Archive for ‘Resources’

July 9th, 2010

Super Freak (Super Organized Freak, That Is)

Okay I’ll admit it! One of my weaknesses is that I can get a tad bit disorganized every once in awhile, especially when inspiration hits. I know it can get rather confusing here so I’ve already rearranged things over at my other blog not2shabby (creating a search box for easy searching and a drop down archives list to keep things neat) and for you 2inspired readers, I’m also getting organized just for you.

This means that new readers can go straight to this post for information on specific topics and you oldie, but goodies can search for posts you may have missed. This helps me get organized and helps you find what you need. It’s a win-win situation in all right? *P.S. I’m open to hearing your ideas for how to get 2inspired in better shape. Feel free to email me or leave a comment below with your suggestions.

WARNING: Brace yourself for the onslaught of links ahead!

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June 28th, 2010

Monday Made Musical

It’s Monday. Do you know where your inspiration is? If it’s hiding under a rock and you’re feeling anything, but inspired, take note. I’ve found a way to add a little inspiration to Mondays to make it, well just a little less difficult. My solution to the Monday blues? Music. Inspirational music, that is.

Here is my playlist of songs to get you motivated, dream BIG and get back on course so that the rest of your week will be joyful, fulfilling and inspiring. P.S. Make sure to share some of your favorite inspirational songs too! I’m always looking for inspiring new songs to add to my iPod.

Colbie Caillat Don’t Hold Me Down

If you’re struggling to be positive and happy among negative and critical people, this is a sunny song to empower you to keep going, be strong, and follow your own path.

Avril Lavigne Tomorrow

For a really tough Monday. The kind of Monday filled with sorrow, grief and uncertainty. It’s good to remember that you can try again tomorrow. Aren’t we grateful for that?

Jason Mraz The Remedy

The world getting you worried? Your dreams getting you stressed? What’s the solution? The remedy is this uplifting ditty.

Alicia Keys Superwoman

Trying your best to be a friend, mom, sister, niece, employee, daughter, while still being the best “you” possible? Feel empowered in this soulful song and remember how powerful/strong you already are.

Corinne Bailey Rae Put Your Records On

Another fun, summery song, that sings about hope, relaxing, dreaming and not worrying.

Five for Fighting The Riddle

This song always puts life in perspective to me. Maybe we don’t have the biggest house or car or the best clothes/bags/shoes out there. But the most important thing in life are hidden in the riddle of this song: love.

Natashia Bedingfield Unwritten

If you’re still not sure what you’re purpose in life is, feel free and alive with this inspiring song. It’s all about hope, purpose and the possibility of life itself.

Alicia Keys and Bono Don’t Give Up

Failing, making mistakes, being rejected. Those are hard things to swallow. But I’m a firm believer that those difficulties are opportunities waiting to be taken. Sometimes we’re right on the edge of solving that problem, discovering our purpose, passing that test. We just need to keep going, pass those hurdles to get to the other side. This song will encourage you to keep pressing on during those difficult times when you want to throw in the towel and give up.

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June 10th, 2010

2inspired's Out Guest Posting Today

Today, you can find me hopping around the blogosphere. I’m temporarily off for today. But you can get your inspirational fill from two of my guest posts. One’s all about learning how to be true to yourself, celebrate your uniqueness and be happy by standing out from the crowd. You might already recognize the name Margarita Tartakovsky. She writes the Weightless blog on Psych Central. She’s also guest blogged here. Well I returned the favor and wrote her a blog post in exchange. Hope you enjoy it!

I also had my second run with Carson Brackney. He’s also a new writer friend I made from the 2010 WordCount Blogathon. He’s no stranger to my blogs as well. You can read his posts here and here. My post for him (I wrote two as well) was inspired after I caught the movie Sherlock Holmes on a flight to Hawaii. It’s all about the importance of having a sidekick and about balancing creativity and stability in not just writing, but everything you create.

These two fellow writer friends make freelance writing fun! I hope you like the posts.

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May 31st, 2010

Halfway from Here to Heaven: Quotes for Your Memorial Day Monday

Among pining away for puppy love, I found a few journal entries on hope and a strong desire for inspiration. I was cataloging quotes to remind me to stay positive and to keep following my dreams.

Who knew that one day I’d want to share those secret thoughts with you?

Here are a few for your Monday to hopefully inspire you:

Vicky Ceelen author of Close Friends: “A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”

“If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.”

Then from a tiny book called Ain’t Life a Pomegranate? by Dr. Linda Andrade Wheeler:

“Do not lose sleep or exert energy on people who do not love you back or do not make you a better person by being associated with them.”

I love this one: “Take your rubbish with you and leave the place better than how you found it!”

And one more from this wise book: “What happens to a person is less significant than what happens within him.”

From The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book
by Miguel Ruiz:

On Forgiveness – “You will know you have forgiven someone when you see them and you no longer have an emotional reaction…When someone can touch what used to be a wound and if no longer hurts you, then you know you have truly forgiven.”

I even wrote some of my own: “Imperfection is beautiful. It doesn’t pretend to be what it’s not-perfect.”

“I used to believe that love was an emotion engendered from a single soul endeared. Now I believe it is what remains from each individual that seeps into your heart and will remain forever.”

photo via Mukumbura

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May 7th, 2010

Friday Check-In

Today’s not my day for posting on 2inspired. But if you’re interested in seeing what other posts I’ve got, check out not2shabby for wallet-friendly ideas. I’m also a guest blogger on The Life Uncommon today. Go there to read my, “5 Creative Ways to Get Unstuck” to get motivated. Happy Mother’s Day! See you guys back on Monday with fresh new posts.

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April 12th, 2010

2inspired Inspiration Board

While you’re reading this, I should be in Las Vegas, a place where people risk it big (*a hint to this week’s Joy Diet item). I’ll be posting more about that later in the week.

But today’s inspiration?

It’s the inspiration board. I wrote about it in a front of the magazine article for the May issue of The Writer. And I decided that while everyone else gets organized for the spring season, I’m going to re-envision my dream board. I think it’s a perfect way to keep myself on track, have a visual representation of my goals and stay motivated for the rest of the year. If you’re itching to do your own, you can go there.

As for my board, I’ll share it with you here:

As you can see, topping my list for this month carried over from January is getting tickets to see Oprah at the Oprah Winfrey show, which feels even harder since she’s announced her final season. A house, car, traveling, working on a project with like-minded creative and spiritual people, eating healthily, being financially successful and writing a book also top my tadbit ambitious board (you think?).

How about you? What have you got cookin’ for these next few months?

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April 9th, 2010

TGIFriday's Inspiring Links

How about ending a long week with fun, inspiring links to get you motivated for the next week?

Inspiring News Sites.

You might look down on me when I tell you that I skip the evening news every night. For me it’s a personal decision. I cringe when I hear someone’s been murdered, or the economy’s not doing well, or a host of other negative things the media wants to report that I have no control over. Why not read about the wonderful things going on in the world instead?

Here are a few sites that will get you started:

For inspirational stories, positive & good news such as the story about how rescued dieting hedgehogs were returned to the wild, turn to Optimist World.

For real happy news, like Suze Orman speaking about how better health can lead to better finances, turn to Happy News.

For positive human interest stories like how one woman helped her neighbor by donating her kidney, turn to the Good News Gazette.

For good news now, like stories on how power ball winners of $200,000 tipped the clerk $740 as a thank you, check out GNN.

And here are a few of my favorite inspiring stories right here at 2inspired:

Successful Dreamer Bonnie St. John talked to me about overcoming abuse, divorce and disability and rising above them to eventually winning an Olympic silver and bronze medal, becoming a well-known author and motivational speaker.

I still also love these past inspiring links and go to them regularly when I’m in dire need of inspiration.

These dogs from Greece broke my heart and continues to weigh on me. I still think about them every once in awhile, wondering if they’re okay. While I have yet to find an organization to donate to, I did find a few sites and would be wonderful if anyone knows of organizations that do so.

I’ll leave you with one last post. This one’s on the various stages of dreaming. What stage are you on?

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April 6th, 2010

2inspired Updates

I’ve been collecting quite a bit of photos over the last few years and finally decided to post them up. If you’re interested in taking a look, click on My Shop. It’s my latest addition to 2inspired and with knees shaking and bated breath, I’m waiting patiently  to see what you think of them.

These are handpicked pictures I’ve taken from the purely playful to the seriously modern and captured from every place I’ve been (San Francisco, Carmel, Cambria and Yosemite to name a few). Perfect pics to dress up any room in your home (temporary apartment or for permanent home living). And there’s an option to have them matted and framed as well. Happy photo shopping!

And here’s a few more updates:

I finally decided to commit to a regular blogging schedule so if you’re on 2inspired fan, come back Monday/Wednesday/Friday for new posts. I’ll be posting on Not2shabby on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday.

And finally, I’d love to get feedback on 2inspired, my new photography site and the new schedule. Comment here or join us on Facebook and let me know what you think.

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March 24th, 2010

Guest Post: How I Found My Way to Green Careers

Well the day is finally here! I’ve been holding in my excitement for months now waiting until the day when I could feature this successful dreamer. After reading her 1998 book,”Seasons of Change : Using Nature’s Wisdom to Grow Through Life’s Inevitable Ups and Downs” I knew I had to feature her. Author of four books including her latest book, “Green Careers For Dummies, founder and executive director of her green career site, “Green Career Central, Carol McClelland, PhD, is a true inspiration! I’m happy to welcome her to 2inspired and am excited that she’s here. Read her story on what it took to get her to live the life of her dreams, green dreams that is, in the field of green careers.

Since 1991 I’ve worked with professionals in the midst of career transitions. My passion is helping mid-career professionals identify the work they love that matches their values and their lifestyle needs. Over time my work has taken different forms from one-on-one consulting, teaching career self-assessment courses at the local university, facilitating workshops and retreats, training other professionals to use my career programs with their own clients, and writing books, but the purpose of my work has always remained the same.

In 2007 I attended a book marketing conference in Los Angeles with a colleague. I was searching, trying to figure out my next step. Throughout the conference two themes caught my attention.

  1. Don’t wait to make a difference – do it now! – I’ve always known I wanted to contribute more to the environment in some way. I’d been waiting to act on this passion until…until when?
  2. Focus on ONE thing – Throughout my business I’ve always been torn between two topics – the career transition work I described above and helping people through major life transitions using nature and the seasons as the guiding metaphor. Finding the right balance and priorities for these two themes has been a constant source of confusion for me.

As I was trying to choose which ONE thing to focus on – my career work or my work with nature – I was torn. I didn’t want to give up either one. I don’t mind admitting it; I felt anxious, frustrated, and confused.

As the conference drew to an end, my colleague and I took some time to reflect on what we wanted to take away from the conference. I was describing my dilemma of choosing one of my passions over the other. Her first question was, what if you helped professionals find green careers?

I felt an immediate shock of recognition. It was as if all of my business choices and decisions over the years had prepared me for this next step in my business. This direction allowed me to focus on ONE target market while weaving my two passions together in a unique way. In addition the business would allow me to contribute to the state of the environment in a significant way.

Driving home to the Bay Area from Los Angeles gave me plenty of time to consider my new direction. Ideas were popping open like popcorn! Now, three years later, I’m still implementing ideas that came to me during that brainstorming session.

As I reflected on my decision to refocus my business on helping professionals find green careers, I was struck by how consistently “green” topics showed up throughout my life history: from the toys and books I loved as a child, to my favorite memories of family road trips to National Parts, to school projects I chose to work on. Later in life my passions, volunteer activities, and most poignant moments all relate to nature and the environment in some way.

I’m thrilled to be helping people discover their own passions and how they can use their passions and talents within the green economy.

Thanks SO much Carol! For more information on green jobs, you can visit Carol’s site Green Career Central. And if you’ve got any questions for Carol about green jobs and her book, Green Careers For Dummies, feel free to leave them here. She kindly offered to check in throughout the day to comment and answer questions. Plus, those who leave a comment, tweet or share the story on Facebook today will get an entry to win Carol’s book. The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!

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March 22nd, 2010

New Things on 2inspired

New to 2inspired? Or are you an oldie, but goodie who hasn’t checked around here in awhile? Besides being excited about the new guest hopping over on Wed., March 24th, there are a few other changes going on. Feel free to click over at my portfolio to see what I’ve been up to, see my new store at Amazon (here or up above), my collection of inspiring photos, peruse my sister site and find more info at my professional writing blog.

And for more info about this Wednesday’s giveaway… Join author Carol McClelland for her inspiring life story. She’ll be answering questions throughout the day about her new book, “Green Careers For Dummies.” Then, comment, tweet or facebook (or become a Facebook fan of 2inspired) about the event and you’ll get an extra entry for each (total of 3 possible)  in Wednesday’s giveaway. Good luck!

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