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Life is a Choose Your Own Adventure Game

3/31/2011

When my kids were growing up, I loved books that had alternate story lines and endings. Wouldn't it be fun to live like that as an adult? If you can dream it, you can do it ... the only one stopping or limiting you is YOU!  The only one who can free your joy and flow is YOU!

What if before every choice you make, you check into your body's response? Use muscle testing or dowsing ... meditation ... or simply ask without judgment or attachment to the answer. You know more than you think you do. If you feel lighter:   go for it!   If you feel denser ... you might want to rethink it because your body has a warning message for you.

Ask these questions:

    Who do I want to be?
    How can I release the fun inside me?
    What else is possible?
    How can I make this even better?
    How do I want to feel?
    Where do I want to be?
    What would I create if I had unlimited energy and resources?

T.S. Eliot: Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

You have this creative power ... to be and do all you ever dreamed and desired. Go for it ... life's too short ... live it to the fullest!

Weekly DSO Tips

3/30/2011

April theme:    appreciate nature

1.   Look over the month and see what deadlines are coming up … put baby steps in your calendar

2.   Sweep your front porch and back deck and put out your cushions

3.   Go thru your gardening tools in preparation for spring planting

4.   Declutter your entryway and landing area

5.   Plan your fun outing for the month

How to Create a Tickler File System

3/29/2011

Those who have worked with me know how much I love teaching them to use a tickler file system for taming incoming paper. We have a constant influx of paper so we need an organized system to handle it or it will overwhelm us. There is a way to eliminate piles of paper and find what you need when you use an accordion folder with sections for the 1-31 days and the 12 months.

I love this system to keep all current actionable papers in one place so you can retrieve and deal with them in a timely manner. However, you must be willing to look at this file on a daily basis in order for it to work.

When a new piece of paper comes in, decide then and there whether it requires further action. If not, file it or toss it or list pertinent information on your calendar. If it’s a bill, file it in the day slot a few days before the due date so you have time to mail it. If you pay bills at a regular time each month, file it in that day’s slot. I highly recommend having a spreadsheet for recurring bills and moving that sheet accordingly through the days/months as you pay your bills so you can see at a glance where you stand. This has saved me a few times from paying late fees when I realized a bill must have gotten lost in the mail because I saw on the sheet it had not been paid yet.

If a paper needs follow-up <further research or thought or consulting with someone else about it> … you can file it a few days hence in order to be sure it doesn’t slip through the cracks.

Toward the end of each month, be sure to look at next month’s papers and re-distribute them into the “day” slots, especially for things toward the beginning of the month. Think about when you will realistically be able to act on what’s important. If you allow yourself some leeway, you can always move it to the next day if other urgent things come up. This keeps the important things always in the forefront.

This system has worked for me for years … as long as I check it daily. If I know I will be out of town, I take care of what’s coming up earlier than usual or I postpone it until I get back. I always know where to look for important papers. If my daughter has a school activity that gets listed in the calendar, if there are details I need to keep track of, I file the paper appropriately so I know what needs to be done in preparation. If I am going on a trip, the itinerary and tickets get filed. It’s a great retrieval system so I always know where current actionable important papers are ... no more wasting time searching!

Let me know if you have any questions … I’ll be happy to answer them!

What Would You Do With 400 Extra Hours a Year?

3/28/2011

I recently saw a statistic that the average American wastes 400 hours a year looking for things … that’s over an hour a day! Think of what you could be doing with that hour … we all have the same 24 hours in a day. The difference in a person’s life is how they choose to use that hour. Combine that lost hour with choices to watch TV or play on the computer and you can see how different your life could be if you made better choices.

Let’s make a conscious choice to spring into April with a new mindset: better choices on how we craft our lives. What do you truly want to accomplish this year? If you have not put goals to paper, now is the time to do so. At the top of the list put: to simplify my life in all ways. Set up systems and routines for repetitive tasks. Set a timer and take 15 minutes a day and declutter your stuff. Less stuff … less piles to sort through to find what you need … more time to fill with happiness and joy.

If you have not done a brain dump, do it now! Then prioritize … then act! Ask yourself: if I no longer needed to do this or think about that, what would I be doing instead? What’s the worst that could happen if I got rid of this or stopped thinking about that? What do I really want to be spending my time on?

Think about it:

Imagine what you could be doing with an extra 400 hours a year. Writing a book? Traveling? Spending more time with family and friends? Working on a specific business idea? Taking more time to pamper yourself? Simply being happier and more relaxed? That should be motivation enough …

Sonia Choquette's Wisdom

3/27/2011

Another person I have listened to lately <I listen to her every time she is on a teleseminar> is Sonia Choquette. I love her energy and wisdom. My favorite take-away was: say “yes” instead of “why” whenever you get an intuitive hit ... to not let our mind and intellect interfere with what our heart knows. She also shared that we should stretch every morning before we get out of bed … even if just stretching our fingers or arching our backs. She said intuition comes more freely when given a flexible mindset. Also that we should feed our joyful spirit even if only with small things like breathing in fresh air or walking in nature or sipping our favorite tea. Sonia also encouraged us to ask … and then watch for the answer. To acknowledge out loud our intuitive hits to make them more real and so we notice them more fully ... to celebrate them and journal them. The more we trust, the more synchronicities will show up. To stay in a vibration of gratitude <journal daily> because that allows more to come in. She also shared some words of wisdom from her mother:

Never assume that what we know is all we know, and what we think is possible is all that is possible.

Sonia also encouraged us to ask for a gift from our guides:

I want a gift … and I am open to receive it.

What are you going to ask for today? I’d love to know what shows up for you!

Healing Codes with Alex Loyd

3/26/2011

I love listening to telesemiinars and I have heard Alex Loyd before. I truly believe the body wants to heal itself and there are many different methods out there that work, so here's another one to put in your arsenal. Alex says that there are 5 symptoms <not sources of disease> that people typically try to fix:
1. physiology of your body <with meds, supplements, etc>
2. negative emotions
3. negative thoughts and thinking processes
4. conscious beliefs
5. actions and behaviors that sabotage you

In his view, stress is the true source of all disease. There are 2 kinds of stress <extenal and internal> which explains why everyone reacts differently to stress in their lives. Stress does 5 things to you:
1. suppresses the immune system <it's impossible to get sick if you are not stressed>
2. dumbs you down
3. makes you tired <cortisol & adrenaline overload then crash and cycle repeats over and over>
4. you come at whatever you are doing from a negative perspective <fear, anger, sadness, unforgiveness, low self worth>
5. causes you to fail because of the above

The healing centers for all codes in his system are:
1. bridge <space between eyebrows>
2. adam's apple
3. jaw <both sides ... back bottom corner>
4. temple

What you do is pretend your fingertips are flashlights ... you aim all 5 fingers at the respective healing centers from 2-3" away ... not actually touching your skin ... for 30 seconds in each pose for a total of 6 minutes ... you can work on multiple codes each day ... you can enhance the process by setting your intention with saying "truth focus statements" <different from affirmations> which are the most positive way you can put it that you actually believe it ... as you get better you can change the wording more positively each time

The example he worked with on the call was increasing your joy:

breathe and relax ... get comfortable ... say a prayer about the things in your life that are the opposite of joy ... then ask for a way to live joyfully ... the healing codes for joy are:

temple: both hands for 30 seconds
bridge: left hand ... adam's apple: right hand for 30 seconds
jaw: left hand ... temple: right hand for 30 seconds
then repeat again over and over for 6 minutes

Each disease and emotion and thought has a different code ... I am sure you can muscle test and see which ones you need. Have fun experimenting!

Simple Ways to Cut Expenses

3/25/2011

I came across this article by Andrea Pokorny at MainstreamMom.com and thought I would share with you ... why reinvent the wheel? A lot of them are things you probably already do ... but just in case you don't:

Once you’ve created a successful budget for your family, cutting the fat is the next step in taking the money manager reins. Managing your finances isn’t all about losing freedom. Quite the opposite in fact. When you begin to effectively manage your money you will soon find that it stretches further. The next best thing to a pay raise is having your money working for you (not the other way around).

Here are some things to add to your to do list to cut expenses and stretch those dollars.
Lower Your Insurance Premiums (health insurance, car insurance and home/renters insurance):
·         Take advantage of every deal and discount possible.
·         Raise the deductibles on your policies.
·         Keep your policies with one company to get a 10-20% multi-line discount.
·         Shop around.
·         Care for your car (stick to scheduled oil changes, tire pressure checks etc).
Spend Less on Food and Drink:
·         Make a weekly meal plan and a grocery list (stick to it).
·         Plan one or two meatless meals per week.
·         Double whatever you are making and freeze it (cook once, eat twice).
·         Become a savvy shopper and don’t leave home without a purse full of coupons.
·         Reduce grocery shopping to once or twice per week.
·         Eat out less. Pack lunches. Kick the soda habit.
Save Money on Utilities:
·         Replace dead bulbs with compact flourescent light bulbs (CFL’s) – they last up to ten times longer and you will save on electricity.
·         Use smart power strips – stop drawing electricity from having your stuff plugged in constantly (or just pull the plugs).
·         Install a programmable thermostat
·         Bundle your cable, phone and internet. Negotiate a lower rate.
·         Cut unneeded services on your cell phone. (Do you still need your home phone?)
Save Money on Clothing:
·         Shop out of season.
·         Look for online deals and promotional codes (like CouponAlbum.com).
·         Shop at consignment shops and garage sales.
Non-essential Expenses: Distinguish between your needs and wants. List your non-essential expenses and start trimming. You should be able to cut back many of your wants without affecting the quality of life. Look at things like subscriptions and memberships, entertainment and vacations. Things you can do without (for now).

Now, take action! Check the items that make sense for your household and save them on your to do list:
·         Call insurance companies to ask about discounts and lowering deductible
·         Combine insurance policies under one company
·         Compare rates of other insurance providers
·         Schedule overdue car maintenance
·         Make a meal plan for this week and include one or two meatless meals
          Make double batches of dinner meals and freeze half
·         Use coupons at the store
·         Pack lunches
·         Replace dead bulbs with compact flourescent light bulbs (CFL’s)
·         Get smart powerstrips
·         Get a programmable thermostat
·         Call about combining cable, phone and internet and negotiate a lower rate
·         Review cell phone plan and cut unneeded services
·         Get rid of home phone
·         Stop subscriptions to unread magazines and newspapers
·         Discontinue unused memberships

Star Exercise

3/24/2011

Another very simple process to clear and heal your body:

* stand with legs hip width apart
* extend your arms outward to your side
* left hand facing up ... right hand facing down
* call in the light from above which enters your left hand
* circulate it throughout your body where it needs to go
* then send anything negative out through your right hand to be grounded below

Simple and effective ... you can feel the pulsing coursing throughout your body ... we CAN heal ourselves!

Weekly DSO Tips

3/23/2011

23. Take 15 minutes and catch up on some financial filing ... are your taxes done?

24. Organize your latest holiday photos

25. Give away a project you are no longer interested in completing

26   Take a bubble bath with candles & essential oils

27.   Create something ... start a new hobby

28. Clear off your computer desktop

29.   Walk through each room of your home and create a list of repairs and “to do” projects … put in your job jar

30. What do you yearn for that you can make a little time for?

31. Update your home inventory

Have You Noticed the Increased Energies?

3/22/2011

The last few full moons have been very powerful and impacting me a lot lately.   Time feels like it is first exploding and then compressing … sometimes concurrently.   It feels like a roller coaster to me with loops and dips and then flying completely free like I am off the tracks and into hyperspace. While it can be thrilling to let go and enjoy it, it is also a bit scary.

It's almost like a tornadic vortex: sucking everything you are in resonance with at the time and swirling it all around in a giant array of glittering colors and spinning faster and faster.   More and more comes in which increases the circumference until it is huge beyond imagination.   This is the point where overwhelm sets in … unless we slow down the input and ask for filters that create a focal point at the end of the funnel.

Be are bombarded by Information and it is hard to know where to turn our attention.   There are so many fascinating ideas and possibilities that are a click away that sometimes it seems like there are too many choices. We might even yearn for the "good old days" when life was simpler.   Added to that, time has not felt linear to me for quite a while.   It seems to be measured from event to event rather than numbers on a screen. If you are familiar with the concept of mind mapping … add that to the vortex and it gets even more complicated.

Do we need to get back to our more primitive instincts:   we eat when we are hungry, we sleep when we are tired … rather than have basic needs dictated by a schedule? It seems like mother earth is aiding in that process: every new disaster has people going back to basics. Is it because we have too much stuff that it is being taken away unless we choose proactively to let it go?

Are timelines converging? Have you noticed increased synchronicities … especially when your energy resonance matches?   Are there parallel universes and alternate realities depending on your thinking patterns? Are you experiencing déjà vu more frequently? Does our future determine our present?

I have no answers … only more questions.    I have found that keeping grounded and staying in intention is what works for me during these times ... as well as attempting to go with the ever increasing flow. Hang on … we're in for a bumpy yet thrilling ride!