Development Digest - March 2025
“Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
– Christopher Robin
Inner Strength and Self-Discipline: The Power Within
This month, at our beloved Academy for Personal Development and on our Morning Intentions podcast, we’ve been exploring our empowering theme of Inner Strength and Self-Discipline – two qualities that are essential for creating lasting change and living with intention.
Inner Strength and Self-Discipline are the quiet forces behind resilience, progress, and peace of mind.
Inner strength is that deep, steady well within us that helps us stay grounded in hard times. It’s the voice that says, “You’ve made it through before. You’ll make it through again.” It’s not about pushing through with gritted teeth or pretending we’re fine when we’re not. It’s about accessing the quiet courage that lets us respond with grace, even when life doesn’t go according to plan or when things feel out of control.
Self-discipline, on the other hand, is about showing up for ourselves with consistency. It’s not punishment. It’s not rigidity. It’s the loving structure we build so that we can live aligned with what matters most. As we like to say, “Self-discipline isn’t about being hard on yourself. It’s about having your own back.”
One of our favorite reflections this month was this: Inner Strength asks, “How can I stay centered through the storm?” while Self-Discipline asks, “What can I do today that will honor my future?” When we combine these two qualities, we create a life that is both calm and powerful as well as flexible and focused.
During March, also explored our Academy’s Four Pillar Approach in this context, specifically how Self-Discipline strengthens our Life Structure and how Inner Strength supports Self-Understanding. Whether it’s setting better boundaries, sticking to a positive morning routine, or being honest about what we need, we saw again and again how Inner Strength and Self-Discipline show up across every pillar.
Personally, we have been very encouraged throughout the month as many of our clients shared with us how they have been learning to integrate these concepts into their own lives, such as waking up 15 minutes earlier to create a peaceful morning, saying no without guilt, or pausing during a stressful moment to breathe and then respond with intention.
These small shifts build momentum as you learn to be the best version of yourself.
If there’s one thing we hope you take away from our month of Inner Strength and Self-Discipline, it’s this:
You are stronger than you think, and your daily choices matter.
Keep showing up for yourself. Keep being kind to yourself. And remember, you’re not doing this alone - we’re walking this path with you!
Thank you for all your dedication to our work together,
Annette and Ada
Are You Ready to Start Each Day with Clarity and Purpose?
Life is filled with change, challenges, and opportunities for growth, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our Morning Intentions podcast is here to help you cultivate mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and meaningful change with practical tools and real-life insights.
Each episode is designed to inspire and support you as you become the best version of yourself, whether that means improving communication, setting healthy boundaries, or simply learning to flow with life’s ups and downs.
Click here for a sample episode
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Help! My mornings are chaos!
Help! My mornings are chaos, and I feel like I start every day already behind. No matter how much I try to plan ahead, I still end up scrambling, misplacing things, skipping breakfast, rushing out the door. I know I need a better routine, but I have no idea where to start. What’s one simple change that could actually make a difference?
Thank you for your question! You’re not alone! Many of us start our days feeling rushed and scattered, even with the best-laid plans. You are wise not to try to overhaul your entire routine all at once. Here’s one simple, sustainable change:
Begin your morning the night before.
Spend 10 to 15 minutes in the evening prepping for tomorrow. Set out your clothes, prep your breakfast and/or lunch, and gather what you need for work or errands. This small act of self-care creates a smooth path for your day and can drastically reduce morning chaos.
Bonus Tip:
Before bed, write down the one thing you want to focus on the next day. Waking up with clarity (and without the scramble) helps you feel more grounded, in control, and ready to start the day on your terms.
Remember, routines aren’t about perfection. They are about creating a rhythm that supports the life you want. Start small, stay kind to yourself, and build from there!
Warmly,
Annette & Ada
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Do you have questions about personal development, navigating relationships, or creating a more balanced and fulfilling life? If you have a question, there’s a very good chance you are not alone, and now’s your chance to ask us directly! Each month, we’ll choose one or more questions to answer in our newsletter. Whether you’re seeking advice on setting boundaries, developing self-understanding, or simply finding peace in the midst of life’s challenges, we’re here to provide you with thoughtful, compassionate insights.
Your privacy is our priority. While we’ll share your questions and our answers, we’ll never share your name or identifying details. Feel free to ask any personal development question that’s on your heart or mind. This is your opportunity to gain clarity and guidance in a safe and supportive space.
To submit your question, visit the newsletter page of our website and click the big button that says “Submit Your Question for Ask Annette and Ada.”
Send us your questions today, and you might see your answer in our next edition of Development Digest.
March’s Recommendation:
GROK Cards
As our clients, you know that we occasionally pull out our GROK cards when we are working together on witnessing grievances and practicing our empathy skills. We will frequently suggest purchasing this amazing tool for your own use at home to work through family issues, teach your children how to process their emotions, and give yourself empathy. Based on Nonviolent Communication (NVC), GROK cards are designed to enhance self-awareness, empathy skills, and connection in a structured yet intuitive way.
Each set of GROK cards includes two decks, one for feelings and one for needs, allowing users to identify emotions and underlying unmet needs in themselves and others with clarity and compassion. What has been enlightening for us as we share this tool is the number of feelings and needs present that go unrecognized until the GROK cards illuminate them. Many times, our clients will express comments such, “I had no idea I was feeling all that!” Or, “I never think about my own needs, just the needs of others.” As we always say, self-awareness is the first step toward change, and GROK cards do a wonderful job of facilitating self-awareness.
We highly recommend GROK cards for personal reflection, to process situations in your closest relationships, or as a group activity. They are a practical, hands-on way to develop emotional literacy, make communication more authentic and meaningful, foster understanding, and strengthen your relationships!
Self-Care Tip of the Month:
Positive Rephrasing
Our thoughts shape our emotions, and sometimes, without realizing it, we talk ourselves into negativity. While acknowledging feelings with empathy is essential, we also have the power to shift our perspective in a way that helps us move forward.
This month, we invite you to practice Positive Rephrasing, a simple yet powerful exercise to intentionally reframe negative thoughts.
Take a moment to write down a thought that feels discouraging or heavy.
Then, rephrase it by introducing a positive factor, a more empowering interpretation, or a solution-focused perspective.
❌ "I always mess things up."
✅ "I make mistakes like everyone else, but I also learn and grow from them."
❌ "I’m so behind I'll never catch up."
✅ "I’ve been doing my best, and I can take one step at a time to move forward."
❌ "I shouldn’t feel this way."
✅ "My feelings are valid, and they’re pointing me toward something I need."
❌ "Everything is going wrong."
✅ "Some things are challenging right now, but not everything is going wrong. I can still find moments of peace or progress."
❌ "I failed again."
✅ "This didn’t turn out as I hoped, but I’m learning and growing with each experience."
❌ "I’m not good enough."
✅ "I’m a work in progress, and I bring value just as I am."
Each rephrasing isn’t about denying the truth of your experience. It’s about adding compassion, clarity, and hope to the way you speak to yourself. Practice each day, and over time, you may notice a softer, more encouraging inner voice.
Recipe of the Month
Clam Pasta
This clam pasta recipe has been a family favorite since the 1980s when we used to visit Seattle’s Pike Place Market every Saturday morning and bring home a variety of seafood and freshly baked French bread. Even though we haven’t lived in the Northwest for over 25 years, we are taken back to those fun weekend mornings each time we make this clam pasta. You don’t need fresh clams to make this delightful; canned clams will do!
Ingredients
2 - 6 1/2 oz. cans clams, chopped, juice reserved
2 - 6 1/2 oz. cans clams, minced, juice reserved
1/2 cup olive oil
2/3 cup white wine
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced thin
garlic powder, desired amount
pepper, desired amount
dried or fresh parsley, desired amount
1 – 16 oz. box linguine
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, desired amount
Instructions
In a medium skillet, combine clams (with juice), olive oil, white wine, and mushrooms. Season with garlic powder, pepper, and parsley.
Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sauce thickens, approximately 25 - 30 minutes.
While sauce is thickening, cook linguine according to package instructions.
Add pasta to sauce when done, and toss to combine. Top with Parmesan cheese.
