Greetings all!
Here is an inspiring thought for the upcoming week
(from http://www.deeshan.com).
I loved the advice: "When it's yes, say yes. When it is no, say no."
Monday, September 30, 2019
Monday, September 23, 2019
Take An Inner Vacation [Breathing Technique]
Here
is a way to take an inner vacation when you can’t actually go somewhere. Think
of a beautiful place where you’ve been or would like to be, a calming spot
where you can just let go and relax. Imagine all the details that feel good to
you. Close your eyes. What images, sensations, thoughts, and feelings arise?
As
you sink into this experience, begin to let your breath flow easily. Soften
your belly, allow your exhale to lengthen and fall freely, and inhale slowly as
your breath carries this feeling throughout your whole body. Stay with this for
at least a minute.
When
our breath relaxes, our body and mind relax. In the same way, when our mind relaxes,
our breath relaxes. You’ve just given yourself a little vacation.
~
Margaret Townsend (as read in the August-2019 issue of Real Simple magazine)
Monday, September 16, 2019
Self-Care Practices For Realists
Greetings
all!
1) I will bend my knees today:
Today is the day to take care of yourself! Here
are some helpful tips from Shannon Reed as seen in the May-2019 issue of Real Simple magazine:
- Getting in and out of bed counts.
2) I will take one deep breath today:
- Inhaling to yell “Stop! Don’t eat that!” at the dog counts.
3) I will look with love and kindness upon at least one
person:
- Refraining from rolling my eyes at the woman who cut in front
of me in the school drop-off line counts.
4) I will eat thoughtfully:
- All foods, including gum, count.
5) I will explore aromatherapy:
- Noting that a co-worker once again used the office
microwave to heat up sauerkraut counts.
6) I will listen to a song I enjoy:
- Catching 30 seconds of that Fugee song playing over
Target’s loudspeakers as I pick up milk counts.
7) I will learn a new yoga pose:
- Bracing the door open while I scream for the cat to come
back counts.
8) I will develop a soothing evening ritual:
- Remembering to close the laptop before I fall asleep
counts. Actually turning it off means that my self has been fully, and lovingly,
cared for. I am complete.
Which
one was your favorite? Drop me a line!
Monday, September 9, 2019
S.T.O.P. [Mindfulness Technique]
How
about you S.T.O.P. right now??
Greetings
all!
I
wanted to share this wonderful mindfulness technique that you can use to get out
of your head and into the moment you are in. Being mindful reduces stress,
improves focus, and lessens emotional reactivity!
S
– stop
T
– take a breath
O
– observe (take inventory of your inner and outer experience)
P
– proceed with more mindfulness (be Present)
SOURCE
(includes other great mindfulness tips that you can use in your travels, at work, and your personal life):
What
did you think? Drop me a line!
Monday, September 2, 2019
Roasted Plums With Yogurt and Walnuts
Greetings
all!
Here
is a delicious summer dessert ready in 15 minutes!
Image
and recipe from
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4
plums halved and pits removed
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in an 8-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle the plum halves evenly with the sugar and place, cut-side down, in the skillet.
- Cook until the cut sides are golden in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, turn the plums over, and cook until tender, 5 to 6 minutes more.
- Transfer the plums to a plate, leaving the juices behind. Add the maple syrup to the skillet and stir. Combine the plums and plum syrup. Keep warm. (Or refrigerate for up to 2 days; warm before using.)
- Divide the yogurt among 4 bowls. Top each with 2 plum halves and chopped walnuts. Drizzle with the syrup.
Bon
Appetit! Hope you like it!
Monday, August 26, 2019
Monday, August 19, 2019
Have You Found Your Ikigai?
Greetings
all!
Have
you found fulfillment in your life? Do you know where to search for it? Have you
heard about ikigai?
Read
on! I loved this article by Paula Rizzo!
Image and article from
“What
do you do in a typical week?
- Go to work
- Spend time with your family
- Read
- Meditate
- Have drinks with friends…
It’s
important to have a good balance of work and play, social time and alone time.
But at the end of the day, what’s it all for?
There
are hundreds of self-help books on how to find your passion or change career
path to something more inspiring.
But
as my friend Terri would say, window cleaners don’t have that job
because they have a passion for clean glass. There’s a certain level of
practicality to what we do as well as a need to be financially stable.
So
how do we find fulfillment?
The
answer can be found on a small Japanese island which is said to be home to the
largest population of people who have lived to be 100 years old.
This
is largely attributed to the concept of ikigai.
Okinawans
use it as their way of life and I was introduced to the concept as I’m doing
research for my new book, “Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a
Less Stressed You”
Ikigai
is the joining together of four primary elements:
- What you love
- What the world needs
- What you are good at
- What you can get paid for
When
you bring together these four elements it leads to a feeling of fulfillment,
which increases happiness and longevity. To follow ikigai you don’t have to
immediately quit your job or make any other drastic life changes. Ikigai is
more about following the path towards your ultimate fulfillment.
So
how can you get closer to your Ikigai? Try to incorporate more of the following
into your day to day:
New
opportunities – A
large part of ikigai is the idea of following what brings you that sense of
fulfillment, by taking opportunities that match with the four tenants above.
You might take up dance classes. This brings out a talent you didn’t realize you had or could introduce you to someone who helps you with a new
opportunity. It’s not about taking on as many opportunities as possible but
simply seeking out the things that you enjoy.
Go
with your gut – Do
you ever have one of those days where you’ve planned everything out, but your
gut is telling you to go a different route? Sometimes that gut
instinct can save your life. Your instincts are there to lead you to
where you need to go. Much like seeking out opportunities, finding ikigai often
come from following an instinctive path, rather than doing what you feel like
you should be doing. Change should come from within not an external source.
Take
it easy – So you haven’t reached
your true harmony – or your ikigai just yet! And you might not get their next
week either. In the rush to find your fulfillment you could let life pass you
by. Trust that within time you will find what’s right for you. I worked for
nearly 20 years as a news producer before I changed direction and
starting teaching people how to build their media presence.
For a few years before I left Fox News Channel I had people telling me I should
go freelance, but I waited for what felt like the right time. I’m glad I did!
If you’re always looking to the future you can miss out on the now!
Have
you found your Ikigai?”
What did
you think? Drop me a line!
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