Peddling Hope

03/01/2026

Transitions can feel ungrounding, even when they’re something you’re excited for.

Whether you're planning a wedding, or you're graduating, or you're having a baby, or you're getting a new job–even the most exciting adventures in life make us feel a little unmoored.

It’s new, and it can be scary, so it’s hard to feel like you’re grounded and safe during any time of change and transition.

In moments of change, values act like a compass.

Today's Self-Care Sunday practice:

Grab some sticky notes or a piece of paper. Think about everything demanding your attention right now.

Ask yourself: What is urgent in my life right now? And what's important?

You know, it's easy to put all of our time and attention into things that are urgent. Versus the long-term things that are important, like our mental health, our friendships and our relationship with ourselves.

So today, just notice:

• What matters most in this season?
• What do I want to stay aligned with?
• What do I want this to look like and feel like?

Even just taking the time to make sure we’re in alignment with our values can help keep us on course in the long run.

02/27/2026

It’s been a minute since I talked about personal values. It’s something I talk about a lot in my book, Thriving in Chaos.

Your personal values are more than just ideas. They guide your life and your choices.

Your values shape your decisions and the boundaries you set. And they dictate the way you respond under pressure.

When life feels uncertain, values create steadiness. They help you choose your path intentionally rather than out of urgency.

You know, it's easy to put all of our time and attention into things that are urgent versus long-term things that are important, like our physical health, or our mental health, our friendships and our relationships.

If you're feeling pulled in many directions, this may be an invitation to pause and ask:

What actually matters to me right now?

It's important to kind of know what we want our life to look like and our values give us a guidepost to keep us steady.

If you’re not sure where to start, Thriving in Chaos: How to Have Hope and Purpose in a World of Constant Change is filled with exercises to help you connect with your values and move forward with purpose.

https://www.peddlinghope.com/thriving-in-chaos

02/24/2026

Stress in the body comes with a long list of symptoms. And it can manifest differently for everyone.

A stress state can have physical symptoms like:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Decreased breath capacity
- Digestive issues
- Change in appetite
- Change in weight
- Low energy
- General feelings of being unwell.

A stress state can also have emotional symptoms:
- Feeling like crying frequently
- Bursts of anger or irritation
- Self-isolation
- Feeling like a burden
- General emotional dysregulation - feeling like you’re not at your best or even at your ‘normal’

Mental symptoms of a stress state:
- Difficulty holding a conversation
- Brain fog
- Hyper-focusing
- Wandering thoughts
- Intrusive thoughts
- Lack of problem-solving

Whether it is stress or anxiety, your system is poised to run away from danger. Everyone has a built-in program that tells them what to do in that moment - run (flight), withdraw (fawn/freeze), or fight.

Both ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety’ are forms of stress state, so the symptoms can overlap significantly.

In my last blog post, I talked in-depth about how to tell the differences between stress and anxiety and how to address each. Check it out on the blog:

These days, we hear a lot about anxiety. Most people are struggling with overload from a society that pushes being busy as if it were the goal of life itself. We all have worries of some sort. Especially with all the dimensions of life we are juggling: career, home, kids, pets, and so much more. I

02/22/2026

This week, we’ve talked a lot about different kinds of stress.

One type of stress I see a lot is the pressure from that little computer in your pocket.

Having a phone within reach at all times is an often overlooked source of stress.

The feeling like you need to respond right away. Keep up with updates on all your apps. Make yourself available 24/7.

What if today didn’t require your constant attention?

For today’s Self Care Sunday, I invite you to put your phone in another room.

The exercise is as simple as that. You can keep your ringer on in case of emergencies, but put it into another room so it’s not next to your hand and easily picked up.

And then choose to do something that you love without the pressure to check what’s going on online.

Maybe you’re going to enjoy the last day of the Olympics without looking at other people’s opinions online.

Maybe you can read a book and avoid picking up your phone every time it pings. Perhaps take time to simply notice how that ping sound feels in your body.

This isn’t a form of avoidance when you’re making a choice to do this for yourself.

The world will still be there when you return to your phone.

02/20/2026

I, like many people, have been watching the Olympics. I work with several high-performance athletes myself, so I’m aware of the stress that comes (in a smaller form, of course) of being the centre of attention like that.

Athletes train hard, balancing their conditioning with everything else life demands of them. And coming up to an important competition, they often say they feel an extreme amount of anxiety.

However, what they are often feeling is stress.

That might make you wonder: What’s the difference then?

That’s what this month’s blog is all about.

There are key differences between stress and anxiety, even if they share many of the same physical, emotional and mental characteristics.

However, the key difference is how you manage and treat them.

While stress can be managed, anxiety is something that requires treatment or dedicated self-healing. Knowing the difference is vital.

Sometimes we're doing all the "right" things to manage stress, but they're the wrong tools for the kind of stress we're experiencing.

You can find the latest blog: https://www.peddlinghope.com/blog/anxiety-or-stress-whats-the-difference

It explores how stress shows up in different ways. Why not all stress is the same.
And how understanding the difference can change how we care for ourselves.

Because sometimes we're doing all the "right" things to manage stress, but they're the wrong tools for the type of stress we're experiencing.

And if you want these posts delivered to your inbox first, you can sign up for the newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/michellemalloy/newsletter-sign-up

These days, we hear a lot about anxiety. Most people are struggling with overload from a society that pushes being busy as if it were the goal of life itself. We all have worries of some sort. Especially with all the dimensions of life we are juggling: career, home, kids, pets, and so much more. I

02/18/2026

We often talk about stress as if all types of stress were the same. Like, there is just one blanket approach to dealing with it.

That…doesn’t really work.

Because the acute, happy, yet all-consuming stress of planning a wedding is different from the anxiety of long-term, unhappy employment.

The stress of graduation is different from the anxiety of having family who treat you unkindly come to stay with you.

The stress of getting a brand new 3-week-old kitten to foster and not knowing what you’re doing is different from work stress. (I just put that one in, so I could share this photo from one of my team with a new foster kitten :))

Because stress and anxiety often feel the same, we can have a hard time telling the difference between the two.

And it’s important that we do, so we can manage our symptoms appropriately to the type of stressor.

Different types of stress, different ways to cope. That’s what this month’s newsletter and blog post are all about.

If you want to receive it directly to your inbox, along with monthly emails to help you with coping skills all year long, join my newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/michellemalloy/newsletter-sign-up

My monthly newsletter is a cozy space in your inbox to talk about coping with life. I share an article each month based on the season we’re in, to help you build skills around coping with the constant change we’re facing. I hope to see you join.

02/15/2026

Recently, there was a trend that looked back to 2016 and compared it to where we’re at now in 2026.

Many posts idealized how things were 10 years ago. And, without meaning to, a whole trend grew around the grief people feel over a version of life that no longer exists.

I think this is a normal part of life.

So for today’s Self Care Sunday, I want to invite you to spend a little time grieving how life used to be, so we can move forward without that heaviness.

Today's practice:

Think about how life has changed in the past 10 years.

I invite you to take a few minutes to name what's been taken from you. Even if you're grateful for what you have now.

Because both can be true.

You might journal on this, or just sit with it. But, give yourself permission to acknowledge the "before" and what you miss about it.

Maybe “before” means before the pandemic. Maybe it means a time when you were closer to your friends. Or maybe it was before a significant loss.

What routines do you miss?
What felt easier then?
What did you take for granted that you can't anymore?

Grief doesn't mean you're unthankful for where you are now and what you have.

So... let yourself feel it. Without judgment. Without rushing yourself through. Because feeling your grief is the first step in letting it go.

Once you’re done, do something small for yourself. Make a cup of tea or have a little sweet treat. End on a lighter note.

02/13/2026

When we’re talking about raising a family or going through hard times, we often say it ‘takes a village.’

But... how do you actually build one?

I was just talking to a friend about this recently. She has a teenager, and everything in his life feels urgent. And it becomes her urgency. Asking if he got his homework done, if he has stuff for school, and keeping track of whether he’s late.

So all her time with him is spent project managing. Which she's really good at. (She's my number one pick for a zombie apocalypse, no question.)

But it does steal a little bit from what's actually important. The relationship itself.

For me, it’s an easy decision to step in where I can and show my love and appreciation for my friend by becoming a part of her village.

But, it made me think of all the people I see regularly who are struggling with a lack of proximity to family and friends who are willing to step in. They don’t have access to a village.

It’s a source of loneliness and anxiety. Because we’re not wired to be alone. We’re wired for community and interdependence.

So when we have to do everything by ourselves, it feels very isolating and lonely. And then we think, "I must be doing it wrong because I'm struggling."

Not realizing everybody else is probably feeling the same way.

Community doesn't arrive fully formed. Even though the saying is ‘it takes a village,’ it should really be ‘you need to build a village.’

It starts with the decision to build a community of people you can rely on. One invitation to meet up, one birthday card, one attempt to connect at a time.

If you're feeling alone, it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. It may simply mean you're being invited to create connection in a new way. What is one small step you can take to build your village?

02/02/2026

January is gone and we’re waiting on the groundhog this morning to let us know what will become of winter.

Most years I feel like I’m dragging myself across the finish line of January. This year it flew! I’ve been taking courses this year at Acadia (this is my library selfie for orientation). That, along with a complicated hairball (my cat’s, not mine) and some car challenges, had me on catchup mode a lot!

How was your January? Did you start any new projects or set new goals? When does your new year begin? Mine tends to be September. Hence, the picture of me back in the days of ambition and hope.

If I could, Winter would be for hibernation. A time of rest and recovery. But, alas, it is for shovelling. On the bright side, we keep getting Monday off!

Stay safe out there ⛄️

01/01/2026

As the year comes to a close, take a quiet moment to reflect:

What’s one thing I’m proud of overcoming this year?

Big or small, every challenge you’ve faced has shaped your resilience and strength. 💛 Celebrate those moments, they’re a part of growing and being human.

What’s something you’re proud of overcoming this year?

12/30/2025

It’s okay to have off days. Especially in these odd days after the holidays, before the end of the year and the start of something that feels shiny and new.

You don’t need to be aiming to achieve something all the time. Be gentle with yourself, show yourself compassion and give yourself time to rest.

12/28/2025

This Self-Care Sunday, take a moment to remind yourself of just how strong you are and how far you’ve come.

Write a Kind Note to yourself: Something simple, like "I am proud of how far I’ve come" or "I am strong, capable, and resilient."

Make It Visible: Place it on your mirror, your desk, or even your fridge, somewhere you’ll see it daily.

Pause and Reflect: Each time you see your note, take a moment to let those words sink in.

What will your note say this week?