Hi friends,

This eclipse season is all about tying up loose ends, and I've been reflecting on stories I tell myself that keep me from doing just that.

This is a bit embarrassing, but for weeks I've been avoiding a simple errand — getting my oil changed. As a Capricorn Sun & Moon, I usually love checking things off my list. But recently I let myself to fall into a feedback loop. An old memory from my teenage years — watching a man get publicly shamed at the Jiffy Lube — kept replaying in my head. Without even realizing it, I'd kept that story alive and let it hold me back.

In retrospect, this wasn't even a rational fear. This man and I weren't in the same situation. I hadn't gone so far over that I'd be scolded like that. But I let the memory open the door to imagining other negative possibilities: malicious attempts to upsell me, being dismissed, treated like I didn't know anything. A tiny molehill had turned into a mountain.

This past weekend at yoga, my instructor reminded us that eclipses invite us to finish what we've been putting off. That was my cue. I decided to pivot: instead of imagining shame, I pictured myself handling whatever came at me with calm. I began visualizing a compassionate, smooth day.

And it worked! This morning I set out determined to complete my errand — and I did. It was painless. No upselling, just friendly and quick service. The man checking me out even cracked a joke with me. Walking away, I felt empowered, reminded that fear loses its grip when I change the story I tell myself.

So, what story is keeping you stuck, and what’s a kinder, more empowering version you could tell instead?

Reframe Prompts

• What is someting I’ve been avoiding, and what story am I telling myself about it?
• If I release that story, what new version could I choose that makes me feel lighter or more empowered?
• How can I remind myself that the outcome I fear is only one possibility — and that another, kinder possibility is just as true?

Recs

• ​The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz — A timeless guide to rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, especially around fear, shame, and self-limiting beliefs.
• ​The Pivoting Kit — A guide I put together earlier this year with 3 powerful emotional reset exercises you can use anytime you feel stuck or off track. It’s designed to help you shift your energy, reframe your thoughts, and realign with what you want.

Remember that the stories you tell yourself shape how you experience the world. You have the power to choose the version that feels lighter, kinder, and more aligned with who you truly are. Here’s to practicing those pivots, one thought at a time.

xo,
Christen

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