Quick Tip on Overcoming Obstacles

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

What is your Utopia?

Do you live in Utopia? Or are you like the two-thirds of people who are dissatisfied with their life?

I was recently at a celebration of “A life-well-lived”. It was a Bon Voyage Party for my grandmother-in-law. She was 96 and had lived a full life profoundly touching the people around her.

One of the tributes that day made me reflect on her life, my life and your life. The messenger conveyed how Grandma Teddy had visualized a utopian life that included family and a close-knit community that would grow together on a mountain hilltop in upstate New Hampshire. As people reflected on her life, the golden thread of community and connection was woven through each story. Ladies with grandchildren of their own who began their families on the hilltop shared how Teddy taught them to bake, appreciate the flowers on the side of the road and dive in to the role of motherhood. She had left a legacy of generosity, connection and adventure that would carry on in the generations to come, all because she had a vision of Utopia on that hilltop.

At 96 could you say that you lived each moment fully? If you were reflecting back over your life, would you have regrets or would you be satisfied with your fulfilled dreams, relationships and career? Was it close to Utopia? Interestingly, if you are not satisfied with life, you would be among the 66% that are not content according to a recent study mentioned in the Huffington Post. So, what does one do? Let’s take a look in this week’s article!

First, take stock of what you do like about your life. What is going well? What fills you with excitement and joy? Noticing, appreciating and focusing on the positive will help begin to shift the momentum in your life.

Second, add more experiences and situations that fill you with contentment and satisfaction. If you like skipping rocks, take time each day to incorporate it into your schedule. Adding more of the goodness that lifts your spirit will move you into the 33% of people who are satisfied with their life.

Third, know what it is you want out of life. If you are navigating through life without a map you are a captain that is at the mercy of the tides of change and the whistling wind. Things outside of you will determine a good or bad day. Be the captain of your life by knowing where you want to go. Grandma Teddy had a Utopian Vision that came to fruition (with the normal challenges that are part of life) because she could see it within her mind’s eye. She visualized raising her family while being surrounded by a strong knit community on a hilltop in New Hampshire.

Lastly, as any seafaring Captain will tell you, when setting out on your voyage it is important to take with you the tools, provisions and instruments that will help you get where you hope to go swiftly and comfortably. If you are aiming for the Island of Paradise, it is important to plan ahead. What will you need to get there? Laying the foundation and creating a plan before you set sail will help your travels flow with ease and grace instead of haphazard piloting. The last thing you want to do is set sail without a map or GPS! In your life create a plan to help you stay on course towards the Utopia of your dreams.

As we all know, society sets us up to disregard the idea of Utopia making it feel out of reach and impossible. Is that why only 1/3 of people today are satisfied with their life? That being said, you can come close to living your ideal when you know what it is, add elements of it into each day, visual living it and decide on your course of action to get you there. Life will always have its bumps and waves, but navigating through will be easier when you hold on to the vision of your Utopia.

Will you look back at your life and smile knowing you stayed on course towards your Utopia, lived full out and deeply touched those around you in a constructive way?

I would love to hear what your Utopia is… leave a comment below!

If you need help navigating your course of action, click here to schedule you Free Success Strategy Session.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Do You Have Belonging-Buildup?

“Clear the Clutter” seems to be the slogan you see in stores or hear on the radio. I walked into one of the Big hardware stores looking for a durable outdoor coffee table. To my surprise, the outdoor section had been replaced by storage containers of every size! Although this might feel like the newest trend, you and I know that it should be considered more than a marketing fad geared at selling plastic boxes. The challenge is this; although you might feel that containers hold the solution to accumulated belongings and it will help you create the perfect organizational look found in magazines, it often creates the reverse effect and only adds to the chaos of clutter. Without a clear plan of action the clutter only moves locations. Let’s look at how to tame the tower of belonging-buildup and create the look and feel of a harmonious space that is clutter free!

It has been an interesting 6-months in the O’Leary household. As I have alluded to in previous posts, our home sustained significant damage because of ice dams and snow load. The insurance company has been quick to demo 90% of the walls but less than enthusiastic to put a plan in place to re-build. Because of their “hesitation” to take decisive action to fortify the structure, the compromised roof could not sustain any rain. (Mind you, we realized that the roof had issues in February and we are now in the middle of July.) So, you can only imagine the amount of spring rain that has poured through the roof up until now. I tell you this for a specific reason. Although I would consider myself highly organized and void of ample clutter, this experience has given me new insight on what clutter is and how much we really have. It always amazes me how the Universe gives us exactly what we need to learn and grow. Every experience is truly a learning experience if we are open to the lesson.

In June, we packed our belongings for our move to temporary housing. We moved items in four different directions to accommodate for the demolition of our water drenched home. One group went into long-term storage, things like beds or dressers we wouldn’t use. The next group was “short-term” storage made up of items we would need access to in the next 3 or 4 months. Things like sweaters and school supplies. The 3^rd group went with us to our temporary home. And, the last group we put in our unfinished basement that was deemed dry and safe by the company doing the demolition and remediation work. Organizing these groups was a tall task! In some ways it was great to go through and realize that there were items in the back of closets that were never used and it was time to donate or toss. This mandatory exercise in clutter clearing rendered great results and also exposed where unneeded items were stored and how many of them actually existed in our home! This brings me to an important point that I will make by asking you 3 questions. If you had to go through this experience:

What would you find hiding in your closets?

What would you toss?

Do you have a buildup of belongings that you could get rid of before pushing them in a pretty plastic crate?

Well, unfortunately that was not the end of the learning curve. A week ago the skies opened up and rain poured from the heavens. Everything, or most things, in the basement storage got wet. Yes, cardboard boxes of art collapsed with water soaked edges or crates filled with water covering Schonbek Chandeliers. The movers were called once again. This time things would either get tossed, go to dry storage or a wet storage unit to be catalogued for insurance on another day. Again, as we went through items, I was amazed at how many items we could part with. Items that had made the original cut were now ok to toss. There were many items that held sentimental connections, like family portraits, that were sad to lose. My work computer and paper files were other items that would pose a logistical headache. But, once the initial shock had settled in and time for reflection was had, I realized how many “essential” items in our lives are superfluous or supplementary. It makes me pose two questions:

Can you look at each item in your home and take stock of what you truly need verses what is surplus?

Is it a good idea to buy extra containers for the excess?

In this weeks post my hope is to share insight into this turbulent experience that has unfolded in our life so that you can gain the golden nuggets of awareness into your own home without actually experiencing the tumultuous journey. Before purchasing the next box to calm the clutter chaos: First, ask yourself:

Do you really need to store items that can potentially create belonging-buildup?

Will these items turn into an accumulation of clutter even if it is organized in pretty containers?

If you need your own individualized plan that supports you and your current situation schedule your Success Strategy Call here.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Image Credit: Home Depot

Is Fear Creating Your Clutter?

Clutter can get the best of us! Even when you are organized it is amazing what you can find in a closet that you know longer need. Going into homes to help showcase them to sell or create a beautiful environment to nurture inhabitants gives me the inside scoop on what is truly happening behind closed doors in our culture (whether those doors are the front door or a hidden cabinet.) The amount of Stuff is unprecedented! This is evident in our homes and lives!

It happens to the best of us, despite one’s efforts to keep clutter at bay. Here’s why…

Fear is the number one reason people hold on to Stuff that clutters their homes and lives!

Today I walked through a beautiful old home with majestic waters views and was amazed at the amount of Stuff that would need to be removed! Many items needed to be donated, stored or thrown out.

Can you relate?

The homeowner had trouble parting with items even when she considered many items “tacky”. The dilemma was that these items held memories that she was afraid she would give up or lose if she let go of the physical object.

Do you have items in your home you only keep because they hold memories of times past? They are stored away because you really would prefer not to have them out in plain sight?

Is it time for you to clear this type of fear-based clutter from your home & life?

Maybe it is time to come up with an alternate plan for these hidden memory mementos. Below you will find 2 Home in Harmony Simple Solutions to help you get the clutter under control.

Do you feel you need an individualized plan to bust through the block that clutter creates in your mind and home? Is fear-based thinking sabotaging your version of your best life? Please know there are simple solutions to get you to where you want to be…Let me help you find simple solutions that will release you from the clutter.

Click here to grab a time on my calendar.

Home in Harmony Simple Solutions:

One Home in Harmony Simple Solution is to put together a scrapbook that stores images of these memory mementos. Yes, take pictures of your favorite items you refuse to put out on display and place them in a scrapbook. Does that sound crazy? A scrapbook filled with images of objects in your home? This will allow you to “hold on to” the memory mementos that are a reminder of times past without cluttering up your home taking up excessive storage space . If that seems silly, then maybe it is time to decide whether or not you can part with the keepsakes all together.

The second Home in Harmony Simple Solution is to face your fear! Sometimes holding on to items is based on feelings of apprehension about the future. As you look at an object, ask yourself, “Why am I compelled to keep this item?” Is it because you are afraid that wonderful memories won’t be experienced and created going forward? These questions will help you get to the root of why you hold on to these objects.

When you release this block that’s congesting your home and happiness you can step into your full power. Seeing the impact of fear based living inspired me to GIVE you a FREE Shift Your Life Strategy Session to help you clear the clutter from your home & life, connect you to a positive belief system and help you to take clear action to create the home, life and business of your dreams!

Click here if you want your FREE session now.

Gaining clarity around what objects are in your home and why they are there will help you create harmony in your home. Understanding how this is holding you back will release the fear and move you forward to design the life of your dreams… YOU deserve to be free of the clutter that holds you back from creating the BIGGEST and BEST version of your home, happiness and life!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

P.S…If you need clarity around the clutter in your home and life let me help you get clear, unstuck and move beyond the fear that is holding you back from your Home in Harmony!

Click here to secure an appointment with me.

Feeling Off Balance?

Have you ever felt unbalanced, overwhelmed and out-of-sync with your ideal state of living? Things feel topsy-turvy instead of secure and grounded? Sometimes this can happen with new beginnings or the culmination of something in your life- things like graduations, anticipated new careers or moving out or into a new home. All of these transitions can bring about a sense of instability and chaos instead of a calm equilibrium.

I can relate to all of these feelings! We are in the midst of a massive transition in the O’Leary house. Our home was damaged in the winter and we are in the midst of packing up and headed into a temporary spot. Boxes head to the donation pile, long-term storage, short-term storage, our new transitory residence and the garbage pile.

Simultaneously we are working on a large project in which we are renovating an 1880’s home and bringing it back to life. (Exciting but an enormous endeavor!) Add in the fact that two of our girls head out of their small schools to new schools in the Fall. Feelings vacillate between eagerness to trepidation… such big changes!

Our world is spinning like the Tea Cup Ride in a summer carnival! How does one stay grounded in calm in the midst of the whirlwind? In this week’s article I will share some Simple Solutions to help you navigate times of change and overwhelm so that you can ride the waves like a graceful surfer.

In the midst of transition and/or chaos it is important to give yourself a strong foundation that nurtures, soothes and supports your entire being. Let’s look at a few Simple Solutions that will help you navigate stormy waters and bring you the sense of serenity of a calm harbor.

Deep Breathing

It is sometimes hard to believe that something so simple can have such a huge impact! Take a few moments at least 3 times a day to focus solely on your breathing. That means put away your cell phone and notice yourself breathing in and breathing out. If you are out of practice or have never participated in Mindful Breathing, start by breathing in for a count of 5 and out for a count of 5. Practice for a few minutes a few times a day and begin to notice how you feel.

Soothing Spot

When stress and overwhelm take over it is important to have a go-to spot that will sooth your mind, body and spirit. You can create this space virtually anywhere. I often recommend to my Elite & Private Clients that they first focus on their bedroom. Creating a bedroom that is clutter free, filled with items that have fond memories and colors that make you smile are a great start! This will help you start and end your day on a positive note.

Connect to a Positive

It can be mentally and physically exhausting to experience a move (even when you have help!) This is true of any situation that brings instability or a disturbance in your life. It is amazing how finding one silver lining thought, even if it is only a thread, can bring you peace. My Silver Lining Thought was “Amidst the chaos, it feels so good to go through the entire house and truly “Clean House”! How often do we actually get to do this?” This will help you rise out of the distress or overwhelm and connect you to a higher level of energy.

Graceful Gratitude

Beginning or ending your day reflecting on optimistic experiences that fill you with a sense of thankfulness will help you move out of the overwhelm and into a state of grace. You can connect to this blissful state throughout your day (especially when you begin to notice that unsettled feeling begin to churn in your mind and body).

These Simple Solutions can help you navigate the tumultuous tides of change where waves knock you off your feet, sending you tumbling and gasping for air. If you need your own individualized plan that supports you and your current situation schedule your Success Strategy Call here. In the meantime, take a moment right now to firmly plant your feet on the ground, close your eyes and take a deep breath.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO