om monday: let it shine
do you remember that kids' song..."this little light of mine, i'm gonna let it shine. let it shine, let is shine, let it shine!" i haven't thought about that song in years, but the other day in yoga, we were asked to tap into our inner light during our practice. that inner knowing that lives deep within each one of us. that beautiful essence of just being that radiates from us when we are truly in line with our authentic selves.
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throughout the holidays, we often look for external ways to brighten us up. we immerse ourselves in holiday tasks and to-dos; hoping that the upcoming holiday party or the next gift given will be the thing that brightens our light and reconnects us to the true meaning of the season. and then, come january 1st, we start with our endless list of improvements that must be made in order for us to achieve true and lasting happiness - lose 15 lbs, get a new job, get a gym membership.
but, if we take a minute to think about it, we already know that those external things are never truly the key to contentment. sure, they provide us with momentary pleasure, but after a few weeks that glow...the outer glow...will wear off.
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so, where does true brilliance reside if it's not in presents and parties and resolutions? you already know. we all do. it already lives within each of us. a little light that needs to be recognized and celebrated. and, once you tap into it, there's no stopping the endless joy that can result from finding your inner luminance.
take a moment of quiet during these busy weeks and just notice. notice the beautiful simplicity of slowing down, taking a deep breath and recognizing the light that was always there.
namaste : )
om monday: set down your goals
on friday i sat down and worked on my business goals for 2012. last week i came across a great outline to follow, which gave me a lot of guidance and much-needed clarity. because, you have to admit, though goal-setting often starts as an uplifting, motivating activity, it can often descend into overwhelming drudgery quite quickly. so, with the outline as my guide, i set forth to set down in writing my lofty (but not completely ridiculous) biz goals for 2012.
there's something about putting your aspirations on paper that makes them feel instantly more real & attainable. and, not only did i set down my goals, which is all well and good, but i also listed step-by-step ways to go about achieving them. i think that's the step that i often miss. i love thinking, dreaming and fantasizing about my goals and how wonderful it will be when i reach them, but then i float onward without real direction. often getting led (slightly) astray.
the new year is just over 2 weeks away. instead of hurriedly thinking about your goals (i.e. resolutions) on new year's day, take this time to mull it over. with all the hustle and bustle these next few weeks, take a few quiet moments to contemplate and set down the things that you would most like to achieve this year. what would bring you true happiness?
and, whether it's a business idea, a health makeover or a new skill you wish to acquire, think about the necessary steps to make it happen. it will be what you make it.
om monday: letting ideas grow
let me know if this sounds familiar...
you get an idea - but not just any idea - a fabulously-wonderful-miraculous idea for a business, or for self-improvement or for creating something awesome. and because this idea is so spectacular, you are, of course, super-excited to get moving on it, making it happen and bringing this awesomeness to life. full steam ahead. no obstacle could stop you.
"success seems to be connected with action. successful men keep moving. they make mistakes, but they don't quit." -conrad hilton
you have a few strong weeks...or days...or hours...and then your energy and enthusiasm are beginning to wain. you're tired, and the response to your wonderfulness was not quite as emphatic as you had hoped. you can feel your idea fizzling and fading. why did i ever think that was such a good idea anyway??!!
but, in this thought process, we're mistaken. we're confusing a good idea with an easy idea. and rarely are truly good, worthwhile ideas easy.
i once heard it described as this - you plant a seed deep in the earth. you water it, make sure it gets enough sunlight, fertilize it, water it some more. you see nothing, zip, nil on the surface, but underground the seed the growing. little by little, it busts out of its casing and begins its slow and steady journey toward the surface. there's so much work going on underground, but at surface level you see nothing - no fruits from your labor. if you give up, stop watering the little seed and forget about it, it will never reach the surface and blossom into what it's meant to be.
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your idea is a little seed. tend to it. care for it. it will become whatever you're willing to put into it. and the more you persevere, the more fruitful your endeavors will be. you get out what you put in. so, put in a whole helluva lot.
and, always remember, the mighty oak was once a tiny acorn : )