Dear Self With Love

Jenna Knapp
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The Dear Self With Love Podcast celebrates the infinite ways we can strengthen the one relationship that matters most - the one we have with ourself. Explore how you can deepen your practices, enjoy your own company, hold yourself accountable, and be present to your growth. jennaknapp.substack.com

  1. 02/13/2025

    the call to cocoon 🐛

    Hi readers and listeners, I’ve felt a major shift in energy as we moved into 2025. In addition to measuring this year in loaves of bread baked instead of newsletters, I’ve been feeling a deep call to cocoon and go inward. I’m not totally sure what this Substack space will look like on the other side — so as I take a pause, I wanted to let you know you won’t hear from me for awhile. Which also means I’m pausing paid subscriptions (thank you to those of you who throw me $5 dollars for creating every single month…it means more than I can express). I will let you all know what emerges on the other side! Here in Wisconsin we are having a major winter snowstorm and the Leo Full Moon sound bath that was scheduled for tonight at Lynden Sculpture Garden was canceled due to the weather. The meditation I prepared for the event was asking to be shared when I woke up this morning. So until the other side, I leave you with this little update and heart-centric meditation that I hope feels like a balm for you this evening. With so much love, Jenna P.S. If you’ve been feeling a call to cocoon as well, take this as your sign! Let it be your permission slip! Trust that this pull means there is something waiting for you in the stillness of solitude. Something that needs your full attention ❤️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    14 min

  2. 02/01/2025

    dear january

    And just like that, we’re one month into 2025. I don’t know about you, but January felt like 10 years worth of life experiences in 30 days?? So much happened! Is this true for you to? Do you need a moment to slow down and catch your breath before we head into February energy? I got you. This month’s photos encapsulate four big moments that happened this month. And what’s funny is that this is just the tip of the iceberg! January was truly the definition of quantum. In so many ways. Whether you are a DSWL Planner user or not, this audio workshop is here to offer you heart-felt end of the month reflections, a guided meditation to help you pause in-between the energy of January and February, and make space for the new month ahead! I’m so happy you’re here and taking this time for yourself! What You Can Expect — * Reflection questions to help you connect with all that unfolded in January * A short guided mediation in the middle of this workshop to help you sit in-between the energies of January and February and tune into your inner child * A brain dump & extra support check-in for the month of February * February Goals, affirmations, habit tracking and self-love prompts What You Need For The Audio Workshop — * 40ish minutes * A quiet cozy place you can nestle into without distractions * Your DSWL Planner, journal or blank paper * Your fav writing utensils * Environment enhancers to satisfy the senses and make this space intentional — hot tea, your favorite candle, fidgets, your coziest blanket, and some background music that makes you happy! When you’re done, let me know in the comments what your January wins were so we can cheer you on! I’ll meet you there!👇 With Love, Jenna This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    27 min

  3. 12/28/2024

    dear december

    Dear December, You beautiful whirlwind. You glorious time warp. You delicious pile of spaghetti twirled up around my fork, with noodles that keep on going (thank you Ben for this important metaphor for December). 🍝 Every year I try with all my might to make you slow down, so I can savor you. But something about this year felt faster than ever. Christmas snuck up on me, but at least there was snow on the ground. And so many beautiful neighborhood lights. I’m grateful for your quickness, I know you zoomed by because you were filled with magic, expansion, and deep reflection. I know these are all good reasons, but still I’m wrapping up this month with the inspiration to create the presence I crave to feel in December, all year long. December, you are a threshold. A bridge that invites me to look back and move forward. The great motivator. The great optimist. The provider of a chapter closed. The promise of a new page. A new day coming. You took good care of me, and gave me so many reasons to see how good 2025 is going to be. You blessed me and reminded me that love and Christmas lights are more important than fictional deadlines we set for ourself. You allowed me to travel in a snowstorm to see my niece’s adoption become finalized. You allowed me to spend Christmas with my other niece, cuddled up and playing pretend all night long. You allowed me good food and time with friends. You gifted me memorable moments by the fire with my family. Dear December, you’re not over. There are still a few days to receive your blessings. To soak up your magic. To pass through your portal. May it be one amazing moment after another. With love, Jenna If you are feeling sentimental about December like me, I invite you into this space of reflection. Whether you are a DSWL Planner user or not, this audio workshop is here to offer you heart-felt end of the month reflections, a guided meditation to help you pause in-between the energy of December and January, and make space for the new year ahead! I’m so happy you’re here and taking this time for yourself! What You Can Expect — * Reflection questions to help you connect with all that unfolded in December * A 13 minute guided mediation in the middle of this workshop to help you build a bridge between December and January * A brain dump & extra support check-in for the month of January * January Goals, affirmations, habit tracking and self-love prompts What You Need For The Audio Workshop — * 45ish minutes * A quiet cozy place you can nestle into without distractions * Your DSWL Planner, journal or blank paper * Your fav writing utensils * Environment enhancers to satisfy the senses and make this space intentional — hot cocoa, that candle you got as a gift, fidgets, your coziest sweater, and some background music that makes you happy! When you’re done, let me know in the comments what your December highlights were and/or what your 2025 word of the year is going to be! I’ll meet you there!👇 With Love, Jenna The 2025 Planners are almost gone! There are still a couple of 2025 Dear Self With Love planners left! Grab one for yourself! Grab one for a friend! Grab one for your client! Grab one for your therapist! Grab one for your Granny! When you buy this hand-bound planner you are supporting me directly (you can’t get more direct than this, baby!) — a queer neurodivergent business owner! I am so grateful for your support! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    32 min

  4. 12/01/2024

    dear november

    Dear, November. You complicated roller coaster of emotions, you. You rocked us to our core with the election. You gifted us with unusually warmer weather. You blessed us with plates of Granny’s dressing. As cliche as it may sound, I stood in front of the Hallmark Thanksgiving Cards the other night while running errands anticipating our full day of family on Thursday. As I stood in front of the cards — my eyes welled up with tears. I don’t explicitly celebrate Thanksgiving. I haven’t since I saw this MTV Decoded video 9 years ago that rocked baby Jenna to her core. That short video came into my life around the same time that I was learning so much about racism in America, actively protesting the death of Dontre Hamilton at the hands of Milwaukee Police, and reading books like, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen. I still take the day to eat good food and be with family. But I’m not afraid to go out of my way and remind my family each year that it’s a genocidal holiday. So — why were my eyes welling in the Hallmark card aisle? Because I started to imagine how I might be able to put into words the gratitude I feel for my mom and both of Taj’s Grannies for how they’ve all supported us over this past year. Because I started to remember the magic of last holiday season. Before Taj got sick. There I was, with a quivering lip and glitter covered hands flooded with the realization that we get to have another holiday season together this year. So I indulged. I got the cards and wrote from the heart. I cooked all my favorite family recipes. I held Taj’s hand as much as I could. I smiled at the Christmas lights that suddenly popped up across the city. I danced with my niece until I was sweating and dizzy. I enjoyed three different kinds of pies and my mom’s famous strawberry pretzel salad. I gave into the gratitude of the season ❤️ Whether gratitude was able to find you this November or not, I hope you’re taking good care of yourself as we transition into the last month of 2024. Whether you are a DSWL Planner user or not, this audio workshop is here to offer you heart-felt end of the month reflections, a guided hypnosis to help you pause in-between November and December and an opportunity to map out your December so you’re able to be present in this final month of the year. What You Can Expect — * Reflection questions to help you connect with all that unfolded in November * I’m bringing out one of my favorite hypnosis tracks from the archives to share with you for this month’s workshop. Drop into Gratitude Elevator, a 20 minute guided hypnosis adventure that’ll take you to experiences you’re grateful for so you can evoke gratitude on a cellular level. * A brain dump & extra support check-in for the month of December * December Goals, affirmations, habit tracking and self-love prompts What You Need For The Audio Workshop — * 60ish minutes * A quiet cozy place you can curl up without distractions * Your DSWL Planner, journal or blank paper * Your fav writing utensils * Environment enhancers to satisfy the senses and make this space intentional — hot tea, your favorite incense, fidgets, your coziest blanket, a frequency you can get lost in (I’m obsessed with Canyon Echos by Diana Lopez right now), you get the idea ;) Will you tell me how November treated you? What’s on your heart going into December? With Love, Jenna The 2025 Planners are here! Grab your 2025 Dear Self With Love planner early! When you Shop Small today - Monday, December 2nd you’ll save 20% on your planner! Grab one for yourself! Grab one for a friend! Grab one for your client! Grab one for your therapist! Grab one for your Granny! When you shop small with Dear Self With Love you are supporting me directly (you can’t get more direct than this, baby!) — a queer neurodivergent business owner! I am so grateful for your support! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    39 min
  5. Passing Notes EP 2: Flirting With Deadlines & The Hard Side Of Hyper-fixation

    11/27/2024

    Passing Notes EP 2: Flirting With Deadlines & The Hard Side Of Hyper-fixation

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jennaknapp.substack.com Hey, hey! Good news — I survived the vulnerability hangover that washed over me after I pressed publish on Passing Note’s first episode two weeks ago. Not only did I survive, I had some really wonderful conversations about queerness, psychics, and the current political climate of the world with a few of you ❤️ It all made me want to keep going, to keep sharing, to keep getting vulnerable. Because that’s where the gold is. When we say the scary things out loud, we create space for other people to say their own scary things out loud. In this second episode of Passing Notes, I’m diving deep into what it’s like to go after big creative hands-on projects (like designing, printing, and hand binding 286 page planners) while living with ADHD. So often the internet seems to cope with ADHD as something that is cute or funny. I participate because humor helps everything, but lately I’ve been feeling the weight of my ADHD differently while navigating year three of producing my self-love annual planners. BTS!!! Sneak peek!!!! 2025 DSWL Planners drop in the shop this Saturday! Last night I recorded my second Passing Notes Podcast episode about how my time perception challenges and hyper-fixation negatively impact me and my nervous system when pushing to finish big creative projects like this. It’s not cute. It’s really really hard. I LOVE this project. It means so much to me to have enough people interested in purchasing year after year. It means so much to me that I get to keep going. A part of me hesitated recording this because I don’t want people to think I don’t love creating the planners. Isn’t that silly? I’m pressing publish because I think it’s a really important conversation to have — to talk about loving something and having a hard time with it too. The internet does a very good job of making us believe that if we are doing something we love, it shouldn’t be hard. I call BS! I’m passionate about having this conversation with others who may also belittle the bigness of their own projects and how major it is to cross the finish line as a person living with ADHD 🏁 I want to celebrate you. I want to celebrate me. I want to celebrate US! We’re making magic against all odds. This is your reminder to give yourself grace if you also experience difficulty with the creative process, or deadlines. Let’s normalize how natural it is to feel all these complex big feelings at once. YOU are birthing ideas into the world out of thin air. YOU are making something that never existed before. That’s pretty f*****g phenomenal. With Love, Jenna

    7 min

  6. 11/13/2024

    Passing Notes EP 1: The Psychic Who Outed Me Before I Was Out 🌈

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jennaknapp.substack.com Well here we are! I’ve been wanting to create a private podcast for paid subscribers for months…maybe years? The final pieces to the idea puzzle have been falling into place over the last couple of weeks. It’s almost as if there was a direct line of inspiration between me and my higher-self that suddenly opened, or de-clogged, and now it’s an effortlessly flowing river of ideas for what Passing Notes can be. It wasn’t until a recent exhibition opportunity (for the 50th Anniversary at Milwaukee Institute Of Art & Design) where I installed a pop-up Dear Self With Love letter writing workshop that I realized something big. Maybe it’s obvious from the outside looking in, but for the first time I saw all of the DSWL projects as a way to tap in with your inner child. Follow me here — * Growing up some folks had teachers who would encourage students to write letters to their future (graduated) selves. The teachers would hold the letters and share them with students on or after graduation. * When we sit down and take the time to write a letter, color and decorate an envelope, and use our imagination to connect with our future-selves we are tapping into our playful inner-child. (Trust me! It takes a lot of vulnerability to sit down and actually commit to this exercise. The concept alone makes some people totally uncomfortable and I understand why!) * The primary physical product that has emerged from the DSWL brand are my annual self-love planners, which totally remind me of being back in school and the simple joys of documenting days via a weekly planner. * Even the font that I designed specifically for the DSWL brand is my playful handwriting that has been with me for as long as I’ve been writing letters and passing notes! * And the Self-Love Sunday Newsletters that I send out each week here on Substack remind me of the way I used to wait for Post Secret every week for Sunday Secrets (IYKYK) I didn’t even realize it! And now it’s shining bright in my face, inviting me to embrace it even more. So, as I’ve been following this thread, I discovered another highlight of adolescence was passing notes! Alas, the Passing Notes Private Podcast. A paywalled bi-weekly podcast where I share the stories and secrets of my heart that I’d only feel safe enough to tell a BFF ❤️ 💌 In this first episode I tell you the story about the time I went to a psychic and was told I was a proud member of the queer community years before I came out.

    4 min

  7. 11/10/2024

    regulate often

    I should have know better than to fall asleep late on Tuesday night with the live election results on. As a subconscious practitioner who understands the sponge-like quality of our brains as we drift in and out of slumber, I typically wouldn’t give up that level of control — but, I did. As I was drifting off to sleep I was hopeful that that red mirage would somehow magically turn blue. A dream that turned into a nightmare when I woke up around 1:00 am on Wednesday morning to an eery live feed of Donald Trump’s election party. A sea of quiet people in a glowing red haze — all with their heads down looking at their phone instead of the empty stage in front of them. I quickly turned off the TV in an attempt to regain control. And then gave up my control again by doom scrolling for another ninety minutes until I was so exhausted by the fear of the next four years that there was nothing left to do except sleep. This went against my intention of the week I wrote in my Dear Self With Love planner in bold, proud, happy letters on Monday morning: Regulate Often I didn’t choose the intention to regulate often because of the election, I chose it because I was onboarding two new clients and knew there were going to be a lot of moving pieces as we got everything set up. Signing two new clients allowed me to release gig work and truly sink back into work-from-home life, so I wanted to make myself proud. I wanted to be regulated, grounded. I was committed to early mornings for me-time, reincorporating dry brushing into my hygiene routine, mid-day walks, sunshine breaks on the patio to boost my vitamin D intake, healthy home-cooked sheet pan meals, breathing and grounding before client calls, transition routines from work to relaxation, essential oils and tapping before bed — you get the picture. Little did I know that I would also need to regulate my nervous system in reaction to the election results when a serious fight or flight response kicked in. On Wednesday morning I downloaded my Couch to 5K app and decided I’d need to run instead of walk. I needed to blast angry music in my headphones and feel my heart pound. I peeled myself off the floor yesterday morning and did it again. And took a cold shower to boost my endorphin and norepinephrine levels after. I felt better for hours after finishing. Regulating post-election looked like leaning into all of the tools in my toolbox, including reaching out to friends and family in search of co-regulation. I’ve been trying to come out of my Cancerian cave to be next to people this week. I have more plans lined up because I know the importance of reminding myself with physical evidence that I am not alone right now. In a couple of hours I’m grabbing brunch with my momma. Tonight I’m hanging out with my fantastically queer DND friends. I’m catching sunrise with another friend tomorrow morning. I’m going beach glass hunting with my Aunt this week. I’m planning family Zoom calls and a virtual Schitts Creek rewatch. I’m going to therapy and a writing group with friends on Thursday. I’m holding space at Lynden Sculpture Garden with Sevan on Friday. I’m hosting a free community letter writing workshop at MIAD on Saturday. I am going to be around people like it’s my job right now. I’m going to focus on what I can control. I’m going to keep doing my bilateral stimulations that Melissa Tier taught me in this reel this week. I’m going to cry about how much I love my partner Taj. And cuddle my cat. And light candles. And drink hop tea before bed. I’m going to remind you to regulate often, too. I’m going to remind us that when we all come together to share what works for our own nervous systems, we can create a large library of resources we can collectively tap into. Together, we can make it through this moment in history. Together, we can get grounded enough to keep moving forward. With Love, Jenna You can think of these questions as an invitation to grab your journal, start a conversation in your group chat, or ponder on when you’re out on your next walk! Feel inspired to share a list of the ways that you regulate? Let’s create a community resource in the comments below 👇 * How do you regulate your nervous system on a day-to-day basis? Make a list of all the little and small things you do from morning to night that help you come back to center and calm. * Do you do anything differently to regulate yourself in times of uncertainty and crisis? Make another list of the regulation tools you tap into when you need even more support. * Who do you enjoy co-regulating with? Whose shared presence alone soothes your nervous system? Take a moment to make plans with that person this week. * How do you hold space for uncertainty? (This question was inspired by astrologer Colin Bedell’s much needed IG reel this week about maximizing your tolerance with uncertainty) I’ve been wanting to create a private podcast for paid subscribers for monthssss. The first episode of my brand new Passing Notes Private Podcast is dropping this Wednesday (11/13) and I have all the butterflies in my stomach about it! 🦋 In this first episode I tell you the story about the time I went to a psychic and was told I was a proud member of the queer community years before I came out. 👀 It’s a wild ride, friends. Milwaukee Area Friends! I have two events coming up next weekend that I’d love to see you at! * Full Moon Sound Bath & Moon Circle — Sevan Arabian-Ries and I are moving our ongoing collaboration at Lynden Sculpture Garden indoors for the winter! Our first indoor event is next Friday, November 15th at 5:30pm! Grab your tickets here! * [FREE] Future-Self Letter Writing Workshop — Come write a letter to your future January 2025 self during this drop-in workshop at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design on Saturday November 16th from 11am-2pm! All materials are provided! RSVP here. Later this month! * ChefCarla Contreras and I are co-hosting a Substack 101 workshop on 11/21! If you’ve been dreaming about how to begin your own Substack or feel curious about how you can use this platform as another tool for connection, this workshop is going to be a friendly place to dip your toes. * Dear Self With Love 2025 Self-Love Planners will be available for sale in my Etsy Shop for Small Business Saturday on 11/30! Save the date so you can come back and grab a planner! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    5 min

  8. 10/30/2024

    dear october

    Dear, October. You glorious, beautiful friend. I love you so and am sad to see you go. However, I feel I have done you justice. I have enjoyed the colors changing on my frequent neighborhood walks, inhaled the smell of backyard fires as they waft through the night air, and even ventured to China Lights for a night out. I sipped on multiple pumpkin-flavored coffee beverages, hung lanterns and spiderwebs and garlands around our home, watched three different scary shows with my partner (Agatha All Along, Grotesquerie and From), AND we even hosted a family Halloween sleepover for the first time ever. I hope October has been a treat for you, too. As you sink into this audio workshop, may you feel grounded in closing out this month’s energy *plays We Fell In Love In October one last time* Whether you are a DSWL Planner user or not, this audio workshop is here to offer you heart-felt end of the month reflections, a guided meditation to help you pause in-between October and November and an opportunity to map out your November so you’re grounded going into holiday season. What You Can Expect — * Reflection questions to help you connect with all that unfolded in October * A short guided meditation to pause between October and November. This meditation invites you to build your own bonfire and decide what you want to/need to release into it’s soothing meditative flame. What space will you create? * A brain dump & extra support check-in for the month of November * November Goals, affirmations, habit tracking and self-love prompts What You Need For The Audio Workshop — * 30ish minutes * A quiet cozy place you can curl up without distractions * Your DSWL Planner, journal or blank paper * Your fav writing utensils * Environment enhancers to satisfy the senses and send yourself the message of how worthy you are of taking this time for yourself and making it intentional — hot coco, an autumn candle, fidgets, your coziest blanket or sweater, a little Halloween lofi playlist, you get the idea ;) I can’t wait to hear how October treated you! Tell me, what surfaced for you while listening/writing? Did anything clarify? What are you looking forward to? What sparkled in the rear view mirror? With Love, Jenna Milwaukee Area Friends! I have two events coming up mid-November that I’d love to see you at! * Full Moon Sound Bath & Moon Circle — As our outdoor sound baths and labyrinth walks at Lynden Sculpture Garden come to a close — me and my collaborator, Sevan Arabian-Ries, are THRILLED to announce that we’re moving indoors to the gallery space for the winter months! Our first indoor event is for the Full Moon on Friday November 15th! Grab your tickets here. * [FREE] Future-Self Letter Writing Workshop — Come write a letter to your future January 2025 self during this drop in workshop at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design on Saturday November 16th! All materials are provided! RSVP here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jennaknapp.substack.com

    24 min
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About

The Dear Self With Love Podcast celebrates the infinite ways we can strengthen the one relationship that matters most - the one we have with ourself. Explore how you can deepen your practices, enjoy your own company, hold yourself accountable, and be present to your growth. jennaknapp.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jenna Knapp
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jenna Knapp
  • Show Website
    Dear Self With Love