business this week on Instagram. It’s a change I’ve been mentally preparing for for months. To the outside world, it may seem small, but to me, it feels like closing one chapter and walking through a door I’m not entirely sure where it leads, yet still feeling divinely guided to step through it.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been journaling about what it feels like to crawl out of the “in-between” — that space where I’ve outgrown the life I once lived but haven’t yet arrived in the one I’m creating. Here are a few realizations this season has gifted me:

1. Allow yourself to be here

It’s okay if you lie awake at night wondering when your prayer will be answered. It’s okay if you’re becoming impatient, if you’re tired of being strong, and if it feels like a gray cloud follows you, one that never quite lifts.

It’s okay if all you have right now are questions. If you’re unsure what tomorrow will look like, or if you see multiple paths in front of you and don’t know which one to take.

You are here because you have outgrown the life that was once yours and are still stretching into the one you’re meant to create. That takes time. Remember: just as nothing before this moment lasted forever, neither will this. The discomfort will pass.

2. Two truths can coexist simultaneously

I have had to remind myself consistently that although I am an absolute optimist, I’m still human and have moments where worry and fear take over.

So please remember:

Your heart may whisper that there are better days ahead, but it’s okay if at times that optimism and inner knowing coexist with the immense sadness that a particular reality is not here yet. Allow yourself to grieve what once was.

3. What do you have to gain?

Finally, give yourself permission to be excited about the possibility that magic awaits you once you walk through the door. Can you allow yourself to tune into what you truly want? Can you trust that it could be better than anything you can currently imagine? Can you have faith that the mere fact that it is calling you, means that there is story wanting to be written?

We spend so much time focusing on what we don’t want—hoping to avoid pain, worrying about whether we’re choosing the “right” door. But I’ve realized something:

It has very little to do with the door itself, and everything to do with your ability to trust what’s behind it.

I’ll leave you with one journal prompt to reflect on, one that helped me tremendously this past week:

“If I fully trusted myself and my path, what would I do next?”

Be honest with yourself as you write down your answer.

I hope you have the best week.

With so much love,

Isabelle

PS. I’ll be sharing what “opening the door” looks like for me this week on Instagram, turn on post notifications so you don’t miss it x

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I’m going to take you back to 3 years ago, around this time…

I was living in The Hague and working my corporate job in Amsterdam. My past relationship was falling apart, I intuitively knew I had to let go of my job, and I had a lot of questions about my next step.

Three years earlier, I created an Instagram account called “The Mindful Journal.” I posted once… and then stopped. Sharing my writing felt too scary. But the inner voice, the one urging me to write and share, never went away. If anything, it only grew louder over time.

Eventually, I gave in. Call it synchronicity or a catalyst, but something inside me knew: it was time to begin.

I never imagined I’d end up where I am today. Looking back, though, I can clearly see a few key things that helped me push through those early days of building a brand. If you’re in that same stage right now, here are five things that can help you stay consistent and keep moving forward:

1. Make it a part of your routine

When you’re creating a new habit—whether you want to consistently post on social media, build your dream business, or start going to the gym—make it as easy as possible for yourself. The thought of doing it may already be terrifying enough.

So here’s what I did: I used a habit I already had (commuting 3 hours to get to the office) and connected it to a new habit (posting every single day). This is also called habit stacking. As a result, I didn’t have to wake up hours before work to do something new; I simply added it to an existing habit I already had in my routine, and I’d create the content while I was sitting in the train.

2. Take the smallest step

This one may feel tricky. I did it as a self-protective mechanism at the time, but for the first year, I didn’t show my face on my account. It was completely faceless. I’m happy I did it that way because it gave me the freedom to write authentically, to share from my heart without worrying about what others thought of me. My visibility wound ran that deep.

I’m not saying you need to do the same, but ask yourself: what is stopping you from moving forward right now, and how can you make it a little easier for yourself? How can you protect your nervous system in the process?

3. Become truly obsessed with your work

For the first year, nothing happened. By that, I mean the external measures we often look to for success: likes, followers, sales.

But I kept going because two things kept me grounded:

• The thought of getting to the end of my life and realizing I never pursued my dream felt scarier than any uncomfortable step I had to take.

• The act of writing and creating itself brought me a tremendous amount of joy.

At the time, I didn’t need external results. What I was creating truly helped me get through a hard time.

4. Do the real work

In the beginning, I thought the hardest part would be choosing the right Canva fonts or figuring out the perfect marketing strategy. But over time, a different kind of challenge revealed itself: being misunderstood, sharing vulnerable work with the world, allowing myself to truly be seen, and continuing even when there were no results.

Every wound I hadn’t fully faced began to rise to the surface. Now I understand, the real work was about becoming the version of myself who could hold what I was asking for.

5. Find and connect with your why every day

Ask yourself: Why do I want this? Is it to help others? To fulfill a childhood dream? To make a difference?

And then live your “why” every single day. This takes the pressure off the timing and reminds you that the journey matters just as much.

There is so much more I could say about this topic… but I’ll leave it at this for now.

My love, that dream was planted in your heart for a reason. When it gets difficult, remember, it’s not only about you; someone out there needs a bit of your magic. It is a journey, and it is not always easy. But you have everything you need within you to make it come true. I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, and from one dreamer to another, you got this x

With so much love,

Isabelle

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Others feel much bigger: who we choose as a life partner, whether to make a career move, and where we decide to build our lives.

The truth is this: we are ever-evolving beings, and we will continue to make decisions for as long as we live. The irony? We spend a large part of our lives trying to avoid them.

We delay decisions because we’re afraid of making the “wrong” one, stall our dreams because it protects us from the possibility of failure, and hesitate to move toward anything that doesn’t resemble our idea of perfection.

I’ve had to make a decision lately (one I’ve been postponing for months), and here’s what it taught me.

What’s the real fear?

Indecision is natural. But when it becomes so loud that it drowns out your inner voice, it’s worth pausing and asking: What is the actual fear?

Is it making the “wrong” choice? Being judged by others? Letting go of something familiar? Failing, succeeding? It’s rarely ever about the decision itself, and more about the story we tell ourselves because of it.

When you name the fear, you take some of its power away, and you return to what’s true: no single decision will be the end of you. You are safe and loved regardless of what you choose.

In a way, the real challenge isn’t choosing, but accepting.

Not every “right” decision feels incredible at first

None of the options in front of me felt like a clear “heck yes.” I kept delaying my decision, waiting for a feeling that was never going to come.

The truth is, I had created an expectation of what making a decision should feel like. I believed that it would be obvious, certain, and confirmed by a very specific emotion. But in reality, some decisions only reveal their true meaning in hindsight.

Deep down, you may already know what the answer needs to be, even if it doesn’t come with confidence yet. It might feel uncertain, uncomfortable, or incomplete. And still, you can choose to trust it, knowing that there is more to your story than you can perceive right now.

No decision is final

This decision will lead you to the next.

I remember accepting what I thought was my dream job a few years ago. It felt like a “HECK YES!” at the time. Three months in, I realized it wasn’t.

But that doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision. It was a stepping stone. It taught me what I needed to learn, gave me experiences I couldn’t have predicted, and ultimately led me to start my own brand. In a way, that decision led me here.

Each decision is simply a stepping stone, creating ripples that shape what comes next.

Trust yourself

The true moral of the story is this: we don’t always know if we’ll make the right decision, and maybe that’s okay. What we do know is this: your story is far from over. You still have time to pivot, start again, take a step back, and leap forward.

It will keep coming back to you until you trust in what you know to be true. You’ve always known; it was simply a matter of accepting it.

Wishing you a beautiful week ahead x

With so much love,

Isabelle

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I think many of us can relate: postponing present happiness while looking toward the future for fulfillment. Maybe you’re longing for your dream job, hoping to meet the love of your life, or working toward buying your dream home.

But here’s the assumption we make when we believe a future scenario will bring us more happiness: we place joy outside of ourselves and forget that it’s already available to us now. Because the truth is, once you get that job, partner, or home, there will always be something else to strive for. So perhaps true joy doesn’t come from what you acquire, but from what you choose to notice.

This week, challenge yourself to find joy in the ordinary:

• Calling a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while

• Making a gratitude list

• Offering someone a helping hand

• Watching the sunrise or sunset

• Cooking your favorite meal

• Taking a long, warm bath

There is so much to be grateful for, if only you take the time to notice it.

A gentle reminder for the week ahead:

While you may be striving to create a life beyond your wildest dreams, while you may imagine the home you’ll one day have, the love you’ll one day find, and the passion you’ll one day live, don’t let those aspirations come at the expense of enjoying the life you have right now. Don’t postpone your happiness.

If you feel called to, here are a few prompts to reflect on to start the week on a high note:

• What is something I often overlook but am really grateful for?

• What is something that would bring me joy this week?

• Where in my life am I waiting for “perfect” before allowing myself to feel happy?

Wishing you a beautiful week ahead x

With so much love,

Isabelle

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I don’t know if it was the inspiring environment around me, the music I was listening to, or the way the words seemed to flow differently that morning. But I caught myself thinking about everything that once left my life. Every challenge, roadblock, and dead end.

Simultaneously, I remembered the difficulty in letting go, every single time. Like when it took me longer than I’d like to admit to leave a relationship that no longer aligned, or when I spent months contemplating quitting my job before finally doing it.

Yet, while remembering these past events, all I felt was peace, paired with a realization:

Not everything I lost was a loss.

Even if at the time it felt like one. In fact, it all led me here. A place I once dreamed of being.

Since that morning, I’ve been thinking a lot about our tendency to hold tightly to circumstances or people, even when we know our time with them has passed. Rationally, we may understand that they’re no longer right for us. We may even sense that something better could be waiting on the other side of change. Our hearts may recognize when it’s time to move, grow, and evolve. Yet our mind often resists, gripping tightly to whatever is trying to leave our lives.

Here are four ideas that can help move beyond that fear.

Predictable pain

First, it might be helpful to know that if you recognize yourself in this, you’re not alone. As humans, we are literally wired to avoid uncertainty. And ultimately, that’s what loss (or any major change) represents: stepping into the unknown.

Because of this, our brain often prefers predictable pain—staying in a situation we know, even if it’s no longer right for us—over uncertainty. So we hold on tightly, closing ourselves off from the possibility that something more aligned might be waiting on the other side.

Step 1: Don’t judge yourself for struggling to let go. You are quite literally wired not to.

Who am I beyond this moment?

Even once you decide it might be time to let go, another fear often appears:

Who am I without this?

We form strong emotional attachments to people, places, and roles. Over time, they become intertwined with our identity and sense of self-worth, and letting them go can feel like losing part of ourselves.

In many ways, letting go is a form of grief. It asks us to say goodbye not only to a situation, but to a previous version of our life, and a previous version of ourselves. Although it may be painful, remember: some things are meant for a chapter, not the entire story.

Step 2: Allow yourself to grieve the life you once had, and the person you once were.

Envision the life you’d love

Grieving what once was creates space for something new to emerge. And once that space appears, an important question follows:

What could my life look like beyond this moment?

Write about the life you’d love to live. Picture everything you might gain.

Remember: if you decide you want a bigger life—if you decide to pursue something that truly matters to you—and as a result something falls away, it may simply mean it was never meant to go with you into the next chapter.

Step 3: Get excited about the life you could build.

Trust your inner knowing

And eventually, after the reflection, the grieving, and the imagining of what could be, you may arrive at another realization:

You most likely already knew it was time to let go.

Everything that follows that knowing is often just a negotiation with fear.

If deep down you feel it’s the right step, trust that inner voice. Trust yourself to handle whatever comes next—whether that’s another detour, a period of uncertainty, or an entirely new chapter. Because sometimes the things we struggle the most to release are the very things making space for the life we’re meant to grow into.

Step 4: Trust yourself enough to let go.

With this in mind, here is a gentle reminder to carry you into this week.

A gentle reminder for the week ahead:

While your mind may naturally drift toward the worst-case scenario, remember to also consider the opposite. What troubles your mind today may still be resolved. Prayers may still be answered, and circumstances may unfold better than you can currently imagine. There are many different realities available to you. This is just one of them. This is just one of them.

It will all make sense in due time.

With so much love,

Isabelle

PS. If you’re new here and enjoyed this essay, consider subscribing. I share reflections like this every week. Thank you for reading!

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Speaking had been a lifelong dream of mine, and I knew this opportunity was a powerful stepping stone. So I said yes. I had a few months to prepare, and I spent many of those mornings waking up with sweaty hands, a racing heart, and the following thoughts running the show:

“What if I say the wrong thing?”
“What if I unintentionally hurt someone?”
“What if I forget everything and completely black out?”

I learned a lot from that experience, but the greatest lesson was about trust: when something is truly meant for you, the Universe provides the resources, experiences, and people to help you move through it.

But you have to take them.

And often, it’s only in hindsight that you notice the synchronicities guiding you all along.

A blessing from the past

A few months before that invitation, I attended a networking event. One business coach and speaker in particular caught my attention. I don’t think I had ever listened so carefully to someone share their story. She had a way of captivating the entire room; you could have heard a pin drop, and her wisdom was extraordinary.

I was in awe of how effortlessly she held the room’s attention. Even in a crowded space, she made you feel as though she were speaking directly to you. As I watched her, I remember thinking to myself—with a deep knowing in the back of my mind that I wanted to become a speaker too—I want to learn from her.

Looking back, I understand now what drew me to her. It wasn’t just that she was a great speaker or a wise, successful woman. Something in me recognized a glimpse of the depth of transformation that was ahead of me.

Fast forward a few months, and as I prepared for my own speaking engagement, I decided to work from a café instead of from home. As I walked in, she walked in too—the very same speaker I had admired months earlier.

I gathered my courage and approached her. I knew she could help me craft a presentation that would truly leave an impact. We ended up talking for an hour, and she shared insights and practical pointers that I still use in my workshops today.

The workshop I led went incredibly well, opening more doors than I could have imagined.

You don’t have to do it all alone

We often forget that while we’re chasing our dreams, whether we are thriving or feeling stuck, we don’t have to do it alone. Growth accelerates the moment you allow yourself to be supported, when you intentionally surround yourself with people who inspire you and choose to learn from them.

I’ve now been working with her for several months, and in that time, I’ve taken bold leaps I once hesitated to make, healed wounds I’d carried for years, and repeatedly clarified my vision. As a result, I’ve experienced record-breaking months in my business, attracted opportunities I once only dreamed of, and barely recognize the version of myself from just a year ago (in the best way possible!)

Meeting her feels like a gift from the Universe—our paths crossed at the exact moment I decided I was ready to step into the vision I had been asking for.

My biggest takeaway: find the people who expand you. Learn from them. Let yourself be supported. Watch how fast you grow. And remember, being ready isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision.

You got this.

With so much love,

Isabelle

The speaker and business coach I refer to is Mingli Chung. She’s launching her 90-day Growth Ignited coaching program again soon, only once this year, and I could not recommend her more.

If you feel ready to step into a new version of yourself, if you’re feeling stuck in your career or your life, and if you’re ready to finally change your reality, reach out to her on her Instagram and keep an eye out for updates. You don’t want to miss this.

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The most common ones were:

• Not living a life true to themselves.

• Working too hard at the expense of personal relationships.

• Not expressing their feelings.

• Losing touch with friends.

• Not allowing themselves to be happier.

And the most frequent regret of all:

“I wish I had the courage to live a life true to my dreams, not the life others expected of me.”

When I read that, it broke my heart.

If we know this… why is it still so hard?

This is something we hear often in conversations about mortality and meaning. You would think that knowing it would make living boldly an easy choice. And yet, more often than not, the opposite happens.

Instead of asking ourselves, “What is the next step I can take toward my dreams?” we convince ourselves not to take it.

We choose logic over longing, worry about how we’ll be perceived, and overthink what could go wrong instead of imagining what could go right.

And sometimes, when we do take a step and catch a glimpse of what we’re truly capable of, we retreat into self-sabotage.

The sad part is that we then blame ourselves. We call ourselves “lazy,” “unproductive,” and “not motivated enough,” when it was never a laziness problem, but a survival mechanism layered with social conditioning and self-doubt.

What courage actually looks like

What’s asked of you isn’t to do more, but to feel the fear and take small steps anyway. You cannot wait for the fear to disappear, and there will never be a perfect moment. Instead, move, and courage will appear.

You might be thinking, “But there will still be people who judge me for my choices.”

I won’t sugarcoat it: yes, there will be. I’ve been there too. I’ve had to learn it over and over again: when you choose for yourself, there will always be people who don’t understand your decisions.

But the truth is, it’s not your job to shape yourself into a version meant to be liked by others. That’s beyond your control. It’s impossible to please everyone, nor are you meant to.

What happens instead is something far more powerful: A doorway opens to true self-acceptance.

You begin to say: “This is who I am,” and focus on what you can control: how authentically you show up each day. When you do, you naturally attract the people who are meant for you. With pure intentions and a strong calling, you simply cannot go wrong.

It’s up to you

I realized this when I read that passage in the book: I would rather reach the end of my life knowing I lived a life true to myself, even if it didn’t fit others’ expectations.

Because one day, inevitably, I will look back on this season of my life, and the question won’t be whether I felt fear; it will be whether I let it decide for me.

So, this week, ask yourself: what feels true to you? Where have you been making decisions based on others’ expectations? Are you living for yourself, or trying to fit into someone else’s mold?

With so much love,

Isabelle

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