JOY, is it really contagious?

Emotional Healing: A Journey Toward Joy, Peace, and a Brighter Future

How Small Daily Practices Can Lead to Big Shifts in Your Emotional Well-Being

Hello Beautiful Souls!

If you’ve been on the path of emotional healing, you know it’s not always a smooth ride. Sometimes it feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. But here’s a little secret: healing isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Every small effort you make, every moment of self-compassion you choose, is a victory. And if you embrace the journey with love, patience, and hope, I promise you—your future will be filled with peace, joy, and emotional freedom.

This blog post is a deep dive into some of the ideas shared in my latest newsletter, and I’m so excited to walk through them with you today. Healing is possible for you, and I want to share three daily practices that can support you as you continue your emotional wellness journey. Whether you're recovering from past hurts or simply looking to create more balance in your life, these practices can help you build the emotional resilience and strength you deserve.

1. Cultivate Gratitude: Shift Your Focus, Shift Your Life

One of the most powerful tools in emotional healing is gratitude. But here's the catch—gratitude isn’t just for the good days. It’s for the challenging ones too. When we’re going through tough times, it can be easy to focus only on what’s not working. But by intentionally looking for things to be grateful for, we shift our energy and our perspective.

I encourage you to take just a few minutes every day to write down at least three things you’re grateful for. Maybe they’re big, like a supportive friend, or maybe they’re small, like the warmth of a cozy blanket or the sound of birds chirping outside your window.

This daily practice doesn’t just help you feel better in the moment—it starts to rewire your brain to seek out the good in the world, even on tough days. And when we make gratitude a habit, it strengthens our emotional foundation, making us more resilient when challenges arise.

Healing Tip: Keep a gratitude journal by your bedside. Each night before you sleep, jot down three things that brought you joy or peace during the day. It could be a kind word, a beautiful moment, or a simple act of self-care you gave yourself.

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2. Transform Negative Self-Talk: Speak to Yourself with Compassion

One of the most insidious obstacles to emotional healing is negative self-talk. It’s that voice inside our head that tells us we’re not enough, that we’ll never get it right, or that we’re unworthy of love and joy.

But here’s the truth: That voice is not the truth. It’s just a collection of old beliefs, fears, and judgments—often ones that we inherited from others or from painful experiences. But you are not defined by those old stories.

When you catch yourself being hard on yourself, take a step back and ask yourself: Is this really true? More often than not, the answer is no. You are doing the best you can, and that’s enough. You are worthy of love, kindness, and understanding, and it all begins with how you treat yourself.

Healing Tip: Whenever you hear that negative voice creeping in, challenge it. For example, if your inner critic says, "I’m not good enough," respond with, "I am enough, just as I am. I am constantly learning and growing, and that’s beautiful." Speak to yourself with love, as you would to a dear friend. Your healing is a process, and you are worthy of your own support and compassion.

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3. Create Moments of Joy: Healing Happens in the Little Things

Sometimes, when we think about emotional healing, we think it has to be a grand, transformative event. But the truth is, healing happens in the little things—in the moments when we intentionally choose joy, even in the midst of pain or stress.

Joy doesn’t always come from big milestones or achievements. It can come from something as simple as listening to your favorite song, laughing with a friend, or taking a walk outside and soaking up the beauty around you. The more you invite joy into your life, the more healing energy you create for yourself.

Healing Tip: Each day, make space for something that sparks joy in you. It could be as small as reading a chapter of your favorite book, taking a bubble bath, or dancing around the living room. These moments don’t have to be long or complicated, but they can do wonders for lifting your spirits and inviting positive energy into your life.

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A Brighter Future Awaits

If you’re on this healing journey, I want to remind you: that hope is alive. It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that we’ll never truly heal, but the truth is, the future you desire is already unfolding. Healing takes time, yes, but with each choice you make to embrace gratitude, challenge negative thoughts, and create joy, you’re building a solid foundation for emotional freedom.

So I want you to know, that no matter where you are on your path, you are worthy of peace, and you are worthy of a bright, joyful future. The best part? You get to create it, one step at a time.

If you’re feeling unsure or need extra support, know that you don’t have to go it alone. Healing is a process, and every step forward, no matter how small, is a step toward the peace and wholeness you deserve.

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Let’s Connect

I’d love to hear from you! What practices have helped you on your emotional healing journey? What small shifts are you making today to invite more joy and peace into your life? Leave a comment below, or reach out directly. I’m here for you.

Remember: You’ve got this; the best is yet to come.

With love,

Shelli Marsh

Holistic Healing Coach

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PS: If you want to dive deeper into any of these practices or need more personalized guidance on your emotional healing journey, I’d be honored to work with you. Let’s connect and continue moving forward—together!