Welcome to the Journey of Your Best Life | Mindset Shifts to Create Joy, Purpose, and Freedom

Welcome to the very first post in this new blog series—an extension of the conversations I’ve been having on The Best Life Mindset. I’m Shelly Hansen, and I’m glad you’re here. My hope is that this space becomes a place where you feel inspired, supported, and equipped to live a life that actually feels like yours.

A Little About Me

I’m a family law lawyer with a background in psychology, but the titles that matter most to me are wife and mom to four incredible kids. I’ve spent years helping people navigate some of the hardest chapters of their lives, and somewhere along the way I realised I wanted to help people before they hit crisis—while they still had time to change the trajectory of their lives.

That’s where this journey began.

The Moment Everything Changed

On February 12, 2020, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. There was no family history. No warning. And it all unfolded at the exact moment the world was shutting down for COVID. What followed—chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, reconstruction—was the hardest season of my life. But it also stripped away every distraction and handed me something I didn’t know I was starving for: clarity.

A Shift in What Matters

When you face your own mortality, everything gets quiet. The things you thought mattered—money, achievements, the endless to-do list—fall away. And what’s left are the things that actually give life meaning: joy, presence, connection, purpose.

I realised I didn’t want to look back at my life from my deathbed and feel regret for the things I didn’t do, the moments I missed, or the dreams I kept postponing. I wanted to live now—not someday.

What I Want You to Ask Yourself

Picture yourself at the end of your life, surrounded by the people who matter most. What will you wish you had done differently? Who will you wish you had become?

And then ask: what stops you from becoming that person today?

These questions aren’t meant to create fear—they’re meant to create urgency. Most people wait for the “right time,” and that time never comes. Your life changes when you decide it’s going to.

The Manifestation Mindset

Along this journey, I wrote The Manifestation Mindset: A Journey to Your Best Life. It’s a practical guide to taking ownership of your life and creating it with intention. I also created journals to help deepen the work, because writing things down isn’t just therapeutic—it’s science. It rewires your brain.

I’m not the most spiritual person, but I do believe we’re connected to something bigger—whether you call it intuition, God, or the universe. And while I can’t tell you how the cosmos works, I can teach you the habits, mindset shifts, and evidence-based strategies that transform a life from autopilot into purpose.

What You Can Expect From This Blog

Every post in this series will give you something actionable—something you can do today to move closer to the life you want. We’ll talk about mindset, boundaries, self-love, manifestation, clarity, and the practical psychology behind change.

My goal is simple: to help you stop living by default and start living by design.

Let’s Begin This Journey Together

Thank you for being here. Truly. If this post resonates, I’d love for you to subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, or leave a review. We’re building a community of people who are ready to step into a more intentional, fulfilling life.

And remember: you have the power to create the life you truly desire. One honest moment, one shift, one step at a time.

Blog Post One by Shelly Hansen