I woke up this morning to the most incredible thunderstorm (which got me up way too early, thanks Mother Nature), and instead of being grumpy about it, I had this wild thought: "What if I just recorded that podcast episode I've been marinating on?"

Today we're diving into a concept that literally changed my life which is...

--> It doesn't get any better than this <--

I know, I know. Your brain is probably doing that thing where it's like "EXCUSE ME, ANDEE HAVE YOU SEEN MY LAUNDRY PILE?" But stick with me here, because this isn't some toxic positivity nonsense.

The backstory (because I love a good origin story):

Remember when my go-to thought was "This is happening and it's okay"? I used to literally add "it's okay" to the end of every resistant thought like some kind of nervous system fairy godmother. Kids are fighting... it's okay. Lost my cool again... it's okay.

It was like training wheels for my brain, and honestly? It worked.

But then this new thought showed up five years ago and absolutely WRECKED me (in the best way): It doesn't get better than this.

I don't want you to settle or give up on your dreams of organized closets and children who actually put their dishes in the dishwasher. NOT AT ALL! I want you to hold on to those dreams and lean into this, because it's gonna change your life.

Your capacity for happiness has absolutely nothing to do with external circumstances!!

That joy you're waiting for, when the house is clean, when bedtime is smooth, when you finally stop losing your cool. It's available RIGHT NOW!!!

I spent years thinking tomorrow would be better than today. That when my kids were "better behaved" or when I was a "better parent," THEN I could be happy. But here's what I discovered: I was basically trading my happiness today for some mythical future moment that... spoiler alert... never actually arrives the way we think it will.

I went full nerd on this concept and found it EVERYWHERE—the Bible, Buddhist teachings, 12-step programs, that anonymous Rabbi I'd never heard of. When the same wisdom shows up across totally unrelated sources? That's when you know you're onto something big.

What this actually looks like in real life:

• That moment when you're stuck in traffic for TWO HOURS (true story from last month) and you realize you can choose to make THIS moment beautiful
• When your toddler has a two-hour meltdown about not getting a cookie and you discover peace isn't dependent on their emotional regulation
• When you're hiding in your pantry eating goldfish crackers and you realize happiness doesn't require anything to change

The most present, happy people are actually the most productive people. When you're not desperately trying to escape this moment, magic happens.

Next time your brain tells you "it'll be better when..." catch it. Ask yourself: "What thought could I have right now that would let me tap into joy in THIS moment?"

This moment, with all its beautiful messiness, is as good as it gets. And that's not bad news. That's the most liberating news ever.

If this episode helped you see your "right now" differently, would you mind leaving a review? It helps other overwhelmed parents find these conversations, and honestly, that's my whole mission here. ❤️

Stay connected, stay curious, and remember, you're already enough.

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