Overflowing with Gratitude + 2 treats for you

I am overflowing with gratitude after yesterday's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G retreat!

I wanted to spread some of the love so today I have two fabulous (free) things to share with you.

1. The first video from my newest online offering, Reflect, Release, Renew. In it I guide you through a simple grounding meditation. It's a beautiful way to start your day with intention and it is only about 9 minutes long, making it easy to incorporate into your life! This is the first video I've ever recorded and I'm feeling a little sheepish about putting it out in the world. It is definitely moving me out of my comfort zone to post it here (as opposed to the private blog for the course) but in the spirit of growth I'm going for it! I hope you enjoy it!

2. I'm giving away a space in Reflect, Release, Renew! It starts May 1st and I am really looking forward to sharing it with the world! This class is all about simple but powerful practices to bring more mindfulness to your daily life. I craft my offerings around the seasons and for Spring I have included a focus on shedding what no longer serves us and making space for the new, a natural inclination this time of year. The course includes daily posts with videos, meditations, journal prompts, activities, and more - all designed to take 15 minutes or less. We will touch on a variety of topics - everything from noticing where our time goes to self-care at work to the power of unplugging. To read more about the course and sign up head over here. To enter the give away leave a comment on this post telling me what you wish to let go of this season. I'll randomly draw a winner on Thursday, April 26th at 9am (EST). You can enter anytime before then.

Here's the video and thank you so much for being here - I truly appreciate each and every one of my readers!

Filling the well

image credit

Recently I've found myself feeling out of sorts.

Irritable.

Mind racing.

Overwhelmed.

Cranky.

Disconnected.

The most fitting words I can use to describe this feeling are tapped out.

Thankfully it only took a few days of this for me to realize I needed a plan to turn things around. I needed to find a way to get back to me and take care of myself in my present circumstances. Sometimes we think we will feel better when the kids are older or we earn more money or lose weight or find the perfect partner or whatever other excuse you'd like to insert here. Read: I'll be happy when ________________. We're waiting for someone or something out there to make us feel better when really it needs to come from within. The good news is we are in control of our inner environment. The bad news is that means we're responsible. As in, no more excuses! The idea is to find a way to support ourselves so that we can stay calm and centered no matter what is going on around us. We need to refill the well.

There is no one "right" way to do this. I'll share my process and I'd love to hear yours too - please chime in in the comments!

My steps for Refilling the Well:

1. Gather supplies and carve out time. My most crucial supplies are simple - silence, pen and paper.

2. Let it all out. I grab my journal and just write. As I so eloquently said in one of my therapy sessions recently, do a feelings dump. Lovely, huh :-) Pour it out. Forget about grammar. Or tact. Channel your inner whining toddler or pissed off teenager. This is for your eyes only, so don't hold back. Here's a real-life example from my own journal:

My brain is overloaded. My house is a mess. I have nothing written for my website - how embarrassing! It's been like a month (easy - maybe longer). I haven't blogged. I also feel sad that Lainey's getting so big. She stands up now! What is it that I want? I guess I just hate feeling like I am so wrapped up in surviving - getting through the day - that I miss enjoying my life. Maybe it goes back to intentions and attention. What do I want to gain from this day? From this life! After all how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. What is important to me? What is my purpose? My focus right now?

3. Identify the core issue and explore it more deeply. The question that seemed to be central to my struggle: What do I want my days (my life) filled with? Work through more journal writing, paint or collage about it, meditate on it, or talk it out with a friend. I decided to create a list to help me sort through my thoughts.

I want my days (my life) filled with...

• family
• a creative way to capture memories
• time spent in nature
• time spent reconnecting within
• reading

4. Create a plan to make it happen. How can you support your own needs? What supplies do you need? What rituals and routines can you create to support your goals? Continuing with my example:

• family: turn off my phone and the tv and be present with my loved ones
• a creative way to capture memories: write in my gratitude journal using the My Daily Journal app on my iPhone, take pictures using my iPhone camera, write in my journal, spend time with my self-care basket (holds my visual journaling supplies), start a binder a la project life to record our days
• spend time in nature: take walks at a consistent time (before Lainey's nap, after lunch, before bed are some of my favorites), look out the window and talk about the weather and seasonal changes with Lainey (helps me pause and truly notice)
• spend time reconnecting within: relax during one of Lainey's naps (journal, meditate), go to yoga class, possibly sign up for 21 secrets to encourage more art journal time, schedule an artist date
• reading: put a basket of books I want to read next to a comfy chair, read in the evenings instead of watching tv

5. List specific action steps to get you there. Things you can do immediately to move you toward your goal. These are most helpful if they feel easily doable and you are excited to put them on your to-do list. For me to bring my days more into alignment with my ideals, I listed:

• schedule a few hours to myself asap
• purchase binder inserts
• register for 21 secrets
• schedule yoga classes for April
• find a basket and fill it with books

Within days of writing my list I carved out time to spend an afternoon in Starbucks sipping a chai latte and writing. I ventured to Target and bought some supplies that I plan to use to record our days. While there I discovered they had Smash journals! I have been dying to get one so I treated myself and I also got a few fun accessories for my self-care basket! I looked around the house and found a basket and filled it with books. I put it next to the rocker and I've already spent time there reading. I feel refueled already. Small steps truly do make a big difference!

It all boils down to taking the time to pause and reconnect within. To step back and simply notice. How are you feeling? What do you need? Are you content with your life? Are you moving toward your goals? Really listen. Figure out what it is you want and then craft a plan for making it happen. One baby step at a time.

Permission Granted

Recently, I was watching a video by the lovely Liz Lamoreux and she happened to mention her daughter's babysitter was arriving soon. As I heard her speak those words a light bulb went off for me. I could have my very own babysitter for Lainy. Truly this thought had never occurred to me (it's funny how our minds shut out possibility).

Lainy's babysitter starts next week. I feel nervous and excited, guilty and relieved all at the same time.

That one sentence in the video was the permission slip I needed to ask for the help I had been craving. She does it, so I can too. Too often we are sitting around waiting for permission.

Today I'd like to give you your very own permission slip. Permission to ask for whatever you need.

Permission to rest.

Permission to go for it.

Permission to call in sick.

Permission to ask for help.

Permission to make the call.

Permission to say no.

Permission to say yes.

Permission to quit.

Permission to start.

Permission to love yourself exactly as you are today.

Permission to stop trying so hard.

Permission to create.

Permission to tell your story.

Permission to let go.

Tell me what you're needing and I will send you a permission slip via email or snail mail. Your choice. Leave a comment with your address or send me an email at mscime710@roadrunner.com and I'll send you your permission slip. Not because you need my permission (or anyone else's) but because I want to support you in whatever you are needing right now.

March Dreams

image credit

Time to review last month's dreams and plan for the upcoming weeks! I hope you'll join me in this practice!

February Dreams:

• Participate in Darrah Parer's Slice of Life Project (I won a spot at a give away on Roots of She!): DONE
• Indulge in Spa Day with my BFFs: DONE, complete with heavenly hot stone massage
• Savor a date with my husband: DONE
• Finish 2011 accounting and prep for meeting with accountant (ugh...): DONE
• Take 2 yoga classes: DONE
• Make a green smoothie: DONE. I blended up kale, blueberries, and bananas. And promptly spilled half of it on the cream carpet... sigh...
• Read 3 chapters from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy book: DONE. Totally in love with this approach. I'm paraphrasing but one of my favorite quotes, "What if we think about our clients more as beautiful sunsets to witness and less like math problems to be solved." Swoon...
• Complete my assignment from the website consultant: DONE. Very excited about this project!

March Dreams:

• Finish current book & start another
• Finalize Women's Spring Rejuvenation Retreat details
• Write content for new website
• Take 2 yoga classes
• Clean & redecorate for Spring at the wellness center
• Move more! Walk outside when possible, go to Zumba class, look into a jogging stroller
• Clear off my desk at home

What are you dreaming of creating this month? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

Kale chips, chia seeds, quinoa, oh my!

I've been experimenting with some new healthy foods in my life.

I made kale chips today! They are super easy to make and delicious (honestly)!

Last week I picked up some chia seeds. I've been sprinkling them on my salad. I find them pretty bland in terms of flavor but they are packed full of good stuff like omega 3 and fiber.

Next up I plan to try out some quinoa recipes, likely this one or this one.

Healthy eating is as much about what you do eat as what you don't eat.

What beautiful nourishment will you add to your life?

February Dreams

January has been everything I imagined and more! Let's review...

January Dreams:

• Host fabulous mini-retreat at the studio: DONE! And it sold out :)
• Incorporate new morning and evening routine to bookend my day in mindfulness (inspired by Kimberly Wilson's Traquilologie): DONE!
• Teach, encourage, + inspire during Dare to Live Your Dreams Online Circle: In progress!
• Indulge in a massage + facial + pedicure: DONE!
• Go on a date with my husband: DONE! First time out alone together in 7 months :)
• Take 2 yoga classes: DONE!
• Go on an Artist Date: DONE!
• Finish Year in Review blog posts: DONE!
• Ask for help with a referral to work with on my new website (!): DONE!
• Pen financial goals for 2012: DONE!

In addition I completed my first TV interview, was invited to join a fabulous Mastermind group, and had an initial phone consultation about my new website! So basically January has been amazing!

February Dreams:

• Participate in Darrah Parer's Slice of Life Project (I won a spot at a give away on Roots of She!)
• Indulge in Spa Day with my BFFs
• Savor a date with my husband
• Finish 2011 accounting and prep for meeting with accountant (ugh...)
• Take 2 yoga classes
• Make a green smoothie
• Read 3 chapters from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy book
• Complete my assignment from the website consultant

Each month to remind myself of my dreams I find an inspiring image, tape it into my Planner Pad adjacent to the monthly calendar view, and jot my dreams there. In the above picture you can also see part of my month and how I use highlighters to color code work and play time. This helps me ensure I have a balance between the two that feels right for me because I can see at a glance how much "me" time is scheduled. What are you dreaming of this month?

Artist Date

This weekend I had the luxury of spending a few hours prettying up my 2012 Planner Pad and creating some inspiring vision cards for the year. Give me a few free hours, a stack of magazines, and a glue stick and I'm one happy girl!

a peak at my Vision Cards

front of my Planner Pad

I love how this turned out! It is so simple (especially compared to what I created last year) and I feel it really speaks to what I'm craving this year.

back of my Planner Pad

Please excuse the glare! It's from the clear contact paper I use to cover my collage. The quote on the back says, "Sometimes we just have to go with the flow, get out of our own way, and heed the well-intended whispers of our stalwart hearts."

What do you use to manage your time and to-do's? Have you added a dash of flair to it? Please share in the comments - I love hearing from you!