It is hard to believe that we are at the end of August! I can feel the shift in the air with the nighttime breezes cooler than just a few weeks ago. This past weekend we entertained friends and enjoyed a beautiful bonfire on the beach but needed to huddle close to the flickering of dancing flames to stay warm. School supplies and schedules are at the forefront of the kid’s minds while calendars are already filling up with activities for the coming months. Can you feel the changes as we slide into Fall? In this weeks article let’s look at some Simple Solutions to help you make the transition from one season to the next.

I love everything about summer! Dancing waves, turquoise water, runs on the beach, watching surfers gracefully ride, lobster rolls, sleeping in, paddle boarding, yoga on the beach, bonfires, s’mores, relaxed time, romantic getaway adventures, cuddles with the kids, cards and games, entertaining friends.. my list could go on and on. I love the pace of summer with its relaxed and meandering cadence. As the end begins, I know that I need to have Simple Solutions in place to help gracefully navigate the accelerated pace that naturally comes with the season ahead.

If I allow it, my mind begins to swirl and twirl thinking about the to-do list that is beginning to grow. The sensation is magnified from thoughts of back to school clothes, shoes, classroom supplies, dorm necessities, senior portraits, college essays and applications, move-in days, soccer, field hockey, dentist appointments, client schedules, book tours and speaking engagements. Yikes! I understand the need to find calm in the midst of chaos of modern day living!

1. Stop the Swirl

You have heard me say this before but it is important to repeat! Stop the swirl and twirl by taking out a pencil and write down what needs to be done. Get it out of your head and on to a piece of paper. This is super effective! You will feel so much better from this little strategy!

2. Big Yucky Things

Now that you have your list, go through it and decide which ones you do NOT want to do. Which items seem too big or yucky to do?  Which ones are holding you back? Becoming consciously aware of what items are challenging you and why, will help you to move through the obstacle they create.

3. Take Action

Take action and complete the worst ones first! If you are dreading something specific… do this 1^st!  This tactic will help to alleviate the weighty feeling that a list can create! Once you tackle one dreaded item, notice how you feel. This will help to make the other items on your list so much easier to complete!

Finding calm in the midst of chaos during the shift from summer to fall is important for your overall sense of well-being. Using these Simple Solutions will help you gracefully navigate the tumultuous tides of transition.

If you need additional help navigating the tumultuous tides of transition, click here to schedule you Free Success Strategy Session.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Photo Credit: fineartamerica dot com

How do you face challenges that come up in your home, health and happiness? Are you left feeling depleted and defeated or are you able to pull yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps and begin anew? How you face these obstacles impacts the level of satisfaction you have with your overall life.  In this weeks article we will look at the concept of Wabi-Sabi and how it can be used as a Home in Harmony Simple Solution to help you leap over the hurdles that come up on the course of life.

Have you heard the term Wabi-Sabi? It comes from the Japanese teaching that explains that one should accept and appreciate the beauty within the impermanence, transience and imperfection of life and all things. Living from this vantage point, that nothing is perfect or permanent, can give one relief in a world that projects perfect images of lives and homes on social media, TV or the Big Screen.

Knowing that life wasn’t meant to be perfect can help you release the valve from the pressure cooker.

We moved to Boston a few years ago and I had the opportunity to “play” and create the house of my dreams. The structure we chose was ideal for my grand vision; it just needed magic tweaks to make it our home. I began and gave the kitchen window treatments that incorporated fabrics, colors and trimmings that I had been swooning over, the bathroom shimmered & glistened with a metallic faux paint and in the master bedroom I designed a fireplace with moldings and tile work that captured the serenity and glamour that I adore.  And then, the winter of 2015 hit… hard…

For the past month and a half the contractors have been demolishing the inside of the structure because of ice dams, water leaks and snow load that began in January. Now, roughly 8 walls remain intact.  All the other walls are gone including all of the ceilings and floors.

How would you cope if you watched your dream home being demolished nail-by-nail and board-by-board?  When challenges occur in your life, how do you react?

In my business and life I have noticed one thing to be true—how you do one thing is how you do all things. This isn’t a new idea; Aristotle alluded to it in his lifetime (384-322 B.C.) This idea has stood the test of time and you can use it to improve your life. So, begin to notice how you react to challenges that come up in your life.

Leaning on the concept of Wabi-Sabi has helped me wrap my head around the unfortunate situation with our home. Yes, it is exceptionally disappointing to watch something you love erode before your very eyes. But, holding on to the notion that nothing is meant to be permanent or perfect helps one to gain perspective in challenging situations.

A Wabi-Sabi perspective coupled with 3 things allows me to jump the hurdles in life with strength and inspiration: (1) A strong conviction that everything happens for a reason, (2) The Universe gives us Life Lessons exactly when we need them and (3) Acknowledging that when we are open to the next stage something beautiful is on the other side of the darkness.

How do you react to the challenges that come up in your life? Take a minute to think about your initial reaction to the last obstacle in your life. Typically how you reacted in that situation is how you respond in all areas of your life. Can you move into a positive outlook? Or, do you end up getting stuck?

Happy Soaring!

XOXO