Happy Planting

I love planting dream seeds in my heart garden.

In the beginning, my heart garden looked a lot like my three year old granddaughter’s real garden with too many seeds randomly strewn and not enough space for any one in particular to thrive.

She’s four now, and this year her garden has the makings of rows, and a pattern, and way fewer seeds. She’s learning to plant with more intention and focus and I’m learning to plant my heart garden the same way, too. 

In the past, I sort of let volunteers spring up and take over. They’ll do that in your regular garden, too, if you don’t carefully weed them out. I wasn’t always intentional about what I invited into my life. Instead of thinking about what might create more happiness for me, and then proactively working to achieve it, I played it safe and took whatever came along.

I was afraid to want something and go after it, for fear I wouldn’t get it. Back then, I believed that not getting it would be far more devastating than not trying. It took me a long time to bust that myth. It turned out that was the myth that stood between me and the great life I knew I wanted, but didn’t know how to get.

Busting your own myth, the thing that gets in the way of growing your happiness, unfortunately involves doing the thing that scares you the most. Therein lies the rub. For me, it was learning to fail successfully, to put myself out there, to try new things win or lose. It took a very, very, very, long time for that dream seed to grow but when it did, it was well worth every second of the wait.

Spring is here. Let’s think about our heart gardens and the dream seeds we’d like to plant there. Don’t worry about how practical they seem or how long they might take to grow. Plant them anyway. Soon, you’ll see little dream sprouts peeking though at you. Keep your eye on them, love them, believe in them, do things that nurture them, and before you know it, your dreams will be in full bloom, showy flowers and all.

Caren Albers, author of Happiness Junkie - A 12 Step Program to Find Inner Peace and Change Your Life. carenalbersinspirations.com

Too Much REAL in REALITY

The tragedy and devastation in Japan fills me with love, compassion, and concern for my fellow human travelers. It tugs on my heartstrings and clouds my eyes with tears that spring from my deepest reaches.

With life imitating a horrible disaster film, there’s too much REAL in my REALITY. How do we all quell our feelings of uncertainty and deeply abiding sadness?

We’re “can do” people. Give us a plan, something to do and we’ll happily execute. Fill sandbags, no problem, donate to charities offering aid, sure, anything to lessen our feelings of helplessness.

But today I feel paralyzed, my “can do” and my heart broken.

As I surrender to the tears, I see a news clip showing Japanese people gathered in a shelter preparing food together and helping each other. Doing things that feel “normal” they say gives them a sense of comfort.

Things won’t be “normal” in Japan or anywhere else for a long time. But what we "can do" is help each other and find comfort in the simple things of everyday life. We can share a blog, hold virtual hands and for a precious moment or two feel “normal” again.

Game On

The only thing better than setting a deadline to give youself that much needed kick in the “ars” to get things done is to announce your intention to the world.

It got me back on my blog! I’ve been offline most of January working on myself, looking within, clarifying, and stepping up my game.

I studied marketing myself, living my vision, and radiating my passion. I used the power of daily daydreaming to see the limitless possibilities of my life. I’ve had lots of fun settling into retirement with my husband, but now I’m back and I’m “badder” than ever (the good bad).

I’m stepping into my own power. No more Caren-lite. No more hiding, full-throttle Caren dead ahead. It’s kind of scary for me as well as others. But rest-assured, I only use my power for GOOD.

I’m living authentically, expanding my horizons, and working on attracting my tribe, the people who get me, the people who I can share learning with and also learn from. That is an integral part of who I am. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

I’ve updated my website and finally I’m able to communicate my passion for the process of FOCUS PHRASE™. I hope you’ll stop by and take a look http://carenalbersinspirations.com/. Your comments and feedback would be a great help to me.

Sometimes we know something so well that it is difficult to communicate it to others. This is not difficult to communicate, IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK!

♥Caren4u

Small Changes in Thinking CAN Make Big Changes in YOU

The Four Day Win (oops I added an “e”and typed wine the first time) is a behavior modification strategy shared with me by Martha Beck Master Life Coach Susan Hyatt shyatt.com.  It nurtures goal setting and I can sure use some help with that?

The process involves setting a four day goal and turning it into a success, a win. You start by choosing a small daily goal that you will commit to doing for four day.  A feasible goal makes a huge difference in succeeding.  So, make your goal, then cut it in half to make it ridiculously easy to achieve. I cut my original goal to write one hour every morning during my genius hours when I'm most creative, productive, and connected down to thirty minutes.

Step two involves giving yourself a small reward every day you achieve your goal.  I put together a basket of small gifts,  material rewards (pens, post-it, nail polish etc.), and post-it notes with nonmaterial rewards like reading for 1/2 hour from a yummy book or watching Oprah. I gotta say the reward part challenges me. But that’s the applause, the pat on the back, the “atta girl” we all crave.

On the fourth day of achieving your goal give yourself a BIGGER reward because you accomplished your Four Day Win. It doesn’t need to be expensive like an e-reader or an ipad (although I’m trying to manifest one) it can be a latte or trip to the park or something else that you like.

Three small rewards followed by a larger one allows you to experience life in small wins.  It breaks goals up into managable bites and creates a natural pause to relax in and enjoy your successes.  Then if you want, you can set another Four Day Win! 

It also provides a psychological boost.  Say I go to a yoga class one time, “I’m trying yoga.” But if I go to yoga four times “I DO Yoga.” See the shift, BE the shift!

LIVE YOUR DREAM

Blog Writing 101

The IDEA, EXECUTION, and PUBLISH POST button are three important elements to consider when writing a blog post. Each can terrify a beginner. But trust me you can do this.

IDEA - write about something you believe in that excites you. Something you are experiencing right now or something that you can’t get out of your mind translate well into blog posts that engage readers.

EXECUTION – short and simple is best. A three paragraph writing style similar to one I use in my Focus Phrase Process is a great structure for new bloggers to loosely follow. I say "loosely" because you may notice that this post does not conform to that style.☺ Also, remember to edit, edit, edit. Ask yourself “is this word, thought, or sentence necessary to tell the story?” If not, no matter how brilliant, lose it.

PUBLISH POST - clicking the publish post button used to paralyze me, but practice does make easier (remember there is no perfect). So NIKE (just do it!) You can always change, edit, or if you totally freak out delete it altogether. Nothing is carved in stone here, RELAX, hit PUBLISH POST and see what happens.

My guess is you will find many who appreciate your message and identify with you. Martha Beck calls them “your people.” Don’t let fear keep you on the sidelines another minute. Put yourself out there, BLOG, find “your people” and start building a tribe.

I’m hitting PUBLISH POST now!☺

LIVE YOUR DREAM

Renaissance

I rarely see the first light of day. I’m not against it, but my natural circadian rhythm wakes me at seven thirty when the sun has made her debut and is already ascending in the morning sky. On those rare days when I do occasion a glimpse of her first rise, I know I have witnessed something truly spectacular, a birth, a new beginning.

I am seeing my own sunrise right now. On the horizon her beauty greets me more brightly each day. She emerges wondrous and whole, a perfect arc arching forward. Her appearance not coincidental, designed, desired, and now required by me. Her presence arrives as beautifully as a bird’s melodic call filling my ears with joyful songs.

It is my calling, my soul’s reach. A hand offered a hand taken, pulling me out of my past into the present where all power lives to create my future. I have answered the call and I smile now, not for the world to see, but for me.

My Achilles HeaI

I’m good on my feet and now I’m good to my feet, but I wasn’t always. I took them for granted. I expected them to get me from point A to point B no questions asked, until the day they didn’t.

The day that I stepped on a far too tight muscle, once too often, and pain ensued. The day that with the pain came a message, a reminder of sorts about how a single part effects the whole. The day that the awareness hit me like a freight train that healing comes in its own time on its own schedule not mine.

Now, every day, I wake up slowly languishing in bed for a few moments connecting to my body and spirit, stretching lightly from head to toe, paying special attention to my feet.

I know they intend to support me, but now EVERY DAY I remind myself it’s a two-way street, I must support them, too.

Is Fear Driving Your Bus?

Okay, I admit it, I still haven't embraced failure as my teacher, but I'm trying. So hard that I've devised this action plan to make me unstoppable.

First, I will accept that NOTHING STANDS BETWEEN ME AND MY DREAM, EXCEPT ME. Nothing's missing. If I want to take a computer class, it’s because I want to, not because I need to. All my answers are right here inside of me.

Second, I’m putting myself on loving notice, “NO MORE DREAM AVOIDING.” “NUT UP OR SHUT UP!” Oh, that doesn't sound very loving does it? But when I saw it on a teenager's tshirt I have to say it really resonated with me

Finally, EVERY DAY instead of focusing on how far from my dream I am. I'll embrace each moment as my teacher and focus on the fact that every step I take brings me one step closer to LIVING MY DREAM.

Should I Stay or Should I Go

As my car approaches a squirrel trying to cross the street, he runs forward a few steps then back a few, forward, back, then after two head fakes he finally returns to his safe spot on the sidewalk. I’m at a loss to help him, heck I don’t even know if I can stay out of his way.

Then I realize I’m just like that squirrel.

I start things with vigor, I dart out into the big world and announce my grand plans, then if an obstacle presents itself or I get scared or afraid, I wonder whether I should turn back or venture on.

Watching the squirrel, I realize he will be okay either way, whether he crosses or not. He just needs to make a commitment. But then again, maybe the squirrel needs to run back and forth a few times until he believes in himself.

Thanks to the squirrel, I’ve decided to go for it. Wish me luck!

Inner Fitness

Exercise is my nemesis. I have been in and out shape for nearly fifty five years. As I grow older, I want to keep moving, running, dancing, jumping (not that much jumping) but you get the idea. I want to keep my body limber and my muscles strong, but I resist an exercise routine.

Last fall was the closest I've come to a consistent commitment in years, but I “fell off the wagon.” Where is my “inner coach” when I need her?

I’m wondering if my problem is the word “exercise” or the word “routine.” My days free flow and create themselves many times, but I don’t think I’m allergic to routines. I think it’s the E-word “exercise.” It carries so much negative connotation for me, all the broken promises to myself.

Yesterday, I tried unsuccessfully to motivate myself to take a long walk or go to the gym. Then I remembered a trick I learned last February on my Florida trip. I stopped calling it “exercise or gym” and started calling it “meditation.” Knowing myself better is something I value, so spending an hour dedicated to “meditating” on me seems worthwhile and something I don’t resist.

The “meditation” just happens to take place at California Family Fitness on the wave machine where I practice being in the present moment. Yeah, I can still use headphones and watch the HGTV if I want to or listen to the music channel, but it’s “me” time. Time dedicated to finding me or losing me, whichever I need at that moment.

Is there a goal or an intention that keeps eluding you? Try looking at it through new eyes. Use a new word, one that aligns with your purpose and see if that small shift in words, creates a big shift in your perception. It did for me.