Relational dynamics, why you might hate everyone right now & a resource to help you notice your "internal weather"
February 2026 Newsletter
I almost titled this “February 2027,” so that’s how we’re doing over here.
Anyway! Here’s what you can explore in this newsletter:
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on why you might hate everyone right now]
💕 A thought I’m loving [on relational dynamics]
🗳️ A poll [on what you want]
🔗 Some link love
📆 A full recap & links to this past month’s posts
February’s free resource: an internal weather tracker
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on why you might hate everyone right now]
Okay. That’s an exaggeration, but seriously: have you noticed an inability to tolerate people recently? Have you noticed how mild annoyance morphs into grating irritation really quickly? (Am I projecting?)
Our brain is so committed to protecting us that when the threat system is activated, we make a couple of big changes in how we engage with others. More black and white thinking, more painting people with broad strokes, less trust, less willingness to tolerate disagreement. o
And while that reflects amazingly adaptive brain functioning that has kept us alive for thousands of years, it also is not helping any of us navigate this situation/world. And it might actually be contributing to the state of the world.
So. Deep breaths, everyone. Regulation before reaction.
❤️ A thought I’m loving [on relational dynamics]
🗳️ A poll on [on what you want]
Been thinking recently about how I’m the most annoying friend/family member cause I’m always running around telling people about the terrible things we’re doing to our brains and dopamine and blah blah blah. And a friend asked me recently - you’re creating resources you think people NEED, but what would you create if you were thinking about the resources people WANT?
And it’s got me thinking a lot. So help me out:
🔗 Some link love
Quotes, Journal prompts & recipes seem to be the theme of the links I’ve saved so far this year:
A salad that looks amazing but probably isn’t
January habits to ‘change your year’ (skeptical but saved)
📆 What you missed in January
Below are some links to thoughts I’ve shared this past month! (Please note that some of my messier thoughts and musings are behind a paywall. You can read more about why I do that here, and feel free to upgrade your subscription to access them and support my research!)
🆓 The free resource for February is below (for paid subscribers!)
✏️ Free resource: Internal Weather Tracker
I first got this concept from Austin Kleon (who I think got it from someone else). But it’s been really helpful for me in my life, as I’ve shared before, and a while back I made myself a little mini-planner that helps me track a few things each day: gratitude, internal weather, mood.
When you don’t have time to journal, do morning pages, or have a quiet time, this short/quick prompt can be really helpful. Below is the worksheet and an example!
