Archive for the ‘Designing A Life That Sparkles’ Category

 

7 Essentials to Sparkle Up Your Morning

Do you notice that when your morning starts off peaceful and serene (versus rushed and frantic) your whole day flows so much better?  I do.  And it’s not by accident.

How we go about the first hour of waking influences our entire day.

While you need to find what works for you, there are 7 common essentials I’ve seen produce wonderful results for me and my clients. The good thing is you don’t need an hour each morning – 20 or 30 minutes will go a long way.

1. Wake Up Peacefully

How you wake up sets the tone for your day. Do you wake up naturally? Do you wake up to your favourite music? Or do you wake up to a blaring alarm? If a body can rise on its own accord, it can greet the morning already in the flow of life. This is ideal and feels delicious. This means training yourself to get to bed earlier and ensuring you are getting 7 to 8 or more hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, talk to me. I have a wonder homeopathic product that gifts my clients with amazing sleeps!

2. Intend a Fabulous Day

Before you even roll out of bed, decide what kind of day it’s going to be. Play the day’s events in your mind and imagine fabulous outcomes. Then watch as the Universe rearranges itself to deliver awesomeness to you. Your life is guided by the clarity and power of your intention. Begin your day imagining that intention is a done deal.

3. Journal to Release

Now before you say you don’t journal, hear me out. Think of journaling as tapping into the conversation playing in your head and all you are doing is taking notes. They can be cryptic or long-form. They don’t need to make sense. Imagine that as you write, you free. These words and thoughts are no longer stored in your body. You release and cleanse as you write. Even 5 or 10 minutes of journaling can make a big difference in releasing your chatter and creating space for new thoughts. Feel free to discard what you write.

4. Connect to your Big Why

Each day is a building block in your life. What are you building? Do you know? More of ‘same old, same old’ or something that sparkles? When I work with clients, we build a picture of their ideal life – complete with where they live, how they spend their time, what makes them happiest, and who is around them. It’s not enough to just picture it, but rather to spend a few moments each morning feeling your way into it. Recently I composed an audio visualization for a client that she can listen to daily to connect with her ideal life. Each morning, she leans in and embraces it more and more so that she can almost taste it – it’s that real.

5. Get the Body Flowing

After hours of sleep, the morning is time to rise and shine. Let your body guide you to the movement it wants. Is it slow soothing stretches, a walk in nature or a kick-butt routine? Even just 10 or 15 minutes to get the blood flowing, heart pumping, joints loosened and breath bringing oxygen to every cell is worth it. Or you can shift your sleep schedule to be up an hour earlier and enjoy an amazing workout in the morning before the rest of the world gets up.

6. Power Up Your Day with Breakfast

Breakfast is just that… breaking your fast. It’s essential. It’s what kick-starts your metabolism and provides nutrients for your body and brain function. Tosca Reno suggests that 25% of your daily calories come from your breakfast. And studies show that people who eat breakfast are much less likely to snack later in the day, helping to keep the weight off. So no skipping this important meal! It’s your rocket fuel for the day. Go for a complex carb (like oatmeal) or protein (like greek yogurt, an egg or a fruit smoothie with protein powder).

7. Replenish with Water

Our bodies are over 60% water, so our job every day is to replenish at least what we’ve excreted, which can be 6 to 9 cups of liquid. In fact, we excrete the equivalent of a cup from breathing alone. First thing in the morning, try a glass of water with a slice or two of lemon. It is a refreshing detox for the liver.

PICK ONE OR TWO AND EXPERIMENT

If you are new to establishing a sparkling morning routine, pick one or two of these elements to do consistently for at least 14 days. Then consider going to bed 30 minutes earlier so you can add more elements. See this as an experiment, not a prescription. Find out what works. Maybe instead of journaling, you discover that reading something inspirational better sets the tone for your day.  Perfect – do that!

A NOTE TO NIGHT OWLS

You don’t need to be a morning person to develop a morning routine that supports you. Night owls will have a different routine than someone who rises at 5 am. But the same principles apply. Just avoid rolling out of bed and right into your day without directing your thought and actions toward the qualities you want. Create your day in the first hour and you’ll be set for the rest of it to flow.

Keep sparkling!

Paula

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Two Powerful Words that will Transform Your Life

I Choose

CHOICE: It is the one thing we can exercise at any moment.  We can choose how we act, what we think, what we believe, who we spend time with, where we go, what we say and how we live.

It is the most powerful tool we have in our inner toolbox to transforming our lives – regardless of what has happened yesterday, last week or a decade ago.

But if we have choice in every moment, then why aren’t we living our ideal life all the time?

We either don’t think we truly have a choice.  Or we don’t feel we have the power to exercise that choice.  Or we are scared of what that choice will bring as consequence to ourselves and others.  Or we are just asleep in our own lives.

So where do we have choice and where don’t we? Let’s find out.

For the next week, I want you to transform your language by inserting these two powerful words everywhere.

I CHOOSE

Whenever you catch yourself saying:  I have to… I can’t… I should… Replace that with I CHOOSE.

Here are some examples:

Before: I have to work late and miss my child’s soccer game.

After: I choose to work late and miss my child’s soccer game

Before: I should eat a healthy lunch today because it’s good for me.

After: I choose to eat a healthy lunch today because it’s good for me.

Before: I can’t afford to buy that pair of jeans.

After: I choose not to buy that pair of jeans right now.

Feel the difference?

Choosing is taking back your power – moving from victim to creator.

We always have a choice.  And when you start to insert these two powerful words, you are going to come against the edges of your thinking as to where you feel you have power to choose and where you don’t.

“But wait a minute… I don’t choose to work late.  I don’t choose to miss my child’s activity.”

In the short term, that might be true.  But long-term, we choose the ways in which we bring wealth into our lives.  We choose the boundaries we set for our employer/client at work.  And we teach people how to treat us.

So try it.  Start inserting “I choose” in front of as many sentences as you can.  And to make it really juicy, add the “instead of” part.

I choose to let this person treat me poorly instead of standing up for myself.

I choose to feel bad about events of the past instead of moving forward to creat a new life for myself.

I choose to sabotage my success by not keeping myself promises instead of powerfully creating a life beyond my wildest dreams.

I choose to eat to soothe myself instead of facing my emotions head on so I can become free of them.

“WHOAH… I’m really choosing this! Life isn’t just happening to me. I’m choosing these circumstances I don’t want.”

Then in that moment, we can shift.  We choose again.

I choose to stand up for myself instead of letting this person treat me poorly.

I choose to create a new life instead of feeling bad about my past.

I choose to powerfully creating a life beyond my wildest dreams instead of sabotaging my success by not keeping my self promises.

I choose to face my emotions head on so I can become free of them instead of eating to soothe myself. 

Let’s use more examples that support our wellness:

I choose to eat this bright red apple instead of the chocolate dessert that is going to go straight to my thighs.

I choose to surround myself with amazing friends that inspire instead of people that suck the life out of me.

I choose to get to bed on time so my body can properly rejuvenate instead of watching mindless TV.

I choose to ask for help instead of running myself ragged just to say I did it ALL!

Find the edges of where you think you have choice and where you don’t.

There is always a choice – you just need to look for it!  And when you do – FREEDOM, baby, FREEDOM!

Keep sparkling!

Paula

 

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Awesomeness Is…

  • Waking up at 5 am without an alarm clock ready to take on the world.
  • Meeting with a wonderful client and being so inspired by her Happiness Project that I begin dreaming one of my own.
  • Taking a hot bath in the middle of the afternoon just because I can.
  • Finding the card my husband gave me when he proposed 10 years ago and still being moved to tears by his words.
  • Enjoying a night-time dance party in Hanna’s bedroom and catching a glimpse of my six year old’s beauty in a way that I’ve not seen before.
  • Cozying up in bed with a comfy pillow, great tea and a grateful heart and capturing these words.

That was a glimpse of my Awesome Day.

Was it all awesome? No. But it’s what I choose to remember of it that counts. What is awesome in your world? Are you capturing it somehow – in a book, journal, digital recorder, camera, or just in your heart as you pause to breathe? That’s my invitation to you for February – create Your Own Book of Awesome.

And I have three tips for you.

1. Do this messy. Have fun… explore. Get that untouched journal that you’re afraid to write in happening! (Yes, you have something to say!)

2. When you wake up tomorrow, even before you roll out of bed, decide that the day will be awesome. Picture the day’s events and imagine the juiciest of outcomes. Then watch the Universe re-arrange itself to line up awesomeness for you!

3. Share your awesomeness with someone. Invite others to do this journey with you. Here was a note I found on my desk this morning from Miss Hanna.

Let’s take her awesome advice. Dream and smile, ok?

Lot of love,
Paula

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February Wellness Goal: Create Your Book of Awesome

Have you caught a glimpse of a book called “Book of Awesome”? Each time I see it as I’m cruising through my favourite bookstore, something shifts in me. Life feels a little more awesome. So I thought to myself, Why don’t I start my own Book of Awesome?

That’s our Wellness Goal for February – Your Own Book of Awesome!

Call it wellness for the heart. Buy yourself a notebook, journal, scrapbook or anything you care to record your awesomeness in. It can be big or small but I’d suggest something you can carry around with you.

Then, throughout February, at least once a day, write down:

1) What’s awesome about you; or
2) What’s awesome about your life; or
3) What’s awesome about the world you live in.

Capture awesome moments, pictures, saying, songs, synchronicities and encounters. And if the word “Awesome” doesn’t do anything for you, pick another word that does.

Whatever we decide to gather evidence for, we shall find… and grow.

So how about it? Let’s look for awesomeness ok? It’s all around you. You just have to notice it.

Invite your children, spouse or friend to join along. I can’t wait to see Hanna’s Book of Awesome! And I’ll be sharing bits of my Book of Awesome on Facebook and this blog throughout the month.

Oh, and let the creativity flow. When I announced this to my ezine subscribers last week, a few of them ran out to buy art supplies complete with paints, crayons, markers, stickers, glitter, fabric and a glue gun. Talk about awesome!

Not receiving my Live Your Sparkle eZine yet? Sign up here and receive weekly wellness tips and inspiration on rich juicy living!

photo credit © Steve Took It

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Take the Pause… Or the Pause will be Taken for You!

I was just about to send out my ezine on Friday when I virus hit my computer. I sat at the repair shop fighting back tears when the gentleman showed me there were no longer any files on my laptop. My mind was working overtime trying to remember when my last full back-up was and how much wonderful content I’d created since then. A berating voice in me was screaming, “I told you to back up your computer more regularly… see what happens when you don’t listen to me?

I will say it again… take the pause or the pause will be taken for you (and you might not like how it looks!)

As a society, we seem to be operating in fast forward, running from activity to activity, eating quick meals and fitting in exercise and self care when or if there’s time. More than ever, people are screaming for a pause in life — a few precious moments to suspend time and just… B-R-E-A-T-H-E.
Do you feel that too?

A Pause Can Come in Many Forms

A day of rest, a vacation, a break from an activity, some alone time, or space from a certain person. It doesn’t need to cost money. It can last a few moments or a few months. Whatever it takes.
The truth is, many of us don’t know how to handle the emotions that come up when we allow a pause.

  • We get antsy. Shouldn’t we be doing something productive?
  • We judge the pause. What if something is wrong when I don’t hear from the person who said he/she needed time?
  • We get nervous. What if I take a vacation and miss out on an opportunity while I’m gone?

When in reality, pauses are necessary:

  • They create space so we can grab hold of the opportunity when it arrives.
  • They allow our minds to clear so we are laser focussed and productive.
  • They give us the rest we crave, so we can then knock it out of the park.
  • They allow for new ideas to take shape, so we become ultra creative.
  • They open us to playful energy and synchronicities, so life stays exciting!

I’m always amazed at the riches a pause can bring. (Yes, even this lastest one!) I always feel more energized, focussed and ready to get on my magic carpet again after a Paula Pause.

Try it. Insert more pauses in your day – as many as you need:

  • 10 seconds for an extra deep breath at a stop light or in a grocery line-up
  • 1 minute to stare away from your computer and rest your eyes
  • 5 minutes of quiet time in your office before you head home
  • 10 minutes to curl up with your favourite book
  • 15 minutes for a steaming hot bath (I get my best ideas in the tub!)
  • 20 minutes for stretches and quiet meditation before bed.
  • 1 hour to organize your home or office (including backing up your files!)
  • 1 day away from your business or life, to dream your next steps.

However long or short, make your pauses intentional. Hold them as sacred – like a delicate bubble — soon to disappear.

P.S. Want to know what happened to my laptop?

Well, after two days, they managed to pull my hard drive, run some clean-up processes and recover most of my files. I cried when I heard this. The funny thing was, I was beginning to imagine some freedom in re-creating my life and business with a fresh start. Hmmm… there is still another lesson to this ‘pause’ for me. Life is always our teacher.

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Choose a Theme for 2012 to Inspire Success

If you read my last post 12 Questions to Kick-Start a Transformative 2012, you know that I’m all about fun tools that move you forward in creating your ideal life. One tool that has beeen so effective for me is coming up with a Word of the Year.

I wrote about it last year, inspired by Ali Edwards, who makes beautiful jewelry that highlight your word of the year.  My challenge was I had so many words I couldn’t choose just one. Sparkle had to be in there. It’s the word of my lifetime! But other words resonated too.  So I had my top 5 made into a bracelet. As I reflect on all of them, I really lived these.

I’ve been so excited to hear friends and colleagues choosing new words for 2012: blossom, abundance, unstoppable, fearless, release, space, centre, balance, light, inspire, peace, compassion, self-love. Such juicy concepts!

For 2012, I’ve decided to create a theme, represented by a phrase.

This gives me some wiggle room to have a few words. I’m giving myself this first week to fully decide. Here are some of my top runners:

1. Live Your Sparkle
2. Just Watch Me!
3. Do It Scared and Imperfect
4. Release with Love
5. Authentically Me!
6. Wellness that Rocks
7. Love My Life
8. All in, EXCITED and ALIVE
9. Rich, Juicy Living
10. Be Unstoppable. Make it Fun!

(Any favourites?)

I invite you to join along. You could pick a single word or a phrase. 

The key is to pick words that awaken something in you and support your goals and ideal life.

For example, if you pick fearless, that might inspire you to book that solo trip you’ve been dreaming of or leave a relationship that is toxic.  If you pick balance, that might inspire you to stop working through your lunches and grab a yoga class instead. If you pick self-love, that might inspire you to speak kinder words to yourself as you gaze in the mirror.

Don’t overthink. Just pick something and use it for as long as it resonates. If March comes and there is a new word that lands on your lap, perfect! Run with that. Trust your sage wisdom to know what’s right for you.

Can a single word or phrase change your life?

It can if you align your thoughts, beliefs and actions with it.

Have some fun. Dream away. And be sure to share your chosen word(s). I’ll do the same in a few days!

Love and sparkling energy,
Paula

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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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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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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?

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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

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