Finding Worth, Joy, and Connection in Everyday Moments
Feb 16, 2026
Okay, so I’m writing this on a Sunday morning because I’ve just finished a spin class (of course I have) and it was so good. I really believe finding a class, activity, or just something you genuinely enjoy (in a space that feels good) is so important. Lately, I’ve been making time for the classes that lift me up, plus my PT sessions - yep, I’ve officially started those again. Different classes, atmospheres, or groups work for different people, and that’s totally fine. Whatever leaves you feeling lighter, stronger, calmer, or just a bit happier… that’s the thing worth protecting time for.
Afterwards, I stretched and did my own version of meditating. When I got up, a lady asked if I was okay, which was honestly really sweet, but also made me realise I must look slightly distressed when I “meditate”. My version mostly involves sitting with my head in my hands, staring at the floor, mentally listing everything I’m grateful for and trying to give my brain a bit of headspace… which, to an innocent bystander, probably looks more like I’m processing a minor life crisis. I also stood up too fast and went a bit light-headed, so yes, I may have accidentally added to the drama. Still, it was genuinely kind of her to check on me.
While I was spinning, a few thoughts popped into my head. First, I started thinking about how some people are so caught up in what others think. I used to be like that too, but I’ve gotten so much better. Really better. Mostly because I’ve learned to trust my inner knowing and let that guide me. There’s so much noise out there, and I’m not going to pretend I’m never pulled off it, because I am, again and again. But I keep reminding myself that the noise doesn’t matter. What matters is doing what feels right in the moment and knowing it will be okay. I’ll figure out what to do in any situation if I just trust myself.
I also started thinking about the things we tell ourselves… and how much other people can affect us. If you’re around someone who constantly talks negatively to you, or quietly puts you down, it’s going to get inside your head. You start to internalise it without even realising. And it's heartbreaking to watch someone slowly shrink because of that. Their self-esteem chipped away, their confidence slowly worn down. I know it’s easy for me to say this, but I really want you to hear it: those hurtful words are a reflection of them, not you. Just because someone thinks it’s okay to be dismissive or unkind doesn’t make what they say true. It just shows what’s going on inside their own world. So please don’t internalise it. You are innately lovable. You are enough. And I know it’s hard, but start believing that - properly believing it. Because if you don’t, the limits other people place on you can quietly start shaping your life… and you deserve so much more than that.
Then I started thinking about connection and friendship. You know that feeling when you meet someone and, deep down, you just know they’re your person? You feel emotionally safe with them. You share similar values. There’s this unspoken understanding between you. That’s real connection. And honestly, you don’t need to overthink moments with the people who truly care about you. A real friend isn’t sitting there judging you. No one is perfect, and that’s literally the whole point. You’re on this messy, beautiful journey together. People have quirks, habits, odd little ways of doing things, and that’s what makes them uniquely themselves. That’s something to celebrate, not fix. The friends who really matter grow with you, support you, and walk alongside you through the chaos of real life. You should be able to be completely yourself around them - no masks, no shrinking, no performing. Because the right people will respect you for exactly who you are… even if that looks a bit weird to the rest of the world. And honestly? Weird is good. Who decided what “normal” even means anyway?
Another thought popped into my head (hey… it’s a 45-minute spin class. I had a lot of time to think, okay). It was about competitiveness and self-reflection. In spin, some of us wear heart-rate monitors (including me) where the colour changes as your heart rate goes up, with red being the highest. Some people were in the red, some weren’t (which, realistically, doesn’t matter at all… although I do like it when people get cheered to “get into the red"). Anyway, for some completely random reason, it reminded me of a documentary I watched ages ago about a tennis coach talking about a player who started “tanking” - basically not really trying - after she began losing to lower-ranked players. Not because she didn’t care… but because she was scared of being seen as not talented enough anymore.
For her, not trying actually felt safer. Because if you don’t fully go for it, you can tell yourself you lost because you didn’t really try, not because the other person was better. It’s a way of protecting your self-respect. It made me think about how powerful our mindset is, not just in sport, but in life. It’s not only about your skills, your experience, or how capable you are on paper. The mental side can be just as important - sometimes even more important. How you talk to yourself. What you believe you’re capable of. How willing you are to show up and be seen trying. All of that quietly shapes what you allow yourself to do.
And then (very randomly) I started thinking about snooker. Which is funny, because I genuinely know very little about snooker. I’d only half-watched it one evening while Luke had it on. But what stuck with me wasn’t anything about how the game is played. It was that one of the players had started working with a mindset coach, and it completely changed how he performed. Not because he suddenly learned loads of new shots… but because his head was in a better place. His confidence shifted. His focus improved. And suddenly, he was a much better player. I love that. The idea that sometimes the biggest upgrade you can make isn’t to your skillset, it’s to your mind.
I don’t normally think this much in spin. I think the two coffees I had beforehand might be to blame. But anyway, here’s my takeaway for you… you’re welcome. Your worth isn’t measured by what anyone else thinks of you, or by those shiny external markers of success. It’s measured by how true you are to yourself, how you treat yourself, and how you show up for the people and moments that actually matter in your life. Keep listening to that quiet inner wisdom inside you. Trust your own voice. And surround yourself with people and spaces that lift you up, not weigh you down. That’s where the real magic is. That’s the real win, right? đź©·
