Monday, September 12, 2016
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Think Yourself Thin!
In Napoleon Hill's 1937 bestseller, Think and Grow Rich, he stated:
"The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of reality."
One of the main premises in Napoleon Hill's classic book on achieving success, is that THOUGHTS ARE THINGS. Our thoughts lead us to act. So we have to train ourselves to think thoughts that support what we want to achieve. You can't expect to become rich, if you are constantly thinking about being poor. You can't expect your dreams to come true, if you don't believe it is possible.
I was listening to a CD I have by Wayne Dyer on how to achieve the results you want in your life. He asked individuals in the audience to give him examples of what they would like to achieve. One woman wanted to lose weight and he asked her if she thought it would be easy or difficult to lose the weight. She responded that it would be difficult. He asked her if she knew that with 100% certainty, to which she replied, "no." Then he asked her the reverse question, could she say with 100% certainty that it would be easy to lose the weight. She couldn't say that with certainty either. So he said to her, "you have two thoughts, one, that losing weight will be easy, another that it will be difficult, either may or may not be true. So which thought will you choose? The thought that will take you in the direction of your desired results or the thought that will take in you in opposite direction?
Of course thinking the right thoughts to achieve our goals or dreams is only the first step, but it is an important one. If you can't even think the thought of what you'd like to achieve and how you will do it, how can you make it happen. I was thinking of the analogy of thoughts being like the dots on those dot-to-dot picture books for children. Having the dots (thoughts) in place, creates the framework for bringing the picture (dream) to life. It's so much easier to create what you want when there is a template for you to follow.
So take notice of your thoughts. Observe them and see if they are supporting you and what you want to create in your life. Some probably are, but there might be some that aren't. If you want to lose weight, imagine how you will do it . Imagine that it will be easy. Imagine enjoying healthy, nutritious foods and feeling great. Imagine doing exercise that you love - maybe with a friend. Imagine how it feels to be active and healthy - how great it feels to be at your ideal weight. Imagine it as if it has already happened. When your thinking is aligned with your goal or dreams, that is the first step to bringing it into reality.
Once you start taking the steps towards your dreams, keep monitoring your thinking. If you hit an obstacle, watch that you don't fall into negative thinking, like "I knew this would happen," or "I can't do this." You have the power to control your thoughts, so choose the thoughts that will take you where you want to go.
If you don't know what your dream is or would like to know how to bring your dream to life, join us at our Dream Your Dreams Women's Retreat at the Rimrock Resort in Banff, October 14th-16th. For details visit www.dreamyourdreams.ca
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Enjoy the moment!
This summer I am focussing on enjoying the moment. It is the catch phrase you hear all the time - "Enjoy the moment." I understand it and agree with it, but I don't always do it. I am on a short vacation with my mom right now because we drove my daughter to camp and are spending some time nearby while we wait to drive her home. It has been a wonderful time for both of us. It has been so nice to enjoy some "unscheduled time" and do whatever we want. We are enjoying all the amazing scenery and having time to visit and read our books. I know this is a special gift to be able to have this holiday with my mom, and I want to savour it. Every day I am consciously noticing the simple joys of spending time together. I am grateful for each part of the holiday as it arrives. It has been so relaxing for both of us.
Sometimes it is easier to focus on enjoying the moment on holidays because we don't have all our regular chores and routine. But the opportunity to live in the moment is always there, even in our regular day to day routine. Observing and appreciating ordinary things is an easy way to stay present and maximize our enjoyment in life.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Bringing good habits home from their holiday.
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I find that whenever I go on holidays and get out of my routine, I forget about some of my good habits and develop some bad ones. I stay up late and sleep in. I eat foods I might not normally eat. I try to exercise, but it is at different times and I'm not as consistent.
Personally, I think it is okay to have a break when I am on holidays and go with the flow of the holiday experience. But when I come home after a vacation, it takes a little time for me to get back on track. I know my good habits help ground me and make it possible for me to achieve my goals. So I am reinstating my good habits each day until I am operating at full speed again. After a break of routine, it is a good time to re-evaluate what habits and routines are working and if there are any that need revision.
I encourage you to think of one of your healthiest or best habits that may have got lost during summer vacation and find a way to re-instate it. Or think about a new habit that you would like to create for yourself. Choose something that makes you feel excited and energized and track your results to see if it makes a difference for you.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2016
You Don't Have To Do It Alone
This week I have been thinking a lot about support. No matter what challenges are in our lives, it is easier to face them knowing we have someone or something supporting us. My friend's husband died in an accident this week and I am constantly thinking about her. There aren't many more challenging situations to go through than that. But I was reminded of the powerful story of Suzie Morrow (her story is in a previous blog post), and how she worked through the tragedy of losing her husband by focusing on creating the best life possible for her and her children. Her story is such an inspiration.
I also thought about how another friend of the woman whose husband died, set up a schedule of people to support her each day over the next few weeks with whatever she needs (meals, errands, someone to listen). I thought that was such a great idea. Whenever we are faced with something so overwhelming, it helps to have people around to support us as we take each step forward to rebuilding our lives.
And support is not just important in a crisis. We need support with all the things we want to build and create in our lives. I am on holidays with my children right now and I didn't want to fall into a lazy holiday routine, so my son and I made a fitness plan for our vacation. I know I wouldn't have gotten up early in the morning to run hills by myself! Having someone else that we are accountable to and will encourage us and then doing the same for them, is a win-win. Everything is more achievable when we know someone has our back and is there to help us move forward.
We all need support as we go through all the stages of life. It's important to be able to ask for it or accept it when we need it and equally as important to give it when we can. For me, being a part of a supportive network is definitely a key ingredient for living my best life. What can you do to create the support you would like in your life and to give it to those in need?
Sunday, July 17, 2016
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