Everywhere you turn the current global economic crisis is front and center - jammed up credit markets, roller coaster stock markets, declining house prices and unemployment concerns.
Everyone has an opinion on the recent Wall Street rescue plan. And most people are asking,
“How did things get into such a mess?”
I’m no economic expert but it seems that part of the problem stems from a decline in morality, a pile of poor choices and not paying attention to flashing red signs.
It’s not surprising that when you take your eye off the ball, the game goes sideways.
Your life is not a whole lot different than the economy.
Are you heading for a personal recession?
Do you feel like things are out of control?
Have you been ignoring the signs that something needs to change?
Are your choices guided by a moral code?
Is it time to take stock and make some adjustments?
Does your life need a rescue plan?
Stop by tomorrow and I’ll share my thoughts on the real nature of the economic crisis.
Is there a new habit you would like to create? 
Then you’re in for a treat. My FREE 30 Day Challenge is the perfect tool to help you get started and stay motivated.
Why join us?
- you’ll get a daily tip to keep you on track
- you’ll have the support of a community that wants you to succeed
- you’ll watch me as I work on my own new habit
- you’ll be able to ask questions each and every day by posting comments on the blog
Want to take part in this FREE 30 Day Challenge?
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Decide what one new habit you would like to create in the next 30 days. Consider this question:
What one habit, if you added it consistently into your life, would make a difference to your happiness or health?
2. Download your 30 Day Challenge calendar by clicking here.
3. Sign up to receive the email updates from the blog. You will see a signup box on the right side of the main blog page: “Get Email Updates”
Put your email address in the box and click subscribe - this is a double opt in system so you will need to confirm the email message you receive in your inbox.
Each day during October I’ll post a new 30 Day Challenge tip to keep you on track. You’ll also get to see my progress on my own 30 Day Challenge habit. Once you have subscribed for Email Updates these tips will be delivered right to your email inbox.
4. Post a comment on the blog and tell us what new habit you are working on during the challenge. You don’t have to use your full name. Then feel free during the month to post additional comments about how it’s going - what’s working and where you are stuck. I’ll respond to each of the blog comments you post. No, you don’t have to participate in the on-line discussion - but you will find greater accountability and success if you do. The 30 Day Challenge will take place entirely here on my blog under the category “30 Day Challenge”.
Tune in tomorrow…
as I share what new habit I’ll be working on - and give you some tips about making your habit specifc.
When we get off track or tend to forget the things that are most important, the universe sends a little message. That happened last week when Dave Freeman passed away suddenly at the age of 47.
Dave wrote the book 100 Things to Do Before You Die, one of the very first books in the bucket list genre. In the book he commented that life is a short journey. Indeed it was for him as he only had enough time to visit about half of the travel sites recommended.
Have you written your list of must do things before you die?
Are you actively designing your life so you have the richest, fullest experience possible?
Or are you simply waiting until “some day”?
So here’s my thought for today:
Give thanks to the universe for its reminders and then honor Dave Freeman by working on your own bucket list.
What’s one of your must do items for this life?
There’s an old saying that you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with what I call “hot people” - individuals who inspire, challenge and support you.
It’s easy to set the bar low for yourself. Mediocrity is a cultural norm.
I figure you have two choices in life:
half assed or kick ass
Which life you live depends a lot on who you hang out with. Hot people create a playground of rich conversation and joyful abundance where tackling fears and stretching yourself is encouraged and living your dreams is required.
I’m blessed to have lots of hot people in my life. Here’s what some of them are up to:
There’s Nancy, a woman of a certain age and not your typical athlete, who just participated in the Victoria Dragon Boat races to raise money for cancer.
There’s Virginia who has been known to spontaneously hop on a plane and land on my doorstep who is heading off to France for a couple of weeks of whatever adventure awaits her.
There’s Catherine who will be rappelling down the side of a 27 story building in Edmonton on September 8th to raise money for Easter Seals. Go girl.
There’s Gail who is facing a challenging illness with grace and optimism.
There’s Neela, a single parent of two daughters and closet writer, who delights me with thought provoking conversations about moments of revelation and deeper learning.
Pretty good company.
If you want to learn more about how hot people and ideas can set your life on fire, check out my new book Spontaneous Combustion.
What company do you keep?
Post a comment about your hot people.
No it’s not an exotic plant or some new addition to your yogurt.
It’s a term that was first used by psychologist Eric Fromm to describe human beings’ attraction to all that is alive and vital and later expanded upon by American biologist Edward Wilson as a subconscious attraction towards nature and other living things.
So what does that mean for you?
People are naturally attracted to the outdoors and nature. We’re hard wired to connect with other living things. That’s cool except when you consider that for many people the closest they get to nature is a breathtaking photo on their screen saver. Most people work indoors, often without a window and then they return home after a long day to spend time in front of the TV.
How much time do you spend outdoors?
We’re been having the most wonderful weather in Edmonton and coupled with a four day holiday weekend I’ve been puttering long hours in my garden. It is truly calming and re-energizing.
When I think about my most restorative places and experiences, they always involve nature and the outdoors…the sounds of the birds in the morning, walking the Tuscan countryside, sitting on the deck at the beach house watching the world float by or tending to the plants in the garden.
Being in tune with nature helps to be more in tune with yourself.
So here’s my challenge.
Go outside right now. Stop what you are doing and take five minutes to nurture your biophilia. Connect with other living things. Think about how you can bring more of nature back into your life.
Then when you come back inside post a comment about your outdoor adventure and we can all share in the natural delight.
My beverages are taking to me again.
A while ago I had written an article about the wisdom on the side of a Starbucks coffee cup.
Today I tried a new brand of green tea called Yogi Tea. When I opened the pouch with the tea bag, it had a little message:
Bliss cannot be disturbed by gain or loss.
That’s another way of saying one of my favourite mantras:
Happiness does not depend on circumstances.
I come across so many people who think that their degree of happiness on any given day depends on what is going on around them. Not a chance.
Happiness is a state of being - a philosophical way to be in the world.
It comes from a deep connection to what matters most to you.
It comes from an ongoing spirit of gratitude no matter what natural chaos is coming your way.
It comes from blissful living - being passionate, curious, engaged every day.
When you begin to learn the strategies for shifting into a perspective of joy and happiness, life is a wonderful adventure.
You find wisdom all around you - even in your tea cup.
Where do you find your happiness?
Finding an excuse to not do something can be more fun than you think. Liz Krieger just shared an amusing list of excuses why you can skip your next workout. She found them in a new book by Jen Lancaster called Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, OR Why Pie is Not the Answer.
Excuses on standby
I bet you have a list of standby excuses that you pull out whenever you’re looking to avoid….well whatever you’re looking to avoid. Some basic ones that have to do with your kids’ schedules or your workload or household chores. Default excuses that reflect your willingness to put others ahead of your own self care.
We all probably give some consideration to how valid or important they sound before offering them up to other people as a justification for why we aren’t following through on something we’ve declared is important.
It seems to me though that the only person who has to believe the excuse du jour is you. Most people aren’t paying any attention to the reasons why you aren’t doing whatever it is that you think you should be doing. They’re too busy compiling their own list.
We make excuses all the time - for not working out and 101 other things that are self-nurturing. It’s our way of letting ourselves off the hook. Excuses are a great way to run away from the things that probably serve us best. I guess its a form of exercise but not one that does our hearts any good.
There’s a big difference between an excuse and a reason.
Here’s the test:
If it’s really a reason, you won’t have to give it a second thought. If you’re weighing your options, chances are you’re making an excuse. I kind of like Jen Lancaster’s list. It lets excuse making become more of a creative outlet. If you’re going to fool yourself, you might as well have some fun while you’re doing it.
My best excuse busting tip?
Find someone who will hold you accountable….a good friend, a life coach, a relative…someone who will smile at your amusing excuse but not let you get away with it. Someone who will lovingly say, “nice try” and then kick your butt.
I once had a pact with a running partner to meet at 5:30 a.m. (yes I know what was I thinking?). We granted each other one and only one “no questions asked” excuse for missing a run during a six month period. Any time I contemplated using my freebie excuse, I carefully weighed whether this was the time that I really wanted to use it. Maybe there would come a time when I would want to use it more. So in the course of six months, I never used it once. You can hold yourself accountable. You just need a little structure.
What’s your best excuse busting tip?
If I had a nickel for every person who set out to achieve a goal and abandoned it along the way I’d be a very wealth woman. Getting started or sticking with a plan for change is often a challenge. The Ultimate Guide to Motivation is jam packed with great ideas about how to achieve your goal.
Setting yourself up for failure
Typically people jump into an action plan without having spent enough time thinking about “why am I doing this?” Because “I should” or someone else thinks “you should” are rarely good enough reasons to propel you toward your goal. Or doing it for some vague reason like “better health” or “my family” often won’t sustain you through the inevitable tough patches you will encounter. And superficial reasons like “looking super hot at my high school reunion” might get you so far but they likely won’t help you maintain your goal once the reunion has come and gone.
Find a meaningful motive
One key to success is to find a meaningful motive - one that resonates with you at a heart level. You have to have a reason for doing something and when it comes to change, especially big change, you want that reason to be closely linked to the things that are most important to you. Doing that will help you get through any roadblocks with greater ease.
Listening to your heart
Sometimes it takes a little work to plug into your meaningful motive. You have to look past the first couple of superficial layers to get to what really matters. What does your heart want? Do you want to get in shape to be able to participate fully in your children’s lives? Do you want to get your life back in balance to have more and richer time with your partner? Do you want to de-clutter your house so you have a sacred space to honor yourself?
Taking time for personal reflection helps to connect to your meaningful motive. You’ll know you are getting close when you get a little lump in your throat or are a bit teary eyed. That’s a good sign that you’ve plugged into your heart. Motivation from this place is powerful.
Re-connect daily
Create a vivid picture in your mind or design a vision board so you can see clearly why this change is meaningful - why you are willing to stick with it until you’re successful.
Then as you implement your action plan, revisit that motive daily. In the midst of things, it’s easy to lose sight of why you are doing something. Plugging back in each day helps you keep both your goal and your motive top of mind.
You can have your heart’s desire. Just let your heart help guide the way.
What’s your meaningful motive for change?
Tales from my Italian adventure
When I first started exploring the world in the mid 1980’s, I admit I succumbed to the clipboard of fun method of travelling. That’s probably a pretty common mistake for novice or infrequent travelers - to have as many sights as possible jammed into the itinerary with the primary purpose being to tick off each one as completed rather than truly experienced.
The allure of the clipboard of fun probably speaks to our desire to “do it all” or to make the most of what we imagine is a once in a lifetime trip. But the dark secret of that dreaded clipboard is that you end up tired with no particularly powerful memories. You might have been to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence but you don’t have a clue what you saw.
Never enough time
What I’ve come to realize is that there will never be enough time to see everything there is to see in the world. I gave up the clipboard of fun method and traded it for a grassroots one. I’ve learned a few things:
- to slow things down, not plan too much, leave lots of free space for unexpected discoveries
- that tourist attractions are nice but the best sights I’ve seen are off the beaten track.
- that connecting with local people is the richest way to learn about an area.
That was one of the delightful parts of this trip to Italy. During our week with David Whyte, we experienced Tuscany through the eyes and stories of some amazing Italians. Everyday people who shared their Tuscany with us. No guidebooks, no tourist attractions.
Create a personal experience
A few years ago I discovered a great company called Context Travel. They design small group tours of famous and not so famous sights that allow travelers an opportunity to really have a personal experience. I’ve taken several tours with them during the past few years and they never disappoint. On the second half of our trip we had the great pleasure to explore the Oltrarno neighbourhood of Florence with them. An absolutely wonderful experience learning about this less explored part of the city and the artisans who work there.
Next time you plan a trip I encourage you to think about the kind of experience you want to have rather than the list of sights you want to see. Far less exhausting than a clipboard of fun and infinitely more memorable.
What was your best travel experience?
Who would have thought that a simple reusable bag could start such a fascinating conversation? Edmonton Journal writer Paul Simons recently lamented the growing popularity of Lululemon bags.For those of you who haven’t yet encountered Lululemon, it’s a Canadian company which sells yoga inspired athletic apparel. Purchases are put into reusable bags which proclaim the company’s manifesto which includes such gems as:
Sweat once a day.
Creativity is maximized when you’re living in the moment.
Children are the orgasm of life.
Dance, sing, floss and travel.
Simons declared that spiritual advice from an eco friendly bag doesn’t sit well with her. Readers had lots to say about the article. Some felt that if the bags promoted good living, then what’s the problem? Others disagreed, including one who said if you are consulting a Lululemon bag for spiritual advice, then you honestly have no life!
I guess I must be part of the so-called Lululemon cult.
They make great clothes and have a cool philosophy. And yes I have a couple of bags that come in handy when transporting stuff. Maybe they don’t push my buttons because overall, their advice is a pretty good fit with my way of thinking.
Sure I get inspired by thought provoking books, great conversation and amazing people. But for me, inspiration also comes in the most interesting places…from my dog, Starbucks coffee cups and TV ads.
If something makes you stop and think, or prods you bit or even pushes your buttons, then I think hooray.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere you turn the current global economic crisis is front and center - jammed up credit markets, roller coaster stock markets, declining house prices and unemployment concerns.
