YOUR LIFE A-Z: IGNITE

IGNITE

IGNITE YOUR SOUL FOR LIFE

IGNITE means to render luminous by heat , which is a perfect command for your life.  IGNITE your life to become full by heating it up to make it luminous in every way.  You are not alone if the spark has gone out or diminished in your life.  The inner spark often fades when it becomes ignored by the drudgery of daily life.  Think about a campfire.  It does not last all night and has to re-lit every evening to continue to provide the mystery and magic of camping.  IGNITE your daily life as if it is an amazing campfire waiting for you to show up and tell your story to your fireside community.  The dimness of natural light and the brightness of the campfire makes everyone’s face luminous sitting around the fire.  The atmosphere becomes magical and stories are shared that have been kept secret in the daylight.  Something shifts and changes as the light is IGNITED and the flame begins to develop a life of its own.  Nurture the IGNITED flame within your heart, prod it and provide it with the necessary wood and kindling to develop into the amazing gift you have been waiting for.  IGNITE the stories, dreams and desires within you. Choose a space, a time, and the resources you need to IGNITE what you love just as if you are preparing a campfire.  A campfire for one has a particular meditative feel to it.  A campfire IGNITED for the community builds a resource that grows beyond it.   IGNITE something within and watch what happens.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:CULTIVATE

CULTIVATION HAPPENS IN MANY FORMS

CULTIVATE

To CULTIVATE something is to prepare it by working with it in a mindful and careful way that provides the best flourishing environment. CULTIVATING soil for gardening is something most of us can relate too.  A healthy garden comes from healthy soil.  The soil is CULTIVATED with rich mulch and compost and the soil is turned over many times to help the soil breath and the nutrients from the compost to be equally mixed.  CULTIVATING your life requires the same sort of positive attention and energy.  Imagine your life as a beautiful and rich garden full of colorful vegetables and a large variety of colorful flowers.  Think about all of the diversity you want in your garden to create a year round growing season. CULTIVATE inner and outer diversity.  What is missing in your life that you want to plant?  Do you need to add theater or music to CULTIVATE entertainment in your life?  Are you bored with your workout routine and need to CULTIVATE something different by changing to yoga, Pilates, or running?  Is life uninteresting to you?  If so what do you need to CULTIVATE to make it interesting again.  Perhaps it is time for a new hobby, a new wardrobe, or maybe it is time to take a class and learn something new. There are many ways to CULTIVATE rich life and a fertile soul.  What is happening with your spirituality?  Maybe a divine connection needs to be CULTIVATED to bring a sense of purpose to your daily existence?   CULTIVATE so that your days can be rich and colorful.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: LEARN

LEARN TO FISH FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

LEARN

It is never too late for this important word.  It has been proven that people who choose to discover interesting things to LEARN all throughout his/her lifespan are happier, healthier and keep the brain engaged building new pathways.   New pathways in the brain require the brain to use its plasticity that it is biologically wired to do which can help keep dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at bay.  But more importantly than that LEARNING something new keeps boredom at bay.  Boredom leads to overeating, laziness, too much drinking, and other brain dulling activities until one day you wake up and say,  “OMG, I am a coach potato.”   In this fast paced very technological society that you live in, you have many opportunities at your fingertips to LEARN something new everyday.  Crossword puzzles become more animated by playing the game words with friends which keeps the brain working and engaged.  However, to LEARN something new such as a new language, how to play a musical instrument, or a new sport can be intimidating.  That is normal for everyone so don't let emotional intimidation keep you in the corner of life.  Don’t compare yourself to others and his/her abilities.  Focus on your self and choose to LEARN something new that will be a bit intimidating.  It will be a good challenge for your self-esteem to get a workout too, while you LEARN.   Enjoy the fact that you are able to LEARN and let yourself explore many opportunities to LEARN.  Even LEARN to cook a new recipe for dinner.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: ZYGOTE

Everything Starts from a Spark

ZYGOTE

Researchers estimate that 60% of all naturally occurring conceptions fail because the ZYGOTE never becomes properly implanted in the uterus.  Kendra Cherry references in, About Psychology, a ZYGOTE is a one- celled organism created after the egg has been fertilized.  What does a ZYGOTE have to do with your dreams and goals?  In order for a ZYGOTE to make it to the uterus, it must rapidly divide into many cells.  In order for your dream or goal to be birthed, it must be properly planted in your heart (uterus). When you plant your dream or desire in your heart you have to provide for the ZYGOTE a nutrient enriched environment for it to be able to multiply and divide rapidly.  If 60% of those dreams and desires are going to fail then you have to keep replanting and focus on the 40% that are going to grow and flourish.  Think of your personal goals as ZYGOTE ideas.  An idea is just an idea.  You can have a hundred different ideas a day.  Forty percent of those ideas can develop into dreams and goals if you provide the ZYGOTE idea with the necessary steps to become a reality.  Nothing just happens.  All things come to life with proper attention to detail, planning, and “tweaking” what doesn’t work until the ZYGOTE grows hands, feet, heart, lungs, and brain to become a mobile and viable life force to reward you with the joy of staying with the process until the hard work pays off.  Don’t be discouraged by the 60%, focus on the 40% that survive.  

YOUR LIFE A-Z JOIN

NATURE INVITES YOU TO JOIN HER TODAY

JOIN

JOIN a group that will enhance the quality of your daily life.  JOIN a cause that will give you a sense of Purpose.  JOIN an organization of like- minded people.  Life is too short to live a vacuum of the little corner of your world. Get out of your rut by allowing yourself to JOIN something new.  Something new will feed you, nurture you, challenge you and allow you to learn and become new again.  Just because you JOIN something does not mean that you have to stay forever or that you cannot quit.  You will not know if the group, organization, or cause is right for you until you give it some Effort.  If it is not what you thought you signed up for then Tweak it or Quit it.  Use your noggin to make sure that the places you choose use your energy and feed your soul or spirit in some way that makes a difference in your day-to-day life.  The Joy of JOINING is a win –win situation, not only for the other person or organization but also for you.  So take a look at the many opportunities you have to JOIN and choose something.  I encourage you to choose something out of your comfort zone, something that will stretch you a bit and help you grow more into who you can be.  But, if that feels too intimidating then JOIN something really emotionally safe for yourself.  Just don’t let your life stat the same, JOIN something different today.

YOUR LIFE A-Z USE

USE COLOR, TOUCH, TASTE, TEXTURE, 

USE

Yes, USE it!  This is a great time to get rid of clutter.  The Twenty Minute Coach has talked about de-clutter before. Start with your kitchen drawers.  I imagine there are many gadgets that looked like a great tool that is still sitting there unused, like a lime squeezer or egg timer.  Pass them on to the local thrift store. Next go through your cabinets and get rid of all that you are not USING.  Do you dare tackle your garage next?  Get those bikes out and USE them.  USE up the food in your pantry and freezer this month to save money in your food budget this month.  USE things that you have put to the back of the closet.  If you are not USING certain things in your home, toss it.  Make space for USEABLE items.  Practice paying attention to all of the things that you USE and ask yourself if the item serves you well.  Replace your tooth brush. USE your body! USE your voice, speak up and ask for what you need.  USE your fingers to touch.  USE your nose to smell the roses.  USE your eyes to really see what is around you.  USE your ears to hear your partner.  USE your brain to think for yourself and to think outside of the box.  Use your mouth and tongue to explore the subtleties of taste.  USE your dreams to get more of what you want out of your life. USE all of what is available to you every day.

YOUR LIFE A-Z FOSTER

DON'T MISS THE NUANCES

FOSTER

Yes, today you have full permission to work on the embodiment of your idea, dream, goal, and personal happiness.  What do you need to get it done?  How you cultivate, nurture, and strengthen the reality of your goal? To FOSTER your dream you must spend time with it every day.  FOSTER your dreams by spending time imagining the outcome.  Do not focus so much on what is missing from your dream but the finished picture when you have completely embodied your dream.
For instance, let’s say financial security is one of your goals.  You have to know specifically what that is for you.  After DEFINING it, you need to know the benefits of achieving it. List three benefits on how your life will be changed positively by reaching your financial security.  It is not that your bank account will be flush, but rather what are the personal benefits of being out of debt or having a savings account that will take care of you if something were to happen?  One benefit is an inner sense of security that you don’t have to worry when it is time for tires to be replaced on your car because you have spent time fostering a real financial independence.  FOSTER the outcome of financial security and focus the true benefits of having financial security.  Your life changes by making room for what you want.  Working a budget becomes fun when you see that saving money makes life lighter, brighter, and daily life becomes very pleasantly purposeful!

YOUR LiFE A-Z: BRANCH-OUT

EACH BRANCH IS UNIGUE AND BEAUTIFUL 

BRANCH OUT

Now that we are on a roll with our warrior, headed out for a zany adventure, what is it that you have been hiding from yourself that you really want to try?  It does not have to be big but of course it can be.  It can be something as simple as getting those ears pierced that you have secretly always wanted to do.  Think about a tree and its many branches.  It is amazing that something that looks as boring as a tree-trunk can branch out into so many different ways, providing shade, shelter, and protection.  In the forest, deer and other creatures love to sleep near the tree trunks under branches.  It feels safe and protective to them.  What are the benefits that you will acquire in your personal life by branching out into a new direction or just responding to the warmth of the sun pulling you towards your best-self?

Branching out is an important part of growing up and becoming all of who you can be.  Without branches trees do not fulfill their purpose.  Without branches there is little beauty.  Look at your life today and ask yourself, where can I branch out?  Where can I expand into more of what I need and want in my life?  Is it time to ask your boss for a raise?  Is it time to look at adding class to your list of things you have been wanting to learn?  Find a way to branch out today!