I want to become the kind of person who isn’t constantly running on empty. Someone who wakes up and doesn’t immediately feel behind. Someone who moves through life with intention instead of survival mode. I don’t want to keep waiting for the weekend, or the next vacation, or “when things calm down” to feel okay. I want to build a life I don’t feel the need to escape from.

I picture her—me, but a little more grounded. She drinks water before coffee. She says “no” without over-explaining or apologizing. She doesn’t spiral when plans change or when people disappoint her. She breathes before reacting. She trusts herself, even when she has no idea what she’s doing. She knows that stillness isn’t laziness and softness isn’t weakness. She’s emotionally present. She knows her worth isn’t tied to her productivity. She moves through the world with this quiet confidence, like she knows she belongs without needing to prove it.

And if I’m being honest, I don’t think she’s that far away. I think she already exists in pieces—I just need to water her. Feed her. Make space for her to show up more often. Some days she’s closer than others. Some days she feels miles away. But I know she’s in there.

So what’s the habit? What’s the daily thing that moves me even one inch closer to her?

Stillness. That’s what keeps coming up. A few quiet minutes in the morning with no scrolling, no to-do list, no pressure. Just me, breathing. Sitting with my thoughts instead of running from them. Checking in. Asking, “What do I need today?” before the world gets loud. That one habit—starting my day with me—feels small, but it feels powerful. Like the first domino. Like building trust with myself again, little by little.

I know it won’t be perfect. I’ll fall off. I’ll forget. I’ll have days where chaos wins. But I want to try. I owe it to her. I owe it to me.

Because becoming isn’t some distant, flawless version of myself. It’s a daily choosing. A daily showing up. And I think the bravest thing I can do is to keep choosing her, even before I fully believe I am her.

So here’s my question: If the person you want to become is already inside you… what are you doing today to let them take the lead?