12 Questions to Kick-Start a Transformative 2012
It’s all around you… talk of New Year’s Resolutions, goal setting and ads for gym memberships and weight loss programs. If you are like me, you are still just catching your breath from Christmas hustle and bustle. Or maybe you are still in holiday mode. That’s awesome. Enjoy every moment!
I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions about five years ago. They seem to be all hype with no lasting sparkle. Yet I’m a huge fan of pausing to reflect, re-align and set some powerful intentions that fuel excitement. That’s how we move from being reactive to being creative in our lives.
(Notice that reactive and creative have the exact same letters yet deliver very different outcomes!)
Here are 12 insightful questions to kick-start a transformative 2012.
Grab a piece of paper or your journal and a quiet few moments to author your answers. Be sure to share your answers for a chance to win a 30-minute coaching session with me. See details below!
1. What were the top three highlights of 2011 and why?
Perhaps it was a trip, an accomplishment or just an exciting moment that shines above the rest.
2. What’s working in your life right now?
It’s so easy to focus on the negative, yet there’s so much good all around you. So what’s working right now?
3. What was your greatest lesson in 2011?
With every disappointment or hurt, comes a lesson. What was yours?
4. Who do you want to be in 2012?
HINT: If two friends were talking about you and you were the fly on the wall, what roles, qualities and personality traits would you be thrilled to have them say about you?
Oh that <insert your name>, she is so ________.
5. If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be and why?
Write down the first thing that comes to mind. Just imagine what else would magically fall into place if you gave the time and attention to change this one thing.
6. What do you keep making excuses for and why?
This could be the same as #5 or different. What we make excuses for is something we really want to look at because there’s usually a huge limiting belief tied to those excuses. And once the belief is identified and replaced with a more empowering belief… look out!
7. What activity would you like to do more of in 2012? Less of? Stop?
It’s all about choice. And ideally, your weekly calendar reflects your passions.
8. Who are the people you want to spend more time with? Less time?
You can name specific people or just the characteristics in new people you want to attract more of (e.g. fun, honest, adventuresome)
9. What would you like to be different about your life by this time next year?
That is, what is the one thing that you would be ecstatic to have mastered or made major progress on?
10. What are you prepared to do about it?
This is where rubber meets the road. Knowing our desires, talking about them, and even saying pretty affirmations doesn’t manifest them without inspired action. So, what are you prepared to do to make change that sticks? Develop a plan? Carve out time each day to take action? Clear space in your home for that passion? Sign up for that class? For now, just identify the first step.
11. What are your greatest gifts and strengths?
Yes, you are a rock star in your life. What makes you so amazing? P.S. if you can’t answer this, ask your favourite friends. They can shower you with answers.
12. How can you use your strengths to help with the change in #10?
If you are a great planner, develop a fantastic plan. But don’t stop there. Then get a coach or accountability partner to help you on the follow through. That is, play to your strengths and find others to help with things that aren’t your natural ability.
And a BONUS QUESTION:
What do you need to believe about yourself in order for that change to be yours? Mindset is a huge part of the game of life. HUGE!
I’d love to hear your responses.
Share your answers to five of the above questions in the comments below. I’ll pick two lucky winners on January 4th to get a complimentary 30-minute coaching session with me!
Give yourself the gift of honest reflection. Truth opens doors to transformation. Action moves us through them. And belief? Well, belief gives us wings to fly!
Have an amazing start to the New Year!
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December 30th, 2011 | 7 Comments | Category: Articles · Designing A Life That Sparkles
Live Your Sparkle
We all have it… a unique sparkle.
Often we can see it more easily in others than in ourselves. People who are comfortable in their own skin. People who look great and others want to know, “What’s their secret?” People who are doing what they love and with such passion that others say, “Must be nice.”
It is nice. It’s awesome, and it’s possible for more than just the ‘lucky’ few.
Living your sparkle is about being your best YOU.
It’s about looking and feeling fabulous in a body you adore and nurture. It’s about discovering your greatest gifts and passions and then living them out loud. It’s about surrounding yourself with people that inspire, love and believe in you… beyond any story that keeps you small. It’s about stretching to the edges of your comfort zone and then grabbing your wings because it’s time to fly.
It’s about living for something more than a pay cheque or holiday. It’s about celebrating every moment and day by day, authoring an autobiography so juicy that even you can’t put it down when you read it at the end of your life.
It’s about becoming your biggest fan — giving first to yourself, and then to others, knowing that the greatest gift you offer is a whole, complete, happy YOU.
Sparkle goes beyond the perfect body, house, car, spouse or job.
It is not contrived or manufactured. It’s not sold in a bottle or on a shopping rack (although let’s face it, clothes that show off your sexy curves rock!) It’s not limited to a particular class, age, race or country. It knows no borders and it definitely does not have “should”, “can’t”, “never”, “realistic” or “not enough” in its vocabulary. It’s what many people spend a lifetime longing for not realizing it was inside them all along to enjoy.
That all sounds wonderful but how do we live it? How do you tap into your sparkle?
Quite simply, you choose.
You choose to make yourself a priority,
nourishing your body, heart and mind.
You choose to have more faith in your dreams
than your past stories or excuses.
You choose to take consistent inspired action,
discovering that self-love grows as you do.
You choose to get clear on what’s most important
and have a weekly schedule that proves it.
You choose to live with intention and then
gather evidence that your intentions are manifesting.
You choose to surround yourself with things and
people that excite you, and then ride that energy to the stars.
You choose to create space for opportunities to find you.
And you say, ‘Hell Yes’ when they arrive!
You choose to wake up and be WOW’ed by life,
anticipating synchronicities and every day miracles.
You choose to let life lead you,
trusting your heart’s wisdom as your sage guide.
And you choose to live your sparkle,
knowing that no one can live it for you.
Your sparkle is like your soul’s DNA. No one can replicate it. If you hide it, the world misses out. You miss out.
So, what do you say? Ready to sparkle? Ready to be wow’ed? I sure am. Stay tuned, because 2012 is going to be a sparkling year.
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December 19th, 2011 | 2 Comments | Category: Designing A Life That Sparkles
What’s the Weather in Your World?
Last week I was in Atlanta after spending three days with inspiring women who are transforming the world. What amazing energy!
On my way home, I got up at 4:30 am ET (2:30 am MT) to catch a fight from Atlanta to Dallas only to find out my second flight was cancelled due to mechanical reasons (mercury retrograde?)
So another 8 hours in an airport. No problem. Airports are a wonderful place to observe. You see loved ones embracing and families excited about holidays. You also see a lot of chaos. Flights delayed, people late, kids crying, and luggage lost. So many things out of people’s control! And yet, some are in complete reaction mode, losing their marbles with the messenger. I just want to whisper to them, “How’s that working for ya?”
The question is, in those moments, are we being the ‘thermostat’ or the ‘thermometer’?
When you are the thermostat, you set the ‘temperature’ when you walk into a situation. You decide how you will be and how you will react. You maintain your power to create and choose.
When you are the thermometer, you are reading the temperature in the situation – completely in reaction mode. Your emotions reflect your circumstances. You’ve given up your power to create and choose.
This is true for more than just airport mishaps. It’s true for every situation in our lives. Each morning when we get up, we get to decide what the ‘weather in our world’ will be.
What will you choose? I love sunshine… and sparkling snow. What about you?
December 17th, 2011 | Write Comment | Category: Designing A Life That Sparkles
Get Your Veggies with Green Smoothies
Each month I’m choosing a wellness goal for us to focus on — one goal for the whole month. For December I decided it’s time to veg. WHY?
Well, two reasons. One, I want you to take time out of the holiday hustle and remember to relax, enjoy and soak up all its wonder. Second, I have your best health at heart. Our December Wellness Goal is really to create balance with all the other stuff most people find themselves eating – more snacks and treats and carbs and alcohol.
So your goal through December is to get AT LEAST 6 servings of fruits and veggies every day. Ideally, 2 servings of fruit and the rest veggies. These are alive foods that will not only nourish you and keep you alive, they will help your waistline.
One of my favourite ways to get more green goodness is through green smoothies. I often have these for a mid-morning snack or my lunch. They fill you up and taste fabulous. You get a full serving (or more) of greens by using kale, spinach, swiss chard or your BRINK and the blender helps break down the cellular walls of the greens making them easier to digest, which means better access to their nutrients.
Here are two recipes. Feel free to experiment with whatever fruit you have in the house.
Green Delight Smoothie
1 banana (frozen chunks of banana make this creamier)
1 pear
1 cup of water (more if you like it thinner)
Blend then add a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach.
Blend again, till all the green bits are broken up and it looks like a green goddess
drink!
Berry Bliss Smoothie
1 cup berries (fresh or frozen — blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc)
½ a banana (optional)
1.5 cup water (or 1 cup water and ½ cup almond or soy milk)
2 handfuls of spinach or 1 kale leaf
1 scoop protein powder or ¼ cup greek yogurt
Blend together until everything is smooth and enjoy!
P.S. If you have H-TRIO products like AM Release, Kick-It or BRINK, add them to your smoothie too!
Wouldn’t you love to get to the New Year and be feeling light and fabulous? Well, start your blenders ladies. It’s veg time!
With love,
Paula
December 8th, 2011 | 4 Comments | Category: Recipes · Wellness
“Stop Taking Me for Granted!”
That’s what my body was screaming at me last week as I faced the nastiest 46 hour flu I’ve ever had. I can’t remember the last time I got the flu.
Ironically this followed after a week of me noticing how sugar had entered my diet again… chocolate almonds here, soy lattes there, a piece of cake in between… it all adds up.
Even in my sickest moments, I whispered thoughts of gratitude for what my body instinctively knew to do. GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT IS NOT SERVING IT! It was not pleasant by any stretch, but then again, neither is some of the garbage processed foods (anti-foods actually) we put in our bodies, often when we’re not even hungry. Neither is the fact that we keep ourselves under high levels of stress, or choose mindless TV or internet instead of a good night’s sleep.
Our bodies are screaming, “Stop taking me for granted. I know I’m efficient and do so many things that you don’t even realize. But seriously, I’m not perfect. I’m bound to let out the occasionally yelp. And if that doesn’t get your attention and you keep abusing me like this, then I start to shut down. I don’t want to disappoint you, but I can’t help it. I can only be pushed so far. You wouldn’t put up with this from another person. So why treat me like this?”
Okay, okay… maybe the body doesn’t have such a vocal side. But think for a moment what it’s actually saying to you. Think about all the symptoms it reveals – like aches and pains, indigestion, skin breakouts, PMS, headaches, stomach upset, irritability, sleeplessness, and many more.
What if these were messages and not symptoms? What is your body asking for?
Love and acceptance?
Kindness?
Rest?
Peace?
Acknowledgement?
Nourishment?
The human body is miraculous.
It breathes, rebuilds, cleanses, processes, digests, synthesizes, synapses, and performs hundreds of other functions without your knowing – including growing new cells every day so that you can live to enjoy another day. But like everything else, it has its limits.
Are you taking it for granted?
It is easy to look at your body in the mirror and lament about all that it isn’t. But after laying fetal on the bathroom floor unable to move, I got it. “Thank you my sweet little body for all that you are!”
Sometimes life’s gifts come in interesting packages. The flu caused me to reset my eating and take the downtime I probably wouldn’t have gifted myself.
What is one thing will you do this week to show how much you adore your body and all it does for you?
November 28th, 2011 | Write Comment | Category: Personal Reflections · Wellness
Take A Stand… Enough is Enough!
These past two weeks, my house has been in upheaval as we replace some flooring and paint our main living area. Hanna said to me as she crawled over Rubbermaid totes to get to her doll house, “Mom, I just want our house back.”
She took the words right out of my mouth. It’s affected everything – my spirits, my eating, my productivity and the flow of our lives.
But, like all challenges, it has also highlighted something beautiful. The room where the painting is happening is empty. The front half of the house is crammed with all the stuff from the empty room plus its own. There is SUCH a difference in how I feel when I walk between the two areas of the house – one crammed to the max, the other spacious and freeing.
One morning last week, I got up early and sat on the floor in the empty room for my morning quiet time. Aaaaaaahhhhh…. I can breathe. I LOVE open space. I LOVE simplicity. I don’t need more stuff. We have enough. We have more than enough.
The sage voice inside said, “So why don’t you set up your life to have less?”
Hmmm… I’ve been making progress here and there in decluttering my house. But clearly I have more work to do here. I’m just becoming so acutely aware of all the stuff we have and how I’d be just as happy (if not more) with half of it GONE!
Why am I sharing this with you?
Most of us have enough… more than enough. And as we enter the holiday season, we will acquire more stuff. But ask yourself, what makes me happiest? When do I feel most alive? Do I really need to get more, eat more, make more, have more? When is enough, enough?
This is so true of goal setting as well.
I think goals are wonderful. Yet we need to be careful we are not setting them from a place of self-lack. As in… “I will become love-able once I achieve this goal.” No, you are loveable. Now. Period.
A goal gives the mind and body something to stretch for. And that can be exciting, rewarding and expansive. But it’s not a replacement or cure for feelings of ‘not-enough-ness’.
This week, take a stand for your ‘enough-ness’. Because right now, just as you are, you are enough. You are more than enough.
Heck, you sparkle girl! I love that about you.
November 18th, 2011 | Write Comment | Category: Creating Space
Are You Fully Living Your Freedom?
Perhaps it’s because I have a child and am explaining what Remembrance Day is. Or maybe it’s because today is 11.11.11. with magical numerological significance. Either way, as I sat in quiet stillness this morning, I felt overwhelming gratitude for all that I have. Then this voice inside popped up, “Ya but are you using it fully?”
(Normally I don’t listen to the “Ya buts” in my head. But this one was different.)
Many of us wear poppies today in remembrance and talk to our children about fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. But the question is,
“Are we taking full advantage of the gift we’ve been given?”
As I went through my yoga stretches this morning, questions kept surfacing. Take a moment to reflect for yourself.
Am I free to be me?
Or am I still putting on a front for certain people in certain situations?
Do I fully use my gifts and talents?
Or do I let fears and insecurities rob me of ultimate creative freedom?
Is my life set up as I would ideally have it?
Or am I still caught up in what other people think?
Am I allowing my body freedom of movement?
Or am sitting and snacking too much, yet expecting it to function well?
Is my environment filled with things that bring me joy and peace?
Or am I mired in clutter that drains life out of me?
Am I using my voice to speak and sing freely?
Or do I swallow my thoughts for fear people may laugh or judge?
Am I sharing love freely?
Or is there a small part that holds tight to needing something in return?
Am I living my dreams?
Or am I throwing up my own roadblocks and then saying it can’t be done?
It is one thing to wear a poppy and give thanks for freedom. But where might you be trapped inside your own internal war of self-judgment or not-enough-ness?
The peace the world craves originates inside each of us, starting with self-love. As we truly love ourselves, we can be free.
Free to love others completely,
free to take chances on our dreams,
free to express with confidence,
free to live our sparkle with ease.
Take Action
Consider which of the questions above gripped you… then commit to one small act of freedom over the next week.
Sending you love and sparkling energy,
Paula
November 11th, 2011 | Write Comment | Category: Designing A Life That Sparkles · Personal Reflections
7 Simple Tips for Wellness on the Road
I’m typing this from the Charlotte airport in North Carolina. I’ve just spent three days with business mentor Christine Kane at Uplevel U. What an expansive experience. I love when my heart and mind are stretched — never to return to their original shape!
Before going on this trip, I set the intention to continue my wellness lifestyle on the road. It was surprisingly easy. Here are 7 simple tips I followed that you can too:
1. Drink Lots of Water
I’ve pretty much substituted all drinks on planes and restaurants for water and doubled my consumption. Yes, it means more trips to the ladies’ room BUT it helps keep me hydrated, energized and lessens the jet lag. I brought along some of H-TRIO’s Tea It Up green tea powder for that refreshing change from water. One scoop in water bottle and I’m sold!
2. Skip the Salted Snacks
I purposely skip the salted nuts or pretzels offered on planes since salt can increase swelling. Who needs swollen feet?? And really, the snacks aren’t that good. If I’m going to treat myself, it better taste wonderful. So I brought with me Lara Bars (Love these!) and some cut up veggies for the plane (can’t go without my veggies!)
3. Walk More
Pack runners or comfy walking shoes. Airports are a great place to walk. Take the stairs instead of the escalator or motorized walkways. Every step counts! And then when you arrive, set out to explore on foot. This trip I got to tread through piles of golden leaves on my walks. The fall scenery was stunning!
4. Pack Work-out Gear
I don’t travel without my work-out gear and resistance band. With a resistance band, you can work out anywhere — in a hotel room, gym or a neighbouring park. It’s light and fits in a pocket but can provide a complete workout for many of the body’s major muscles. This trip I got to the hotel gym almost every morning and swam laps in the pool. I also explored the beautiful city filled with hills so got a good workout for my legs.
5. Eat Your Fruit and Veggies
Eating on the road can be tough. It’s easy to start eating more carbs. So take every advantage to eat fruits, salads and other veggies whenever you can. When I arrived in Asheville, first thing I did was go to a local wholefoods market and pick up fresh fruit, berries, and veggies for my room. Or if I’m in a restaurant, I skip the sandwich (or eat it open-faced) and load up on a side salad with chicken or fish.
6. Eat Protein to Curb Cravings
Getting protein throughout the day is key to keep the body’s metabolism fired. Yet, when you travel, it’s sometimes difficult to get lean protein sources that aren’t wrapped in processed, high-fat, or carb-filled creations. That’s where a clean protein powder can come in so handy. A few scoops in a glass of water or almond milk, and you have a great power drink that will curb cravings (so you aren’t raiding the mini-bar in your room).
7. Boost the Immunity
When travelling, you can often get less sleep and be exposed to more germs (particularly on planes). I made sure to give my immune system some extra love with an immune builder from H-TRIO called Kick-It. It’s all natural, fast acting and highly effective at nipping colds before they blossom. As I sat beside a gentlemen on the plane sneezing up a snowstorm, I was so thankful for these wonderful creations. But even if you don’t use an immune builder, just adding extra Vitamin C can help.
Try these tips on your next trip. Let me know how they help. And if you have a tip of your own, please share! There are so many ways to stay well on the road.
Keep Sparkling!
Paula
October 21st, 2011 | Write Comment | Category: Articles · Wellness
Does the Word ‘Discipline’ Make you Cringe?
When it comes to achieving goals, self-discipline is a key ingredient to success. And yet, if you are like me, the word ‘discipline’ makes you cringe. It feels forced, militant and so restrictive that my creative spirit goes running for the hills.
Whoah, wait a minute Paula… come back here. What if we could give the word a whole new meaning?
(I’m listening…)
What if we got to the root word of discipline and discovered it was ‘disciple’?
To be disciplined, is to be a disciple of our dreams, business or Ideal Life. We act as a devoted follower and messenger to them.
We hold our dreams, business and ideal life in the Highest Light and speak only good of them. And we live in service to them, aligning our daily intentions and actions to see them grow.
(Wow, that changes everything, doesn’t it?)
And no, I’m not talking religion. I’m talking the sacred relationship we have with ourselves and what matters to us. When we can integrate that kind of discipline, we become masterful at creating the life we truly desire. It takes practise, because for many of us, we’ve been practising the opposite. We’ve been practising scattered energy, partial commitment and self-disbelief.
To be disciplined in this new definition is to bring our energy back home and greet it at our doorways when it arrives. It’s to become masterful with our time and make sure every activity supports a clear vision for our lives that we are excited to live into. It’s to believe that our dreams matter — and then to pursue them no matter what.
Is that a definition you can embrace? Who wants to join me in being a disciple? Because the truth is, our dreams, business and Ideal Life need us to show up in that way. They don’t exist without our sparkle.
July 31st, 2011 | 5 Comments | Category: Designing A Life That Sparkles
Are You A Wait-and-See Kinda Gal?
My husband and I used to take our diddly time to plan our holiday. We’d see a great price on a flight and then both find ourselves saying, “Well let’s wait and see if we should go.” It was this conditioned response — which ultimately resulted in either not taking the trip or paying more for the flights as we watched the prices climb. Then one day when those words came out of his mouth, I blurted out:
Wait and see for what? What are we waiting for EXACTLY?
I wasn’t yelling at him or me or anyone. I just wanted us to check-in on this behavior that left us nicely wedged on the proverbial fence.
Even today, in leading the Summer Body Bliss, I can notice my tendency to wait and see how the day pans out with eating or exercise. Sometimes it’s great and other times, there’s definitely room for improvement. So I asked myself yesterday, “Why am I waiting to see? What external condition am I waiting for?”
JUST DECIDE LADY!
I invite you to look in your life where you are waiting and seeing. For what exactly? And can you instead just decide to decide?
Make a decision. Act. Then make another decision. Act again.
Too many of us are afraid to make decisions because we fear we’ll make the wrong one.
Well, often times you won’t know if it’s “right” or “wrong” UNTIL you act. Once you act, you unleash a bunch of new energy and new information that you can use for your next decision.
One of the executives I consulted to attributed his success to being able to make decisions quickly. He empowered his direct reports to do the same thing. He said, “Paula, living in limbo land is so stifling to a team (and company). Do your homework, make an educated decision based on the information you have at the time, and then act. Even if the outcome isn’t ideal, move forward with the new information and make the next decision.”
His team accomplished so much and with such empowering energy.
In life, it’s all a guess anyways. We can’t predict exactly how something is going to turn out.
So take a chance, experiment. Decide what the day is about. Then act as if it’s so.
Otherwise that wedge up the butt gets pretty nasty. And the view never changes.
To your sparkling success,
Paula
July 7th, 2011 | 6 Comments | Category: Articles
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