“None but ourselves can free our minds.” - Bob Marley

One week in and its been a tough challenge. 

"Positive Mindset."

Realization-  It is much easier to be a negative person, look down instead of up, point a finger, poke and jab to defend youself.  Just like its easy to be overweight because fast food is cheaper and I'm just too busy to go to the gym.  Excuses!  We do what is easy and we do what feels good even if it as the expense of another but especially at the expense of yourself.... 

Think about this...  Putting your best intention forward allows you to lead with integrity and to be looked at as honerable.  Taking every moment and turning it towards the best outcome and looking towards that positive piece of every encounter will create; self love, understanding, positive energy, happiness, and the list really can go on and on.  This part is not easy!!

It is easier to not worry about myself, preach to others about how "I" think their life should be and not face myself every single day.  The easy way out is boring.

I notice when changing my frame of thought your mind wonders more than one would like.  We have such powerful minds and it can be used to create two things;  pain or pleasure.  When my mind creates pain the reasoning behind these visions or thoughts reflect all of my FEAR.  I never realized how much fear I actually have and instead of facing myself and my fear I create realistic ideas of "what if" situations.  Does this make sense?????  Tony Robbins, talks about our minds and physiology of thinking.  We believe what our minds tell us, how we feel creates that emotional reaction and what we think is what we believe.  Even if our thoughts aren't real, the way those thoughts make us react and feel makes it an emotional reality. 
 
I learn about myself every day, but this experience has been one that is not only eye opening but a big reality check. 

I often make excuses for people, myself, a situation and in turn negatively look at a situation and leave it making me feel down or negatively impacted.  How do I get out of this habit???  Change my feelings and thought patterns that take me to the, "dark place."  This "dark place" is not ugly or forbidden territory, but it is easy.  Easy to fall into that pattern of as mentioned earlier of placing blame.  If we constantly placed a mirror infront of every accusation, negative slur, or pointed finger how would you react? 

It is easy and comfortable to try and control a situation, or let the negativity and misery rule your thoughts, action and overall being.  When are we ever satisfied?  I have allowed myself to look and project so far in the future that sometimes what is right in the moment does not receive the credit deserved.  Recently throught thie awakening and "challenge," living in the moment takes away the security of tomorrow but allows you to feel and appreciate what you have and feel more love than imagined.  Its amazing how one focus can effect all aspects of your life.   

Defining the Challenge

I do not believe in resolutions, I like to look at every day as a new opportunity for change and to continually improve on all levels. I have focused on mental clarity, breaking down myself from every angel with therapy, journal entries, growing, falling, etc. I think you get the idea. Now its time to change my physiology and create "habits" that will change my life forever.

http://zenhabits.net/7-little-habits-that-can-change-your-life-and-how-to-form-them/

In short- I have made a list of 7 habits that can change my life and here are the steps to be taken in this challenge.

Do a 30-day challenge, focusing on just ONE habit.

Write it out on paper, along with your motivations, obstacles, and strategies for overcoming them.

Commit fully, in a public way.

Log your progress.

Remain publicly accountable — report on your progress each day.

Have support for when you falter — either in real life or online.

Reward every little success.

If you fail, figure out what went wrong, plan for it, and try again.

Here we go......

My 7 habits:

1. Develop positive thinking
2. Daily routine
3. Follow through
4. Standards
5. Self-worth
6. Kindness
7. Exercise
We are going to start with #1.

Develop positive thinking:

With positive thinking I allow myself to focus and better control myself emotionally, physically and mentally. My mind will be stronger and grow towards a unrelenting positive attitude. I will become a better partner, with emotional and mental strength that allows me to notice the negative and only allow positive influences in my life. Positive thinking will allow me to “squash” my demons of the past and present creating a stronger foundation for me to continue to grow and learn.

Motives:
1. Become mentally stronger.
2. Change my physiology of thinking.
3. Look towards the best in situations.
4. Create greater outcomes.
5. Happiness.
6. Better relationships.

Obstacles:
1. Outside negative influences.
2. Negative thoughts and feelings.
3. Allowing the negative to control my feelings.
4. Wallowing.
5. Knowing when to let go of the negative.
6. Strength to consistently stay positive.

Strategy:
1. “Squash” negative thoughts.
2. Turn negatives into positives.
3. Write down what triggers my negative thoughts and be more aware.
4. See the positive in situations.
5. Gratitude journal.
6. Control my emotions.
“The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.” Dalai Lama

**I am going to use this blogging community as a log, accountability and an open ear to feedback. Please feel free to join me and take this 30 day journey towards a new perspective.

Control.

"Boredom No More"

Finally, the Official Top Ten Spiritual Ways to Defeat Boredom, Make Friends, Find Love, Trim Down, Shape Up, Discover Your Purpose, Make a Fortune, and Shine Your Light, are...

1. Take action.
2. Show up.
3. Lean into it.
4. Start anywhere.
5. Keep busy.
6. Get out more.
7. Ask for help.
8. Shake more hands.
9. Give more hugs.
10. Don't stop.

You were already visualizing, right?

Today,
The Universe

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”

 

I see myself standing in a crowd, everyone is moving in one direction and I am bumping shoulders excusing myself for going against the flow of traffic. I keep fighting and fighting and fighting until I stand alone, no one coming or going.  In my heart I hoped a few would follow me, maybe even ask me where I was going. 

 

Why would anyone follow me if I do not create a reason to be followed? 

 

I stand alone in a crowd because I continue to stay facing the same direction and only thinking about going against the grain. Talking to the same people about the same things, arguing with my better half about the same dilemma and going no where.  May sound dramatic but its the truth.  I have realized that change does not come from time, but is created because you had the courage to stand for something and during that time was able to get through to at least one person.  I spend so much time and energy trying to change others because I have my own selfish opinion on how they should be.  My energy has been facing the wrong way this entire time.  I can only control myself and when I try to control others it is because I cannot face the fears of moving on or leaving behind the crowd to help change one person at a time. 

How do I get there and make this happen?  Create impact a "Big Boom," that others will follow and know that most people will speak of because it was such a huge "BOOM?" 

I have no plan of action!  I know that I strive for excellence and excellent is what my outcome will be.  I will judge no one but myself and hold myself accountable for today, look only for what I have in the now and leave yesterday where it belongs and look forward to tomorrow because today is soooo damn good that nothing but greatness can come from it, which as you see leads to tomorrow. 

I do not write these things to demand attention, I write them because when I am in need, I search for inspiration and when I find it, it often comes from someone else's excellence.  I am not always the wisest woman, but I do know that I feel connected towards helping others because there are times when others have helped me.  So I am going to turn that into wearing my heart on my sleeve, being as honest as I can be, and living my life the best way I can today.










 

 

Universe doing work.

If you only gave yourself credit for all the things you do that you do not give yourself credit for, you’d be astonished to learn how much you really do accomplish in a single day. Every single day.

That’s okay though, because I’m still "counting" all of it.

The Universe



Truth:

I have struggled with honesty and trust in the past.  In the present I have become versed from my actions, mistakes, and victories.  One fact that stands in front of this disheveled crowd of experiences is that the best intention always leads to the greater fruition.  You cannot be defined by the "ignoble" actions but how you are victorious the next time around. 

I fight with myself not because I am looking down on my actions, but because I expect more from the outcome I have received.  Where do we place the blame?  Place blame on yourself instead of so easily pointing a finger at those around you.  We tend to mirror our mistakes because we are afraid of the progress and the reality we may face from our monotonous patterns.  

"Fear" does us no favors.

We do ourselves the respect by facing ourself with honesty.   

 

Operation Christmas Child

**Operation Christmas Child**
Pack a shoe box is back...
If you're interested in giving back to children in need this Christmas, this is a perfect opportunity.

You pack a shoe box with school items, little toys, hygiene items, etc. I have packets that provide what and how to pack your box, as well as instructions re where to take them and how to track them to your child.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/