Inspiration

Inspiration  ·  Mindset  ·  Success Skills
Dancing into Sacred Sunday

Happy Sacred Sunday!

I took a dance class this morning.

The idea of attending this dance class occurred to me yesterday evening.

My family and I were at the movies, and I was in a state of blah (which I’ve been feeling a lot in this particular wintering season). Out of nowhere, this dance class that I attended years ago popped into my head.

That would raise my vibration, I thought.

So I texted my friend who frequents the class and made a date.

When I woke up this morning, I had no desire to go. I made a bunch of excuses in my head why I shouldn’t go.

It’s like our brains want us to stay in the blah zone.

Knowing this, I went despite myself.

It was a blast. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing half the time, I shook my body, got a great sweat in, and totally shifted my mood.

Does that mean I’m completely out of blah? — nope. But I feel much, much better.

FROM BLAH TO BLISS

I’ve been talking a lot about creating a life that fosters Sparks of Bliss lately.
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know I’ve dedicated my life to inspiring men and women through stories, experiences, and ideas so that they may live healthier, happier and more meaningful lives.

A few months back, it became very clear to me that everything I do, literally everything, is attached to a higher purpose: teaching the world to connect to their bliss in their lifetime.

I believe the more you can experience sparks of bliss in your daily life, the more you will transcend from an ordinary existence to an extraordinary one. Bliss sparks from love, gratitude, peace, harmony, and wholesomeness — it does not exist anywhere else.

Bliss does not exist in hatred, violence, or evil.

But when we serve, do good, spread light and love, and live in alignment, bliss sparks within us.

This is what I want for the world. The more people live lives that foster sparks of bliss, the better the world will be.

Bliss is also more than experiencing happiness.
It’s an intense state of joy, ecstasy, peace, and/or fulfilment.

“But how do you find bliss when you haven’t slept, or you’re fighting with someone you love, or you’re stuck in a rut?” A client asked me the other day.

This is a significant question.
Because we will always have tough times. We experience pain, disappointment, setbacks, anger, frustration, sadness, or even just blah throughout our lives.

How do you find sparks of bliss in these times?

LISTEN. DO. SURRENDER.

LISTEN:

When you live a guided life, all you have to do is listen for directions and they will come. For some, living a guided life may mean God guides you, but for others, living a guided life may mean your intuition, higher self, or any other way you wish to describe it guides you. The point is there are always signs and messages. These signs and messages may come as advice from someone you love and trust, literature you’re reading which resonates deeply, or thoughts that pop into your head like “you should attend a dance class tomorrow.”
You can listen with your eyes, ears, and your heart. So pay attention, there are lessons for you here.

DO:

Do the things that come to you when you’re listening.

Do the things that help you listen better.

Do the things you know are good for you — no matter how small.

Spend time with people who make you laugh, think, or can lend a shoulder to cry on.

Move your body.

Ignite your senses with music, essential oils, or time in nature.

Reach for the tools in your toolbox, like starting with CORE (Clarity, Organization, Resilience, Emotional intelligence)
Do the work, even when your brain tries to convince you to stay in your blah.

SURRENDER:

Last but not least, accept whatever you’re feeling without judgment.

Understand that this is temporary.

There’s a difference between creating bliss and chasing it. You can’t control the outcomes in your life. You can only control your actions and your reactions, but you can not control what actually happens.

So surrender the outcome. Surrender the need to control everything. Surrender to the season, the feelings, and the circumstances and remember that this is all training you for something bigger.

Bliss is not something can fake or force, but when you listen, do, and surrender — before you know it, bliss finds you.

January 14, 2024

Mindset  ·  Success Skills
On your marks, Get set … STOP!!!

Happy Sacred Sunday!

I’ll never forget the moment that forever changed the meaning of New Year’s Eve for me. I was reading an article by Randy Gage, in which he described sitting by a bonfire, letting go of past limiting beliefs, resentments, and any baggage, while setting intentions and welcoming all the abundance of a new year.

My description of his article does not do it justice, but suffice it to say it impacted me profoundly.  Every word pierced through me, unveiling a vision of closing out the year I had never seen before.

That was the moment that New Year’s Eve became Sacred to me.

How beautiful that this year we get to celebrate Sacred New Year’s Eve on a Sacred Sunday.

Many people use today as an opportunity to create resolutions and set goals for the New Year.

There are countless challenges starting on January 1st promising to change your life once and for all.

It almost feels like we’re crouched down waiting for the clock to strike 12, so we can take off into our new life.

This sprinter’s mentality can be problematic, because it’s very hard to sprint on January 1st. People are usually still on vacation, in the midst of traveling, and/or still in holiday mode.

Subconsciously, this makes us feel like we lost the race even before it began. In my opinion, that’s no way to start a year.

On the other hand, have you ever seen a group as they begin a marathon?

It’s a much more relaxed environment. These people know they’re going to be running for a long time, and they have no need to sprint.

Instead, they’re more concerned with pacing themselves. They don’t want to burn out too quick.

They’re ready because they’ve been in training for this. The goal is to stay in the game so they can finish what they started. And most importantly, they know that they’re not racing against anyone other than themselves.

As the countdown approaches and you start to feel the urge to get into the sprinter’s position, I encourage you to resist the temptation.

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET …. STOP!!!

Instead, relax and take on 2024 with a marathoner mindset by doing these three things.

1. Make today Sacred.

Reflect on this past year and write down all your successes.

Go through your camera roll and cherish the memories you’ve made, relive the good times, and be grateful for all you enjoyed.

Decide what should go into the fire: What limiting beliefs, disillusions, or baggage do you want to leave in 2023? What didn’t work this year that you don’t need to repeat next year? What identities will not serve the person you want to become? On this sacred day, let that all go.

2. Choose ONE Word.

Words are powerful. They help our brains create order in a world that is full of chaos and uncertainty. A few years ago I began a practice of choosing a word to set an intention for my year. I did this at a time when I was starting to understand the importance of language, affirmations, and how our brains work.

I found the exercise to be life-changing. In fact, having one word is what led me to creating themes for my months and living a much more intentional life.

Choosing one word is like having a North Star to help you stay aligned to what matters most to you.To ensure I don’t forget my word, I engrave it onto a bracelet and wear it year-round.

To me, this has been more transformational than any resolution I’ve ever set.

Watch this video if you want to learn more about this practice.

3. Pace Yourself.

It is important to balance the awareness that you have time (you could live to 100) and that you don’t have time (you could die tomorrow). Living with that delicate balance of urgency and patience is how you create an extraordinary experience.

New Year’s Eve is precisely that delicate balance. The passing of one more year creates urgency to start the marathon, but the patience of knowing you have time is the reminder to pace yourself and stay in it.

I hope that this article changes your perspective about New Year’s Eve the way Randy’s changed mine so many years ago. Because that’s what the project is — raising vibrations, spreading knowledge, and sharing the love — to everyone you ever come in contact with.

Thank you for being in my world and for reading these emails, year after year. I hope you’ll keep me in your inbox as we continue evolving into 2024 — but more than anything, know that I wish you all the best today and beyond.

January 2, 2024

Holidays  ·  Inspiration  ·  Mindset  ·  Relationships  ·  Wellness
This won’t last forever
I didn’t get a chance to send you a Sacred Sunday email this weekend as I spent all my awake time wrapping gifts, packing for our upcoming winter trip, and checking off the to-do list my husband that became my husband’s Christmas gift.
But alas, here I am, on a Sacred Tuesday, to share a moment of clarity I had over the holiday.It was Christmas Eve, or as my Cuban family says, Noche Buena, and we were all gathered at my cousin’s house where we go most years.

I felt like there was a joyful energy circulating this year. A few hours prior, we’d been home getting dressed when my husband walked into my bedroom and commented, “Everyone is so happy this year.” I thought maybe it was just our five fingers, but I felt it at Jackie’s house as well. The whole family seemed genuinely happy to be together.

As I sat chatting, my son, Justin, approached me from behind, wrapping his arms around my neck. He whispered in my ear, “Mommy, another Christmas that you’re healthy. Happy healthversary.” He gave me a huge kiss on my check and squeezed me a little tighter.

At first, I didn’t understand what he was talking about. “Why wouldn’t I be healthy, Justy?”

“Mom, remember the year you got so sick on Christmas Eve with pneumonia and ended up in the hospital? We’re so lucky nothing bad happened.”
Of course.
The year I got pneumonia.

We were supposed to go to Jackie’s house that year also, but I was so sick I couldn’t go. By the next day, I had become septic and was being rushed to the ICU by ambulance.

That was a hard Christmas. And there have been many other hard ones as well.

And yet, here we were fully present and enjoying a happy, harmonious, and healthy evening.

Therein lies the moment of clarity:

THAT EVERY MOMENT WILL PASS

The good moments and the bad ones; they are all temporary.

So if you’re in a tough season, hang in there — you will get through this. This moment won’t last forever.

If you’re in a joyful season, acknowledge it, savor it, and be grateful for it. This moment won’t last forever.
But remember, there is beauty in all of it. There are lessons, love, and blessings that bloom even in the toughest times.

The hard seasons make us stronger.

The happy seasons make it all matter.

As for me, I’m counting all my blessings this year and savoring every moment. And thanks to Justin, I’m remembering that another year of health is something we should never take for granted.

December 27, 2023

Inspiration  ·  Mindset
Do you believe in Miracles?

Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Happy Sacred Sunday!

I am sitting at my desk on this Sacred Sunday trying to clearly and concisely articulate the miraculous experience I have just witnessed, and I gotta tell you — I’m not sure where this is going to go.

I’m still processing what happened and what it all means. So I’ve decided simply to share the story and see where that takes us. Maybe there will be more to write about in the future, or maybe I’ll figure things out in this article. Either way, I’m inviting you along for the ride because you’re my tribe.

THE BACKSTORY

My youngest son, Ryan, developed a cyst in his eye. At first, it was a small, barely noticeable bump, but it developed into an oddly shaped and very visible “thing” on his eyelid. It wasn’t painful, but it garnished a lot of attention, which really bothered the kid.

No one really knew what it was, but the doctors suspected it was a dermoid cyst. Except it wasn’t presenting as a “typical” cyst. It grew, changed shapes, bled, drained some weird waxy substance, grew again. It was WEIRD. The doctors assured me that although they didn’t know what it was, they knew what it WAS NOT. They were not concerned about it being a malignant tumor or anything, but they knew they had to get it out.

Every time I’d meet a new doctor, I’d tell them the same story:

When Ryan was 3-years-old, he was playing with his brother, fell, and hit that eye on the edge of his bunk bed. He cut his eye, and it immediately swelled. I took him to the emergency room, but they sent him home. (he didn’t even need stitches).

This cyst that developed is in the same spot where he got hit all those years ago.

I couldn’t help but think there had to be some correlation, but no one thought anything of it. They told me you are born with a dermoid cyst and chances are it was just a coincidence that he had eye trauma in that same place.

YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED

On the date of the surgery, I met the actual surgeon who was going to perform the procedure.

Once again, I pulled up the pictures of my little 3-year-old, zoomed in to show him the cut he had on his eyelid, and told him the full story.

He thanked me for the history and took my son.

I was told the surgery would take 30 minutes to an hour and a half.

At about an hour and 20 minutes, I started experiencing anxiety. Why was it taking so long? Did something go wrong? Was he okay?

It had been almost 2 hours when the surgeon came to see me.

“He did great!” he reassured me, “But you will not believe what I found.”

Dr. K pulled out his phone to show me the picture.

Ryan had two pieces of wood in his eye. One piece was lodged in his bone.

My son has been walking around with pieces of wood in his eye for the last SEVEN YEARS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN’T SEE IT, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT THERE

So many people have asked Ryan the same question:

You never felt that piece of wood in your eye?

If you’ve ever gotten a splinter, you know how painful it is. This kid was walking around with a piece of wood much larger than any splinter stuck in his eye and he had no idea it was there.

He didn’t feel it, we couldn’t see it, and yet there it was. The external cyst was simply a clue nudging us to look inside.

That’s why it’s so important to dig deeper into the root of the issues you’re facing. What is behind the physical manifestation of what you’re experiencing? Are these clues inviting you to connect the dots and look beyond what’s on the surface?

THE MIRACLE

The surgeon was as shocked as I was. First, he thanked me for showing him the pictures of Ryan and telling him what had happened. He said that without that context, he would not have known what he was looking at when he found those pieces of matter in his eye.

Then, he expressed how lucky we were.

The wood could have traveled to his brain. It could have punctured his eye wall. Ryan could have gone blind or even died.

The biggest miracle may have been that he never got an infection of any kind. Dr. K explained that wood has mold and bacteria. Imagine if Ryan had developed unexplained fevers at some point. The eye had soaked up the wood like a sponge and it was undetectable. We would have not known the source of the infection or been able to link the infection/fevers to that eye trauma.

Over and over, Dr. K emphasized how lucky we had been.

It was miraculous — and we’ve been unknowingly living in that miracle since it happened 7 years ago.

I used to wonder if miracles actually happened. You hear about Jesus performing miracles like making a blind person see. I often question if that was true.

I used to think I had never seen an actual miracle take place.

But what if everything was a miracle?

What if you’re living a miracle and you just can’t see it?

We live with an illusion of control. We think things are exactly as we experience them. But there is so much more beyond what we perceive.

It’s all a huge mystery, and therein lies more miracles than we know.

On this Sacred Sunday, I invite you to ask more questions, be more curious, and dig deeper if you’re facing a challenge. Let this be a reminder that there is often more to an issue than what meets the eye. Stay open and never give up looking for answers.

Lastly, I encourage you to live “As if everything is a miracle.” May we be grateful for the all miracles, whether or not we know about them, that the Universe gives us each day. ✨✨✨

December 11, 2023

Inspiration  ·  Mindset  ·  Relationships
A different way to grieve

Happy Sacred Sunday!

If you’ve been around a while, you may have read about my dear friends, Alain and Betsy.Their daughter, Fofi, passed away in 2013, leaving our community heart-broken. And yet their strength and perseverance has been a source of inspiration to so many ever since.

Today is Fofi’s birthday and I have been thinking about her (and her parents) all day. As I focus on my theme “Different December,” I’m thinking how Alain and Betsy have chosen a different way to honor their daughter.

A DIFFERENT WAY TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON

Betsy teaches that you get to honor a loved one who has died through service, purpose, and joy rather than through suffering.

It doesn’t mean losing them hurts any less.

But the choice to go from hurt to hope can make all the difference in this life.

Yesterday, Betsy and I went for a walk and coincidentally each of us wore the shirt that represented the marathon we ran in honor of our loved ones who have passed.

First, we ran for Fofi.

Then, we ran for my dad.

Now, we walk for each other.

And we get to bring Fofi and my dad along in our hearts.

Whether you are grieving a loved one who has passed, or something in your life you have lost (divorce, loss of a job, financial struggle, etc), today I encourage you to read Betsy’s book, Hurt to Hope.

I invite you to choose a DIFFERENT way to grieve. It will not be easy— in fact, it’ll be painful either way.

But this choice will give your heart the chance to unlock sparks of bliss once again in your life. One day.

December 4, 2023

Success Skills
The unexpected aftermath of success

I wrote a post on Instagram about feeling blah. I had spent the whole day in pajamas, not doing much, and rather than feeling rested or relaxed, I felt uneasy and anxious.

In that post, I mentioned that in the past when I had free time, I’d use it to organize my house or declutter a closet or drawer or something.  But now that my house is in order, we don’t have clutter to sort through.

Decluttering and remodeling our house was such an extraordinary accomplishment for us — but the aftermath has stirred up an unexpected emotion — anxiety.

It makes no sense.

Our home is beautiful and all our belongings are in order. The energy of the house is warm, cozy, and peaceful. The functionality of the house makes daily living so practical and convenient.

I had dreamed of what this was going to feel and look like.

And now, I am living a dream come true!

Why then, am I having bouts of uneasiness?

(I say bouts because, just like I experience sparks of bliss, I also experience bouts of anxiety. Emotions are not a permanent state of being. But when we experience certain emotions (like anxiety) we attach ourselves to them as if that is our only state of being, which is not the case.)

Anyway, I’ve been pondering this and these are my thoughts.

THE COMFORT OF CHAOS

A chaotic life tricks you into thinking you’re productive, because you’re so busy all the time.

A chaotic life gives you a reason to not do important things, because you’re too consumed by taking care of urgent things. Important things usually require focus and discipline. Urgent things are great excuses to avoid focus and discipline.

We think that chaos is something that happens to us and is beyond our control, but it’s often a habit we reinforce with our lifestyle.

The decluttering and remodeling process added to the chaotic life I already had as a wife, mom of 3 boys and a business woman. Although that seemed like a lot, I am familiar with all the juggling.

What I didn’t realize was how much chaos the completion of the project would REMOVE.

Suddenly, we had accomplished this huge goal, and life was simpler. There were systems in place. There was much less stuff to deal with. Everything was in order.

It was so peaceful — and unfamiliar.

Without all the running around and juggling a million different things at once, I now had time to deal with the parts of my life (like my business) that required longer focus. That has been hard and uncomfortable to do.

THE INTERRUPTED HABIT LOOP

When you accomplish a huge goal, it interrupts your habit loops. Take decluttering as an example.

If you’re like most people, decluttering is something you always have to do. Like my girlfriend says, “for every 5 things I throw out, 10 more come through the door.” So you get into a habit — you create clutter, then you get rid of some, and then you add some more and the process goes on and on.

But according to the Marie Kondo methodology, when you tidy up all in one big swoop — you break the cycle. I didn’t understand how that was possible at first. But I went for it, and she’s right. That huge overhaul changed my mindset and my behavior as it relates to material things.

At first, this experience sparked joy and creativity. It made me feel free and liberated.

But after a while, I have caught myself wanting to go back to the struggle. Meaning, part of me wants to go back to the days when I could use the excuse that I couldn’t deal with anything until I organized the closet, or picked up the messy room, etc.

Why?

Because spending a day working on a closet offers immediate gratification. And the space I’ve created is challenging me to work on things that don’t offer immediate gratification. 🫣🫣🫣

I am now creating new habit loops that require less urgency and more strategic focus. That’s expansive and oh, so uncomfortable.

Lastly, there’s the DOPAMINE CRASH OF SUCCESS

As I was getting close to finishing my first book, Looking Over the Edge, my editor and dear friend, Dave, called me to warn me.

“This is a huge goal you’ve been working on for a long time,” he said. “You may encounter some post-partum depression.”

Whether you’ve written a book, birthed a baby, climbed a mountain, lost a significant amount of weight, or decluttered your house — you’ve successfully completed something that has consumed so much of your mental, physical and emotional energy for quite some time.

When the adrenaline of the journey wears off, and you settle into the new normal — it’s often met with a dopamine crash.

It’s part of the paradox of being human.

It’s also why we must always keep learning, growing and evolving. Because the greatest joy is usually found in the journey.

My word for this year was EXPAND. And I am definitely feeling the expansion of this year. I just wanted you to know that expansion comes with discomfort. Success comes with hiccups. Life comes with a mix of emotions and experiences.

There’s nothing wrong with that … or with me .. or with YOU. It’s part of the human journey ❤️.

So today, pay attention to what’s going on in your life. Are you using chaos as an excuse to not tackle your goals? Is it time to interrupt your habit loops? Or are you in the post-partum phase of a huge goal?
Whatever it is, I just want to remind you to pay attention. There are lessons for you here.

November 28, 2023

Mindset  ·  Success Skills
The magic of living with themes and intentions

Happy Sacred Sunday!

I am writing to you from the mountains of North Carolina, where I’ve been nourishing my soul all weekend.

INTENTIONAL AND THEMED LIVING

Something I’ve noticed as I’ve stepped into living with intention, themes, and in harmony with seasons is how the months build onto, blend into, and compliment one another.

As an example, I used the theme Optimize to define October and Nourish to define November. To Optimize, I did things to get organized for the last quarter of the month (including booking a flight to North Carolina in November) and I fasted for 5 days to gain clarity, detox, and optimize my health. But I also did things like getting a massage, which is actually very nourishing — but nourishment is important to live an optimal life.

Now, in November, I’m reaping the benefits of what I did in October, like realizing the trip I dreamt up in October. But the energy of this trip is different than the energy I had in October when I booked it. Not better or worse, just different.

In fact, all the things I’m doing in November are different, albeit the same (l got a massage in November also 😉 and I am playing with some intermittent fasting, but only 12 hours not 5 days).

You see how these themes are aligned and intertwined, yet they exist independently within their own intentions?

How do you NOURISH your SOUL?

For me, nourishing my soul has meant time with a friend I love deeply, hiking the mountains and enjoying the stillness of the seasons, breathing the fresh air, observing the changing leaves, doing a puzzle, and watching how the mountains affect my each one of my family members differently.

As we step into mid November, how will you nourish your soul for the rest of this month? What did you do last month that set you up for success this month? What will you do this month in preparation for next month?

If you read my blog a few weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about that balance between staying present and having a plan. Well, themes are a good way to stay present, but they’re also helpful in planning for the future. I’m starting to think about what my December theme will be as well as what my word for 2024 will be.

It feels nourishing to do so, which is perfectly aligned with November

Today I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect or journal on this. Connect the dots as to how your months align and intertwine. Set intentions as to how you will show up today, tomorrow, and beyond.

The beauty of all of this is that it doesn’t matter when you start living with intention, choose a theme, or decide to step into a season. It’s never too soon or too late.

And best of all, this kind of living is a great way to unlock sparks of bliss.

Wishing you a bliss-full Sunday.

November 13, 2023

Inspiration  ·  Mindset  ·  Parents & Families
What I learned from my son’s math homework

Happy Sacred Sunday!

My son has been struggling with math recently, so I sat down to do homework with him.

I assumed the struggle came from not understanding the material, but I was surprised to discover the underlying issue.

With deep frustration, he ran his fingers through his wavy hair. “Mom, I know the answer in my head, but my teacher makes me show my work. And it’s sooooo dumb! Look at this paper! I’ve written the same thing 5 times!”

If you remember solving for an algebraic equation in your school days, it’s a repetitive process to show your work.

I understood how tedious and annoying this work could be, but I tried to explain to him how showing his work was the only way the teacher could know that he knew what he was doing.

“She’s not a mind reader, buddy. She can’t know what’s in your head.”

“Okay, fine. But what about all these repetitive steps. Why can’t I skip those?”

“Well, because we learn by repetition.”

As I reasoned with my 12-year-old why it was necessary for him to “show his work” for math, it suddenly dawned on me that this principle carries into adulthood.

IT’S NOT MIND-READING DAY

My dear friend and therapist, Dr. Betsy Guerra, teaches couples about the power of communication. She encourages couples to ask for what they want from each other, rather than expecting or hoping their partner thinks of it on their own.

I can hear her raising her voice with her Latin accent and saying, “It’s not mind-reading day, people! You can’t expect him or her to know what’s going on in your head.”

Likewise, in sales and marketing we often assume people know things about our products and services without us spelling it out for them. I know, in my case, I often fear sharing too much because of fear of being repetitive or stating the obvious.

As I sat there watching my boy struggle to translate what was in his head to paper, I identified with him.

Sometimes we struggle to show our work because we’re trying to explain something that comes so naturally for us — and that can be really hard to translate to paper.

Sometimes we struggle to show our work because we confuse it with bragging or showing off.

And sometimes we struggle to show our work because we don’t think it’s good enough.

MOMENT OF CLARITY

How would you act in your business and life if you communicated with this clarity?

1. No one knows what’s going on in your head, unless you show your work.
2. People learn through repetition.

These two lessons hit me hard, personally.

Who knew that 7th grade math would have such a profound impact on a 43-year-old!!! Hopefully it’ll spark something important for you, too.

Reminds me of the message I got when I wrote, Looking Over the Edge: Pay attention. There are lessons for you here. ☺️☺️☺️

Hope you’re enjoying Nourish November ❤️

November 6, 2023

Inspiration  ·  Mindset
Remembering future moments

Happy Sacred Sunday!

Have you ever remembered a future moment?

There are moments we create in our minds: future moments that, although have not yet happened, we can see clearly.

These future moments are part of the dream life we are always creating.

Once in a while we get to realize these future moments. But often times they come with unexpected glitches – something that goes wrong or something you wished had been different or better. And if we’re not careful, we miss it.

Just this afternoon, my husband’s mom and grandparents had come over to visit. They were gathered around our beautiful kitchen island while my husband cooked a delicious lamb stew. My mother-in-law smiled and said: “look at my son, being able to spend time with us and cook in this open, comfortable space.”

Her comment reminded me that when we chose our kitchen design for the remodel, we had dreamt of having this space; of orlando cooking with our family gathered around us.

THE UNEXPECTED GLITCH

Rather than focusing on what was unraveling in front of me, I was consumed by the fact that my fast had just begun and I wasn’t going to eat the mouthwatering stew Orlando was preparing. 😭😭😭

There was the unexpected glitch. Clearly in our dreams of enjoying our dream kitchen on a Sunday afternoon, we did not insert me fasting in the midst of it!

But when Maggie made the comment about her son, I looked around and it hit me that I was remembering a future moment.

Just because there was a glitch didn’t mean it wasn’t a dream coming true.

I served myself a cup of matcha mushroom tea and chose to savor the smell of the food, the glow of the afternoon, and the smiles on my family’s faces.

I decided that I would cherish this moment right now, regardless of whether I could eat the stew or not. I expect to experience many moments like this again. I certainly won’t be fasting during most of them. But this afternoon we’ll never get back. And I’m grateful I had it, regardless of its imperfections.

On this sacred Sunday, I want to remind you to pay attention to the moments in your life. They will undoubtedly come with unexpected glitches, challenges and imperfections. So much so, you may not even realize you’re remembering a future moment. But if you pay attention, if you choose to savor the moment as it is without letting expectations rob you of your joy, you may just discover your dreams are already becoming reality.

October 23, 2023

Mindset  ·  Success Skills  ·  Uncategorized
What I learned from a t-shirt

Isn’t it funny how our brains can overcomplicate things and make tasks seem insurmountable, when in reality, they’re not that hard?

This happened to me with a new t-shirt I wanted to create for our RejuvaFAST community. We had printed t-shirts in the past without a problem. But we had lost our original contact, and there were other factors that changed our circumstances.

Suddenly, something that should have been pretty straightforward became overly complicated.

We believed it was complicated, but in reality it was unfamiliar.

And here’s what happens when things are unfamiliar — we confuse them with being hard.

Once we convince ourselves that this thing we need to do is hard, we procrastinate.

We’ll put the task off. Or we’ll take one step forward, get stuck in that step, and then put it off again.

The task becomes this thing that lingers and consumes more energy than it should.

FINDING A GUIDE
The t-shirts (which our community had pre-ordered and paid for 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️) were not getting done and I was frustrated.

And then I had an idea. My friend, Liz, knows everything there is to know about clothes design and manufacturing. Her job is to consult with companies to develop this area of their brands.

Why am I beating my head against the wall here?

What if I work with her to get these shirts done?

A phone call and a meeting later, everything was in order.

This morning I headed over to the printer to see the shirts being made.

Just like that, our shirts are READY!

All we needed was to have someone guide us through the process. Someone who had enough experience to push us past the belief that: “This is too hard.”

That’s the magic of working with a coach, consultant, or community of people when you’re trying to achieve a goal. You get to leverage their knowledge, expertise, and resources to move past your paralysis.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating on something because you think it’s too hard, remember two important things:

1. You can do hard things.
2. There is always someone who can guide you along the process.

The guide doesn’t have to know all the answers, by the way. They only need to know enough to help you catch some momentum.

You’ll figure out the rest, and you’ll be glad you did.

October 17, 2023

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