2014 Week 8: Vulnerability

I was reminded this past week about the power of vulnerability.  Though vulnerability is NOT something I enjoy feeling, have in the slightest bit mastered, or volunteer to experience on a regular basis, I adore it.  Vulnerability is so real, so gritty, so completely uniting.  I knew this, but needed a gentle nudge to bring this truth from the foggy back corner to the forefront of my mind.


I post fairly regularly on Facebook.  Heck, I post these weekly entries on Facebook and I believe at least a few of you read them?  I like to think that at times I have good things to say, and can even on occasion make you chuckle.  This week however, I posted a slightly different status update where I shared that I was having a tough day and was not in a good place.  Let me tell you, I was the recipient of more "likes", positive thoughts and prayers, comments and stories on this post than many if not most previous posts.  It was a light bulb "AHA" moment for me....ok, probably more of a forehead smack "duh" moment for me.  See, we all get it.  We've all had what I call that "lunchroom moment", where you feel like you're back in fifth grade holding your lunch tray and desperately scanning the room for someone to sit by.  We've been there before.  We'll be there again.  And the beautiful thing is we can support each other in the courageous journey of embracing vulnerability.

So in that spirit (and because I think courage is sexy), it's time to share.

• Though I played basketball for years, I can NOT shoot a proper left handed lay-in for the life of me.  It's like a PTSD thing from blowing a knee out that way--freaks me out every time.
• I have been known to snore.  I will even admit to using a sleep app that actually recorded my snoring so I can't deny this truth.  In my defense, I don't think I regularly snore, but this isn't easy to prove.
• I hate spiders--I mean I'm a full on sissy when it comes to these little furry guys.  The only way I can kill spiders when I'm alone is by terrorizing myself with thoughts of it coming to get me if it lives.
• I am terrible at long distance friendships.  Yes, to my wonderful friends who are not in my close vicinity and have not heard from me in months....years--THANK YOU for hanging in there with me!
• I used to genuinely think I knew myself.  The older I get, the less convinced I am of this, and I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up.
• I am an over-thinker.  It's a problem.  In fact, that's probably why I mention meditation so often. It's my attempt to calm my busy brain.
• I would have to say that for a variety of reasons this past year has been one of the toughest and most humbling years of my life.  For my inner circle friends who have supported me along the way, I am deeply grateful!
• And finally, I'm not very good at being vulnerable. Like at all.  But I must give myself the grace to accept that I am a work in progress, and acknowledge that I have grown a lot over this past year.  I encourage any and all support in continuing to advance in this area.

With that, I leave you with the Queen of Vulnerability--Brene' Brown.  If I have not FORCED you to watch this video, read her books, or check out her website--RUN DON'T WALK! Drop everything. Stop reading.  She says it soooo much better than I do!  "Vulnerability is not about fear and grief and disappointment.  it is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.  It is the birthplace of everything we are hungry for."

Check out Brene's amazing TED talk here.

2014 Week 7: Inspire

Remember a few weeks past when I was in a bit of a funk?  One of the things that helped pull me out of this funk was focusing on that which inspires me.   I LOVE the word inspire; it’s actually one of my all time favorite words.  If you were to ask me my life’s passion, that’s the answer I would give—to inspire!  …....Ok, I would likely want to give a way longer answer than that, but if I had to narrow it down to two words, those would be the two. 

Growth inspires me.  Leadership inspires me.  Courage inspires me.  People who pursue their passions, speak their truth, live their calling—oh I get fired up just thinking about it.  See I believe that we were put on this planet for a purpose.  I believe that we have each been given indelible gifts and talents that are meant to serve each other and add light and love to this world.  I believe in the undeniable power of an individual’s unique brilliance.   So those days when I feel a little lethargic, status quo, and less than enthused—those are the days when I need to reconnect with that which inspires me.

What inspires you?  What gets your mind spinning, your hopes rekindled and dreams reinvigorated?  We have 45 more weeks to pursue that which inspires in 2014.  Let’s make the most of it!

Inspiration in under 7 minutes: http://youtu.be/hVCBrkrFrBE

Inspiration in an hour: http://youtu.be/JuKCwS8wmls

Week 6: Flexibility 

 

Wow—what a week!  Making it home before the snow hit. Getting out to explore many of the fun neighborhoods in Portland.  Eating at this restaurant, orrrr that restaurant…err maybe this restaurant is open? Buying groceries to make dinner.  Going to Pok Pok and actually eating the food.  Sleeping soundly through Sunday night.  Completing this post on my regular Tuesday schedule. Yes, this is just a partial list of the things I PLANNED on doing over the past week, but didn’t happen due to Snowpocolypse 2014 and catching a nasty flu bug.  This brings me to the subject of flexibility.  Now I’ll admit I don’t excel in this area.  If anticipation were a sport, I’d be an Olympic level competitor to be sure. This can often make the releasing of my well dreamt plans a little rough.  But, through the continual interruption of my plans over the past week, this is what I’ve learned.  Being flexible is a great thing; it aligns you with the current reality of your circumstances and presents you with the opportunity to make the best of it.  Flexibility frees you from focusing on what you can’t control or dwelling on what you can’t have. Finally, flexibility can present surprising opportunities.  Who knew you could get into the Multnomah Whiskey Library without stepping foot in a line when it’s snowy outside?!  Bonus!  And here’s to appreciating life’s simple unplanned blessings—the beauty of seeing everything covered in a blanket of white, the warmth of a fireplace, the support of friends (not to mention the deliveries of crackers and 7up).  Though I still have some training to do in this area, for these many blessings as well as the lessons I am grateful!

Have a great week everyone!

 

2014 Week 5--Check In Time

I recently heard the statistic that 50% of those who set New Year's resolutions have abandoned ship by February 1. The study went on to say only 8% actually attain the goals that they made. Eight percent!! So here we are past February 1st, and almost one tenth of the way through the year--how are you doing?

As I ask myself this question I have mixed reviews. Part of me is ...like--holy crap, we are one tenth of the way through the year?!! Where does the time go?! The other part of me thinks it's worth celebrating the progress I've made. I set more of an intention for the year, rather than a list of resolutions. Ironically, my intention is to live more intentionally, consciously embracing my thoughts, my decisions, and my actions. Yes, you will here the word "intention" or some form of it many times this year.

So what progress have I made? 1.) I now visualize the life I want to live and take small steps toward it each week. For example, if I want to live more simply, then I need to keep taking trips to the Goodwill (and it's working). If I want to move to the city, I need to actually check out apartments. 2.) I am owning and honoring my emotions--allowing myself to feel, while also recognizing that things like prayer, meditation, sleep, and self care can greatly impact these emotions. 3.) I find myself constantly evaluating whether my thoughts/actions stem from fear or from love. It's a simple truth to fight for the latter, but my word it's humbling to truly examine! And finally 4.) writing these weekly entries is kicking my butt! I didn't set out to do this originally, but I've recognized that in knowing I have to report something every week, it's forcing intentionality! So if you're still with me in reading this long post--thanks for the nudge and for joining me on this journey!

Forget being part of the 98%, here's to being the 8%! Have a blessed week everyone.

2014 Week 4:Time to Rally

 

Can I just say how much easier it is to just let life go by as opposed to living with conscious intention?! If we were keeping score I would say so far this year I'm two for two. Starting off the year in Europe and capitalizing on new years motivation, the first two weeks were fairly easy. This isn't the case anymore as this last week demonstrated. Yet as is often the case..., "easier" doesn't mean better, richer, or more fulfilling. Needless to say I'm declaring it's time to rally!

What do you do to rally? There are so many great options out there, prayer and meditation, gratitude, exercise, honoring your feelings, the list goes on and on. This week I'm focusing my intention where the rubber hits the road--my thoughts. I know I can't change my circumstances overnight or force bliss to the front of the stage. But I can change my thoughts. Thoughts are powerful. They impact how we drink in life and how we view our reality. When living unconsciously it's easy to let our thoughts run wild and have a hay day with our mind. I say no more. I'm owning these!

So this week I have two goals. One: I will start each morning in meditation and prayer to recenter and prepare for the day. Two: This will be the filter through which I evaluate my thoughts--does this stem from a place of love, or a place of fear? I'm shutting the door on anything related to the latter. Just those two intentions; we'll see how it goes. I gotta tell you, I feel a rally coming on already!

Have a great week friends!

2014 Week 3: Persistence

 

You know those "top of the world" weeks where you feel like you should be wearing a sign that says "Winning!"? Yeeeeah, I didn't have one of those. Don't get me wrong, there were some accomplishments. I shampooed allll my carpets (quite a task I must say), I decided to stop eating teflon and purchased some new ceramic pans, I threw away some things I don't need, and I had some ...great friend time. But I also fell into some of those common traps--living too much in my head (are there any other over analyzers out there?), focusing on the past or future as opposed to the sacred now, and accomplishing much less than I planned even with the extra day.

The opportunity of a week like this--well this is real life isn't it? Life isn't always a mountain top or a valley for that matter, it has all sorts of ups and downs. Yet we are still asked to climb, and in doing so we rise. So I choose the word persistence this week. Whether high points or low, good times or bad, I'm going to keep climbing!

We have 49 more weeks of the year--keep persisting friends!

2014 Week 2:Intentionality

 

  This week I've found myself drawn to the concept of intentional co-creation. Life is not a hand of cards that we are dealt, nor a gift that we were given simply to unwrap. I'll admit I haven't always been awake to this reality. While simultaneously acknowledging the fingerprints of the Divine, we also need to recognize that we are co-creators of our destiny, co-authors of our story.... So now that we've completed our second week of the year, how have I INTENTIONALLY written my story this week?
1. I'm starting a reading group with my sister....though it's the two of us, so I don't know that it qualifies as a "group".

2. I took a load to the Goodwill. Knowing that I have a desire to simplify this year, I'm wondering if I can take a bag to the goodwill or trash every week. We'll see how that initiative goes.

3. I set up a meeting with someone I respect, admire, and haven't seen in awhile. Win!

4. Reading, learning, exercise, meditation, fun--it was a good week!

So how will we approach week three of the 2014 adventure? Rather than letting time blindly march by, how about we grab the reins and seize the day! 50 weeks to go--let's make them count!

2014 Week 1: The Adventure Begins!

We are one week in to the new year people, how are those NY resolutions going? I'll admit, because I started the year with packing, sitting in airports and planes, and trying to readjust back to normal life, I haven't gotten off to a huge start. But each day is a new beginning--and that truth makes my New Year inspirations more attainable. So what will I do today? I will be gracious with myself and savor the fact that there are 51 fantastic weeks left in this year. I will bring a level of intentionality and excellence to my work today. I will try to give away as many smiles as I can. That's a good place to start. Seize the day friends!