Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up tips to help you live a joyful, healthier life.

In today’s edition:

Hi there, you absolutely magnificent creature, come to life from the mind of authors who dreamt up only the most spectacular of beings (that means you’re awesome).

When stress hits, many of us default to self-judgment: “Why am I like this?” “What’s wrong with me?” “Other people handle this fine.” Judgment tightens the nervous system. It makes the emotional moment feel bigger, heavier, more personal. 

Curiosity does the opposite. Curiosity softens. It opens. It lets us observe instead of attack ourselves. Instead of “Why can’t I handle this?” try: “What’s happening inside me right now, and what might this part of me need?” Curiosity turns overwhelm into understanding.

🌟 How to practice curiosity

✅ Action Step: Next time you feel stressed, pause and replace judgment with curiosity:
“What’s really going on for me right now and what do I need?”

Playfulness isn’t just for kids; it can be a useful tool for longevity and well-being. Play engages curiosity, joy, and creativity, helping your nervous system shift out of stress mode and into connection and restoration. Research shows that people who regularly experience play, whether through humour, games, movement, or imagination, tend to have lower stress hormone levels, stronger immune health, and more flexibility in how they respond to challenges.

Play also boosts dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to motivation and enjoyment, while improving emotional resilience. It also helps the brain stay adaptable, which is a key factor in healthy aging and cognitive preservation.

Plus play can help strengthen relationships, which is one of the strongest predictors of long-term well-being. As someone who loves to play and be silly, I can tell you with confidence that there are always play opportunities; it doesn’t take elaborate plans, just moments of lightness and silliness. 

✅ Action step: Do something playful today: dance while making dinner, tell a silly joke, play with your kids, pet, or a friend or say “yes” to something fun. Let yourself be a little less serious and watch your whole system soften and expand.

Trauma often brings invisible losses of innocence, trust, safety, time, relationships, or opportunities. Grief honors those losses and creates space for healing. This week is about validating grief and learning gentle ways to move with it.

Grief is not a flaw, it is a natural response to something that mattered. Sometimes we learn to minimize our grief because others dismissed it, or because we were forced to “keep going.” Giving yourself permission to grieve is an act of self-respect. You are not weak for hurting, you are human, and you are worthy of care. Today we give ourselves permission and tomorrow we’ll explore ways to express grief.

^{Darling, don’t give up on yourself, you’re so worth it. Sending love} 💕

What is one thing you are proud of yourself for, that no one else saw?
Let yourself tell the whole story.

Say your own name kindly… as if greeting a friend you adore, because you deserve to be spoken to with softness.

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).}