“Some things have to be believed to be seen.” ~ Ralph Hodgson

During this holiday season may you believe in the abundance of the world so that it may manifest itself to you and those you hold dear.

Happy Holidays!

Is life passing you by? Are you so focused on the future that you are not enjoying what today brings? Is your past intruding on daily practices?

Take one moment today to sit quietly and just breathe. Take in the moment…the smells, the sounds and the tastes. Don’t let the present moment…this great gift we get on a daily basis pass you by in all your busyness.

The same is true for this holiday season. Beyond the twinkling lights, presents, family and religious celebrations and noise, take a moment to truly appreciate all that is your life…see what you can take off your to do list today so that you can be present with your family, friends and holiday activities. Even in the midst of a project you can immerse yourself in it and not think about the next item on your list so that you can revel in that task.

“Seize from every moment its unique novelty, and do not prepare your joys.” ~André Gide, Nourritures Terrestres

“Happiness is an inside job.” ~William A. Ward

So many times we look for things or people to make us happy. Recently I re-read parts of the book Worn Out Woman: when life is full and your spirit is empty by Dr. Steve Stephens and Alice Gray (Multnomah® Publishers 2004).

I was struck by the chapter I read on “Shoulds and Oughts”. Are you a people pleaser? I am. Reading this chapter was another aha moment for me because it made me realize that many of us (especially women) were raised to follow the rules and fit within a mold. Now I am not talking about just being nice or accommodating. I am talking about trying to be liked and banking your happiness on others.

We have to realize that happiness comes from within. So ask yourself the question what makes you happy and write it down. Then do one thing this week, today or this holiday season just because it makes YOU happy.

Your health and happiness are more important than temporarily pleasing someone else. What a wonderful gift to give yourself.

“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.”  ~E.P. Powell

Many of us have implemented expressions of gratitude on a daily basis. Yet we don’t always reflect on the things that matter most in our lives.

This Thanksgiving think about and acknowledge the memorable moments, small accomplishments and many gifts you have received thought the years with true gratitude.

For me, a few weeks ago on a beautiful evening my husband surprised me after a difficult day by driving to a local outside mall and inviting me to take a walk with him. The sights, the smells, the sounds were absorbed into me as we held hands, talked and smiled. It was just for a very short time and yet those few precious moments together warmed my heart, filled the empty well and left me feeling grateful.

Please share what matters most to you.

Are you happy?

With the economy, daily hassles, work pressures, health issues, and other worries it would seem that there is no such thing as happiness.

I would beg to differ and so would Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. I have been following the Women’s Day Magazine’s year-long challenge about happiness. I have learned from reading these articles that we have a chance…no a choice… every day to be happy. Every decision, event, circumstance provides us with a choice.

Happiness or being happy is an attitude. Happiness is a daily decision. Choose happiness today.

I am not sure if you have roundabouts in the town where you live. In the last few years several have been added near my home. While I see some benefits to having them I am also concerned about how people drive through them. They are so much in a hurry that they can’t wait…pause to make a good decision for traveling through the roundabout. It is almost as if they are plowing through it. That’s what concerns me. They don’t take time to even stop or pause for a second to consider the others that want to move through or their best route for exiting the roundabout.

The reason that I am writing about roundabouts today is because of a comment my massage therapist and friend, Susan Harding, who is the owner of Healthworks Massage Therapy and Wellness Center made the other day. She indicated that she decided that where she was in her decision making process about something was like a car in a roundabout but going around and around and not exiting. This is actually a good thing because she had so many potential exits (options) that she decided she was comfortable just circling until the right exit came up.

What I found very interesting was that she didn’t use the word “stuck” in the roundabout. She actually was using the roundabout as part of her journey. She was taking time to look at all options…seeing which fit her best.

So where are you with your journey in your career, personal life, family life or resolutions (goals)? Maybe you should take the time to circle the roundabout one more time to ensure that you have looked at all possible options (exits) before moving through it too fast.

Life coaching can help you find life balance, move forward or define the exit (path) you want to take. If you would like a free 30-minute sample session contact me.

[CONTACT-FORM]

I had the pleasure of attending a local fundraising event last night put on by an amazing woman who personifies the adage “it is better to give than receive”. Several years ago she asked herself what could she do for people close to her who were touched by the cancer experience and she started this fundraising event and it led to the development of a non-profit organization.

Besides attending the event, Clutter Busting Coach, LLC had the honor of being one of several sponsors for the evening. I decided to get involved because I was inspired to add to this great event. Attending the program for several years always left me feeling good that I contributed and hopeful for the future. Not only does the event raise money for cancer but it is a gathering place for people to share their “abundance”.

Abundance can mean a lot of things: time, support or money. Whether it is time, support or money, if we try to hold on to it we can see it slip through our fingers. Yet is we share ourselves and what we have with others these things seem to be drawn to us.

As you approach this holiday season my wish is that you consider the reason for the season and what feelings you want to experience during this time. Then approach it with abundance of thought and allow the spirit of the season to shine.

Going with the flow means that you follow the current energy level of the day or events. There are benefits to going with the flow of things.

Read how going with the flow can help you especially if you are feeling stuck at: http://dailyom.com/articles/2009/19412.html

Do you feel like you are stuck in a routine? Are you feeling stagnant?

Maybe modifying your perception about your daily tasks can help you realize how exciting your life really is…no two seconds in your life are the same. Today is slightly different from yesterday. You might feel that your schedule is the same, the people you interact with are the same and the tasks you complete are the same. Yet, if you take notice you just may realize that even your everyday tasks are filled with the new and extraordinary.

One of the constants in life is change…so look at your routines as not being on a fixed path. View them as having variety and the ordinary will feel more exciting. Realize that you have freedom on how you look at your daily tasks and choose to be curious and excited…you will be astonished about the change in your energy level. What wonderful, extraordinary thing will you experience today?

“Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.” ~ Dennis Waitley

Moving from one task to another gives us momentum. Yet, if we don’t take the time to acknowledge what we have achieved, we can quickly run out of motivation.

If you are struggling with a task or project, step back and write down a quick list of goals- big and small- you have achieved. Also, acknowledge the steps that you took to get there.

Seeing your accomplishments in writing can provide the motivation for the next goal. So relish your work and applaud your actions. What’s next?