Rising Sun Coaching Blog

How to Know if You Should Settle for a “Good Enough” Job

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:23:00 GMT

For how much I talk about and write about being happy in your job and finding your purpose in life, I also believe that some of us are meant to work “good enough” jobs.

I talk about passion and purpose and personal missions because that’s how I’m wired. I believe I am here for a reason and I want to express that through my work. This isn’t the case for everyone.

If you don’t wonder, “What’s my purpose in this life?” Or if you don’t feel a hole in your soul from not connecting with work in a deep and meaningful way, don’t sweat it. Maybe that’s not part of your path. Maybe your path is a “good enough” job that pays the bills and gives you time to spend with people you love doing things you enjoy. And that is perfectly fine.

I do believe that no one needs to be miserable at work. (If you are, check out my latest class offering!) Everyone can find something that suits their skills, interests, and personality. Your work doesn’t have to be a calling unless you want it to. You get to choose.

What’s your path?

Download Ready from My Free Coaching Call!

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:56:00 GMT

Wow, I had fun hosting a coaching call last night!

We talked about how stress, anxiety, and anything that makes you feel uncomfortable in your body is a result of something you're thinking.

We walked through a simple way to change how we feel by changing our thinking, and we had fun doing it!

Miss the call? You can download the recording for free. Click Here to get your copy.

Time for a Free Coaching Call!

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:15:00 GMT

I'm filling in for a friend and colleague on a free coaching call... this Thursday!! Yes, it's totally free. Here's the scoop:

Free Coaching Call

Thursday, August 26
4:00 pm Pacific / 5:00 Mountain / 6:00 Central / 7:00 Eastern

Call-in Number: 218-862-1000
Access Code: 250249

You will learn some simple ways to find relief in your day
by noticing your thoughts and emotions.

You can ask your burning questions about finding and living out your purpose and get some clear, actionable tips for your own life.

You can ask questions about entrepreneurship, how to make a living doing what you love, and how to move toward the life you dream about.

You can come and talk about anything else that's on your mind!

If you can't make the call, it will be recorded, so you can listen to it on your own time. I'll post a link to the recording on Friday.

Who Cares What You’re “Good At”

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:45:00 GMT

A job you’re “good at” does not equate to a job you love.

If I followed all of the tests and assessments of my personality and my skill set, I’d still be sitting in a fabric-covered cubicle doing things I don’t enjoy, talking with people (I do enjoy) about things I don’t give a rat’s ass about.

A job you love is not about what you’re good at. Yes, you’ll likely be good at a job you love, but don’t start your search there.

Start by checking in with your heart. What does it long to do?

Check in with your gut. What lights you on fire?

Ask the child you used to be. What did you want to be before anyone told you it wasn’t possible or that being an engineer was a practical career choice?

Start asking these questions in the quiet, soft places of your heart. You don’t have to share the answers with anyone. But if you don’t ask them, you’ll never know the answers. And that would be a very, very sad thing.

Is it time to find your true calling?

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:00 GMT

My friend passed along an interesting article from the New York Times called “The True Calling That Wasn’t,” by Phyllis Korkki.

The article makes several great points about how people often find themselves in jobs that feel like a terrible match for who they truly are, resulting in unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and frustration. Korkki quotes Robert I. Sutton, a professor and organizational psychologist at Stanford, as saying, “Unhappiness with your career choice goes to the root of your identity and your sense of authenticity.” I wholeheartedly agree. Many people spend 40 to 60 hours each week working. Of course it would be miserable if that time is spent doing something that feels inauthentic.

Though most of the article, I believe, hits the mark, here is one point with which I disagree:

If you do find a better career fit, don’t expect it to be a panacea. Your new job won’t always be fun-filled and satisfying. Beyond the money it provides, “I think it’s safe to say that work is overrated,” Professor Sutton said. Much of work is spent performing tedious activities that would not be at the top of your list if you had a choice, he said.

I don’t believe that “work is overrated.” I believe that we can have a career that we love. We can find one that is matched to our gifts and our personality. I don’t believe that the path to finding that true calling is simple or easy. It’s hard work and requires some soul searching. But the gifts of that effort are well worth it. I see it with clients all the time. I saw it in my own life.

Why spend 40 or more hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 30 years doing something you dread? Isn’t it time to find your true calling?

Listening to Inner Directives

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:54:00 GMT

I talk with clients all the time about listening to inner directives, those little voices that tell us the right way to our best lives.

My inner directive is telling me to REST. And I’m going to listen.

My blogging for the remainder of the summer will be sporadic. Check back now and then to see if I’ve posted anything. You can also subscribe in a reader or by email, so you can have the blog posts delivered directly to you.

I’ll keep sending out newsletters (subscribe over there to the left), and I’m still coaching.

In the mean time, how are you doing listening to your inner directives?

Don't Attach to Doing Anything

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:12:00 GMT

Last week I talked about following my own advice to do only what excites you and not attach to doing anything in particular.

I was writing about how I sat down to write a blog post, but it wasn’t coming. After waiting for a bit, it didn’t feel exciting to wait any longer, so I decided to call it off. Then the post came... actually three came.

That’s what non-attachment will do for you. When you have to do something, it’s difficult. When don’t want something to happen or be as it is and you and try to avoid it, it sticks around. The universe is funny like that.

As soon as I didn’t care if I had a blog post, I had three.

As soon as you stop having to leave your awful job, a new opportunity will arrive.

Do what excites you, don’t attach to anything in particular, and you’ll be on the path to the life you are meant to live.

Simple formula that’s way harder to follow than it is to write.

Do What Excites You

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:10:00 GMT

Last Monday I suggested that when it comes to work and life, we should only do the things that excite us. I also suggested that some days bookkeeping, billing, and filing actually fall into that category. I wasn’t kidding on either point.

When you do what excites you, you’re following your essential self. Your essential self knows how to get you to where you want to go (even when you don’t know where that is!).

The part of you that knows what makes you smile is the part worth listening to. The part that is afraid or logical isn’t the part of you that leads you to a happy life or a successful business.

I have a friend who, right now, only wants to do yoga and write. That’s it. Now, in this moment, doing those things won’t make a dime for her in her business. But she trusts this part of her to lead her in the right direction. She’s taking care of herself with yoga, and she’s working on a very important book. And she’s trusting it’s the right thing to do, even if her logic mind can’t make sense of it. I believe she’s right on track.

It might sound scary to do only what excites you, but when we follow this path, the universe provides... even if we’re not sure how it will happen.

Put the fear and the “need to know” aside, even if only for one hour or one day or one decision, and see what happens.

Following My Own Advice

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:41:00 GMT

As I sat down today to write my blog post, I found a dozen other things to do. I was sitting and waiting for the post... (I don’t think about what to write, I wait and let the blog post come to me.)... and I kept getting distracted by other things. I finally decided that today might be a day to skip writing. After all, I always coach my clients, especially the business owners, to not do anything that doesn’t feel good. Today, writing a blog post didn’t feel as good as brainstorming a new idea that I’ve been stewing.

The moment I let go of having to blog today, because that’s what I do, the idea came: I, too, need to follow my own advice.

1. Only do what excites you.

2. Don’t attach to doing anything in particular.

I find the most joy and the most success in my business when I follow those two tips. Before I started operating this way, I was skeptical that I would get all of the things I “had to do” done, like bookkeeping, billing, and filing. However, there are days when those things feel fun, believe it or not.

Skeptical? I’ll write more in the coming posts on doing what feels exciting and not attaching to anything.

In the mean time, see what happens if you focus on what excites you. Report back and let me know how it goes.

Facing Fears about Playing Bigger

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:05:00 GMT

Monday I wrote about playing bigger. Today I’m sharing my thoughts about facing your fears around playing bigger.

Think about where you are today. Think about where you want to go--if you could be successful no matter what. Imagine heading in that direction. How do you feel?

It’s okay to be scared.

Fear can actually tell you that you’re right on track. Check in. Does the fear feel like jumping into a clear pool of water off a high dive, or does it feel like a high dive into sludge?

Clean pain (clear pool of water) says move forward. Dirty pain (sludge) says clean up your thinking, then reevaluate.

Use The Work to clean up your dirty pain, the thoughts that say, “I’m not good enough to do that.”

If you hear, “Who am I to do this?” answer your own question. Who are you? You’re a strong, beautiful, smart healer or teacher who is here to change the world.

Take small steps.

Just because your five-year vision is clear doesn’t mean you will reach that goal immediately. What can you do today to move toward that vision? Take baby steps.

Start with the easiest things first.

It can be energizing to get moving toward your vision. If fear is holding you back, start with something easy. It might get you excited to keep going. If nothing else, you’re a few steps closer to your goal.

Celebrate your successes.

Every little step you take is worth celebrating. Give yourself a gold star. Call a friend. Do a little dance.

Face you fears and move forward. The world is waiting for you.

Playing Bigger

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:57:00 GMT

Last week I was at the Martha Beck Inc. Coaches Summit, a gathering of 140 amazing individuals who are on a mission to heal the world. At the Summit, there were group gatherings, activities, and breakout sessions to help each one of us further our healing in the world. Every single person is passionate about his or her mission for this lifetime.

For me, the summit confirmed some ideas that I’m here to help the healers and teachers get their work out to more people. I want to help them change the world.

At most events throughout the weekend, I saw how the leader or presenter could take steps to show up bigger and impact more people. I would tell a friend about these ideas, then I would stuff them back inside and keep my mouth shut.

I, too, was playing small.

So I faced my fears about showing up bigger and I shared several ideas with the various presenters. I shared from my heart without judgment. Some heard me and saw how they could step up. Others didn’t. It was okay either way. That’s their journey. Sharing with them is mine.

It’s easy to play small, to play it safe. But you’re here for a reason, so step into the shoes you are meant to fill.

Take a Day Off!

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:40:00 GMT

I am!

I had the pleasure of being at the Martha Beck Coaches Summit in Keystone, Colorado, for the past 4 days. What fun!

Today is my chill day. Four days of "work" (a.k.a. crazy fun), and now a day of rest.

How about you? Can you cut out of work early, take a day off, play hooky, and rejuvenate. You deserve it!

Feel Good Affirmations

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:35:00 GMT

Here’s a quick cheer-you-up for a Thursday. Can’t help but smile with this cutie!

A Mantra for Busy Days

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:24:00 GMT

When I feel overwhelmed, I repeat this mantra to calm me down and bring the current moment into focus.

Everything that needs to get done will get done, easily and efficiently.

It works.

And I wouldn’t even call myself a mantra person.

Try it out, and let me know how it works for you.

Chipping around the Edges

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:43:00 GMT

A wise coach once told me that our thought patterns are like a china plate. It’s difficult to break our core issues, the center of the plate, but if we chip around the edges at the little nagging stuff of every day life, the plate will eventually fall apart.

I work with very wise individuals. They know that their fear originates from a few particular events from their childhood. They know that their low self-confidence comes from being incessantly teased in 6th grade. (Oh, that’s me.) They know that their hesitance to trust their intuition comes from one decision they made a few years ago. So when something big comes up, these clients dive in and want to tackle that one big thing.

It’s difficult to break a plate in the center. It’s easier to chip the edges.

So we look at the fear they face today about a workshop they plan to attend. We look at trusting one small hunch they have. We work the day-to-day stuff.

Then we circle back to the big stuff, because it’s all connected.

Chipping the edges of the plate is easier, and it gets you to the same place in the end. Why not go with easy?

The Real Truth

Mon, 31 May 2010 17:42:00 GMT

I believe that deep down we all know what we really want. We know what we want for a career, to do for fun in our free time, in a relationship, and in every other area of our lives. However, we often feel disconnected from those desires due to a little thing called resistance.

We have allowed resistance to protect us. We can grow so accustomed to the resistance that we don’t even realize it is there.

One way to find out what’s stopping you is to move forward.

Take one step toward something new. Start moving toward your goal.

Not sure what you want or even what your goal is? I bet you know something, even something small.

If you work for a large corporation and long for a small, intimate work setting, start researching other companies. Then witness the thoughts that pop up.

Do you hear: “I’d have to take a pay cut and I can’t afford it.” Bingo! That’s one way resistance is holding you back. As long as you don’t look that fearful thought in the eyes, this belief will hold you back from your dreams.

I’m not saying that there may not be a grain of truth in your statement, but until you get to the real truth, you’ll stay stuck. Until you get to the real truth, resistance will run the show.

What’s the real truth?

It’s reality. It’s when “I can’t afford it” becomes “I choose not to change my lifestyle.” It’s when you get really honest with yourself and notice your choices. Would you rather have a fat salary, or be in a job you love? And who says you can’t have both? (Hint: Believing you can’t have both is a belief born from resistance, too!)

There are dozens of ways to get to the real truth. You can recognize that everything is a choice. You can ask your wise inner self to weigh in. You can do The Work.

Getting to the real truth is a journey worth taking, if you want to live life the way you were meant to live it.

What small step can you take today to move toward your dreams and bring the truth of your resistance out into the light?

Lessons from an Iris

Mon, 31 May 2010 17:55:00 GMT

Are you focused on the end result, or do you enjoy the process of getting where you want to go?

Whether it’s figuring out what to do with your life or career, taking your business to its next level, or training a puppy, enjoy getting there. Once you are “there,” nothing really changes... except you’ll find a new “there” to go and the process repeats.

I learned this last week in rewriting several pages on my website, and I was reminded by it last night when I saw these irises opening. I love how they look before they have fully blossomed--more than I like them opened all the way. They reminded me to appreciate my own process of unfolding--in life, in my business, and with training our new puppy.

How do you remind yourself to enjoy the process of getting where you want to go?

Change the Scenery for Inspiration

Thu, 20 May 2010 19:29:00 GMT

Creativity is spurred by many things, one of which is newness. Exposing ourselves to new sounds, sights, tastes, and activities feeds our brains.

If you have a puzzle you’re trying to solve, such as “What to do with my life,” before you sit down to brainstorm, set yourself up for success by first changing the scenery. When you tackle a problem like “How to find a job I love,” don’t sit in your drab cloth-covered cubicle and recount what you already know: good boss, more free time, something meaningful, blah blah blah. Escape the cubicle and head somewhere new to find new insights.

Go to a new coffee shop, read a book on a topic you know nothing about, then spend the 15 minutes writing down 50 possible careers, from the practical to the insane. (Martha Beck says that if the list doesn’t include at least one illegal item, you’re not brainstorming hard enough!)

If you’ve gone through most of your life in one particular way (whatever that way is), finding a new way of being or a new job or expanding your business to reach more people is going to require some edge-of-your-box thinking. Start by getting yourself physically out of your usual surroundings. Go someplace new. Mix it up even more by filling all of your five senses with new experiences.

A change of scenery doesn’t mean you don’t have to live in Italy for two years like my friend Katrina, though I know that’s done wonders for her creativity. Take two hours to head the town next door, sip a blend of tea you’ve never tried, and read a book on a topic you know nothing about. After you’ve fed your brain, see what it can do for you. Ideas will abound. Now your puzzle solving is on the right track. Not over, but on the right track.

Then report back and tell me what you discovered. Did you find any new ideas on finding a job you love?

Photo courtesy of Katrina Sloma at www.kateyeview.com

Bathing in Gratitude

Sun, 16 May 2010 18:39:00 GMT

This month I’m amping it up on gratitude. When I crawl into bed at night, I write about the wonderful things that happen during the day, from the simple to the amazing. When I do this, my heart swells and I feel a rush of joy from all the wonder that the world has to offer.

You can’t fake gratitude. It’s either genuine or not. To be honest, some days, when I climb in to bed and pull out my gratitude journal, I don’t want to write. I don’t feel it. It’s as if I’d rather stay stuck in my misery than write my way to a better place.

When I do write, when I recall the sweetness of the spring air, the heart-felt connection with a client, the deliciousness of a homemade lunch, or the coziness of a hug from my husband, some of the pain from the day fades away. I am reminded of life’s beauty and of what really matters.

This morning I am grateful for my warm, comfortable bed, the smell of early morning air, and a hot cup of coffee. These things are real life. They are my life. I am grateful for how they delight my senses.

Please share. What are you grateful for?

Nothing is Ever Done

Mon, 10 May 2010 17:13:00 GMT

... well, not nothing.

Dinner has been made. The house is clean. That project was completed. Small tasks (or big ones) are checked off the list. We do get things done. But on a grand scale, nothing is ever done.

Tomorrow night, another dinner needs to be made. Next week, the house will be dirty again. There are always more projects.

The same is true with the evolution of ourselves. Eating healthy today needs to be followed by eating healthy tomorrow. Exercising once will not keep a body fit for a lifetime. We don’t make money one day to support us forever (unless you’re a lucky lottery winner, fortunate enough to hold on to your winnings). In the same way, we are never done.

As we grow and change, so do our goals, our dreams, our deepest desires. If we’re in a job we don’t like, we can fall into the trap of saying, “Once I figure out what I want to do with my life, then I can be happy.” Yes, a new job may make you happier. However, once you have that new job, you’ll set your sights on something new. That’s the nature of being human. Continual growth and infinite possibility.

Enjoy where you are right now. Continue to grow and reach for the next thing, yet don’t allow that next thing to keep you form appreciating where you are today.

Take a minute now to notice what you have today that was merely a dream yesterday or last year. Take in the glory of your growth and achievement. You’ve got plenty more coming to you.

Noticing Patterns

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:26:00 GMT

In just a few days of Dance of Shiva practice, I am seeing some of my patterns. Havi Brooks talks a lot about using this practice to notice patterns.

I’ve noticed my perfectionism pattern play out a few different ways.

1. I was hesitant to get started with my new practice because, “What if I didn’t get the epiphanies I hoped for?”

2. Havi recommends moving on before you can really do any level. I wanted to hang around on the first practice until I got it perfect. Epiphanies don’t come from hanging around in a comfortable place!

When I noticed the pattern, I could change my response to it.

1. I did the practice anyway.

2. I went straight through several lessons I never tried before, just to see what would happen. I survived!

This practice is just one way to notice patterns. There are other ways patterns show up in our lives. Our habits give us clues as to how we’re living based on old patterns.

A never-ending to-do list is a pattern to prove that “I’m a failure. I can’t get anything done.”

Constant busyness is a pattern for the thought, “I have to be productive.”

A television always on or music always playing is a pattern that keeps emotions stifled and the present moment ignored.

Whether you use Dance of Shiva or your keen observation skills, notice where patterns show up in your life. Acknowledge how they control you. The change the pattern by doing something different.

May's Themes: Dance of Shiva and Gratitude

Sat, 01 May 2010 15:55:00 GMT

In April I chose two monthly themes to help me focus my energy in areas where I was looking to grow. For May, my two themes are Dance of Shiva and gratitude.

I don't understand what Dance of Shiva is, but funny enough, that's the point. It's fun, quirky, and something we're supposed to suck at. I've practiced it off and on for about nine months (okay, more off than on). I now want to put in some dedicated time. 10 to 15 minutes in the morning, followed by a 15 minute meditation. I'm looking forward to radical epiphanies and goofy fun.

In April I taught a class on Lizard Taming for Money Fears, and in our last class, we discussed gratitude. For May, I'm going to amp up my practice of gratitude in two ways. First, I have a beautiful new journal where I will write about the wonderful things in my life, throughout the day. Second, I have a smaller book I will carry with me when I'm on-the-go, to capture those moments of gratitude when inspiration strikes.

Do you have themes for May? Want to join me in either of these endeavors?

If Fear is between You and Your Dream...

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:10:00 GMT

Is there something you’ve been dreaming about doing but you haven’t acted on yet?

Starting a business.
Quitting your job.
Creating a new offering for your clients.
Trying a new hobby or sport.
Pick anything.

Why do you want to do that thing you dream about?
What’s currently stopping you from doing it?

Desires fall into two basic categories:
Those that arise from an external impetus.
Those that arise from our deepest, truest selves.

If your “why you want to do that thing” is something like, “It sounds like a good idea,” or “I should,” or “That’s what my neighbor/friend/competitor is doing,” then your desire is driven from an external impetus.

If your “why” is “I get excited when I think about it,” or “It would be really fun,” then your desire is driven from your deepest, truest self.

If your desire is arising from an external impetus, reconsider that dream. Fulfilling dreams of others is a waste of your time and energy. Focus on what YOU want. Are you afraid to let someone down if you give up that dream? Or can you walk away from it and do something you love?

If your desire is arising from your deepest, truest self, what’s stopping you from moving forward? Are you worried about what other people will think? Are you afraid of failing?

Fear is often at the heart of our stalled intentions.

It's okay.

Feelings like fear are good indicators that you’re headed in the right direction. As Brooke Castillo suggests, feel the fear then use it.

Are you afraid to quit that job you dread and find a career you love? Instead of freezing with fear, use the energy of that fear to propel you into action.

Are you worried that if you try roller derby that you’ll fall flat on your face? Instead of fleeing the track, use it to motivate you to practice.

Are you afraid to give that speech, telling the world what you really think? Use the fear to make you stronger. (And check out Anna Kunnecke, coach and speaker--she had an awesome class last week on combatting stage fright.)

What are you afraid of and how can you use your fear to move you forward?

photo courtesy of chewie2008~ via flickr

Breath: It's for Your Mind and Your Body

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:40:00 GMT

Here’s what I’ve learned from focusing on breathing this month.

1. I hold my breath. A lot. Seemingly for no reason, though often it’s when I’m concentrating. This is ironic because depriving my brain of oxygen is unlikely to help my thinking.

2. If I consciously breathe for 5 minutes, I can triple the length of my inhale and exhale with not effort. All that’s required is my attention.

3. If I breathe for 10 minutes, my mind relaxes. If I breathe for 20 minutes, my body feels as if it’s aged backward. If I breathe for 30 minutes or more, I feel like I took some mid-altering substances. (Though this did happen with less than 5 minutes of breathing yesterday--it was fabulous!)

Curious about breathing? Check out Jess Ryan, yogini extraordinaire. She teaches anyone, local or long-distance (via Skype). And she rocks.

Jess says that 10 minutes of conscious breathing results in measurable physiological changes.

Spend 10 minutes today just watching yourself breathe. Relax into it. Send the air into your low belly. Enjoy!

photo courtesy of talulayu via flickr

Pulling Back the Layers from Desire

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:12:00 GMT

Earlier this month I mentioned that I choose two focus areas for the month: breathing and money. In the whirlwind of life and the never-ending desires to try new things, setting theses two areas of focus has brought me peace and clarity.

In my five-week class, Taming Your Lizard’s Money Fears, I’m following along with the participants and completing the homework assignments. There’s been a variety of tools and techniques for homework, ranging from using The Work on limiting beliefs to harnessing the power our the right brain.

We often look at something like money, or health, or our weight, or our career, or our love life and say, “Once I get enough of this or meet that goal, then everything will be okay.” What often fail to do is pull back the layers from these desires and see what’s underneath.

Why do we want a certain amount of money or to weigh a particular number or to have a set number of clients or have the perfect job? What do we think that will give us?

When we explore the reasons for these desires, we find clarity about our true desires. Security, acceptance, the knowledge that everything will be okay, a feeling of being loved. It can be anything. We believe that a certain amount of money in the bank will give us security or a number on the scale will make us feel accepted. Since the money and the weight are easy to identify, we reach for those things.

Think about what you want. It can be anything. Now think about why you want it. Pull back the layers from your desire. What is it you are deeply longing for?

Now, imagine that desire is met. Ignore the bank account. Ignore the scale. Ignore the career you abhore. You have safety. Connection. Love. Acceptance. Or whatever it is you are seeking. How do you show up in the world? Describe your day, the interactions you have with others, the feelings in your heart.

Create your future from this place. Drop the desire for a bank account with a particular balance. Step into the feeling of having your true needs met. This is how you can really get what it is you truly want.

Looking for Advice?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:46:00 GMT

Listen to your heart.

I know how easy it can be to get wrapped up in doing the “right next thing” in searching for a new career or building my business or working toward any goal. We look toward the logical next step. We believe that if we follow the steps 1-2-3 we’ll get exactly where we want to go.

Rarely does anything work like that, except maybe baking cookies.

Think about a goal or something you’ve accomplished in your life. When you set out to achieve it, was it a simple 1-2-3 process, or did you take some detours and unexpected turns along the way?

Sometimes, the next step on the way to finding a job you love is to go for a walk in the middle of the day. It may not be logical, but your true, creative, essential self knows that it serves you better to go for a walk then to sit and work on your resume.

The next step for building your business may be to take a long bath, have a good cry, play with watercolors, or make faces with your food. Your logical mind can’t explain it--and it never will be able to, but your true, creative essential self knows exactly what you need to do to get to your goal.

Next time you’re not sure if you should take this step, that step, or turn left, check in with your heart.

Get quiet.

Take a few deep breaths.

Ask your heart what is next for you. It knows.

Listen and follow. What you hear may not be logical. It doesn’t have to be. If your logical mind were all you needed to get what you want, you’d already have exactly what you wanted.

Check in with your heart today. What does it say is next for you?

photo courtesy of ilmungo via flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilmungo/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

What You Want is Possible

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:47:00 GMT

On the way to making big things happen in life, know that you can get there, even if the road looks long and treacherous.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Babies aren’t made overnight (well, they are, but not made into a full baby, if you know what I mean).
Businesses don’t take off without the right up front work.

But Rome was built. And babies do grow to full term. And business do grow and thrive.

As you think about what you want to build, create, or grow in your own life, give yourself time. Everything begins as an idea. Plans are made,. Then steps are taken, one at a time.

Once you decide you don’t like your job and want to leave, a new one is unlikely to pop up the next day.

It takes time to think about what’s next.

It takes time for you to hear your true self speak to you and say what he or she wants.

It takes time to then act on those desires.

Give it time. Give it some space. All things can come to you if you truly want them and give them time.

What do you want that’s worth waiting for?

Play with Your Food

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:14:00 GMT

I can be guilty of being unnecessarily serious. In an attempt to lighten up over the last week, I decided to start playing with my food.

There are no children in our house, so funny food faces is far from necessary; my husband and I will eat our broccoli and spinach without a fuss. However, taking an extra two minutes to be creative with my dinner presentation was worth it for the child-like glee that followed when I saw my final creation.

Here’s steamed broccoli and a salmon burger.

Here’s pan fried polenta with spinach and cherry tomatoes, and chickpeas and sauteed mushrooms. A little parmesan cheese added a fun color contrast.

Where in your life can you be a bit more playful?

Enjoy!

To-Do Lists Should Not Cause Stress

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:33:00 GMT

You’re busy with work, life, family, community activities, and more. You committed to someone that you’d do that thing, and you’re waiting on someone else to get back to you with some other details. Although the specifics of these tasks are all simple, it causes you stress and seems to take more time than it should. Yet you have no idea how to change things.

You think, “I just need to make some time to read that time management book.”

I will say, I’m not a fan of time management books. The details are so specific. They teach you that their way is the right way and the only way, and you better do it this way or your life isn’t going to get any easier.

No, thank you.

How you manage your time and your tasks should be as unique as you are. It should be customized to how you work and how you live.

There are, however, a few principles behind all time management systems.

1. Get stuff out of your head and captured somewhere.
2. Trust your “captured somewhere.”

This puts everything in the right place when you need it. You don’t have to trust your memory to tell you that you still need to pick up a baby card for your friend. It’s captured and you trust that it’s captured.

This brings in the third principle of time management systems.

3. Have a task retrieval system you trust.

You can use
a to-do list,
a calendar,
a small notebook in your pocket or purse,
a stack of post-its on your forehead,
any of the above,
or anything else you can imagine.

Create a system you trust.
Use the system.

That’s how your to-do list can be stress-free.

Setting up a system takes creativity and experimentation. Some people need a little help.

Put the time in now to create something that makes life easier. Your stress-levels will thank you.

April’s Themes: Breathing and Money

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:51:00 GMT

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got so many things I want to see, learn, read, do, try, practice, experience, ... you get the idea. Everything from places I want to visit to new meditations I want to try. Big things, little things, and everything in between.

A few weeks ago I had the idea to choose one or two themes for each month. I would focus on this new idea or experience or personal shift I’m wanting to make for an entire month. I’d experiment and see what happens. It allows me to focus on one thing, knowing I can’t do everything at once (I’ve tried!).

Each month I’ll share my themes. Intermingled with my regular blog posts, I’ll write about what I’m learning from or experiencing from the themes. I’ll include fun facts, great resources, or things I’m learning.

You’re invited to join in and share your experiences. I’d love to have you chime in.

Breathing

I have heard about and read about the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing for stress reduction, anxiety relief, pain reduction, creativity, detoxification, and overall well-being. I have been intending to have a regular breathing practice for quite some time, but it hasn’t happened. So, it’s my April theme, and I’m loving it already.

I learned the techniques of breathing from my acupuncturist, who is also a Qi Gong teacher, and from a yoga instructor. It is highly beneficial to learn diaphragmatic breathing from someone who knows the specifics. They can explain the specific techniques, the sensations you can expect to feel when you’re learning, and the sensations you can expect to feel once it becomes routine.

Ten minutes of intentional diaphragmatic breathing is supposedly a magic duration. The body starts to shift and respond at that point. Twenty minutes, or even more, multiplies the benefit.

My goal for April is to breathe for 20 minutes a day, and I’m shooting for 30-45 minutes.

I’m already noticing some benefits. My body feels more alive after I breathe. My head is clearer. Ideas flow more easily. My digestion is more robust. And I am so mellow.

I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going.

Money

I’m teaching a class this month, Tame Your Lizard’s Money Fears, and I’m having fun doing it. One of the best parts about teaching is that I can solidify my own understanding of the subject as I teach.
We started by looking at our limiting beliefs about money. We’ll be talking about how to know what we really want by checking in with our bodies, how to use our right brains to get what we want, and the power of gratitude. Each week builds on the next, with daily homework activities to create a solid shift in our money perspective.

I’m doing the homework along with the participants. I love knowing that we’re going through this transformation together.

**
To shift something significant in our lives, it often takes more than a passing thought, an afternoon’s inquiry, or a five-week class. To make a significant shift stick, I need to put my attention on it for awhile. This is the impetus behind my monthly themes.

April is about breathing and money. Will you join me?