How To Listen To Your Heart Without Losing Your Mind

how to listen to your heart

“Some people will follow their minds without listening to their hearts, and others will follow their hearts without listening to their minds. This is why reason exists, for there to be balance between the heart and mind. We were not meant to follow the mind and ignore the heart. Instead, we were meant to follow the heart over the mind, but without completely abandoning logic. The middle way is the preferred way, and this path simply means to allow your heart to drive you, but do not forget to balance reason with your conscience.”
Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

 

I have a huge problem with many of the teachings of the spiritual community. “Listen to your heart. The mind is the enemy.”, they say. “Work on opening your higher chakras. The lowers ones are less evolved. Suppress your desires. They are the enemy.”

I am here to tell you. It is unwise to suppress any part of you. You were given every part of you as a gift to help you live life. We give our power away by listening to someone’s else’s formula (does that sound like listening to your heart?), and we wind up suffering in the process. It actually amazes me that we are told so often to silence our minds, when our entire world is projected by the mind. Mind moves around the sense of self.

When you suppress your desires, they will always come out in an unhealthier way. Ever said no to that scoop of ice cream you were craving, and wind up eating an entire box of cookies later?  Those people with the blocked lower chakras? They are the ones living life ungrounded, wondering why they can’t manifest anything. (When your lower chakras are blocked, there’s nothing connecting you to earth, so how can you manifest anything on it?)

And, those people who only listen to their heart and ignore their minds? They are the ones living from every feeling and emotion they have, with nothing else guiding them. They often make unwise, emotionally charged decisions, instead of letting their mind sometimes tell them they aren’t being very rational. They are the ones calling you to bum money because they spent the money for their rent on some bauble they just had to have. They are the ones who quit their day job to do what they loved without a thought as to how they would bring in income from it. They are the ones that end up in relationship after relationship because they were in “love”, but didn’t stop to use their mind to see if the relationship was actually a wise decision.

It doesn’t matter how much two people love one another if they are developmentally incompatible, or if there is not a shared willingness to become conscious. This is why they call it a relationship instead of a loveship. Love alone is not enough. If you want it to last, you have to relate to each other in ways that keep the ship afloat.-Jeff Brown

 

We were given both a head and a heart for a reason. While it’s important to have an open heart, this doesn’t mean that we let it control our every decision. We also don’t want to only make our decisions based on logic. If we leave our heart out of the picture, we also won’t be very happy. We will wind up in a job we hate, dreading Mondays, or in a loveless relationship because it made sense to our head. Here are tips on how to follow your heart while also letting your mind guide you.

How To Listen To Your Heart Without Losing Your Mind

how to listen to your heart

1. Listen To Both Your Intuition And Your Fears

Are heart is what gives us that initial desire for something. Our heart provides the excitement and inspiration to make something happen. But, many people don’t make it past there. They either let the mind control them with fear and stop, or they don’t use their mind to make a plan to work on their dreams. If you don’t look at your fears, they will stay stuck in your body, and you will eventually become stuck. Your mind is only trying to protect you. Look at your mind’s concerns and address them.

Fear can be overcome, but it also may cause you to make a wiser choice. You may decide to date someone casually for a while to see how the relationship progresses before getting involved in a more serious relationship. Or, you may do your dream job part-time while keeping your full-time job to pay the bills. Listen to your intuition, and pay attention to the other parts of your body. Do you have a knot in your stomach that won’t go away? Figure out what your body is trying to tell you and why.

2. Do Things To Calm The Body And Mind

We live in a frantic world where it’s always easy to be on the go, and that causes us to ignore both our hearts and minds. When we calm our bodies and our minds, the true voice of the heart can break through. I like to do this by taking a walk in nature, taking a long bath, getting a massage, or listening to calming music. In fact, I love to start my morning with exercises to relax. Five Good Minutes is a great book filled with relaxation exercises that only take five minutes.

3. Don’t Let Others Make Your Decisions For You

how to listen to your heart

We often ask others (others who usually don’t even have their own shit together) for advice, and then we let that advice dictate our decisions. That is the absolute worse thing you can do. When you have to go to others for advice, that means you are very disconnected from your own heart and intuition. In fact, you aren’t even using your mind to help you decided what to do. Go inside and figure out a path for yourself. Listen to your heart, and let your mind guide you. You need to live your own life and not the life of another.

 4. Take Life Less Seriously

listen to your heart

We are so hard on ourselves. You don’t have to be perfect. You are allowed to make mistakes. The great thing is, you can always start again. I know some of the “mistakes” I’ve made have been some of the greatest gifts. My mistakes have often led me to places I wouldn’t have wound up otherwise. Realize that sometimes in life, you may go down a path you would have rather not have walked down, but only that path will lead you to the place you need to be. Have more fun in life, and listen to its flow.

5. Get Outside Of Your Comfort Zone

Often, we ignore our hearts because we think they are irrational, but some of the fears of the mind can be just as irrational. Don’t let the fears of the mind keep you from fully living life because you aren’t fully comfortable. Remember, the heart provides us with an authentic connection to who we are inside, and we can use the mind to guide us to take the right steps to live fully. To me, using both the head and the heart is a bit like deciding where to go on your dream trip. You don’t let the mind talk you out of not going because of all the bad things that could happen. You let your heart decide where to go, and your mind gets involved with figuring out how much money to save for the trip, what to pack, and the planning aspects. You use your mind to do the research, and your heart gets to be the one to dream up the adventure.

Do you struggle with making decisions?

Do you listen to your heart or your mind, but want help doing both? 

If you are looking for mentoring, guidance, or a game plan to create the life you want, I can help. 

I help with: 

• Finding and living your passions
• Living life on your own terms
• Loving yourself
• Better relationships
• Navigating big transitions
• Career changes and decisions
• Financial issues
• Business issues
• Starting a new business (business and financial plans and strategies)
• Starting and running a successful blog
• Managing stress
• Being happy

Email me at [email protected] for a phone mentoring session today. 

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If You Hate Mondays, This Article Is For You

hate mondays

I used to be you. I used to hate Mondays. The weekends never lasted long enough. I just worked to pay the bills. Then one day, I realized something. I didn’t want to live like that anymore. Life is short enough, and I was tired of every Monday-Friday feeling like every other Monday-Friday. I realized that I was selling most of the hours of my life away to my employer, and I didn’t want to do that anymore.

hate Mondays

So, I stopped and thought hard about how I wanted to spend my life. I wanted to see the world. It’s a lot of people’s dream jobs to work from a beach, and I decided that’s what I would do to. I created a travel blog about beaches, and decided I wouldn’t hate Mondays anymore. I’ve since created three more websites that I run. I also give sound healing sessions, life coaching inspiration, and help others to not hate Mondays. So, what got me from here to there? If you hate Mondays, you probably think your situation is hopeless. You probably feel stuck and don’t know how to get from there to here. I’m here to tell you that within the next year, you could very easily be living a life you love. Here’s how I did it.

How To Stop Hating Mondays

1. Stop Letting Other People’s Poor Decisions Affect Your Own

Many people let the people they spend most of their time with influence their decisions. They don’t even stop to think about doing things differently. Everyone else goes to work for someone else. Everyone else hates Mondays. So, many people go out and get a job they aren’t thrilled with because they think they have to. Most people choose to own cars that aren’t paid for, choose to live in houses that put them in debt, and wear clothes that they put on their credit card and think this will bring them happiness. Meanwhile, the debt continues to accumulate and they are left feeling forced to work in a job they hate to pay for all this happiness. Would you rather travel around the world, create a business you are passionate about, and have time for the things you love or would you rather own a bunch of shit that will all burn or break down one day? This is a choice you are making whether you have stopped to think about it or not.

2. Don’t Let Fear Decide For You, Either

A lot of people have let the media convince them that they have to work for someone else, or they will wind up on the streets. They are afraid to make the jump to start living a life they love. One day, I just saw how much of an illusion our lives are, and I could live the illusion in fear or in joy. And, I just decided, I would do whatever it took to love my life. I finally realized, I was the creator of my life, and if I didn’t do something to change it, it would continue the same way. Don’t let fear stop you and take away the real happiness you could be creating.

3. Learn To Live With Less

It only took me three months to quit my job, once I decided I didn’t want to live that way anymore. Why? Because I had no debt. Most people have debt today because they are convinced that they need things they really don’t. For instance, I have probably bought coffee from coffee shops less than twenty times in my life. I have always bought a used car, one I could afford to pay cash for at the moment that I bought it. (Yes, all of my cars have been at least ten years old.) I have never had cable TV. I have usually bought my clothing at garage sales or thrift shops. The same thing goes for the furniture in my house. I rarely eat at restaurants.

Now you may think I have missed out. But, I have rented a bungalow on my own private beach in Tahiti. I swam with manta rays in Raja Ampat. I have been on the world’s best beaches, written a book, and have had experiences beyond my wildest dreams. I will gladly trade “stuff” for the experiences I have had. I realize there are many financial situations out there, but people make small financial decisions every day which affect their future. They don’t realize that the money they spend at Starbucks will cost them $22,995.00 over the course of 30 years. That alone could pay for a trip around the world.

If you want to start planning a different future, I recommend checking out the website, Early Retirement Extreme.  It offers money-making ideas and great tips for saving for early retirement. Remember, it is the American consumerism mentality that leads you to believe that spending more will make you happier? Is this really true? How happy are you now? You have to look at the full picture and figure out how much things are really costing you.

4. Start Working On Your Business On The Side

When I decided I wanted to start a travel blog, I didn’t just automatically quit my job. I had traveled frequently, so I had plenty of photos and stories to tell without going anywhere. I stayed up until two in the morning most nights working on my travel blog, after working my full-time job all day. But, I noticed something great. I didn’t dread it. I loved what I was doing. I work just as many hours as I used to. The difference is now I don’t dread it.

You really don’t have to hate Mondays anymore. First, you have to change your mindset. Then, be willing to put in the work to create a life you really love.

Do you want to stop hating Mondays? 

Do you want help getting started?

I can help!

Jump on Skype with me. I offer Skype coaching sessions to help you with creating and loving your life. 

Email me at [email protected].

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What If Today You Started Following Your Bliss And Said, “To Hell With The Rest”

follow your bliss

“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
Joseph Campbell

 

Are you afraid of following your bliss? A lot of people are. People are afraid of doing what they love, of being happy. They are afraid if they come across as too happy or full of too much joy that people will dislike them, or they will be thought of as selfish. I’ve got news for you. You can’t fully give your gift to the world until you are following your bliss.

It is a trap of society that makes us feel like we just have to get through to the weekend, or that we have to be with partners we don’t fit with any more, or that we can’t move to a new country, or that we must stay in the job we hate. If you aren’t happy, if you’re not following your bliss, then you aren’t giving your true self to the world. When you aren’t giving your true self to the world, everyone suffers.

There’s something inside you that knows when you’re in the center, that knows when you’re on the beam or off the beam. And if you get off the beam to earn money, you’ve lost your life. And if you stay in the center and don’t get any money, you still have your bliss.-Joseph Campbell

 

If you aren’t feeling happy about your job, you aren’t going to be giving your best you to that job. The thing is many people sleepwalk through their lives and don’t even stop to realize they aren’t really happy. I knew someone who worked so hard and had such a hectic travel schedule with their job that they actually had to be hospitalized because of stress. Still this person proclaimed that they loved their work. This was while their drawers and cabinets were full of bottles of Xanax that they took each day just to get through it.

Today, we medicate ourselves with drugs, alcohol, the internet, TV, and many other things, so we don’t have to feel our own unhappiness. I invite you to take an honest look at your life and to ask yourself if you are really present.

And, no, following your bliss doesn’t mean you will feel blissful 100% of the time. It takes hard work to make your dreams come true. Relationships aren’t always easy, and working out the challenges won’t always feel blissful. But, if we know we’ve reached the end, we do ourselves and the other person a favor by letting them go, rather than stringing them along when we could be keeping them (and ourselves) away from a person that is a better match. If our heart is no longer in the job we are doing, we start working on doing something that we can fully put our hearts in. Trust me, your coworkers will appreciate that!

When you choose to live a life of following your bliss, you become immediately aware when things in your life aren’t working the way you want them to. And, you begin the work of creating the life you want to be living. You become present in your life instead of numbing yourself and trying to escape from it.

The Consequences Of Following Your Bliss

follow your bliss

“It is my opinion that enjoying yourself in the present and loosening your definition of time slows the aging process.”
― Frederick Dodson, Parallel Universe of Self

 

When you start radiating bliss, something incredible will start happening.  Bliss is a frequency. Our bodies actually respond to bliss on a cellular level. Have you noticed that certain elderly people look nothing like their age? Have you noticed that these certain people are also living a blissful life? They have chosen to be happy, and it shows up in the cells of their body! Have you noticed the extra energy that you have when you are following your bliss? It seems like you don’t get tired or even hungry. You don’t want to stop what you are doing! This is our body responding at a chemical level to bliss.

You also start feeling fully the true pleasures of things because you aren’t using pleasures to medicate yourself. There is a difference between the feeling of tasting a glass of wine and truly tasting it with pleasure and merely drinking it to get the buzz that takes you away from reality. There is a difference in having a sexual experience with someone in which you are truly present and one in which you are just using as a means of escape.

“There is no need for us all to be alike and think the same way, neither do we need a common enemy to force us to come together and reach out to each other. If we allow ourselves and everyone else the freedom to fully individuate as spiritual beings in human form, there will be no need for us to be forced by worldly circumstances to take hands and stand together. Our souls will automatically want to flock together, like moths to the flame of our shared Divinity, yet each with wings covered in the glimmering colors and unique patterns of our individual human expression.”
― Anthon St. Maarten

 

You are also going to attract people and circumstances into your life at the level you are at. Life will seem to flow effortlessly, and give you exactly what you need. You will be more in touch with yourself, so that you will hear the messages of your soul more clearly. You are going to love and accept yourself more easily, and as a result, will start to accept and love others more easily, too.

Bliss is the pathway to love. When we allow bliss to flow through our bodies, we will want give freedom to others to be exactly who they are. This will be easy because we are giving ourselves the freedom to be who we are. We won’t stop at allowing. We will actually support others and help them to follow the calling of their souls. This is the greatest love we can give. We won’t need to control them. We will realize that we were the selfish ones for expecting them to show up a certain way.

Following your bliss gives your life meaning, belonging, and a sense of purpose. So, tune into your deepest dreams and desires. They are there for a reason. Stop treating them as mere fantasies. That is your soul calling. How are you going to answer?

Do you want to follow your bliss?

Do you want help getting started?

I can help!

Jump on Skype with me. I offer Skype coaching sessions to help you with creating and loving your life. 

Email me at [email protected].

If you liked this article, then please follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Why Your Life Purpose Isn’t What You Think It Is

life purposeSome of us think we know what our life purpose is, but it seems like whatever we do, it is a struggle to actually follow that life purpose. Others of us don’t have a clue as to what our life purpose is. We just know that we have one and we would like to find it.

I am here to tell you that if you are trying to think your way to your life purpose, that you are never going to find it. Knowing your life purpose isn’t going to come through your mind. You have to use your heart. When you feel your way to your life purpose, you will use your heart to ignite passion, the passion that will make following your life purpose effortless and easy.

Now some of you who just read that: Your mind is already arguing. It’s feeling left out. It doesn’t see how it’s not needed to discover your path in life.

I am here to tell you that your mind is designed to keep you safe. It isn’t going to let you out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t like change. Fear comes from the mind. It’s going to tell you every reason your real life purpose isn’t going to work out for you. It’s going to try to convince you that you “need” that corporate job that is killing your soul, because you need the money. It will try to convince you that it’s your real purpose. Or, it will try to convince you that other paths are your true purpose which are not. The mind tries to control everything. It tries to force things, and make them happen. Whereas, the heart surrenders and allows life to flow.

life purpose

How To Find Your Life Purpose By Using Your Heart

The heart knows. The heart is the one that will awaken you to your life. When you let your heart lead you to your purpose, you won’t have to obsessively plan anything. When you live life through your heart, life rises up to meet you. Things seem to magically happen to get you to where you need to be. But, it takes being aware of how your heart feels, so you don’t miss these opportunities.

Our soul holds our life purpose, and its messenger is the heart. If we learn to receive its messages, it will lead us in the direction that we are meant to go.

Living life through the heart means saying yes to opportunities that rise up even though they may not be things that your mind is usually attracted to. You will also see when situations aren’t working. You will feel when things seem to be a struggle, and you will let those situations and people go.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”-Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

 

You know you are in your heart when you are doing activities where you lose track of time. Inspiration just floods your entire being, and you feel happy. We really are meant to be happy. Life isn’t meant to be a struggle.

When the heart leads us, we become willing to try new things. We become willing to release old patterns, and we try new ways of doing things. Our heart isn’t afraid of failing. Our heart knows that when we follow the calling of the soul, there is no such thing as failure. When we are on the right path, there is no experience we have that isn’t one that the soul has chosen.

“Within the sacred space of the heart, you have recorded your heart’s deepest desire that you wish to manifest and live more than any other thing or event. It is there for you to remember, your purpose for coming to Earth in the first place-the very reason for being here.”-Drunvalo Melchizedek, Living In The Heart

 

Start looking at the influence you are having on others around you. What are they telling you that you are good at? How are you blessing them? Those are clues to your purpose.

What are you judging yourself for? Oftentimes, we dislike the very thing about ourselves that can be a clue as to what we are supposed to be doing. Our mind judges the very gift that we have to give. For the longest time, I judged myself because I thought I talked too much. Once I started living life through my heart, I saw that I had a great gift with the words that I spoke. I also started listening to others more through my heart, and realized I could respond through my heart to others and with fewer words. I realized part of  my purpose isn’t just in the words that I speak and write, but it also has a lot to do with listening to others. Very few of us listen to others with our hearts, but I have learned to do that, and not only that, it’s part of my purpose!

When we let our hearts lead, things in our lives become more than just about us. We feel compassion and realize our purpose as it relates to the whole. We see our part in helping all of humanity. When we start helping others, our value isn’t based on the money we make. It’s based on how much we are helping and loving others.

When you look for your purpose through your heart, it becomes less about what will make you happy and fulfilled in your life. It becomes more about what you can do to improve the lives of others. And, when you start improving the lives of others, you come to realize, there is nothing more fulfilling than that. After all, that is the true path of the heart.

Our hearts are so much bigger than our minds (The HeartMath Institute has discovered that the human heart generates the largest and most powerful energy field of any organ in the body, including the brain within the skull. In fact,the electromagnetic output of the heart is up to sixty times stronger than that of the brain.) Isn’t it time to become bigger than ourselves? It’s possible if we let the heart lead.

Do you want help connecting to your heart and finding your true life purpose?  Come to our retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico July 12-19. Come be ReHearted of who you really are. Click on this link  for more information!

 

Hey Control Freak! What If I Told You That You Have No Control?

control freak

“What if the point of life has nothing to do with the creation of an ever-expanding region of control? What if the point is not to keep at bay all those people, beings, objects and emotions that we so needlessly fear? What if the point instead is to let go of that control? What if the point of life, the primary reason for existence, is to lie naked with your lover in a shady grove of trees? What if the point is to taste each other’s sweat and feel the delicate pressure of finger on chest, thigh on thigh, lip on cheek?

What if the point is to stop, then, in your slow movements together, and listen to the birdsong, to watch the dragonflies hover, to look at your lover’s face, then up at the undersides of leaves moving together in the breeze? What if the point is to invite these others into your movement, to bring trees, wind, grass, dragonflies into your family and in so doing abandon any attempt to control them? What if the point all along has been to get along, to relate, to experience things on their own terms? What if the point is to feel joy when joyous, love when loving, anger when angry, thoughtful when full of thought? What if the point from the beginning has been to simply be?”Derrick Jensen, A Language Older Than Words

Does that scare you? The thought of having no control. The thing is even if you aren’t a control freak, the thought of having no control scares most of us. I recently had to admit that I was a control freak. I had a vision of myself as a toddler, running through a nursery, and grabbing all the toys. I was holding them so tightly that I was breaking them. I was stepping on and killing all the animals and breaking all the toys in my way (terrible, right?!) to get to what I thought I needed to control. Tears came to my eyes, as I saw that this was how I had approached most things in my life. Yeah, as a rising Leo, I pretty much thought that the sun wouldn’t rise each day without my help.

But, life, (who has a very gentle voice, by the way, which is why we don’t often hear it) said to me, “Oh honey, you’ve been acting this way because this is how you were taught. This has been your only example.  It’s OK. You have been given a lot of false beliefs that you weren’t born with. But, I am here to show you a better way.”

Life showed me that my inner control freak had a closed fist. This is why it had been so hard for me to receive from people. I had been so busy trying to control things and going after what I thought should be mine, that I wasn’t allowing life to just show up. If we work on getting our own energy and thoughts in alignment (which is the only thing we can control), then we will magnetically attract the perfect situations to us. I saw a new way of being. I could just be the observer of what was happening in my life with no need to control it. Is every situation going to be perfect?

Well, yes, and no. I might attract interactions with others that aren’t necessarily fun, but I am attracting my own mirror. So, if a situation occurs in my life that rubs me the wrong way, I can look within to see where I am wounded. I can drop the anger. It’s not needed. What I need to do instead is observe what it is within me that makes me angry or makes me feel like I need to control the situation. I can look deeper to see where my fear lies. A need to control is always just a layer above a fear. A fear that if something doesn’t go a certain way, something uncomfortable will happen. That’s where the real growth is. Figuring out where my fears are, so I can dismantle them one by one, and then attract something better.

I also learned that I could be a control freak because I liked my way of doing things. I realized that everyone has their own way of doing things, and no one is wrong. Everyone is doing what is right for them. Here’s how I changed my way of thinking.

“In the dance of life, pull down your own oxygen mask first, then take a deep breath and help everyone else. They’ll thank you for it, believe me.”
John C. Parkin, Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way

5 Ways To Dismantle Your Control Freak:

1. Look At Life As An Adventure

Remember when you were a kid? You didn’t care how things were done, which route your parents took when they were driving, or how you got to a certain place. You were just along for a ride. Do you remember how adventurous everything was? Try to get back to that space. Be in the moment and just allow. Allow what is happening around you to happen without your judgements. You will be surprised a lot more and notice a lot more scenery.

2. Have Open Hands And An Open Heart

If our hands and hearts are closed, they can’t be open to receive the good things that come our way. Everything in life will just happen without our help (yes, even the sun rising.) If you work on allowing, this will attract exactly what you need into your life (even though you may not think so at the time).

3. Listen And Learn From Other People

I have learned that everyone who shows up in my life is my teacher. Yep, everyone (including that ultra-annoying person). While I may think I know the best way, oftentimes, I realize I don’t. I am learning to shut up and listen to others and what they have to teach me.

4. Flow

If you observe life, you will see there is a natural flow to absolutely everything. That is the natural state of things. I now try to spend most of my time controlling my own thoughts rather than trying to control circumstances or people outside of myself which I really have no control over anyway. Just letting things flow and changing my thoughts on a situation allows life to flow effortlessly without me getting in the way.

5. Practice Not Controlling Things By Delegating And Looking For Experiences That Make You Feel Out Of Control

Let other people help you.( yeah, I know, frightening). Invite people into your life who scare you, who make you uncomfortable. Don’t run away when you start to have intense feelings that you can’t control for someone you really like. Do something that you’re not good at. Let yourself look stupid. Stop doing. Breathe. Do absolutely nothing for a day. Observe your thoughts. Listen. Color. Outside the lines. Have a beer. For breakfast. Tell someone how you feel about them. Right now. Fingerpaint. Ignore something that upsets you. Travel somewhere that isn’t comfortable. Just be. Laugh. Loudly. Surrender. Yes. All the way.

 

Do you want to create flow and ease in your life?

Do you want help letting go?

Do you want to stop being a control freak?

I can help!

Jump on Skype with me. I offer Skype coaching sessions to help you with creating and loving your life. 

Take that first step with me HERE.

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7 Things To Balance In Your Life

balance in your life

Next to love, balance is the most important thing.- John Wooden

I have noticed that in yoga, I struggle with the balance poses the most. This realization showed me that when I am struggling in life, it’s also because something isn’t in balance. Absolutely everything in life is about balance. I want to be more conscious of where I can bring more balance to my everyday life instead of just letting life happen to me.

Here are 7 things to balance in your life: 

1. How Often You Live In Your Head vs. How Much You Live In Your Body

We often live our days from the neck up. We stay in our minds, and we forget to notice how our body is moving through life. I want to pay more attention to my movement, my posture, the way a breeze might be moving against my skin, or the way my body either opens or contracts when someone else moves close to me.

2. Rest vs. Activity

I want to make sure I also give myself time to reflect on my life instead of always getting caught up in activity and doing. I want to allow my mind to rest in meditation, or allow my body to just do nothing without feeling guilty. But, I also want to make sure that each day is full of motion and never becomes stagnant. To create a good balance in your life, make sure you allow time for both rest and activity.

3. Spontaneity vs. Planning

I love to have everything planned out. But, I’ve learned that if I always follow the plan, I can miss out on some beautiful spontaneous moments. So, I’m learning to let go, and tune in more to what I really feel like doing in the moment. If I am walking down the street and happen to see a beautiful tree that I want to sit under for a moment, I allow myself to do so. If I wake up, and decide to go out for breakfast rather than having the breakfast I had planned at home, I do that. If a friend calls and wants me to join them on an unexpected adventure, I join them. I also no longer plan every second of my day, so I can allow time for unplanned moments to occur. You may benefit from being more of a planner, planning out your goals and being less of a procrastinator.

4. Giving vs. Receiving

I admit it. I am a much better giver than I am a receiver. I need help learning how to receive. I have a hard time being vulnerable, which receiving makes me feel. I am learning to be more open and to let myself receive. Some people have a hard time knowing how to give. It’s a balance that, once learned, can improve our relationships with others and with the Universe itself. It’s not enough to manifest what we want to see happen in our lives. We then must learn to receive it as well.

5. Your Shadow Side vs. The Light You Show

None of us are perfect. We all have a shadow side that we don’t like to admit is there. I have learned that the shadow side of me: the fear, the anger, the insecurities, jealousy, and pain, just wants to be noticed and embraced by me. When I pretend it isn’t there, it has no hope of being transformed into something more. I have found that shame can only be lifted by meeting the dark where it is. Darkness itself is a great transformer. It has shown me where I need to own my shit. Seeing what I’ve seen in the dark has let me bring great healing and love to the issues I still have to work on.

6. Boundaries vs. Openness

balance in your life

“Your attachment to unhealthy people and bad habits, which offer you no real control, is why you’re spiritually dying and living a life out of balance.” ― Shannon L. Alder

I am an open person. I am open to new experiences, thoughts, and other people. But, I often found myself in relationships where I was taken advantage of. I am learning now to no longer stop at mean-spirited roadhouses, even if I once had a great time at that roadhouse. Many times we get caught up in how someone used to treat us, that we still hold on even when they are being unkind. I have learned to move on if that is the case. Since setting boundaries, I also attract better people into my life. You may have the problem of not being open enough. If you are moving through life without feeling deeply known by people, maybe it’s time to open yourself a little more. There is a perfect balance which will leave you feeling more fulfilled in your relationships.

7. What I Spend vs. What I Save

I have always been a good saver (kind of goes with the planning thing.) I am learning to let go and enjoy myself more and allow myself to occasionally splurge on myself and things that I enjoy. I no longer look for the cheapest hotel room when traveling. I now look for the one that has character, yet that’s not overpriced. I am now working to live with things more in balance, so that I enjoy the money I have worked hard to make, yet, I still have some saved aside for future financial goals as well.

Hopefully, these areas will give you ideas of other areas of life where you can create balance in your life. Let me know what you are trying to balance in your life by leaving a comment below!

Ready to start creating balance in your life?
Are you looking for some help along the way?
Someone who can help you create the life you want to be living? 

I can help.

I offer Skype coaching sessions to help you create the life you want.

Take that first step with me HERE.

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Are You A Spiritual Junkie? Then You Are Part Of The Problem.

spiritual junkie

You are feeling pretty proud of yourself right now. You do yoga and meditation every day. You have visited every spiritual healer you could find and are now plowing your way through the “Best Spiritual Books” list.  In fact, you are actually thrilled right now. You are feeling inspired by all the self-help stuff you have read. And, you make sure to pin at least five Spiritual quotes per day on Pinterest.

First, of all let me say. If you are working on yourself and getting healed and taking time to meditate, that’s awesome. But, let me tell you something, my friend. It doesn’t stop there. That thrill that you feel. That’s not what change feels like. That feeling is the feeling of the spiritual junkie numbing themselves out on inspiration, so they don’t have to make the real changes that are needed for the world.

Are You A Spiritual Junkie?

If your life is full of spiritual activities, but you have no vision as to what you are going to bring to this world and what your purpose is here, then you are a spiritual junkie. If you are reading all of the right books, but your life isn’t changing, then you are a spiritual junkie. If you are sending out thoughts of loving kindness to the world, but you can’t reach out to your friend who is obviously hurting inside, then you are a spiritual junkie. If you are afraid of being vulnerable and keep a mask of positivity up while practicing your affirmations when, really, your world is falling apart, then you are a spiritual junkie. If you can’t let a conversation go by without mentioning those beings from other realms, while you are doing absolutely nothing about this dimension, then you are a spiritual junkie. If you are waiting for the Universe to make everything perfect before taking the next step, then you are a spiritual junkie. You can’t hide in your meditation bubble forever. Break away from the drum circle for just one minute and realize, “We are part of the problem.”

Yes, spiritual activities are a wonderful inspiration and healing force in our lives, but if you aren’t actually taking action, then you are just using them for the “high” they give you, and everything in this world is going to stay exactly the same. Are you OK with that? Are you OK with letting your fear and your laziness stop you from making this place better? Are you OK with your excuses that you need to work so many hours so you can buy expensive furniture for your house that you never even have time to sit on, or that you just really aren’t ready and need to go to your forty-third healing session before you have anything to give this world? The world needs you NOW. If you haven’t noticed, it’s kind of falling apart.

I’ll be honest with you. That thrill that you have now, that feeling of bliss that just around the corner that’s when you will start to live your purpose, but, boy, are you inspired and so ready to kick ass when the Universe tells you the time is right. That feeling is going to turn into sheer terror when you really start to live your purpose. Because, you will be risking everything to do so. And, you are going to know that it’s so important that you do so, that you aren’t going to want to screw it up.

That comfortable, floaty feeling you have right now is going to turn into discomfort and hard work. Because, every time we decide to make a change, some hard work is involved. There is ALWAYS something we will have to give up in order to have something new. But, then, you are going to come out on top. And that floaty feeling you have right now is going to surge into pure ecstatic bliss, because finally you will see why you read all those spiritual books and are doing all those hours of meditation. They are there to show you the path. And, finally, you chose to walk it.

And, if you see yourself in this, there is nothing wrong with you. All of us have been guilty of using something to numb out. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, social media, TV, or spiritual activities, we have all used something to numb us from the fact that there is something we can be doing right now. But, we don’t want to believe that we have what it takes. Do you know how enough you are? How worthy you are? Use that healing and those spiritual teachings to teach you that, and then take what you have learned and share it with the world. This world that needs you right now. Just as you are. You are perfect right now. Don’t let them shame you into feeling you aren’t enough. You are.

Don’t let your spiritual activities numb your fear of making a change right now. You are ready. Right now. Just as you are. You’ve got to do more than just pray for change. It’s time to be the change. Stop thinking about what you are going to do someday, and do it now.

Know that there are others. Others like you are just waiting to help you. It’s time to take off the Buddha mask and admit that you are touched by what is happening in our world. Show your pain. Show your tears. Show your anger. Show your rage. And then do something about it.

If your vision is to start living your purpose right now and changing the world right now, I want to help!

Let’s chat. Email me at [email protected] to schedule some time with me. I want to help you quiet your fears and get to a place of freedom.

photo credit: Parallel Universe via photopin (license)

 

Are You Tired Of Life? This Could Be The Reason Why

tired of life

If you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for it. Then you are not fit to live. You might be 38 years old as I happen to be, and one day you are called upon to stand up for some great principle or cause, and you refuse because you are afraid.

You refuse to do it because you want to live longer. You are afraid that you will lose your job. You are afraid that you will be criticized by others. You are afraid that you will lose your popularity, or you are afraid that somebody will stab you, or shoot at you, or bomb your house. So you refuse to take a stand.

Well you may go on and live to be 90 years old, but you are already dead. You died when you refused to stand up for right. You died when you refused to stand up for truth. You died when you refused to stand up for justice. Don’t ever think that you are by yourself.

Go to jail if necessary, but you never go alone. Take a stand for that which you know is right. The world might misunderstand you and criticize you, but you are never alone. One with God is the majority—-DR. KING (from the Autobiography of Dr. King)

Why You Are Tired Of Life

There is a very good reason you might be feeling tired of life right now. You were born into this world with a purpose. But, chances are you have succumbed to society’s conditioning. You have bought into consumerism. You have been fooled into buying a bunch of useless junk (junk that still didn’t make you happy), and instead of having time to live the life you work so hard for, you are stuck with the same Monday-Friday routine, the same monotony with only the weekends left to follow your dreams. Only then, you are so tired from the rest of the week, that you use the weekends to zone out, to sleep, and do nothing to create the kind of life that you want to be living.

tired of life

Why You Don’t Feel Fulfilled

Your soul isn’t going to let you rest any longer. It knows that you are living a lie, and it’s trying to do everything it can to wake you up. As you will see in the video at the end of this article, Spencer Cathcart got it right.

You have sold your soul to work for the elite of this world, those who hunger for power and control. And, you have given it freely to them in exchange for worthless pieces of paper that you think will give you happiness and security. As Spencer says, “Their most valuable resource is not in the ground. It is us. They gave us money and, in return, we gave them the world.”

tired of life

We live in a world that is being destroyed, and, by not doing anything about it, we are part of the destruction. So, we choose instead to zone out with our Smartphones. We let our lives become filled with unimportant Facebook statuses and pretty pictures on Pinterest and completely miss what is really going on. So, yeah, no wonder you are tired of life. You will continue to feel this way until you actually start living it.

tired of life

How To Stop Feeling Tired Of Life

If you want to stop feeling tired of life, then create a life that is worth living. Is this really the life you want? The one where you are overworked, stressed out, burned up, and chronically busy?

Stop being what they told you to be, and start living your passions and following your dreams. And, don’t just focus on yourself. When you focus on others, your life will take on meaning again. You will see that you are needed. Also, you will see the gifts that you have to offer this world, and why we need you to start being a part of it instead of just an observer.

We all want someone else to bring change, but it just doesn’t work that way. First of all, we have to change. We have to strip away our fears. We have to know we won’t wind up starving on the streets if we start doing what we love.

And, we have to be willing to change how we see things. We have to stop the busy. We have run and run from facing who we really are, and it’s time to see there is no monster inside to be scared of, only a hurt, lost child that needs your embrace. You have more power than you know. We all do.

One of the things that helped me stop being tired of life was realizing that I can control my thoughts. For more information on how to do this, I recommend that you check out my other site at www.thegoodthought.com.

Yes, it’s going to take courage. It’s going to cause people to shun you because you are bold enough to take a stand. It’s going to take learning to say no. But, more important, it’s going to take learning to say yes. To yourself. To life. And to all of us.

Some Of The Books That Helped Me View Life Differently

You may also like my article, “How To Create A Life You Don’t Need A Vacation From”.

I also offer Skype sessions to anyone who wants help creating a better life. Sign up for my newsletter below, then email me at [email protected] for more information about booking a session today.

featured photo: (kamshots, Flickr Creative Commons, license)

How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Suck

create a life that doesn't suck

(Photo Credit: © National Geographic)

Have you noticed? Something is changing in our world. Countries are now being measured by their gross national happiness  rather than their gross national product. People are realizing they don’t need so much stuff. People are working fewer hours, moving into tiny houses, and spending more time doing things they love. Even,  Americans are rejecting consumerism. People are creating lives they enjoy all week-long, not just on the weekends. So, how can you do this? How can you create a life that doesn’t suck? One that makes you jump out of bed each morning, ready and excited to take on the day?

How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Suck

1. Stop Selfie-Shaming Your Mistakes

create a life that doesn't suck

Our mistakes are there to teach us and making them doesn’t mean we have failed. But, so many of us are afraid to admit we made a mistake, so, instead we pretend we didn’t, and we hide from them. Well, guess what? We will just keep reliving our mistakes until we learn from them. So, save some time by embracing the mistakes you make, and take it as an opportunity to do things differently in the future. Become your own biggest fan, and learn to accept both the light and dark parts inside of you. When you stop the selfie-shaming of your beautiful self, you will also be gentler and more loving towards others, instead of sending judgement their way.

 2. Remember You Are A Unicorn And The World Is Your Rainbow

create a life that doesn't suckRemember, there is no one like you. You have something to offer this world that no one else can. When you figure out why you are here and what your purpose is, your life will take on meaning and you will feel a greater sense of belonging and worth. Have you noticed that those with the most self-confidence are usually offering something to the world? Figure out what you are here for, and start doing it. When you start living your uniqueness, you will also care less about what others think of you. You will stop taking things personally, and will recognize that what others do is about them and not about you. Also, remember, the world is made of energy and you can manifest into being what you believe that you can. If you need more help on knowing how to bring your dreams into being, read my article, ” The Secret To Manifesting An Amazing Life.”

3. Show Double Rainbow Gratitude

Yeah, you know the video of the guy who totally flips out over the double rainbow. That’s the kind of gratitude we should show for the good things in our life. We take so much for granted, and when we take things for granted, we lose our feeling of bliss and joy that could be there for all of life. We start complaining, and when we complain we just attract more negative experiences into our life. Remember when you were a kid, and everything seemed awesome? Somewhere, along the way, we lose that and, we stop belly laughing, doing cartwheels, happy dances, and jumping with delight. Start every day giving thanks. And when I say give thanks, use your whole body to give thanks. Need some inspiration? Follow Jessica’s example.

4. Set Your Roof On Fire

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We all have a roof we have created over our heads. This roof is filled with the ideas that we believe to be true. This roof holds our comfort zone. The problem is most of these ideas have been programmed by a society that doesn’t always have what’s best for us in mind. We are programmed with fear that says we can’t make a living doing what we love. We are programmed to buy things we don’t need. We are programmed to not question why things have always been done a certain way. Dare to let your roof burn and do things a different way rather than trying to be the same as everyone else. When you let that motherfucker burn, you will start living a life of openness to new ideas and events, and that is when the magic of your life will happen.

how to create a life that doesn't suck5. Remember You Are Not Mr. (Or Mrs.) Potato Head

how to create a life that doesn't suck

So many of us only live in our heads the majority of the time. We are so stuck in our thoughts and our minds that we forget we have a body. Move your body as much as possible whether it’s through dance, hiking, yoga, or exercise. When our body flows easier, we flow through life easier. Get out of your mind and into your body. Meditation and practicing mindfulness are also great ways to become more conscious of the thoughts we are having. When we learn to be fully present and in the moment, we live with our full bodies rather than just staying stuck in our heads.

If you want more advice on creating a life that doesn’t suck, check out my book Dream Catcher: The Magic Of Living Your Dream Life. If are feeling stuck and unsure of how to create the life you want, this book will launch you into creating a life that you love.

 

Life Has Ginormous Plans For You (And Why You Should Stop Playing Small)

life plansWe have all been guilty of it. We forget our own value and start playing small. We then attract people into our lives that make us feel that way. And you know what? We play the game with them. We chase after the ones who make us feel less than we are.

The whole world lays before us, but we chase after people who make us feel like we aren’t enough. We set low goals and expectations for ourselves. We plan to just write the book, rather than write a bestseller. We try to just make it through each work day, rather than looking for a job we truly enjoy. We plan to just “get by” in life rather than asking for the ginormous things we deserve.

Why do we keep playing small? We play small because we are afraid of our own power. You know it’s there. You feel the wild thrill of how big you are flowing through your veins, but you are terrified. You are terrified that it’s just an illusion. You are terrified that you will fail. You are afraid if you don’t reach the high expectations that you have set for yourself that you are a failure. And so, you settle for less.

But, guess what? Your life wants so much more than just the small stuff for you. Your life has ginormous plans for you, but you have to own it. Yes, you won’t always reach your ginormous goal the first time you reach for it. That is part of the process of life. And what we perceive as failure isn’t always failure. Sometimes we plan one thing, but life leads us one way, so we can actually become the thing we were meant to be.

We have to learn to trust life. But trusting life, means giving life something in return. You have to show life your worth. Failure is not reaching for the things we want in life. Failure is staying in a relationship with someone who doesn’t show us the true respect and love we deserve. Failure is aiming low. Failure is being afraid to succeed. Failure is playing small.

Admit what you really want. Admit that you deserve it. Admit that you really are enough. Admit that no one can take your enoughness away from you. There is nothing you have to do to be enough. You are enough because you exist. Thank you for all that you are. Now get out there and be ginormous!

I also want to offer a free 15-minute Skype session (1 per person) to anyone who wants help figuring out what ginormous plans life has for you. Email me at [email protected]  for your free session today. 

 

You Think You Have Time

you think you have time

I’ll live where I want when I retire. I’ll get to it later. I’ll just work in the corporate world for ten years, and then I will create a life I enjoy. I’ll do it tomorrow.

How many times have we promised ourselves tomorrow only to find it never arrives? In today’s world, we often put aside our dreams for comfort, our passions for security, and we let our fears take away our power. We choose unfulfilled lives for freedom, thinking that we can always do it differently tomorrow.

People don’t follow their dreams because they are afraid. They are afraid of losing security. They are afraid if they do what they want, they will die. They have become comfortably numb.

What should scare them is that life is short. The reality is if we don’t follow our purpose, our passions, our joys, that’s when the death begins. And the soul’s death is one hundred times worse than the body’s.

The problem is we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. We are only guaranteed this present moment. And we are telling the Universe who we are by the actions we display in only this moment. That’s it. That’s all we have. That’s who we are.

We also miss some of the most special moments of our lives because we think we will have time for them later. We tell ourselves that we will do the things we enjoy when we retire. We will go fishing, we will travel, create art, we will do so much…..later. But, later never comes. There is always something standing in the way.

So, I want to propose that we change this way of thinking. I want to propose that we encourage and inspire each other. I propose that we start a Twitter campaign now. Let’s take the world by storm. You think you have time, but right now, time has you. Let’s change this.

Using the hashtag, #youthinkyouhavetime write your dreams, the thing you always wanted to do. But, don’t stop there. Write about the things in each day that bring you joy. Write about the things that you are saving until later. Write the name of your favorite beach. You know. The one that’s your screen saver that you promised yourself you would visit later.

gili air

 

Let’s get inspired. Let’s find a way to do them now.

I also want to offer a free 15-minute Skype session to anyone who wants guidance to start living their dreams now. Because time is running out. And, I want to help. #youthinkyouhavetime. Let’s do it now.

Email me at [email protected] to get some encouragement from me, and let’s all make use of the time that we have. Let’s change the world one second at a time.

Stop The Mindfucking: The Difference Between Committing To Your Dream And Just Stringing It Along

commitment to your dreams

Love me into submission, and I will love you into conquering the world.-Your Dream

We’ve all had that one person. That one person that we thought was the person of our dreams, but we let them slip away. Why did we let them slip away? Because we were too afraid to commit.

We wanted a little more time to be single. We didn’t want to give up our flirtations with others. Or, we were just too plain scared. We were scared of how our life would change. Scared that things would be different.

And, so that person moved on.  That person found someone who would commit to them, that wasn’t too afraid to be in a relationship, that wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. They moved on from someone who only wanted to live on the edge of things and found someone who was willing to stand in the center of it all.

The same thing can happen to your dream. Your dream has been tapping you on the shoulder your entire life.  It’s tried everything to get your attention. It’s beckoned you in a soft whisper voice and a gentle caress that you could feel softening your mind. It’s played a tune that’s not just tugged at your heartstrings, but unraveled them one by one until all you could hear was your beating heart.

It’s chased you down those dark alleys when you tried running away. It’s come to you in those quick-hot-fuck-against-the-wall moments of your life. You know the ones. Where you knew it was now or never. It insisted upon your exploration. It knew you were the one it was meant to bond with. This was your moment, and then it was gone.  It tried to crack the shell of your closure, to make a believer out of you. It even begged you for your protection. All it wanted was to be released.

commit to your dreams

photo credit: kaniths via photopin cc

But you, my dear one, just can’t decide.  You’ve kept that dream strung along so tight that’s it about to break. So, I give you this warning. Your dream doesn’t accept halfheartedness. It requires ALL OF YOU. Are you numb? Have you lost all feeling in your soul? Your dream doesn’t accept compromise. It requires a full commitment, a total surrendering, and nothing less than all of you.

Gamble everything for love, if you are a true human being.
If not, leave this gathering.

Half-heartedness doesn’t reach into majesty.
You set out to find God,
but then you keep stopping for long periods
at mean-spirited roadhouses.
Don’t wait any longer…-Mevlana Rumi

If this seems like a high price to pay, let me remind you, there is always a price.  Your dream will take everything you’ve got (and then some).  But, once you move from dabbling with your dream into a full commitment, heaven and earth will move to assist you.  Your dream wants to be made real, and the entire Universe wants to show up for the party.  It all hinges on you.

Here’s how to commit to your dream:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”William Hutchison Murray

1.  You Must Give All Of Yourself To Your Dream

If you are only dedicating time to your dream when it’s convenient, you aren’t giving all of yourself. Yes, there will be a cost to giving all of yourself. I had a dream to write a book. In order to do so, I quit my job, sold everything I owned, and moved to a quiet Mexican town where the cost of living was low and where I knew there would be no distractions. Even though, I didn’t HAVE to be up at a certain time, I still set my alarm for 6 AM every morning. Everything I did, revolved around writing the book. Once DreamCatcher: The Magic Of Living Your Dream Life was finished, I didn’t just stop there. I realized I had a bigger dream. I went on to create three websites this past year, and my vision evolved to become Your Own Life.

Now, are you going to have to do something as drastic as I did to create your dream? You might, if you want to get it done. But, there are ways to still keep your day job and work on your dream. It may mean giving up other things, though. You may have to sleep less, or spend less time with your friends, or less time on Facebook to make it happen. You may have to cut down on your work hours and take less money. This guy launched twelve start-ups in twelve months. Guess what? He has the same amount of hours in a day that you do. He’s just learned how to use them wisely.

2. Tear Down The Walls

The thing that seems so overwhelming to people when it comes to committing to their dream are the steps it takes to get there. That’s the thing about dreams. They don’t just happen. It will take hard work to get there.

But, we often use excuses, and those excuses are the ball breakers of the dream world. “But, I’m in debt.” (Sell your crap. Get rid of your debt. Take a second job. Start small.)  Don’t use the excuse of thinking your dream isn’t practical, or that you don’t have the money. The question is can you afford not to follow your dream?  When we base our dream on current circumstances, we limit the vision of our entire life. Right now there all walls that are preventing you from following your dream. Your job is to figure out how to tear them down.

3. Learn To Say No

A mysterious thing happened when I started following my dream. A lot of people started asking for my time (for free).  They wanted me to help them using the skills I had. They wanted me to build their websites. They wanted my advice. I wanted to say yes because I love helping people. But I realized that while I was in the process of creating my dream, I needed to focus on doing just that. (Have you ever noticed how the minute you think about committing to someone in a relationship, your attractiveness level seems to go up? All of a sudden people are showing an interest in you that didn’t before.) It’s almost like the Universe likes to test us. Are you really going to see this dream through to the end? Decide now, and say no to anything else that isn’t related to making your dream come true.

4.  Get Rid Of Fear

The real reason we have so many excuses about why we can’t follow our dream is that we are scared to death. We let fear sweet talk us into believing that our relationship with our dream won’t work. (Fear hates competition!) So,once again, we decide to sit this one out. And, once again, we create more disconnect between ourselves and our dream. Ask yourself what you are really scared of. Ask yourself if that thing happens, then what will happen. And, if that happens, then what will happen. Then what? You will see that fear tries to seduce us into believing that it will keep us safe, but the only thing fear will do is act as a barrier to that which you want most.

5.  Find A Mentor

There are many people who have been exactly where you are today. Ready to take the next step, but not exactly sure how. Do you know people who are doing what you want to do or who have taken big risks to get where they are? Offer to take them to lunch and get their advice. Surround yourself with others who are making commitments to their dreams. Hire a coach to help give you the motivation it takes to follow your dream. There are plenty of people in this world following their dream. Shouldn’t you be one of them?  This is your moment. Do it now!

I want you to follow your dreams and find your life purpose, so I’m offering a free 15-minute Skype session to help you get started. Email Valen for your free session. (One per person)

Do You Actually Live How You Say You Want To Live?

girl in suitcase

“Begin at once to live and count each separate day as a separate life.” ~Seneca

How are you feeling about your life today? Are you excited about it? Do you wake up each day in anticipation? Are you thrilled to see what’s coming next?

Stop for a moment and think of your ideal day. There are no limits. Even better, write it down. Write down every moment from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep.  What are you doing? Who are you spending time with? What is happening? Make sure you write this in the present tense, as if it were happening now. There are no limits. Write down anything and everything that comes to mind.

Now, that you are finished, do you recognize your life? Are you actually living how you say you want to live?

If you aren’t, why not? Many of us want our life to be different in some way. But, we are letting fear stop us from making the changes we need to in order to create the life we want. You are a creator, and you have the ability to create your life exactly the way you want to.

follow your dreamsphoto credit: Nhoj Leunamme == Jhon Emmanuel via photopincc

Yes, it will cause changes. And, yes, there will be a cost. Every lifestyle has a cost. The person who quits their job to travel has to leave their family and friends behind to do so. The person who decides to dedicate themselves to climbing the corporate ladder may not have the time for a relationship or to dedicate to their passion for writing or art. The person who decides to follow their heart and start a new business may have to work long hours to make it happen. The person who decides to go after their dream job may have to get used to having less money for a while.

The thing is that most of the things we are afraid of losing are just attachments that aren’t the real things in life that make us truly happy. We have been led to believe by society and the media that status, fame, wealth, and material possessions will make us happy. These things will all disappear one day when you die. Focus on the things in your life that do matter instead. Life is short, and should be spent on doing the things you love. The cost of not following your soul’s calling will always be greater than the material attachments you are giving up to create the life you want.

The question is are you willing to pay the price to follow your heart? Yes, it may mean giving up a few expensive dinners and the latest version of an iPhone, so you can follow the life that is meant to be yours. It may mean moving to a smaller house or selling some of your stuff on Ebay so you can fund your trip around the world.  It may mean going to school after your day job, so you can take theater or art classes.

You may be in a hard situation at the moment with nothing but debt and bills, and it may mean going through some difficult years while you work three jobs to climb out of that situation, but start taking the steps right now to do so. The steps can be small. You won’t create your ideal life overnight, but you can start creating something new right now.

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We all have choices in our life, and the choices that you are making right now are creating your future. They are creating your day, whether it be an ideal one or an exact replication of the day you had yesterday which wasn’t much, and is worlds away from the one you wish to be living.

Maybe, you already know the ways that you want your life to change, but you are spending the majority of your time doing things that don’t really matter. Once you know what direction you want your life to flow in, then that’s also where you need to spend the majority of your time. Spend the majority of your time creating that life, not on the life you already have.

It’s going to take a full commitment on your part to make it come true. The Universe listens to how committed you are, and will always give all that it takes to meet you in the middle. Notice, I said meet you in the middle. You see, part of creating is also action. We are creators who are meant to create. It’s not just thoughts that create your reality. Your action creates worlds of energy into making something happen.  The Universe is in partnership with you, and needs you to do your part, too.

What small step can you take today to start creating the life that you want to be living? Create a life that you don’t want to get away from.  Start now.

Featured photo credit: Nhoj Leunamme == Jhon Emmanuel via photopin

 

Stop Procrastinating: 6 Easy Ways To Turn Your Ideas Into Reality Now

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I have always believed that in the lives of individuals, the profoundest changes take place within a very reduced time frame. When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.-Paulo Coelho

You hear the call. You know there are better things you want to be doing with your life. But, have you fully decided to embrace what life is offering you? You may have decided on a new course of action in your mind, but until you start taking action, the life you want to create remains unmanifest.

Here are 5 Ways To Stop Procrastinating Now: 

1. Don’t Try To Finish Your Project All At Once.

Many people who have ideas to start businesses, start going to the gym, or to take a year off and travel the world never get around to accomplishing these things because the steps to make it happen seem overwhelming. So, another day goes by and they still haven’t done anything to accomplish their dream .

The easiest way to stop procrastinating is to break your project into small parts. Start by making a to-do list of everything that you need to do to make your idea real. At first, that list might seem overwhelming, but don’t let it scare you. This list is the map to making your dream come true. Now set deadlines for each item on the list. Schedule the items into your planner just as if you were scheduling a coffee date with a friend. Honor this time you have scheduled. After all, the time you are spending to create your idea is time you are spending creating your dream.

2. Stop Multi-Tasking.

In today’s world, we have forgotten how to put our attention on one thing at a time. When you are spending time creating your ideas, do only that. Shut off your phone. Stop looking at Facebook or Pinterest, and devote your time fully to getting your project done. I also like to wear noise-canceling headphones when I work. They put me in a cocoon of productivity that makes me less likely to be distracted by outside sounds.

A great way to improve your focus when working is to listen to binaural beats. Binaural beats use certain sound frequencies to change the patterns of your brain, and help inspire creativity and focus.

It’s easy to waste a lot of time on the computer that we could be using to work on our projects. RescueTime is an app that you can use to track the time you spend on websites. You might be surprised at just how much time you spend on social media, time that you could be using to bring your ideas into reality. RescueTime also blocks websites of your choosing for specific amounts of time, so you won’t be tempted by them.

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 3.  Change Your Setting.

I am a writer, and I plan several trips per year to the beach per year because that setting inspires me the most. Are you an active person who is having trouble sitting down to create your to-do list? Take a voice recorder and record your to-do list while you are hiking. Ok, I know this is multi-tasking, but sometimes multi-tasking can be good when it’s used in the right way.  The best ideas don’t always come when you are sitting still. Are you dreading the lines you will have to wait in while getting a business permit? Take your favorite book to read while you are spending time waiting.  Try to find ways to make the action steps more fun and enjoyable.

4. Involve Others.

Tell other people about the project you have begun. If we hold ourselves accountable to others, we motivate ourselves to get the work done. It’s great to have a support system to encourage us along the way. If you can, find a friend who is also working on a project. Then, help each other take the steps to accomplish the to-do list. You can learn from each other and have more fun in the process.

5. Prioritize.

Make sure you take the most important steps to creating your dream first. They may be the hardest steps to take, but once you take them, your momentum will carry you forward to accomplish the rest of your tasks.

When I am creating something, I don’t just prioritize my to-do list. I also prioritize each day. When I wake up in the morning, I envision what I will accomplish that day. Then, before I check email or let myself get distracted by anything else, I do some work on the goal I had set for the day. This keeps me on track for the rest of the day.

6.  Change Your Thinking

If you can’t seem to stop procrastinating, ask yourself why you are putting your ideas on hold. Are you afraid of being successful or getting what you want in life. Are you afraid that you aren’t worthy? Are you afraid of failing? Look at the real reason you are procrastinating and work on changing your thought patterns. Sometimes, life gives us inspiration and ideas because it is calling us forth. It wants us to use our gifts and bring inspiration into the world. But, if you don’t take the action, it will support someone else who is willing. The world is waiting with bated breath to see if you will answer the call.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to stop procrastinating and start creating the life you deserve. Just remember, you may have to go through some discomfort and changes to get there, but just think of the consequences if you never take action. Which is worse?

So what step are you going to take today? Leave a comment below and let me know!

Featured Photo Credit: Βethan via Compfight cc

What Is Wealth? How To Live The Life Of Your Dreams Without Going Broke

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Wealth is found not in what you own but in how you spend your time.-Henry David Thoureau

 

One year ago, I sold everything I owned to travel the world and try to discover my life purpose. On this journey, I have learned a lot about my relationship to work, purpose and money. It made me realize that when I was living in the US, the greater majority of my money was spent on “stuff”.

I didn’t feel wealthy even though I was making more money than the average person does. I felt stressed out, like I constantly had to keep working because I had been sold the American dream. I had blindly followed the vast majority, signed on the dotted line, and promised my wages for 30 years. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that home ownership is a negative thing. I had just entered into it blindly, giving no thought as to what my soul wanted.

I had caved in to the belief that wealth equals happiness and proceeded to accumulate as much stuff as possible. Again, I don’t see money as being a negative thing, but if it comes at the cost of your soul, it is.

Now that I’m rambling around the world without even a spoon to slurp my soup with, I’ve come to realize, I feel wealthier than ever. This has led me to ponder,“What is wealth, anyway?”

 

what is wealthPhoto Credit: Toban B. via Compfight cc

I know that when I spend my time writing the messages that my soul is pouring forth, I feel wealthy. I know that when I am deep in conversation with someone, being completely vulnerable and open, and staring into their eyes, and seeing the miracle of that person, I feel wealthy. I know that when I am letting go of judgement and past pain, I feel wealthy. When I’m staring at the sunset, my bare feet being tickled by the sand, my toes being tickled by the kiss of the salty waves, I feel wealthy.

Notice, all of those experiences don’t cost a thing. It never made me feel wealthy to have the latest technology gadget, or to be able to offer a different plate for every course of the elaborate dinner parties I used to give, or to have had three bathrooms when there was only one of me.

When I moved to Mexico, I started realizing how unique people were there. I watched people who would work all day to sell their art, or their tamales, or their handmade crafts for very little money. At first, I felt sorry for them. But, then I realized something. These people were happy. They usually worked together as a family, and they were doing what they wanted to do. It really wasn’t about the money at all. This led me to write one of the most popular articles on my travel blog, Consumerism In America: How Your Stuff Is Killing You.  I began to realize just how much I had given up to follow the American dream.

I started realizing that true wealth had nothing to do with money. I realized that I felt truly wealthy when I followed my life’s calling. When I was struggling against my heart, I was causing stress in my body, and I was letting fear of “enough” guide my life.

However, it does take money to live. I have a lot of people approach me who want to follow their dreams, but they are scared to death. What is the main cause of their fear?  They don’t wind to end up starving on the streets. So, how can you do what your heart desires without going broke?

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“We no longer live life. We consume it.”  ― Vicki Robin

 

First, you can let go of the conditioning of the media that tells you what you must own to survive. The media does a lot to shape our ideas of what we must own to make it in this world. Yes, I have had it easier by living inexpensively in other parts of the world during this year, but I’ve also learned things about how I can live in the US on less.

I don’t need to own a big house like I used to. I don’t need to own as much stuff. I don’t need an iPhone. Really. I’ve lived without a Smartphone for a year now. My cell phone bill is $10 a month. I remember when an American visited me in Mexico and was astounded that I was a blogger without a smart phone. Guess what? It really is possible to survive without being connected to the internet all day. In fact, my most inspiring thoughts usually come when I’m not connected to wifi, but instead to my spirit inside.

I don’t have to rely on someone else to provide food, water, and shelter. I can grow my own food. I can learn to live off the grid.

I can have people over for dinner without it being a “party”. It doesn’t have to be lavish.  I am perfectly capable of making my own coffee and, I don’t need to spend the money I could be spending to cook an entire meal on one cup of coffee.  I can socialize with people without buying expensive cocktails, and we are likely to have conversations that are more real without alcohol masking our feelings. I can actually make it in life with ten outfits and three pairs of shoes. No one is going to judge me because I wear the same outfits a lot. And if they do, they’re probably not someone I really want in my life anyway. I don’t need a television. In fact, I don’t want one. It has been wonderful to live a life where I’m not being constantly told how I should think. You may be thinking, “I can’t give up….”, but at what price are you willing to hold onto it? Is it worth sacrificing your dreams for?

A lot of people say that I am “lucky” to travel. But, I am able to travel because I gave up “stuff” that was important to me at the time. Some of the “stuff” I gave up was even painful for me to part with at the time? But, you know what? I get to wake up every day and create my own day. That alone is worth it.

Second, once you have reduced your bills, spend as little of your time as you can working to pay those bills.  I had a job with flexible hours when I worked in the corporate job. It would have been possible to work a lot less hours, but I didn’t because I was convinced I needed all the “stuff” I had to survive. If you live with just the basics, you will find that you don’t have to work as hard as you think you do. You can spend the extra time taking the steps to living the life of our dreams. Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist, makes some wonderful points on his blog about what we are really needing but tend to substitute the desire for money for. Things like more gratefulness, contentment and generosity.

Also, look at how you are spending your time. I started my travel blog while I still had a full-time job. Yes, this meant less time on Facebook, less time in front of the TV, and made for some very late nights, but I would say it was worth it.  I recommend always starting your new business or venture while you still have a job in place. It may make for some long work hours, but the time spent following your purpose won’t feel like work. If it does, then ask yourself seriously if the new venture is really what you are dreaming of doing.

If you have debt, the first thing you must do is work to pay it off. And, live life in such a way that you don’t use credit cards to pay for anything which depreciates in value. I have never owed money on anything which depreciated in value. This means that the cars I drove around were at least ten years old and a lot of the things that I bought were second-hand, but being responsible with my money gave me the life of freedom that I was longing for.

Third, trust life. Guess what? Life is pretty awesome. When you align with your soul’s calling, life makes sure you are taking care of. How can you do that? Well, life is energy. Have you noticed that the people who life supports are the people who have a pretty positive view of it. When you are positive, you are going to attract positive energy. You don’t see people who are negative and complaining attracting much, do you? That’s because the energy of life always matches what you are creating.

Are you always going to have all the money you want? Maybe not. But life will give you all the money you need. I realize that part of my calling was to learn how to live a simpler life. I was supposed to learn that I had an identity outside of all the stuff that surrounded me. Life will give you the exact lessons you need, and if the end result is that you are following your purpose, there is no amount of money or comfort that can replace that.

To contact Valen for a Skype session on how to better manage your finances so you can create your dream life, click here.