Happy New Year!

In keeping with my tradition of not making New Year’s Resolutions this blog will not post a Happy-New-Year-this-list-will-make-your-life-measurably-better entry.

Each New Year brings the chance to adopt a list or resolutions that will herald health, wealth and happiness within the next 12 months. It’s also a chance to dump the resolutions you never achieved.

Here’s the thing, I can understand wanting better health. If it’s within your control –fix it. Don’t like your weight? Watch your diet and exercise. Don’t want to start today? Make February 1^st your new fitness shoe day.

Money? It’s not always the answer. Material things do not define your well-being. Chances are when you look through a picture book of fond memories you are looking at experiences and adventures and not a Lexus or Rolex.

I suggest if you want to focus on improving one area of your life this next year that you shift your attention to improving your relationships (and as a result  your experiences.)

The Lexus may fancy up your garage and the Rolex might sparkle on your wrist but the hand that grasps yours is priceless.

Happy New Year & Happy New Beginnings,

Lesa

The Authentic Therapist

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.

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?