reniimodisette • June 24, 2022

As a child, I looked forward to summer break. Sleeping in. Playing outside. Riding my bike. Going to Dairy Queen on 5th Ave. Recreation at West Side. Being outside until the streetlights came on. It made me happy. Brought me excitement. Honestly, I didn’t have a care in the world. Meaning that when I flipped the light switch, the lights came on. I didn’t have to think about paying the bill for the lights to come. I opened the refrigerator; my favorite juice was in it. I didn’t have to think about how it got there. Ultimately, I never thought about the steps in between. For July, I want to explore my inner child. I’ve coined the journey ABLE:


  • Acknowledging
  • Believing
  • Loving
  • Encouraging


First, I will acknowledge that her. I’d forgotten how important tapping into my inner child can be rejuvenating—starting with dreaming big. Although time led to deferred dreams, it’s not too late to manifest. Speak it. Own it. Write it down- while exploring my inner child.


Moving forward, I don’t want to forget. Instead, I like the sense of freedom to serve as a launch pad for me to dream big. Accept resilience as inner strength. Before now, I’ve written about her, what I would say, and how I want to protect her. Therefore, I want to be intentional in about dreaming more. Mentally judging myself less- exploring my inner child. More often, throw my head in laughter. Wipe away the tears from cracking up.


Second, let her know I believe in her. Capable. Enough. Tell her don’t be afraid to take her shot. Allowing belief to serve as a reminder that to manifest means to believe. Approach challenges as growth opportunities. Instead, to move forward in discernment. As I explore my inner child, my daily morning routine will begin with:


  • Open mind
  • Optimism
  • Self-love ambition
  • Insightful reality
  • Grace to reset and try again
  • Stand proudly in the new time for me. Expressed so well by Alicia Keys: Brand New Me


Third, express love to her. Lately, I’ve loved her more. Loving me isn’t selfish. In fact, it helps me to show up as my best self. Function with a whole heart and positive intentions. To explore my inner child.


Lastly, encourage her. With that, I remember how difficult it was being the chubby kid. There will be no shaming, only embracing of my uniqueness. Showing wholehearted respect and admiration. Just like moments in My Great Escape. After all, I am the apple of His eye.


Bring on July. The month of ABLE. A month of acquiring more wisdom. Loving myself. Understanding.



In other words, I’m here for it.

LEAN INTO:CouRagE EMBRACE: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance

By Renii Modisette • December 27, 2024
We begin to say goodbye to 2024 with cooler temperatures and yuletide attitudes as December ends. One thing is sure: self-regulation starts with the Self despite all else. In the last blog for 2024, I explore the sixth and final virtue, Courage, as well as three character strengths: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance, with the pendulum swinging both ways as a reminder we can make it through the first starting with Self. A great conclusion to the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I had initially planned to finish this series in October, but I found myself overwhelmed with school and work. I had convinced myself that I could push through despite feeling fatigued. However, I realized that the virtue of Courage also encompasses the character strength of Honesty. It was time for me to be honest with myself, which meant reevaluating the narrative I had created in my head. So, I took a break and reframed my internal dialogue to accept my revised story to remind myself that the pendulum swings both ways, so I must put myself first and focus on myself to overcome a self-imposed narrative that pushing through is the best way. I challenge you, amidst this season of giving and gratitude, to be honest with yourSELF—it's a personal journey. Is being honest with yourself a sign of bravery? Depending on who you ask, you might get different answers. In my opinion, yes, we are often harder on ourSELVES than anyone else is. Bravery is usually defined as resilience, facing fears, and not shrinking in the face of a threat or challenge. So, why can't SELF be a challenge? To help you navigate this solitary journey of self-awareness, consider the following statement:  "I AM in charge of how I react to others. I choose to respond in a positive way."

Where are you on the tightrope? MTO Lean-in Series, Part IV

By Renii Modisette • October 13, 2024
Hello October! Q4 is in full swing, with MTO KPIs still at the forefront. It feels like I was saying "Happy New Year" just yesterday. Towards the end of June, I began the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I learned about the character strengths and virtues while completing my Positive Psychology Practitioner studies and found them intriguing, especially in relation to enhancing my mindfulness practice. So far, I've covered Temperance, Transcendence, Humanity, and Justice. This month, I'll be discussing the fifth virtue, Wisdom, as well as three character strengths: Judgment, Curiosity, and Perspective. I'll then conclude the series with the sixth virtue in the November blog post. For more information on VIA's character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute website at https://www.viacharacter.org. WISDOM Let’s begin with I've coined the Wisdom Tightrope when discussing the virtue of Wisdom because it involves a balancing act depending on the situation. The first character strength, Judgment, is rooted in critical thinking to counteract faulty thinking and biased opinions. When overused, Judgment can lead to narrow-mindedness, and when underused, one isn't reflective enough. Ironically, it is often frowned upon to judge ourselves and others, yet our analytical mind somehow gets in the way, which allows us to debate whether something that is frowned upon should be up for discussion.

MTO Lean In Series: Part III

By Renii Modisette • September 2, 2024
This month's blog post features Part III of the MTO Lean in Series. In this edition, we discuss the virtue of Justice and two-character strengths. To learn more about VIA character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute.
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