43 lessons for my 43rd birthday

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Bhanu Misra Marya

A few weeks ago I celebrated my birthday and realized that it’s been a while since I’ve done a birthday post! (ok almost 10 years ago)

So in celebration of my 43rd birthday, here are 43 lessons that have provided me with guidance, disciplined my days and provided motivation when I needed it most <3

Energy is everything
Everything is multiplied by gratitude
Know that it will turn out better than expected
Your mindset is the gateway to every transformation
People aren’t thinking about you, they are thinking about themselves
You are free to reinvent yourself at anytime
Friendships change. Nurture the ones that feel like growth and remember not everyone grows with you
Stop relying on external validation
Laugh more
Your standards above everything (decide your future and teach others how to treat you)
When you feel lost, ask yourself “what would my most abundant/higher self/happiest self be doing”
Protect your piece (because if it costs you your peace, its too expensive)
When others judge, it’s based on their own lived experiences and biases
Healing is a journey (it isnt pretty and it doesnt mean you won’t be triggerd – because you will be, but it’s worth it every time you act from a place of self awareness and compassion for yourself and those who may trigger you)
Trust your intiution
If you aren’t willing to risk the unusual, you’ll have to settle for the ordinary
Find a spiritual practice that works for you
Don’t expect from others what you can’t do for yourself first
Clean up what you consume (offline, online, people, experiences, drama – becomes who you are)
Stop watching mainstream news
Confidence is actions first, feelings later
Travel to learn more about the world and yourself
Everything in moderation, including moderation
Embody your feminine power
Train your inner dialogue (Mirror self talk is the best way to start your morning, you can still be humble and hype yourself up)
Embarrassment is the ticket to evolution
Let your be mentored by your highest self
Put yourself out there
The life you love will look very different than what you thought
Celebrate your own damn self (buy yourself the flowers, always have chilled champagne in the fridge, give yourself the 5 love langugaes)
You don’t get what you want, you get what you are
People will behave from the level on consiousness they are at
Keeping promises to yourself is the first step in building confidence
Every situation is an opportunity for growth
Ego is loud, confidence is silent
Compliment yourself daily (Dress confidently, the world benefits when you show up as your boldest self)
Upgrade your self worth (You get what you believe you deserve)
You get what you identify with not what you desire (self concept over everything)
If you want better friendships, be a better friend to yourself – the right people will feel like peace, not performance
feelings of shame keep you focused on your identity, accountability keeps your fixed on what you do
take yourself out on solo dates
It’s not about being busy, but doing the work that aligns with YOUR goals
Detach from outcomes, fall in love with the journey instead

5 top ways to be more confident in your career

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

One thing about me, is if I can share my wisdom I will. I do a lot of mentoring in my corporate girlie life. And I also look for opportunities to be mentored. I’ve had a few great mentors over the years who have guided, protected and propelled me – so I really feel passionate about giving back.

Sometimes, those mentors are in my company, in my personal life or even virtual.

So consider me your virtual mentor! I hope these tips can help you exude more confidence in your job, career, big dreams and beyond.

Don’t take personalities or communication styles personally
I find that as adults making friends is a hit or miss. There is such a mix of characters and preferred ways of interacting that we can be friendly with some and frenemies with others. The same applies in the workplace. There is also a mix of personalities and communication styles (cultures and genders can add to the bag). Remind yourself that when people are being direct, it is not personal.
Stop putting others on a pedestals
If you think other people around are better or smarter than you, because of a certain job title, project they are on or experience – they probably arent. And you can prevent the feeling of under confidence by not assuming people are better than you purely based on what you see. Remember everyone is going through something, even if you can’t see it.
Assume you are doing well (unless you are told otherwise)
Managers have a responsibility to have transparent conversations with their employees about work activities and performance. So unless you are being told otherwise, assume everything is going well!
Remind yourself its not that serious
Perspective is important. Remember if it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend 5 seconds thinking about it. Zoom out and get a higher point of view. Put in an honest effort, but don’t lose sleep or miss your breaks/PTO because of it.
Reframe your negative thoughts into positive ones
We often think the worse in every situation. It actually takes more effort and energy to negative than positively. If you feel like you are asking too many questions, remind yourself that you want to have clarity. But also if you get feedback that at first stings, take it as an opportunity to improve.

6 ways to maintain your sanity while achieving your goals

Posted on August 13, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

The internet has been a buzz for several years with words like #BossBabe and #She-EO – all of which sound incredibly hazardous because as of recently they are also followed by themes of burnout and mental wellness.

I love being ambitious and setting goals that I work towards. But I also strive for balance and grace. And I think being both a mom (at home) and a mentor (in my corporate career) I feel compelled to underline the truth: give yourself grace because you can have it all…but not at the same time! Sharing my suggestions below, with a mini recap of some outfits I wore on vacation recently (you know me, all about the inspiration & motivation!)

Plan ahead and prioritize: Whether it’s on a Sunday for the week ahead, in the morning before things get going or a Friday afternoon brain dump. Take time to think about what you need to focus on and figure out what needs to get done when. You plan to fail when you fail to plan – check out my digital planner page on Etsy if you are looking for a great planning tool.
Time Block your schedule: whether its timeblocking your day or your week, figure out what you want to work on when instead of trying to multi task. Even better, try and fully complete the work you planned on before starting something new. You’ll get a natural dopamine kick and you also won’t feel scattered from having too many unfinished tasks on your to-do list at the end of the day.
Let the Pomodoro timer be your best friend: I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. When you feel stressed or anxious about doing something – set a time for 20 minutes and do as much of that task in time alotted.
Take breaks (both physical and mental): This is something I learned from running but it applies to everything! Literally schedule it into your gCal or planner. I always block my workouts and my lunch, but now I need to add a morning and afternoon walk.
Give yourself grace: Sometimes we all need a reminder. Ambitious people tend to be perfectionists, but it’s okay because you can’t overwhelm yourself and do your best work – it just doesn’t work that way.
Release limiting beliefs: Sometimes we feel guilty for doing less, not doing things fast enough or not doing it right the first time. It’s important to work through that (everyone’s journey is different) – but it all cases, those ideals need to be demolished! Knowledge is power, and these book recommendations can help :)

Chichen Itza, Mayan Ruins, Mexico travel, Tulum Travel, Outfit ideas, Ambitious woman, successful, life is rigged in my favour

A guide to our happy chemicals

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I recently read an article about the happy chemicals our body produces and I realized I wanted to have this information live permanently on my blog for my future reference! (and of course for anyone else who may find this useful!)

I’ve always had an interest in personal growth and how we naturally tend to support ourselves so this topic is right up that alley. So sharing each happy chemical, what it does and how to activate it. Please be sure to like, comment and share!

(Scroll to the bottom for outfit details)

Serotonin – Stabilizes our mood

Deep breathing
Meditating
Walking in Nature
Go for a run

Endorphin – Pain Relief

Laughing
Dancing
Stretching
Essential Oils

Oxytocin – Building love & trust

Hugging somone
Giving someone a compliment
Helping someone
Playing with a pet or a child

Dopamine – Reward & Motivation

Finishing a task (hack: ANY task no matter how big or small)
Eating your favourite meal
Listening to music
Practicing self care

Dress – Urban Behaviour | Sunglasses – Amazon | Shoes – Call it Spring | Purse – Channel

You don’t need perfection to inspire

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Happy Thursday! Lately I’ve noticed a shift in my confidence. In my desire to get out of my comfort zone, meet people, wear all the jewelry, be extra and bold in my style choices & courage in my work and personal goals. So today I’m sharing some words that really resonated with me recently. Along with some fit shots from a few days ago… Enjoy!

Inspire others, progress over perfection, OOTD, Have fun, that girl, Motivate

Imperfection is a form of freedom

Let your process, your struggle and your progress inspire others.

You don’t need perfection to encourage those who are watching you

7 ways I’m romanticizing my life this Spring season

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

If you are in the GTA / Southern Ontario area, you are probably thinking what I’m thinking… aka waiting for Spring to actually spring!

Cold days mixed with wet snow precipitation do make it harder to get into spring spirit but I did welcome spring by celebrating Holi with my family, setting intentions for the new season and sending my friends Nowruz and Ramadan wishes.

And I also got to thinking about things I wanted to change as I entered the new season. So sharing below 7 ways I’m romanticizing my life this Spring!

Why would I want to romanticizing my life?

For me, I think it’s important to remember that this is a journey and I must always remember to enjoy the journey and find the magic in the process. I’ve recently read about the term “toxic positivity” which this isn’t. Romanticizing ones life is about working through and appreciating all types of experiences. But it’s also about ensuring your habits and routines allow you to be present and grateful. I’m a big proponent of the art of leisure and dreaming big – which I think folds well into romanticizing my life.

Drinking more Herbal Teas: I love me a double (or triple) oat milk cappuccinos! But I know I should be balancing them with lighter options. What better time than spring to infuse my days, evenings & body with orange blossom, chamomile and tumeric-ginger. Just writing it out sounds beautiful 💖
Wearing lighter & brighter colours: I wear many shades of black and this winter I think I to it to another level. Costco had these kirkland brand oversized sweaters with pockets and I LIVED in those and black leggings. I’m not proud but I was comfy. That said, I need to step out of those threads and take pictures of myself fun/light/bright clothes that make me shine.
Finish art projects abandoned in the dark cold of winter: For someone like me, creating art for the sake of it means that you’ll want to abandon some projects that are too difficult or feel overwhelming. But I also think it’s okay to put yourself in comfortable for the sake of growth.
Deep dive into my HDC and Enneagram: A refreshed self-awareness, just in time for the change of season just feels right. Although I’ve dived into my HDC, I’ve yet to figure out my Enneagram. The potential in knowing these things about yourself can support your journey as well as broaden your horizons!
Volunteer in place of donating money to charity: With the weather warming I think it’s a great opportunity to connect with people through common interest and shared community efforts.
Start a Joy-Jar: I love this analog way of documenting your days. Instead of recording videos or taking pictures, take this opportunity to write down happy memories and store them in a jar. At the end of the month you’ll have handful positive reminders 🥰
Create for me: Kind of like this blog, I want to CREARE & SHARE my art for nothing but me. Something between a persona scrapbook on a digital platform. So I’ll be sharing more of the art gallery trips, WIP art projects and street art. They unique way I see joy in every day beauty needs to be shared with the world (for me…)!