Ways to Live a Simple Life

In our daily lives, we often rush through tasks, trying to get them done, trying to finish as much as we can each day, speeding along in our cars to our next destination, rushing to do what we need to do there, and then leaving so that we can speed to our next destination.


Unfortunately, it’s often not until we approach our final destination that we realize what madness this all is. At the end of the day, we’re often exhausted and stressed out from the grind and the chaos and the business of the day. We don’t have time for what’s important to us, for what we really want to be doing, for spending time with loved ones, for doing things we’re passionate about.


Here are  Ways You Can Start to Live a Simple Life.

simple-life

•     Don’t spend money on things you don’t really need.
•     Avoid debts, if at all possible.
•     Have a garage sale to get rid of old junk you don’t use.
•     Buy a bike instead of a car (you’ll save money on insurance, gas, repairs, a car note, and      maintenance).
•     Avoid costly medical bills by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet.
•     Prep meals for the week ahead of time.
•     Make your own beauty and hygiene products at home.
•     Make your own cleaning products (you’ll avoid harmful chemicals and spend less).
•     Only keep the clothes you actually wear, and give away the rest.
•     Live in a smaller home
•     (If you’re really feeling up to it) Live off-the-grid (or get grid-adjacent) to reduce or get rid of electric, gas, and water bills.
•     Start a garden, compost your food, and cut down on your weekly grocery bill.
•     Every time you buy something new, get rid of something old.
•     Have designated days to do laundry.
•     Drop your cell phone plan, and use the Wi-Fi in your home or Internet cafes instead.
•     Live closer to nature.
•     Buy a fluoride filter for your entire house so you don’t have to buy jugs on non-fluoridated water.
•     Live within your means.
•     Adopt an attitude of gratitude.
•     Smile like you mean it.
•     Avoid drama.
•     Unplug everything when you’re not using it.
•     Have a set time each day to check social media (and stick to it).
•     Cancel your cable bill if you rarely watch TV.
•     Spend time outdoors as much as possible.
•     Let go of the past, and live in the present.
•     Create your future, but don’t worry about what’s to come.
•     Meditate daily.
•     Exercise often.
•     Try to use natural remedies for ailments when possible.
•     Give items you don’t use to the homeless or poor.
•     Don’t leave lights on when you’re not home.
•     Try to buy energy-efficient appliances.
•     Buy high-quality items that won’t need replacing often.
•     Automate your bill payments.
•     Reduce credit cards.
•     Don’t charge anything you can’t pay back quickly.
•     Listen more than you talk.
•     PLAY MORE!!!
•     Work less. :)
•     Laugh at least 30 times a day.
•     Take relaxing baths in Epsom salt and lavender oil.
•     Have friends who inspire you.
•     Distance yourself from energy vampires.
•     Write down your goals, and go after them.
•     Don’t wait for things to happen; make them happen.
•     Pack what you need for a flight in a carry-on bag only to avoid baggage fees.
•     Consider buying a used car instead of new.
•     Downsize when you can.
•     Become a warrior, not a worrier.
•     Turn your passion into your job.
•     See if you can work from home if possible.
•     Don’t overbook your life.
•     Spend at least one day a week entirely in nature.
•     Speak gently to people.
•     Make your own dog or cat food for pets (cheaper and healthier).
•     Buy locally grown produce.
•     Only buy new things when old things break.
•     Shred old papers you don’t need.
•     Avoid letting your emails pile up.
•     Organize your computer files.
•     Limit your time on social media.
•     Go with the flow.
•     Tackle problems before they get out of hand.
•     Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
•     Don’t chase perfection; embrace imperfections.
•     Have a home gym to avoid paying for a gym membership.
•     Or, make nature your gym. :)
•     Make to-do lists.
•     Simply SMILE.
•     Forgive and forget.
•     Make your own baby food if you have young children.
•     Let your kids play in nature (it’s free) rather than buying them tons of toys.
•     Move to another country where the cost of living is cheaper.
•     Try to eliminate bills where you can.
•     Buy bundled services (phone and internet).
•     Check emails only a couple times a day.
•     Pack minimally for trips.
•     Eat at home more.
•     Wash dishes right after you eat so they don’t pile up.
•     Love everyone.
•     Do all your errands in one go.
•     Buy clothing that will last.
•     Make a grocery list before you go shopping.
•     Have only a couple of email addresses.
•     Always tell the truth.
•     Follow your heart.
•     Appreciate the little things in life.
•     Practice positive thinking!
•     Give up alcohol and cigarettes (you’ll save money and your health).
•     Wake up with the sun to get more done. :)
•     Be productive.
•     Go to college only if you want to, not because you think you have to.
•     Become a self-taught learner, and seek information online.
•     Do what you enjoy, avoid what you don’t.
•     Ask for help when you need it.
•     Delegate some chores to your kids or spouse.
•     Don’t take on more work than you can do.
•     Stay humble.
•     Keep an open mind.
•     Carpool to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on gas.
•     (BONUS): Live your life in a way that makes you happiest!

Forgiveness is The Gift You Give Yourself:

1. Forgiveness can bring you a renewed peaceful spirit.

When you forgive others, even those who severely did you wrong, you find yourself feeling more positive overall and less stressed. You may even experience health benefits like lower blood pressure. It’s important to forgive others, not because they deserve your forgiveness, but because YOU deserve peace. You deserve to feel renewed and healed; and you will. Just forgive. . .
2. Forgivenesss allows you to move in the direction of your goals.

When someone hurts or offends you, negative feelings of bitterness or revenge are created. Don’t let yourself pay the price over and over. Oftentimes, the focus on the past and the hurt will keep you from enjoying the wonders of today and the potential of tomorrow. Although you may think you’re a great multi-tasker (and you may be), your mind can only focus on one thing. When you allow yourself to forgive others immediately, you can focus on what truly matters, your goals, dreams and life purpose.
3. Forgiveness can bring more LOVE into your life.

Many act out in negative ways to somehow fulfill a desire for love and attention. When we forgive, we acknowledge that we are all imperfect and that we all make mistakes. With this new open-minded and compassionate perspective, we can learn to easily forgive and send well wishes to even those we feel you should “hate”.

Forgiving others is about releasing the role of being the victim. When you no longer see yourself as a victim, you will find people in turn treat you better and there is less need to forgive. You have opened your life up to more love and expanded your consciousness to a higher frequency of love. Oohhh la la . . . :)
4.  Forgiveness allows you to have more understanding and compassion.

Embracing forgiveness is wonderful and can lead to positive feelings of understanding, compassion and empathy for the one who upset you. Believe it or not, everyone is doing the best they can, with what they have, where they are. We are all truly positive, loving beings by nature. Although, it doesn’t always appear that way, that is our true intention at heart.

With so much hurt in the world, it can be hard to see it that way. We want to point blame and hold grudges.  But, if we can see life as our school and ourselves as students then, in some way, everyone is a teacher.

This new perspective allows us to take the pain and transcend it into a lesson. Then, you no longer have to keep repeating the same pain. Everyone is brought into our lives to teach us something. What can the one your hate teach you right now, so you can release it and forgive?
5. Forgiveness allows us to take control of our own happiness.

Law of Attraction enthusiasts know that like attracts like and that our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. We always have the ability to take control of our own happiness and life when we take responsibility for our emotions.

No matter the chaos around us, when we can stay centered from the inside and make wise and mature decisions (like forgiveness), we pave a life filled with happiness and love. On the contrary, if we allows others to steal our peace and rob us of our joy, we are essentially giving them the drivers seat in our life.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle commitment. It’s letting go every day and letting happiness in.

Three life lessons we can learn from our pets

Pets are amazing companions who show us true, unconditional love. In return, we give them a home, teach them new tricks and provide a special place in our hearts. While we think we are teaching them about life, these loving little beings are actually showing us life lessons on how to love, stay peaceful, and have fun!

Practice unconditional love and loyalty

happy-dog-quote
Pets are happy, loyal creatures. They are not judgmental and they don’t care what you wear or how you look. When you are feeling down or ill they are right by your side. They emit pure positive energy and unconditional love. They enjoy every moment with you as if it were truly the greatest gift. When you come home, your pets will greet you at the door and show you just how much they missed you (even if it were only an hour).

Pets are truly masters of unconditional love. Their compassion and loyalty can literally heal us of our emotional and physical wounds. In fact, scientific research is actually showing that animals make us happier and healthier. You can read more here about how animals and humans heal each other.

Live in the Now

life-lessons-from-pets
Pets lead a simple life. They can sit back, enjoy a drive to the park with their owners and take in the breeze on the way. They truly live in the NOW with calmness and peace in most situations. They seize the day and don’t let worry run their life.

Pets also take advantage of the simple things in life, like naps. How many times do you catch your furry friend sleeping? (haha) Speaking of naps, have you noticed the refreshing stretches afterwards too? They will yawn and stretch as if to take in every oxygen cell around them. Afterwards, they are stimulated and ready to go.

To LIVE in the NOW  is one of life’s most important lessons and while we humans are still trying to figure it all out and do the best we can to be conscious of it, pets already have it figure out. They live in the now effortlessly and bring a depth of peace and wellness one cannot truly even describe; it must be felt.

Be fun and spontaneous

positive-dog-life-lessonsIf
it’s one thing you can always expect from your pet, it is them loving who they are. Our pets are spontaneous and if they want to play, they will. Laughter is the best medicine and your pets know it too. They’ll  wag their tails about and if they sense you are enjoying their humorous nature, they will continue to put a smile on your face by repeating their positive behavior. They’ll even do something to make you smile if they sense you’re in need.  Enjoying play with your pets also has positive side-effects!  Playtime can enhance your social skills, increase your energy level, and free your mind. You may even solve life’s most compelling puzzle when playing with a pet.

Transform your life with Simple Positive Affirmations

Positive Affirmations Work

We all have our own self talk, and the truth is that it is not always positive. We’re affirming statements about ourselves and the condition of our life with every thought and word we speak. This is a daily habit that we practice subconsciously. To some degree, we are all using positive affirmations every day.

positive-mantra
As we begin to think about specific thoughts, over and over again, they become beliefs. We speak about these beliefs to others and even create the stories we tell from those beliefs. Soon enough, these beliefs become reality – and, the more we think and speak about them the realer they become. The condition of our health, wealth, relationships, etc. depends upon our habit of perception.

When we change the perception of ourselves and our life to a more positive view consistently, our life TRANSFORMS. We are crafting ourselves and our future by the words we speak every single day. Instead of waiting for a miracle to come along and change our life, we need to take charge and start changing it right now.

This may seem unrealistic to some, but practicing positive affirmations is life-changing. It’s simple, and it’s free, it just takes commitment and dedication. It starts with taking conscious control of our thoughts and habitually transforming self destructive, negative thoughts into positive affirmations.

POSITIVE SELF TALK

An affirmation is simply positive self talk or a statement we say about ourselves or our life phrased in the present tense as if it were true. When you find yourself caught in a negative thought pattern, just stop and immediately replace it with an opposite statement.


    For example:

    “I need to lose weight.” Becomes “I can release weight easily.”
    “I can’t afford that.” Becomes “I can find a better deal.”
    “I can’t save money.” Becomes “I can easily save money.”
    “I’ll never meet the right partner.” Becomes “I am open to find the perfect mate.”
    “I look horrible. I hate myself.” Becomes “I love myself unconditionally.”


As a mom, I have PBS on for my daughter. While I am writing this I hear, “When something seems bad, turn it around. Find something good.” on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Yes, it is really that easy. It’s all about shifting focus from the negative to the positive. Even if it is small steps at a time. When you make it a conscious habit, your begin making bigger and bigger changes over time.

”The most crucial aspect of positive affirmations is your feeling. When you say the affirmation pay attention to what “feelings” are coming up.
Affirmations work to help us change. In fact, they make change easier. They are the seeds we plant that eventually bloom – the more we take care, the better yield. Often times we think that action will solve our problems, and while action is critical to change, alone it will not provide real, lasting change.

For the best results, you must first get into an agreement in mind and then follow with action. Having a positive outlook is vital to reaching your goals. Sometimes, when we start, we are so far from our goal that it is not easy to maintain a positive perspective. That is why positive affirmations are imperative. They are the catalyst for change.
Positive affirmations are so simple that they can be overlooked

In fact, they are defined as simple, positive phrases that an individual repeats to themselves, with full belief that it is the case, whether presently true or not. The purpose of repeating affirmations is to build a sense of self-confidence. You use these phrases to tell yourself what you want or where you want to be in the future. Even if you do not currently believe the phrase at the moment, with practice you will.

The most crucial aspect of positive affirmations is your feeling. When you say the affirmation pay attention to what “feelings” are coming up. Your feelings are your emotional guidance system and are your indicators to where you are in regards to your affirmation or statement of intention. The better you feel about each statement the closer you are to achieving it. You want to feel good about it deep inside. Most people give up and go back to old ways before they see change. However, the strong and determined individual will prevail. Ultimately it comes down to this basic question, “How much do you want change?”

“I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour, each day, every day until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action.” – Og Mandino

Positive affirmations remove negative thoughts and replace them with more positive, good feeling ones. An easy way to see affirmations working in your life is to create a list of areas in your life that you’d like to see improve. Write down thoughts and beliefs you have about each area. When you ready, begin writing more positive statements. Even if you need to take small steps and write a series of positive affirmations until you reach your goal – that’s okay. Everyone is different, and you know yourself best. When you feel really good about a particular affirmation you’ll begin to see the results in your outer world.

Many times people get excited about affirmations and want to use them but have a hard ask believe receive 3time coming up with their own, so they give up. These are the exact people that need them the most. Typically, when a person has trouble coming up with a list of positive affirmations it is because they have extremely low self-esteem and have trouble seeing anything positive about their lives.

Follow the Leaders

If you are new to positive affirmations the best place to start is following the leaders like Louise Hay. She has phenomenal simple affirmations that will help you without having to write your own. Choose her affirmations that resonate with you. Louise Hay is a truly inspiring woman and has blessed and change the lives of millions. She is the founder of Hay House and is one of the top motivational authors in the world. I personally have her books, dvds, affirmation cards and itunes apps. I love all of her products, but especially the apps because they are so handy and I can access her material right from my phone.

I’ve been using affirmations for years now to transform my life, and I would also be happy to help you. Please feel free to comment below about the area in your life that you’d like to see more abundance. I’ll help you craft the perfect affirmations. I feel my purpose here is to help others change their life and overcome obstacles to live their best life. I’d also love to hear from you if positive affirmations have changed your life. I love connecting with like-minded individuals, and I love hearing others success stories.

positive-affirmations
For me personally, affirmations have helped me to release weight (a lot of it too), overcome depression, dramatically increase my income, live my passion, improve all of my relationships, have a natural, drug free childbirth (my proudest accomplishment by the way), conquer panic attacks, and love myself more. My list could go on and on. So, when someone tells me that positive affirmations do not work, I know that they just aren’t truly making them a conscious daily habit.

I’ll be writing more about the benefits of positive affirmations and specific ways to make the most of them next week. Please do post your comments below – I am looking forward to hearing about your journey and success!

How to Know It’s Time to Grow

Personal-growth

Thoughts about life and personal growth welled up as I replaced our daughter’s car seat with one that would be more comfortable for her as she grew.  Our little girl was growing up fast and it seemed like only yesterday I had put that original car seat in.

As I completed the new installation, thoughts of the snake that sheds its old skin, or the butterfly that breaks free from its cocoon quickly bubbled to the surface. A reflection on life had been staring me right in the eyes the whole time.

How does a car seat connect with personal growth?

As children get older, many things (car seats included) need to grow right along with them in order to help facilitate that growth. To watch a child grow and expand (which happens very quickly, by the way), makes you think about your own personal growth as well.

As a parent, there are moments that give you a glimpse into the future, or a memory from the past. Parenthood also gives you the ultimate perspective that our physical lives are absolutely limited, and we have to do what we can with the time we’ve got.  You see, the car seat was a perfect representation that growth happens, and sometimes it happens like it or not.

Maybe you’re comfortably nestled in and happy with where you are in life. You’ve released your full potential, but that’s ok, as long as you’re happy. True happiness is true wealth and the key to living the life YOU desire.

But what if you’re not comfortable?

What if you feel a tension inside that’s holding you back from where you want to be? If you feel it (and we’ve all felt it at some point), it’s time to grow, and release what’s prohibited you from reaching your peak. But you’ve got to be willing to get uncomfortable and start letting go of your current reality. If you’re really ready to grow, you’ve got to accept and look forward to what could be, not what is.

When growth happens from the inside, the outside becomes unstable. Not because we’re acting in an unstable manner from our desire to change, but because the outside cannot stay as it is if the inside is changing. It will eventually change with us or be released from our experience, this is law. The world around us is simply a reflection of the world within us.personal-growth

Sometimes, you’ve got to shed that old skin if you want growth to happen. You’ve got to break out of that comfortable cocoon that’s housed you all this time. Even the mightiest of redwoods would be but a bonsai if never freed from its restrictive planter.

So ask yourself, “Is there something still out there that calls me? What in the world do I still want to experience?” and if an answer comes to mind, congratulations! You’re still alive and have time to do it. Start today. Start now. You’ve got one go-around in this body and you might as well continue to grow until the sun stops shining!

Spirituality Can Save Your Relationship

Most of us believe in some “Higher Power” greater than ourselves; call it God, Mother Earth, the Universe, Nature, Energy or something else. We see this tremendously complex, massive and elaborate place called Earth and often contemplate our role within it.

As we continue through our lives, the desire to live a spiritual existence often follows. Though we may follow different spiritual paths, most of us pray, worship, and choose to believe in some transcendentally higher purpose. This can certainly impact our relationships, as we often desire share these spiritual elements of our lives with our significant other.

There are numerous dynamics in our relationships, but spirituality does seem to play a primary role for many couples. The reasons for spiritual connectedness differ, but one common element is the thinking that it may empower and sustain the relationship itself. This makes sense, as spirituality is commonly associated with feelings of peace, harmony, love, and presence – elements that are often missing from intimate relationships.

Many of us do, in fact, choose to pursue our spiritual journey with a beloved someone. Research shows that those who do seemingly experience an enhanced quality of life. The benefits of many spiritually connected couples includes: economic success, a longer lifespan, better physical health, and a more stable, productive environment for children.
But why is belief a stabilizing factor in relationships? Is there something to the notion that a “family that prays together, stays together”?

1. Spiritual connectedness increases happiness

Those who share similar spiritual beliefs often have longer relationships. In what is considered to be the first significant study associated with relationship and belief across ethnic lines, researchers concluded that a definitive link exists between a couple’s belief and the satisfaction derived from a relationship.
Researchers found that about 40 percent of African-Americans, 29 percent of whites, and 29 percent of Hispanics attended religious services with their significant other on a regular basis.
Outside of the study, white couples have been recorded as having more satisfactory relationships. However, this gap narrows when taking into account religious or spiritual connection. In other words, non-whites that share a spiritual connection often have deeper relationships than Caucasians.
Bradford Wilcox, co-author and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, states: “What this study suggests is that religion is one of the key factors narrowing the racial divide in relationship quality in the United States.”

2. Spiritual couples are (emotionally) healthier

In a Columbia University study, spiritual or religious practices often thicken the brain region associated with counteracting depression.

According to Lisa Miller, professor and director of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University: “The new study links this extremely large protective benefit of spirituality or religion to previous studies which identified large expanses of the cortical thinning in specific regions of the brain…at risk for major depression.”
Taking into account that depression is one of the major causes of divorce, the results of this study are immensely important. The devoted are apparently better equipped biologically to counteract the precursors of depression, which can have a positive impact on the emotional satisfaction one derives from their relationship.

3. Prayer increases commitment

Prayer seemingly increases commitment for each other. An aspect of prayer where one partner devotes time praying for the other – shows an increase in levels of commitment and relationship satisfaction.
The participant groups – 316 college students and 205 married, African-American couples – demonstrated similar results in relationship commitment and satisfaction. The couples also reported feeling more confident in the stability of their relationship.

4. Spirituality = Kindness

People often use acts of kindness as a benchmark for how effective spiritual and religious practices are. This is fair, considering that many “religious” or “spiritual” people are far from what is generally considered “kind.”
The same can be said for how people measure the effectiveness of spiritual or religious practice within a relationship. Do these practices make a difference in how couples treat one another? Research says “yes.”
In the Journal of Family Psychology, 164 married couples who were about to have their first child – a very stressful event – were tested to see if proclaimed spirituality had a real (non-anecdotal) effect on the relationship.
Interactions between the couples were recorded on four occasions: during late pregnancy stages, and the baby’s age at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The couples were required to rate both their own and their partner’s spiritually intimate behaviors during these times, while giving their viewpoint on the sanctity of their marriage.
After analyzing both the behaviors and ratings of each couple, there was ‘noted positive behaviors such as mutual problem solving, asking for the other person’s point of view, affection, and shared humor.’ “Spiritual intimacy is very, very important and undeniably a construct that matters,” says Dr. Annette Mahoney, psychology professor at Bowling Green State University and the study’s lead author.

5. Spirituality relieves stress

Stress, in varying degrees, plays a role in each of our lives – work, kids, finances, family obligations, etc. Spirituality helps to relieve these stressors in a few different ways, specifically by helping you:
– Connect with yourself and the world.
– Expand your support network.
– Feel a sense of purpose.
– Have a healthier life.
– Release control.
You’ll notice that each of these plays a direct role in our relationships. Health, connectedness, purpose, control, and support are all applicable in how healthy (or unhealthy) your relationships are.
More importantly, in relieving stress through spiritual or religious practices, you diminish the likelihood that stress will negatively impact your relationship. Spirituality does this by nurturing your relationship and creating a deeper understanding and appreciation of your loved one.

“Spiritual relationship is far more precious than physical. Physical relationship divorced from spiritual is body without soul.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Find Your Flow and Flourish

1. Visualize what you want your life to look like.

Before anything begins to manifest in the physical realm, you must first envision what your dream life would consist of. The idea that the reality we see every day begins as vibrational energy held at the same frequency for an extended period of time before it exists physically has been coined “The Law of Attraction.” This elusive concept seems foreign to many people, but it becomes easier to understand if you break it down in laymen terms.
Basically, what you repeatedly think becomes what you repeatedly do, and all of this determines what reality you see every day. To live a life you really want, you must align your thoughts and actions with the reality you seek. The energy you put out into the world comes back to you, so make sure you pay attention to your thoughts; you’re subconsciously creating your reality at this very moment with your mind!

2. Buy a vision board and write down your goals.

Ask yourself these five questions:

• What do I want to do with my life?
• What are my unique talents?
• What makes me happy?
• How can I get from where I am now to where I want to be?
• How much money do I need to live how I want to?

Write down your answers to these questions, and keep the board somewhere clearly visible to you. In particular, pay attention to your answer to #4. Your response to this will determine the answers to all of the other questions, because where you want to be likely includes more money, happiness, and a fulfilling career already.
Now, you just need to create actionable goals with a clear timeline, work on your goals every day, and see your life vision transform into manifestation!

3. Follow the lead of the Universe

In the book “Into the Wind” by Jake Ducey, he travels the world with $8,000 and no plan other than to follow the flow, help others, and find himself. He accomplished all three of these things, but he allowed himself to be carried by the powerful jet stream of the universe, and didn’t ever doubt where it was taking him or what plans it had for him in the future. He surrendered to the natural order of the world, and tested the power of the human spirit in the process. You can do exactly what he did in your own special way, but you must believe that you came here for a purpose.
The source-of-all, Spirit, God, or whatever you prefer to call it, can co-create your reality if you choose to open yourself up to infinite possibilities.

4. Limit your technology use.

Phones and computers offer great resources for learning new concepts, but spending time without it will help your creativity flourish. Technology tends to stifle inner growth because it becomes addicting after a while, and takes away our power to think and create independently. Think about it – how many times do you check emails, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter each day? Probably more than you can count, if you’re like most people.
Instead of mindlessly scrolling through the social networks, use that time to cultivate your passions and work on yourself. Your life will become much more meaningful and gratifying to you once you dig deep and use your passions to create a life you truly love.

5. Get your creative juices flowing.

If you want to become an active creator in your life, rather than just a spectator, you will have to use your imagination to get things started. It might seem a little strange at first to use your creative energy, because our world runs on mostly left-brained, linear thinking. However, find an activity you enjoy that makes you come alive with boundless inventive energy, such as yoga, writing, painting, dancing, rock-climbing, or anything else you can think of. Just immerse yourself in some sort of activity that requires more doing rather than thinking. Too much thinking encourages stagnation, whereas doing inspires new ideas through movement.

6. Give your mind and body adequate rest.

Working on your life requires a lot of energy, especially in the beginning, so make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night so you can recharge your batteries. Finding your flow has just as much to do with proper self-care as it does with setting intentions and taking action.
For example, you could tune up your car and install the highest-powered engine in the world, but if you run your car into the ground, the engine does no good. Your body and mind need some R&R if you want them to run optimally and help you in your quest to become your best self.

7. Try things you thought you couldn’t do.

Take a speaking class, go skydiving, talk to strangers, attempt to stand on your head, or try eating totally raw foods for a week. Do things you previously thought were impossible, and make them possible. You will grow your confidence exponentially by getting uncomfortable often, and it will help you evolve creatively as well. You will begin to see the full spectrum of your potential, and develop the “yes” mentality about life that the universe has wanted you to have all along!