What makes you happy? What makes your spirit soar? Maybe it’s been so long since the last time you felt that uplifting energy rise in your chest that you don’t remember. I have clients tell me they don’t remember what they are passionate about or they don’t know what they want to do. I understand. The world tells us what we are supposed to feel so much that we forget what we REALLY feel. We become numb. I’ve been there. And I’ve fought my way back to feeling and knowing who I am. Sometimes that’s what it takes… focusing on our feelings and fighting to feel our True feelings. Sometimes we have to fight to make time, space, time for ourselves to just be. We need to let all the noise and the “buzz” of the world go and listen to the quiet of stillness. In that stillness you meet yourself. Your True Self.

We all have a purpose, probably more than one. Living your purpose brings you joy. It makes your spirit soar. Find your purpose and focus on it. Don't let anything get in your way. This is what I work on with clients - helping them find alignment with purpose in their lives and staying aligned. This is what I coach clients on, and it means the world to me. it is my purpose. Call or message me if you want more informaiton. 

​And LET YOUR SPIRIT SOAR!!  

​Typically, clients call me because they are not enjoying their jobs. Many also do not feel they are living their purpose or their dreams. I understand completely because I’ve been there. I’ve been in jobs where I was miserable and did not enjoy myself. If you are in a job where you are miserable, here are three things that you can do to help relieve your misery and pain. In addition to looking for your next job, give these three things a try:
 

1. Seek out people whose company you enjoy. There are bound to be at least two or three people at your place of employment who you enjoy spending time with. Join one of them for a coffee or invite them to lunch. Spending time with people you enjoy will lift your spirits.
2. Reframe your situation in your mind. Think of this as a stepping stone to your next job. See what you can learn while you are still there. What experiences can you gain and put on your resume that will help you be an even more attractive candidate to other companies? Volunteer for projects that will expose you to new opportunities to learn or to new networks within your company.
3. Set boundaries around your personal time. If you are miserable at your current job, protect your personal time by leaving at 5 PM and going home to see family or friends. Protect your weekend with vigilance. Spend your evenings and your weekends doing activities that rejuvenate you. Exercise to energize your body, and participate in hobbies that feed your soul.

 
We spend two thirds of our time at work. We need to make it a priority to have work that is important to us. More and more people are finding it helpful to have a professional coach guide them through their career development. This helps people align with work that has the most meaning for them so that this important part of life can provide meaning and joy. And sometimes this results in dancing! So get your dancing shoes out, and get ready to boogie! 

When I was in grade school through high school, home life was in turmoil. Going to school was my stability. I was a good student, and teachers recognized that and were very supportive of me. Some of them gave me special recognition and care. They probably recognized or heard something about my disruptive home life. I’m so thankful for that, for all the teachers who were kind to me and saw something in me that they nurtured and cared for. There were teachers who encouraged me to always do my best and pursue my education. That was something that I did not get at home.

Teachers like Miss Paden, my fourth grade teacher helped me become who I am today, and I’m so grateful.  She was sweet and caring.  She was pretty and young, and all the girls would hover around her desk and talk with her. She would hug us, and tell us about her life. She would tell us it was important to be good students and to stay out of trouble. She had long hair, and we all thought she was just the sweetest!

Thank you to all the teachers out there who love and support the kids in your classrooms! You may never know what a difference you make.  

​Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. He was a man of ideals and of action. He knew what he believed in, and he fought for it while keeping his standards high.
 
In our culture today we see clashing ideas about the future of our country. Culturally and politically stark differences are everywhere, on social media, TV, in books, magazines, at the dinner table – everywhere!

I encourage you to think today about Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. Think about what is important to you and what action you can take. I feel it is important now more than at any time in the last 20 years for people to be involved in our society. We can be involved in large or small ways. What is not acceptable, is to withdraw from what is going on. Read, donate, volunteer, and vote. If you can, run for office, get on a board, or support someone who does.   Find an organization or cause that is important to you, and add something constructive to that cause. Sign a petition, or put a sign in your yard.
 
For the last two years I have seen changes in our culture and political structure that confounds me. I have donated, shared information I think is important with people who will (or might) listen, and soon I will be putting at least one sign in my yard in support of a candidate that is running in the November elections. I've never put a candidate’s sign in my yard before. It has never been this important before. In the spirit and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., I cannot sit back and watch. I know that I need to be involved at least in some small way. I will donate, I will vote, and I will look for other opportunities to be involved and make a difference in a peaceful and respectful way.

​Will you join me?

Some people say failing to plan is planning to fail.  I'm planning some major success in 2018.  I love planning.  I adore planning and planners. I love the paper, the ink, all of the potential, and getting things done. I feel excited about the possibilities in a new year, the "blank slate" of it all. Every January we get a fresh start and a whole 12 months to accomplish some of our life's dreams. How fun!!

​When it comes to an actual planner, I’m both fickle and loyal.  I change planners a lot,  but I never give one away. And I usually come back to a good planner. I love paper systems, and I also like the efficiency of online systems. I tend to bounce around a little bit depending on if I’m working on big projects, or lots of little projects. I love this time of year, because this is when I plan my most ambitious, heartfelt, and visionary goals that are focused on me. That includes my business, my family and also my spirituality, fitness, and more. 

Right now I’m setting 2018 goals and outlining all the tasks and milestones needed to achieve those goals. The whole idea of wrapping up my future major achievements into a tidy list of “things to do” sets my mind and soul at peace. The dreaming part gives me a chance to be creative. I excitedly get my colored pens and pencils out, pick up a luxurious planner with beautiful, smooth paper and begin writing, planning, and organizing to my heart’s content. Ahhhh….
(click on pics for info)

I’ve been a planner aficionado for decades  I’ve tried them all - Levenger, Franklin, Filofax, etc. And I’ve used all the sizes. I even put tasks in Outlook for awhile. I never throw a  planner out. I develop a love for each one, and I rotate through the refillables. Sometimes I look through my old planners that I’ve filled out for a ride down memory lane. During one year, I might change my planner depending on what I’m working on.  I might be working on one very large project and need more of a “big picture”. Or I might be working on many small details and need more task orientation.  In that case, I’ll change my format.   

Right now I am loving the Ink & Volt (I&V) planner and the DragonTree Dream Book (DT). They are both lovely and allow for annual planning that breaks down into chunks.  When it comes to then planning daily tasks, I&V transfers to a notepad, while DT has the space for tasks in it.  The DT planner incorporates more mystical and “woo-woo” recommendations like yoga and meditation for identifying goals and staying aligned.  I like this, but it's not for everyone. 

This year I have fitness, business, creativity, and specific writing goals that I am outlining in my planner. I am starting with the DT planner which is very comprehensive.  It reaches both ends of the “big picture-to-task detail” spectrum very nicely.  I may stick with this planner for awhile, or I may transfer some of my daily to do list to either my Filofax or an online system that I like called Todoist.  

My hope for myself and for you that 2018 is a year of growth, learning, love, and success.  I’m convinced that to the degree that we take time now to set our intentions, define a clear path, and prioritize actions along that path, one year from now we will be enjoying the fruits of our planning time.  For now, it's important to plan like a frickin' boss. So, let's do this! I'm offering a free 30-minute consult specifically on defining your 2018 goals.  Email me at lisa@lovingmylife.us for more info.  I look forward to talking with you!

If you're not ready for a chat, I’d love to just know what you’re planning, and what tools you use to help you.  Please comment on this blog! You'll be helping me and others.  

Big hugs to you, my friends!
​
Lisa

 

Saying goodbye to 2017 is like saying goodbye to a relationship I’ve outgrown.  I learned a lot.  There were very good times and some tough times. Now it is time to turn the page.
 
I believe one purpose in life is to personally grow.  With each year, hopefully we reach goals, jump unexpected hurdles, discover new aspects of ourselves, come closer to God, and understand more about what is important to us and why we’re here.  That was 2017 for me. 
 
My mother passed away this year.  We were not close, but I was involved in her care at the end and helped make decisions for her comfort and to support her wishes. I feel grateful to have specifically (with my sister and brother) helped support her final wishes of spending her last days in her home and helping her pass with dignity and in peace.
 
This year I traveled, had great times with friends and family, built my business, and pushed myself to be more honest about who I am with myself and with others.  I am more honest now about my personal and professional experiences of abuse.  I feel grateful to others who really put themselves out there, to the Silence Breakers and the #MeToo movement for being role models for speaking out and being honest.
 
For my business I expanded my coaching practice to offer more support to my clients in a variety of convenient ways.  I also offered online support groups.  And (drumroll, please!) I started my book which I plan to release early next year. I am SO excited about that.  My book is part business book and part memoir.  I’ll be telling more about it in coming months, so please subscribe to my blog.

​Personally, I finally had the back surgery I put off for four years, I started my daily meditation practice, and I focused my reading on spirituality and metaphysics. All of my new habits feel congruent with my True Self, and I feel myself opening up more and more. 
 
I started this year marching in the Women’s March in Houston on March 21, and I spoke up often this year about what I saw as a “chipping away” at human rights in our country.  Gloria Steinem said, “Women grow radical with age.  One day an army of gray-haired women may quietly take over the earth.” I feel myself getting more radical with age.  I understand what she’s talking about.  We become more brave.  We get tired of censoring ourselves, apologizing, and acquiescing.   The butterfly must emerge from the cocoon. 
 
I look forward to my new adventures, challenges and growth in 2018.  And I look forward to my local and online friends sharing with me how they are learning and growing too.  We are all in this life together, after all. 
 
To 2017, thank you… and buh-bye. 
 
 Big hugs, everybody!

​I had back surgery two weeks ago.  It was out-patient surgery…micro discectomy and disc decompression surgery.  It’s a relatively minor surgery, and yet, I’ve always thought of that term, “minor surgery,” as an oxymoron. I don’t think there is any such thing.  This procedure has risks of nerve damage, paralysis, infection, and more.
 
Two weeks after surgery I feel great. I put this surgery off for four years.  I did physical therapy and got cortisone injections.  I took lots of Celebrex for the pain. I limited my activities because of pain. Nothing helped.
 
I finally had the surgery, and now I feel great. And I feel a huge sense of relief and pride.
 
This has made me think about why we put things off.  Why do I put things off?  I see it with my clients.  It’s not just me. We put off looking for the job, divorcing the spouse, ending the useless “friendship,” and leaving the town we hate. We procrastinate and hope that things will get better. Or, and this might be even worse, we think we can live with the pain, discomfort, or inconvenience.
 
I often share the story of the frog being put in a pot of water. The story says that when we slowly warm the water, the frog will swim around. When we gradually heat the water to boiling, the frog will boil and die. Whereas, if I dropped a living frog into a pot of boiling water, the frog would jump out immediately and live.  That’s how the story goes, anyway. 
 
I had gotten so accustomed to my back pain that, to some degree, I was willing to live with it. I accommodated it with changes and adjustments I’d made in my life.  I felt I was managing it. 
 
I talked to an older woman at my gym one day about 6 months ago.  I never talked with her before, and have not seen her since. This was what I call a “God Moment” or a “Divine Intervention”. We talked for about 15 minutes, and got on the topic of my back pain and my two herniated discs.  She said, “You’re too young to live with that pain. You need to have that taken care of. You don’t need to have that.” I thought, “She’s right.” I realized I was the frog in the pot of water, and the temperature was rising.
 
I’ve been in that pot of water before. I was raised by a mean and abusive mother who I escaped. I was in a bad marriage for 10 years until I filed for a divorce. I’ve left bad jobs and bad bosses. Sometimes you know it’s time to “do the damn thing” – whatever that damn thing is. Don’t let the water get too warm.  When it’s time to “do the damn thing,” take action and move your life forward. You’ll be glad you did. 
 
Big hugs, Lisa

This season can be rushed, busy, stressful, and it can sometimes feel empty.  The holidays and the weather can wreak havoc with balance and wellness habits.  Plus, this this is the time with the most environmental darkness and the least amount of light provided by the sun.  Handled correctly the short days might be a blessing.
 
Find the quiet. Enjoy the peace of solitude. Listen to the heartbeat of life slow down in the silence. Let your song tune into the melody of the Universe. Find that quiet place where you can feel the soft rhythm of winter and connect with the light within. Make time for inner reflection while the world feels still and the blanket of darkness covers our world like a soft pillow. Breathe and release what does not serve you anymore so that you can be filled by light from within.
 
Starting today we will receive more light with each day, and our energy will grow. With the cold and the dark, rest yourself and let go of what does not serve you. Let it dissolve into the darkness, making space for light to grow within. There is nothing for you to do.  There is not a checklist. Let go and receive. Heal, breathe, and surrender.  That is all. 
 
Hugs, Lisa

When was the last time that you laughed so hard that you almost peed yourself? If it has been a while, you have a problem. We need to get you laughing. Laughing is part of the human experience and feels glorious. Laughing is an intense, joyful reaction to something we find funny. It is a relief and a physical expression of strong emotion. Laughter relieves anxiety and tension. There are a lot of studies about how laughter reduces blood pressure and helps to release endorphins that help diminish pain. I don't know about you, but I'm in!
 
Laughter is FREE, and available to everybody. Think of a funny memory, read a funny book or watch a funny show or movie. Some therapists and doctors prescribe "laugh therapy" to relieve stress and relax the whole body. Laughter can also increase blood flow and improve blood vessel function. Laughter has benefits in social situations. Laughter can diffuse tense situations and conflicts. It can also create or intensify bonds between people.
 
Sometimes we think that laughing really hard and having a lot of fun is reserved for children. Everyone needs to laugh. And we need to laugh hard and regularly. I have a lot of respect for how much everyone is dealing with today. My clients have so many responsibilities at work and at home. Friends and family members of mine sometimes get overwhelmed with current life demands as well as everything going on in the news and media today. It can be easy to get overwhelmed. This is all the more reason why we need to take time for the things that are good for us, like exercise, hobbies that we enjoy, healthy food, good relationships, rest, and laughter.

How do you get your “laugh quotient” up? When feeling depressed or tense, take a minute to watch a funny YouTube video or take a walk and reflect on a funny movie or memory. Spend time with funny people. Think about what makes you laugh, and spend more time in that situation or with those cues. Find the humor in situations, and talk about it. And watch shows that make you laugh. Opt for these instead of watching violence or drama. Read articles, blogs, or watch videos of people who make you laugh. Whatever works for you, give your funny bone a regular dose of what it’s looking for. Keep laughing. It's good for your spirit and your body.

​I laugh hard every day. You can too. Open yourself up to this amazing gift from the Universe. You will be glad you did. For more information on laughing regularly and loving your life, email me at lisa@lovingmylife.us.