Welcome, gorgeous, to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up tips to help you live a joyful, healthier life.
In today’s edition:
😊Mental / Emotional Well-Being: “I Don’t Want That Anymore:” Releasing Social Expectations
💖Longevity & Wellness: The Mental Skill That Keeps You Young
🌱Trauma Healing: Rebuilding Boundaries: Reclaiming Your Power & Self-Protection (Day 2/5)
☀️Journal & Joy Prompts
🧠 Inner Reps: Mental & Emotional Well-Being Interval Workout
👇 And more good stuff, like lots of love from Lola & Joshua, the LWD creators xo
Today’s Edition
A wizard wants us to ask you something for them… “How are you so darn magical?” … We didn’t have an answer for them because we think your magical nature is simply intertwined with who you are!
“I Don’t Want That Anymore:” Releasing Social Expectations
Holding onto things that don’t fit can be a huge mental and emotional weight. Sometimes, the bravest act of self-awareness is realizing that what once fit no longer does. Maybe it’s a goal, a role, a relationship, or even a version of yourself you’ve outgrown. Social expectations often keep us gripping tightly to things that no longer serve us but letting go can reduce anxiety, restore alignment, and create space for something better. I’ve had a bad habit of sticking to things that don’t truly feel like me because I’ve been afraid to disappoint others, but I’m working on doing better and here are some of things that have helped:
🌟 How to practice letting go with intention
🪞 Ask: “Does this still feel like mine?” not “should I want this / should I keep going?”
🧭 Notice what drains vs. energizes you; your body often knows before your mind does.
🧩 Separate personal desires from social pressures: whose dream are you chasing?
✍️ Journal or talk it out: what’s a good enough reason to keep going? What’s a valid reason to stop?
🤪If you brainstormed a list of “social expectations,” what comes up? Assess how these influence your life and whether they truly fit.
🌱 Remember that release isn’t failure, it’s refinement. What would this release make room for?
✅ Action Step: Choose one goal, commitment, or expectation to reassess this week. Ask yourself honestly: “Do I still want this?”
🧠The Mental Skill That Keeps You Young
Your brain’s ability to adapt, shift perspectives, and respond to change is called “cognitive flexibility,” and it is a key ingredient for resilience, creativity, and healthy aging.
Research shows that people with higher cognitive flexibility handle stress better, recover faster from setbacks, and maintain stronger mental health. It’s also linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline and improved problem-solving as you age.
Think of it like being able to pivot when life throws you a curveball instead of getting stuck in rigid mental patterns like rumination. This mental flexibility supports emotional regulation, learning, and decision-making, which are all vital for long-term well-being.
You can strengthen your cognitive flexibility like a muscle.
Here are some ways to do that:
🤓Learn new skills, like languages, instruments, juggling, games, etc.
🧑🍳 Challenging routines (take a new route, cook something new)
🧘Practicing mindfulness to notice and release fixed thoughts
✅Action Step: Today, intentionally do one thing differently, like switching up how you normally do something or try something new. Small shifts build a flexible, resilient mind for a long, vibrant life!
Rebuilding Boundaries: Reclaiming Your Power & Self-Protection
Trauma can blur or break boundaries. Rebuilding boundaries is not selfish, it’s self-protection and self-respect. This week is about learning to honor your edges and reclaim your right to say “this is mine, and that is not” / “I want this, and not that.”
Day 2: Spotting Boundary Wounds
It’s time to assess with fresh eyes. Once you ground in the learning that you are deserving of healthy boundaries to respect your limits, you can use compassionate awareness to help you see where your boundaries need repair.
🙊Boundary wounds can exist with yourself (ex. never allowing yourself rest), with areas of your life that are over-reaching (ex. work), or with people (ex. someone who always takes and never gives)
😔 Notice where you feel resentful, exhausted, or overlooked: these are often boundary signals.
🗣️ Reflect: “When do I want to say yes and when do I want to say no?” “How comfortable do I feel with ‘yes’ and with ‘no’?”
🧍♀️ Recall: “When have I felt invisible or taken advantage of?”
✨ Boundary wounds are not proof you’re weak: they’re an invitation to remember that you are deserving of care and protection.
Darling, don’t give up on yourself, you’re so worth it. Sending love 💕
You can disagree without disconnecting; lead with curiosity. Understanding builds more bridges than winning.
📖Journal Prompt:
Building a Caring Relationship with Yourself
If your life was remembered not by achievements, but by moments of presence, love, and laughter, what would those remembrances be?
🌟Spark of Joy:
Let Little Things Move You
Listen to the sounds of nature… like when the trees speak through the rustle of leaves, or the rain falls revealing the rhythm of the earth with its impact.
Today’s Mental and Emotional Workout:
This interval workout will increase your ability to:
Build gratitude pathways in your brain to naturally shift your focus toward what’s good
Wire your brain for joy to naturally feel lighter, brighter, and more fulfilled
Open your heart through mindfulness to experience deeper connection and peace
In under 8 minutes, you’ll strengthen positive neural pathways for long-term well-being and end the workout feeling better than you started! (Click on the photo below to access the workout)
Thank you for being here!
Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!
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With love and care,
Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team
Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.
Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).