What's In Your Candy Jar?

Welcome to the sugar rush you did not know you needed!

First: If you just scanned this QR code on a bag of candy from table full of nostalgic candy and charmingly labeled jars at Charleston Leaders' Harbor Sight & Neon Lights: Solid. Life. Choice. If not, no worries, you have stumbled into a super sweet spot, and we welcome you!

Second: Those little bags of candies were not just to appease your sweet tooth. (Though, no judgment if you’re currently unwrapping a Charleston Chew.) This is about how tiny delights are actually fuel for your personal growth. You were thinking more along the lines of sugar crashes and cavities, weren't you?  Fair... But stick with me.

One of my favorite things as a kid was to go to the gas station with my grandmother. She would give my brother, cousins, and me a buck or two and let us pick out all the candy we could buy. The warming nostalgia when I think of those days, however, isn't about the candy. Ok. If I am being honest, it's a little about Tootsie Roll Pops. After all, someone had to figure out how many licks it takes to get to the center, right? But, the real magic was the summer bond between young cousins and the freedom of being allowed to roam and discover on our own.

Every time I unwrap a Tootsie Roll or cream-filled caramel,

I am transported back to a moment in time when

I was in complete control of choosing which tiny sweet treat would make me the happiest.

I love to teach a little habit I call Joy Tagging.  Tagging is the deliberate pairing of something you can see, hear, feel, smell, or taste with a life lesson or positive memory. Tagging enables you to access feelings like contentment, joy, and empowerment at will.  For example, one of my Tags is my toothbrush at work. (No, the irony of this in a post about candy is not lost on me.) In addition to combating the Everything Bagel, taking a minute to brush my teeth also reminds me that I can reset my day at any time. It evokes the feeling of the newness of morning, before the sun comes up, when I have the whole day ahead of me.  This minty moment gives me a shot of the satisfaction and energy that comes with clearing the morning tooth fuzz! 

In this loud world that promotes hair-raising hustle, we often skip right over the micro-joys. The bite-sized wins, small comforts, and Bazooka flashbacks that nourish true happiness in our everyday lives.

Per usual, I have a challenge for you!  A little dare to take a look at the micro-joys you have in your candy jar.

Grab a journal, a piece of paper, the back of a receipt, anything you can write on, and find somewhere to get still for a few minutes. Seven of my favorite retro candies are listed below with a corresponding thought and prompt. Take a few minutes and pick one or two to reflect on and write down your thoughts. As you answer the questions, consider how you can create a Joy Tag of your own that brings you a jolt of happiness, confidence, or clarity.

Often, it only takes a couple of minutes of deliberate action to shed a little light on just how badass you are right now, in this very moment.

Keep it sweet…and Keep Shining.

~Beth

Pixy Stix – Momentum Magic

You know those days when you are on fire and blazing through the to-do list? Figuring out what contributes to that momentum helps us recreate it intentionally.

📝 What specific actions, habits, or choices set a productive, positive day in motion for you?

Charleston Chews – Sweet Nostalgia

Your past is made of a zillion moments that have shaped you and flavored your journey

📝  What memory makes you smile every time you think of it and why? What item or activity can you "attach" to that memory that will bring that smile to your face more often?

Gobstoppers – The Long Game

Unfortunately, personal growth is rarely known for being quick. It's far more likely to take it's sweet*** time working through layer after layer.

📝 What’s something you’re slowly working toward that deserves applause right now? What are you going to do to celebrate?

Now & Laters – Deep Thinkers Only

Reflection is about noticing your patterns, honoring your experience, and imagining what you are capable of accomplishing next.

📝 What’s a new idea you’ve been chewing on lately? What is one small thing you can do today to explore it becoming a reality?

Tootsie Rolls – Classic Comforts

The things that bring us comfort are influential contributors to healing and finding clarity.  Self-care routines, friend dates, cozy spaces, quiet time, favorite meals, new books, scented candles, the Gilmore Girls, and so on, all act as emotional comfort food.

📝 What are some of your favorite emotional comfort "foods?"  What can you do to make it easier to turn to one or two of them more often?

Bazooka – Truth Bubbles

You have something to say, and it matters. Sharing your truth, whether it is messy, witty, or poetic, can expand and deepen the connection between you and those around you.

📝 What is something you want to say out loud and/or more often? To whom? (Mind you, the "If you can't say something nice..." rule still applies!)

Soft Peppermints – Fresh Start Feels

Each morning gives us the chance to start fresh... and a toothbrush grants a repeat of that opportunity throughout the day!

📝 Are there areas in your life that feel a little stale right now? What would a fresh start in one of those areas look like? What small step can you take toward that new start today?

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 This blog is a personal collection of my thoughts, wins, losses, memories, and crossroad moments. Almost all of which were hashed out around my kitchen counter and in my journals. If any of it resonates with you and you are ready to free up the hidden badass you ARE right now, I can help. It’s time… Click the link and Let’s chat.  

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