It has been interesting to feel genuine contentment from the conscious practice of recognising tiny moments of “I have enough” in my day.
Not more. Not improved. Just… enough.
It truly has softened something in me, helping me grow in confidence as I navigate the challenges and uncertainty of the wider world around me. It’s given me something tangible to do that pulls me off the conveyor belt of autopilot life, which often moves at a frantic pace.
That said, it has also left me with a bigger question — one that feels like it needs a little more courage to face:
If I have enough… why don’t I always live like I matter?
To start with… what does living like I matter even mean?
For me, The Matters Experiment has become an exploration of all the moments I’ve felt like I wasn’t valuable, wasn’t enough, or didn’t matter.
At first, I thought this happened when other people made me feel that way. But over time, I realised that feeling like I don’t matter often comes from me – in those moments when I accept things that aren’t okay for me, cross personal boundaries to people-please, or ignore what my body and mind are trying to tell me.
So, living like I matter means shifting my opinions, choices, and decisions to align with what I truly value, what is important to me, and what I need and desire in my life.
It means putting those things at the centre — and letting my internal voice (my intuition, gut feeling, body’s signals, and deeper thoughts) count.
Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when it fits into someone else’s expectations.
For someone as goal-oriented and achievement-focused as me, that hasn’t been a switch I could just flick.
This has been tricky work — to define, and then to implement.
But let’s be clear:
Living like you matter doesn’t mean you stop being ambitious.
It doesn’t mean you’re selfish, self-indulgent, or irresponsible.
It simply means you’re in control of living your life — not the version that feels like it belongs to someone else.
You’re living like you matter when you find your real boundaries and begin honouring them. Like…
- Saying no to something that isn’t right for you, without explaining or justifying it
- Realising being a grown-up doesn’t mean always making sure everyone else is happy while ignoring your own needs
- Doing something you enjoy before all your jobs are done
(Here’s a hint: they’ll never all be done.) - Speaking up when you have something valuable to say — even if it’s uncomfortable — instead of staying quiet to keep the peace.
It shows up in small, everyday places all the time.
Each of these tiny moments lays the foundation for how much we value ourselves — and how aligned we are with our own lives.
Of course, it’s not always clean or comfortable.
We’ve spent our whole lives being taught where we fit and how to earn our place.
We’ve been taught to:
- Be helpful or conform before being honest
- Achieve and impress, often at the expense of our well-being
- Put others first, always
Living like you matter is a gentle disruption to these old stories.
It’s not just a mindset shift — it’s a daily practice.
If you’re wondering where to begin your own Matters Experiment, maybe it’s with this question:
If I lived like I mattered today, what would I choose?
Not forever.
Not in every area of your life.
Just today.
Just once.
Maybe your version is a no.
Maybe it’s not doing something.
Maybe it’s asking for something you need, or letting go of something you don’t.
The place to start is different for each of us.
But it’s something we can all do — starting anytime.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll share more about what I’ve noticed and experienced as I explore what it really means to live like you matter—and invite you to a few small, thoughtful experiments if you’d like to explore it with me.
For now, just start with the question:
Right now — what would change if you lived like you mattered?
