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Have you ever had that feeling when you’re really excited about the direction you’re taking? You’ve got a plan, everything’s in order, and then life happens. Something comes up, the plan gets forgotten, there’s no time, and suddenly it all seems like a ridiculous idea. You slip back into your old ways, or maybe you never had a plan in the first place and just feel lost. I know that feeling all too well, and I want to share how I overcome it.

The Power of a Visual Reminder

Someone once asked me about the ‘safety net’ I have on my wall and whether I could talk more about it. Absolutely! Because I believe this could help so many of you.

I have a wall – but you could use a journal, a book, or even a folder – filled with things I want to be reminded of. My safety net. If you click the links below, you’ll see a picture of my wall and a reel I recorded about it.

Right now, as I speak, I’m looking at it. In the past, when I didn’t have wall space, I kept things in a folder on my desk so I could flick through them. Over time, this wall has grown, but it all started with one thing: my mission statement.

My Mission: A Constant Anchor

My mission statement is my intent, my why. It keeps me grounded when things get tough and I start questioning why I’m doing all this. Right now, my mission statement says: To help people live their most creative lives. I want to create, empower, and show people possibility. Because your art matters.

That statement is always there. So when I get a nasty comment or things feel overwhelming, I go back to it and remind myself why I’m here.

Mantras, Messages, and Planning

From that one mission statement, my wall has grown. I now have little messages from my children and mantras to help me when I’m struggling. One that’s been up for a long time is: Stop thinking. Just do it now. This one was key while I was writing my book. Every time I overthought the process—what if there’s a spelling mistake, what if no one buys it, what if I fail?—this mantra pulled me back.

I also have a weekly planner on my wall. Monday is admin, Tuesday is my creative day, Wednesday is for meetings, Thursday is for my membership work, and Friday is my art day. Do I always follow this? No. But when life gets overwhelming, when I lose track of what day it is or what I’m meant to be doing, this structure brings me back.

The Safety Net: Notes to My Future Self

Another key part of my wall is my ‘safety net’ post-it notes. These are my reminders for when things get tough. One is a list of things to do when I feel overwhelmed or anxious:

  • Blow thoughts away
  • Go for a walk
  • Meditate for 60 seconds
  • Take breaks and stretch
  • Breathe and tell myself, I can do this

I also have another post-it note for focus. As someone with ADHD, I struggle with distractions and sitting still to concentrate. On that note, I’ve written:

  • Listen to music through EarPods – it’s so different from playing music through a speaker. Even if there’s no music, just having them in helps me focus.
  • Change environment – if I’m really struggling, I know I need to grab my stuff, head to a café or the library, and work there instead.
  • One task at a time – when my to-do list is massive, I take one task, write it separately, and focus only on that.
  • Turn off distractions – including my phone, because otherwise, I’ll randomly pick it up for no reason at all!

A Goal to Keep Me Moving Forward

Lastly, on my wall, I have a post-it note with a goal: Take my children to Mind Valley University. It’s a big investment, so I’ve broken down the cost and steps needed to make it happen. It’s a visual reminder of why I’m working so hard, why I need to keep going.

 

 

Now, I know for some people, a whole wall of notes might feel overwhelming. The key is to make it work for you. Maybe you just have one thing—a mission statement, a weekly planner, a single post-it note. Your safety net should be something that helps, not something that adds stress.

Whenever I feel lost, my safety net is there, reminding me of my purpose, my goals, and how to move forward. It’s been a game-changer for me, and I hope it might help you too.

Do you have a safety net? What’s in it? I’d love to know—feel free to share below!

 

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Have a great week & take care,

Michelle xo