A sample of Face Yourself. Look Within.
face yourself. look within.
xo. adrian michael
Thought Catalog Books
thoughtcatalog.com
Copyright © 2023 Adrian Michael Green.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written consent and permission from Thought Catalog.
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Produced by Chris Lavergne and Noelle Beams
Art direction and design by KJ Parish
Creative editorial direction by Brianna Wiest
Circulation management by Isidoros Karamitopoulos
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First Edition, Limited Edition Pressing
Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN 978-1-949759-74-7
the greatest love comes from you.
the kind of love you let grow wild.
the kind of love you water from
your deep soul. thank you for
giving even when the same
depth never is returned.
xo. adrian michael
for all who dare to face themselves.
a playlist*
- please don’t go x tank
- breaking point x leon thomas
- find you x maths time joy
- slowly x jon vinyl
- amazing x teddy swims
- stay x goapele + bj the chicago kid
- you x yellow days
- misunderstood x lucky daye
- love like that x snoh aalegra
- warm embrace x chris brown
- exhausted x h.e.r.
- some unspoken thing x leuca
- love jones x leon thomas + ty dolla $ign
- take it slow x dvsn
- notice me x sza
- violet x daniel caesar
- us x fkj
- learn ya x 6lack
- obsession x eric bellinger + muni long
- more than love x trevor hall
- all up in your mind x beyoncé
- never seen the rain x tones and i
- monster x shawn mendes + justin bieber
- breathe x seinabo sey
- time x giveon
- gotta move on x diddy + bryson tiller
incense. palo santo. candles. sage.
tea. whiskey. wine. water. beer.
*to be listened to. lit and sipped while reading or between readings for ultimate experience. search "face yourself. look within." on itunes or spotify to stream the playlist that is waiting for you.
honor your process. in moments of confidence and confidentiality you can keep you to you. keep this to you. never feel like you have to announce your story your journey your wondering. make sure that along the way you celebrate how far you have come.
practice. this isn’t meant to just stay stagnant. this is meant to be breathed out and in. out and in. for yourself. for the world. to try out. to try on. to probe and fill holes and connect bridges and break down barriers. to deeper connect by seeing you in the mirror and the humanity of others you may not have seen before )really really seen(. so be willing to get messy. be raggedy. not perfect )never perfect(. to make room for you. to make room for others. you decide what this looks like feels like sounds like in practice. in real time. to learn and unlearn. learn and unlearn.
*to take with you on this journey. try them. scrap them. write your own. peace be unto you. **copyright lovasté adapted by agreements encouraged by nais and the national equity project.
words for you
- trust your heart more often. — 13
- focus. center. breathe. peace. — 14
- six nudges to keep you on the right path. — 15
- for when you don’t know what you need. — 16
- words to tell yourself. — 17
- how to be okay being misunderstood. — 18
- five ways to love better. — 19
- four roses that make a bouquet. — 21
- what you rarely hear but should always know. — 22
- your feelings are valid. — 23
- even if you don’t think you’re blooming you are. — 24
- feel the weight lift when you hear this. — 25
- affirmations for you. — 26
- affirmations for you. II — 27
- for when you feel judged. — 28
- the best kind of friend. — 29
- how to be a good friend. — 30
- maybe. — 31
- prioritize you. — 32
- you are entitled to — 33
- an anti-racist statement. — 34
- for your heart to feel. — 35
- how to find yourself when you get lost. — 36
- how to find yourself when you get lost. II — 37
- four types of peace you deserve. — 38
- you’re not as expected. you’re better. — 39
- for when you are having a hard time. — 40
- 28 lessons. — 41
- empty empty. — 42
- the little things. — 43
- abundance is coming. — 44
- be someone’s someone. — 45
- 33 lessons. — 46
- how to speak their heart language. — 47
- how to say sorry to someone you hurt. — 48
- ten compassionate questions. — 49
- love like this. — 50
- how to lose yourself. — 51
- if someone ghosts you. — 52
- take what you need. — 53
- take what you need. II — 54
- for when things don’t go your way. — 55
- don’t give up is full love. — 56
- how to announce your rest. — 57
- how to check in on your strong friends. — 58
- let me be your well. — 59
- how to say i love you without words. — 60
- cut ties with people who thorn and scorch your relationship. — 61
- how to let go. — 62
- for when you are having a hard time. II — 63
- for when you are having a hard time. III — 64
- how to heal from old wounds. — 65
- how to treat yourself. — 66
- break from what needs to be broken from. — 67
- for when you feel like giving up. — 68
- for when you’re not being refilled. — 69
- five big reminders. — 70
- you don’t hear this enough. — 71
- allow yourself. — 72
- what you deserve to be appreciated for. — 73
- for when you want to remain neutral. — 74
- seven meaningful finds. — 75
- eight rehearters. — 76
- all that overtime. — 77
- practice clapping for yourself. — 78
- celebrate yourself. — 80
- your light is where love is. — 81
- four parts of you to envy more. — 82
- fifteen authentic things to say more to each other. — 83
- how to prove that you are here. — 84
- five ways to live your best life. — 85
- you already know this. — 86
- due for some love. — 87
- some of the greatest relationships worth salvaging. — 88
- you look good on you. — 89
- six small acts of bravery. — 90
- deep you in. deep you out. — 91
- vulnerability doesn’t mean you lose anything. — 92
- some things. — 93
- four types of space you deserve. — 94
- you are the greatest enough. — 95
- hopes for you. — 96
- how to leave and not feel guilty. — 97
- how to set a boundary that is long overdue. — 98
- how to set a boundary that is long overdue. II — 99
- for when you are sad. — 100
- where is your heart. — 101
- there is no need to struggle alone. — 102
- you are not a burden. — 103
- care less — 104
- care more — 104
- the most beautiful hello without saying hello. — 105
- how to be better for your person. — 106
- what you should never get tired of hearing. — 107
- all the ways in waves you are loved. — 108
- five apologies you truly deserve. — 109
- three things you can control. — 110
- the most beautiful kind of person. — 111
- for when you start over. — 112
- for when it feels like you’re losing. — 113
- how to prove your worth. — 114
- hope this reaches you. — 115
- how to tell someone you’ve changed. — 116
- daily reminder. — 117
- how to talk to someone who doesn’t really care. — 118
- required words you need to hear. — 119
- the greatest thing about you. — 120
- what you shouldn’t have to always do. — 121
- for when you just want to be. — 122
- habits of a kind soul. — 123
- how to build trust. — 124
- when you need something soul filling. — 127
- beautiful isn’t how you look. beautiful is how you feel. — 128
- when you forget to bring all of your light. — 129
- four entitlements. — 130
- leave behind what doesn’t help you grow. — 131
- if it isn’t laced with love it doesn’t belong near you. — 132
- five boxes to always check. — 133
- when you need to face what needs facing. — 134
- how to open a closed heart. — 135
- how to open a closed heart. II — 136
- for your journey this week. — 137
- your heart can handle anything. — 138
- to see you better. — 139
- go where your heart is highly celebrated. — 140
- how to love better. — 141
- how to do good in the world. — 142
- how to love better. II — 144
- reminders to keep your smile for you. — 145
- how you know you’re blooming. — 146
- for when things don’t go your way. — 147
- courageous accountability. — 150
- you are significant. you always have been. — 151
- what joy looks like. — 152
- questions to ask and grow deep with your person. — 153
- empathetic responses. — 154
- you didn’t fail you learned. — 155
- when dealing with burnout. — 156
- something always comes. — 157
- for when you are stressed. — 158
- nine signs you are stressed. — 158
- how to express love. — 159
- five golden rules and nine golden re-definitions. — 160
- the water in you is magical. — 161
- you make everything feel better. — 162
- someone wants to hold you. — 163
- it’s okay to protect your heart. — 164
- notes to breathe in deeply. slowly. lovingly. — 165
- for when what you deserve to hear never comes. — 166
- i’ll tell you. i’ll learn you. i’ll love you. — 167
- you already know this. II — 168
- statements your whole being deserves to hear. — 169
- how you know you’re blooming. II — 170
- letter to your last year self. — 171
- for when you are having a hard time. IV — 172
trust your heart more often.
if you’re not feeling it then don’t do it.
trust what your heart tells you more often.