Author Archives: Megan Antlfinger

What Scared You Today?

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Have you walked outside your comfort zone recently? Some might ask, “Why would you?” Well, the answer is growth & expansion! It is easy to move along in the hazy fog of everyday living. Our routines and habits determining what we mechanically choose to do, be and say. Studies have shown that more than 86% of a person’s day consists of habitual, autopilot behaviors. These are the actions that are done without thought. You know, taking a shower without needing to think about it while your mind contemplates the activities for the day ahead. This is an innate response of the brain that actually helps us move through our day without thinking about every little thing that needs to occur, like lifting your leg each time you take a step. Unfortunately, more often than not, it is easy to allow this mode of “unthinking” to dominate every moment of every day. This is one reason it is so important to be consciously present and live fully awake in the now. Living in the now allows you to consciously choose what is in your best interest to do, be and say in any given moment. There are a few ways to help you wake-up and move out of the dazed delirium and into a mindful and vibrant daily presence.

Move Out of Your Comfort Zone:

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” These words are sometimes misinterpreted. When I hear this, I think of it as a call to action to move out of your comfort zone. It is so easy to do the same things day after day. But, when you shift gears and begin to diverge from your same-old worn out path you need to be fully present to watch where you step to avoid pitfalls or obstacles in the way. This presence moves you from a state of unconscious living to a state of awakened existence. Even if it is scary it stirs heightened sensations from every sense. This helps you feel truly alive!

I recently spent some time with a friend who had one of those move-out-of-your comfort-zone moments. She fully acknowledged that she was uncomfortable with the situation at hand, but instead of resisting she took a deep breath and explained that one of her recent motto’s was to “Do one thing each day that scares (her)”. She took on the challenge and came out the other side stronger and pleasantly uplifted.

How can I?

In my business it has been a year of taking on new challenges, risks and first time endeavors. If I had said “No” to any of the opportunities I would not be where I am today or have felt the exhilaration and excitement that has come from so many outside-my-comfort-zone moments. Each time one of these situations presents itself; I take a deep breath and think to myself, “How can I?” This attitude has allowed me to grow on each occasion and feel the exhilaration of being present, consciously alert and living in a state of mindfulness.

Observe:

Begin to notice what habits you have. Those are the consistent things you do each day. Highly successful people purposefully develop positive habits that help them function at an elevated level. But, before they can do that they need to be cognizant of their habits in general. Are these habits serving them in a supportive way or depleting them on many levels. Begin to notice your daily habits. Maybe replace one habit for something new that is outside your comfort zone. I would love to hear what that is and how it made you feel!

Growth and expansion come from trying new things and moving beyond where you once were. Awakening comes from not accepting the status quo, raising the bar of awareness to new heights and conquering the blocks that hold us back. These moments of presence and clarity wipe away the habitual fog of everyday repetitiousness and move you to vibrant and exhilarated living. What one thing will you do today that scares you and wakes up all of your senses?

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Designing Shared Spaces

There are trends in the housing market that make sharing living spaces more common than ever. Basically it comes down to more people living in smaller accommodations. You might have heard the reference to the “Boomerang Sandwich”. This is the phenomenon where elder parents need to move in with their adult children who already have children living at home. Everyone needs to share the space. This trend is more prevalent than ever. So, whether you need to create living areas that will contain toddlers and teens or grandma and adult children, here are some thoughts…

My two teenage girls share a room. Enough said? (I will give you more details anyway.) As only teenage girls know how to do, they have been complaining about their room and the style—or lack-of-style. In their view they have outgrown the Lily Pulitzer bedding and window treatments and want something more sophisticated and put-together. I don’t blame them. We’ve decided to embark on the redesign. My goal is to create a space that will support each individual, their uniqueness and allow both of them to simultaneously love their nest. This might be one of my most challenging endeavors as a designer! But, if I can do it, so can you! Here are some quick tip ideas to help you create shared spaces be it for siblings, couples, friends or extended family.

1. Uncover & Examine the Functional Needs

It is important to determine the various activities that will occur in a space. Maybe one area has to meet dual functions of homework station, the game table and Grandpa’s love of puzzles. Thinking about these things ahead of time will create a welcome environment where everyone’s needs are met. Does the youngest member of the house need storage for toys that might make a mom crazy if they are left out all over the floor? Do siblings sharing a bedroom have different ideas for what would be great in the space? Does one sibling enjoy displaying pictures of a boy band and the other wants only motivational pictures of her favorite athlete? These are all questions to uncover and examine before designing a shared space that will make everyone feel great.

2. Color is Key

Whether we are aware of it or not, color plays an important role in everyone’s life. It effects you emotional and physically. It either supports you or drains your energy. If, when designing, you don’t take into consideration the color needs of everyone involved, you could be setting someone up for overwhelm, feelings of depletion and a low level of overall domestic satisfaction. When your home is supposed to be the place that rejuvenates you, it is imperative to look at the color consequence for all those that will be in the environment for extended periods of time. Create color contentment for all-inclusive home harmony.

3. Pictures Speak Volumes

Sometimes it is hard to get started when designing a space that will nurture more than one person and their unique likes and dislikes. When designing a space for my girls I told them each to find 10 pictures of bedrooms that they just loved. I explained that not only did I want to see the cool pictures I knew they would find but I also wanted to know what they loved about the design. They were excited to embark on this “homework” assignment. I also told them to find 5 pictures of rooms that they agreed on and thought were cool. I limited this number figuring that with the divergent tastes, asking for more than that might be hard. They came back with some fabulous visuals! I was able to get a sense of direction for what would work for both of them. The commonalities were more evident when comparing the opposing pictures they had chosen. Sometimes pictures are an easier language to understand because they are able to articulate things and ideas that words cannot express, especially when trying to convey visual concepts that touch your mind, body and spirit.

Thankfully we are well on our way to creating a chic and revitalized shared bedroom space that will soothe the senses and rejuvenate both of my girls as they meet the challenges of life as a teenager. You can use these simple solutions to help you create an inspired and supportive home for all those that are part of your circle of love under your roof.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Create a Heaven at Home

Many in the Northern Hemisphere have felt the extreme effects of Mother Nature and the blast of frigid air. Even those who are fortunate to live in temperate climates have experienced colder than typical temperatures. In the Northeast we have had our share of winter Nor’Easters and wind chills below zero which have made for fun moments on frozen ponds or swooshing down hills. For many, these colder temperatures bring a natural inclination to spend more time indoors. This makes it especially essential to notice how your home environment is affecting you. Are you irritated by a room that you wish was decorated in a different way or do you melt into the couch and snuggle up under a blanket relishing your divine nest that nurtures your body, mind and spirit?

Your home environment plays an important role in your life. Not only does it give you a place to take shelter, but also it affects everything from your mood and appetite to your health, work and relationships. I could write a whole book on how your home impacts you and all the things you can do to make it support you and help you live the life of your dreams (oh, I did!… and it will launch in November 2014!). If you are currently living in a space that doesn’t make your heart sing and your spirit soar let’s look at two simple things you can do to create heaven in your home.

1. Notice

Often we are so consumed by the activities in our everyday living that we overlook our environments. You may find yourself running in to quickly make dinner before rushing out to get to this or that. In the frenzy you hardly have time to notice what your home looks like and more importantly feels like, but unfortunately your subconscious is very aware on multiple levels. Take a moment to assess each room in your home and determine if it uplifts you or bums you out.

2. Action

If you find that there are spaces that are not making you smile, it is time to take action. Too often we say to ourselves, “I will get to that later”. But, in the frenetic pace we never manage to make time to take action. This has a compounded detrimental effect on our wellbeing. We are simultaneously being drained from the area that we want to change and also from the constant reminder that we didn’t make the time to complete the task we had hoped to accomplish. This lack of action leads to a self-defeating internal dialogue that hinders self-confidence, feelings of worthiness and joy. Take action today, even if it is just a small step, towards creating your ultimate home heaven.

It is easy to walk through life in a fog, not fully aware of the world around us because we are tuned into various things from technology and to-do lists to commitments and work that distract us from living in the here and now of full awareness. Taking time to notice your home environment can be an important first step in creating a heavenly home that will support you in every area of your life. Taking action is the critical next step to help you realize and create a home that brings you joy, confidence and vitality.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Manifest Your Ideal Life

I am fortunate to be part of a mastermind group of luminaries (individuals who share and shine their light with the world). We meet each month to share insights, encourage each other to grow and support one another personally and professionally. We had our first meeting of 2014 and the main focus of our discussion was looking at past and present goals. The big question was “Where (personally and professionally speaking) are you?” As we began to share our different experiences there were common threads that I could hear within each message that made me pause and reflect on how we are all capable of moving forward in our lives and reaching the goals we set out to accomplish and that there are specific techniques that facilitate the ability to meet our objectives and live our ultimate lives. Funny thing is that some of these insights might be different than you expected. By implementing these strategies you can accelerate your ability to create the life of your dreams. These simple steps will help you become clear on your goals and develop quick and effective ways to manifest your ideal life.

Plant Clear Seeds

You might have an idea of what your inspired life looks like or what you would be doing to live the life of your dreams. With the New Year, many folks begin to ponder these thoughts, envision their idyllic future and put goals together to make their ideals come to fruition. Gaining crystal clear clarity is essential to accomplishing your goals and bringing your dreams to fulfillment. Think about how it would look, feel, and smell. What sensations would you experience in your ultimate world? This clear vision is the seed you plant that will encourage your dream/s to grow.

Focus on the Goal

It is important to focus on the goal without pushing so hard that you push it away. Have you ever experienced wanting something so badly that you keep pushing to make it happen, only for it to be more elusive than it was previously. Roadblocks and obstacles appear that weren’t previously there? I can appreciate this phenomenon. As a Type A person, there have been many times in my life where I have focused in on a goal and blazed forward to make it happen. Unfortunately, more times than not, this energy pushes the goal farther away leaving me wondering why things aren’t working out. In recent years I have finally come to the understanding that we are better served to become crystal clear on the goal, which plants the seed of possibility. From there it is important to step into the energy of ‘Allowing’. Move with the natural rhythm of a greater power that taps into infinite potential and possibilities.

Take Small Steps

Strategically make decisions that will help you flow gracefully towards your goals without pushing them further away. I suggest strategically because often times I see clients or colleagues spinning their proverbial wheels doing busy work that gets them no-where fast and leaves their dreams just beyond arms length, never to be reached. Break down your goals into smaller steps so that the big goals don’t seem insurmountable. When moving with the natural rhythm of the Universe nothing is impossible and small steps can begin to accelerate your momentum.

Celebrate the Past

The great thing about small steps is that they are achievable! I can’t say enough how important it is to celebrate even the smallest of successes. I know in my own life that I often find myself moving forward towards the next goal or project without taking the time to notice how much has already been accomplished. I think our culture exacerbates this experience and many find themselves not only disconnected from the present but, negating their triumphs by ignoring what has already been fulfilled. You might hear that it is important to live in the Now. This is true, but it is also imperative to appreciate the past. It is in the pausing, reflecting and appreciating that we replenish. This gives us the energy, passion and enthusiasm to continue moving forward.

Let 2014 be your best year yet! Clearly articulate and envision your dreams and goals. Plant seeds of clarity that when gently nurtured will blossom into a splendid life. Move from a position of forcefully willing your goals to happen, which pushes your dreams farther away, to a place of graciously allowing the flow of natural rhythm to support you and your dreams. Celebrate each small step as you gracefully flow in the life of your dreams. These strategize will help you to accelerate the speed with which you manifest the goals you have set in motion for 2014.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Do You Have Cancer Anxiety?

In this blog I want to touch on a somber reality that affects so many of us. It is my hope that amidst the anxiety and stress I can bring knowledge and hope that can lead you out of the darkness and into an empowered state of being.

Unfortunately the statistics on cancer rates are staggering. The reality is that 1 in 4 deaths in the US are due to cancer. Along with this sobering truth, the average person holds more than 700 contaminants that become stuck in their bodies wreaking havoc, literally causing disease and other glitches that affect the system. The good news is that we are beginning to truly understand why and how this is happening, which empowers you and I! We can take action to support ourselves in creating optimum health. The following blog will share 5 simple solutions to help you create vibrant health!

I had a friend, Sam call me today in a state of panic because he had just gone to visit a dear friend who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. His friend was a strong, fit and seemingly healthy individual who lived a lifestyle that incorporated health conscious choices much better than the average American. The new found diagnosis was perplexing and frightening on so many levels. Typical to many individuals who learn that someone they know or love has become sick, there were questions and anxiety associated with how Sam was living his own life, the concern for the foods he was eating and an extreme fear of getting sick. Sam actually said, “I am afraid to eat and I don’t know what foods are going to be ok.” This is a common fear and understandable in today’s day and age. We all know people who have been impacted by cancer or other diseases. We now have a greater understanding for the toxins in our environment and our food that are wreaking havoc on our bodies. It is important to gain an awareness of the affect of these toxic substances, what they are, where they are, and how they become stuck in our bodies. You need simple solutions to help not only eliminate these toxins, but to eliminate the fear. There are things that you can do to empower you and help you live a healthy and vibrant life. Let’s look at five simple solutions that will help you be proactive in creating great and optimum health.

1. Toxic Reality

The first step is to gain an understanding and appreciation for toxins. In my Fresh Start Wellness and Healthy Home Programs I call it the what, where and how. First, become aware of what toxins are. Second, understand where toxins are lurking in your life. Unfortunately they are in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. When you begin to understand this reality you can then take action on how to remove the toxins that are in your life and inadvertently in your body.

2. Deep Breath

The second simple solution is to take a deep breath. Know that just by becoming aware of where toxins are lurking in your life, you automatically will make healthier selections. Your awareness will allow you to begin making choices that can create better health and well-being. It is in the small steps that we are able to transform our lives. Each day choosing to acknowledge your awareness and make healthy choices based on reality gives you the ability to design your inspired life. An inspired life is about being empowered, open to the truth and welcoming new insight into our lives. This new knowledge gives you the power of choice. The power of choice helps you make daily decisions that affect the big picture of your life.

3. Course Correct

Even when we are making healthy choices on a consistent basis there are going to be times in everyone’s life when we might choose to go out for a meal in a restaurant or imbibe at a party- this is natural. Don’t beat yourself up about making a few unhealthy choices as long as you’re able to course correct and make more healthy decisions than unhealthy ones.

4. Eliminate Toxic Blocks

Lastly it’s really important to make sure that your digestive system is functioning optimally. Our digestive system is the highway that allows the toxins that are in our bodies to move on out! It is essential to make sure that there are no blocks on this highway and that any toxins that we may breathe in or ingest can be eliminated naturally.

5. Sweat

Eliminating toxins in other ways can be exceptionally beneficial as well. If you go out for a night and enjoy a few cocktails or some standard American food you might want to go to the gym the next day and make sure that you get in a vigorous exercise where you’re able to sweat profusely. This also helps to flush out toxins from your system.

Take the time to understand the what, where and how toxins are lurking in your life. This knowledge will empower you to make the best choices to help you live a long, vibrant and healthy life!

Join me on January 9th, 2014 for the Fresh Start Wellness and Detox Program to learn the what, where & how of toxins that impact your body. Join me on January 30th, 2014 for the Creating Your Healthy Home Program to learn ways eliminate toxins from you home so that you can breathe easy.

Wishing you blessings of amazing health and harmony!