Posts tagged ‘Living an inspired life’

November 7th, 2011

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

{From classy-in-the-city.tumblr.com}

 

“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”

–The Hausa of Nigeria

 

It’s easy to get cynical with life the older you get. A friend once said, “Growing older means accepting that less and less of your dreams are going to come true.”

You can look at it that way or you can see it as age forcing you to pump out your dreams faster.

Your dreams were never really an impossibility. Obstacles are just teachers in disguise.

The truth of the matter is the greater you perceive that challenge up ahead, the harder it will be. And the greatest detriment to getting there is your attitude.

As the bounty of summer gives way to the pause of winter, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the changes in your life. You can choose to live in regret or you can be open to the storage of goods you have available at all seasons of your life.

Don’t have your dream job yet?

Find gratitude in the one that you have right now.

Don’t have your dream home yet?

Be grateful for the roof over your head.

Not where you want to be when it comes to friendships, career, love life, health, environment, etc.?

It’s only through completely accepting our experience {regardless of how much we want to avoid it} that we can finally find the open door.

The biggest detractor from our dreams is trying to cover up how we really feel to make the unpleasantness fade away. The problem is it never does. The days just get longer, the discomfort just gets greater, the darkness seeps into the cracks when we turn the other way.

To find the life that you want, you must first acknowledged the things that aren’t working, feel it, embrace it, and accept it.

Then, look for the streams of light in the areas of your life that are working and hold on to those.

To move forward, to follow your dreams, to live the life you have been dreaming about, you need to feel it all, and then come back to this:

gratitude

CategoryFollowing Your Dreams, Inspired Life | Comment5 Comments »

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May 16th, 2011

When You’re Feeling Uninspired

Life is wonderful and exciting. And behind every turn, there is a wealth of magic and possibility.

But that could sound like crap to you right now.

As sappy as one of those greeting cards that make you gag when you see them.

So maybe you’re not there yet.

Maybe you’re not even close.

But that’s okay. I’ve been there lots of times. And feeling blah, uninspired and unmotivated are normal and can actually be helpful.

Here are few things I learned that lead to a life uninspired. Read it for tips on how to pull yourself out of the trenches and back on that path to an inspired life:

1. Loss of connection.

We’re so “connected” these days. Yet, we’re probably cozying up with our computer more than we’re spending time with our “real” friends and ourselves.

It’s so easy to get lost in tweets, updates and chatting online that we start to neglect the real emotional connections in our lives.

When I’m feeling uninspired, it’s usually because I’m experiencing some type of disconnection. And it’s not social connection, but a spiritual one. When I’ve stopped seeing synchronistic events it’s a sign that I need to start getting back in touch with myself. Meditation, prayer can help. But so can journal writing and just sitting in breathing for 5 minutes.

Ask yourself how you are feeling right now? What thoughts, emotions or beliefs have you been avoiding or denying? Take time to get back in touch with what’s going on with you and see if you’re feelings of disconnection is the cause of you feeling uninspired.

2. You’re doing too much.

Oh life as an entrepreneur/work at home mom/writer/designer, etc is so easy right? In reality, anything we do these days is too much. If I wanted to, I could work every day and night and weekends and still not get to the to-do list piled up on the side of my bed. As it stands, I have over 20 books I’d love to read, three ideas for essays in my head and a few long feature articles that are due by the end of the month.

But no matter how easy it is to get lost in all of our work, it’s so important to resist the urge to give in.

The obvious fact is that there will always be more to do tomorrow, but at the end of our lives we’re not going to think about how much we finished on our to-do lists, but how well we lived. Think about how important it is to finish those tasks. If you never get to them, how much would it affect your quality of life. Then, prioritize according to your answer.

3. Feeling unfulfilled.

I think emotions are a good thing. Even the negative ones. Why? Because they provide hints to where we are in our lives.

Maybe the reason why you’re feeling uninspired is you’re doing things that don’t fill you up.

Maybe the job/relationship you have used to serve you, but you’ve gotten to a point where things feel stagnant. Maybe you need to come up with new ways to make things more interesting. Say you broach a new idea to your boss/client that will help flex your creative muscle or you talk to your partner about going on a trip or discuss what’s been bothering you. Try doing something different to and it will help you grow as a person.

If you’ve made the effort to grow and challenge yourself and the career or relationships around you are not giving you the freedom to do so, you may want to consider moving on to more fertile ground.

Are you feeling uninspired now? Or have you felt that way in the past? What helped pull you out of blahville and back into a purpose driven life?

CategoryInspired Life | Comment5 Comments »

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January 20th, 2011

The Challenge to Be Better By Doing Less: Day 1

It’s the first day of the challenge and I have to say I already failed the first rule, which is this:

1. Establish a set time for work and commit to it.

{photo by wonderfully complex}


  • Whether it’s 9 or 10 pm, setting a routine schedule that gives you a few hours to unwind from the day, take part in something you enjoy (like how I’m feeling on painting these days), or spending time with your loved ones, is important.
  • It’s important for your own mental and physical health.
  • And it’s also important for your family too.

2. Let others know of rule #1:


  • Family members and friends will know when they can contact you so you’ll be more focused and they will feel less worried about interrupting. This is a MUST for those of us who work at home.
  • It also helps you stay on track. When the clock struck 10:30 pm last night, my husband came calling REMINDING ME that I made a promise to myself and to him that all work would stop at 10 pm. I might let things slip, but my husband won’t let me. And that’s imperative when keeping to your goals. High-five to him for supporting me!

3. When you make a mistake, let go of your initial reaction to beat yourself up about it: {photo by Trevin C}

  • Last year, I was all about this lesson. I forgot to send invoices, newsletters, missed appointments, got lost meeting friends. It was the most challenging year yet. On top of normal daily stresses, I also had to deal with the loss first of my dog, then grandfather and then dealt with my own startling illness, which I am still grappling with now.
  • Being perfect-free, meant that every time, I made a mistake I had an opportunity, a chance for growth and for forgiveness towards myself.
  • If you’re struggling with being too hard on yourself, read this article on Oprah.com called, “How to Stop Being So Damn Hard On Yourself.” {The title says it all.}

That’s it for today. The good thing about this challenge is that you won’t be sweating it, struggling or in pain to gain from it. It’s all about being kind and compassionate to yourself and learning how to transform your life by doing less.

Some famous bloggers say that you should create a challenge that is built on a foundation of followers and in a predetermined time. But I am breaking a lot of rules. I am doing this FOR YOU whether “you” means 10 or 1000. I am not doing this for money or fame or anything else, but to help start of wave of change so that we can stop stressing out and start enjoying our lives more. I also did not create a predetermined time for this challenge. Why? I read a Psychology Today article that said there is no evidence to back up the belief that change takes 21 days. And in fact, it could take 66 days. Also, if you mess up here and there, it would detract from your progress. Good news all around!

If you’re following the challenge, would love to know who you are and how it’s going. Please comment and join in on our group. Thanks!

CategoryInspired Life | Comment6 Comments »

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December 6th, 2010

Signs and Symptoms You’re On the Right Track

By now, you must know that I’m a BIG believer in signs.

I like to think of life as leaving bread crumbs along the way to help us find our way home. But it’s hard to tell sometimes isn’t it? Is a bread crumb just a bread crumb or is it a divine sign that you’re on the right path?

If you’re confused about what your true purpose in life is and wonder if you’re even in the vicinity of your calling, then this post may help you.

Triple Threat:

This weekend I did what my soul was crying out for-I went to find salvation in an old rustic cottage in Point Reyes. You may have remembered that I traveled there before. This time, however, instead of a birthday celebration, I was on a writer’s retreat.

Tucked inside a warm cozy cottage I sat with blanket over my lap, my laptop on hand, a cup of hot tea, and a view of these three pals for support:

But it wasn’t the only 3 things that helped me this weekend. Wait to you hear this!

I have been reading a book appropriately titled Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life (I highly recommend it by the way). Every page I read seems to be reflective of what’s going on in my life.

When I got to the cottage, I read a page on spiritual retreats. After hiking in Point Reyes, I read another passage on the positive impact of nature on finding your calling. Then, the BIGGIE!

My husband and I left the cottage, passing for a gazillion times this quaint sign:

We saw it on our first trip and I admired it again on this recent one. We were on our way to the small town of 300 people in Point Reyes Station. Since I adore bookstores, I headed there first, welcoming the warm air and smell of old books.

I went straight to the writing section and peeked through their small, but unique selection of old and new finds. That’s when I saw a best-selling book The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, an author I had never heard of. I spent an hour flipping through the thin paperback and feeling inspired to get it. It was a used copy with watermarks and an old newspaper article someone had cut up and left there. It was filled with so much emotions about being a writer and in such a shabby chic shape that I almost bought it, had it not been for the $5 price tag, almost 5 times as much as the under a dollar find online.

So we left the store and the book and I went our separate ways.

That evening I holed up in the cottage reading another page of Callings and then stumbled upon this quote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” And it was by Annie Dillard.

I was dumbfounded by the coincidence. Was it a coincidence or was this a sign that I needed to start taking my life day by day to make great changes in my life?

It was enough of a coincidence (3 to be exact-sign, bookstore, the book) that made me think it was the latter.

The takeaway?

If you’re on a mission for change, looking for answers, need a sign to help you on your way, then start being a detective of your life. Open your mind like a child, have an intention of what you’re searching for, go somewhere quiet and peaceful so you can hear the subtle whispers. And when you find it, listen to it. The more you listen to the bread crumbs you get, the more you will see them and start picking up on the right ones to help guide your life.

CategoryInspired Life | Comment4 Comments »

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November 19th, 2010

Friday Inspirations

{*Photo of what I packed for our train ride from Paris to London. I’ve got all I need here. Sunglasses, bottled water, an old and a new book, my iPod and a bag of chocolate covered ginger.}

Friday is for reviewing the week. Preparing for the weekend. Taking off layers of work clothes and sliding into something warm, cozy and free.

Oh don’t you love Fridays?!

The unwinding of too wounded up days. The looking forward to moments to linger, refresh and recharge for the upcoming week?

There is so much hope and inspiration for Fridays. So I’d love to end this week with a few things that are inspiring me:

1. The Funnies a.k.a. Martha Beck. If you’re not following her on Twitter of fanning her on Facebook, you’re missing out. She’s got the kind of stuff that’ll make you really laugh out loud. (Not just say LOL with a minor giggle.) She also has a knack for finding the most adorable videos. Check out this one, for example:

2. Nature envelops me. Who doesn’t love nature? I love being surrounded by trees and flowers and am inspired constantly when I’m around them. In fact, it’s my inspiration for my photography gallery on imagekind. Here’s a peak at one of my favorite flowers. {I sell a different version on my site for $10.44, but in general this red hot flower gives me goosebumps!}

3. A mug of something warm and sweet. I may be a sweetaholic. And when it’s nice and cold out like the weatherman’s predicting it’ll be, there’s just no better time to sip in moments of warmth and memories.

What about you? What inspires your inner creative soul to soar?

CategoryDaily Inspirations | Comment2 Comments »

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November 1st, 2010

Looking for Answers to Life’s Biggest Questions?

{photo credit} Looking for answers to life’s biggest questions?

Watch out! It might slap you in the face!

A handful of years ago, I was walking down a path of fallen fall leaves, perspiration peppering my forehead and my mouth dry and parched like an under ripe persimmon. I was thinking to myself,”Why oh why can’t I get a drink of water?!”

I was so thirsty that all I could think about was how far it would be until I got my next drink.

That’s when something whacked me on the head. Confused and disoriented, I suddenly saw something shiny rolling around on the ground. I bent down to see what it was and was shocked by what I saw.

It was a bottled water, icy cold and shimmering in its sweat.

Had it been there all the time?

I paused there for a moment. Then, removed my backpack and took a sip of water. I noticed the zipper was opened and was dumbstruck by the realization that the bottle was always in there.

I had forgotten.

Call it coincidence, serendipitous, or stupidity on my part, but it was a life lesson for me. Sometimes the answers to our biggest questions and our greatest need is right there in front of us. We just forgot.

If you’re hankering for some answers, feel confused about your business or your life in general, then just ask.

You may be surprised that the answer you are looking for is right in front of you, or rather behind you and if you’re clueless like me, may even hit you in the head.

If you’re in need of some assistance, I’m here too. Just ask me. My free consultation helped one client identify her own dreams and goals and I’d love to do the same for you.

Hi there! Glad you stopped by!

You’ve found one of my blogs on everything inspiring.  I also have one on writing and freelancing tips for new writers and entrepreneurs here. If you are in search of a writer to get all of your words in order, I’d love to work with you!

I am a published writer, blogger, and copywriter that can help you with all of your writing needs. You can find out more about me here.

You can also sign up for my RSS feed, join in the conversation on Facebook or tweet me @TheInspiringBee. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for finding me!

CategoryInspired Life | CommentNo Comments »

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September 14th, 2010

How to Live an Inspiring Life: Advice from the Professionals

I’ve always been fascinated by inspiring people. You know those that go beyond the ordinary, heart first into the extraordinary.

They’ve done things that most people wouldn’t dare do, let alone dream.

They are the people that motivate and inspire me.

So when attempting to be inspiring, I thought I’d go straight to the source and asked everyone from inspiring blogger Sherry Petersik from my favorite home decor site Young House Love to social media superstar Annabel Candy this question:

How do you live an inspiring life? read more »

CategoryInspiring People | Comment1 Comment »

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