Apparently our culture discusses poop more than ever before, Starbucks’ CEO released a response letter (and subsequent closing of stores for a few hours at the end of May), there’s no such thing as work-life balance (true or not true?) and a bunch of other interesting things I’ve stumbled across this week:

Here is the Reading List June Week 1:
PS: You can read the archive here.

1. This piece on being kinder to ourselves which is honestly so damn true (and been on my mind and newsletters all week!).

“Yes, it’s an obnoxious cliché, but it’s not just self-help fluff. Evolutionary psychologists have studied our natural “negativity bias,” which is that instinct in us all that makes negative experiences seem more significant than they really are.

In other words: We’ve evolved to give more weight to our flaws, mistakes and shortcomings than our successes.”

I’m drawn to this piece because I can so relate, and I know so many people who are the same way. We think that we need to be hard on ourselves to push ourselves, and while this is good to an extent, it’s really damaging when we live with this negative perspective. This has come out more and more with the buzz of the ‘hustle mindset.’ People are encouraged to believe that working a lot means working hard, and that’s just not true (or healthy self-care).

This section, by Dr. Kristin Neff, associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, stuck out to me the most: “Research shows that the No. 1 barrier to self-compassion is fear of being complacent and losing your edge. And all the research shows that’s not true. It’s just the opposite.”

This is all to say that self-compassion can be more powerful than self-hate. Every single time.

2. This article about the Starbucks controversy and the company’s new plan for change.

I’ve actually been quite interested in this controversy because this is a company I frequently purchase coffee/tea from. I was really hoping to see them handle the issue with professionalism and integrity, and I think they did. What are your thoughts?

3. This interesting interview of Good Company founder and the balance between work and life.

“The biggest takeaway I got from that is that work-life balance does not exist. It’s a complete and total myth. I think so many women are made to think they can do it all as long as they have the right system.” — Grace Bonney

Sometimes I find myself struggling to keep a balance. This piece made me wonder whether that’s even achievable, and if we should accept that there are some things we can’t really control (and that’s okay). This phrase has also become so ‘trendy.’ Is there value in finding a way to rest, or is it more productive to push yourself?

4. This super inspiring piece by Girls Night In founder, Alisha Ramos.

Ramos talks about she went from a salaried job to starting her own business. I find this so inspiring. It’s great to get a behind-the-scenes with a hint of much-needed realism.

5. The powerful speech Abby Wambach gave at the Barnard 2018 Commencement ceremony.

“I’d spent most of my time during my career the same way I’d spent my time on that ESPYs stage. Just feeling grateful. Grateful to be one of the only women to have a seat at the table. I was so grateful to receive any respect at all for myself that I often missed opportunities to demand equality for all of us. But as you know, women of Barnard, change is here. Women are learning that we can be grateful for what we have and also demand what we deserve.”

I love this perspective. Be grateful, but also persistent and strong.

5. This interesting article on body image and nude modeling and how we have learned to define beauty today.

How interesting (and frustrating) is it that we’re always looking for something to change? You know what I mean? The majority of my teen years was spent picking myself apart. I’ve finally come to accept things about me, and yet there’s always room for change. Is this good? Self-empowerment to better ourselves? Or is it negative, forever feeling like we’re not enough?

6. This barticle about being an educator and teaching others to write.

“One of my greatest struggles, as a writer, as a human being, is to find purpose in the things I do. This, it seems, is the job of a good creative writing teacher, to help their students in their quest to find purpose. Certainly, no one can show us the way. But it is our role, as educators, to illuminate the road for our students as they journey forward into darkness.”

As a certified teacher, I can so relate and love this.

7. This article on…out of all things…poop.

Which, okay, I can’t help but laugh. (Immature, I know.) 💩

Featured Image Credit: Corey Blaz