Your Daily Dose of Hope

Today is the National Day of Encouragement. It may sound like a made-up holiday but who cares? It’s the perfect reminder to say the quiet good things out loud. A few sincere words can change someone’s hour, day, even direction. Encouragement isn’t flattery; it’s kindness in action. And don’t forget you: encouragement counts inward, too. Speak to yourself like you would to a friend, kindly, clearly...

Today we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, to honor the courage of first responders and survivors, and to stand with the families and communities forever changed. We remember the ordinary people who acted with extraordinary bravery, the neighbors who opened doors, the strangers who became helpers, and the countless acts of care that followed. This day is also our National Day...

The passing of time is weird isn’t it? When we have a day with difficulties or set back, or maybe if we’re just not feeling great it can feel like a day that won’t end. This is going live the second week of September, a month that brings us autumn and a distinct change of season here in the Midwest where I live. Which makes me feel like this year is zooming by. I feel like summer always goes by qu...

I’m sure you’ve heard a version of the Starfish story. It goes like this: A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement. She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl,...

I’m glad you’re here. I know I say that every time, but I want you to really hear it because I am really glad you’re here, listening and sharing hope with me. I started this back in January and there’s no way that I’d still be doing this if I hadn’t received encouragement and support from you, the people who are listening. I truly appreciate you for helping me see that being hopeful isn’t pie-in-t...

Your Daily Dose of Hope - Fresh Start Mindset Series We've traveled together this week, from embracing beginner's mind to taking small steps, learning from setbacks, and building community. Today, I want to talk about something that ties it all together: celebrating progress over perfection. Because here's the truth nobody talks about enough, perfect is not just impossible, it's the enemy of every...

Your Daily Dose of Hope - Fresh Start Mindset Series This week we've talked about curiosity, small steps, and learning from setbacks. But here's something I've learned: all that gets easier when you don't have to do it alone. Today we're talking about building your support network. Because growth happens in community. I'm talking about finding your growth partners. The people who see your potentia...

Welcome back to Your Daily Dose of Hope. I'm Phyllis and this is day three of our Fresh Start Mindset series. We've talked about embracing curiosity and taking small steps. But in life sometimes those steps don't go where we planned. Sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we fall flat on our faces. Today, we're talking about setbacks. And why they might be the most important part of your journey. Here's...

Your Daily Dose of Hope - Fresh Start Mindset Series Welcome to Your Daily Dose of Hope. I'm Phyllis, and we're on day two of our Fresh Start Mindset series. Yesterday we talked about embracing beginner's mind, the curiosity that sees possibility everywhere. Today, I want to talk about what you do with that curiosity: how small steps create big changes. Here's something that blew my mind when I fi...

Good morning, and welcome to Your Daily Dose of Hope. I'm Phyllis Nichols. Today we're starting something special, a five-day series I'm calling "Fresh Start Mindset." Whether you're feeling the back-to-school energy in the air, or you're just ready for a reset, this week is about embracing the beautiful possibility that comes with beginning again. Today, we're talking about the power of beginner'...

We’ve all heard the phrase, dance like no one is watching. It’s not really about dancing (though moving your body with abandon feels amazing). It’s about freedom. It’s about showing up without the weight of judgment, expectation, or perfection holding you back. We’ve all heard the phrase, dance like no one is watching. It’s not really about dancing (though moving your body with abandon feels amazi...

There’s a kind of freedom in saying those four words out loud: This might not work. Honest plans begin with honest uncertainty – Seth Godin Admitting that something might not work isn’t pessimism, it’s planning and preparing for multiple possible outcomes. How many things in life would you have accomplished if you only tried what you knew for certain would work out? How many things ended up differ...

One of the most powerful ways we can create ripple effects of kindness and opportunity is by paying it forward. When someone has helped us, believed in us, or given us a chance, we carry the gift of that moment forward, not by repaying it, but by extending it to someone else. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing encouragement, making an introduction, or offering a resource. Other times, it might me...

Sometimes the biggest shifts in our lives come from unintended consequences. We usually think of those words in a negative way, the deal that fell through, the partnership that fizzled, the choice that rippled further than we thought. And yes, sometimes the consequences hurt. They stretch us in ways we didn’t ask for. But unintended consequences can also be surprisingly good, the unexpected client...

In a perfect world, every day would be lovely, and we’d always feel great and be in a great mood ready to take on the world. But that’s not real life. Some days just don’t go as planned, or we’re just not feeling it. We all slip into a bad mood sometimes; it’s part of being human. The good news is, we don’t have to stay stuck there. With a few intentional shifts, we can redirect our energy and lif...

This is part of a longer post on Democracy Docket written by Marc Elias What does it mean to be an advocate? A hope advocate? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. The dictionary defines it this way: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. The “publicly supports” part of that is everything, isn’t it? What does it mean to publicly support something? Does it...

This is an excerpt of an article written by Marc Elias. You can find the entire post here It usually comes as a question: What gives you hope? Sometimes it is more of a demand: Tell me something hopeful! Everywhere I turn — in person and online, from lawyers to retirees, activists to students — people are searching for hopeful words about the future of democracy. I know what they want. They want m...

It’s easy to focus on what we don’t have, the goals still out of reach, the business milestone we’re chasing, the life upgrade we want next. We forget that someone out there is looking at us right now and thinking, “Wow, I wish I had what they have.” • Maybe it’s the freedom to work from home. • Maybe it’s the courage you had to start your business. • Maybe it’s the confidence you carry into a roo...

We often wait to celebrate until the “big win” shows up like landing the client, finishing the project, hitting the revenue goal. But those milestones don’t happen without the tiny, consistent steps that got you there. The small steps are worth celebrating, too. ✨ Sent the pitch email you’ve been putting off? Celebrate that courage. ✨ Posted your first piece of content, even if only 10 people sa...

Some days the motivation just isn’t there. The spark is missing, the energy feels flat, and the work ahead looks heavier than usual. But here’s the truth: success isn’t built on feeling it every day, it’s built on showing up anyway. You don’t have to feel inspired to do meaningful work. You just have to keep going step by step, even on the off days.

We’re taught early on that decisions have “right” and “wrong” answers. That if we just think long enough, research enough, prepare enough, we’ll land on the perfect choice. But life doesn’t actually work like that. Many decisions aren’t about right or wrong—they’re about options. Each one will take you somewhere different, each with its own mix of challenges, surprises, and rewards. I love how Eli...

You’ve been thinking about them for weeks. Maybe it’s been years since you last talked. Maybe the last conversation ended in hurt feelings, silence, or something that still feels unfinished. And now you don’t know how to start—because it’s been too long or because you’re not sure if they even want to hear from you. Here’s the truth: there’s no perfect script. There’s just an opening. And the coura...

Ever notice how sometimes life hands you exactly what you were just thinking about? You’re mulling over a big decision and a podcast episode “randomly” plays that speaks directly to it. You keep seeing the same word, place, or symbol over and over. You bump into someone who has the exact piece of information you’ve been needing. I’ve had this happen now and then – usually I’m thinking about someon...

What do you think of first when you hear self-care? Does a spa-day come to mind? Or maybe you think about time away from the day-to-day. Poet Audre Lorde said “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation” Self-care isn’t about bubble baths and scented candles (though those can be lovely). At its core, self-care is about giving yourself the capacity to keep going, mentally, ph...

With all of our daily deadlines and tasks, it's easy to overlook how deeply meaningful recognition can be. Yet, when someone acknowledges your effort, it does more than boost your mood, it strengthens your engagement, motivation, and loyalty. Start with the people you love. We can never tell them too much or too often how we appreciate their hard work, or their patience, their thoughtfulness when...