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As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. ~ Maya Angelo  I’m sure you are thinking . . . Living Life as a Teacup? What does that mean? Stick with me and I’ll explain. Do you find yourself in a place of helping others? Many of you naturally help others in your family. You may help people in your line of work. Perhaps you volunteer. Maybe you are the one everyone goes to because they know you will get done whatever needs to get done! Some days it may seem like all you do is take care of your children or do things for your spouse or partner. Then there are those of you who are taking care of ill parents. What about all the people at work or in your community that you help? The list goes on and on as to all the people in your life that you are helping on a daily basis. I am amazed at all that you do to help others! We certainly need that in the world perhaps more than ever. And yet, at what expense to yourself are you helping others? Don’t get me wrong. I feel it is important to help others! We certainly need to be helping each other during these unprecedented times. I would ask you to pause reading this for a minute though, and ask yourself when was the last time you took care of yourself. Yes, you. When was the last time you did something for YOU? If the answer is yesterday, I congratulate you! If you can’t remember when was the last time you did something for you, then let’s look at that. I can hear what you are thinking or saying. “I don’t have time to do anything for me because I’m so busy taking care of my child or my mother or I’m working 10-hour shifts.” I understand you are busy and have responsibilities. Maybe it is time to look at that list of responsibilities and see if you need to change some of the priorities. You must be your #1 priority! You can’t be second or tenth on your list of priorities. If you don’t take care of you, how can you take care of anyone else? As you continue giving and doing, at some point your body or mind will say “enough is enough”! You will be forced to stop to take care of you. Now would be a good time to get back to the teacup. I use to say “You need to fill your cup up first and then let the extra overflow to others.” When you are filled with energy, good health and a positive attitude, then you can share the excess with others. Then I spoke with a very wise person who said to me that I give so much to others that I need to serve others from my “saucer”. I didn’t know what she meant. She explained that I need to think of myself as a beautiful teacup sitting on a saucer. She told me that I could fill my cup up first and then let the excess spill over to the saucer. And the excess in the saucer is what I was to give to others. Not a continual flow out of my cup to others that I constantly had to keep flowing. Some of you may feel this is selfish or you can’t do this. When you take care of you, it helps everyone around you. You are a better mother or spouse or son or co-worker. Think what this world would be like if we each took care of ourselves! I challenge you to find a way to give to yourself first before others. It would be ideal if you could do something every day but if that seems too big of a challenge, then do at least one thing this week for you. If you feel in your busy life that it is impossible to find time in the day for yourself, then get up 30 minutes early, take 30 minutes during your lunch hour or 30 minutes before you go to bed. Make yourself a priority! You matter and you are deserving of it. If you don’t do it for you, who will? Time to become the teacup, fill your cup up first and let the excess flow into your saucer. Do it for you. Do it for everyone in your life. Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
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Be brave and create the life of your dreams. Dare to strive for spectacular. ~ Amy Leigh Mercree  How is your world? Not the big expansive world out there with all of humanity in it. I’m talking about the world within you and around you wherever you are in this world. What world are you creating for yourself? Are you even thinking about creating your world? Yes, you have the power to create your world. There is so much going on in the outer world right now. Some of you are experiencing profound life changes you couldn’t even imagine a year ago. Everyone is experiencing what is going on in the bigger world in their own way. Do you feel stuck? Don’t know which way to turn or what to do? In spite of what is happening in the world, if you pay attention, there are glimmers of possibilities for a new life. Please don’t allow what is happening in the world to cause you to stop “living”. What gets you excited when you think about it or you do it? What pulls at your heartstrings? Sometimes you may even have tears of joy it feels so good. When you feel this way about something, it just makes you feel alive and joyful. When was the last time you felt this way about something? Many of you may be on autopilot and don’t feel you have the time to be passionate about anything. Are you bored? Or, you are so busy you just can’t even think about the last time you did something that made you joyful. Time to change that! How are you feeling about what is going on in your life? Are you excited to get up each day or do you have to drag yourself out of bed because you are in the same old rut? In the blog You Are a Master Creator! I wrote how you can be the creator of your life. While you are creating your life, why not create a life full of passion? Take a minute and recall an experience from your life that was exciting for you. Maybe it was baking with your mother as a child. Perhaps it was a vacation that turned into quite an adventure. Do you have a hobby that use to bring you joy but you stopped doing it for whatever reason? I know that each of you reading this has at least one thing that you enjoy doing that just fills your heart with happiness. I bet some of you have a smile on your face just thinking about it! When was the last time you did this? If it was recently, I applaud you! If it was a while ago, how can you get back to it? I also can hear some of you saying there is nothing you are passionate about. Okay, is there something you really like? If given the opportunity to do anything for just the fun of it, what would that be? There is a simple exercise to help yourself. Brainstorm everything that you love to do. It can be anything! For example, you may love to work with people, exercise, be outdoors, play golf, create with your hands, be your own boss, etc. Once you have your list, then look at what jobs incorporate many of the things you love. Some of you have dreams that you have held onto for a long time and done nothing about them. Now is a great time to make them a reality. No matter how big or small, take the first step to bring them into your life. Some of you may be saying you don’t have the money or time to be passionate about anything! I challenge you to change your beliefs. Get up early or be brave and schedule an hour during the day to pursue your dreams. Money a factor? There are so many free resources available in our world today. There are also many people who are willing to spend time with you to share their talents. YouTube is a wealth of information and it costs you nothing! Take time to research what and who is available to you to help you with what you would like to do. Begin to take steps to do what makes you happy. Even if you only have limited time to do so, do what you can! When you are doing something you enjoy, life just feels so much better. Today, more than ever, when you feel good about yourself and what you are doing, it makes a huge difference for everyone! Find your joy, your passion, first for you and then let that flow out to others. Thank you for co-creating the world we would all like to live in! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world. ~Ashley Rickards  Change . . . the only constant in life. I look around And everything is changing . . . Everywhere. What does this mean for me? I am scared I feel paralyzed Not knowing what to do. Where to turn . . . How to move forward with my life. I feel the changes Within me Around me . . . Out in the world. Great resistance in the mass consciousness. Change can be difficult . . . Especially if there is resistance. Adapting and adjusting can be hard It’s all in the mindset. How to flow with the changes? The change begins with me. Recognizing it is time . . . To change Beliefs and conditioning that are long outdated. It all begins with that first step. No more hiding No more running No more avoiding. If I change myself . . . It changes the world. I will find the courage to take that step. First looking within . . . What beliefs are not mine What is my truth? Time to find the strength to begin. I am but one person . . . Change can start with me. One step at a time Walking the path of transformation I have the power to affect great change! What will my future hold? If I look too far ahead So much unknown . . . No guarantees. I stay in the present moment. In the NOW I know what is happening. I can make choices . . . See the results And affect change. I am the creator of my life! Now as I look within and around me Everything is changing And I feel . . . Empowered! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
The true essence of the soul is revealing when we embrace the light and the shadows within ourselves. ~ Dee Waldeck  I look into the shadows. Not a place I often go, Sometimes too scary And difficult to see within. I know it is time to embrace the shadows. Rather than look with my eyes, I feel into the shadows with my heart. I don’t like what I feel, And yet I know that I must Consider all the shadows. It is time to acknowledge the darkness. I’ve carried these shadows For longer than I care to Unknowingly some within my subconscious. I’ve allowed the shadows to control me. This part of me buried deeply That I do not want to look at And that which does not want me to find. Time to release that control over me, To let go of what no longer serves who I am. What lurks in the shadows? The part of me that is not so nice, Ready for me to love it And give it some light. Not proud of what I find within me. I know what I find Has been a part of me Not the part I am on the surface But the part of me That often cries from deep within. All the shadow wanted was to be recognized. I ignored the darkness So it grew even stronger Trying harder for me to see it. Too painful for me to look at it. The shadows darker than I expected, The fear of what I would find, Paralyzing me. Not able to even glance at the shadows Nor go within them. I know it is time for me to be strong. I face the inner darkness Not always easy But oh, so revealing. I find appreciation for the shadows. It is time to give thanks For the darkness contrasts the light. Time to let go of the shadow side To allow for more light For me to fully shine the light from within. I look into the shadows. The place I now gladly go For great inner change Can happen there. Thankful! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
Each of us has an inner room where we can visit to be cleansed of fear-based thoughts and feelings. This room, the holy of holies, is a sanctuary of light. ~ Marianne Williamson  How are you doing? Have you checked in with yourself lately? I mean “really checked in with yourself”. So much going on in the world, around you and within you. It's hard not to be feeling some level of stress and anxiety. Take a moment or two and really check in with yourself. Can you even put into words what you are feeling? Confusion, uneasiness, calmness within the storm, numbness? Some of you have said you are grateful for the time home with family and living a slower pace life with less or no rushing around in “busy-ness”. You might also be in a place of uncertainty, overwhelm, sadness, shock, grief, depression or fear. F. E. A. R. is a big one . . . it encompasses so many other feelings Whatever you might be feeling, please do yourself a favor and feel what you are feeling! Take time to look at what feelings and emotions are coming up for you. It can actually be harmful on many levels of you, especially emotionally and physically, when you ignore your feelings and stuff them. Rather than “stuff” these feelings, acknowledge them, feel them and then release them so they no longer hold you back. Many of you have told me that “old” feelings, triggers and programs are coming up. Again, a lot of emotional baggage is ready to be cleared and released. It is a time of great change and it all starts with you. There is no right or wrong way to feel or “be” during this unprecedented time on Earth. It’s okay not to be okay! There are days you can accomplish more than you did the entire previous week! Some days you can’t do anything but rest, even after sleeping through the night. You just have to honor what your body is telling you and how you feel. All of this is part of you becoming the new you in the new world. I heard from several of you that you can’t wait to get back to normal. My response has been and continues to be “the world will not get back to normal as we knew it.” We may have a new normal but we won’t go back to the old normal. For all our sakes, I pray the world doesn’t go back to the way it was! What would your ideal world look like? If you could, what kind of world would you like to wake up to tomorrow morning? What role would you have in this world? There are so many possibilities and potentials for your life and planet Earth. It starts with each one of us. This virus was a wake-up call for all of humanity. As difficult as it has been for many people, it has been a blessing in disguise. It has caused us as a collective to look at what we hold to be true for us as individuals and as a society. Have you taken time to examine what is true for you? If so, great! Are you fully committed to living in your truth? If not, it may time to check in with yourself and decide what is true for you! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you’ll see obstacles. ~ Wayne Dyer  So much happening. Around me, Within me, And in the world. I sense a myriad of emotions in the collective. Overwhelming fear, Unending anxiety, Deep sadness, Rising anger, Grief. What will the future hold? No one knows, Considerable uncertainty, Nothing seems as if it will be the same. I sit in isolation. Missing the physical connection with family and friends, I see their faces on the screen And hear their voices through the speaker. I miss the hugs, held tight to one another And kisses upon my cheek. An angel lands upon my shoulder. I hear a whisper in my ear, "Time to look through your eyes With a different perspective." I ask for clarity. "When you focus on the negative, You will see negative, Feel bad, Not be able to move forward And do what you came here to do. Look for the good. In others, Within you, In everything that is happening." I take a deep breath. Adjust my focus, Change my perspective, See the goodness in humanity, Notice the kind words And selfless actions. I see the good being done by many. I begin to feel better, I want to help others, My inner light begins to shine. I realize I am not alone in isolation. I can reach out and connect with others, In their time of need Or as they are in service. I, too, am part of the community As we all go through this experience together. All we have is the present moment. Of this I can be certain, Staying in the here and now, Creating my future. I sense new feelings within me. Strength from deep within, Hope abounds, Compassion, for me and for everyone, Peace and calmness, And, most of all . . . love. So much happening. Around me, Within me, And in the world. Grateful! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed. ~ Doe Zantamat  As I sit here doing my best to find the words to convey what a lot of us are experiencing and feeling, I just can’t seem to find the right words. It’s so much more than the virus that is affecting us. So many things happening individually and as a collective. Each one of you is having your own unique experience in these unsettling times. Some of you have lost your job and are uncertain when and if you will be able to return to work. Some of you are working from home, adapting to a new way of being “in” the workplace. Many, if not most of you, are home because your state has issued a “stay at home” order or something similar. This can be a very scary time. There is so much fear on the Earth right now . . . not just where you live but around the world! This is hard on everyone. You can sense it in the collective. We are living through a huge wakeup call for all of humanity. I hear some of you say “I can’t wait till this all blows over and we can get back to normal." What is normal? I have said for many years that everything is changing. Here we are. Welcome to change! I believe all of this will cause us to have a “new” normal. Most of you have had your day-to-day life and schedule completely turned upside down. Many of you have more time at home. Depending upon your perspective, this time at home can be a challenge or a gift. With this extra time at home, what are you doing on a daily basis? Are you glued to the TV hanging on every word that is said and that causes more fear within you? Do you find yourself in your mind thinking and rethinking about what the future will bring? Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it. ~ Michael Jordan With a large number of you at home with family, there are different and perhaps more demands put on parents than when your children were attending school. As much as you love your children, you can’t lose yourself in taking care of them. You can’t forget about you and what you need. Now more than ever, it is so important to take care of yourself. Those of you who follow my blog, know I have written many times about making YOU your #1 priority. Self-care is so important! If you don’t take care of you, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Many of you are doing a good job coping and even exceling during this time. You are decluttering and repairing your home. Depending what part of the country you live in, you may be working in your yard and clearing it for new growth this spring. You are finding new ways to exercise at home. Perhaps you have found a new way to video chat with friends and family in other parts of the world as a new way of keeping in touch. Some of you are bringing forth creative talents you’ve always had but may have been hidden. You are writing that book you never had time to write. I’ve seen many beautiful paintings and craft projects displayed online. You may be finding that inner chef and baker that you didn’t realize you were all these years! These creative projects add so much to uplift all of us. Tough times never last, but tough people do. ~ Robert H Schulle During this time of slowdown and isolation, give yourself the gift of taking care of all of you . . . physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Find time to go within and look at what truly matters to you. Deep within you is your true essence, who you really are. It’s time for your hidden gifts and talents to come forth. You can also take care of you by staying in the present moment. When you find yourself scared of getting sick or wondering what the future will bring, bring yourself back to the NOW moment. In that moment, find something to be grateful for. When you are in a place of gratitude, it changes everything. One moment of gratitude can lead to another moment and another. Soon you will find that you have much to be grateful for. In that moment, you are alive and can trust that we are all going to be okay . . . no matter what that looks like and no matter the outcome. If at times you find all of this to be more than you can bare, remember that you are not the only one experiencing this. You are not alone. We are all going through this. And, together, we will come out the other side of this unprecedented time on Earth! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you be the best version of YOU! For more information, click the button below.
The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and effort. ~ Billy Cox  How is your world? Is your life flowing and are you moving through your day with ease? If you answered “yes,” I’m excited for you! And, I want to thank you for living your life that way as it is helpful to all those around you as well. Then there are those of you that feel you have good days and some days that are not so good. I would also guess that some of you reading this don’t feel like anything works out for you and you struggle on many days. You may feel like pulling the covers over your head when the alarm goes off in the morning. No matter how you feel each day, wherever you are living, you know that things are not as they use to be. Everything is different, changing in ways that are hard to describe, yet you know they are different. Often it is difficult to know how to get through what shows up for you in your daily life. Many people believe they can control what is happening in their life. To a certain extent, I believe we create some or all of our life events and experiences. And yet, we can have something happen that we know we would never have created that throws us completely off our path! We immediately think “Where did that come from and why me?” I had an experience last month that reminded me of this! I was feeling better than I ever have in my entire life. Yes, really, the best ever! I was eating healthy, exercising, sleeping well, my body was moving better than I had ever experienced. I just felt good on all levels of me. Then, boom! Out of nowhere, I got hit by a virus that knocked me flat on my back for a week!!! It was then that I realized that I can’t control everything. I thought I was doing all the right things to be healthy and feel good. Then I get sick and I knew that, for whatever reason, some things are out of my control – they are uncontrollable. You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you. ~ Brian Tracy This illness reminded me that I can control my attitude about what is happening in any moment. My attitude is a “controllable” and that no one but me can control it. Regardless of what is happening in my life, I can choose a positive or negative attitude about it. This experience also helped me see that a great deal of time and energy can be spent on things that are uncontrollable. I would rather devote my time and energy on something controllable than try to control and predict an outcome for an uncontrollable in my life. Letting go of what is uncontrollable is actually less stressful and very free-ing! Are there things in your life that you feel you must control that really are uncontrollable? Take time to review the last week or month. See if there are some things that you can let go of that really are out of your control. Let them go and see if a burden is lifted from you that you no longer need to carry. As things continue to change in your world, find ways to make life easier for you. Realize that you can let go of what is uncontrollable. Let go of what really doesn’t matter and focus on what does matter . . . YOU! Thank you for liking, sharing and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give. ~ Ben Carson  So often at this time of the year, your thoughts go to what gift will you give a friend or family member for the holiday. Or, maybe you have a “wish list” of what you would like to receive. Commercials and ads begin to run in October for the holiday buying season and it seems as though the holiday season is getting earlier and earlier in the year. What if this season you took time to give the greatest gift of all . . . the gift of you? No matter what your spending budget may be, the gift of you cost nothing but your time and effort. You have many gifts to offer others and these types of gifts are priceless! You may even want to reconsider your wish list. Rather than a material gift, there may be something that you want to do that would be easier with the help of another person. Many will feel honored that you considered them to help you with something. They are helping you and it is uplifting for them. That’s a gift that goes both ways! The act of giving to someone is just as important for the person giving the gift as the person receiving the gift. You may have a hard time accepting gifts, payments or acts of kindness from others. Many people do. When you don’t accept what someone wants to give you, then you are denying them the joy of giving to you. Accept the gift and allow them to experience the joy of giving! I believe that most people truly prefer the gift of you over anything material. If you are having a hard time thinking of what “gifts of you” that you could give to someone, let’s look at some possibilities.
Gifts are given more at this time of the year than any other time. What if this year, you started a new tradition of giving the gift of you? Maybe this type of gift giving will become so popular that the holiday gift season will be all year long! As you do this and model for others, think about all the ways you are making this a better world for everyone! You being YOU is a gift!  Thank you for the gift of YOU. I am grateful for the gift of each one of you. Wishing you all the blessings and gifts of the season - joy, peace and especially . . . love. Thank you for liking, sharing and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
When you are grateful – when you can see what you have – you unlock blessings to flow in your life. ~ Suze Orman  As I reflect on all that is happening in the world right now, I feel a deep gratitude for all of you who are making an effort, any effort, to be more authentic, more your true self. I would guess that those of you who are reading this feel the stress and pressure of living on Earth at this time. If you are not careful, you can get sucked right into the drama and chaos that is swirling around you, personally and out in the world. Nothing is as it once was. The world is changing at a rapid pace. I hear people say they don’t know what they are doing or where they are going. It is a confusing time to be alive and yet, it can be an exciting time to be alive!!! When you don’t know what to do, the one thing you can do is turn inward. Ask yourself what you can do for YOU in that moment. Many of you were taught to do for others, to put others first before yourself. You may have the belief that it is “selfish” to take care of you first. When flying on a plane with others, you are told to put your oxygen mask on before helping others. If you pass out from lack of oxygen, you won’t be able to help anyone! It is now known that when you give and give to others, you deplete your “reserves” and then there is nothing left for you. Imagine giving to yourself first, filling you up first, and then letting all the extra flow out from you to others! It is a more uplifting and less draining way of living. Please let me make it clear . . . I am not talking about you doing nothing for other people. I’m talking about finding a balance between doing for others and doing for you. This may be where you have to set boundaries and say “no” more often in order to take time for you. When you ignore you and your needs, wishes and desires, you are not helping anyone! Often without realizing it, you can become resentful, bitter and angry because you didn’t take time for you. Even if you think no one knows how you are feeling, your anger and resentfulness will be sent out in your energy frequency to everyone around you. They will feel it even if you do not verbalize how you are feeling! If you are thinking that there is no way you can take time for yourself in your busy day, I would encourage you to find ways to do even little things for you. Take a break, walk outside, clear your mind and get some fresh air for 5 minutes. Close the door of your office and sit for 5 minutes in silence and breathe deeply to reset yourself. Do something physical even if it is just walking up and down stairs for 5 minutes. Love yourself enough that you do something to show yourself that love. It can be anything big or small, just do something. Give yourself that gift. In this world that seems to demand so much from each of you, you must make it a priority to take care of YOU! At this time of year when people are especially in a thankful and grateful state of mind, I am grateful for each one of you and what you are doing for yourself. When you do what is right for you, it is right for everyone around you . . . including me. Thank you. I am grateful for the gift of you! Thank you for liking, sharing and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
Just like the seasons, people have the ability to change. ~ Laurie Buchanan  It’s that time of year! The days are shorter and the feeling of fall is in the air. The fall harvest, and especially picking apples, remind me of my grandmother’s famous apple pie. Such fond memories! For some of you, where you live the leaves are changing colors. The trees will soon be shedding their leaves in preparation for the winter. This is a natural process for the trees to be ready in the spring for new growth. Fall brings a feeling of great change for many of you. Something about the rhythm of nature affects your biological and inner core rhythms. It gives you a time to “pause” and transition from the summer to winter. This natural rhythm of the seasons reminds you of what you can do to prepare yourself for change. What can you shed to get ready for the next season in your life? Are there old tapes, beliefs or ways of being that no longer serve you? Like the trees, you may have some “leaves” that are ready to be shed. The trees shed leaves so that in the spring, a “rebirth” can happen where the old leaves use to be. What old beliefs or ways are you holding onto that are stopping your new growth? Perhaps this season of change will help you look at what needs to be shed in your life so you can move forward into “new growth”. If you are here on this Earth at this time, you are changing! Most of you can feel the changes in the world and within you. At times, it feels difficult to work through the changes. Other times, the changes just flow. Whatever is happening with you and in your world, you can be the creator of what “new” you would like in your life. Yes, you are capable and responsible for creating the life you want to live! Take a step for you, any step, even a baby step, to shed the old and then grow the new. When the winds of change blow, remember . . . sometimes what appears dead is simply preparing for a new season. ~ Jane Lee Logan Let’s look at some ways to get you started with this process. Take any area of your life – family, work, relationships, health, self-love or any aspect of your life where you want to make changes. Find about 30 minutes to do “brainstorming” about that area of your life. Several “rules” with brainstorming. You are making a list of any and everything pertaining to that subject with no thinking or judgement. After 30 minutes, look at your list and see what “jumps out at you” or feels right for you to pursue as a possibility. Here is an example of a brainstorming exercise one person did about her career. She wanted to make a change but didn’t know what to do because of her fear that she couldn’t give up a good paying job to do what she really loved! Her current position was sitting at a computer all day as a customer service rep for a large corporation. She listed all the things she would like in a career. Two things popped out when she looked at her list. She loved animals and being outdoors. She found a way to start a part-time pet sitting business on the weekends. She loved caring for and walking dogs. Soon she expanded her pet services and was busy during the week before and after her full-time job. Because she loved animals and enjoyed what she was doing, people loved her and the service she provided. Business picked up. It took time, but eventually she was able to expand her business to include part-time employees to help her. Needless to say, she is now enjoying what she does and is not sitting behind a computer all day! Gratitude for the turning of the seasons. May we attune our hearts to their enduring message of renewal. ~ Kristin Granger You can make big or small changes in any area of your life. Change is happening regardless of what you do or don’t do. Wouldn’t you like to be a part of the process of change and create what you would like in your life? As you go into fall, look for what you can shed to make room for the new. Maybe you will come up with a new recipe that becomes famous or create something else that everyone will want to have. You have gifts and talents that no one else in this world has! Believe in yourself and know that anything is possible for you! Thank you for liking, sharing and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. ~ Oprah Winfrey  What do you speak every day? Not what is your native language but what and how do you speak. What words do you use in the workplace, with your friends and family? Are you authentically you in your conversations with others? Are you speaking your truth? Or, are you saying what you believe the person wants to hear from you? At times you may find yourself being very careful what you say to someone. You don’t want to offend or upset the person. You pick and choose your words. You aren’t necessarily lying to the person yet you are not being completely truthful either! I’m sure there have been times when you were very concerned about what to say to a person. Perhaps you weren’t sure how they would take what you had to say. You felt they may not hear what you were saying with the message that you intended. Communication can be tricky at times. Everyone comes from a different perspective because of their own life experiences. How you say something and your body language can also greatly impact how the message is received. Writing is another form of speaking. In the current times, it can be even trickier than speaking with someone. Tests and emails can be easily misread. Something you might want to consider when you are “speaking with writing." Your health can be affected by what you do and do not say. When what you say does not line up with your truth, it can affect your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The stress of not speaking your truth can be obvious as well as very subtle. Either way, it still causes stress! When you speak your truth from your heart, it is beneficial not only for you but also the person you are speaking with. When you first speak about something and you speak your truth with love, there is no chance later that you will have to remember the “half-truth” you told earlier. There is stress caused simply by trying to remember exactly what you told the person in the first place. Best to speak your truth! You should feel comfortable speaking your truth no matter what situation you find yourself in. No matter what you feel or say about something, it will not “line up” with everyone. So why not speak truth as you know so it is good for you? Find someone you trust that you can practice speaking your truth in a “safe space”. A place where you know that you will not be judged or criticized for what you have to say about something. Speak from your heart in a kind way knowing that this is healthy for you on so many levels. Telling someone the truth is a loving act. ~ Mai Pancoas People come in and out of our lives. Wouldn’t you rather spend your life with people who honor you and your opinion even if they don’t agree with you? Love yourself enough to be true to yourself. Then take that truth and speak with others, in love, with love. Wouldn’t it be a much different world if we all would speak our truth in the language of love? Thank you for liking, sharing and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
“Choose being kind over being right and you’ll be right every time.” ~ Richard Carlson  It happens to all of us. We get in a discussion with a friend, colleague, family member or even a stranger, and you have a different point of view than the other person about what is being discussed. Sometimes it may not be a discussion but more of a heated argument! It seems as though it is human nature, in most incidents, that each person in the discussion has to prove their point and be right! It’s as if neither person will budge even a little from their thoughts and perspectives about the topic being discussed. They’re so set in what they think and believe, nothing will make them change their mind! It is fact that everyone has their own opinion and truth about things, events and people. We can agree or disagree on many topics and beliefs with others but we still have our own perspective based on what we have experienced in our life. Our uniqueness, truths and beliefs are an important thread of the fabric of humanity. Yes, it is very important that you are who you are and believe what you believe based on what is true for you. And, it is just as important that we remember that each person has their own truths. It doesn’t make them any more “right” than you and vice versa. Each thread of the fabric is important or else the fabric will unravel. The next time you find yourself in a discussion with someone and you do not agree with them, could you stop for a minute and listen to what they are saying? I mean really listen to what they are telling you. You don’t have to agree with everything being stated but you do have the choice to listen with an open mind and heart. You know what your life has been like and there is not one other person who has walked in your shoes to know exactly what you have experienced and felt. The same is true for everyone you meet. What if you take a moment to hear what they are saying and see if you can learn something new? What if you can expand your understanding of the world through this person and it helps you form new beliefs or truths for you? Stand up for what you believe in and what is true for you. That’s admirable. As you do this, though, don’t be so “right” and so closed minded that you cannot even think that there may be another “right” side to consider. We can’t know everything about everything . . . no one knows everything! If you understand that everyone has a different perspective based on what they have experienced in their life, then you might consider the following statement to be true. There is your side of the story, their side of the story and perhaps a different, truer side of the story neither one of you has considered! The next time you find yourself in a discussion with someone and you have very different points of view, perhaps you can choose to step back and listen with an open heart to what the other person is saying. You still don’t have to agree with them. You can continue to believe what you feel is correct for you. Maybe when all is said and done, though, it won’t be about who was right or wrong. It will be about who went to the greater length to consider the other person’s perspective.  You each hold an important thread of the fabric. You can choose to strengthen those threads by being remembered for caring enough to listen to the other person. Or, you can argue your point to prove you are “right”. What do you choose? Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
When something really matters, you should never give up or give in. ~ Gordon Brown  Have you ever really thought or felt about what matters to you? Are you passionate about something? Is there something in your life that brings you joy? In the busy-ness of life, it is easy to lose touch with what really matters. If it was just you and you had no responsibilities, what would you do? What is important to you? What really matters? Some of you would say that your health and wellness matters the most. Someone might say the adventure and magic of traveling, visiting new places feeds their soul. You might say that your awakening, your realization that you are more than what you see in the mirror, is a path that really matters to you. If you have never really contemplated what matters to you, take some time to just “sit or be” with what your heart is telling you. Regardless of your age or what is happening in your life, get in touch with that inner knowing. Go within and ask yourself “What really matters to me at this time on my life journey?” Once you have established one or several things that would make “your heart sing” even at the thought of doing them, then it is time to come up with a plan to incorporate them into your daily life. Those of you who feel you are in a rut, don’t feel joy or feel hopeless with your day-to-day existence, then this is especially important for you. I know you are busy, but could you find a way to commit even 30 minutes a day to you? You might be thinking “There is no way I have even 15 minutes in my day to do something for me!” I would challenge you to make YOU your #1 priority and find time to nurture you, your soul. Could you wake up 30 minutes earlier or take 30 minutes before you go to bed for yourself? What about taking a break during the day? Or how about when you transition from work to home, you take some time for yourself. One mom told me that when she took time for herself, she was a better mother, wife and person. Because of the demands of being a working mom with a busy family, she woke up 30 minutes earlier before anyone else was awake. This was her special quiet time every day that was just for her. A professional single mother told me she would take time on her lunch hour for herself. She knew her child was being cared for at daycare. And, she was able to leave the demands of work behind during that time. Sometimes she would workout, or sit outside and read the latest book that had her attention or attend a lunch focus group about a local issue she was passionate about. She was able to focus on just herself and what mattered to her. What was interesting, she felt her performance was better at work on the days she did this. She also felt this helped her be a better mother. I love the analogy of when you are flying on a plane and there is an emergency. If you are flying with someone that would need your assistance to put on their oxygen mask, you are told to put your oxygen mask on first. If you pass out from lack of oxygen, you are not going be able to help anyone! You have to take care of you by putting on your oxygen mask before you can help others. Take time to do what matters to you, what you care about. What a wonderful way to love and take care of yourself. When you take care of you, it is a gift you give yourself and everyone around you. It is not being selfish!!! As you take time to do what you are passionate about and what brings you joy, you can then allow that to flow to others. Do what really matters to you. What a gift! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
It’s not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean. ~ Tony Robbins  Many of you reading this blog have carried a heavy load of what I would call “incorrect beliefs”. These beliefs were formed from what your parents and family believed, what the media told you and what our society determined to be “truth”. But what are your truths, your beliefs? Your brain takes in everything you experience and everything that you are exposed to. Your brain does not know the difference between what is your truth and the truth of someone else. Your brain is full of beliefs and tapes that are playing that most likely are not your beliefs. When the media tells you that you need this product to be beautiful and you believe it, that is what gets programmed into your brain. You have formed a belief about you that most likely is not true. You now have a belief, whether conscious or unconscious, that drives some of your actions. These actions may not always be for your best good! It is believed that by the time children reach the age of between five and eight years old that all their beliefs are deeply embedded within them. Everything they have experienced, been told and believed is recorded in the subconscious. All of that is recorded at the age the child experienced it and has the potential to affect them throughout the rest of their life, even as adults. Can you see as an adult that some of your thoughts and actions are driven by these deeply held beliefs that were formed early in your life? These beliefs were formed through the eyes of a child and may not be the truth of who you really are now in this moment. Of course, you continue to form beliefs throughout your lifetime but these early, possibly incorrect beliefs form a foundation for many of the beliefs you have now and continue to form. Let’s say you have an older brother and you are five years old. Your mom was reading your favorite book with you and had to stop to help your brother with homework. She never came back to finish reading the book to you because your brother needed her help. His homework took a long time to finish. Now it was time to go to bed. Your mother hurriedly puts you to bed because she has so much to do before she can go to bed. From your perspective, you feel she lovingly tucks your brother in for the night. Then from your childlike point of view, you form the belief “I must not be loveable because my mother spends more time with my brother than me. She must love him and not me.” An incorrect belief is formed. As you continue your life with this belief, this tape, of “I must not be loveable. There must be something wrong with me.” Your brain is like a computer with programs running in the background. These background programs can affect all areas of your life. Your relationships, your work, your self-worth, all of that can be affected at any age based on a belief that you formed as a five-year-old.  Most of you have a practice of Spring cleaning your home. Have you ever thought about Spring cleaning your brain? There are many beliefs that are holding you back or are no longer true for you. As you tend to the garden of your mind, is it time to clean up your beliefs? And, when you get rid of the old or what is no longer serving you, it makes room for the new to come in. Regardless of your age, there is no better time than now to examine what you believe to be true for you. Are your beliefs that you are not good enough or smart enough stopping you from changing careers? Starting a new hobby? Writing a book? You are good enough and you are smart enough. You can’t fail. You fail only when you don't even try. Take time to look deeply at what you have been told over the course of your life. Are there some beliefs that you have that you know are incorrect? Are you ready to let those go and run a new program in the computer of your brain? Time for an upgrade . . . a new version of you! Thank you for sharing, liking and commenting below about this blog. Feedback is always welcome. Are you ready to live the life you desire and deserve? Julie Wilson is a Life Coach who is dedicated to help you live a life you love! For more information, click the button below.
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