Happy New Year: Empty Promises & New Beginnings

Nope, I didn’t post a Happy-New-Year-this-short-list-of-promising-resolutions-will-change-your-life-for-the-better entry; Truth is – I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions! 

I also didn't see the point in providing you the opportunity to recap empty promises or unfulfilled vision boards by suggesting your dashed-hope/new-resolution ball drop accompany a Top 10 list of "Try This!"

And I don’t intend to sound like a New Year’s naysayer…the thing is…

Every single minute of every single day is a new beginning. Every morning that you open your eyes is a fresh start. Every opportunity is a chance to make a change.

You have the choice and the ability to be who you want to be any time you choose…

If you want a better diet – eat clean.

If you want to lose weight – lose it.

If you want to be a better parent – spend time with your kids.

If you want to spend less money – create a budget.

If you want to be a better partner – do it.

January 1^st may provide you with a start date…but February 1^st is just as good.

I'm not suggesting you abandon that Midnight-Resolution-Bandwagon…. just commit to your new choices, your new beginnings, and your fresh to-do lists. Take charge of your life February 1^st, or March 18^th, or…. whenever you are ready to embrace your life every moment and own your journey.

So…my friends...Happy New Year and Happy New Beginnings!

L

What You Seek is Seeking You!

BY EMILY FLETCHER

Do you know the difference between a goal and a desire? 

A desire is something that feels bubbly and exciting when you think about it. As in, Oh, having that would kick so much a#%!!! 

A goal is the "I have to" version of desire. A goal is, I have to lose 10 pounds this year. 

A desire to feel sexy can quickly turn into a goal of losing ten pounds. As much as we can, we want to keep ourselves in that sweet space of desire because when we start to feel the vibrational quality of our desire, we start to call it into our lives. Rumi says it best:  

"What you seek is seeking you."

I love this so much! First of all, it’s true. And also: it’s more fun to believe that what you seek is seeking you. Your desires are divinely inspired.  You wouldn’t have had the desire in the first place if nature didn’t put it there.  But how do we loosen the death grip on our goals?

Meditation can help. Once we start getting to the chair (aka meditating every day), we stop being under the illusion that happiness lies on the other side of any one desire coming to fruition. We start to access bliss on a visceral level every day (preferably twice a day). Then our desires become Nature’s way of using us as a fulfillment delivery vehicle. 

Once you start meditating, you develop an all-access pass to bliss and fulfillment in the only place that it actually resides (inside you), then you're able to use your desires as Nature’s GPS, telling you how and where to deliver your goods.  

So, how do we apply this? 

The first step is to ask yourself: What do I WANT to do? 

Then, instead of turning it into a goal (thinking I HAVE to do this), which will cause the fun, bubbly feeling to dissipate, we want to keep ourselves in the realm of desire by consciously reminding ourselves that what we seek is also seeking us.

PS: This doesn’t mean sit around and wait for your dreams to land on your doorstep. You have to take inspired action. This is simply an important reminder that your happiness does not lie on the other side of a job, a boyfriend, or a proposal. Your happiness exists RIGHT NOW, inside of you. 

The paradoxical thing that starts to happen is the more you practice this, the easier it is for your desires to find you. Probably because taking the pressure off each individual event or thing allows you to stop panicking long enough to see your desires and opportunities when they arrive.  

So, what do you think is seeking you?

6 ways to reconnect with your most powerful self

BY AMANDA CHRISTIANBetween all the tasks, people and activities competing for our attention every day, it’s so easy to get lost in the routine and lose touch of our most powerful, loving selves. Before we know it, we’re acting out of habit or are glued to the computer. The following are some ways I get real, and come back to myself:

1. Spend time alone.

Spend time alone with no social media or cell phone. Gasp! Most of us are connected all the time, and it's very easy to get out of touch with how we feel. It’s so important to spend time with yourself every day in order to recharge your self-love battery and come back to the awareness of the loveliness all around you in this moment. 

2. Feel your feelings.

There is nothing “spiritual,” positive or holy about hiding your feelings and pretending you are happy when you’re not. This doesn't mean that you need to act on all your feelings; instead, be honest with yourself about what you're feeling so that it can move through you and be released. You become more real by becoming more honest. 

3. Journal.

Becoming more honest with yourself might bring up some feelings about your past that need to be released. Write them down. My journal is a mess of misspelled words, run-on sentences, unfinished poems, weird doodles and the occasional “ah-ha” moment circled with stars and exclamation points. There are no rules. Just let the feelings and ideas out!  

4. Spend time in nature.

Mother nature is my best friend. No joke. Whenever I'm feeling a little funky, usually from too much computer time, I throw on my sneakers and head out to the woods for a little forest therapy. Deeply breathe in the fresh air, hug a tree, smile and remember all the love you have in your life right now. 

5. Release the need for external validation.

Most of us are motivated to do and say things based on the way we think others are going to respond. This isn't good or bad, but it’s meaningless. You can’t control or predict how other people feel or react. Go with your gut. Set the intention for peace. When you act from a place of authenticity, likability will follow. I promise.

6. Claim your power.

Don’t be afraid of outshining others. As Marianne Williamson said, “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Don’t be afraid to go after your passions and let yourself shine.

Now that you’ve just spent time reading how to be more true to yourself, how can you apply these ideas? It’s in the application of the ideas that you will experience the change. Today I challenge you to do at least one of the things above.

Want an idea? How about ditching the cell phone and venturing out for a walk by yourself? Bring your journal to write out your feelings, sit under a tree and bliss out. That’s the makings of one delightful authentic connection with my most powerful loving self if you ask me! Soak it in.