As I look at my small artificial Christmas tree decorated with ornaments from my mother's growing up years, mine, and my children's, I realize rituals change as life changes.
One of my favorite holiday photos is when my daughter was about three years old, and she was kneeling in front of the Christmas tree she had just put the topper on (with the help of her dad). The tree was six-foot-plus and very bushy - the kind you can tuck the lights and ornaments into. There were lots of packages under the tree, and she was just looking up at the tree full of lights and ornaments.
For years we would go to a lot and pick a tree, a tall bushy tree. There were years when the trees were smaller due to finances, but we always had a cut real tree. With lots of packages under it.
The family grew and shrank over the years, with marriages and divorces, and now has stabilized to three kids, one kid's lady, and three grandchildren - and my significant other.
My little tree has presents for two under it this year, since the kids and grandkids are scattered to the four winds, and I no longer live in the same state as my older two children.
So traditions like stockings, opening a small present on Christmas Eve, and making cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning have changed. No more stockings, no more small gift on Christmas Eve to appease anxious children, but I still make the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. This year, there will only be three of us gathered together. And that's okay.
Children grow up, families change, as does life.
And that is a gift unto itself.
Namaste!
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
MaXIMIze - Celebration - Sometimes I Hate the Holidays!
I had a whole plan laid out of what topics that fit the theme of Celebration I was going to blog about this month - which got totally sidetracked for a variety of reasons!
A Facebook interaction - a reaction to responses to a post I shared on sharing favorite meals that Mom or Grandma made, which I addressed to my three blood children - has put a pall on the holidays this year.
It is a pall I can choose to wear as a mantle, or one I can cry over and let go - and I will choose the latter.
The holiday season can dredge up all sorts of memories - good and bad - and how we perceive those memories can cause us to either be filled with joy and thankfulness for what we have right here, right now, or they can push us into melancholy, depression, and crying "woe is me" to the world.
So, when I had read responses to my post before bed last night, I was happy that my children - both blood and heart - were remembering good times and good meals. I went to sleep with that positive energy flowing through me.
When I checked the responses this morning, however, I discovered that my son and a Facebook friend of mine had an argument in the thread of the responses, and my son had left Facebook (which he has done in the past). This hurt me deeply, and yes, when I got more information on his responses, I cried.
I love my son and I hurt for him. However, he has issues he needs to address and find a way to heal. Unless he truly acknowledges that fact, takes responsibility for his own life, and works to change and grow into the healthy, happy, responsible person we all know he can be, then these flare-ups are going to continue to happen, particularly during times of celebration.
And that is why I sometimes hate the holidays.
However, I can choose to wallow in the negative emotions or I can choose to let them pass through and focus on the positive instead.
I can choose to respond rather than react. I can take that breath, fill my thoughts with positivity, and move forward from there, realizing life isn't perfect, and this too shall pass.
I will focus on the happy memories of the little boy who loved popcorn toast so much that he tried to make it himself, and continue to send the man that boy grew into positive energy, and hope he finds a way to heal for himself and for his beautiful children.
Namaste!
A Facebook interaction - a reaction to responses to a post I shared on sharing favorite meals that Mom or Grandma made, which I addressed to my three blood children - has put a pall on the holidays this year.
It is a pall I can choose to wear as a mantle, or one I can cry over and let go - and I will choose the latter.
The holiday season can dredge up all sorts of memories - good and bad - and how we perceive those memories can cause us to either be filled with joy and thankfulness for what we have right here, right now, or they can push us into melancholy, depression, and crying "woe is me" to the world.
So, when I had read responses to my post before bed last night, I was happy that my children - both blood and heart - were remembering good times and good meals. I went to sleep with that positive energy flowing through me.
When I checked the responses this morning, however, I discovered that my son and a Facebook friend of mine had an argument in the thread of the responses, and my son had left Facebook (which he has done in the past). This hurt me deeply, and yes, when I got more information on his responses, I cried.
I love my son and I hurt for him. However, he has issues he needs to address and find a way to heal. Unless he truly acknowledges that fact, takes responsibility for his own life, and works to change and grow into the healthy, happy, responsible person we all know he can be, then these flare-ups are going to continue to happen, particularly during times of celebration.
And that is why I sometimes hate the holidays.
However, I can choose to wallow in the negative emotions or I can choose to let them pass through and focus on the positive instead.
I can choose to respond rather than react. I can take that breath, fill my thoughts with positivity, and move forward from there, realizing life isn't perfect, and this too shall pass.
I will focus on the happy memories of the little boy who loved popcorn toast so much that he tried to make it himself, and continue to send the man that boy grew into positive energy, and hope he finds a way to heal for himself and for his beautiful children.
Namaste!
Friday, December 1, 2017
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - Your Attitude Affects Your Altitude
Your attitude about things in general and in particular affects your perception of situations and where you go in life.
If you choose to see the world as a dark, dreary, or even evil place, you will interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
If you choose to see the world as a bright, vibrant place full of hope, love, and goodness, you will then interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
Only you can control your attitude, which means you control where you go in life.
So where do you choose to go? To the dark side or to the light?
Since it is now December, we will be focusing on celebration for the remaining posts of 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
If you choose to see the world as a dark, dreary, or even evil place, you will interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
If you choose to see the world as a bright, vibrant place full of hope, love, and goodness, you will then interact with others and your environment as a whole from that perspective.
Only you can control your attitude, which means you control where you go in life.
So where do you choose to go? To the dark side or to the light?
Since it is now December, we will be focusing on celebration for the remaining posts of 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, November 5, 2017
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - Rituals
Last post, I challenged y'all to a daily ritual of finding 3 things to be grateful for every day for the month of November.
Here's my list thus far:
November 1st: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purr of my kitties; the ability to read a good book
November 2nd: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee
November 3rd: the reminder that life is short; a job I enjoy; time spent with my youngest son
November 4th: the juncos migrating through; a good dinner; sparkling wine
November 5th: fall back so I can wake in the sunlight again; health; the clouds that bring us water
Did you participate thus far? If so, great! If not, there's no time like the present to start a new ritual.
Another ritual of gratitude is to say "Thank You" for whatever grace you receive - a rainbow, sunshine, rain, snow, a parking space, a good meal, a deadline shift, etc. You don't have to say it to a specific person, just out loud - not loudly, just out loud. What you put out is what you get back, and being thankful puts positive energy into the ether.
Being thankful for the small things makes you appreciate the big things even more.
What rituals of gratitude do you practice? What rituals can you start practicing?
Next time we'll discuss how attitude is a choice, unless a guest blogger appears in the meantime.
Until then, Namaste!
Here's my list thus far:
November 1st: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purr of my kitties; the ability to read a good book
November 2nd: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee
November 3rd: the reminder that life is short; a job I enjoy; time spent with my youngest son
November 4th: the juncos migrating through; a good dinner; sparkling wine
November 5th: fall back so I can wake in the sunlight again; health; the clouds that bring us water
Did you participate thus far? If so, great! If not, there's no time like the present to start a new ritual.
Another ritual of gratitude is to say "Thank You" for whatever grace you receive - a rainbow, sunshine, rain, snow, a parking space, a good meal, a deadline shift, etc. You don't have to say it to a specific person, just out loud - not loudly, just out loud. What you put out is what you get back, and being thankful puts positive energy into the ether.
Being thankful for the small things makes you appreciate the big things even more.
What rituals of gratitude do you practice? What rituals can you start practicing?
Next time we'll discuss how attitude is a choice, unless a guest blogger appears in the meantime.
Until then, Namaste!
Thursday, November 2, 2017
MaXIMIze - Gratitude - 3 Things
As I said in the previous post, this is the month where we celebrate those who have go before - Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), our military veterans - Veteran's Day, and individually and collectively give thanks - Thanksgiving.
I challenge you, my dear readers, to come up with 3 things you are thankful for each and every day this month.
My three for today are: a good night's sleep; the stillness of the hours before dawn; a good cup of coffee.
As I am a day late in posting this, my three for yesterday are: the roughness of my kitty's tongue as she gives me affection; the contented purrs of my kitties; the ability to read a good book.
What are you grateful for right here, right now?
Until next time, Namaste!
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Relationships
Okay, I'm going to get a little esoteric here...
I woke up in the middle of the night (not an unusual occurrence...) and I heard what is known as the Taos Hum, which lulled me back to sleep. As I was journaling this morning, I wondered if the Hum was Mother Earth communing with Mother Moon, who is waxing toward fullness right now.
There is a relationship between our planet - Mother Earth - and her natural satellite - Mother Moon. The moon influences the waters here on Earth, and many things were done by the dark of the moon, when the moon was full, or during the periods of waxing and waning, particularly in regards to early agriculture. Modern biodynamic agricultural practices still honor and use some of those early practices.
When I look at the world today and what is going on, I see a breakdown in human relationships, much like there is a breakdown in natural relationships in some areas of our planet.
Building, and - more importantly - keeping, relationships is not always easy. And some relationships should not be built or kept because of various incompatibility issues.
This past year has been one of both building and keeping relationships for me. I'm building relationships in my new home and job, and working to keep relationships where I came from.
I've also chosen to let go of some relationships - those that no longer serve in my life.
Relationships, even familial ones, take work on both sides.
What have you harvested in the area of relationships this year? Where are you going to focus your energy in this area next year?
November is the month where we honor our military veterans and where we give thanks as individuals, families, and as a Nation. Some of us also honor those who have gone before us with the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Gratitude is the theme for the month. We will talk about developing rituals related to giving thanks and expressing our gratitude, as well as Thanksgiving itself.
I welcome guest bloggers for this theme as well as for December's theme of Celebration. If you are interested in posting a guest blog, please contact me at maximize.beth@gmail.com.
Until next time, Namaste!
I woke up in the middle of the night (not an unusual occurrence...) and I heard what is known as the Taos Hum, which lulled me back to sleep. As I was journaling this morning, I wondered if the Hum was Mother Earth communing with Mother Moon, who is waxing toward fullness right now.
There is a relationship between our planet - Mother Earth - and her natural satellite - Mother Moon. The moon influences the waters here on Earth, and many things were done by the dark of the moon, when the moon was full, or during the periods of waxing and waning, particularly in regards to early agriculture. Modern biodynamic agricultural practices still honor and use some of those early practices.
When I look at the world today and what is going on, I see a breakdown in human relationships, much like there is a breakdown in natural relationships in some areas of our planet.
Building, and - more importantly - keeping, relationships is not always easy. And some relationships should not be built or kept because of various incompatibility issues.
This past year has been one of both building and keeping relationships for me. I'm building relationships in my new home and job, and working to keep relationships where I came from.
I've also chosen to let go of some relationships - those that no longer serve in my life.
Relationships, even familial ones, take work on both sides.
What have you harvested in the area of relationships this year? Where are you going to focus your energy in this area next year?
November is the month where we honor our military veterans and where we give thanks as individuals, families, and as a Nation. Some of us also honor those who have gone before us with the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Gratitude is the theme for the month. We will talk about developing rituals related to giving thanks and expressing our gratitude, as well as Thanksgiving itself.
I welcome guest bloggers for this theme as well as for December's theme of Celebration. If you are interested in posting a guest blog, please contact me at maximize.beth@gmail.com.
Until next time, Namaste!
Monday, October 30, 2017
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Career
As I said a few posts back, I'd rate my career as a solid 8 out of 10 - I might even kick that up to 9 out of 10 (there is a reason I don't do those surveys everyone asks us to do...).
This has been a year of learning and settling in.
For those of you who don't know, I moved from one Federal agency (and department) to another, and from one state to another - and from an urban/suburban area to a rural area.
There are some similarities and a lot of differences - and it's all good!
As I move into the twilight years of my Federal career (I'm eligible to retire in three years), I look back and can't believe how fast it has gone and how far I have come.
I have been blessed with great mentors along the way, people who saw my potential and encouraged me to grow, even when that meant they would lose me as an employee. Those folks saw the potential for the greater good of the organization as well as my growth as an employee rather than the potential loss of an asset from their particular department.
I only hope I can do the same for my employees now that I am a supervisor.
I enjoy helping others grow, and hope that I am doing a good job of that.
What have you harvested in your career this year? What areas are doing well, and what areas need a bit more pruning and fertilizing? How can you move forward in the coming year?
We will close out the Harvest blogs with relationships - until next time, Namaste!
This has been a year of learning and settling in.
For those of you who don't know, I moved from one Federal agency (and department) to another, and from one state to another - and from an urban/suburban area to a rural area.
There are some similarities and a lot of differences - and it's all good!
As I move into the twilight years of my Federal career (I'm eligible to retire in three years), I look back and can't believe how fast it has gone and how far I have come.
I have been blessed with great mentors along the way, people who saw my potential and encouraged me to grow, even when that meant they would lose me as an employee. Those folks saw the potential for the greater good of the organization as well as my growth as an employee rather than the potential loss of an asset from their particular department.
I only hope I can do the same for my employees now that I am a supervisor.
I enjoy helping others grow, and hope that I am doing a good job of that.
What have you harvested in your career this year? What areas are doing well, and what areas need a bit more pruning and fertilizing? How can you move forward in the coming year?
We will close out the Harvest blogs with relationships - until next time, Namaste!
Monday, October 16, 2017
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Finances
As I said a couple of posts ago, I'd rate the financial part of my life at most a 6 on a scale of 10, mainly because of my credit card debt. Since then, I applied for, and received, a credit line that I can move that debt over to for 0% interest until January 2019. I will likely have to move the debt a couple more times to take advantage of such offers before it is fully paid off, and that is the long-term goal. Also, I will be incurring less debt in the future by truly considering a purchase before making it.
When I look at my finances for the last few years, I have to acknowledge that my spending habits have changed - and that my credit debt is the last bastion of the old spending habits.
Like many people, I used to shop as - I was going to say therapy, but it was more like escape - having new things was like losing myself in a drug - the high lasted for a little while, and then I was back to my real life, only with more debt.
As I have gone through this self-coaching over the last few years, I realized and have taken to heart that things are not the answers to my issues.
Those answers have to come from the inside, not the outside.
And in order to be free to live my best life now, I need to free myself from the load (and land) of debt as well as that of material things that do not bring me joy or fill a true need.
I know paying off my debt is a multi-year commitment, however, it took time to get to this point, so it makes sense it is going to take time - and strict adherence to a budget - to get away from this point and to the financial place I want to be, to the financial freedom I want to have.
As I said at the end of last week's post, I am responsible for success in every aspect of my life - as I define that success. And I have redefined financial success as having a minimal credit debt, and have committed to move toward achieving that goal.
What have you harvested in your financial area of life this year? What changes are you committed making to be successful in this area of your life so that you can live your best life now?
There are two more areas to review this year's harvest for - career and relationships - and we will discuss these over the next two blog posts.
Until next time, Namaste!
When I look at my finances for the last few years, I have to acknowledge that my spending habits have changed - and that my credit debt is the last bastion of the old spending habits.
Like many people, I used to shop as - I was going to say therapy, but it was more like escape - having new things was like losing myself in a drug - the high lasted for a little while, and then I was back to my real life, only with more debt.
As I have gone through this self-coaching over the last few years, I realized and have taken to heart that things are not the answers to my issues.
Those answers have to come from the inside, not the outside.
And in order to be free to live my best life now, I need to free myself from the load (and land) of debt as well as that of material things that do not bring me joy or fill a true need.
I know paying off my debt is a multi-year commitment, however, it took time to get to this point, so it makes sense it is going to take time - and strict adherence to a budget - to get away from this point and to the financial place I want to be, to the financial freedom I want to have.
As I said at the end of last week's post, I am responsible for success in every aspect of my life - as I define that success. And I have redefined financial success as having a minimal credit debt, and have committed to move toward achieving that goal.
What have you harvested in your financial area of life this year? What changes are you committed making to be successful in this area of your life so that you can live your best life now?
There are two more areas to review this year's harvest for - career and relationships - and we will discuss these over the next two blog posts.
Until next time, Namaste!
Monday, October 9, 2017
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Well Being
In the Circle of Perception exercise, we touch on well being three times - physical well being, spiritual well being, and overall well being.
As I shared in my last post, I rated my spiritual well being at a solid 8 out of a possible 10 rating. And I'm okay with that. I wasn't raised in church and came to my own definition of spiritual well being either in spite of or because of that. I could probably rate this area at least a 9 instead at this point. I'm not searching for something or trying to make sense out of anything at this time, and I don't feel forsaken in any way, shape or form. So this particular plate keeps spinning on its own at this point.
In the area of physical well being, I'm wavering between a 6 and 7 at this point. My overall health seems good. I am slightly overweight and I would like to be in better physical shape - toned muscles and the ability to hike more moderate to difficult trails is the measure of that. And that is all on me. There are things I can do that only cost me time, since I have weights, yoga equipment, DVDs, etc. So I just need to make this a priority and put time aside to use the tools I have in this area.
Overall well being is currently a 7, as I have a couple of areas to do better in - physical well being, as noted above, and finances. I would like do better at keeping in touch with my family in California as well as my other friends and family. That is also on me. Yes, communication is a two-way street, however I could hold up my end a bit better.
So I know where I rate each part of my life, and what I can do better in - and that I have the tools to do so. I just need to make the plan on how specifically to do better and commit to following the plan.
In the end, I am responsible for my well being, and my success - according to my definition thereof - in all aspects of my life.
Next week we will look at the harvest of finances and how we can increase that over the next year.
Until next time, Namaste!
As I shared in my last post, I rated my spiritual well being at a solid 8 out of a possible 10 rating. And I'm okay with that. I wasn't raised in church and came to my own definition of spiritual well being either in spite of or because of that. I could probably rate this area at least a 9 instead at this point. I'm not searching for something or trying to make sense out of anything at this time, and I don't feel forsaken in any way, shape or form. So this particular plate keeps spinning on its own at this point.
In the area of physical well being, I'm wavering between a 6 and 7 at this point. My overall health seems good. I am slightly overweight and I would like to be in better physical shape - toned muscles and the ability to hike more moderate to difficult trails is the measure of that. And that is all on me. There are things I can do that only cost me time, since I have weights, yoga equipment, DVDs, etc. So I just need to make this a priority and put time aside to use the tools I have in this area.
Overall well being is currently a 7, as I have a couple of areas to do better in - physical well being, as noted above, and finances. I would like do better at keeping in touch with my family in California as well as my other friends and family. That is also on me. Yes, communication is a two-way street, however I could hold up my end a bit better.
So I know where I rate each part of my life, and what I can do better in - and that I have the tools to do so. I just need to make the plan on how specifically to do better and commit to following the plan.
In the end, I am responsible for my well being, and my success - according to my definition thereof - in all aspects of my life.
Next week we will look at the harvest of finances and how we can increase that over the next year.
Until next time, Namaste!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
MaXIMIze - Bringing in the Harvest - Circle of Perception Overview
For those who have followed my blog for some time, you have heard me speak of the Circle of Perception before.
For those who haven't, or who need a refresher, here is the exercise:
1. On a piece of paper, draw a circle. I recommend 81/2 x 11 paper and a large circle.
2. Divide the circle into 6 pie pieces of equal size and label them as follows:
3. On a scale from1-10, 10 being the highest, rate your current satisfaction level in each of those six areas.
4. Display that graphically by shading the pie piece from the center to the edge of the circle for each area of life, each piece of the pie, to show the appropriate number - 1 being at the center of the circle and 10 being the full piece of the pie.
Let that image sink in for a moment.
Now, focus on each area, and think about what you did or did not do in the past year to increase your satisfaction score in that area.
I'll use my own life this past year as an example.
Career - a solid 8. Many of you know that I moved from Sacramento, California - where I spent most of my life - to Taos, New Mexico just over a year ago. I like my job and the people I work with, and I am satisfied there for now.
Relationships - I waver between 7 and 8 here. Moving out to Taos meant leaving my older two children and my three grandchildren in California, and I miss them. I am thankful for the Internet and instant communication. I miss seeing my grandchildren on birthdays and holidays, and am thankful for the updates and pictures of them. I am glad I chose to follow my significant other to New Mexico, and appreciate our time together very much. And I look forward to the day we can actually live in the same place!
Spiritual Well Being - another solid 8. I could find a spiritual community here in Taos, but the one that truly calls me is in Albuquerque, 2 1/2 hours away. And I'm okay with that for now.
Physical Well Being - I waver here between 6 and 7. I could be more active, and I know that it would be good for me not only physically - since I have the onset of arthritis and other age-related things - but also mentally. Exercise is good for the mind as well as the body.
Finances - I'd say a 6 if not a 5 - my debt has built up again for various reasons, and I have to focus on and address that fully before I will truly be able to retire. I am eligible to do so in three years, however whether I'll be financially able to do so is another story.
Overall Well Being - taking all the other areas in my life into account, I'd say a solid 7 at this point.
My harvest is good in some areas, not so good in others, and I can see clearly what needs to be done to improve for next year's harvest review.
Over the remaining weeks in October we will go in-depth in each of these areas and really look at our harvest in each one of them for 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
For those who haven't, or who need a refresher, here is the exercise:
1. On a piece of paper, draw a circle. I recommend 81/2 x 11 paper and a large circle.
2. Divide the circle into 6 pie pieces of equal size and label them as follows:
- Physical Well Being
- Spiritual Well Being
- Finances
- Career
- Relationships
- Overall Well Being
3. On a scale from1-10, 10 being the highest, rate your current satisfaction level in each of those six areas.
4. Display that graphically by shading the pie piece from the center to the edge of the circle for each area of life, each piece of the pie, to show the appropriate number - 1 being at the center of the circle and 10 being the full piece of the pie.
Let that image sink in for a moment.
Now, focus on each area, and think about what you did or did not do in the past year to increase your satisfaction score in that area.
I'll use my own life this past year as an example.
Career - a solid 8. Many of you know that I moved from Sacramento, California - where I spent most of my life - to Taos, New Mexico just over a year ago. I like my job and the people I work with, and I am satisfied there for now.
Relationships - I waver between 7 and 8 here. Moving out to Taos meant leaving my older two children and my three grandchildren in California, and I miss them. I am thankful for the Internet and instant communication. I miss seeing my grandchildren on birthdays and holidays, and am thankful for the updates and pictures of them. I am glad I chose to follow my significant other to New Mexico, and appreciate our time together very much. And I look forward to the day we can actually live in the same place!
Spiritual Well Being - another solid 8. I could find a spiritual community here in Taos, but the one that truly calls me is in Albuquerque, 2 1/2 hours away. And I'm okay with that for now.
Physical Well Being - I waver here between 6 and 7. I could be more active, and I know that it would be good for me not only physically - since I have the onset of arthritis and other age-related things - but also mentally. Exercise is good for the mind as well as the body.
Finances - I'd say a 6 if not a 5 - my debt has built up again for various reasons, and I have to focus on and address that fully before I will truly be able to retire. I am eligible to do so in three years, however whether I'll be financially able to do so is another story.
Overall Well Being - taking all the other areas in my life into account, I'd say a solid 7 at this point.
My harvest is good in some areas, not so good in others, and I can see clearly what needs to be done to improve for next year's harvest review.
Over the remaining weeks in October we will go in-depth in each of these areas and really look at our harvest in each one of them for 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
MaXIMIze - Fall has Fallen - Harvest Time
Fall has fallen. A new season is upon us. Time to regroup, see what we've harvested for the year, and start to plan for next year.
Time for me to pull out those coaching tools and get them moving again.
Time to set achievable goals.
Time to invest in ourselves and where we want to be by this time next year, the year after, five years out, and so on.
For myself, I am looking at being retirement eligible in three years. Will I want to retire then? If so, what will I need to do between now and then in order to be truly able to retire and move on to the next phase of life? What will retirement look like - what will I do with my time, where will I live, what goals will I pursue?
What is coming up in your life that you need to pause and think about?
This is a good time to pull out those Manifestation Boards and re-evaluate them. For more on those, see the post from March 2016 here.
Also a good time to re-evaluate your satisfaction level, on a scale from 1-10, in the six areas of your life from the Circle of Perception: career, relationships, physical, spiritual and overall well-being, and finances. If any area is below an 8, what needs to change to increase the satisfaction level there? What are some achievable goals you can strive for in the next month, 3 months, 6 months, year to get there?
Fall is a time for harvest and reflection. As we move into the holiday season, it is also a time for gratitude and extreme self-care.
Lots to contemplate, so I will close for now.
Until next time, Namaste!
Time for me to pull out those coaching tools and get them moving again.
Time to set achievable goals.
Time to invest in ourselves and where we want to be by this time next year, the year after, five years out, and so on.
For myself, I am looking at being retirement eligible in three years. Will I want to retire then? If so, what will I need to do between now and then in order to be truly able to retire and move on to the next phase of life? What will retirement look like - what will I do with my time, where will I live, what goals will I pursue?
What is coming up in your life that you need to pause and think about?
This is a good time to pull out those Manifestation Boards and re-evaluate them. For more on those, see the post from March 2016 here.
Also a good time to re-evaluate your satisfaction level, on a scale from 1-10, in the six areas of your life from the Circle of Perception: career, relationships, physical, spiritual and overall well-being, and finances. If any area is below an 8, what needs to change to increase the satisfaction level there? What are some achievable goals you can strive for in the next month, 3 months, 6 months, year to get there?
Fall is a time for harvest and reflection. As we move into the holiday season, it is also a time for gratitude and extreme self-care.
Lots to contemplate, so I will close for now.
Until next time, Namaste!
Monday, September 4, 2017
MaXIMIze - Eating the Elephant in the Room
Another two months gone since I last posted...this has been a very fallow year for my writing, which is okay. We all have peaks and valleys and elephants that appear who need to be eaten...
What is your elephant in the room?
One of mine is that I'm tired of renting and want my own home again, one that I can decorate any way I want and where I can plant a garden and not worry about having too much stuff to move when it comes time to do so.
The bigger one, and the one that I can do something about right here, right now, is that I've lost my creative drive somewhere - I have all these great ideas to pursue, books with my blog posts on certain topics in them, books of fairytales with talismans, fetishes if you like, touchstones even, to reinvigorate one's belief in oneself, one's knowledge, one's intuition - I know I should just suck it up, buttercup, and start putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving down the path instead of taking one small, shaking step and halting.
It's like the hiking we just did - one step in front of the other until you reach your destination and see what it is you came to see.
Sometimes I feel like I've taken too long of a break to ever start again, and then I read something and CLICK - I can begin again and move forward from right where I am.
So, what steps are you taking to begin again and move forward with your dreams and ideas?
Until next time, Namaste!
What is your elephant in the room?
One of mine is that I'm tired of renting and want my own home again, one that I can decorate any way I want and where I can plant a garden and not worry about having too much stuff to move when it comes time to do so.
The bigger one, and the one that I can do something about right here, right now, is that I've lost my creative drive somewhere - I have all these great ideas to pursue, books with my blog posts on certain topics in them, books of fairytales with talismans, fetishes if you like, touchstones even, to reinvigorate one's belief in oneself, one's knowledge, one's intuition - I know I should just suck it up, buttercup, and start putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving down the path instead of taking one small, shaking step and halting.
It's like the hiking we just did - one step in front of the other until you reach your destination and see what it is you came to see.
Sometimes I feel like I've taken too long of a break to ever start again, and then I read something and CLICK - I can begin again and move forward from right where I am.
So, what steps are you taking to begin again and move forward with your dreams and ideas?
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, June 25, 2017
MaXIMIze - Are You Resilient?
Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted to this blog!
Today's topic - Resiliency - comes from recent events that is some ways echo past events. And yes, resiliency is a current buzzword that, like so many others over the years, is putting a new coat of paint on a recurring topic.
Simply put, resiliency is one's ability to bounce back from the stressors life throws at us. Or, how I wrote it in my morning journal scribblings yesterday, how many fires you can deal with before setting yourself on fire and burning out.
Those of you who are loyal readers know I sometimes like to go to the trusty, slightly dusty, dictionary to get to the roots and stems of words. So here is what The Merriam-Webster Dictionary from 2004 had to say about resiliency. Or rather about resilience, since resiliency is the ability to be resilient.
1. The ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched.
2. An ability to recover from or adjust easily to change or misfortune.
The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus from 1989 has elastic as a synonym for resilience - and the meanings noted there are:
1. Able to withstand strain without being permanently affected or injured.
2. Able to recover quickly from depression and maintain high spirits.
Now, when I think of elastic, I think of a rubber band. Rubber bands are made to stretch and then bounce back to their original shapes. However, you can only do that with a rubber band for so long before it breaks. We humans aren't so different from those poor rubber bands.We too have our limits beyond which we will break.
However, we have the capability of recognizing those limits and, unless outside events crash in on us too heavily, honoring those limits and practicing extreme self-care.
We have the ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep on living life not matter how hard it seems at the moment. And that's how we need to take life sometimes - moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. Being focused in the present moment and acknowledging and honoring the feelings of that moment can help us to be more resilient as well.
So for all those feeling overwhelmed by the events in your life right now, stop, breathe, acknowledge the stress, focus on the present, and continue to move through your life moment by precious moment.
Until next time (which I hope won't be another three months from now!), Namaste!
Today's topic - Resiliency - comes from recent events that is some ways echo past events. And yes, resiliency is a current buzzword that, like so many others over the years, is putting a new coat of paint on a recurring topic.
Simply put, resiliency is one's ability to bounce back from the stressors life throws at us. Or, how I wrote it in my morning journal scribblings yesterday, how many fires you can deal with before setting yourself on fire and burning out.
Those of you who are loyal readers know I sometimes like to go to the trusty, slightly dusty, dictionary to get to the roots and stems of words. So here is what The Merriam-Webster Dictionary from 2004 had to say about resiliency. Or rather about resilience, since resiliency is the ability to be resilient.
1. The ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched.
2. An ability to recover from or adjust easily to change or misfortune.
The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus from 1989 has elastic as a synonym for resilience - and the meanings noted there are:
1. Able to withstand strain without being permanently affected or injured.
2. Able to recover quickly from depression and maintain high spirits.
Now, when I think of elastic, I think of a rubber band. Rubber bands are made to stretch and then bounce back to their original shapes. However, you can only do that with a rubber band for so long before it breaks. We humans aren't so different from those poor rubber bands.We too have our limits beyond which we will break.
However, we have the capability of recognizing those limits and, unless outside events crash in on us too heavily, honoring those limits and practicing extreme self-care.
We have the ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep on living life not matter how hard it seems at the moment. And that's how we need to take life sometimes - moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. Being focused in the present moment and acknowledging and honoring the feelings of that moment can help us to be more resilient as well.
So for all those feeling overwhelmed by the events in your life right now, stop, breathe, acknowledge the stress, focus on the present, and continue to move through your life moment by precious moment.
Until next time (which I hope won't be another three months from now!), Namaste!
Sunday, March 26, 2017
MaXIMIze - Cleaning Out the Acequias
Turn around twice and two more months have passed since I last posted to this blog.
Since I have the weekend to myself, I wanted to pick back up on my coaching service to y'all. I read through all the posts I have shared since I started blogging in the MaXIMIze vein in January 2012 (I have all the posts in Word and printed in a binder). As I did so, the theme of Spring and spring cleaning went through my mind.
I now live in Northern New Mexico, and this is the time of year for folks to clean out the acequias, which are community-operated water courses used for irrigation based on the Spanish traditions brought here in the 16th century. If the families operating the acequias don't clean out their portion, they can be fined, and if they don't use the water for four years, they can lose their rights to the water!
In a way, if we don't attend to spring (periodic) cleaning, we pay for it in lost things, time, and productivity, as well as our health - both physical and spiritual. And, we lose our flow if we don't regularly maintain ourselves and our creativity by being active, both physically and mentally.
Just like the acequias need to be cleaned and maintained in order for the life-giving water to flow through them, so too do we need to care for ourselves in order to keep our flow going.
As I read through the posts from years past, I realized there are things I wanted to accomplish but haven't yet. I want to put together another book based on these posts and create courses based this material. I have gotten as far as sorting out the posts by theme thus far.
That was all paused when I got a new job and moved here to Northern New Mexico. Paused, but not forgotten!
I have been finding my footing whilst completing two large projects at work and adjusting to my new environment. I have been learning about my new community, and adjusting to the customs, culture, and rhythm of life here.
Now that spring, the time for rebirth, regrowth, and coming out of hibernation, is here, I will endeavor to be more attentive to the call of this season for planting seeds and being active both physically and spiritually once again.
Until next time, Namaste!
Since I have the weekend to myself, I wanted to pick back up on my coaching service to y'all. I read through all the posts I have shared since I started blogging in the MaXIMIze vein in January 2012 (I have all the posts in Word and printed in a binder). As I did so, the theme of Spring and spring cleaning went through my mind.
I now live in Northern New Mexico, and this is the time of year for folks to clean out the acequias, which are community-operated water courses used for irrigation based on the Spanish traditions brought here in the 16th century. If the families operating the acequias don't clean out their portion, they can be fined, and if they don't use the water for four years, they can lose their rights to the water!
In a way, if we don't attend to spring (periodic) cleaning, we pay for it in lost things, time, and productivity, as well as our health - both physical and spiritual. And, we lose our flow if we don't regularly maintain ourselves and our creativity by being active, both physically and mentally.
Just like the acequias need to be cleaned and maintained in order for the life-giving water to flow through them, so too do we need to care for ourselves in order to keep our flow going.
As I read through the posts from years past, I realized there are things I wanted to accomplish but haven't yet. I want to put together another book based on these posts and create courses based this material. I have gotten as far as sorting out the posts by theme thus far.
That was all paused when I got a new job and moved here to Northern New Mexico. Paused, but not forgotten!
I have been finding my footing whilst completing two large projects at work and adjusting to my new environment. I have been learning about my new community, and adjusting to the customs, culture, and rhythm of life here.
Now that spring, the time for rebirth, regrowth, and coming out of hibernation, is here, I will endeavor to be more attentive to the call of this season for planting seeds and being active both physically and spiritually once again.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, January 22, 2017
MaXIMIze - Happy New Year!
Another turn of the calendar, another year in the life - your life. How are you going to accomplish your goals and dreams this year? What motivation will enable you to do so?
The past few months have found me in a new locale, with a new job with a lot going on. It seems that I have moved from one major project to another with little or no breathing room, and having to figure out how to maximize my time to ensure the routine must-do things get done, employees are checked in with on a regular basis, and I don't end up burned out and/or sick in the process.
As a result, some of my goals and dreams have been set aside for a bit so I could settle in to a new home and a new routine. Now though, they are starting to clamor for my attention once again.
This blog is one of those things clamoring for my attention. I feel its pull, particularly when a fellow new supervisor is looking for learning material or an employee is wondering how to accomplish a large performance objective.
Also, a post on Facebook by Jack Canfield on vision boards made me sit up and say "Manifestation Boards" a few mornings ago during my morning scroll on that site.
So, I am pulled, willingly, to once more share thoughts and actions with you, my loyal readers, on this blog.
My goal for the remainder of this month is to review the six areas of my life - career, relationships, physical well being, spiritual well being, finances, and overall well being - and see where I feel work needs to be done to get my satisfaction level in those areas to an 8 or above.
In order to do so, I will MaXIMIze the hours on those days (of which there are at least 1-2 per week) when I am up before my alarm, when my energy is at a higher level rather than at the end of the day when my energy is drained and all I want to do is eat, read, watch a bit of TV, and sleep.
I will also create a manifestation board to help retain my focus on what I really want out of life - and what I want to give in life as well - both in the short term and for the long term.
As it takes 18+ years to raise a child to true adulthood, so it also takes time to truly achieve many of life's important goals. Once we realize and accept that reality, we can get back to the work and pleasure of living our best life now.
Until next time, Namaste!
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