getting cozier with jacey: beginner's mind & new beginnings

hiii homebuddies!!

first things first - if you're new here, welcome to our cozy corner of the internet!! 🤍 there's a lot of new subscribers this month, so i wanted to start with a quick re-introduction. this newsletter is where i share the behind-the-scenes of life, what i'm reading/creating/loving, and what i'm thinking about each month.

you might have noticed i missed last month's newsletter - june was a whirlwind of packing boxes, saying goodbye to my old space, and navigating all the emotions that come with big life changes. but i'm back and honestly have so much to share with you!!

we moved!! 🏠

the biggest update is that ben and i officially moved in together!! this is probably my favorite place i've ever lived (and the first time ever that my desk hasn't been in my bedroom lol). i love change itself but i actually really struggle with transitions, so i was having a hard time in the beginning while we were still unpacking. as a homebody, i feel really affected by my space and wanted everything set up right away, which definitely was adding unnecessary pressure. 😅 now that we're settled - it feels sooo homey & peaceful and it's been so fun creating new routines together!

getting out of a funk & realizing the best art is honest 💭

june was a bit of a struggle for me overall. i felt super uninspired and was putting a lot of pressure on myself to continue creating even though it wasn't feeling good. i felt like i was sharing all about self care & mental health tips - but my own mental health was struggling in the process of that.

one day i was sending voice notes with my best friend delaney & was sharing how i was feeling when she said something that really stuck with me: "the best art is honest."

i felt like i had to continue sharing my typical content despite struggling - but instead it was actually valuable to show in real time how i was navigating what i was going through. this conversation sparked what became a new series on youtube, where i've been sharing my journey through julia cameron's "the artist's way" book - a 12 week journey to discover or reconnect to your creativity.

embracing beginner's mind with youtube 🎥

starting this project has been so helpful for me to get out of the funk i was in and also to start consistently posting on youtube!! for the longest time, i kept telling myself i wasn't "good enough" or that my ideas wouldn't translate to long form content. but then i decided to take my own advice: we don't have to be experts to start.

i decided to approach youtube with complete beginner's mind. instead of trying to make perfect videos, i focused on reconnecting with my why - sharing my actual experience and helping you guys feel less alone in yours. having something structured to film each day has helped me so much to get back into filming and i'm finding sooo much joy in learning the ropes of youtube!! there's something so powerful about getting back to the basics of creativity - that childlike curiosity and willingness to let yourself play without attachment to the outcome. if you haven’t seen my latest videos yet, you can watch week one of the artist’s way series here and week two here!!! i’m so proud of how they came out 😇 

new series coming soon!

since coming off birth control and recovering from my eating disorder over the last 5 years, my cycle has become much more regular, and i've realized i'm basically four different versions of myself throughout the month. some weeks im super social, bubbly, feel so confident and creative and other weeks i cry every day and feel like nothing i do is good enough lol. sounds familiar? youre not alone! when i polled you guys on IG - so many of you said you were interested but overwhelmed with how to best support your body throughout the month.

i'm working on a new cycle syncing series! no complicated routines or tons of supplements - i just want to share more of the science behind what's actually happening in your body so you can understand yourself better and have ideas of how to meet yourself where you're at at different points of the month.

❣️ what i'm loving lately…

📚 reading: mostly the artists way (& still book 5 of brandon sanderson series thats taking me so long to get through haha) for week 4 of artists way - one of the main challenges is a reading deprivation which means this week i cannot consume anything - no books, podcasts, social media etc. i feel like it’s going to be sooo challenging but im committed to doing it for you guys to document it and see how focusing on just creating and no consuming for a week impacts my creativity and imagination!

🎵 listening: you guys know how much ben and i love house music, but being in LA with a few of my besties really reignited my old indie roots. one of my favoriteeee artists is angie mcmahon so i've been listening to a lot of her!!

🎮 playing: the nature expansion fairy sims pack just came out this month and i feel like it was made for me. omg it is so fun and i am creating my dream forest fairy tree house

🎨 creating: for my artist's date (artist's way concept - a weekly solo date for your creativity) last week, i made watercolor bookmarks and they came out so cute!! super simple and no talent required. (featured here — 07:52 minute marker)

🤳 coming soon: weekly artists way journey on youtube, the full cycle syncing series, and something really special i can't wait to share with you...

✨ sneak peek: recalibrate workbook

okay, i couldn't wait any longer to tell you - i've been working on something really close to my heart! the recalibrate workbook is finally done, and it's everything i wish i'd had during my own journey back to myself.

it's a 60-page guided experience that combines all the tools, prompts, and practices that have helped me rebuild trust with myself over the years and that i use with my 1:1 coaching clients. think shadow work, inner child healing, values clarification, and so much more - all packaged in the gentle, cozy way you know i love.

the official launch isn't until september, but i want to give a few of you early access to test it out and share feedback. if you're interested in being one of my first readers, just reply to this email and i'll send a few of you an early copy for being such supportive homebuddies!!!

💓 gentle reminder

change is hard, even when it's good change. if you're in a season of transition right now - whether it's moving, starting something new, or just trying to figure out who you're becoming - remember growth rarely happens in straight lines, and it's okay to feel all over the place sometimes.

you're not behind. you're not doing it wrong. you're exactly where you need to be, learning exactly what you need to learn. every experience gives you more information!!!

thank you for being here, for supporting me, and for making this community such a safe, cozy space. you mean the world to me 🤍

stay cozy & be gentle on yourself!!!!

jacey 🤍

p.s. what's one creative thing you've been wanting to try but keep putting off? reply and tell me - i love hearing about your dreams and maybe we can encourage each other to take that first step! also, if you're doing the artist's way alongside me, i'd love to hear how it's going for you ✨