How self-limiting beliefs keep us small 🌱

From "The Moth," listen to these sincere stories about the meaningful bonds and lasting friendships that can grow from working side by side.

“When we are preventing our own growth because we’re following these rules, we’re submitting to a kind of personal governance that isn’t always in our best interests. These are self-limiting beliefs, and they are a potent force that, left unchallenged, keep us small — packed up safely in tidy, boxes. We learn to stay in these boxes because if we dare to step outside them something Very Bad Will Happen.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the sound of that at all.”

August heat has us reaching for our face moisturizers on repeat. We’re reaching for nourishing creams that help replenish moisture, support the skin barrier, and skip the ingredients we’d rather avoid.

This easy and delicious tzatziki recipe comes together in 10 minutes or less and is a perfect addition to your summer veggies!

🌱 Extra income: From simple gigs to creative projects, these examples of ​real-life side hustle ideas​ make earning a little more feel more doable.

💅 Nailed it: Stumped on your next manicure color? ​Follow the monthly birthstones​! Our editor went with peridot green for August, paired with an intention to welcome in healing and resilience.

✨ Safe to shine: For the times when you hold yourself back or make yourself small, ​do this tarot spread as a reminder that you are allowed to let yourself shine​ — brightly, authentically, and frequently.

💼 For job seekers: Community Members for Environmental Justice (CMEJ) seeks a new ​Executive/Project Director​ to lead strategy, partnerships, and day-to-day operations.

📝 A good question: What is your go-to song to pump yourself up? Reply and let us know — and press play if you need a pep in your step today. 💛

"I've been doing something I call 'affirmation walks' during afternoon slumps to get me back in my groove. I slip on some shoes and take at least a 10-minute walk around the block, speaking soft affirmations under my breath while I walk. I remind myself of my strengths, the autonomy I've fought hard to keep, and the achievable goals I'm working towards. I always come home feeling rejuvenated and uplifted; we're not always going to get the affirmations we want from others, so why not give them to ourselves? If you're feeling self-conscious, put on some headphones and make it look like you're on a call or singing along to music. 😘"

A reader comment we love:

“I’m about to hit 30 and ​I’m in a similar (but different) boat to where you were​: a creative struggling to find work, trying to help her mom and sister keep the house going when they’re struggling financially and with their health. I found that I just kept nodding whenever some new challenge came up. Your husband being the stable one for so long even mirrored how my own boyfriend has been my rock these past three years while I try to figure things out. I’m so glad you and your family are doing better. It gives me a little hope that things will improve for me, too, even if it means life won’t look how I hoped and dreamt it would. Thanks for sharing!”

For more from The Good Trade, explore our website for heartfelt editorials, honest product reviews, and community-sourced resources for more mindful living. Subscribe here to get The Daily Good delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday, and follow us on Instagram @thegoodtrade.