Have You Begun Your Hero’s Journey?

This month I have been interviewing experts in areas related to the four pillars of the Home in Harmony Lifestyle. It has been so fascinating to talk with these individuals! Each expert has been sharing his or her philosophy on designing an inspired life, be it through his or her home, body, mind or spirit, which has been molded and shaped by his or her life experience. The commonality between them is that they all were willing to step up, and share their passion with the world. Their gifts were found along their life path, many of which I would consider a hero’s journey. (You know, the journey where the hero must walk through some type of darkness or odyssey and with their courage, integrity and spirit they are able to prevail becoming stronger and developing a solid sense of who they truly are at their core.) Instead of being defeated by adversity, or shying away from doing the extraordinary, a flame was ignited inside these individuals. They are similar to street lanterns lit along a foggy street in that they radiantly shine their light to illuminate a path to, what they have found is, an inspired way of living.

We all go through some version of a hero’s journey as we travel along the path of life. They can be big or small. It is how we move through these situations, and whether we are able to grown and expand or if we shrink and deflate from them. Sometimes the realization that what you are going through is a hero’s journey can help you move through them with strength and fortitude.

Let’s take a better look at what a hero’s journey is…

The first stage is comfortable, ordinary living. Life rolls along the way it has for a long time and you are in your comfort zone. But, something begins to nudge you, tap you on the shoulder and begin to tug at your consciousness. Is there something more to life?

This nudge, tap, or tug is the second stage of a hero’s journey which calls you towards a great adventure, new horizon, and spectacular vista. Your view of the world and the potential it holds is forever changed now that you have a new found awareness of this potential of possibility. A veil has been lifted and you can clearly see beyond where you were able to see before.

The lure of the adventure ahead entices you to cross the threshold of your comfort zone and move you into the third stage. You know that you have moved beyond your comfort zone, but you also know in your heart there is no turning back.

In the fourth stage of the typical hero’s journey, the hero or heroine needs to gather the courage necessary to face their own inner fears, the doubts of others, and decide whether to walk into the “dragon’s lair” head on. Are you willing to make the move necessary to live your passion and purpose? For some it might be deciding to have a child, others quit a job to follow their dreams, or they say yes to a new relationship. Looking back at your life can you see the times you stood at the doorway of the den knowing however scary it might be that it was the right choice, the only choice if you are to follow the stirrings of your soul?

Entering the dark cave the hero becomes disoriented, disillusioned. Was this the best decision? Should I have done it differently? Why did I move out of my comfort zone? This fifth stage is what some refer to as “the dark night of the soul”. But, the hero continues on and moves through the fear, trepidation, and pain.

As the hero moves towards the light out of the dark cave they are transformed, strengthened, and revitalized. They have come through their ordeal stronger, and with a new resolve to lead a better life based on their newfound awareness and experiences. This sixth stage is a rebirth of the spirit, and allows the hero to look back and appreciate where he has come from and the new path he now travels that allows him to be the grandest version of himself.

The seventh stage is becoming comfortable with this new version of you. However, because we are ever evolving beings, the nudge, tap, or tug begin to stir the soul and entice you towards a new horizon. The question always is, will you follow the pull?

Looking at the big picture of our lives we can see how we circle through the hero’s journey time and time again. Despite the fact that it might not be the most comfortable of experiences to traverse, we grow and transform with each new awareness, awakening and shift. It really is a beautiful circle of growth. And, when we look at life’s challenges through this model it can help us continue to move through the doorway of fear because we know there is expansive light on the other side!

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Are You Elite?

It is so exciting that the Winter Olympics has begun! Watching the figure skaters twirl with dizzying momentum, the skiers maneuver the mogul terrain and the hockey players pass with precision is awe inspiring. As I watch these athletes I am amazed and hold admiration at their natural talent and fine-tuned skill. I love that the Olympic coverage is also giving us a glimpse into what it takes to be an Olympic Athlete. The behind the scenes story that makes it all the more remarkable! A peek at what it takes to be elite.

Last night as the women’s freestyle moguls skiing event was underway the broadcaster revealed that one of the US women’s coaches mentioned to his Olympic freestyler, that she could do this run and bring home a medal because she had done 3,000+ leg squats, had run hundreds of miles and practiced her jumps for a multitude of hours. The exact numbers were given during the broadcast and they were astounding. It made me wonder how it would even be possible as a human being to accomplish those numbers. The time it would take, the toll on the body, the strength of spirit, the focused attention, the will and determination.

One of my daughters is reading the book, The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance, which is about what it takes to be an elite athlete. It was actually given to my husband as a gift but my daughter decided to read it because she was perusing the house for something to read and it peeked her interest. As a driven and intense athlete this book is a perfect fit for her even if it is targeted at an older demographic. She has begun to share golden nuggets that have touched her. Yesterday she must have asked about twenty times how many hours she has put into playing and practicing her beloved sport of hockey. We finally asked her why she needed to know that detail. She explained, to be an elite athlete one needs to dedicate 10,000 hours to the sport, playing, practicing, and training. We could see the wheels turning in her head figuring out how she could reach that bar that is set so high and the time, energy and effort needed to invest in the endeavor.

We all have hopes, dreams and goals in our lives. The question is, are you willing to put in the time, energy, effort and focus to bring them to fruition. It is much easier to dream and say that it will happen “one day” than to actualize it. In my life I have had dreams that have manifested, like writing a book for Hay House and others that have evaporated with time, like being a congresswomen. The ingredients for the recipe of success are: a willingness to invest in the time it takes to achieve your goal, having complete and laser focus on the end goal, creating a strategy that makes your vision achievable and an unwavering knowing in your heart that it is possible.

The next time you think about your ideal life and the goals you hope to accomplish, I have one question for you. Are you willing to put in 10,000 hours?

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

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?

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