Creating Joy

Greetings to You ~

How do you create joy in your life?  Sometimes we're busy doing things that take us away from our joy.

Years ago when I was still working at my job I carried a little notebook with me that I filled with quotes, wisdom and inspiration.  In this little book I created My Joy List.  It was numbered 1-100 and only filled up to 52...but what a great list!

Why a joy list?  We have lists for everything else...shopping lists, Christmas lists, to do lists, lists for work, lists for home.  Why not a precious list to remind you of activities that fill you with joy.

As kids that was our only priority and as adults we feel it's a luxury we can't afford.  Feeling good is a luxury we can't ignore.

The purpose of doing something on your joy list is simply to feel good.

What would be on your joy list?

• reading a good book
• going for a drive
• walking a dog
• going for a hike
• watching movies
• meditating
• painting
• singing

You don't have to use it as a reward after all the hard work is done.  Is there something on your joy list you can do before everything else?

Is savouring a good cup of coffee at your favourite cafe on your joy list?  That energy and good feeling will then flow forth when you continue with the other things you do.

When you notice something that you enjoy make a note of it on your list.  Then when you need some inspiration it's there for you.  A reminder of what lifts you up.

Go ahead and start creating yours...no rules.  Think of it as joy in progress.

Being in joy will make others around you happy too.  Please share your joyous experience with others today.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Suspending Your Fear

Greetings to You ~

How do you feel about getting out of your comfort zone?

Do you feel energized by the thrill of a new adventure?

Do you prefer something that makes you feel safe?

I recently visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver.  I felt called to go there and take photographs because of the word connection.

The bridge stretches 450 feet across and 230 feet above the Capilano River.  Imagine being at shoulder height of the Statue of Liberty.

It was only mildly swaying as I crossed the bridge with tripod and camera in hand. I spent some time taking photos of the pond before the suspension bridge was to be lit up with Christmas lights.  An hour later I was surprised with the volume of people, back to back, coming across the bridge.

I heard comments from those who found it thrilling and others who couldn’t remember ever feeling so shaken.  I was surprised because when I crossed the bridge I didn’t feel nervous, and I’m scared of heights.

But when I crossed back over to the other side it was a completely different experience.  Due to the extra volume of people it actually felt like a roller coaster and there was no way you could cross without holding on to the edge. 

I went into the mode of just taking the next step, the next step, until I reached the other side.

Looking back it was a great experience, more interesting and fun than if it was safe and steady.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a good night shot of the bridge lit up because it was rocking too much with the camera shutter having to stay open.  But it was direct experience with seeing how different conditions affect our need to shore up more confidence.

Changing our lives, doing something different requires us to take risks and get out of our comfort zone.  It could be going to a party where you don’t know many people or signing up for a course that you’ve always wanted to take.  How about changing careers?

Make a list of all the things you’ve wanted to do but have not done yet due to fear.  Choose one thing to take some action with in the next month.  Counterbalance any fear with courage.

Even if it feels like a baby step, I encourage you to get out of your own comfort zone.

Feel free to share your story here.  It can inspire others to do the same.

Peace and Joy ~

Sheila 

xo

What's your dream?

Greetings to You ~

There is a huge awakening with more of us putting an emphasis on doing what we love.  We want to live our life on our own terms, schedules, foster our relationships, do what brings us joy and make a fabulous living.  Living life on purpose.

Are you saying that can't happen?  Does it sound like a pipe dream to you?

More and more people are looking to others who have already done this.  It's time.  People sharing their stories and how it all relates to your path in life.  Opening up and being available to others with your gifts.  

One of the best parts of my corporate career was having one to one conversations with members on my team and interviewing job candidates.  Why?  I loved to understand what made a person excited to get up in the morning and laser in with what they loved to do.

It saddened me when people were choosing to do something that was moving them away from their life purpose.  I understand that we need to earn a living but we don't have to leave the dream behind either.

We used an interview technique to determine whether there was a real match and commitment with potential candidates and the job they were applying for.  I'd ask questions to learn more about what their dream job would be.  So often it was not what they were applying for.  

So why do we move away from what we love?  Most often I'd hear, "I'd love to do that but the money isn't very good."  So there they were applying for a job that I knew would not fulfill them.  

I'm all about paying the bills but stop abandoning your dreams.  It's time to change this habit.  It's time to stop settling for less than what makes you joyful.

If you could be paid to do anything...I mean anything...what would that be?

My dream since I was a young girl was to have my own greeting card company.  That dream is taking birth right now!  There's a whole story about how I became reconnected back to that dream which I'll share with you when the website launches in the coming weeks. You’ll want to be sure to read it … it comes straight from my heart.

You have a dream and sometimes it sounds crazy to your responsible self.  But "what if" it was possible to do what you love and get paid for it?  What would your life look like?

Start by taking a moment to share your dream right here on this blog.  Your dream is safe here.  I invite you to connect and share. Just drop a note in the box below.

Peace and Joy ~

Sheila

xo

Untangle Your Bright Lights

Greetings to You ~

Have you ever had so many ideas going through your mind and not knowing where to start?  You're eager to begin but your thoughts get overwhelmed and sort of short-circuit?

Like a string of Christmas lights with the potential to be so beautiful.  No single light can shine if the entire string is tangled.

Have you ever tried to untangle the string in a hurry?  It often gets worse and you get more frustrated.  In the process of getting the task done quickly some of the bulbs even break.

We'd benefit from taking some time and patience to methodically think through the process.  Untangle the string.  Have everything laid out.  Have a plan on how we'll put them up on the house.

Your ideas are like bright lights and they too need the same care and attention.  We need to organize and plan what we're going to do with them.

Taking action to prepare for when it's time to flick the switch.  Ready and waiting for you to illuminate and shine your light onto others in the world.

Set aside some time and space for yourself to untangle your thoughts and ideas.  Do this when others aren't in need of your time and energy.

Walking out in nature is a wonderful way to shift our energy and virtually untangle our thoughts.  I recently took some time out to walk around a beautiful mountain lake.

It was interesting how the mind wanted to go there with a purpose.  To look for fallen branches and greenery to take back home and create an arrangement for the front porch.

It doesn't want us to slow down and allow us to take in the nature that's so abundant and present.  We have to consciously let go of having an agenda, other than to appreciate our surroundings.

Taking in the smell of the cedars in the forest.  Hearing the water rushing as it spilled over the rocks into a waterfall.  Crossing the bridge over a creek and seeing the heavy moss draped over branches like wet clothing.

Feeling the part of us that connects with all of that.  What is your way to connect to that part of you?

The part of you, the invisible energy, which will light up your ideas.

Carve some space out for yourself even if it's just one hour.  With absolutely no agenda but to be still and connect.

Notice how your thoughts untangle.  Shine on.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Nurture Your Overwhelm

Greetings to You ~

Have you ever wished that you could press the pause button on the outside world?  There's so much to do and you're feeling behind and overwhelmed?

Trying to work harder and faster seems to speed up the downward spiral and increase your stress.  We truly need inner peace for our outer actions to be effective.

Thankfully wisdom came through a couple of different people to validate my own inner guidance today.

Breathe.  Stop yourself from taking any action until you're feeling more calm and relaxed.  Press your virtual pause button on the outer world and focus on creating inner peace for yourself.

A short time-out for self-care and nurturing is essential if you feel like you're drowning.  Meditate for a few minutes.  Journal and release any frustration and lower level energies that are inside you onto the page.

What can you look at, listen to or visualize to bring you to a better feeling place right now?  Breathe.

Have you ever had anxiety increase when you looked at your do list?  The reminder of what didn't get done yesterday, last week, last month feels SO overwhelming.  Set it all aside for a moment.

Today an email came in from Heather Dominick, EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success and Master Coach, with the subject line "do you always feel just one step behind?"  YES.

She says it's not about finding more time but rather it's about our relationship with time.  Not to simply get more done in less time but to focus on getting the right things done first and faster.

What are your three most important and dire needs for the day?  Choose to focus only on those individual tasks...for now.  You want to flow into the feeling of "this is doable."  It may not take as long as you thought and then you can add the next most important task.

Build in enough breaks for yourself.  This is not a time to push.  You're bringing yourself back into balance while still moving forward.  Think of a child on a bicycle.  You wouldn't want them to ride too fast, too soon.

You may not see today's challenges as your opportunity for inner growth.  But they may be.

While nurturing yourself you can build inner strength and create harmony with your outer world.

There's no need to hurry to grow.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Inner Guidance and Making a Decision

Greetings to You ~

So you've asked the Universe to partner with you on how to fund your business?  You've actually released the need to do the work of how this will happen.

You've taken inspired action that came to you.  You sent that out and have become detached as to what happens as a result.

I mean you really detached, you haven't followed up, you haven't checked in, you haven't wondered why you didn't hear back about it.  Very good.

You've shifted your old money story.  You wanted to see evidence.  Show me the money, show me the proof.

It showed itself in small ways that you do attract abundance.  Winning lotto tickets were given to you, and you won a door prize a few hours after you asked to see more evidence.  You noticed.  It increased your faith.

You've recognized that empowerment comes first and then abundance follows.  You know that you'll be shown the way.

Larger evidence in the form of opportunities have presented themselves.  You recognize that you played no part in making that happen.  Someone called you right out of the blue to offer you a job.

Rather than make a hasty decision you're aware that you should consider this.  Not sure if it's the right thing but it needs to be explored.  It's not stepping backward, it has interesting benefits.

A product and business opportunity came to you that you had never heard of.  You never would have considered this as part of your life purpose but it keeps showing up.  You wake up with inspired ideas about this even though it wasn't in your plans.

Now you want to make sense of all this.  Now the flow is blocked.

You ask, "Why has this come to me?  What am I to do with this?"

What will your decision be?  It's your choice.  There is no right or wrong, it's a path you will choose.

So your life purpose and love is Whisper Greetings.  That will continue but you're looking for a way to fund it, that won't take too much of your time.

What are your values?  What are the values of Whisper Greetings?  They're the same; connection, healing and hope.  Do either of your two options resonate with your values?

Yes, one does for sure. They both make logical sense but one resonates with your values.  Pick that one.

That's inner guidance.  That's Truth.

Last evening I came upon something on Oprah's website Finding Your Strongest Life Quiz by Marcus Buckingham and just looked at the answers again.

Wisdom from my lead role as Weaver.

You ask, "Who can I connect?"  You see the world as a web of relationships, and you are always excited by the prospect of connecting two new people within your web.  Your best quality is your genuine curiosity.  Always trust in your web of relationships.  Be careful not to push people together who shouldn't be.  Your smartest career move is any job where you speed up the connection between people.

Wisdom from my supporting role as Creator.

You ask, "What do I understand?"  You aren't immune to the feelings and perspective of others, but your starting point is your own insight, your own understanding.  Your best quality is your ability to find patterns invisible to others.  Always find time to be by yourself.  Be careful you don't think so long, you never do anything.  Your smartest career move is any job where you're paid to produce new content.

That makes so much more sense today than yesterday.  Feeling really good about one of the options.  Was the other one there to show the contrast?

Your choice is still feeling a bit uncomfortable because you're choosing the uncertain over the certain.

What is your inner guidance telling you about a decision you have to make?

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo

Invisible Inspiration

Greetings to You ~

Who are you on the inside?  How do you feel when you're at your best?  Do you express that side of yourself to the outer world?

We had our own unique interests and desires long before we became a friend, lover, spouse, parent, grandparent, worker, business owner or volunteer.

Where does that inspiration come from?  From a place far greater than ourselves.  It works through us to be expressed in the world.

The dictionary meaning of inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.  Another meaning is the drawing in of breath; inhalation.

The creative process feels mysterious.  How does a concept or idea just come out of seemingly nowhere?

It's amazing when inspiration takes you to a place that you didn't expect.  Whether you're a painter working on a canvass, a writer putting your story on the pages or an entrepreneur creating a business.

Holding an initial idea in mind and staying open to possibilities as it unfolds.  Even a mistake can lead to a discovery or something better than our original concept.

Always thought it would be interesting to have a chat with the creative minds you admire and ask them about their own creative process.  When and where does their inspiration arise?

Interviews, documentaries and books that feature people in history as well as modern day creative minds are interesting to study.  Learning about the twists and turns that paved their path enabling them to shine their genius out to the world.

Who inspires you?  What can you learn from them?

Has inspiration been whispering to you?  Let it guide you.

Peace and Joy ~
Sheila
xo