I came back from working on an opera in Maine ready to write, bike, run, spend more time at the Smithsonian museums, hang out with friends, sew, and sing! (That last one is not so surprising.)
Have you ever noticed that energy begets energy? That when you do something that charges you up, you find a surprising amount of energy to do more?
Here are more thoughts on this! I hope you are having a great August!!
You were born with unique gifts to share with the world. When those gifts sync up with what you do on a daily basis, the positive energy of getting to your best work makes you productive and joyous – and we all benefit from that!
This talk challenges you to figure out what your unique gifts are, and to compare that to how you spend your time. Is there stuff in your core you never get to? And/or are you spending time on fun or work that doesn’t touch you at a core level?
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“Grow wild according to thy nature.” – Henry David Thoreau
There are opportunities to build community all around you. My latest was last weekend when I was out kayaking on the Shenandoah River with a Meet Up group of 50 strangers.
When you are on the path to Organized Zen to joyously get to your best work, having a community around you is a delicious support system. And getting connected can start with a smile and a simple question: Where are you from?
Then maybe follow that with: What brought you here today? Where did you grow up? What do you do for work?
You start to build community from the moment you introduce yourself, ask a question, and listen to the answers without jumping in with your own story. You build on that community when you connect one person to another where you find commonalities. And the circle is complete when even the outliers within a group who struggle to start a conversation, are welcomed in and feel seen and heard.
I love this quote from Ross Gay in his new book The Book of Delights: “The more stuff you love the happier you will be.”
Loving the people around you and finding a connection to them is a great step to finding that happiness. I hope this is helpful and that you take a daring step this week to reach out and bring someone new to your community.
Here are my thoughts from a wonderful kayak day on the Shenandoah River.
People who are sure of themselves and love their work energize any room they come into. There is a joy to being around highly energized, grounded people, so why not be one of them?
When you tap into the “heat” in your life you find that energy. And maybe not just once. We’re not limited by decisions we’ve made in the past. What’s your heat today? What project, work, art, friendship, or ridiculous endeavor would you like to take on?
This talk was inspired by a weekend writing workshop with Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, and Tiny Beautiful Things. Cheryl’s writing is inspiring and you could feel the heat in the room at each session. Plus she’s funny and that’s always a bonus :).
Cheryl shared this quote from Maya Angelou that sums up this talk and is a great point to ponder: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Cheryl’s talk was on writing from the heart – but you can apply the heat test to any aspect of your life. Please don’t leave something you have to offer the world undone!
In this talk, I’ll give you ideas about how to tap into your heart to find the hot spots and take a baby step in a new direction. I hope this brings you inspiration to take a baby step today that sets you off on a new, HOT path.
I love it when I hear a message from one person. And then another. And then another! Sometimes the Universe has to stand directly in front of me to get me to pay attention. What message did I get this week? Slow down!
When you slow down you have time to make sure that where you’re going is a place you want to go. One very cool way to slow down is through art and music which can mendyour mind as well as your heart.
Okay, Universe. I am listening. I promise I’ll slow down. It just may not be until August :).
I hope the start of your summer has been a joyous, slow time for you. 🙂
Making time for quiet each day has all sorts of healing properties. Taking a deep breath and pausing to think and be in the space you’re in can help lower your blood pressure, improve your ability to focus, and elevate your mood.
Getting to your best work isn’t all about doing – sometimes it’s about stopping to “consider.” And sometimes, it’s about stopping just to stop. 🙂
Here are a few thoughts on finding ways to bring meditative moments into your day.
And I have to add a picture of my granddaughter Brooke as she considers her toes. Bliss 🙂
Skipping out on sleep impacts your short-term productivity and can harm your long-term health. I hope you pick up a few pointers here to help you get a better night’s sleep!
Oddly enough, I recorded this in Maine while visiting with my daughter, Sam, her husband Andrew, and 4-month old Brooke. I may be a little sleep deprived by the time I return next week 🙂
Your super powers show up when what you’re doing feels challenging but easy.
They’re talents that live at your core and kick in across all sorts of situations.
When you’re using your super powers, time feels like it either races by or comes to a standstill because you are so engaged with what you’re doing.
When your super powers are in play, you feel so joyous and full of energy it tends to spread to people around you.
The really cool thing about super powers is when you combine more than one.
And, at home or at work, when you add those super powers to something you’re deeply interested in – you can be unstoppable.
I had a cool encounter last week that demanded a mix of my super powers and deepest interests. Click here to hear the story!
I’m sending you a powerful wish today that you puzzle out what your super powers are so you can bring them out to the world!
Organizational Habits 