A guest post from my friend and colleague Vicky White of The Spacious Life. 

“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” – Peace Pilgrim

Are your journals one of those things that have outlived their usefulness?

In a recent decluttering program the subject of journals came up.

For some, their journals were full of angst and depressing to read.

For some, they were morning pages, three pages each day of stream of consciousness writing – a blurt at the start of the day.

For others, journals were being saved for the day they started writing their memoirs.

For many, they held important shifts and breakthroughs along life’s rocky path.

Some had years of journals boxed up at the back of a closet. (Closets in Feng Shui represent secrets!)

Some women had held ritual journal burning ceremonies. Others were horrified by that idea.

There are no right or wrongs.

Are your journals clutter?

Do you love them? Do you use them? Do they raise your energy?

Whether you hold onto your journals or let them go, journaling is an important part of the clutter clearing process because whatever you’re holding onto has emotions keeping you tied to it. And tied to the past.

Journaling is a powerful tool to explore emotional ties: pain, fear, regret, sadness, and more.

Memories are often created when you’re feeling pain or fear or lack of some kind.

Why not choose to shine a light on these memories and examine what your truth really is, now you have some distance from the event?

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Cynthia Morris says it’s her job to help people enjoy their talents and create on their own terms. She values creativity in a way that is inspiring, and she walks her talk – not just coaching creativity but honouring it in her own life.

She delights in living life as a creative adventure.

I’d been following Cynthia’s work for some time when I met her last summer at the World Domination Summit. Her workshop there helped me see what was in the way of moving forward with a couple of projects I had in mind.

Cynthia loves values work as much as I do and believes everything flows from there. My excitement at having her here in the spotlight is amplified by the fact that I’ll be taking part in her upcoming program Free Write Fling, where her invitation is to. . .

Write every day and love it! 

That’s the plan, and I can already feel those projects coming back to life.

Read what she’s up to in her life and business and consider joining her program if you’ve got the urge to take your creative impulses seriously!

1. Why are you here?

‘Here’, when I answered this question, was on an airplane from Paris to Reykjavik. Being in a tube up in the air really inspires me.

Here’s what came when I answered this question:

I’m here to experience joy and light.

I’m here to feel love, for myself and others.

I’m here to love what I love and inspire others to love what they love.

I’m here to enjoy the beauty that’s all around, to feel the divine that is in us and around us.

I’m here to light inspiration and spark action.

I’m here to learn and grow and love and show.

2. What is your future calling you to do?

She’s calling for trust about what’s unfolding. She’s also insisting on more appreciation of what’s here in me now. She wants me – and all of us – to be able to more fully see and appreciate our amazing, wonderful selves. She’s tired of her song being drowned out by that other voice that likes to point out the wrinkles and fat and impatience.

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Imagine a love affair with yourself. . .

“Suddenly, and for the first time, she was at the center of her own life, living it and loving it.” - Mary Balogh

You, at the centre,
a full-blown love affair with yourself.

That luscious, heady feeling. . .all for you.

Murmured words of love,
a tender gaze. . .just for you.

Imagine. . .

“If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair.” – Ray Bradbury

For now, give your intellect a rest.

Listen only to your heart,
let it bask in your fullest attention.

Your soul yearns
to be acknowledged,

a willing lover
whispering,
waiting for your embrace.

Wrap your arms around it.
And hold on for dear life.

Fire burns in your belly.

Your most desired feelings,
like lava, burning to flow freely.

Unleash their fullest expression.

Look back and remember.
There have been times you knew this love.

See it, hear it, feel it,
in that deepest part of you. . .
no one ever sees.

“Love affairs, in their beginnings, are all about the present.” – Kate Morton

The present, a most precious gift.

Breathe it in like a lover’s scent.
Not yesterday, not tomorrow,

only now.

And take heart. . .

“Courage Is a Love Affair with the Unknown” – Osho

Trust that you are up to the task.

Be bold, be brave and move forward with a peaceful and loving heart. Make your life matter!

Now that is a call to action that stirs the soul and I’m not surprised to find it on Tess Marshall’s About page!

Tess is all about facing down your fears and living a bold life. Her passion and integrity inspire, as does her willingness to share her experience generously through her work and her writing.

She is a writer, speaker, and courage coach with a master’s degree in counseling psychology, but she’s also a down-to-earth woman with a welcoming smile and a great laugh. I had the good fortune to meet Tess in person last year and she’s become a trusted online friend.

It’s been awhile since my last spotlight, but when I heard Tess was launching a new program, 30 Days of Bold, I knew right away I had to get her here. When you read her writing, her passion for supporting people in overcoming their fears and living out loud is palpable.

Tess believes, “It’s our responsibility to acknowledge, face, and dissolve our fear.”

In her own life she’s walked the talk dealing with challenges she faced, using them as fuel to create an awesome life for herself, and anyone around her.

I’m delighted to shine the light on Tess Marshall and her passion for The Bold Life.

1. Why are you here?

My primary reason for being here is to learn how to love unconditionally.

I can judge how I’m doing by my own peace of mind and the state of my relationships. Everyone here is my teacher: my family, friends, clients, community, and the entire world.

The love that I have and the love that I give will make the world a better place to be.

2. What is your future calling you to do?

My future self is calling me to play bigger.

Be bolder. Experience more joy. Dissolve fear faster.

And to continue to help others do the same!

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“The key to happiness and health (and to all their auspicious by-products) is not how intensely happy we feel, but how often we feel positive or happy.” – Sonja Lyubomirsky

You know those times in life that rock your foundation?

In her book The Myths of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky calls them crisis points.

They’re the kind of events that leave you feeling like things will never be the same. And love them or hate them, they happen to everyone.

These crisis points can be times of renewal and growth, but let’s keep it real – we rarely seem to view them as such when we’re going through them.

Therein lies the key – how do you deal with them.

Myths is about identifying the steps that will work for you, and as in any area of life, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

I recently asked,

If happiness is a choice, why don’t we always choose it?

I wasn’t surprised to find that most people believe it is a choice, but the question remains. . .

Why don’t we always choose it? 

That’s the question I had in mind as I began reading the book.

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A guest post from my friend and colleague Vicky White of The Spacious Life. 

I used to believe I’d live near water when I was rich and famous. But four years ago I decided to find out what might be possible.

Almost immediately I started hearing about float homes, or houseboats. I read a magazine with an article about houseboats, I was looking online for B&Bs in Vancouver to hold a retreat and came across a B&B houseboat. Then a friend told me about a friend of hers who was selling one. All within one week. Houseboats were not something I had ever considered.

Before I knew it, I had sold my condo, bought a houseboat and I was living not near the water, but ON the water.

 I was living the life of the rich and famous! Or that’s how it felt.

Sometime after that, I was gazing at the vision board I had made several months before I even thought about moving, and almost fell off my chair. There in the bottom left corner was a picture of a houseboat with a dinghy tied up outside, with the word ‘relaxation’ underneath it.

Vision boards are so powerful because we intentionally or intuitively chose images that resonate with us. The energy of the image is in alignment with an energy we desire. The energy of these images speak to us.

What if I told you your home is a living vision board?

And even more powerful than the vision board you create on a piece of card.

Your life mirrors the energy in your home, and your home mirrors your life. Everything you have around you is both creating your life, and holding your energy in place.

Which means you have a powerful tool for transformation in your home.

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Sandra Pawula shares a timely reminder and a simple way to add meditation to a busy life. 

 We know that meditation is good for us.

• On a physical level, meditation can reduce your blood pressure, boost your immune system, diminish chronic pain, and that’s just for starts.
• Emotionally, meditation brings greater calm, a feeling of spaciousness and a sense of humor about the vagaries of life.
• Spiritually, meditation is the path to become truly human: loving, patient, understanding, forgiving, clear yet relaxed and playful.

Yet, we resist. We moan and groan, “There’s not enough time.”

We keep putting meditation off until tomorrow, next week, next month. Until illness or death arrives and we’re twisted by fear, wracked with regret.

How can we die peacefully if we haven’t tasted peace of mind in life?

There’s one simple and immediate solution to the problem of no time: Meditate Right Now.

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A mala is used in many religious traditions to count the repetitions of prayers or devotions, and often consists of 108 beads. Choosing one is a very personal experience, and not always easy – at least it wasn’t for me, as I didn’t find the mala that ‘fit’ me until the third try.

It’s worth the search though because when you do find the right one, it becomes a physical reminder of the power of awareness.

Every year at this time I review my journals, I complete the year and make space for what’s next. This year, 2012, has been a year of challenge, opportunity and deepening; more than I thought possible.

As I reviewed, it occurred to me as a mala, 108 insights or  moments of mindfulness that have had a profound impact on my life.

I share it with the hope that some of these thoughts also make a difference for you.

1.   Silence is the best antidote to the busyness of life. New thoughts emerge effortlessly in this sacred space.

2.   Imagine living as if wherever you are is holy ground.

3.   When the muse wakes you up at 3am, pay attention.

4.   Feeling hunger is a good thing. It reminds us that we’re alive.

5.   Freedom from responsibility is not the solution. Choosing your responsibilities mindfully is.

6.   It’s ok to want what you want. Stop making your wants wrong.

7.   Get clear on your non-negotiables. It’s highly likely they’re related to your values.

8.   Question everything. Believe only that which feels good.

9.   You have a gift that is uniquely yours. How are you offering it?

10.  That slow burn in your belly will not fade away. Nurture it.

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The Call

Magic occurs when you trust the call.

It’s a call that tugs at your heart and compels you to begin a new journey.

And when the Universe responds as if in answer to your trust the result is magic.

Cigdem Kobu and I followed the call together, compelled by a desire to complete the year in a deliciously, resourceful state. And in the spirit of creative entrepreneurs, when we couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, we created it ourselves.

The Journey

Looking back, our timeline was kind of crazy:

November 10:

Cigdem emailed and shared an idea for a year-end program for women.

My heart raced, I checked in with my body and felt a resounding YES.

November 12:

We talked for over an hour; ideas and excitement igniting like sparks.

By the end of the call we had a plan, and got to work.

November 27:

We opened the Facebook group to the women already registered, and watched it take off.

More energy and engagement then either of us had ever experienced in a group program, further fueling our commitment to give our best.

December 1:

The program began with over 100 women saying yes to their own journeys.

We laughed, cried, celebrated and got back to work.

December 7:

The program closes its doors at midnight, with a promise to return next year.

In the first seven days 150+ women have shared their hopes and fears, laughed, and cried together.

They’ve shared that it’s “just the right thing to end the year”, “a revival for mind, body, and spirit”, and my favourite “a temple of wise women making a difference.” 

The Magic

A tsunami of love and support.

Cigdem’s email signature reads, “Business is fun when it nourishes your heart, first!”

Reset. Revive. Restart. was launched in less than three weeks.

That’s what’s possible when your heart is nourished.

You ship – and then deal with any details that still need work.

You ship – and share your gift so that others benefit right away.

You ship – and let the creative juices propel you forward, every day generating more ideas and energy.

That’s what we did in less than three weeks.

What’s amazing though is not just the satisfaction of shipping, but witnessing the impact of it every day with:

• Hundreds of updates shared in the Facebook group.
• Numerous private messages and emails thanking us for creating the program.
• So much laughter and productivity as Cigdem and I emailed back and forth in bursts of creative energy.
• Tears of joy as we received the initial feedback, moved by the vulnerability and sharing in the group.

I don’t have words to describe the past month. We’ve worked long hours to pull it together in such a short time, and we’re both tired.

But we’re also delighted. . .no wait, that’s not quite it. . .ecstatic. Yes, that’s it.

We’re ecstatic at the response we’ve received, and the difference it’s already made in the first week of our 28 day journey.

I’m not sharing this to toot my own horn, although I have to admit I”m pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished.

I’m sharing to remind you it can be done.

And the more you do it, the better you get.

Shipping is a muscle, and like any muscle it can be developed.

Look back at your year. . .

• What idea has burned inside you?
• What project have you begun, but set aside out of fear?
• What desire is wanting to be expressed?
• What longing will satisfy your soul and make a difference for others?

Today is the last day to join us.

If you’ve thought about it, now’s the time.

If you want support as the year draws to a close, now’s the time.

Registration ends at midnight EST.

Join us.

At this time of year there is a magnetic pull to look ahead and begin planning the new year. While this is powerful, we miss out on priceless information by jumping ahead too soon.

So before you jump on this bandwagon, how about trying something new?

Look back.

Look back and tell the truth about the year that’s been.

“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” – Gloria Steinhem

Yeah, it might piss you off, but you can’t let that stop you. Looking back and really seeing both positive and negative aspects of the year is the best way forward. Trust me on this one.

It takes courage and truth-telling; I know you’ve got both.

When you do this work before brainstorming what you want for 2013, you actually create on a blank canvas and not on top of the crap you’d rather hide and forget about.

Telling the truth strips away all pretense.

Let’s begin.

1.  What worked this year?

Rewind and go back to the start of 2012. Review the past 12 months and make a list of anything that left you feeling satisfied.

2.  What were some of your accomplishments?

It’s sad, but this is often the most challenging question to answer. It’s also an opportunity to be generous with yourself.

3.  What didn’t work?

Think of the many areas of your life: business, relationships, health. Be honest about any experiences where you would have loved a do-over.

4.  What was missing that things didn’t turn out the way you wanted or planned?

Big learning here if you look. What was missing? Structure, planning, resources; get specific. The more detailed the better; huge learning that will propel you forward when you get this.

5.  What are the three greatest lessons of the year?

Do you need to strengthen boundaries or practice better self-care? Maybe it’s time to let go of your attachment to a certain outcome or belief. Whatever is, get it, own it, and move on.

6.  What opportunities do you now see?

And finally, it’s time to start creating what you want for next year. Take all the wisdom you’ve just claimed and go for what you want! As if you had a blank canvas, and a better set of brushes, this is your opportunity to create.

But only after you’ve told the truth.

“There is no truth except the truth that exists within you.” ― Neale Donald Walsch

Tell it now.

Over to you:

• Share one of your top 3 lessons and a new action!

This series of questions is a good place to start your year-end review. If you want to go deeper join over 100 women in an environment of support, connection and some serious truth-telling!

The journey’s begun but the doors are open till December 7, 2012.