42 (little) Things Worth Giving Up Now

There is much to be said for being in the process of ____, or reminding yourself that "slow and steady is what will win the race". Though I am a H-U-G-E believer in being easy on yourself when making changes and of setting yourself up for success by moving forward at a pace that is manageable, there are some things that you could let go of right now that would do you a world of good and really get your ball moving in the right direction. 

  1. Doubting Yourself - You are just as worthy and just as capable as anyone else who is breathing the same air. You just have to know that and it will catapult you into your awesome space. 
  2. Negative Self-Talk - Why are you being mean to yourself?? If you wouldn't tell that to a child or a friend then why do you say it to yourself?? 

  3. Anger - Anger can be healthy in the short term but it is not meant to be held on to. Use it to move you forward and to take back you personal power but then know that it has served its only purpose and release it. 

  4. Gossip - Gossip will not be the foundation of a strong and trusting relationship. Do treat others with the same respect that you would like to be treated. You set that bar and gossip sets it pretty low.

  5. Fear of Failure - Try. If you don't try you will never know. You may surprise yourself. You will definitely learn something and contribute to your own expansion.

  6. Fear of Success - There is nothing evil about having it all or about wanting it all. We were designed to have desires. Choose what you desire and know that you deserve goodness because you were born to. And that is enough. 

  7. Shame - You are doing the best that you know how to do. There is no shame in that. Perhaps you will do it differently next time now that you know more. 

  8. Procrastination - If it can be done today it would likely feel best to do it today. Do your best to feel your best.  Holding yourself back from accomplishing what will feel good is a form of self abuse. 

  9. People Pleasing - Be true to yourself. If others are happy along the way that is a great bonus. You came to this earth to experience living and to grow in a manner that expands you. Trying to be what someone else wants you to be/ expects you to be will not in the end feel authentically you and will not lead to the sense of satisfaction that we all seek. 

10. Anything done in Excess - Moderation is the key. Excessive eating, drinking, exercise does not support the balance that you were created to enjoy. 

11. The phrase "I can't ____." - Because you can. You may choose not to, but saying I can't really is saying that you are not willing to do what it takes to be able to. And that is your choice. But it is a choice and so hang on to your power and name it the choice that it is. 

12. Hate - It's just not a healthy feeling way to live. I really don't think I need to explain that one. 

13. Your Need to Impress Anyone Other Than You - Do it for you. If other's get excited along the way, bonus. Expand your horizon because it is what feels right for you. After all, it is YOU who will be hanging out there on that horizon.  

14. Criticism - What we criticize in another really is a mirror image of what it is in ourselves that we are unhappy about. Learn to love that person as they are. That goes for you too. 

15. Taking Care of the Needs of Others Before Your Own - Your needs are just as important as anyone else's and you can't give away what you don't already have. Take time to fill your cup before you share with others.  (notice I didn't say instead of sharing, I said BEFORE sharing)

16. A Quick Fix - The "Easy Street Mentality" is not serving you. There is no way to get rich over night. There is no magic pill that is going to take off the weight. If you want it. Ask yourself WHY you want it. How do you expect to feel when you have it. Then believe you can have it and start feeling it now in any small way that you can. Watch that be what grows in your life. 

17. Worry - If you can change it then you don't need to worry about it because you can change it. If you can't change it, then there is no sense in worrying about it because you can't change it.  Don't waste your energy there. 

18. Living In The Past - What is done is done. If it was something that was good, that is great.  If it was something that was not good, it still falls under the category of "WAS".  Focus on what is and what can be. 

19. Blame - Blaming another for anything gives away your personal power.  Instead, accept your role, take responsibility and move on. 

20. Laziness - Get up and get moving. Action is required. 

21. Complaining - What you focus upon is what will grow in your life. Complaining is focus on something that you don't like, so why feed it. Instead focus on anything that you DO like. Feed that and let IT be what grows.

22. Control - You simply cannot control it all. Trying to control everything will only lead to higher stress levels. 

23. Excuses - They are not serving you. Recognize them. Take responsibility for your role and choose to move forward. 

24. Comparing Yourself to Others - You have a different story, a different path and a unique set of gifts. There is no comparison. Embrace your individuality. 

25. Keeping Constantly Busy - Learn to sit silently and listen. Really listen. It is in this place that you will connect with that deeper place inside of you and where you will hear the whispers of your heart. 
26. Perfectionism - There is nothing noteworthy about having it all be perfect. Perfect is a personal perception. 
27. Attachment to the Details - There are SO many options and paths. Follow your gut and be open to possibility
28. The Need to Always Be Right - You might learn something new.
29.  Foods That Slow You Down - "You are what you eat"
30.  Trying to do Everything On Your Own - Being able to do it on your own doesn't mean that you have to. 
31. Grudges - Who is suffering from your grudge really???  You.
32. Waiting for the Perfect Time - Nobody ever feels 100% ready when a opportunity to grow beyond what is your current comfort zone presents itself. That will always be true for us all, but there is no time like the present to get yourself started down that new path. 
33. Trying to Avoid Mistakes - Mistakes are going to happen, but they are not mistakes if they move you forward and help you to learn, grow and expand yourself.
34. Looking Outside of Yourself for the Good Stuff - All of your Good Stuff is inside. Look there and I promise that you will find it. 
35. Keeping Your Thoughts and Emotions Inside - The people in your life are not mind readers. Use your words and communicate with them. 
36. Avoiding/ Fear of Change - Nothing is permanent. That can be a helpful way to see things when you are not happy with a situation. It too shall change. 
37. Relationships with People who Bring You Down - There are so many people in the world with whom you can connect. Treat yourself and others well and choose to be treated well. You deserve that.
38. Habits that you Know are Not Good for you - Butt out that cigarette. Don't answer that text while you are driving etc. 
39. Making Mountains out of Mole Hills -   When something feels big to me I always ask myself "Is this a defining moment in my history?" Usually, the answer is no and I can release the stress and move on more easily.
40. Taking it all too Seriously - You came to this life to enjoy the process.  You aren't ever going to get it all done. There will always be something that you want to have, do, become, experience.... It's a journey that is meant to be enjoyed.  Laugh a little. It's good for you.
41. Thinking About the Things that you Don't Have - Count your blessings instead of your woes. It's OK to want to have whatever it is. That is natural for us humans but you do have a lot of things to be grateful for and they are what you deserve to have multiply.
42. Looking for Change in the Same Place Again and Again -  If you want to feel differently then you have to live it differently. 

What do you think?? Is there anything on that list that stands out for you?? What did I miss that you would add to the list??

As always, I love it when you share your thoughts. You can use the comment section below or come on over to my Facebook page, say hello and tell me what you think.

How Do I Begin To Learn To Love Myself??

This week I want to share a story with you.  It's a love story. It's an "in progress" tale. It's my story.  

I wasn't always in love with myself. My family and my University roommates will testify to that for sure. There were a few dark years in there. I had been a fun loving yet responsible student in my first year, but that changed as a darkness set in.  It was heavy and I was not equipped in any manner to love myself through it.  It took over my so-called life for a few years.  Now that I have found my way back to me I write about there being many ways in which we can sort through the grey stuff and get to the good stuff. I have done the work and I know that to be true, even though at the time my stuff felt darker than grey. I understand depression, in a way that surprises those who know the me of now.  

I judged myself harshly. I was sweet and easy going and full of understanding for others.  In fact part of what has drawn me to coaching is the part of me that puts other people at ease.  I have a calm way about me that seems to invite friends and even strangers  to share some of their most personal thoughts. But I didn't show that same patient kindness to myself. Why not?

To be truthful, I have no idea. Still.  I come from a loving and supportive family who have strong values and morals and yet, I wasn't always very nice to me. Over the past few years I have uncovered a lot about my own limiting beliefs and I have changed a lot of the language I use in my "self-talk". I know that I am not done, but I have made such huge changes for me that I wanted to share with you what I believe has been KEY for me.

I think that one of the biggest and most important questions to ask yourself is, is the boy across the classroom, the girl in the next cubicle, or the man in the bank really any different, any better or any more worthy than anyone else in the room, including yourself??  And if the answer to that is in fact No, then why is it that his or her opinion about you should hold so much power??Logically speaking, that doesn't make much sense. Emotionally speaking it makes NO sense. And yet it just was that way for me. It just mattered.

And it showed up in all of my relationships.  I was quiet and let others pick the movie, choose the restaurant, decide if I was invited or if he would go on without me.  I rationalized everything of course so that it made sense and felt as OK as it could, but really, I knew that they were excuses mostly.  I was far from empowered in my own life. I had no direction or real goals. I let others make the call. I didn't like myself for it, but that was how I rolled and I didn't expect it to ever be different.

A few bad years and more than one heartache later, when that thought pattern, belief system, idea habit became apparent to me I knew right away that it was definitely not one that was doing me any favors. I wanted to switch it up. But I had been doing it that way for years and years. HOW was my question. How do I change that??  Where do I even begin?? 

Louise Hay posted a Facebook status last week that brought the humble beginnings of my journey to the front lines when she said a "part of self-acceptance is releasing other people's opinions." From where I stand now, that makes total sense. But I remember a time when I would have followed that up with a "Yeah, but.....".

Many of the things we chose to believe about ourselves have absolutely no basis in truth. Just like my belief about anyone being any better or more worthy than I also had no basis in truth. It lived only in MY perception. So that is where I started. With perception. Perception didn't seem too heavy. It seemed like something I could handle and as good a starting place as any, so I began there.

I began reminding myself that to those same people who I felt had a power in my life, I was the other person across the desk. Chances were, if we really aren't so different from one and other, that they were worried about MY opinions. I also forced myself to stop and to take a moment to think about me as those who love me would. They are of course biased to my awesomeness. So I used that to slant my own biased opinion of me.  For me, if I aimed for a high 9/10 score on my personal awesome scale and I came out really believing at a 6/10 it was a step in the right forward direction.

I never tried to see myself as being better than anyone. After all my goal was not to flip the script completely, it was to find balance. I wanted to feel that I was just as good as anyone else. Equally worthy. Equally Awesome. 

That was the first chapter of the story in which I humbly began to fall in love with me. And now, many chapters later, I like myself too. Equally Awesome is a perception of myself that IS doing me favors and serving me well. Stay tuned for the rest. There are a few nail biting moments for sure, but it's turning out well and I am predicting a happy ending.

Now it's your turn.  Have you written your first chapter or are you currently working it out??  I'd be so glad to have you share your inspirational tale here in the comment section or over on my Facebook page, after all, you're equally awesome too!  

OR - If you need help figuring out where to begin to learn to love yourself, I have been there and done that and I would be honored to help you to sort through your grey stuff, and then to find and create more good stuff. Add your name and email above and maybe you'll win a free 1 on 1 discovery hour to get the ball rolling.  

3 Ways to Add More Love, Respect and Appreciation to Your Life

Up and Down. Back and Forth. In and Out. Black and White. Give and _____ .  Can you fill in the blank???  "Its better to give than to _____."  How about that one??? Any ideas???  

Receiving has been a tough thing for me to learn.  I have always been a "Giver".  I wouldn't change that about me for anything. But I do think that putting that quality into balance is important and often over-looked by many of us.  

Its not unusual for a client of mine to bring to the conversation a desire to feel more appreciated in their lives.  It is not unusual for that same client to believe that it is important for them to put the needs of others in front of their own. Many of us have learned that it is better to give than to receive and we have taken that to heart and to the extreme. We give of ourselves with a belief that giving is somehow what makes us good people. We of course want to be good people, and so with this desire fueling our creative process, we attract into our lives people and situations that allow us to give. Pretty simple really. We give of our time, our energy, our money and often we do it to a point of feeling busy, tired and financially depleted. But at least we are good people.

Sometimes we forget that every relationship is shaped by the dynamic of both giving AND of receiving. Like the tide that comes in to shore and goes back out to sea or a pendulum that swings back and forth, giving and receiving are different aspects of the same flow of energy. 

We are unable to give of something that we don't have. I can't share with you my piece of the pie if I don't have it. That applies to love energy as well. That energy can't flow from you unless it is there to begin with. That means that having a truly loving and balanced relationship of give and take depends on your ability to nurture yourself, and practice self care. That is not being selfish, that is taking care of yourself. 

There are a few angles with which we could approach the same core thought of the importance of self care.

1. You can't share what you don't have, so take the time to have "it" so that you might share "it". Feel good about yourself, love yourself and share that good feeling with the people you meet.
2. In order for us to be givers (and good people), we must pair up with receivers. It is really very thoughtful of those others to keep receiving so that we might have a place to keep giving.  But do those wonderful others a thoughtful favor and learn to receive. GIVE them a place to put their giving and an opportunity to be good people too. 
3. All of our relationships mirror how we feel about ourselves. Meaning that you must be the one to set the bar as to the level of love, respect and appreciation that you will be shown by others by showing those same levels of love, respect and appreciation to your own Self. (Its basic Law of Attraction) 

The first two examples are not my personal favorites of reasons why you should include your own well-being on your priority list, but they work, and this is a very individual journey so whatever works for you is how you should do it. If that is what helps to be your motivations to begin feeling comfortable with receiving from another, it is as a good place to begin as any. 

The third angle is perhaps a more soulful realization that you will come to as you become more comfortable with the practice of giving to your Self. Taking care of yourself, your mind, your body and your spirit will put you on a the path to falling in love with and truly appreciating the the most important person in your life - You. 

If the idea of giving to your self and of practicing self care is new to you, and focusing on your own well-being has not made it to your priority list in the past, please don't be tough on yourself.  Know that we each do the very best that we know how with what information and awareness we have at the time. As your levels of awareness change so will your priorities and your actions. It is never too late to begin taking care of you or learning about yourself.  As your understanding of you grows you will naturally make choices that nurture your relationship with you. There is no need to worry. It will all be revealed to you at a pace that is comfortable for you. Your only job is to pay attention to what you are doing for yourself and how that makes you feel and then to do more of what makes you feel good. Practice receiving love, respect and appreciation first from yourself and then from the Universe. 

Let's Talk About It

If you needed to hear this today and you know a friend or two who would like it too, please spread the word and share with your peeps. 

Then, come on over to my facebook page to say Hi and share your thoughts, or use the comments section below to tell me: 

How hard is it to love yourself? Are you a giver who has a tough time receiving? 

            OR 

What do you do to really show yourself the love, respect and appreciation that you deserve? How did you get to this awesome feeling place? Share your tips and help another to find their own awesome feeling place of self love?

It Was A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I had a bad day. Yep. Life Coaches have those too. It was a no good, terrible, horrible, very bad day. (Do you remember that book from your childhood???)  So many things were going wrong that I can't even recall exactly what happened first. Coffee was split in the car. I was late to an appointment. I couldn't find the specialty decor shop I was looking for. The emails that "needed attention" flooded my in box. A 1-800 number kept calling my cell phone (that really urks me). The list goes on. By the end of the day there was a part of a burnt dinner in the trash can, paint on the kitchen floor, a band aid on my left hand and two bruises on my legs. I was obviously so disconnected from my Self. I was rushing to get things done. My focus was not on anything but the list of things that I had to do. WOW. By the end of the day I was exhausted.

As always, as I brush my teeth and go through the rest of my end of day bookend routine, I review parts of my day and look for the things for which I am grateful to have had show up in my day. Usually I have no trouble making a long list of awesome. But today I was so exhausted and seemed to be struggling to find examples of awesome in my day. In fact, after a few minutes, I had to laugh. 

My day had been so hectic. Right from the moment I woke up. I hadn't had a day like that in a long time. Why now??? Why today??? What had I done wrong???  

I hadn't done anything wrong. I hadn't done anything at all actually. Nothing that would center or ground my energy. Nothing that set my personal cruise control to where I like it to be. I hadn't taken a moment to catch my mojo mid stream and switch it up. I had not gone inside myself and connected to that part of me that flows the days events in an easy breezey way.  What I HAD done were things that don't serve me. I had complained and gotten caught up in the outside world.  I had indulged myself in lower level emotions and let them grow. I had focused on the troubles and the annoyances of the day. 

Ah-ha! I am thankful for my whole messed up, crazy, no good, terrible, horrible, very bad day. I had skipped my morning bookend routine. The one where I set myself up to be able to flow with whatever the outside world should bring to me this day.  I had rushed. I had missed. I had skipped. I had thought that I was "good enough" to keep going and not bother. Just this once. Turns out, the power in my routines is real. And if I had ever questioned what I have found to work for me.... The Universe just back that up too. I was just shown, all day long, how LOA is real and working in both directions. It will bring you more of whatever you are thinking about and it can do it immediately.  Hence my day. 

I am back on track now. I woke this morning and remembered yesterday. I let that moment be brief. Yesterday is history and it need not hold any power over the bright and shinny new of today. My morning routine was not skipped today. I have taken those precious and important steps to setting myself up to be successful in my day. And I am already feeling so much better than I felt at any moment yesterday.  I got the message and I am focused both inwardly and forward. 

Ever had "one of those days"???  Are you able to catch your mojo mid stream and switch it up??? How do you do that??? What tools are working for you and do you always remember to use them???  I would love to hear your story. I invite you to share, inspire another and allow yourself to be inspired by the stories of others.  Use the comment section below or join the conversation over on Facebook.

Sad - Bad Moods Can Be Good For You

OK. So.....I know that part of my job is to help my clients choose their words and their feelings and to learn to embrace what is positive.  In fact that is a huge part of creating new habits that serve you well. But what about the days when you really are feeling like a big sack of poo. What is one meant to do with those days???

Well my friend. Those days are for real too. They are just as real as the good ones. I know that that is not what many of my clients expect to hear form me. It seems that they fully expect me to say that "down days and sad feelings are not OK, and that we should wrap them up in rainbows and let them melt away within the power of Love". Or something as equally weird and crazy as that. But that really isn't true, and I will never teach the power of positive anything without explaining the authenticity of both sides and everything that there is in between.

So you have a few bad days. Or maybe you are having more than a few. No need to engage the panic button just yet. Don't worry. These days and emotions that seem so prevalent now don't have to remain in a leading role in your future. And they aren't anything to be afraid of. They, in fact, hold a lot of wisdom. 

Wait a min. What????  How can that be??? What kind of wisdom could there possibly be in my sad mood???  

Lots. You just have to know that it is there to be seen.  

You see my friend your emotions are messages. What your sad really is, is the greater part of you - the part of you that is connected to God, The Universe, Source - telling you that on this subject, the direction of your thoughts are facing you is not the direction of your greatest well being. 

Its kind of like playing that "HOT & COLD" game you played as a kid.  The goal is to find your life purpose and the great feelings that come along with it. Your emotions is your all knowing buddy telling you how close you are to the good feeling spot. Sad is like them telling you that you are freezing cold. Brrr. As you move up the emotional scale you are getting warmmm-er, warmmm-er, warmmm-er..... 

So you are facing in the direction you are now and feeling crummy (your buddy is telling you that you are cold).  That's OK. Decide that this direction of thought and possible outcome is no longer comfortable. Decide to try another direction and see if your buddy tells you that you are warmmm-er. Pay attention to your emotions. 

Good News! You know what is going on inside your head and you know if you like how that feels. You know if this is the direction you want or not. If you DO like what you have go going on, then great. Stay put. But if you think that there might be something better out there, then go down the list of possibilities and start trying a few of them on for good feeling size.  You can already cross at least this one off of your list of maybes. One set of thoughts that you know isn't serving you. (I do so love crossing things off of any list) And there it is!! There is the wisdom. 

Knowing that one of the many possible directions is not what you want and crossing it off of your list of possible directions has just shortened the list.  You are getting closer to knowing what it is that you DO want and what DOES serve you. Ah, closer. You are on your way! Congratulations!

Now that you have got your mojo flowing, keep going. Try another approach to this same topic. Are you getting warmm-er... warmm-er... warmm-er???  Either you can now cross another set of possibles off of your list, or maybe you have found the exact right one. 

It took me years of serious and constant depression and then a lot of years of ups and downs, that were really mid-levels and downs more than they were ups and downs, to figure out that out.  I spent years dwelling on my sad and expecting it to be a huge part of my future.  It took some real effort on my part to first want to find a way out and then to actually be open to and seek that way out. A bad mood or a sad day used to be a very scary place but now its a knowing that I have some more growing to do. Or that I am not quite ready to deal with a subject.  Or that this just simply isn't the road I want and I can cross this thought off of my list of possibilities. "Been there - done that - no thank you" And I find myself one step closer to finding the road that I do want to travel.




For the record - I am loving the road I find myself on now. 

What about you? Is this idea new to you? What do you think? Can you think of how you might remind yourself to look for the wisdom next time you are feeling a lower level emotion?  Or have you used your sad as a learning tool before? If you have I would love to hear about how it. Help inspire another by leaving your story here in the comments section or share with us on my Facebook page. 

You Don't Have to Be Ready, But You Do Have to Start

Much advice has been offered to me about beginning a new career and about being ready for that beginning. "Start before you are ready".  That always seems to be the advice that is given.  Well, I am not ready. Not on all levels anyway. So I guess now is the time.  Does that actually make any sense????

There is a lot to consider when taking on any new project or biz venture.  Social media (not as simple as one who has not used it for more than fun might think), web design, logos, photography, and then there is the actual web content. And we haven't even talked about the actual client time yet. WOW! How do you attract new clients without those things but how do you do all of those things without a strong steady investment of clients, cash and time.

It has seemed for a long time like starting a coaching practice that was more than just a part time hobby to accompany my full time job was a bit of a pipe dream. OR a lot of one.  But then it occurred to take a slightly different perspective on the "start before you are ready" advice.

I was watching, well not really watching but I was in the room while a documentary about the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) was on the TV.  I am not a girl who really cares much about wrestling but I happened to have one ear open while the GIANT man in tights offered a surly piece of wisdom.  He said you had to be in it to win it.  He of course was talking about acquiring some kind of giant golden belt in a Wrestlemania cage match, but his advice is solid - "You Have To Be In It To Win It."

What he was saying is that he would never win the match and wear the belt if he didn't get into the ring.  The belt was his symbol of success. He had to start wresting and risk a few bruises in order to make it to his success point.  He couldn't wait until he had all of the practice and the workouts behind him, those are all a part of getting there.  My success isn't symbolized by any giant accessory, but like my friend in tights, I too need to be in the action in order to make any gains. Things don't need to be set up before I can start. Some things do, but not everything. With so much to be considered and the rate at which the internet is changing how we connect, "Ready" to me feels like a white bunny that I could always be chasing. There is room for me to grow and move towards my success points along the way, WHILE I am "doing it".

I have now officially put myself into the game. Its the only way for me to move towards what I want, which is to use the life experiences and the learning that I have to help as many others as I can to and discover and create more of what is their good stuff.  It's not an easy road and having a coach there for the journey would have been helpful while I was doing it. Helping another along their road is and will be a great way for me to give back to the Universe in gratitude for all of the wonderful blessings I have found. I am in the game and I am here to make a difference.

What about you? Are you in it to win it or are you sitting on the side lines watching others go for it? How does it feel for you to be in the game as opposed to on the bench? What kinds of things have you done to help yourself move past the fear of putting yourself out there and getting in it? I'd love to hear about what you have tried and what works for you.

Use the comment section below or find me on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to share your story. 

Getting Out There to "Carpe This Diem" Can Sometimes Mean Sitting Down

Getting out there and really grabbing a hold of the day is a great feeling.  We have all had those days when even in the middle of it all, you have an awareness of how on fire you are. You are solving problems, finishing projects, cleaning up and getting it done! A real sense of accomplishment in your day feels great.  Do something that you have been meaning to get to. Maybe clean out that drawer in the kitchen, or maybe paint that piece of furniture that's been crying out for some TLC for years, take that drive into the country or spend some quality time with that book that a well intentioned you put on your night table to collect dust.

If you are reading this post that means that you woke up on the right side of the dirt today and that you have a day ahead of you that is full of possibility.  I invite you to shake it up just a little.  Let go of a few of your "shoulds", the dishwasher can wait. Try adding something to your day that is on your enjoyable list of wants instead. We spend so much time looking at what we still need to do to get to where we want to be, that sometimes we can forget about the awesome of where we are.  I have been guilty of that all week long.  But not anymore. I am putting my foot, and my paint brush, down and I am going to enjoy a little of what is already done.

For the past 6 weeks my living room has been piled full of furniture waiting to be assigned its new home.  We could have just moved it in to the rooms where it is destined. But the rooms, and the furniture, need paint.  And so we waited.  But with work schedules being as busy as they were for a few weeks, nothing happened.  The furniture sat, the chaos grew, and what had begun feeling like an adventure began to feel heavy instead. That heavy took a tole on my whole self.  Thanks to the help of Karen Hillfman-Millson, a great coach and fantastic friend, I saw that the timing of my recent exhaustion and lack of creativity was closely tied to the mess in the living room.

I knew what I wanted and letting it just sit in wait was holding back more than just the transformation of rooms, it was holding ME back. And since it was now clear that nothing was going to paint and move itself into place.... I took action.

It's been a busy week but the living room is live-able. One bedroom and its furniture have been painted and a beautiful space created.  A second bedroom has drywall mud drying and awaiting its turn for colour. Two other rooms have furniture rendering them useful spaces, their beautifying transformations await - and perhaps will wait until the fall, but I can breath again now.  My space is back to feeling like an adventure. The heavy chaos has been lifted.  It took some conscious and dedicated effort to move the project forward, but then I just had to let the ripple effects that had poured into all areas of my life do the same again.  Only this time for the good.

I am on a role. I could keep going.  I am guilty of having a mojo flowing that wants it all done now - or yesterday even.  I easily focus on the projects that lay ahead.  Lord knows there are a lot of them. But I can almost hear Karen asking me how I feel about what was accomplished last week. Good question Karen, one I would ask to my clients too. Karen - I feel so good that I want more. Which is amazing, yes I know. So lets hit the pause button for a moment.  It was fun doing it. Let's not rush through the fun. Let's bask a little. Enjoy it in each stage. Carpe this diem and make a change for the good, I absolutely recommend that.  But lets also carpe this opportunity to enjoy the diem and the journey and not work to so hard that we forget to engage in what is now. I am loving what I see. Full stop. Pause. Just love this moment for a moment, and THEN reengage in this awesome feeling of accomplishment and keep going.

I invite and encourage you to get up off of your butt and do something that feels good for you and moves your forward. And then sit back down and enjoy it as it is in your now. Then get up again and continue the cycle. Both the doing and the enjoying of what has been accomplished are a part of what makes its all feel like the adventure that you are here to have.

Do you have projects that you would feel good about enjoying the accomplishment of? Do you remember to bask in what you have already created or are you guilty of the same "let's get 'er done" mojo that I am? How do you keep yourself from getting caught up in that?