Today Is National Stress Awareness Day

Today, more than ever, it’s essential to center ourselves, to ground our hearts, and to lean into a radical love that feels, at times, challenging to muster.

There are days when the world feels heavy, when our minds swirl with worry, and our spirits are weighed down. It is in these moments that self-care and compassionate love become both our guide and our shelter. They become the path we choose when the road feels steep and uncertain.

Taking care of yourself is not a small act. It is an act of courage. On days when the world around us feels overwhelming, self-care is a declaration of your own worth. Start with simple steps: a quiet cup of tea, a walk in nature, a few minutes of reflection. Let yourself breathe deeply, to feel the calm that often gets buried beneath the layers of stress and fear. Listen to your body, to the quiet voice within that knows exactly what you need in this moment, whether it’s rest, connection, or a reminder of your own strength.

Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Tending to your well-being today and all days allows you to show up with the intention of achieving inner peace. Even if just for today, let go of the compulsion to fix, to solve the problem, to make the world feel right. Those who dedicate themselves to empathy and justice carry much on their shoulders, but today, allow yourself to release that weight, even if only for a few moments.

Today is also a day to practice radical love. Radical love is about finding strength within us to be kind and compassionate, even when our first instinct may be otherwise. It’s an approach that reminds us that everyone is moving through their own battles, fears, and insecurities. By choosing radical love, we soften the edges of the day and create a space where we, too, can breathe and find relief.

Radical love can look like a quiet gesture—a kind word, a genuine smile, the holding of a hand without the need to say a word, a moment of gratitude. Let it be present in how you talk to yourself; in the gentle way you encourage yourself to keep going. Love is a powerful antidote to a world that often asks us to harden. Choosing softness, openness, and warmth, even when it feels vulnerable, is itself an act of defiance and healing.

Throughout the day, find small ways to remind yourself of the beauty around you. Look up at the sky, feel the ground beneath your feet, let yourself be enveloped in the present moment. Grounding yourself in these little things—the ones that cannot be taken away—can become an anchor, a reminder that the world is vast, that your spirit is resilient, and that there is always space for hope.

Take your time today. Speak kindly to yourself, allow yourself to feel all that arises, and let radical love be the center from which you move. If there’s anything today teaches us, it’s that caring for ourselves and each other is not just a personal endeavor but a powerful, communal act. We heal, we connect, and we act in justice, beginning with the gentleness we bring to our own hearts and to the community. This day may be difficult, but together, with love and compassion, we will move forward, one gentle step at a time.