Promising Pitfalls

What I’m about to tell you is flat-out ridiculous. If you’re an old subscriber, you might remember when I fell off my horse. If you’re a new subscriber, you might remember me mentioning an injury that forced me to slow down–I was referring to the horseback riding fall.

I mentioned that my husband and I receive these setbacks as a sign. We ask, “Why am I being forced to slow down? What have I been passing up?” Then, in my very last post, I caught myself going too hard again. And even though I tried to slow down, the ridiculous happened.

I went roller skating with my children this weekend and pulled my back. I didn’t fall, I simply stretched in an unbalanced manner. I’m typing this post on a heating pad with a herniated disc–I reactivated my horseback riding injury. Two days ago, I was practically immobile, but I’m fast improving and today I’m climbing the stairs with ease.

There’s no question about it this time, I’m being forced to slow down because I’ve been passing everything up. My sore back named my focus for the week: Study, Read, Write. And even though I’m experiencing the worst injury I’ve had to date, I’m practically giddy sitting here–getting goosebumps from the cozy warmth of the heating pad, hot coffee beside me–with books and my notebook piled around me.

My new question has become: why can’t I allow myself this type of leisure and stillness when I’m perfectly healthy? I need to rearrange my belief set: I am always enough. Whether I’m doing or not doing, my individuality is precious and magnificent. This is part of my lesson in growth. All the best ♥

A List of New Year’s Resolutions

The week in review has offered me insight and a list of New Year’s resolutions. This year I will . . .

• Participate in four natural, adventurous, and inexpensive family mini-vacations (hiking, camping, touring local cities, etc.) [relational]
• Run an 8 minute mile [physical]
• Run 3 miles in under 30 minutes [physical]
• Research Reiki Training (and start program if it fits) [spiritual]
• Finish degree in Metaphysics [spiritual]
• Complete second book [mental]
• Spend less (business and personal expenses), and save more (to grow with) [financial]
• Open second shop [financial]
• Spread the word on the Energy Shop, have a total  of at least 1,000 FB fans [financial]

This blog will be a great way to track my progress, and I’ll cross them off as they are completed throughout the year. Like I said, this is a low-pressure situation, as too rigid a plan will leave little space for opportunities and possibilities to present themselves. If I had written my second book last year, I never would have had time to create and build the Energy Shop–it goes to show you never know what life has in store for you.

May your 2011 be filled to the brim with love, laughter, gratitude, spirit, and prosperity!  ♥

Set an Intention for the New Year

It’s not too late to set a meaningful intention for the New Year! Start by taking a quiet hour to reflect on the questions we’ve been asking in the Year End Review this week:

• How did I spend my time this year and how would I like to improve on that?
• What am I feeling particularly grateful for and what would I like to see grow?
• In the past year, how have I contributed to the person I want to be? In regard to that ideal, what has set me back? What has propelled me forward?
• Where am I trying to force change, rather than go with the flow? What can I let go of?
• Can I think of any time in the last year where a setback forced me to slow down? What had I been passing up?
• What do I want to focus on in the New Year?

Answering these questions in a journal will help bring clarity to what worked and didn’t work in the past year. Next, we’re all going to work toward an intention and some New Year’s resolutions. By answering these questions myself, I’ve decided that this is going to be the year I ease up on my own expectations and grow as a person. As I mention constantly in my book, The Rescue You Program, nothing is more important than that you feel good. So, I ask that you don’t pick resolutions that make you feel stressed or overwhelmed. When you choose a goal, ask yourself, Will this make me feel good? You will want your goals to make you feel inspired and hopeful.

Will This Make Me Feel Good?

Here we go!

• What is my intention for the New Year?
• How will I begin?
• How will I follow through?

I have an intention to live a grateful life that feels whole and true to me. I have decided to name a yearly focus: growth. Since many of my setbacks and challenges in the last year were based on a sense of being overwhelmed and a lack of focus, I’m going to dedicate each week to a specific goal. For instance, this has been a great “Week of Planning.” I like to begin every New Year with a cleanse, so the coming days will start the “Week of Cleanse.” I’ll detox, de-clutter, and de-stress from the holi-daze.

After everything I’ve learned in reflection, my main challenge will be increasing my focus and honing in on my goals–1 at a time. If you’re setting resolutions, creating a general intention that summarizes your plight is a great way to organize your goals. Think of the five main pillars of life: physical, mental, spiritual, financial, and relational, and set a goal or resolution for each that aligns with that greater intention.

For instance, if my intention was to live a healthy, clean lifestyle, my first resolution would be to lose five pounds. The resolution aligns with the intention, because at five pounds less my current weight, I feel healthier and more energetic.

Now I can spend my day walking around, asking myself specific versions of “Will this make me feel good?” Once I have that specific resolution in mind (lose five pounds), my choices will be similar to these:

Will this cupcake help me create my intention?

Will this walk help me achieve my intention?

Will this portion lead me closer to my goal?

Tomorrow, I’m blogging my entire list of New Year’s resolutions, and I’ll cross them off as I achieve them through the year. Please feel free to link up or join me in your journal. Here’s wishing you a New Year filled to the brim with joy, growth, comfort, safety, health, and wealth! All the best ♥

Year in Review: Part 3

If you are also reflecting on 2010 and preparing for 2011, let me repeat the questions we’ve covered so far so that you may link up your blog or grab your journal:

• How did I spend my time this year and how would I like to improve on that?
• What am I feeling particularly grateful for and what would I like to see grow?
• In the past year, how have I contributed to the person I want to be? In regard to that ideal, what has set me back? What has propelled me forward?
• Where am I trying to force change, rather than go with the flow? What can I let go of?

My personal review has me thinking, alright, already! I get that I have a tendency to go overboard! I’ve realized that my daily feelings are typically love, gratitude . . . and a sense of being overwhelmed. The answers to the above questions are creating one solid New Year’s resolution: Ease up on your expectations of yourself.

Now that I think about the past year, I had a couple of illnesses and an injury that simply took me out where the only cure was bed-rest. My husband and I always question these types of setbacks. When one of us gets sick or hurt, we feel like we got benched from the game, but not as punishment. It’s more like, “I’m being asked to slow down, what have I been passing up?”

So, my first question in review is somewhat spontaneous based on that finding. Can you think of any time in the last year where a setback forced you to slow down?

Finally, the last question I asked myself in the review is, “What do I want to focus on in the New Year?” Mine is about growth. My goodness, just thinking the word “growth” makes my spirit expand as I’m sitting here. I feel as though I’ve been away from home for a long time (physically, I have), and this year is going to be about finding that sense of home wherever I may be.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve!! Together we will set an intention and resolutions for the New Year. Bring all the answers to your review questions!

Year in Review: Part 2

If you’re just joining me for Year in Review, I’ve committed the last week of this year to reflecting on 2010 and planning on 2011. Let me recap last night’s questions, and if you’d like to join me, answer these questions by linking your blog or grabbing your journal!

How did I spend my time this year and how would I like to improve on that?

What am I feeling particularly grateful for and what would I like to see grow?

Last night I continued my journal entry with this question, “In the past year, how have I contributed to the person I want to be? In regard to that ideal, what has set me back? What has propelled me forward?” I believe that we always have room for improvement and I love! Love! LOVE! to find a good role model.

There are two women that come to mind as soon as I think the words “role model,” and both of these ladies seem on top of the world. I love the sophistication of their homes, the elegance of their demeanor, and the ease of their social presence. You know the type: never a hair out-of-place, never an ordinary dessert, and never a child unkempt. Moreover, my role models deliver this perfection with extreme kindness and humility.

One of my role models is named Sandy, so I often asked myself this year, “What would Sandy do?” I applied that to my current situation: Would Sandy go to the grocery store in sweats with her hair in a messy knot? Absolutely not! With that one question, I’d be off to the bathroom to pretty myself up for the lovely girl at register 4. Sometimes, though, life was in the way–I had orders to fill, a workout to do, and a schedule to keep. I’d think, what the hell, the girl at register 4 never seems to notice all the work I do, anyway.

I’m realizing the many hats I wear, and how often I try to wear them all on the same day: jewelry designer, blogger, friend, mother, wife, housekeeper, cook, financial and marketing planner. As I sat in reflection, I realized the only thing holding me back is my desire to do everything, and do it all perfectly right this moment. I overwhelm myself with this ideal. For the first time last night, I noticed that my two role models had one thing in common: they each had a housekeeper. Gah!

Not that I’m opposed to having a housekeeper (yes, please!), but cleaning house gets messy. You’ve got to wear sweats and put your hair in a messy knot. To contribute to the person I want to be, I’ve made a conscious effort to keep a clean, organized, and efficient space. I’ve taken the time to workout, get my hair done, have a massage, and keep a tidy, peaceful space for me to retreat to at the end of a long day.

The second question I sat with last night was, “Where am I trying to force change, rather than go with the flow? What can I let go of?” For me, this question really complimented the first of the session, and started to bring the whole review together with a theme: Stop trying to force it all into one day. By doing so, I lose focus and deplete the quality of energy I spend. Instead of recognizing progress, I often become disgruntled by what remains undone. It seems I have some expectations to let go of!

I love how this is coming together, so far! I hope you’ll join me and tune in tomorrow for Part 3. Happy Year End Review!

Year in Review: Part 1

I must admit, the end of the year is a bittersweet time for me, filled with a strange mix of sadness and hope. I mourn each year as it passes because I so thoroughly love this life. I don’t like for the years to end. On the other hand,  I can’t wait for the New Year to begin! What will it bring?! This life has unfolded for me in the most amazing ways, I never can tell what’s in store!

In this last week of the year, I have committed myself to a 5-day year-end review. Each night, I sit in comfort and silence as I reflect on and review what’s happened, and make notes for my New Year’s resolutions. I don’t take New Year’s resolutions planning lightly, but I don’t take the actual plan very seriously throughout the year. It’s a guideline, based on what I’ve learned in the past, for what I’d like to focus more of my time and attention on. I tune into what makes me feel good, and I strive for more of that. As I am always growing, what makes me feel good is always changing, and the plan is ever-evolving.

Last night I touched on how I invested my time this year. I pulled out my journal and I asked myself, “How did you spend your time this year and how would you like to improve on that?” If you’re interested in doing a year-end review, and you don’t already have a journal, I can’t express the importance of having one! When you’re following the ruminations of the mind without paper, you’re chasing thoughts that are too scattered to truly connect. I don’t believe anything gets solved from thinking. I believe you have to train your brain to allow inspirations and solutions, and those will only come to a quiet, calm mind.

With a journal, your thoughts escape to the page, freeing your mind of the ruminations. After a few minutes of writing, you wouldn’t believe the clarity that falls from the pen to the paper. Many-a-journal session has left me with solutions, insight, and understanding. I always walk away with a more peaceful perspective and a refreshed sense of self.

The question I asked myself left me with over a page of information on how I spent my time this year, and I’m proud of myself for taking care not to waste too many precious moments. A lot of family time, a lot of working on a small business that I love, and a good bit of fun. I am a self-proclaimed “clicker” (an internet-addicted, time-wasting web surfer), and I’ve vowed to try harder to heal that in the coming year.

The second question I asked myself in this entry was, “What am I feeling particularly grateful for and what would I like to grow?” I write “gratitude prayers” in my journal with every entry. For me, that’s what my journal is centered on. I love writing in my comfortable bed, inside my beautiful, warm home knowing that my children are healthy and peacefully sleeping in rooms all around me. My husband is somewhere about the house doing his own thing, and I’m crazy in love and connected to him. I know I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee, a cold sandwich, and a warm shower that day–a few of my favorite things. When I write it all down as a thank-you note, it helps me appreciate and honor this life I’m so in love with.

Last night I realized that the keyword for my New Year is growth. I feel it coming. I’ve spent the last year laying out a pretty solid foundation, and I’m proud of it. The Energy Shop has opened a few doors for me, and I’m excited to see what new doors those doors lead to! I’m growing, and I’m preparing my mind, body, and spirit for the transformation. Tune in tomorrow for the questions for Part 2. Happy Year End Review!