Your daily attitude shapes your future more than any single event ever could. One of our clients, Monica, proved this after surviving a serious car accident. During a recent FaceTime coaching session, she smiled ear to ear. “What has you in such good spirits today?” I asked. “I’m thinking better about things today — about how lucky I am to be alive,” she replied. “I thought the injuries I sustained in that accident last year signified the end of life as I know it, but now I realize they signify the beginning.” Monica decided to begin again, first in her mind, then in her life. She let go of “shoulda, woulda, coulda” attachments and stepped forward with grace, determination, and a positive mindset. To help herself stay on track, she writes important reminders on sticky notes and places them where she sees them daily — on her home office wall, bathroom mirror, and refrigerator. These sticky notes reminders keep her inspired even when she struggles. Through this practice, she learned that inner peace does not mean being in a place without noise or chaos. It means being in the midst of those things and still maintaining a healthy mindset.
Angel and I have sticky notes up in our house too. We all forget sometimes. That is why these visual cues matter. My challenge to you is to start practicing alongside us for the next few weeks. Copy the notes and quotes below — just the ones that resonate most — and rewrite them on physical sticky notes. Stick them where you can see them. Pause throughout your day and read them quietly. Notice how doing so gradually changes the way you think and feel, especially in harder moments.
Here are 13 sticky notes reminders you should memorize today. They come from life experience, coaching work, and reflections from The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts & Reflections to Start Every Day.
1. I am lucky to be alive
Monica started here. After her accident, she could have focused on pain and loss. Instead, she chose gratitude for the simple fact of being alive. This reminder shifts your perspective from what went wrong to what still works. When you wake up, say this out loud. Let it sink in. About 37 percent of people report feeling grateful for life only after a close call. You do not need a crisis to feel this way. Start now.
2. This injury signifies a beginning, not an end
Monica realized her injuries marked a fresh start, not a finish line. Many of us face setbacks — a job loss, a breakup, a health scare. Our first instinct is to mourn what is gone. This sticky note reminds you to ask: What can I build from here? Studies on post-traumatic growth show that roughly 50 to 70 percent of people who experience trauma report positive changes afterward. Your setback can be your setup.
3. Let go of shoulda, woulda, coulda
Regret traps you in the past. Monica consciously released these attachments. “Shoulda, woulda, coulda” thinking keeps you stuck in a loop of self-blame. Instead, this reminder helps you focus on what you can do now. Psychologists call this cognitive reframing. When you catch yourself replaying past mistakes, pull out this note. Read it. Breathe. Move forward.
4. Step forward with grace and determination
Grace means being kind to yourself during hard transitions. Determination means you keep moving anyway. These two qualities together create resilience. Monica embodied this. She did not pretend everything was fine. She acknowledged the struggle and kept going. This reminder tells you that you can be gentle and strong at the same time.
5. Inner peace is possible amid chaos
Many people think peace requires quiet surroundings. Monica learned otherwise. Her sticky note reads: “Inner peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, chaos, or challenges. It means being in the midst of all those things and still maintaining a healthy mindset.” This is a powerful reframe. You do not need to escape your life to find calm. You can carry calm into your life.
6. Make the best of what is in front of you
We often yearn for a narrow range of experiences — fun days, happy moments, comfortable situations. But reality offers a full spectrum: sadness, uncertainty, frustration, curiosity, nervousness, excitement, and more. All these feelings are part of being alive. You can revolt against reality, or you can make the best of it. This reminder urges you to choose the latter. Accept what is here and work with it.
7. Embrace every moment with full presence
Presence means showing up fully, even when the moment is uncomfortable. Put down your phone. Look at the person in front of you. Listen without planning your reply. This sticky note reminds you that life happens now, not later. Research from Harvard shows that people spend nearly 47 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they are doing. That is almost half your life spent elsewhere. This note calls you back.
8. Be gentle with yourself when times are hard
Self-criticism makes hard times worse. This reminder tells you to treat yourself like you would a close friend. When you make a mistake or face disappointment, pause. Say something kind to yourself. Self-compassion researcher Kristin Neff found that people who practice self-compassion have lower levels of anxiety and depression. A simple sticky note can trigger this practice.
9. Practice sincere gratitude whenever possible
Gratitude is not about pretending everything is perfect. It is about noticing what is good right now. Monica felt lucky to be alive despite her injuries. That is sincere gratitude. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Even small things count — a warm cup of coffee, a kind text, a sunny window. Over time, this rewires your brain to scan for positives.
You may also enjoy reading: 7 Little-Known Truths About People-Pleasing & How to Stop.
10. Accept life as it is, and accept yourself as you are
Acceptance does not mean giving up. It means stopping the fight against reality. When you accept what is, you free up energy to change what you can. This sticky note reminds you that you are enough right now. You do not need to be fixed. You are a work in progress, and that is okay.
11. Do not expect the best every time; accept whatever happens and make the best of it
This is a subtle but crucial shift. Expecting the best sets you up for disappointment. Accepting whatever happens and then choosing to make the best of it builds resilience. Life will throw curveballs. This reminder helps you catch them and turn them into something useful. It is not passive. It is active acceptance.
12. You are worth working on
Personal growth takes effort. This reminder tells you that you are worth that effort. You matter. Your peace, your growth, your happiness — they are not selfish pursuits. They are necessary. When you feel like giving up on yourself, read this note. Let it sink in. You are worth the time, the practice, and the patience.
13. Build momentum together
Monica did not do this alone. She had coaches, friends, and her own sticky notes. This reminder says you are part of a bigger picture. Share your practice with someone. Tell a friend what you are working on. Put up a sticky note where your family can see it. Momentum grows when we move forward together. You are not alone in this.
These 13 sticky notes reminders are simple but powerful. They work because they interrupt your automatic thoughts. When you see them, you pause. You read. You redirect. Over time, this rewires your thinking. Monica proved it. Angel and I prove it. You can too.
Now it is your turn. Start with one note. Write it by hand. Put it somewhere you will see it every day. Let it soak in. Then add another. See how your mindset shifts over the next few weeks. It will not always be easy, but it is worth working on. You are worth working on.
Before you go, please leave Angel and me a comment below. Which of these sticky notes resonates most with you right now? Which one will you write down first? Let us know. And if you want more daily prompts and reflections, check out The Good Morning Journal. It is full of quotes and prompts that can become your next set of sticky notes. Start today. Your future self will thank you.
