Summary of 6 Words to Tell Yourself Every Morning

Overview of 6 Words to Tell Yourself Every Morning (The Mel Robbins Podcast)

Mel Robbins interviews celebrity stylist Erin Walsh about "The Art of Intentional Dressing" — a simple, mindset-first approach to getting dressed that uses clothing as a tool to help you embody how you want to feel each day. The core practice is literally six words you ask yourself before opening your closet: "How do I want to feel?" From that prompt you choose three feeling-words for the day and select clothes that help you embody them. The episode includes practical tactics, relatable examples from three women on Mel’s team (postpartum, post‑menopausal, and a grandmother/cancer survivor), and concrete wardrobe exercises you can use immediately — no shopping required.

Key takeaways

• The six-word prompt: "How do I want to feel?" — pause, ask it before you open the closet. Use it as your compass.
• Pick three words each day (e.g., confident, calm, powerful). Let them guide outfit choices — not trends or “what will impress others.”
• Clothing is a tool for embodiment: what you wear influences energy, behavior, and how you show up — small daily acts change your future self.
• You don’t need to buy new clothes. Use what’s in your closet intentionally; tailor, reconfigure, and rediscover pieces.
• Start with fundamentals: supportive undergarments, a great pair of jeans, a crisp shirt, a blazer, and shoes that help you stand taller.
• Quarterly closet audit: try everything on, take photos, build a “greatest hits” folder for easy morning choices.
• Tailoring, proportion, and structure matter more than price. Small fixes (hem, seam) transform how clothes serve your body/energy.

The method — step-by-step

1. Pause before you open the closet.
2. Ask: "How do I want to feel?" (six words).
3. Choose three feeling-words for the day (your daily “compass”).
4. Scan your closet for items that embody those feelings (texture, silhouette, color, protection, structure).
5. Try pieces on if necessary. Pull a “greatest hits” outfit that reliably delivers those feelings.
6. If nothing fits the feeling, experiment (alter pin, layer differently) or set a plan to update your wardrobe intentionally.
7. Optional: photograph outfits and create a phone album for quick reference.

Why it works (short psychology)

• Embodiment: external cues (clothes) influence internal state and behavior — dressing for feelings strengthens identity.
• Ritual + intention: pausing and naming feelings is a small ritual that centers you and shifts autopilot.
• Habit compounding: daily intentional acts (even small) shape future self and expand perceived possibilities.
• Removes “not enough” judgment by prioritizing how you want to feel over how you think others will see you.

Concrete wardrobe tips & hacks

• Three anchor pieces to know in your closet: a great pair of jeans (fits), a crisp white shirt (structure/crispness), and a blazer (protection/structure).
• Tailoring: hem pants, adjust proportions, use your dry cleaner or local tailor — fit changes perception more than brand.
• Undergarments matter: start with supportive, intentional underwear and bras. They create the foundation for how clothes sit and how you feel.
• Shoes: good shoes change posture and confidence — a small heel or structured shoe can make you stand straighter.
• Layering & proportion: throw a sweater over shoulders, add a belt to show waist, or try a jacket with a stronger shoulder to “take up space.”
• Closet lab: quarterly try-on of every piece; photograph outfits; create a “greatest hits” section for rushed mornings.
• Let go of the graveyard: donate, sell, or share clothes that represent previous chapters and no longer serve you.

Examples from Mel’s team (applied practice)

• Mel: Used the method during a demanding week — chose “invincible / unstoppable / confident” and wore knee boots for power; next day chose “safe / protected / soft” and wore cozy sweatpants to rest intentionally.
• Jessie (new mom): Pre-method she hid in oversized clothes; today used “practical / calm / confident” — chose stretchy high-waist jeans, boots, a denim shirt and belt to show waist and feel put-together while caring for baby.
• Amy (post‑menopausal, senior producer): Initially resistant; chose “creative / empowered / fun” (later “magical”) — found a blazer and fun shoes, realized she could repeat that outfit and lean into new chapter words.
• Cindy (grandmother, cancer survivor, knee replacement): Chose “bold / empowered / confident” and realized she could extend seasonal pieces (pink vest) and wear pearls during the day — small decisions that lift mood and agency.

Notable quotes & ideas

• “How do I want to feel?” — the six-word compass.
• “Wear the change you want to see in the world.” — embodiment through clothing.
• “Your closet is a portal of possibility.” — clothing as tools, not judgment.
• Fashion = tools; clothes are incidental. The important part is how garments make you feel.
• Start with underwear: the first thing you put on sets the tone.

Action plan / To‑dos (quick-start)

• Tomorrow morning: pause before the closet and ask, “How do I want to feel?”
• Choose three words and assemble an outfit that matches them.
• Identify 3 “great” pieces in your closet you can rely on (jeans, white shirt, blazer).
• Do a 1-hour closet lab this weekend: try on everything, take photos, start a “greatest hits” album.
• Schedule one tailoring visit (hem/pant fit or jacket adjustment).
• Declutter one box of items that no longer fit your current life; consider selling or hosting a share circle.
• Optional: post a photo of your intentional outfit, name your three words, tag Mel Robbins podcast & Erin Walsh (if you want the community cheer).

Final note

This is a low-effort, high-impact ritual: pausing, naming how you want to feel, and choosing clothes as tools to embody that feeling. It’s practical, adaptable across ages and life stages, and doesn’t require buying a new wardrobe — just more compassion, curiosity, and a little experimentation.