A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Have you ever gotten really excited about something you want to experience in your life, only to hear that little voice in your head say:

“Yeah, but how are you going to make that happen?”

Me too.

And lately, I’ve been having a few conversations with myself about it. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing my reflections on living a life I love. I’ve been asking myself what I want to experience with the time I have left on this earth. And I’ve been writing down what’s calling to my heart.

Traveling to beautiful places with my husband, friends, and family. Exploring charming little towns. Staying in lovely Victorian bed-and-breakfasts. Making new friends around the world. Experiencing different cultures and creating meaningful memories.

And continuing to grow Heart & Soul Publishing in a way that lets me connect personally with authors, hear their stories, and help bring them into the world.

I can picture it. Traveling to meet authors in person. Attending book fairs around the world. Bringing together women who have meaningful stories to share.

Combining the things I love: travel, beautiful places, meaningful work, and heartfelt connections with other women.

Ooh, just thinking about it makes me smile and fills my heart with joy.

But then I ask myself:

“Why am I not experiencing more of the life I want to live now?”

And that’s where things got interesting.

Sometimes the Truth Can Be Uncomfortable

For me, right now, it’s money. There. I said it. To be fully transparent, money is a challenging topic for me. I’ve been working through old beliefs around money for decades.

Perhaps you can relate to this, too.

One belief I’ve been working through is the idea that I need to hold on tightly to my money because there might not be enough.

Enough to pay the bills. Enough to enjoy the things I love. Enough to experience the life I want to live. And because of that fear, I find myself wanting to hold on to what I have.

I’m afraid of not having enough money, and sometimes that fear influences what I allow myself to experience.

Ooh. That’s a hard thing to admit. Especially when I’ve spent so many years working on my spiritual growth and becoming more aware of the beliefs that shape my life.

You’d think I’d have this one figured out by now. Don’t I wish!

But here are a few things I’ve been learning.

When Affirmations Meet Old Beliefs

I’ve been using affirmations for decades. Sometimes they’re my own; other times, they’re ones I read that resonated with me. One of my own affirmations I’ve been using is:

“I am receiving multiple streams of income flowing into my bank account easily and consistently.”

I love that affirmation. And I want to believe it with my whole heart. But recently, I read a Substack article about whether affirmations really work, and it made me think.

The author shared an interesting perspective. Affirmations can help, but repeating positive words alone may not be enough when a deeply rooted belief inside us doesn’t accept what we’re saying.

That caught my attention. Because I’ve experienced this myself. I have said my affirmation every morning for months, even years, but I’ve realized that if I’m still carrying the fear that there won’t be enough money, a part of me questions whether those words are really true.

One Small Action Step at a Time

I’ve learned that taking one small action step at a time alongside my affirmation helps build self-confidence and begins to shift that old core belief.

One small action step I’ve been taking is tithing every month. Giving is important to me. It’s part of my relationship with God and an expression of gratitude for what I’ve been given. So even if it’s only $50, I tithe.

Another small action I’ve taken is paying myself each month. Even if it’s only $200. As a business owner, I know how easy it can be to put everything back into the business or focus on paying everyone else first. But I’ve been learning to make myself a priority, too.

Another action I’ve been taking is making larger payments on my credit card rather than just paying the minimum. I had used my credit card to attend a women’s retreat, an experience that was meaningful to me. And I promised myself I would pay that money back.

Well, I’m happy to say I’ve been keeping that promise! I’ve been making larger payments each month, and the balance is almost paid off. And you know what feels especially good about that?

I’m keeping my word to myself.

Each payment reminds me that I’m capable of making financial decisions that support the life I want to live. I’m learning that I can invest in meaningful experiences, take responsibility for my financial commitments, and continue moving forward.

And that feels good!

Every time I take one of these small steps, something shifts within me.

I release my worries about money to God. I let go. Instead of keeping myself stuck on whether I’ll have enough, I consciously choose to shift my attention to something else.

I don’t need to keep worrying. I’ve made my decision, taken my action, and placed my trust in God. And you know what?

I feel peace and freedom.

The fear of not having enough begins to loosen its grip. Not because I suddenly have more money in my bank account. But because I’m choosing not to let that fear control me. And with each small action, I’m building more confidence in myself and the choices I’m making.

Learning to Trust God and Let Go

I’ve realized how much of my life I’ve spent worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet.

Have you?

Especially when it comes to money.

“What if I don’t have enough? What if something unexpected happens? What if I need that money later?”

And I’ve realized how much energy those thoughts can take. Energy I’d much rather spend enjoying my life!

What I’m learning is that I can be responsible with my money, make thoughtful financial decisions, and still let go of the worry. I don’t have to keep replaying those fears in my mind. I can take the next step and trust God with the rest. Because here’s what I know about myself.

I trust God with all my heart and Soul.

And if one day I don’t have the money to do something I’ve planned, I trust that God will show me something different.

That doesn’t mean everything will happen exactly the way I imagine. But it does mean I don’t have to spend today worrying about what might happen tomorrow. And there’s a wonderful sense of freedom in that.

I’m beginning to experience more peace around money, one small choice at a time. And I’m discovering that this is part of what living a life I love living means to me.

Not having every financial concern resolved. Not waiting until all my dreams have come true. But learning to let go of the fears that have been holding me back so I can enjoy more of the life God is giving me right now.

My Mom gave me a plaque that I keep in my office that reminds me to trust.

If God brings you to it, He will see you through it.

What About You?

As I reflect on my own relationship with money, I wonder what might be holding you back from experiencing more of the life you want to live.

Maybe it’s money, too. Or perhaps it’s something completely different. An old belief about what you deserve. A fear of making the wrong decision. The feeling that you need to take care of everyone else before you can do something for yourself. Or a belief that it’s too late to begin something new.

And sometimes, of course, real circumstances limit our choices. Health challenges. Family responsibilities. Financial obligations. I don’t believe we can simply wish those things away.

But I do believe there’s value in becoming aware of what we’re telling ourselves about those circumstances. Sometimes the circumstances are real, and an old belief also influences how we respond to them.

That’s what I’m discovering about myself. And perhaps there’s something here for you to explore, too.

✨ Reflection

This week, I invite you to return to the list you’ve been creating of what you want to experience with the time you have left. Look at something you’ve written that you haven’t yet begun to experience.

And ask yourself:

Why am I not experiencing more of the life I want to live now?

What is holding me back? Is it a circumstance I need to navigate? An old belief I’ve been carrying? A fear that’s influencing my decisions? Or perhaps something I haven’t fully recognized yet?

You don’t need to judge yourself for whatever comes up. Just notice. Sometimes becoming aware of the truth is the first step toward creating something different.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

Here’s something I invite you to try this week. Choose one belief or fear that may be influencing how you experience your life. Write it down.

Then ask yourself:

What would I love to believe instead?

And here’s the part that’s been meaningful for me:

What’s one small action I can take now to start experiencing that new belief?

Not ten things. Not a whole new plan for your life. Just one small action. Something that feels meaningful and possible within your circumstances. Maybe it’s having a conversation you’ve been avoiding. Setting aside a little money for something you want to experience. Making time for an activity that brings you joy. Or taking the first step toward a dream you’ve been putting off.

Whatever it is, choose something that helps you start moving toward the life you want to live. And after you’ve taken that step, pause for a moment. Notice how you feel. Is there a little more peace? A sense of freedom? Perhaps a little more confidence in yourself?

What might happen if you continued taking small steps toward the life you want to experience?

I’d love to hear what you’re discovering.

Is there an old belief you’ve been working through? Or a small action that’s helping you create a different experience in your life?

Perhaps we can inspire one another.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May you have the courage to look honestly at what’s holding you back, without judging yourself for where you are today.

May you recognize the beliefs that no longer support the life you want to experience.

May you find peace in releasing your worries and trusting God with what you cannot control.

May each small step help you grow in confidence, freedom, and faith.

And may you continue listening to the wisdom of your Soul as you create a life you love living, one choice and one beautiful moment at a time.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Last week, I asked you a pretty big question:

What do you want to experience with the time you have left?

I asked myself the same question. And I’ve been writing. At first, I wrote down some of the things you might expect to find on a list like this.

Places I want to go. People I want to spend more time with. Things I’d love to do. But as I’ve kept writing, something interesting has shown up.

My list is beginning to show me more than the things I want to experience.

It’s showing me the kind of life I want to live.

For example, I want to travel. I’ve always loved traveling and experiencing new places. I want to go to Europe. I want to visit close friends who live in different parts of the country. I want to wander through charming little towns and stay in beautiful bed-and-breakfasts. I’ve always loved Victorian B&Bs. Something about them draws me in. The history. The architecture. The character. I love imagining all the people who have walked through those doors and the stories those old homes could tell. I’d love to travel throughout the United States and Europe, staying in beautiful B&Bs along the way.

Just writing that makes me smile : )

But here’s where my list started getting even more interesting. Because when I think about the life I want to experience, I don’t only see myself traveling for pleasure.

I see my work there too.

I love what I do with Heart & Soul Publishing. I love sitting with an author and listening to her story. I love helping her discover what she really wants to say. I love helping women bring their voices into the world and feel seen and heard.

And when I allow myself to dream without immediately worrying about how it’s all going to happen, I can see myself traveling to meet with authors one-on-one. Sitting across from them over coffee or a glass of wine and hearing their stories. Building those personal relationships.

Attending book fairs in the United States and internationally. Putting together intimate author events in different places. Connecting women. Connecting stories.

Traveling. Writing. Creating. Experiencing beautiful places. Doing meaningful work with people I care about.

And suddenly, I realized:

These aren’t a bunch of unrelated things on my list.

They’re showing me what I’m longing to experience in life.

That surprised me. Because I think sometimes when we talk about our dreams, we separate everything into categories, or at least I do.

Work goes over here. Family goes over there. Travel goes somewhere else. Our relationships have their own little box. Our spiritual life gets another one. And our dreams?

Well, we’ll get to those when we have time.

But what if they’re not as separate as we think?

What if the things that keep showing up in our hearts are giving us clues about how we want to experience our lives?

I’ve been thinking about that.

When I look at my own list, I see some common threads.

Connection. Beauty. Creativity. Meaningful work. Travel. Relationships. Stories. Freedom. God. Love.

Those things feel like me. Not who I think I should be. Not some future version of myself I’m trying to become.

Me.

And maybe that’s one of the gifts of asking ourselves what we want to experience. We begin to know ourselves a little better. We begin to notice what lights us up. What matters. What keeps calling us. What we want more of. And perhaps even what God has been quietly placing on our hearts all along.

I don’t know exactly what my life will look like five or ten years from now. None of us do. And I’m not trying to create some perfect picture of my future and then force my life to match it.

I’m simply listening. Paying attention. Allowing myself to dream. And becoming curious about what those dreams might be revealing.

Maybe you can do the same.

Look at the things you’ve written on your list. Don’t worry about whether you can afford them yet. Don’t worry about when they’ll happen. Don’t talk yourself out of them because they seem impractical.

We’ll get to some of that.

For now, maybe you can simply give yourselves permission to ask:

What is my list telling me about the life I’m longing to experience?

And then listen. You may discover something about yourself you haven’t noticed before.

✨ Reflection

Go back to the list you started last week. Read it slowly. Instead of looking at each item separately, look for the threads running through them.

Maybe you wrote down travel several times like me. Maybe family keeps appearing. Maybe you want more adventure. More creativity. More friendship. More time in nature. More meaningful work. More laughter. More quiet. More connection with God. More freedom. More love.

Ask yourself:

What keeps showing up?

What brings me alive when I think about it?

What do these desires have in common?

What might they be telling me about myself?

And perhaps:

What are they revealing about the life I want to experience?

Don’t analyze your answers too much. Just notice.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, keep adding to your list. But this time, go a little deeper.

Give yourself permission to write down what you really want to experience. Not what sounds practical. Not what you think you’re supposed to want at this age. Not what would make sense to someone else.

What do you want?

Maybe it’s traveling the world. Maybe it’s falling in love again. Maybe it’s starting a business. Writing a book. Living near your grandchildren. Finding a circle of girlfriends. Learning to paint. Spending more time in nature. Deepening your relationship with God. Or maybe you simply want more peace in your everyday life.

There is no right list.

There is only your list.

And if you feel comfortable, I’d love for you to share something from it with me in the comments. Not because you need a plan to make it happen.

You don’t.

I’m still figuring mine out too.

I simply want to know:

What are you longing to experience?

Maybe by sharing our dreams with one another, we’ll begin to realize we’re not walking this journey alone.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause give you permission to dream without needing to know how right away.

May you become curious about the desires God has placed within your heart.

May you recognize the people, places, experiences, and moments that bring your Inner Sparkle to life.

May you trust that knowing yourself more deeply is part of coming home to yourself.

And may you continue creating a life you love living, not all at once, but one day, one choice, and one beautiful moment at a time.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

What do you want to experience with the time you have left?

That’s a pretty big question, isn’t it? I’ve been pondering it lately, and I haven’t been able to let it go. Maybe it’s because I recently turned sixty.

Yeah...there’s that number again.

Something about turning sixty has made me more aware of time. Not in a fearful way, but in a way that reminds me just how precious life is.

God only knows how much time I have left on this earth. Twenty years? Thirty? Forty? Wow! Wouldn’t that be something. I don’t know. None of us do. But what I do know is that I want to be more intentional about how I experience the time I have.

That realization has brought me back to a question that changed my life a couple of years ago. Around my 58th birthday, I was standing in the shower asking God:

What’s next for me?

And the answer I heard within was:

What is your dream?

That question woke something up inside me. It caused me to look at my life differently. To think about what I wanted. To listen more closely to my heart and soul. To become curious about what might still be possible for me. And so much has happened since then.

But lately, I’ve realized the question I’m asking has changed.

I’m not asking:

What is my dream?

I’m asking:

What do I want to experience with the time I have left on this earth?

There’s something about that question that feels different to me. Deeper. It’s not just about what I want to accomplish. It’s not about another goal to reach or something else to check off my list.

It’s about how I want to live.

How I want to feel. Who I want to spend my time with. What I want to see. Where I want to go, travel. What I want to create. How I want to love. How I want to serve. And who I want to be while I’m experiencing all of it.

So I opened my journal and started writing. At the top of the page, I wrote:

What do I want to experience with the time I have left on this earth?

And I started making a list. Some things are big, like owning a ranch with lots of acreage and animals. Some are small, like enjoying my morning ritual. Some are places I want to see and experience, like Italy, France, England, Ireland, and Greece. Others have nothing to do with going anywhere or accomplishing anything. They’re about experiencing my everyday life with more joy and fulfillment. More time with the people I love. More laughter. More meaningful conversations. More moments when I’m fully present instead of thinking about what I need to do next. More time doing work that feels meaningful to me. More connection with God. More joy. More freedom. More financial freedom to do all the things. More experiences that fill my Soul Cup and ignite my Inner Sparkle.

As I write my list, I’m realizing something else.

Living a life I love living doesn’t necessarily mean creating an entirely different life.

Maybe it’s about becoming more intentional with the life I already have. Paying attention to what matters to me now. Making more room for the people and experiences I love. Letting go of some of the things that don’t matter as much anymore. And allowing myself to want what I want without immediately asking whether it’s practical, productive, what it costs, or what someone else thinks I should want.

Maybe that’s part of why clearing the cobwebs last month mattered so much to me.

I became more aware of the guilt I’ve carried. The expectations. The need for approval. And the old versions of myself I was still trying to live up to.

Perhaps clearing some of those cobwebs has created more space for me to ask:

What do I want now?

Not what the woman I was twenty years ago wanted. Not what someone else wants for me. Not what I think I should want at sixty.

What do I want now?

I don’t have all the answers. My list isn’t finished. And I don’t think I want it to be.

I want to keep adding to it as I experience life, grow, change, and listen to what God is placing on my heart. Because maybe living a life I love living isn’t about having the next twenty years all figured out.

Maybe it’s about becoming more aware of the life I’m living right now. And choosing, whenever I can, to fill it with more of what matters.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about this too.

Perhaps you’re in your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, or beyond. Wherever you are in your journey, maybe the question isn’t:

How much time do I have left?

Maybe it’s:

How do I want to experience the time I have?

That question feels very different to me. And I’m ready to keep exploring it.

Maybe you are too.

✨ Reflection

Take a moment and think about the season of life you’re in right now. Not where you thought you’d be. Not where you think you should be.

Where you are right now.

Then ask yourself:

What do I want to experience with the time I have left on this earth?

Don’t limit yourself to accomplishments, travel, or big dreams. Think about your everyday life too.

How do I want to feel?

Who do I want to spend more time with?

What brings me joy?

What do I want more of in my life?

What experiences have I been putting off?

What is my heart and soul asking for in this season?

And perhaps:

What might God be placing on my heart?

You don’t need to figure out how any of it will happen yet.

For now, just listen.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, I invite you to do what I’m doing. Open your journal or find a blank piece of paper and write at the top:

What I Want to Experience With the Time I Have Left

Then begin your list. Let it be yours. Big things. Little things. Places. People. Feelings. Dreams. Experiences. Ordinary moments you want more of.

Don’t edit yourself. Don’t ask whether something is realistic. Don’t worry about how you’re going to make it happen. And please don’t turn it into another list of things you have to accomplish.

This isn’t a to-do list.

It’s an invitation to listen to your heart and soul.

And if you feel inspired, share one thing from your list in the comments. I’d love to hear what you want to experience. Perhaps what you share will inspire another woman to think about what she wants too.

I’ll be making my list right alongside you.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you of how precious the life God has given you truly is.

May you give yourself permission to listen to what your heart and soul are asking for in this season.

May God guide you toward the people, places, experiences, and moments that are meant to be part of your journey.

And may you become more intentional about living a life you love living, one precious day at a time.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

I’ve been thinking about the different versions of myself I’ve been throughout my life.

The woman I was in my twenties. My thirties. My forties. My fifties.

And now, at sixty.

Yeah...I gave my age away.

Each one of those women was me.

She had dreams. Responsibilities. Fears. Pain. Priorities. Motherhood. Marriage. Divorce. Co-parenting. Remarriage. Hopes. Dreams.

She had ideas about what success looked like and how she thought her life was supposed to unfold.

And I’ve realized something.

I’m still carrying some of her expectations.

Maybe you know what I mean.

There are things I once wanted that don’t feel quite as important anymore. Things I once thought I needed to accomplish. Ways I believed I needed to prove myself. Responsibilities I automatically took on. Even ideas about what would make me happy.

They made sense for the woman I was then.

But do they still make sense for the woman I am now?

I’ve been pondering that question. Because sometimes I think I can become so accustomed to moving forward that I forget to stop and ask whether I’m still heading somewhere I actually want to go.

I keep pursuing the goal. Keeping the commitment. Following the plan. Holding myself to an expectation I created ten or twenty years ago, heck, even a year ago.

And I never stopped to ask, until now:

Do I still want this?

Something about turning sixty has made that question feel more important to me.

Lately, I feel more aware of how precious life is, and God only knows how many years I have left on this beautiful planet.

I’ve realized I don’t want to spend my time trying to live up to a version of myself I’ve already outgrown.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the women I’ve been. I’m grateful for each one of them. They made choices that brought me here.

They loved. They felt pain. They learned. They grew. They dreamed. They survived seasons they weren’t sure they could get through.

I appreciate all of them. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

And I’ve realized something else:

I don’t need to keep asking an earlier version of me what my life should look like now.

Instead, maybe coming home to myself means giving myself permission to change.

To be okay with wanting something different in my life.

To redefine what matters.

To let go of old goals that no longer support the woman I am today.

To prioritize my life differently.

To become clearer about what I want to experience.

Maybe this resonates with you too.

I’ve also been thinking about the cobwebs I’ve been clearing this month. Guilt. Expectations. The need for approval.

And I’m wondering if some of the cobwebs we carry are simply old ideas about ourselves that no longer fit. Not because there was anything wrong with who we were.

We’ve just grown. And isn’t that what we’re here to do?

As I return to my Spiritual Heart, I’m finding myself more interested in asking:

Who am I now?

Who am I becoming?

And perhaps most of all:

How do I want to experience the life God is still giving me?

That last question runs deep in my soul.

Perhaps it does for you too.

I’m going to continue spending time with it.

Maybe you will too.

✨ Reflection

Think about the woman you were ten or twenty years ago. What mattered to her? What was she working toward? What did she believe she had to accomplish? What did she think a good life was supposed to look like?

Now think about the woman you are today.

Ask yourself:

What still fits?

What doesn’t?

What am I holding onto simply because an earlier version of me thought I should?

And then:

What matters to me now?

Ponder this.

Let the questions resonate in your heart and soul.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

Sometime this week, find a quiet place and spend a few moments with the woman you are today. Not the woman you were. Not the woman other people expect you to be.

You. Now.

Maybe write at the top of a blank page:

At this season of my life, what matters most to me?

And see what comes. Just listen.

What do you hear?

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause give you permission to honor every version of the woman you’ve been.

May God help you release the expectations, dreams, and identities that no longer serve you in this season.

May you trust what is stirring within your Spiritual Heart today.

And may you step into your next chapter with an open heart, curious about the life, love, joy, purpose, and experiences still waiting for you.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Last week, I wrote about expectations and the question I’ve started asking myself:

Whose expectations am I carrying?

As I’ve continued sitting with that question, something else came up.

Am I seeking other people’s approval?

Ooh. That’s a hard thing to admit.

The deeper questions I’m beginning to ask myself are:

Who am I seeking approval from?

Why am I seeking their approval?

Perhaps these are cobwebs that have been taking up space and dulling my authentic inner sparkle.

Looking back over the last three decades of my life, I see how I’ve been a people pleaser. I’ve always cared about people approving of my choices, particularly my husband, family, close friends, co-workers, business partners, and clients.

But an even deeper question to ask is:

Why?

Maybe it’s because…

I want them to understand why I’m doing something.

I want them to think I’ve made the right decision.

And when they don’t respond the way I hoped they would, I find myself questioning a decision I felt perfectly good about before.

Did I make the right choice?

Should I do something differently?

I’ve realized that I sometimes look outside myself for reassurance that what I’m doing is okay.

And I’ve started wondering:

Why do I need someone else to approve of a choice that feels right for me?

Have you experienced this before?

Recently, I’ve become aware of my need for my husband’s approval about some work I’ve been doing on a big project.

He didn’t know the project details, yet I found myself asking him questions, even though I already felt I was on the right track.

After reflecting on this, I realized I wasn’t really looking for his answer.

I was looking for his approval.

I wanted him to think what I was doing was something important. I wanted him to acknowledge me for the good work I already knew I was doing.

That was an interesting realization.

My husband’s opinions matter deeply to me. I value his thoughts and wisdom. He also offers a different perspective that can help me see something I couldn’t see on my own.

What I am discovering is that there’s a difference between valuing someone’s opinion and needing their approval.

One allows me to listen, consider, and decide what feels true for me.

The other can leave me questioning myself because someone else doesn’t agree.

That’s a big difference.

And if I’m being truthful with myself, I think I wanted my husband’s approval because I didn’t completely trust myself.

Because I was afraid of making the wrong choice.

Because I didn’t want to disappoint my client.

Because I wanted my husband to tell me, Yes, you’re doing the right thing.

I wanted to know that he was okay with my decision so I could be okay with it too.

As I become more aware of this, I’m beginning to ask myself another question:

Am I looking for wisdom, or am I looking for permission?

That one made me STOP.

Because I can seek wisdom from the people I trust, like my husband, and still make my own decision.

I can listen to another person’s opinion without making it my truth. I can love someone and respect what they think without needing them to agree with every choice I make.

And perhaps most importantly, I can return to my Spiritual Heart, connect with God, and listen to what feels true within me.

That doesn’t mean I’ll always get it right. Don’t I wish.

I won’t.

None of us do.

But maybe trusting myself isn’t about knowing with absolute certainty that I’m making the perfect choice. Maybe it’s knowing that I can listen to my heart and soul, make the best choice I can, and trust myself to navigate whatever comes next.

I’m still learning this. I don’t have it all figured out.

What can I say? Approval feels good. It makes me feel accepted, seen, and acknowledged.

Who doesn’t like hearing, I think you’re doing the right thing?

But I’m beginning to see the difference between appreciating approval when it comes and needing it before I can trust myself.

And maybe that’s another cobweb I’m ready to clear. Not so I stop caring what other people think. But so I can care about what I think too.

And what God may be quietly speaking to my heart.

✨ Reflection

Think about a choice or decision you’ve made recently.

Did you find yourself wondering what someone else would think?

Did you hope they would agree with you?

Did their reaction cause you to question something you had previously felt good about?

Without judging yourself, become curious.

Ask:

Whose approval am I looking for?

Why does their approval matter to me?

Am I looking for their wisdom or their permission?

What do I believe is true for me?

And then take a moment to listen.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, notice when you find yourself looking outside yourself for reassurance or approval.

You don’t have to stop asking for advice or listening to the people you trust.

Just notice why you’re asking.

Are you gathering wisdom? Or are you hoping someone else will give you permission to trust what you already know?

Pause.

Return to your Spiritual Heart. Connect with God.

And ask yourself:

What feels true for me?

Then listen.

I’m practicing this right alongside you.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause help you recognize the difference between seeking wisdom and seeking approval.

May you value the voices of those you love without allowing their opinions to become louder than your own heart and soul.

May God give you wisdom and discernment as you make choices in this season of your life.

And may you trust yourself a little more as you continue becoming the woman He created you to be.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

I’ve been thinking a lot about expectations lately.

The expectations other people have of me. The expectations I have of myself. And the expectations we, as women, have picked up somewhere along the way without ever stopping to ask whether they actually belong to us.

I’ve become aware of some of these expectations in my own life recently. Things I think others expect from me. Ways I think I should be showing up in my relationships and career. Things I think I should have figured out by now.

And I’ve started asking myself:

Where did all these expectations come from?

Some of them are easy to recognize. Family may have expressed ideas about what they think I should or shouldn’t do. I feel pressured by society into believing what a successful life should look like. The media paints a picture of what a happy marriage should be. Motherhood in my 20’s and again in my 40s came with so many expectations, both my own and those influenced by others. And my careers, over the years, each came with their own set of expectations, depending on the industry.

Even aging has come with expectations about what women should or shouldn’t be doing at a certain age.

But I discovered that some expectations are harder to recognize because I’ve carried them for so long.

I recall colleagues saying things like, “Suck it up”. “Fake it till you make it.” “Don’t let anyone see you struggle.” “You have to do more if you want to be more.”

And then there are the expectations I placed on myself as a mother and a wife.

I have to take care of everyone else first. I can’t let anyone down. I have to keep going even if I’m exhausted. I’ve got to have it all figured out.

As I write these words down, I can feel myself getting angry that I allowed myself to believe these expectations were true for me. But then I realized something.

Getting angry with myself for carrying these expectations only gives me one more reason to make myself wrong and create another cobweb.

Instead, maybe I need to STOP and ask myself:

Does this still fit the woman I am today?

Maybe that’s one of the gifts of being in midlife. We get to ask ourselves what it is for us now, not what was true for us in our 30s, 40s, or even 50s.

I don’t think that means I toss aside every responsibility or expectation in my life. Some matter deeply to me. Some reflect my values, commitments, and the person God created me to be.

But others?

Maybe I’ve just been carrying them for a very long time.

And perhaps they’re another kind of cobweb. Not because they’re necessarily bad, but because I haven’t looked at them in a while.

So it’s time to take a look and ask:

What would my life feel like if I became more intentional about which expectations I choose to carry?

What if, instead of automatically asking:

What should I be doing?

I pause and ask:

What feels true for me in this season of my life?

What is my heart and soul asking of me now?

What is God asking me to pay attention to?

Those questions feel aligned with who I am today in this season of life.

They bring me back to my Spiritual Heart rather than sending me outside myself to look for another person’s definition of how my life should look.

I’m discovering that the quieter I become, the easier it is to hear which expectations feel aligned with who I am today and which ones I may be ready to let go of.

Maybe part of clearing the cobwebs is simply looking at what I’ve been carrying and asking:

Is this actually mine?

✨ Reflection

Take a few moments to think about the expectations you’re carrying right now.

The expectations around your relationships. Your family. Your career or work. Your appearance. Your age. Your responsibilities. Your dreams. Your next chapter. And even what you believe you should be doing with this season of your life.

Choose one and ask yourself:

Where did this expectation come from?

Is it truly mine?

Does it still fit the woman I am today?

Or am I carrying it simply because I’ve carried it for so long?

Notice what comes up without judging it.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, listen for the word should.

I should be doing more. I should have this figured out. I should say yes. I should be further along.

When you hear it, pause.

You don’t have to change anything immediately. Just become curious.

Whose expectation is this?

Then return to your Spiritual Heart and listen.

Perhaps underneath all those shoulds is a quieter voice reminding you of what matters to you now.

I’m listening for it too.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause help you recognize the expectations you’ve carried along the way.

May God give you wisdom to know which ones still belong in your life and which ones you’re ready to release.

May you hear more clearly the wisdom of your own heart and soul.

And may you feel the freedom to live more fully as the woman God created you to be.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Something happened recently between my husband and me that gave me an opportunity to look a little deeper within myself. And it all started with a receipt.

I had purchased something for my husband’s business, and later he asked me for the receipt. During our conversation, he explained that when he makes purchases, he usually separates the business items from the personal items because it makes the accounting easier.

Pretty simple, right?

But almost immediately, I noticed something happening inside me.

I felt guilty.

His comment somehow became, in my mind, that I did something wrong. And then another thought quickly followed.

I’ve disappointed him.

And right behind that came another familiar response:

How can I make this better? How can I please him so he’ll know I’m sorry?

Before I knew it, I wanted to make it better. All of this from a conversation about a receipt!

As I reflected on it later, I became aware that my husband hadn’t actually told me I had done anything wrong. He hadn’t told me he was disappointed in me. And he certainly wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty.

I had made myself feel guilty.

I had taken what he said, interpreted it through my own thoughts and feelings, and made his comment mean something about me.

That awareness made me stop and look a little deeper. Why had I immediately made myself wrong? And that’s when I began thinking differently about guilt.

There are times when guilt can be helpful. If I’ve hurt someone, acted in a way that doesn’t align with who I want to be, or made a choice I regret, guilt can get my attention. It can lead me to apologize, make amends, or choose differently next time. But this wasn’t one of those times.

I hadn’t done something wrong. I had simply done something differently than my husband would have. Yet somewhere inside me, different had become wrong.

I’ve been thinking about this experience as we move into September and toward the beginning of fall. There’s something about this season that naturally draws me inward.

The air begins to change. The days slowly become shorter. Soon, the leaves will begin letting go of their branches. And maybe there’s an invitation for us in that.

What are we ready to become aware of and perhaps begin letting go of too?

I’ve started thinking of these old thoughts, beliefs, judgments, and patterns as cobwebs of the heart and soul. They can accumulate so quietly that we don’t even realize they’re there.

Self-doubt. Guilt. Shame. Fear. Worry. Anger. Resentment. Unforgiveness. Judgments. Expectations. The fear of disappointing someone. The need to please. They aren’t who we are. But when they accumulate, they can take up space within us and begin to dull our Inner Sparkle.

I’m learning that clearing these cobwebs doesn’t begin by judging myself for having them. That would simply create another cobweb! For me, it begins with awareness. Instead of asking:

What’s wrong with me?

I’m learning to ask:

What is this showing me about myself? What did I make this situation mean about me? Is what I’m telling myself actually true?

That conversation with my husband became an unexpected Soul Pause. It gave me an opportunity to notice something within myself that was ready for my attention. And maybe that’s part of what it means to come home to our Spiritual Heart.

Sometimes we have to become aware of what’s been getting in the way. Not so we can make ourselves wrong for it. So we can lovingly clear some space. Space for God’s love and light. Space for peace. Space for joy. Space for freedom. Space to remember the loving essence within us and who God created us to be.

And for me, that day, it meant remembering something very simple:

I am the one who chose to make myself feel guilty. Not my husband or anyone else.

Funny how an ordinary moment can reveal something within us that’s been quietly waiting for our attention.

✨ Reflection

Think about a recent moment when you felt guilty or believed you had done something wrong. Without judging yourself, become curious.

What actually happened? What did you make the situation mean about you? Did you truly do something that didn’t align with your values, or did you simply make yourself wrong?

And perhaps most importantly:

What might this experience be showing you about yourself?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, if guilt shows up, pause before automatically believing it. Take a breath. Return to your Spiritual Heart. Instead of asking, What’s wrong with me? ask:

What’s happening within me right now?

You don’t have to fix the feeling or push it away. Simply become aware of it. Listen. Get curious. And ask yourself whether there might be an old cobweb underneath it that’s ready for a little attention.

I’m practicing this right alongside you. One cobweb at a time.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause give you the courage to look within with love rather than judgment.

May you become aware of the thoughts and old stories that cause you to make yourself wrong when perhaps you’ve done nothing wrong at all.

May God help you clear what you’re ready to release and fill that newly opened space with His love and light.

And may every cobweb you clear reveal a little more of the loving essence that has been within you all along.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Maybe it’s this season of my life. Maybe it’s the slower moments I’ve intentionally created this summer. Or maybe I’m simply getting better at listening more deeply.

Whatever it is, I’ve noticed that when I give myself enough quiet space, my inner voice, my intuition or soul, begins to speak. Not loudly. Usually, it’s more of a whisper. A feeling. Sometimes a knowing. A thought that keeps returning. And I’ve learned that when something continues to quietly tug at my heart, it’s worth paying attention to. I ask myself questions: Why is this coming up for me? What am I to learn from this?

In a different season in my life, when I needed an answer, I looked outside of myself. I asked other people what they thought. I made lists ( I still make lists). I weighed the pros and cons. I tried to figure everything out in my head. Don’t get me wrong, I still do some of that. But I’m learning to ask a different question first:

What is my soul asking of me?

That question invites me out of my head and back into my Spiritual Heart. It asks me to become still enough to listen. And sometimes what I hear surprises me. My soul may be asking me to rest. To do some self-care. To reach out to someone. To forgive. To create. To let something go. To take the next step. To spend more time with the people I love. Or simply to stop trying so hard to figure everything out and trust God a little more.

I’m realizing that my soul doesn’t always give me the entire answer. Sometimes I only receive the next step. And perhaps that’s all I need.

Over these past few weeks, we’ve been exploring what it means to nourish our Soul Cup.

• We’ve talked about being in the moment.

• We’ve reflected on the relationships that nourish us.

• We’ve explored creating simple daily Soul Care practices.

And through all of it, I’ve become even more aware of something:

The more connected I am to my Spiritual Heart, the easier it becomes to hear what my soul is trying to tell me.

There is less noise. Less striving. Less looking outside myself for answers I may already know within.

Instead, I can become still and listen. To my spiritual heart. To my soul. To God.

I don’t always get an immediate answer. And I’m learning to be okay with that too. Sometimes the Soul Pause itself is enough. Because each time I pause, I create space to reconnect with the loving essence within me and remember who God created me to be.

And from that place, I can take the next step. Not necessarily the next ten.

Just the next one.

✨ Reflection

Take a few quiet moments today and ask yourself:

What is my soul quietly asking of me right now?

Don’t rush to answer. Don’t try to make it practical. Don’t worry about what you should be doing. Simply listen.

What keeps returning to your heart? What are you longing for? What feels ready to receive your attention?

And perhaps most importantly:

What is one small step you feel called to take?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, create a little space each day to listen. Maybe it’s during your morning Soul Care practice. Maybe it’s while walking. Maybe it’s sitting quietly with a cup of coffee. Maybe it’s in prayer before you go to sleep.

Return to your Spiritual Heart and ask:

What is my soul asking of me?

Then be still. You don’t have to force an answer. Simply make space to receive whatever comes. Write it down if you’d like. I keep a journal next to my bed. Notice if the same thought, feeling, or desire continues to return. And if you feel a quiet nudge toward one small step, trust yourself enough to explore it.

I’m practicing this right alongside you. Listening deeper. Trusting openly. And learning that I don’t need to know exactly where the path is leading before I’m willing to take the next step.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause give you the quiet space to listen to what your soul has been trying to tell you.

May you return to your Spiritual Heart, connect with God’s love, and trust the wisdom quietly stirring within you.

May you have the courage to take the next step that feels true to your heart, knowing you don’t have to see the entire path ahead.

And as you continue to nourish your Soul Cup and remember who God created you to be, may your Inner Sparkle light the way forward.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

This summer, while visiting my daughter and two grandchildren in Las Vegas, I had an interesting awareness about my morning routine.

If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas in the summer, you know one thing for sure...

It’s HOT!

And I don’t mean a little hot. Some mornings, it was already too hot for me to sit outside and enjoy one of my favorite morning rituals: sitting quietly on the back patio, sipping my warm lemon water and enjoying the stillness before the day began. I missed it.

That simple ritual has become one of the ways I nourish my Soul Cup and connect with myself and God before stepping into my day. But the weather wasn’t changing anytime soon, so I had to.

And it made me realize something. The ritual itself wasn’t what mattered most.

It’s the intention behind it that did.

I didn’t need the back patio. I didn’t need perfect weather. I didn’t even need my warm lemon water. What I needed was the pause.

That sacred moment before the outside world entered my day.

So instead of waking up and immediately reaching for my phone, checking my email, or allowing my mind to race toward my “to-do” list, I began practicing something even simpler.

Before I put my feet on the floor, I pause. I breathe. I become aware of the quiet. I connect with myself and God. Sometimes I say a prayer. Sometimes I think about what I’m grateful for. Sometimes I simply lie there for a moment and receive God’s love. And sometimes I ask myself:

What does my soul need today?

I’m discovering that those first few moments of my morning have the power to change how I enter my day.

I’m more centered. More aware. More connected to my Spiritual Heart. And rather than beginning my day by immediately giving my attention and energy to the outside world, I begin by nourishing what’s happening within me.

I begin filling my Soul Cup before my feet even touch the floor.

I’ve also realized that Soul Care doesn’t have to look the same every day.

Our lives change. Our schedules change. The weather certainly changes. Our families need us in different ways. We travel. We enter new seasons of life.

What nourished our soul yesterday may need to look a little different today.

I’m learning to be flexible with the practice while staying connected to the intention. And the intention is simple:

Return to my Spiritual Heart.

Because that’s where I reconnect with God. That’s where I become aware of what I need. That’s where I remember the loving essence within the person God created me to be. And that’s where I begin nourishing my Soul Cup for the day ahead.

I’m also becoming more intentional about how I end my day.

Just as the morning gives me an opportunity to prepare my heart for the day, the evening gives me an opportunity to reflect on the day I’ve just lived.

Before I go to sleep, I can pause again. What am I grateful for? What brought me joy today? When did I feel connected to my Spiritual Heart? What filled my Soul Cup? And what am I ready to release before tomorrow begins?

Some evenings, I may spend time reflecting on all of these questions. Other evenings, it may simply be:

Thank you, God, for this day.

And that’s enough.

I’m beginning to understand that this is what the Daily Practice of Soul Care looks like for me. It isn’t about creating the perfect morning or evening routine. It’s about creating intentional moments throughout my day to return.

Awareness. I notice what is happening within me.

Return. I come back to my Spiritual Heart.

Nourish. I give my soul what it needs in that moment.

Shine. I carry that love and light with me into my day.

I’m still practicing this. Some days I’m better at it than others. But every morning gives me another opportunity to begin again. And every evening gives me another opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect.

One day at a time. One moment at a time. One Soul Pause at a time.

✨ Reflection

Take a moment and think about how you begin your day.

What receives your attention first?

Your phone? Your email? Your “to-do” list? Or your Spiritual Heart?

Then think about how you end your day.

What simple morning or evening practice would help you feel more connected to yourself and God?

It doesn’t have to take thirty minutes. Maybe it’s five. Maybe it’s two. Maybe it begins before your feet ever touch the floor.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, experiment with creating your own simple morning Soul Care practice.

Before reaching for your phone or stepping into everything waiting for you, pause. Take a breath. Connect with yourself. Connect with God.

Ask:

What does my soul need today?

Then, at the end of your day, give yourself another small pause. Reflect on one thing that filled your Soul Cup.

One thing you’re grateful for. And one thing you’re ready to release.

There is no perfect way to practice Soul Care. Find what nourishes you, and allow your practice to change as your life and seasons change. What matters is remembering to return.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you that every morning offers a new opportunity to return to your Spiritual Heart.

May you begin your day connected to God’s love, aware of what your soul needs, and intentional about nourishing your Soul Cup.

And when evening comes, may you give yourself a few quiet moments to reflect, release, and reconnect before you rest.

May these simple daily practices help you remember who God created you to be and allow your Inner Sparkle to continue to shine.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

This summer, I had the opportunity to reconnect with some of my closest girlfriends. We are all in different places, living busy lives, with families, responsibilities, work, travel, and everything else that fills our days. Sometimes weeks or even months can go by before we realize how long it has been since we’ve really connected.

So, I decided to reach out and invite everyone to a Zoom call. Nothing formal. No agenda. Just an opportunity to see each other’s lovely faces, catch up on life, laugh, share what’s happening in our worlds, and simply be together. Afterward, I noticed how full my heart felt.

Have you ever had that experience?

You finish a conversation with someone you love and realize, I really needed that.

I did.

And it reminded me that Soul Care isn’t something I practice only when I’m alone. Some of the most nourishing moments in my life happen through connection.

A heartfelt conversation. Laughing until my stomach hurts. Being able to share what’s really on my heart. Having someone listen without trying to fix anything. Sitting across from someone who has known me through different seasons of my life and still sees me for who I am.

These relationships fill my Soul Cup in ways that solitude simply can’t.

I’ve become more aware of the people in my life who help me reconnect with my Spiritual Heart and remind me of my authentic self.

They don’t need me to perform. They don’t need me to have everything figured out. I can simply show up as me.

And isn’t that a gift?

As I’ve moved through different seasons of my life, I’ve also come to appreciate that relationships need nurturing too.

Friendships change. Families change. Children grow up. Grandchildren arrive. Marriages and partnerships move through different seasons. People move away. Life gets busy.

Staying connected often requires intention. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a phone call. Scheduling the Zoom. Planning coffee or lunch. Or sending them a text saying, I’ve been thinking about you. How are you, really?

I’ve learned that when I make space for the relationships that nourish my heart and soul, something within me comes alive.

My Soul Cup fills. My heart opens. My Inner Sparkle shines a little brighter. And I’m reminded once again that God didn’t create us to journey through life alone.

✨ Reflection

Take a moment and think about the people in your life.

Who helps fill your Soul Cup?

Who can you be completely yourself with?

Who helps you laugh, feel loved, feel seen, or reconnect with the person God created you to be?

And perhaps another question worthy of asking is:

Whose Soul Cup might you help fill simply by reaching out?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, think of one person who nourishes your heart and soul.

Reach out to them.

Don’t wait until everyone’s schedule magically opens up. Don’t I wish it worked that way. Send them a text. Make a call. Plan that coffee or lunch. Schedule the Zoom. Tell them you miss them. Tell them you appreciate them. Or simply ask how they’re doing and take the time to really listen.

Notice what happens within you when you make space for meaningful connection. It may be exactly what both of your Soul Cups need.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you of the beautiful gift of meaningful relationships.

May you make time for the people who nourish your heart, help you return to your Spiritual Heart, and remind you of the loving essence within you.

And may the love you share with one another overflow from a full Soul Cup and allow both of your Inner Sparkles to shine a little brighter.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

A few mornings ago, I found myself sitting quietly with a warm cup of coffee in the morning silence. There was no agenda. No rush to be somewhere. Just a few precious moments to breathe and simply be.

As I sat there, I realized something.

For so many years, I believed peace would come when everything in my life settled down, when my to-do list was finished, bills were paid, or the next goal had been reached.

But life has taught me something different.

Peace doesn’t arrive because my circumstances become perfect. It grows when I stay connected to my Spiritual Heart.

Over the past month, I’ve talked about our Soul Cup and the importance of returning to the sacred place within where God meets us with His love and where we remember the loving essence we were born with.

I’ve become aware of what happens when I intentionally make that return to my Spiritual Heart each day.

Sometimes it’s so subtle that I almost miss it.

I become more patient. I listen more deeply. I laugh more easily. I worry a little less. I notice beauty that would have rushed past me before. I find myself responding with more compassion instead of reacting out of stress.

None of these changes happen because I’ve suddenly become a different person. They happen because I’m taking the time to connect with the love that resides within me and acknowledge the person God created me to be.

That’s what a full Soul Cup feels like.

It doesn’t mean life is free from challenges. Don’t I wish.

It doesn’t mean every day feels joyful or easy because some days are just more difficult and stressful than others.

It means that beneath whatever is happening around me, there is a quiet steadiness that I can connect to within.

A peace that reminds me I am love, and I am loved.

I think so many women spend years believing they have to earn peace. I know I did.

That if I can just accomplish enough, give enough, or become enough, I’ll finally experience peace.

But what if peace has never been something we earn? What if it’s something we rediscover every time we return home to our Spiritual Heart?

When our Soul Cup is continually nourished by God’s love, we begin to live from abundance rather than depletion.

And from that place...we have more kindness to offer. More grace. More patience. More joy. More love.

Not because we’ve tried harder. But because we’ve stayed connected to the Source who continually fills us.

That, to me, is the beautiful gift of Soul Care.

It isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who God created us to be and allowing His love to overflow into every part of our life.

✨ Reflection

Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself:

When do I feel most connected to my Spiritual Heart?

As you reflect, notice what changes within you during those moments.

Do you feel more peaceful? More joyful? More present? More like your authentic self?

Perhaps those are gentle reminders that your Soul Cup is being filled.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, instead of asking, “What do I need to get done today?” Try beginning your day with a different question:

“What will help me stay connected to my Spiritual Heart today?”

Maybe it’s a few quiet moments in prayer. A short walk outside. Reading a passage that nourishes your heart. Calling a friend who feeds your soul.

Or simply pausing long enough to connect to God’s love before stepping into your day.

Notice how that one small shift changes not only how you feel but how you show up for the people around you.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you that peace is not something you have to chase or earn.

May you return often to your Spiritual Heart, where God’s love continually fills your Soul Cup, where you remember the loving essence you were born with, and where your Inner Sparkle shines with quiet confidence.

May you carry that peace with you into every conversation, every relationship, and every new day.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

When people hear the words Soul Care, they sometimes imagine adding one more thing to an already full schedule. But that isn’t what Soul Care has become for me.

Soul Care isn’t another item on my to-do list. It’s becoming the way I choose to live. I’ve learned that my Soul Cup isn’t filled by one big moment. It’s filled with many small ones. A morning prayer and gratitude meditation before my feet touch the floor. Quiet time on the back deck. Reading affirmations that nourish my spirit. Making myself a healthy breakfast. Calling a friend who knows my heart. Laughing with my grandchildren. Taking a deep breath before responding instead of reacting.

These moments may seem ordinary. But together they become extraordinary. Because every small act of Soul Care reminds me to return to my Spiritual Heart.

I’ve discovered something beautiful. When my Soul Cup remains full, I have more patience. More peace. More compassion. More joy. More presence. More of myself to offer the people I love. Not because I’m trying harder. Because I’m living from abundance instead of depletion.

Soul Care isn’t about finding more time. It’s about becoming more intentional with the moments I already have.

✨ Reflection

Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself:

What is one simple Soul Care practice you can weave into your daily rhythm this week?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

Choose one practice. Just one. Repeat it every day this week. Notice how your heart feels. Notice how your Soul Cup responds. Sometimes transformation begins with one small, faithful practice.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle continue to shine.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become disconnected from yourself?

Not all at once. But little by little. Life becomes busy. Responsibilities multiply. People need us.

Our calendars become full. Before we realize it, we’ve been living from our to-do list instead of our heart.

I’ve been there more times than I can count. There have been seasons when I thought I was doing all the right things, yet I felt disconnected from the deepest part of myself.

Not because I had lost who I was. But because I had drifted away from the quiet place within where God, Divine Spirit, lives within me.

I’ve come to believe that we all have a sacred place within us.

I call it our Spiritual Heart.

It is the place where we reconnect with God, remember who we truly are, and rediscover the loving essence we were born with.

It is where peace begins. It is where truth gently replaces fear. It is where our Soul Cup is continually nourished. And it is where our Inner Sparkle quietly waits for us to return.

Returning to our Spiritual Heart doesn’t require hours of solitude. Sometimes it begins with one intentional breath. A whispered prayer. A walk in nature. A hot cup of tea. A few moments of stillness before the day begins.

Every time we choose to return, we create space to receive God’s love and light once again. Little by little, our Soul Cup begins to fill. And as it does, our Inner Sparkle naturally begins to shine.

✨ Reflection

Where in your life have you become disconnected from your Spiritual Heart?

What is one simple way you can return today?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

Before your day starts or right before bedtime, take five quiet minutes. Place your hand over your heart. Take a slow breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Simply notice what your Spiritual Heart is telling you through your body, your breath, or a thought. Notice how you feel.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle continue to shine.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

Have you ever reached the end of the day and thought...

I have nothing left to give?

Not because you don’t love your family. Not because you don’t enjoy your work. Not because you aren’t grateful.

But because you’ve simply been giving... and giving... and giving.

I’ve had those days. Days when I can literally feel that my Soul Cup is running low. It doesn’t usually happen all at once. It’s gradual.

I become impatient more easily. I feel emotionally drained. I have less patience. My peace begins to slip away. And if I’m not paying attention, my Inner Sparkle begins to dim.

I’ve learned something important through the years. Our Soul Cup doesn’t become empty because we’re doing something wrong. It becomes empty because we’ve forgotten that we, too, need to be nourished.

So often, as women, we pour ourselves into everyone else. Our spouse. Our children. Our grandchildren. Our friendships. Our work. Our communities.

We gladly pour from our cup until one day we discover...There isn’t anything left.

That’s why Soul Care has become such an important part of my life. Because I want to give from abundance instead of depletion.

I’ve learned that when I stay connected to my Spiritual Heart through prayer, breathing in and breathing out, stillness, gratitude, time in nature, meaningful conversations, and quiet moments with God, my Soul Cup begins to fill again. Not overnight. Little by little. One intentional moment at a time.

I’ve discovered that Soul Care isn’t something I do only after I’m exhausted. It’s something I practice daily so I don’t become exhausted. And that has changed the way I live.

✨ Reflection

Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself:

How full is my Soul Cup right now?

If it feels low...What is one small thing you could do today to begin nourishing it?

💜 Heartfelt Invitation

This week, pay attention to how you’re feeling throughout your day. When you notice yourself becoming hurried...

Pause and place your hand over your heart. Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Reconnect with yourself.

You don’t have to wait until you’re depleted.

You can nourish your Soul Cup one small moment at a time.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle continue to shine.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi 💜
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

A few moments each week to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle shine.

Hello Beautiful Soul,

This morning, I was sitting on the back patio, sipping a warm cup of lemon water. The morning was quiet. The desert air was warm, but not yet hot. As I waited for my daughter and grandkids, whom I’m visiting for the summer, to wake up and join me, I found myself simply sitting in the stillness, grateful for the gift of an unhurried morning.

As I sat there, I began reflecting on the simple rituals that bring me joy.

Not the big milestones. Not the exciting adventures.

Just the ordinary moments that quietly nourish my heart.

For me, one of those moments is beginning the day with a warm cup of lemon water and a few quiet moments before the day begins.

Another is spending time with the people I love. My close girlfriends and I are scattered across different states this summer, each of us living full and busy lives. I realized how much I missed simply seeing their faces and hearing their voices.

So I thought...

Why not?

I reached out and invited them to gather for a Zoom call. No agenda. No planning.

No reason other than to reconnect, catch up, laugh together, and nourish friendships that have blessed my life for so many years.

As I reflected on these simple moments, I realized something.

They were all filling something within me. They were filling what I have come to think of as my Soul Cup.

You may have heard people talk about filling your cup before. Stephen Covey often spoke about the importance of filling your own cup, so you have something to give to others. That idea has always resonated with me because I know what it feels like when my cup is empty.

I can feel it. When my Soul Cup becomes depleted, my light begins to dim. I have less patience, less joy, less peace, and less of myself to give, not only to those I love, but also to myself.

I’ve learned that waiting until my cup is empty isn’t the answer.

Soul Care is about noticing when your Soul Cup needs replenishing before you become depleted.

For me, that happens through simple, intentional moments throughout the day.

A quiet morning with God. A warm cup of lemon water. A walk in nature. A heartfelt conversation. A phone call with a dear friend. A few moments to breathe. To be still. To return to my Spiritual Heart.

These aren’t interruptions to my day. They are what make it possible for me to live my day with greater presence, peace, and joy.

Perhaps you’ve experienced this too. Maybe your soul isn’t asking you to do more. Maybe it’s asking you to pause. To breathe. To reconnect. To remember what fills your Soul Cup.

✨ Reflection

What fills your Soul Cup?

Not what feels productive. Not what someone else expects of you. Not what looks impressive.

Simply...

What nourishes your heart and soul?

💜 A Heartfelt Invitation

This week, choose one simple thing that fills your Soul Cup. Maybe it’s sitting outside with your morning coffee or tea. Calling a friend. Taking a walk. Reading a chapter of a good book. Praying. Watching the sunrise. Or simply sitting quietly for a few moments in God’s presence.

Whatever it is, allow yourself to be fully present. These small moments are not luxuries.

They are Soul Care.

They help you return to your Spiritual Heart so your Soul Cup can be continually nourished.

✨ Soul Pause Blessing

May this week’s Soul Pause remind you to take a few moments each day to return to your Spiritual Heart, nourish your Soul Cup, and let your Inner Sparkle continue to shine.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

✨You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

As women, we wear many hats.

We care for others, manage responsibilities, navigate challenges, and often put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own. Over time, it can become easy to lose touch with who we are beneath all the roles we play.

Yet the loving essence of who you truly are has never left you.

Your Inner Sparkle is still there.

Sometimes it simply gets covered by expectations, obligations, disappointments, and the busyness of life.

Coming home to yourself isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about acknowledging who you’ve been all along.

A reflection to consider this week:

Where have I drifted away from my true self?

As you sit with that question, notice what comes forward with compassion rather than judgment.

This isn’t about what you’ve done wrong.

It’s about gently reconnecting with what feels most true.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation:

This week, make time for something that helps you feel like yourself.

Perhaps it’s spending time in nature, writing in your journal, listening to music you love, creating something, praying, or simply enjoying a quiet moment alone.

Notice how your spirit responds.

Sometimes coming home to yourself begins with one small act of remembrance.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder, Inner Sparkle Community
Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Last week, we paused to reconnect with the wisdom of our souls. This week, I’d like to invite you to take that one step further.

What if the wisdom you seek is already within you?

So often, we search outside ourselves for answers, guidance, and reassurance. Yet beneath the noise of daily life, there is a quiet knowing that has been with you all along.

Your soul speaks through your intuition, your desires, your sense of peace, and even through those gentle nudges that encourage you to pay attention.

The challenge isn’t that your soul isn’t speaking.

The challenge is creating enough space to listen.

A reflection to consider this week:

What has my heart been trying to tell me lately?

You don’t need to force an answer. Simply become curious.

Sometimes the wisdom of your soul arrives as a feeling. Sometimes it comes through a memory, a dream, a conversation, or a moment of stillness.

Trust whatever arises.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation:

Set aside a few quiet moments this week and ask yourself:

If I truly listened to my heart, what would it want me to know right now?

Write down whatever comes without judgment or analysis.

Your soul speaks with love. Your only task is to listen.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder, Inner Sparkle Community
Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

As we reach the middle of the year, June offers us a natural pause, a moment to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves.

So often, we move through life focused on what needs to be done next. We care for others, meet responsibilities, and navigate the demands of everyday life. In the process, we can lose touch with the wisdom that lives within us.

Yet beneath the noise, your soul is always present.

It quietly guides you through feelings, nudges, desires, insights, and moments of knowing. It gently invites you back to what is true, aligned, and meaningful for you.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves is simply creating the space to listen.

As we begin this month, I invite you to pause and reconnect with that inner wisdom.

A reflection to consider:

What is my soul inviting me to pay attention to right now?

There is no need to force an answer. Simply becoming aware of what arises can bring clarity.

You are more than the roles you fill and the responsibilities you carry. You are a spiritual being having a human experience. Your Inner Sparkle, the loving essence of who you truly are, has never left you. Sometimes it simply gets covered by life’s challenges, expectations, and distractions.

Here in the Power of Inner Sparkle Community, we honor the sacred journey of turning inward and remembering who we truly are.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation:

Set aside a few quiet moments this week to reconnect with yourself. Perhaps sit with your journal, take a walk in nature, or simply enjoy a moment of stillness.

As you do, gently ask yourself:

What is my soul inviting me to notice, honor, or embrace in this season of my life?

Trust whatever comes. There are no right or wrong answers.

For now, simply know this: the wisdom you seek may already be within you.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

As we reach the final days of May, I’ve been reflecting on the journey we’ve shared this month—from listening to our inner wisdom to finding the courage to speak our truth in the “messy middle.”

There is one final truth we must hold close as we move forward: You do not need to earn your worth.

Many of us have spent years trying to prove our value through what we accomplish, how much we give, or how well we meet others’ expectations. We’ve treated our “inner sparkle” as something that only appears when we’ve done enough or been enough for everyone else.

But your worth has never depended on those things. Your worth exists simply because you are a Spiritual being having a human experience.

Recognizing this is a quiet but powerful shift. It is the moment you stop seeking permission to be yourself and start honoring the woman you are today and the one you are still becoming. When you own your worth, you move through the world with a peace that doesn’t require outside validation.

A reflection for this week:

Where in my life am I ready to stop proving my value and simply start acknowledging it?

You are a beautiful spiritual being. Have you acknowledged this?

A sunrise is naturally beautiful without ever trying to be. This week, may we remember that our worth is just as inherent, not something to be earned, but something to be acknowledged.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation:
Take a moment as this month closes to recognize one quality within yourself that you deeply appreciate. It doesn’t have to be an achievement; it can be your kindness, your resilience, or your quiet strength. Allow yourself to truly receive that acknowledgment.

You are worthy, just as you are.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul

Last week, we practiced listening to the quiet, steady wisdom that lives within us. But once we hear that inner truth, what do we do with it?

Many of us grew up believing our voices should be quiet, agreeable, or secondary to everyone else’s needs. We learned to stuff our inner sparkle away to keep the peace.

But your voice carries something powerful, your truth, your lived experience, and the perspective only you can offer. Finding your voice doesn’t always mean speaking loudly; sometimes it simply means honoring what feels true for you and allowing yourself to express it without apology.

A reflection for this week:

Where in my life am I being invited to speak my truth more openly?

Finding a moment of peace in the 'messy middle' of life. Spending time with Andrea and Jewels was exactly the medicine my soul needed to hear its own voice again.

Even small moments of honesty and self-expression act as a bridge, reconnecting us to our Inner Sparkle. When you speak your truth, you aren’t just being heard, you are being seen.

💜 Heartfelt Invitation:
Notice one moment this week where you allow your voice to be heard. It might be in a conversation, in setting a boundary, or simply in acknowledging a hard truth to yourself.

Your voice matters. The world is waiting for your unique light.

With a grateful heart,
Bobbi Wilcox
Founder & CEO of Heart & Soul Publishing

You matter. Keep shining your Inner Sparkle. The world needs your light.

Is your inner sparkle calling to you for more? If you feel led to explore more stories of resilience and quiet strength, you can find the full collection of wisdom in our book, The Power of Inner Sparkle: 12 Inspiring Stories to Ignite Your Heart & Soul