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5 Simple Steps to get what you want from life. {Lunch is optional}

finding yourself or creating yourself-

Each year before school started, my mom used to take me and my sister to a ‘goal setting luncheon’.  We would get all dressed up, go somewhere fancy and talk about our intentions for the upcoming year.  This entailed us pouring our hearts out and writing down our deepest wishes and yearnings; it was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

It wasn’t until later in life that I realized that others may view this as an offbeat (odd?) thing to do with your mom, especially as a 12 year old.  But to me, it was one of my favorite days of the year–a fun lunch, hanging with my peeps and getting special attention from my mom.  It was something that I looked forward to because it helped me get clear about where I was going.

And clarity feels good, no matter what age you are.

What I didn’t realize at the time, is that she was helping me design my life.  She wanted me to intentionally construct where I wanted to go rather than just let life happen to me.  She was showing me I was the artist of my own life.  And if no one else ever told you, you’re an artist too.  All you need is a vision and a desire to follow through on it.

Here are 5 simple steps to bring out your inner artist and get what you want from life:

1. Pick a target. Get clear about exactly what it is that you are moving towards and start making moves towards it, no matter how small those moves may be. Some people hesitate doing this because they don’t feel confident about what they choose. Don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time out–you can always change your mind. Just trust your gut,and get moving; you can change direction later if you need to.

2. Be your own cheerleader. The universe doesn’t take a joke, so don’t pooh-pooh your ideas, even to yourself (for example:”I can’t do this, it’s too hard”, “I don’t deserve to get that” etc). Negative talk doesn’t do any good and it only sends the message to yourself and others that you’re not serious about what you want. If you find yourself being a Negative Nelly, pick a different goal that you feel more confident about–a goal that gets you excited will keep you inspired to move towards it.

3. Pay attention to the cues of the universe.  It’s amazing what happens when you make up your mind–everything and everyone around you suddenly seems to be in on it with you.  When you make up your mind about what you want, you will notice ‘coincidences’ happening and find people who want to help you along the way; go with that flow.

4. Be open.  When you are thinking about the things you want to achieve, remember that there are many ways to reach them.  Be open to opportunities that you may not have considered before–surprises can often be amazing catalysts.  Trust your feelings and your gut; there’s a reason they’re usually right.

5. Let it go.  With all that said, it’s a good philosophy to keep a loose grip on things.  Remember that spazzy boy that used to chase you in grammar school?  You ran away fast from him, right?  That’s the needy energy you’re trying to avoid; the tighter hold you try to have on something, the more it will elude you.  Set the wheels in motion and trust the process.  Don’t try to control everything–control is an illusion and chasing it delays the big picture from coming to life.

Crafting your vision is a work in progress, so go easy and make it fun!  Vision boarding can help you get started, or you can make a lunch date with your favorite pal and see what happens…

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5 Simple Steps to get what you want from life. {Lunch is optional}2018-03-29T20:23:25-04:00

How can I get healthy? 5 simple steps to get the ball rolling

Fruit BowlDoesn’t Winter seem to bring out the slothiness in everyone? I find it so hard not to overload on comfort foods and burrow in; I end up skipping my workouts and the maddening cycle takes hold. I have to remind myself that part of that feeling is just natural–after all, we’re meant to slow down and hibernate in the Winter.  It’s a part of nature,  but tell that to those extra 5 pounds.  These are some of my (not so proud) stellar shortcuts:

  • “If I just skip breakfast, I will be able to fit into those pants”
  • “I’m too tired for the gym after work”
  • “I’ll start eating better next week”
  • “Dessert isn’t going to kill me!”

Sound familiar? 

So when Spring rolls around, the sirens go off and I start thinking about wearing a bathing suit (yikes!)  I DO know that in order to get healthy, (a new version of healthy that I really relate to and connect with) I have to be willing to do things I may have not done before, both mentally and physically.  It makes me think of that old phrase: do the same thing, get the same results.

Here are my tried and true ways to get back on the bandwagon and kick that lazy butt into gear.  They may help you too:

  1. Drink Water.  Whenever I’m kicking it back into gear to get in shape, I  just start drinking lots and lots of water.  Copious amounts.  Not only does it help hydrate my body, but it makes me feel full.  Less snacking + more water = amazing skin + a detoxed bod.
  2. Set a goal.  If there’s no target, it’s hard to hit it.  I try to set something that’s realistic like going to the gym at least 3 times a week and cutting down on the sugar.  Keep it real–I’m not dreaming about running a marathon in a month when I haven’t been running at all.  The idea is to set yourself up for success.
  3. Think from the end. Getting in shape means doing a number on my mind as much as my body.  I know I take more action from my thoughts and feelings about getting healthy when I can imagine where I want to get to.  It’s like setting a compass and letting it guide me.  I know if I work backwards from my goal, it takes the anxiety and mystery out of the whole process.
  4. Ask for help.  There is no need to go it alone (or reinvent the wheel) so I ask a friend, colleague or family member to be a support during this change.  Joining an online community like sparkpeople can be a great help too.  When someone is holding me accountable  it’s a great motivation.  Even better, I try to recruit them to take the journey with me!  There’s nothing better than a partner in crime.
  5. Keep the main thing the main thing.   I take some time each day to think about why I want to become healthier.  I meditate, but you can do something as simple as journal or have a check in with your buddy about your goals.  Even if it’s something as simple as looking stellar for a class reunion, understanding the reason for all of the effort is a great motivator when I want to ease up on the pedal and start coasting.

These are just some ideas I wanted to pass along that usually help me get started back on the road to health.  Also, here’s a free Spring Detox Guide to help jumpstart the process.  How do you get motivated when you fall off the track?  What are your tricks?  Tell me about it in the comments below.

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How can I get healthy? 5 simple steps to get the ball rolling2018-03-29T20:23:29-04:00
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