Welcome to our Brighten Your Light Community Hub

Brighten Your Light is a welcoming hub for meaningful connection.
Whether you're here to grow in confidence, share life with others, or connect with neighbors and make friends—this is a place to belong, to give, and to shine.

-- Our first community, Our Mayfield Neighborhood, is now open—celebrating kindness, support, and small-town connection.
-- Our next community, coming soon, is focused on joy, self-discovery, and empowering women to brighten their own light.

Welcome to Our Mayfield Neighborhood 🌻

Free to join - a friendly space to connect with neighbors, share, and support one another—right here in Mayfield, Utah.

What’s Happening in the Community?

📰 Check the Community Bulletin Board

🍅 Share or request garden goodies or supplies

🛠 Offer a skill or get help (rides, errands, repairs)

💬 Chat, post local events, or introduce yourself

🐶 Rehome items or pets “free to a good home”

Think of it as the town bulletin board, porch visit, and helping hands—all in one place.

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"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

For many of us, happiness feels like a moving target, something fleeting that we struggle to sustain. Yet, it is in the quiet moments, the imperfect experiences, and the act of letting go that happiness often alights gently upon us.

If you’ve ever wondered why happiness seems just out of reach, you’re not alone. Let’s explore the quiet art of happiness—how to find it in the present, embrace imperfection, overcome comparison, and accept its fleeting nature.

The Myth of "When"

Many of us fall into the trap of thinking happiness lies somewhere in the future. “I’ll be happy when…”—when we land that perfect job, lose those extra pounds, or cross every item off our bucket list. I spent years with this mindset, convinced that happiness was just around the next corner.

I used to believe that losing weight would finally make me happy. I thought, Once I reach my goal weight, everything will fall into place, and I’ll feel confident and content. That mindset kept me constantly focused on the future, chasing an ideal version of myself that always felt out of reach.

What I didn’t realize at the time was how much I was missing out on life in the process. I skipped out on social events, avoided photos with loved ones, and even hesitated to try new things because I thought, I’ll wait until I look better. I let the idea of future happiness overshadow the joys I could have embraced in the present.

Eventually, I began to see that tying my happiness to a weight goal wasn’t just unproductive—it was stealing my ability to feel good about myself and my life as it was. Now, I try to focus on living fully in the moment, appreciating the body I have, and finding joy in the everyday, imperfect parts of life.

The problem with chasing happiness this way is that there’s always another goal waiting to be achieved. We may spend too much time focusing on what we need to do to be happy that we overlook the everyday joys and moments of connection already within our grasp, realizing too late that tying happiness to future goals often keeps us from fully living in the present.

A Thought to Reflect On: The key is to realize how you are missing out on moments of happiness and make changes now. 😊

Finding Joy in Imperfection

For years, I believed that happiness lived in perfection—a perfectly balanced life, a flawless home, or an ideal relationship. But I’ve since discovered that some of my happiest moments were far from perfect.

Have you ever tried something new to impress your friends, only for it not to go quite as planned?

One evening, I invited a group of friends over and decided to make a dish I’d never tried before. I thought it would be fun to wow everyone with something new and special. But as I pulled the dish out of the oven, it was clear that it didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. It looked nothing like the picture in the recipe, and I could feel my embarrassment creeping in.

But instead of letting the disappointment ruin the evening, we laughed about it and found a way to enjoy the moment. We improvised with what we had, added a little creativity (and humor), and ended up with a meal we all loved—not because of the food, but because of the shared experience.

It reminded me that happiness doesn’t depend on perfection. Sometimes, the most memorable and joyful moments come from making the best of things and embracing the unexpected.

Have you ever had an experience like this? Where something didn’t go as planned, but it brought laughter, connection, and a lesson in letting go? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear it!

Keep in Mind: Happiness thrives not in the pursuit of perfection but in the acceptance of life’s flaws. 🌟

Overcoming Comparison

Comparison is often called “the thief of joy,” and in today’s world of social media, it’s easier than ever to fall into that trap. I’ll admit, scrolling through photos of perfect vacations, dream homes, and curated lifestyles has left me feeling like my life doesn’t measure up.

But the truth is, those picture-perfect moments aren’t the full story. Everyone has their struggles, even if they don’t share them publicly. It’s important to remember that happiness isn’t about having what others have—it’s about appreciating the life you’re living.

For a long time, I found myself comparing my life to others’. Social media made it so easy to fall into that trap. I’d scroll through photos of friends taking exotic vacations, hosting picture-perfect dinner parties, or achieving career milestones that seemed out of reach for me. I couldn’t help but think, Why isn’t my life like that? Why am I not doing enough?

The comparison left me feeling inadequate, even though I knew deep down that social media often shows only the highlights, not the full picture. I was so focused on what I thought was missing in my life that I overlooked everything I already had—meaningful relationships, small accomplishments, and moments of joy unique to my own journey.

What helped me shift my mindset was intentionally practicing gratitude. I started journaling each day about the things I was thankful for—big and small. Over time, I realized how much there was to appreciate in my own life. Instead of dwelling on what others had, I started celebrating my own progress and finding joy in the present.

A Gentle Reminder: Letting go of comparison opens the door to nurturing your own joy. 💛

Embracing Each Moment of Happiness

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is that happiness isn’t a permanent state. It’s a fleeting emotion that comes and goes, like all other feelings. This realization has been both challenging and liberating.

Instead of chasing an unattainable, permanent happiness, I’ve learned to appreciate the brief, beautiful moments when happiness alights in my life. Whether it’s a heartfelt hug from a loved one or the quiet joy of sipping tea on a sunny morning, these moments remind me to savor happiness when it appears, even if it doesn’t last forever.

One year, I was going through a particularly challenging time. Life felt overwhelming, and I often found myself worrying about everything that wasn’t going right. But in the middle of all that stress, there was a small, quiet moment that changed my perspective.

I was sitting outside with a cup of my favorite herbal tea, watching the sun set. For a brief moment, I forgot about all the things weighing me down and just focused on the warmth of the tea in my hands, the colors of the sky, and the sound of birds in the distance. It was such a simple experience, but it felt profound.

That moment reminded me that even in the midst of challenges, there are small, beautiful things to appreciate if we pause to notice them. It taught me that happiness doesn’t have to be big or perfect—it can be found in the smallest, quietest moments when we let ourselves be present.

Remember: Happiness is fleeting but beautiful—embrace it fully when it arrives. 🦋

Conclusion

Happiness, like a butterfly, cannot be captured or held. But if we let go of chasing perfection, stop comparing our lives to others, and learn to appreciate the beauty of fleeting moments, happiness will often find us in the quietest of ways.

As we move into 2025, I encourage you to reflect on the small, imperfect moments that bring you joy. Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear about the moments that have brightened your days.

And if you’re seeking more ways to nurture happiness and joy in your life, consider joining our Brighten Your Light community, where we explore self-care, connection, and personal growth together.

A Reflection on "Now"

Have you ever caught yourself wondering, Why can’t I just be happy now?

If you’re like most women in our community, it’s not that you don’t want happiness—it’s that your mind keeps pulling you into loops of perfection, comparison, or worry.

It’s easy to feel stuck when it seems like the happiness you seek is always just out of reach.

Here’s the truth: your mind is your most powerful tool for change. Today, let’s explore how to break free from the mental patterns holding you back and step into a life filled with joy and confidence—starting now.

The Trap of Perfection and Comparison

It’s time to confront a universal truth: No one is perfect.

Social media, societal pressures, and even our inner critic often set impossible standards that leave us feeling inadequate.

The reality is that comparison is a trap. Every time you measure yourself against others, you lose sight of your own unique brilliance and the path you’re meant to follow.

Instead of focusing on what you lack, start shifting your mindset with this simple practice:

Try This Today

1. Gratitude Reset: Take five minutes to write down three things you love about your life right now. They don’t have to be big—small joys like a cup of tea, a kind word, or a sunny day count!
2. Comparison Detox: Limit time on social media for 24 hours. During this time, notice how often you compare yourself to others and replace that thought with an affirmation like: I am enough, just as I am.

Invest in Yourself to Break Free

Breaking free from the mental patterns of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention.

The best part? An investment in yourself is always the best investment.

When you prioritize your growth, you begin to unlock the energy, ideas, and internal resources that are already inside you.

But what does investing in yourself really look like?

Practical Steps for Self-Investment

1. Schedule ‘Me Time’: Start small. Set aside 15 minutes daily for something that nurtures you—journaling, stretching, or simply sitting quietly with your thoughts.
2. Learn Something New: Sign up for a class, workshop, or book club that excites you. New knowledge keeps your mind sharp and builds your confidence.
3. Practice Saying No: This week, say no to one thing that doesn’t serve your goals or well-being. Use that time for something that fills your cup instead.

The Power of Desire

Your desires are not random—they’re a wake-up call. They’re whispering, “There’s more to life for you.” When you tune into those desires, you’ll notice they are often aligned with your values and the life you’re meant to live.

The secret to unlocking this power is learning to listen without judgment. Every time you dismiss your dreams as “too much” or “impossible,” you’re silencing the part of you that knows what’s best.

Tune Into Your Desire

1. Reflect: Ask yourself, What do I truly want right now? Write it down without editing yourself or worrying if it’s realistic.
2. Visualize: Spend five minutes each day imagining what it would feel like to have that desire fulfilled. What would your life look like? How would you feel?
3. Take One Small Step: Choose one small action that brings you closer to that dream. If you want to feel healthier, take a walk. If you want to write a book, jot down the first paragraph.

A Simple Action Step for This Week

This week, let’s get laser-focused on one thing: finding your joy.

The fastest way to experience positive change is to identify what would bring you the most joy, peace, or excitement right now and take a step toward it.

Your Action Plan

1. Identify the One Thing: What’s the one thing that will create more joy or peace in your life right now? Write it down.
2. Challenge the Obstacles: Write out the reasons you think this hasn’t happened yet. Be honest. Then ask yourself: Are these reasons true, or are they just stories I’ve been telling myself?
3. Create a Joy Habit: Commit to doing one thing every day this week that brings you closer to this joy. Keep it small and achievable.

A Word of Encouragement

You are not here to live small. You are here to create a powerful living experience—one filled with joy, connection, and growth.

By challenging your thoughts, investing in yourself, and listening to your desires, you are already stepping into a new version of yourself.

Remember: The mind is everything. What you think, you become.

Congratulations on taking the time to reflect and prioritize yourself today.

Your journey matters, and your light is needed in this world.

Keep shining your light. 💛

I’m sitting here in the midst of a pandemic, political drama, and loneliness. These uncertain times have the potential to cause plenty of stress and anxiety. So I was wondering, how can I find a way to be happy every day?

Did you know that practicing gratitude can be a great way to boost your mood? I know, I know…you have probably heard this a lot. But it's true! Expressing gratitude really has many benefits. But it’s not something that comes easily to us when we are bombarded with all the issues of daily life. And then our negative self-talk kicks in! So, let’s take a look at how we can take a step back and look at the positives we have going on in our lives.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough." - Melodie Beatty

Why does gratitude help my mood and my happiness?

To start, in order to create happiness in your life, ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS in this crazy world. This, in turn, allows you to express gratitude and turns our mental focus to positive thoughts and emotions, such as peace, beauty, joy, which can undo the grip of negative feelings.

How do I do this?

I asked a few of the members in our Brighten Your Light Community the following question? "What are YOUR simple things that you can find to enjoy in your life?"

Here are some of their responses:

The view from my window - mountains, sky, trees, birds
Sunsets and sunrises
Animals, especially the unconditional love of our pet.
An unexpected "thinking of you" text
Warmth of blankets
The smell of chocolate
Enjoying ways to connect more with family and friends
Someone opening the door for me
Smiling at a stranger
The chance to explore the great outdoors
Quiet

There are many things in our lives that we can be grateful for. Think back over the past few days and write down at least five things in your life that you are thankful for.

3 Simple Tips for Practicing Gratitude

Being grateful is a choice. What happens if you are mad and possibly yelling at someone and then the phone rings. How many of you immediately change your tone and answer in a friendly greeting? Yep! I got you! How you act is a choice! And evening our feelings begin to reflect our actions.
Look for the silver lining. One of my friends has spent a lot of time at home because of the pandemic. I love what she said about her 'silver linings'…
- My summer clothes from 2 years ago still look new! I hope they still fit!
- I always have a parking spot a work (home).
- To keep in touch we've had to learn to use Marco Polo, FaceTime, Zoom, etc. Now we're more in touch than ever!
- I get to go to church in my pajamas!
- Watched movies, had dinners delivered, celebrated, worked and shopped from home. Fixed up home. Home is good!
- Had COVID during the holiday. Didn't put up decorations. :( Didn't have to take them down! :)
- Saved a LOT of money by not needing to buy hair products and makeup!
- Working from home. Great view! Lots of sunshine. Share office space with my cat and dog!
- I only had to fill my gas tank once every couple of months!
- Cancelled my car wash pass - saved money. No need to wash it when I don't drive it!
Make it a habit by keeping a gratitude journal. Yep, that's right! You can use any kind of notebook, but I like to find a notebook that just looking at it makes me happy. That way, I will love picking it up and writing in it.
- Writing down your thoughts daily helps you focus on the positive things in your life. Here are a few ideas to make it a habit.
- Keep your journal where you will see it first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
- You can write a message on your bathroom mirror or put post it notes around the house where you would see the reminder.
- Set a daily reminder on your phone! If you prefer a digital option, you can write or voice record into your phone in a notes app or even a gratitude app.

Does It Really Help?

When your mind is busy with gratitude and reminded of positive events, your life is filled with happy moments. You feel better and then you feel like smiling at strangers or maybe even your own kids!

So, right now, find something you can write in. It doesn't have to be the perfect journal. You can find that later. Just get started.

Write down at least 3 things right now that you are grateful for and the feelings you have about those things. The more you can involve your senses, the better.

Give it a try and then come join us in our Brighten Your Light Community and join our conversation! We would love to see you there!

You ever feel like you’re just running on empty, giving everything to everyone else and leaving nothing for yourself?

Yeah, me too. I’ve been there—stretched way too thin between work, family, and all the daily demands of life. For so long, I thought if I just kept pushing through, things would magically get better.

But one day, something clicked. I realized I wasn’t just tired... I was completely disconnected. Disconnected from myself, from joy, and from my own purpose. 😔

That’s when I learned something that changed everything: Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. It’s how we refill our emotional, mental, and physical energy. And honestly, it’s how we get back to feeling like ourselves again, so we can show up fully in life.

Why Self-Care Matters

When you hear the words "self-care," it’s easy to think of it as some kind of treat, like it’s only for when we have extra time (which, let’s be honest, never seems to happen!).

But here’s the truth—it’s not optional. Self-care is essential for our well-being. 💖

It’s the process of checking in with ourselves, really tuning in to what we need, and giving ourselves the space to recharge. Without it, we end up feeling drained, overwhelmed, and totally out of touch with who we are.

And it’s not just about relaxing, either. Self-care is about restoration. It’s about finding balance again. It’s about reflecting on what you need and making sure you honor that.

And most of all, it’s about reconnecting with yourself—remembering who you are beyond all the roles you play for others. 🌿

Practical Steps for Renewal Through Self-Care

So, how can we actually do this in our daily lives? It doesn’t have to be complicated, I promise.

Here are a few simple, practical ways to start:

Create a Morning Ritual: Even if it’s just 10 minutes, start your day with a little self-care. Stretch, take a walk around the block, or spend a few moments in gratitude. Just pick something that feels good to you. ☕

Set Boundaries: Sometimes self-care means saying ‘no’ to the things that drain your energy. Protecting your time and energy is an act of self-love. 🙅‍♀️

Engage in Activities that Replenish You: Whether it’s scheduling a regular pedicure, eating your lunch at a park while reading a book, or just listening to your favorite music and journaling in your favorite notebook, find something that fills your cup and schedule it like an appointment—because you deserve that time. 🌸

Reflect on Your Needs: At the end of each day, take five minutes to ask yourself: ‘What did I do today that nourished me? What do I need more of tomorrow?’ This will keep you in tune with your needs. 💡

Connection to Community

One of the most beautiful things about self-care? You don’t have to do it alone. 🌟

In the Brighten Your Light Community, we’re all on this journey together—learning how to care for ourselves and reconnect with the amazing women we truly are. We share our challenges, we celebrate our wins, and we lift each other up as we grow.

If you’ve been putting yourself last for way too long, this is a space where you can finally prioritize yourself—without guilt.

Together, we’ll make self-care part of our daily lives, and the best part? You get to do it alongside other women who totally get the journey you’re on. 💕

Final Thoughts and Your Action Step!

Just remember, self-care isn’t about being perfect—it’s about making progress. Every little act of care you give yourself is a step toward renewal, and each time you choose you, you’re building a stronger foundation. 🌿

I’d love to know—what small step are you taking this week to take care of yourself? Just hit reply and share! I can’t wait to hear from you.

And if you haven’t joined the Brighten Your Light Community yet, this is the perfect time! We’re ready to support you in making self-care a regular (and guilt-free) part of your life.

And if no one has told you lately... girl, you are amazing! 🌟Keep shining!

Welcome / Action Guide

Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.

~ Wayne Dyer

Gratitude is a way to remove the negative thinking around you and fill yourself with positive, happy thoughts. Gratitude is expressing appreciation for what you have right now, the people in your life, and all good things that are available to you in this moment.

Gratitude isn't just a quick shot of feel-good. It can truly transform you. It can pull you out of the never-ending circle of negativity and give you a renewed sense of joy.

The simplest way to practice gratitude is to make it into a daily habit. And the best way to start is to commit to gratitude journaling.

If you are struggling to find something to be grateful for, start small. Make sure you focus on the positives. By practicing gratitude we can actually train ourselves to spot the positives.

You may not feel like writing about a prompt in particular, but you are stretching yourself by answering it anyway. Or you can pick and choose, writing only about the prompts that resonate with you. Or just list and write about 3-5 things you are grateful for.

SCHEDULE A TIME: Habits are easiest when we do them consistently. Find a time when you can write in your gratitude journal that works for you on a consistent basis. Sometimes it helps to have an attractive journal and wonderful pen to write with. But if that doesn't matter, you can write in a basic notebook, or use your computer or phone to collect your list of daily gratitude. It's all about finding what works for you so that you make it a daily habit. Then you will reap the benefits of looking through grateful glasses and feel so much more positive about yourself and your life.

"Gratitude isn't just about acknowleding what you have. It's also about honoring your season of life, your experiences and all the world has to offer us. Some days it is hard to be grateful. But writing down a few things you are grateful for can literally turn around your whole day."

As you do this, you will become more intune with what you are grateful and more observant of what positive things are happening around you.

PRINTABLE QUOTE

One of the best ways to kickstart your day is to read a motivating quote! This month we are focusing on gratitude and how it can change your life and increase your own self-confidence.

So print out this quote and put it where you will see it often throughout the day. Or print out several. Put one on the fridge, one in a frame on your desk or kitchen counter, one on the bathroom mirror and even one in your car!

Here are easy instructions to show you how to print out and frame your quotes.