Find Your Joy Friday

Do you ever feel like you are just getting through the day, the week, the year?  Do you feel like you are always busy but not accomplishing anything?  If you answered yes to either of those, it's time for a change!!

It's time to find your passion and pursue it like your life depends on it!!  Sometimes people get so caught up in making a living that they stop truly living!!

If you know what you are passionate about, are you pursing it?  If not, today is the day to start.  We find our purpose in our passion.

If you are confused about what you even like to do or what you are passionate about, then take some time to just sit and relax.  Ask yourself the following questions, or better yet, journal about them.  When was the last time I felt super alive and happy?  What was I doing? What did I love as a kid?  What did I want to do with my life when I was a kid?  Am I doing it?  Do I still want to do it or something similar?  What books do I like to read?  What makes me passionate?  What do I love to do?   Give yourself time and just write - don't censor what comes up, just write and write.  Ask yourself the question over and over and see what other things come up.  When you determine what makes you happy and where your passion lies, take one step in that direction.

Life is meant to be enjoyed!!!  Here's to a meaningful, happy, abundant life!!  You deserve it simply because you exist!!

Today is a new day

It's easy to get caught up in the same ol', same ol' every day BUT each day is a brand new beginning.  It's a chance to start all over and pursue all your dreams!  It's a chance to choose happiness.  It's a chance to look for the good in your life.  It's a chance to begin a gratitude journal and focus on all the things you have now, are experiencing now, or have ever had that made you happy.  Life is made up of all our experiences and we are programmed to look at the one's that aren't working to try to fix them.  However, the reality is that if we focus on what isn't working, we get more of the same.  If we focus on what is working, we get more things that are working as well as fresh ideas and ways to fix what isn't!!

Today is a new day!!  Make the most of it.  Treat people with love and kindness and you'll see it come right back at you!!  Practice compassion and know that if you see someone being less than nice, it's only because they are hurting inside.  Silently send them love and you will actually make a difference even if you don't see it.  Remember that all people have feelings and emotions and just want love and kindness in their lives.  We are all same at the core even though our experiences have us act and think differently.  But deep down, we are the same.

Today is a new day!!  Be kind to yourself.  Watch your internal dialogue and turn it around whenever it is not loving and supportive!! Remember to laugh and allow joy to flow freely in your thoughts and your life.

Today is a new day!  It's time to realize that we can achieve all our goals and they actually manifest more quickly when we also remember to be of service to others.  Helping someone who needs it benefits us as much as it benefits them.

Today is a new day!!  It's time to allow our dreams to come true!!

Namaste!!

Never give up on your dreams!!

Follow Your Bliss - Love Your Life

Many people find themselves dreading going to work and they are simply miserable.  Most heart attacks happen on Monday mornings!!

Many people have given up on being able to really follow their bliss and they settle for a "good job" and a "good life" that leaves them feeling empty and unfulfilled.  It doesn't have to be that way and in fact, it's the opposite of how it's supposed to be.  Life is meant to be enjoyed.  We are supposed to LOVE life!!  We are supposed to be happy!

We get so caught up in our limiting beliefs that we actually believe we don't have a choice.  We may think, "There is no way to make a living doing what we love."  That's simply not true.  I firmly believe that we can make a living doing what we love and have seen it over and over again.

If you are not waking up every morning excited to start the day, we can change that and I challenge you to take the first step towards living a life of passion and purpose.  The first step is to be abundantly clear about exactly what you want.  Don't worry about the how, simply write down what your ideal day would be like.  Think about what really makes you happy.  Decide what steps you can take today to move in the direction of your dreams.  Write them down.  Write down as many steps as you can think of and start checking them off one by one.  You can live a life you love!!

As always, let me know what you come up with and what action steps you are going to take today.

Happiness

"There can be no happiness where there is fear, apprehension, or dread." ~ Florence Scovel Shinn

It seems like an obvious statement but how can we expect to be happy when we are afraid of the future or afraid to go after what we really want?  Where does all this fear come from?  It comes from past conditioning but the past has no power over us unless we give it power.  The only power we have is in the present moment.  We can't change the past, the future hasn't arrived yet, so the only time we have is right now!!  Let's drop the fear, apprehension, and dread and allow faith and happiness to take over.  We'll feel so much better and we'll actually take more focused action on our goals when we are in that state of happiness.

Join me today and allow happiness to take over :)  It is a choice and it is an inside job which means our happiness in independent of our circumstances and those around us.  We can choose happiness now.  Who's with me??

Follow Your Dreams

Are you living a life you love?  

Are you passionately pursuing your dreams?  

Have you given up on your dreams?  

If your life isn't everything you want it to be, now is the time to turn it around!!
Don't wait another minute.  Write down your dreams - visualize them as if they have already come true and start taking steps in that direction!!  You deserve to have a life that makes your heart sing!!  You deserve to be happy!!  Follow your dreams and know that you can do anything you put your mind to.  You don't have to know how it will happen.  You just have to be open to the possibility of it and it will begin to fall into place.  Make sure you are clear about what you want and expect it.  You will find the right steps to take.  You will reach your goal and the sooner start, the sooner you'll get there!!

Please let me know what your dream is and what steps you will take today to move in that direction!!

Beliefs

"When we expand our thinking and beliefs, our love flows freely.  When we contract, we shut ourselves off." ~ Louise Hay

One thing that I have found on my journey of self-improvement is that sometimes I have limiting beliefs that I'm not even aware of.  In fact, they are so well buried that if you asked me if I believed that I would give an emphatic, "NO!!"  It's really interesting when we allow ourselves to delve deep into our inner workings.  The things that come up as astounding.  I saw this quote in Louise's book, The Power is Within You, and it reminded me how important it is to be open.  Open to the possibility that that we are holding ourselves back through undiscovered, buried beliefs.  Open to the possibility that we can really have everything we want.  Open to the possibility that what we want may come to us in a way that is different that what we are expecting.  For example, if I want a certain type of _________ (fill in the blank), I may get something different that actually has all the qualities of that certain something or someone but isn't what I thought it would be.  We have to be open to doing more inner work and loving ourselves no matter what comes up.  We have to be open to allowing all the good and abundance we desire into our lives.  It is all ours for the asking if we are open to it and willing to change our limiting beliefs and behaviors when prompted.

Also in the book, Louise gives some affirmations that she uses.  I'm going to list them here and start using them myself starting today.  Remember to be patient - when you plant a seed, it take time to grow.  If you nurture it, it will grow but won't be full grown in 5 minutes.  The same is generally true of affirmations - they may not completely manifest in the next 5 minutes but with love and nurturing - they will manifest.  And so it is!!

Affirmations from  The Power is Within You by Louise Hay.

• Everything I need to know is revealed to me.
• Everything I need comes to me in the perfect time-space sequence.
• Life is a joy and filled with love.
• I am loving and lovable and loved.
• I am healthy and filled with energy.
• I prosper wherever I turn.
• I am willing to change and to grow.
• All is well in my world.

May we all remember, that our thoughts create our reality. May we believe in ourselves every day. And may we love one another and ourselves and always strive to serve while we allow all good things to come to us.

Please feel free to share your reactions in your successes. Namaste.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. ~ C.S. Lewis

You are also never too old to go after your dreams.  Is there something that you really want?  Is there something you thought you couldn't do?  A dream that was squashed by naysayers when you were growing up?  What's a step you can take today to move in the direction of your dreams?

Just take one small step and feel the power of positive movement!!  Let me know how it goes!!

Make it fun

How often do you "not feel like" exercise?  Do you ever not feel like having fun?  Most likely not - or rarely when you are very tired and really should sleep.  But when we think we have to "workout", notice the word work in there.  I think we should rename it "funout" :) It's time to get moving in a fun way.  If you aren't moving think of ways to make it fun.  Here are some ideas and I'd love to get others:

1. Go for a walk with a friend or friends.
2. Go for a walk by yourself in nature.
3. Go swimming - join a Y or someplace with an indoor pool during the winter.
4. Go for a hike.
5. Go on an active vacation.
6. Chase your kids around.
7. Go to a laughter yoga class - all you do is laugh!!  It doesn't get any better than that.
8. Go skiing or skating.
9. Play frisbee.
10. Get some fun active games for the Wii or XBox Kinect.  (I often laugh in addition to the movement!)
11. Go for a walk with your dog.

I welcome your suggestions as well - but remember, it doesn't have to be work to be a workout.  Make it fun so you'll want to do it every day or at least several days per week!!

And give yourself credit for all your movements - don't think it doesn't count because you enjoyed it!!  It absolutely does count and that's really one of the points!!  Life is meant to be enjoyed.  Please share your experiences with me.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step

As a society we want everything right now.  This goes back to what I was saying about patience and my working on that myself :) Sometimes things take time but if we let ourselves be impatient and give up, we stop moving in the right direction.  If we are moving toward our goals, we are moving away from them.  I am making a commitment to myself to take steps daily toward my goals - or at least toward some of them - to ensure I am not going in the wrong direction.   Will you join me?  Remember that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." ~ Lao Tzu

It doesn't have to be a big step but if you are moving in the direction of your dreams and your goals, you will get there as long as you keep moving!! 

Remember to look at all steps you have taken and give yourself credit.  Don't focus on how far you have to go, focus on how far you have come.  Each step counts.  Each step is important.  Each step energizes you and snowballs your momentum!!  Small steps become steps and then huge jumps until you didn't even realize that you are already there and you've done it!!  You can do it!!!  Don't give up and don't let chances pass you by.  Take a step toward your goal today!!   Join me and move toward your goals and dreams!!  I'm with you on this journey!!

Thursday Thigh Day

How'd yesterday go?  Did you try the workout?

I created a different one for today :)  I'm so used to singing the days of the week with my kids that Thursday Thigh Day just seemed to fit.  Variety is the spice of life, right?  Let me know what you think!

Running to beat the snow

So at my son's basketball game this morning and my friend Judy asked if I had done my run for today. And I had to say, "no" but that motivated me to make sure I got it done before the 6 to 12 inches of snow that we're forecast to have. I really think that Santa needs to bring me some winter running clothes because after a little over a mile I felt like I couldn't really feel my legs. I certainly would not say that I was generally cold but my skin was extremely cold. I was thinking that it might look like a I have a nice windburn on my cheeks. And my legs and back side felt like I'd been playing in the snow without snow pants!!



But that's okay, I got in a little over 2 miles and I tried to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I looked at the snow that's already on the ground and thought about how magnificent nature is. I also know that even though I really am impatient everything is working out perfectly.I am looking to find apps that will help me long-term to track my running progress and my goals. I love the run for good Mainly because of the fact that it's for a good cause but I think there are others that actually allow you to input your goals with timelines and see them regularly to make sure you maintain progress towards those goals. I have to look into that but if anybody has any suggestions please feel free to let me know.

And thank you Judy for making sure I got my running today!

Run Your Race

I am so excited that my friend Mayra's book, Run Your Race, is finally available on Amazon. This book is about making your impossibles possible.  It tells her story (and other's stories) about how running a marathon seemed impossible for them and yet they set a goal and completed at least one marathon.  After they proved to themselves they could do that, things change because they know nothing is impossible.  This is the book that has inspired me to complete a marathon and to take on all the other things I want that seemed "impossible".  It's on Amazon so check it out.  You can watch the trailer here:  http://youtu.be/RQ9rv7tUWDc

Running In The Rain

Okay, today I really felt like I was starting my training. When I left the house to start my run it was only 29°

and there was some snow and slush on the ground.  But I did it. I got out there and I just started running. I know part of it is because I want to support my son in his goal to have 5000 miles logged into Saucony's Run4Good app during the month of December 2013. It's for a wonderful cause and I'm very excited to meet that goal, although I can't do it just myself. But in addition to that am very excited to really start to take care of myself and to lose the extra weight and to train for the marathon that I'm planning to run in 2015. I'm still feeling very excited and motivated from my friend Mayra's book which will be available on Amazon on December 12, 2013. I'm also excited by the challenge that I signed up for to run 14 races in the year 2014. And I'm excited to put to use all the information I've gained through all my certificate programs but haven't applied. Now is the time! I'm going to include all of you on my journey. For the first time in my life I'm going to acknowledge out loud that I don't always practice what I teach.  I'm going to acknowledge that I'm obese. It's kind of a funny thing, because it's not as if people can't notice that but I never wanted to admit it. Granted I think I also have so many kind friends who tell me I don't look 80 pounds overweight.  Perhaps they are just thinking I only look 75 pounds overweight ;). Actually I am fortunate to have the extra weight evenly distributed so I have been able to deny the problem all these years!  But now is the time to recognize it and change it.  I also hope to help others who struggle with their weight.  For those who need to learn about basic nutrition and lifestyle choices, I've got that down.  I'm also got the emotional "reasons" down to help recognize those and most importantly I'm learning to release everything that holds me back and help others do the same!  We are all in this together and I love you!  Please let me know how I can support you in your journey.