Six years ago we kicked off our annual gratefulAF challenge and had no idea the impact it would make. Like, WOW. Each day I saw you, our passionate community, light up the world. A big shout-out of gratitude to all of you who participated over the years. You have sparked so much fucking joy for those you serve.
We are doing the challenge again because let’s be honest, we need this and the world needs this.
Below is my personal story and why gratitude is the center of all that we do at Passion Squared and how it can help you with perspective, awareness and even possibly help change the chemistry in your brain (here’s a study!)
In early 2007 I was in the darkest place I have ever been in my life (until late 2019 which you can hear about here). So much so, that I was planning my suicide. But here we are, it’s 2022 and even with all the heaviness, confusion, grief, and stress, I’m still alive, living my purpose and empowering others to live theirs too. How did this happen? It all began with gratitude.
Of course, there is so much more to the story which I share in my bookFollow Your Heart, but it was learning about the power of daily gratitude that made me realize that I had more to do on this planet (and so do you!) and that no matter how dark my head became, there was always something to be grateful for.
From there, I was able to find perspective, and perspective allows me to get through just about any hardship, sadness, or loss. It was this quote that changed it all for me, which is tattooed on my left arm to be sure I never forget that gratitude saved my fucking life.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
We created a simple challenge for you and one I hope you invite your community and teams to join in too. It’s called the gratefulAF challenge.
Each day in the month of November we invite you to practice a little piece of gratitude and kindness. There are so many folks to share our gratitude for and many people to help, particularly small businesses. It truly is the little things. You never know who is in desperate need of your light, love, and support.
How To Participate
Start date: November 1, 2022 (however you can begin anywhere, anytime!)
1. Capture your gratitude 2. Share your gratitude to your Instagram or Facebook page or Stories (only if you feel inspired to do so) 3. Use #passionsquared 4. Tag@passionsquared/@ mention passionsquared if posting in Stories
5. Follow @passionsquared if you see value in what we share
Click here for the Instagram or Facebook Stories Challenge graphic Click here for the Instagram/Facebook Stories or Reels/TikTok 30-second quote video Click here for the Instagram Reels or TikTok cover image Click here for the Instagram/Facebook Stories size weekly gratitude list template Click here for the Instagram/Facebook square size weekly gratitude list template Click here for the Facebook/Instagram/Blog square-size Challenge graphic
To use our gratitude gif’s for your Instagram or Facebook Stories or anywhere, search the termPASSION SQUAREDunder GIFS in Insta/Facebook Stories or ongiphy.com
Our intention is that after 30 days you will feel how much gratitude can change your perspective, your energy, your brain, your biz, and your LIFE and you see the value of a daily gratitude practice.
How will you incorporate this challenge into your business and life? We would love to hear your gratitude ideas!
In this episode, Nina share’s some insights into why some brands stand up publicly and fight injustices in our world and why some choose not to. This episode is not about politics, it’s about clarity of brand story, vision, and values. It’s about the choices you make as a brand in relation to what your people value, whether it be clients, team members, or tenants if you are leading a lease-based business. It’s about aligning your actions with your brand promises. Thank you so much for listening with an open heart and brain. If you would like to keep the conversation going, you can find us on the gram and on the web.
NOTE: This is our first episode after 6 months, and there were some glitches, lol. We decided to keep the glitches in the episode to honor being perfectly imperfect. Perfection is a myth. Repeat as often as needed.
Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina
The awesome news is your clients are respecting your Safe In Our Salon Agreements + Protocols and canceling their reservations if they feel ill or have been exposed, the not so awesome news is you may be having a trauma response to your 2020 experience. If this feels relatable, you are not alone.
In this episode, Nina shares some thoughts on how to navigate the current cancellation surge you may be seeing in your salon, some resources, and tools to care for your mental health and wellness. Consider taking a look at your lapsed client list and reaching out to the people who’ve been too busy and forgot to make a reservation who are healthy and would love to hear from you. Thank you to @hairbrained_offical and to @flamingoloungehair for inspiring this episode. You can find us on the gram and Facebook @passionsquared Thank you for listening. And remember, do your very best to be where your feet are.
If you are a salon owner, you can learn more about A School here.
Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina
In this all-new episode of the pod, Nina shares their experience with the recent 33-day social break they took. At Passion Squared, we’ve been sharing with our clients and community for years about the importance of taking breaks, however, during this break, Nina saw the need for even more time off, and when you are on, remembering your purpose for being there, focusing on who you serve and the solutions you have for those you serve. It’s time to get back into a healthy relationship with the socials, stay aligned with your brand purpose, promise, and people and prioritize your mental health and wellness. Thank you so much for listening. You can find Nina and Passion Squared online at passionsquared.net@passionsquared If you are a salon owner, you can learn more about A School here.
Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina
In this episode of the pod, Nina shares fifty-five life and business wisdoms and lessons on their 55th birthday with special guest and bestie Gordon Miller of Hairbrained. Grab your favorite beverage and snack, take a listen and if you feel inspired, share some of your wisdoms and lessons with us on the socials. You can find Nina + Passion Squared on the gram @passionsquared@ninakovner and Gordon @gordnm@hairbrained_official Thank you so much for listening and for you trust, support and LOVE. We’re gratefulAF for you.
Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina
