Growing up, my mom often told me to make sure I looked good before leaving the house. She’d say, “If you look good, you’ll feel good, and if you feel good, you’ll do good—in school, at work, with your kids, or in life.” She ingrained in me the connection between clothing and self-image

When I stopped striving for specific outcomes and instead aligned my actions with my intentions, my dreams started coming true in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

At the end of every year, I reflect on my life by answering 21 questions about the seven areas of happiness. This ritual usually starts right after Thanksgiving and wraps up before the first weekend in December.

I’m writing a book (actually, I’m writing three books, but that’s a story for another day). Where was I? Oh, right—I’ve been in the book-writing process for the past four years, which is how two other books showed up to be written along the way. I say “showed up” because writing a book feels less like a choice and more like something that’s happening through me. This process has led to a level of deep introspection that I wouldn’t recommend unless you have an incredible support system.