4 Pillars of Balance

I contend that we need four supports in our life in order to feel balanced and keep ourselves in good shape. Balance is so important in life. It is how we maintain and persevere.

Time
We need time to tend to our own care: to eat well, take exercise and nurture our spirit (Whatever that may mean for you – attending church, visiting art galleries, reading good books . . .) What is a good life without time with loved ones? Hearth and Home provide the heart of a balanced life. Time to ourselves for quiet thought, is equally essential.

Money
It is a fact of the life we live, that most of us need money. We must have it for our very survival in this hurry up-keep up world. No hearth, no home without it. Money fuels us. It makes things happen. It creates a comfortable life around us. Money can be very handy for generosity, too. We give more when we have more to give.

Connection
We are all passionate beings at our core. And we crave connection to fully express our love. We truly need each other. Susan Jeffers, PhD. said, “I believe our craving in life is not to be loved, but to love…ourselves and others.” I’m calling this the gravity that holds it all together. Without it life is flimsy and can more easily topple (or turn upside down).

Purpose
There is no more stable ground than purpose. To be of service is what we are all meant to do. Purpose drives us and without it we feel lost. Purpose runs on faith. With faith, belief in something, our lives make sense.

 

Saying What Needs to Be Said

I believe this is the Real Purpose of writing. Some may see it is saying what God wants you to say, others what is in their hearts or playing around in their heads.  Then again, it might just be what your client or boss wants you to say.  One of the gifts of writing is to be able to express that which you yearn to say.

Many people, I think, get caught up in the notion that it has to be something terribly important.  But many times just getting out the trivial things can be a great relief.

This aspect of writing can be helpful in managing interpersonal relationships.  There are often things that so need to be said you can feel it.  When you speak, though, you can lose your place, let your emotions get the better of you, or run off at the mouth about something off topic.  Putting it down on paper (or on the screen), you can move it around, find the best way to say it and say what you really need to say, without a lot of extra bits.

Any kind of writing – personal, business, technical, fiction – is all about saying what needs to be said.  Whether that’s how you feel about someone or the benefits of the latest widget.

Like Michelangelo freeing the statue from within the marble, writing is a means to free the message.

A Moment of Clarity ~

Stop wallowing in the muck of negativity.

It does no good,
serves no purpose
and won’t change the situation.

There is nothing to lose by choosing
The Positive Slant!

New Ways to Play With the New Year

I create New Year’s Intentions every year. This year I’ve been spending more time than usual on it. 2013 has brought changes in my circumstances such that I have more space to create something wonderful!  Maybe a few things.

Truthfully, in previous years I have overloaded myself, thinking a bit bigger than my current reality could produce in the future. So, this year, I thought I’d do it a little differently.

The first step was to think about how I want to feel in the coming year.  What are the qualities I’d like to express?  Like letting go of more negative thinking.  And clearing away blame – especially of myself.

After that I thought about things I could do to let go of negative thinking and clear away blame. Like practicing moving to a better feeling thought.  How about a ritual, like going to the beach, to clear away blame? I also kept in mind my Purpose to Uplift Hearts with my Words.

When I had my Intentions down, I wanted to write some affirmations to keep me on track.  One I’ve used with success in the past is “I am Willing to__ ” and another with statements of what I choose.  I got a little hung up on what the difference is between the two.  I am willing, for instance, to try some new things.  However, I choose to stick to my health routines.

Choosing are concrete action steps I can take and measure.  It is a commitment, a solid given.  Willing is more of a promise.  It’s internal work, an attitude.  A willingness to plant seeds I hope will sprout. It only took one page, filled with things I am willing to do for the year and things I choose.  It felt good, like I’d set something down with a firm foundation.

Another new tactic I took was to keep a separate list of Goals for the Year.  As 2012 came to a close, I noticed quite a few things on my Intentions list that I wasn’t able to, for one reason or another, make happen.  I like the idea that I can maintain my Intention of making my home a more pleasant place to be, without having to kick myself that I wasn’t able to get the new deck furniture.

It feels like it’s going to be a Good Year.  I wish you all abundance, prosperity, good health and the realization of all your New Year’s plans.

Motivation Shake

There are several ingredients you can use for a Motivation Shake.  Have-to certainly gets one going.  Money can be a tasty ingredient, in moderation.  A compelling reason like children might well motivate as well.  Pressure or nagging have been known to get  a body going.

There are a lot more interesting ingredients you can use.  Choosing any two or more of these can make for a powerful cocktail that will not only get you going, but keep you on the path, long after some of the previously mentioned motivations have burned out.

Being inspired is a wonderful mother dough if you’ve got one.  Add a little excitement and curiosity and you are cooking on all cylinders. Joy and delight can produce a good steady flavor.

Overflowing passion – doing it for love – can carry most of us a long way.

Collaboration and Community can keep you moving steadily forward.  Purpose and Commitment can take you to the finish line.

Look around for these ingredients.  See where you can create more.  Pick them up like a perfectly colored leaf, a shiny stone or a fallen blossom.  As you come upon them.  As you find them around you.  Mix up your own shake using these warm and wonderful choices.

Doing Less and Having More

“5 Easy Steps tor Discovering What you Really Want and Getting it!” Great concept, huh? Marcia Wieder, the author of this classic book, is a Dream Master. She has been writing and teaching manifesting dreams for many years. Some of her other books are, “Making Your Dreams Come True” and “Life is But a Dream.” I read “Making Your Dreams Come True” years ago. Maybe that’s why I have such a clear vision of my dream.

“Ease” Marcia says, “is about effortlessly accessing and shifting energy.” Of course, the most powerful step you can take is to be more aware of yourself and your feelings. She stresses the importance of taking good care of yourself, too.

She has an usual take on using your will. I’ve already talked about it in previous blog and may well delve into it again, at another time. It’s about, I believe, generating your passion and the will follows, easily and effortlessly.

The book is full of numbered lists like “10 Ways To Make Life More Difficult.” The exercises are stacked with thoughtful questions to answer. It’s an easy read with her humor and deep belief in making your dreams come true.

Speaking of beliefs, she talks at length about dealing with limiting beliefs that are often in the way of manifesting what you want. Our beliefs and the consequential feelings from them create our thoughts and help or impede our progress.

Her Passion Pyramid, starting from a firm foundation of your Purpose, moves into making that purpose into an exciting Dream, creating Projects to make that dream happen and at the top is Scheduling.

She talks a lot about creating a dream that you are more committed to than your current reality. She acknowledges that road can be rough. “As you connect with your purpose and passion, old programming surfaces. As you start to feel your dreams and desires, your limiting beliefs will show up And as you start to act on what you truly want, reality will test you.” You need to be clear about what you want and use passion for your dream to keep you moving toward it.

Marcia offers lots of fun tools like the “Completion Corner” which helps us find solutions to obstacles. Her essential theory on Obstacles: “Whenever there is an obstacle, design a strategy to manage it.” I like the “Ease Meter” where you decide on a set of criteria for helping to decide if a project is worth taking on or not.

The #1 way to get more ease, according ot Marcia, is to build what she calls an “Ease Team.” Everyone talks about getting support from others. Dreams never come true from one person’s effort only. “The greatest magic happens when we share our dreams with others.” I love that!

“Doing Less and Having More” will teach you a lot about yourself and what you’re looking for. And, if you follow the instructions, Marcia can help you make your dreams your reality.