How Every Mess Sparks a New Beginning

Have you ever sat in the middle of your living room with all your arts and crafts supplies, a bottle of wine, Chinese takeout, and some reality show playing in the background just for the noise, hoping inspiration will strike or a million-dollar idea will suddenly pop up?

Instead, you end up crying because you don’t know what’s next: your next move, your next chapter, or even what you want from life. Eventually, you pick up one of those adult coloring books (you know, the ones that are supposed to make you feel better). And to be fair, they do, at least for me. By the time you finish shading in a mandala (or skulls in my case) with questionable color choices, you realize you’ve gotten to this point for a reason: it’s time to start fresh.

That messy moment? That’s the spark of something new.

Here are some of my coloring/crafts moments

Why Chaos is the Secret Ingredient

The reality is this: growth doesn’t usually show up when your calendar is color-coded, your kitchen is spotless, and your eyeliner wings match. Growth shows up in the breakdowns.

Think about it: a forest fire looks devastating, but it clears space for stronger growth. Compost looks like garbage, but it’s the magic that makes gardens bloom. Even the Phoenix had to burn to ashes before it could rise again.

It’s the same for us. Chaos might look like quitting a job with no backup plan, crying on the bathroom floor after heartbreak, or rocking a baby at 2 a.m. wondering if you’ll ever sleep again. Messy? Absolutely. But here’s the secret: those are the exact moments that strip away the fluff and force us to grow into who we’re meant to be.

Breakdowns are not failures; they’re transitions. The mess you’re in right now? That’s not the end, it’s the setup for your beginning.

Everyday Chaos Moments

Here’s the part no one puts on Instagram (me included): life gets messy in ways that don’t fit into a cute little aesthetic reel.

• It’s waking up one day and realizing you hate your job but don’t know what comes next.
• It’s sitting in your car after a breakup, blasting sad songs and ugly crying in the Dunkin’ drive-thru line.
• It’s reheating the same cup of coffee three times between diaper changes, laundry, and a toddler-level meltdown (sometimes theirs, sometimes yours 🤣).

Different scenarios, same vibe: chaos feels like failure in the moment. But later? You’ll look back and realize that was the plot twist. That was the scene where you leveled up.

Zero-Guilt Sanity Hacks

Let’s be real, no hack is going to erase the mess. But here are some small, messy-friendly rituals that can help you reframe, reset, and remember that you’re still a Badass in progress.

1. The Five-Minute Reset

• Light a candle, grab a journal, and some cute pens, and brain dump your thoughts.

(I like doing mine in the morning so all my crazy thoughts and dreams can be dumped before I forget them. Currently on pause because of the baby, but still a fave.)

2. Glam Up the Breakdown

• Sometimes throwing on lipstick or oversized sunglasses is less about looking good and more about tricking your brain into feeling human again.
• A bit of dry shampoo for those days you don’t have time to wash your hair or a baseball hat go a long way

(My Glam up faves are lip stain, mascara, and sunglasses)

Find your simple go-to glam items and create an easy routine. You’ll feel good no matter what, and it will feel effortless.

3. Cozy Armor for Chaos Days

• When everything feels heavy, put on your comfiest outfit the kind that feels like a hug. Think matching loungewear or fuzzy socks.

4. Self-Soothing Rituals

• Sip something warm (or iced if that’s your vibe). The ritual matters more than the caffeine.

(My go to is an Iced matcha in a glass jar with a straw, it just hypes my vibe.)

5. Micro-Moments of Control

• Can’t fix the whole day? Make one corner of your life feel good. Clean your nightstand, re-make your bed, or organize your tote bag.

(This chic organizer might help you feel a bit more in control.)

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Here’s the messy truth: breakdowns feel like the end, but they’re actually your launchpad. Chaos is uncomfortable because it’s stretching you into the next version of yourself.

So whether your life looks like heartbreak, career limbo, or a spit-up-covered hoodie, remember this: your mess is not proof that you’re failing, it’s proof that you’re growing. The beauty of the breakdown is that it’s always the beginning of your next badass breakthrough.

Now that you know your mess is completely normal, and the little piece of magic that will eventually take you to the thing that makes you rise, it’s time to embrace the mess.

Because that’s where the magic begins.