The Quiet Power of Reminders
Have you ever noticed how many reminders surround us every day?
Our phones remind us about appointments.
Our calendars remind us about birthdays.
Our watches remind us to stand.
Sticky notes appear on fridges.
Lists sit on kitchen counters.
We don't create reminders because we're forgetful.
We create them because we're human.
Life gets busy.
Our attention moves from one thing to another.
Even the things that matter most can quietly slip into the background.
I've often thought that personal growth works in much the same way.
Most of us already know we should speak to ourselves more kindly.
We know we should pause before reacting.
We know we should breathe when life feels overwhelming.
We know boundaries are healthy.
We know rest is important.
The challenge isn't usually knowledge.
It's remembering those things at the moments we need them most.
Our brains are remarkable.
One of their primary jobs is to keep us safe.
They're constantly scanning for problems, looking for potential danger and trying to protect us from harm.
That's incredibly helpful when we genuinely need protection.
But it doesn't always help when we're trying to build confidence, practise self-love or create healthier habits.
Those things often require something different.
Repetition.
Small reminders.
Gentle nudges.
Over time, those reminders can become habits.
And habits slowly become part of who we are.
That's one of the reasons I'm so drawn to symbols.
A single word can certainly be powerful.
But symbols allow our minds to travel further.
They don't simply tell us one thing.
They remind us of many things at once.
That's why I enjoy using reminders on my phone.
Most of us look at our phones countless times throughout the day.
Now imagine if every one of those moments became a small opportunity for positive reinforcement.
Not something loud.
Not something demanding.
Just a quiet reminder.
How different might a week feel?
Or a month?
Or even a year?
Could reminding yourself to show compassion become easier if you saw that intention again and again?
Could confidence grow from repeated moments of encouragement?
Could treating yourself with kindness become more natural through gentle repetition?
I don't know.
But I think those are interesting questions to ask.
One of my favourite symbols I've created is I am Grounded.
I wear it on my Apple Watch.
Not because I believe the symbol changes anything on its own.
It doesn't.
But every time I notice it, it reminds me to unclench my jaw.
Relax my shoulders.
Take a slow breath.
Move my body.
Those small moments matter to me.
They're helping me build habits that support my health, particularly while navigating perimenopause, when my body often feels stuck in a constant state of stress.
The symbol isn't solving that for me.
It's simply reminding me of the actions I've already chosen to take.
Perhaps that's what the best reminders do.
They don't tell us who to become.
They gently remind us of who we're trying to be.
That's why I don't think symbols replace action.
I think they support it.
They become quiet companions to the intentions we've already chosen.
Because a reminder doesn't change who we are.
It reminds us to be who we truly are.
