It's Time to Start Living the Rich Life

When you think about "you", what comes to mind?  Do you glow with pride for your successes, or instantly recall every mistake and misstep?  Do you live life with guts and gusto, or feel undeserving of the abundance available to you?

Living a rich life has little to do with net-worth and everything to do with self-worth.  Your personal value is a direct result of your self-esteem and beliefs about your deservedness.  It's a sad reality that many women suffer from low esteem and consider themselves inferior to others.  Don't you think it's time you realize your true value and embrace the best life has to offer?

Well we do!  Don't surrender another day to anxiety, worry, regret, dissatisfaction, or inadequacy!  Boost your self-worth and self-esteem using the five strategies below.
 
Stop the Comparisons: Don't try to be like everyone else.  Comparing yourself to others only perpetuates the cycle of low self-worth and confidence.  Remember, you are unique and created with your own special strengths, skills and talents.  Your main goal is to be your best YOU!  Strive to improve and develop yourself, but don't judge yourself for not being like someone else.  You're unique abilities make you great in other ways.

Don't Take Mistakes so Seriously: Everyone makes mistakes; it's part of being human.  Mistakes and failure are a necessary part of achievement and success.  Look at Michael Jordan: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."  If you haven't made any mistakes lately, or if it's been a while since you've failed, you have to ask yourself what you're missing out on.

Self-Worth Begins with Self-Care: Self-worth, confidence and assuredness increase when you focus on your needs and desires. By ensuring your needs are addressed, you can be the best wife, mother, friend and co-worker you can be.  Deplete all your energies trying to satisfy the needs of others, and there literally will not be enough of you to go around.  What will all the important people in your life do then?  Remember, there's an important difference between self-ish and self-care.

Throw out the Junk: The junk?  Yes, you know, the mean, hurtful and unconstructive things said to you by others.  The criticisms you repeat in your mind in a never-ending loop?  It's one thing to be given constructive feedback, but quite another when people use their words to demean, manipulate, degrade and control you.  Toss those words, and the accompanying feelings, out with yesterday's trash!  Remember it's the offending party's issue, NOT yours.  You know the truth and those are the words you must keep repeating... "You are precious," "You are worthy," "You are GREAT!"

Power Up Your Passion: Passion takes hold of you and fuels your power.  Passion sparks extreme emotions and makes you feel alive.  Get fired-up about life and make a difference.  The more passion and zest you feel, the more alive and shiny you are!  Get passionate about something...anything!  Let your passion rise to the surface and watch your value grow as you make a difference in the world...even if it’s just your little part of it!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.”  ~Unknown

Looking at our Decision Path

It’s always enlightening (and I think kind of fun) to mentally walk backwards through your life and pinpoint a decision that brought you to where you are now. 

I can go back all the way to when I was 18 and I decided to take a temporary summer position at Smead Manufacturing in Hastings, MN.  Through that position I met my friend LuAnn.  A year later I rented a room in the basement of LuAnn’s home and got to know her family very well.  Her 14 year old daughter, Taryn, and her friend, Ashley, schemed away at how amazingly perfect it would be for me and Ashley’s older brother to “fall in love and live happily ever after”.  Sure enough they managed to get the two of us on the phone together one afternoon.  We talked that day for 30 minutes and then the following Sunday for 3 hours.  Our first date was a week later.  We dated for 18 months, were engaged for 6 months, and now have been married for 9 years.  So you could say the decision to work at Smead that summer was the best decision of my life.

You’ve also had pivotal decisions in your life that have been important to bringing you to where you are today.  Perhaps choosing the college you attended (or didn’t attend), the person you married, the group of friends you have, or maybe even something as seemingly simple as taking a left turn instead of a right.

To me, retracing your decision path is the ultimate proof that our lives are really in our hands.  While it would be easier to say that we were just dealt a lucky/unlucky hand in life, the truth of the matter is that we are responsible for creating our lives by the choices we make.  Our lives are basically just a summary our years of decisions.

Sometimes it is easy to feel we don’t have a choice in a decision.  It is important to remember that we always have choices; sometimes we just don’t like our options.

It’s important to remember, too, that a choice is rarely the final word.  It’s not a must that we always make the right decision the first time.  But it is a must to know when a different decision is necessary.  I love the quote by Steven D. Woodhull, “You’ve got a lot of choices.  If getting out of the bed in the morning is a chore and you’re not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.”

Take a look at your decision path today.  Are you accepting 100% responsibility for your current livelihood?  By blaming others you are giving away your power, and by giving away your power you are not left with the power you need to make a change.
   
Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:“Life is the sum of all your choices.” ~Albert Camus

30 Power Thoughts to Change Your Life

Thoughts are things and when you consider that 80% of our daily thoughts are negative, that can be a pretty frightening scenario.  It’s no wonder we’re stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, stuck and afraid; it’s what we think about all day long!

But what if for 30 days you could take steps to change the way you think?  What if you took responsibility and control over the way you think?  What if you began each day with the intention to make a positive change? 

Below are 30 Power Thoughts that will help you do just that!  A statement to kick the day off right, we’ve given you one for each of the next 30 days.  Print the list and commit to focusing on the “thought of the day” for a few minutes each morning, afternoon and night.  Then watch how your perspective, attitude and life change as a results!  Please report back with your results!

30 Power Thoughts:

1. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
2. To fulfill my desires all I need to do is step up and claim (and proclaim) what I want.
3. I teach people how to treat me. Today I will teach them to treat me the way I desire; kind, loving, respectful.
4. By holding on to past wrongs I am not making room for my future.  Today I choose forgiveness.
5. Even in difficult times, there’s a reward in knowing I did what was right. Today I will do what feels right to me.
6. I must be truthful to myself in order to grow.  I release myself from denial and choose honesty.
7. I was put on this Earth to fulfill a purpose and the sooner I discover my purpose, the sooner I can get busy!
8. I am in the here and now. I will no longer base decisions on what has happened to me in the past.
9.  There is no reason for me to fear failure. Failure is the best way to learn and grow in experience.
10. I am responsible for my own choices. Therefore, I will not make choices based on the desires of others.
11. It is never too late for anything. Instead of wasting time with regret I will set out to do what I’ve always intended.
12. I will take the golden rule one step further; I will treat MYSELF with the same kindness & respect as I show to others.
13. I understand that I can be my biggest problem.  But I also know within me is the power to be the ultimate solution.
14. Remaining in my comfort zone doesn’t allow for growth. Today I’m busting out from what feels comfortable and safe.
15. Everything in life is neutral. What I deem to be positive or negative is based on my attitude and perspective.
16. I always have a choice. While I may not like my options, I accept the power and responsibility that comes with decision.
17. I will not over-exaggerate nor belittle my problems. Instead I will face them, deal with them, and then move on.
18. I will take a hard look at what isn’t working in my life and take deliberate action to make positive change in those areas.
19. I will not limit things to what I perceive to be possible. I will dream big and have faith that the way will appear.
20. I will take the time to define my values. This is the only means by which I can gauge what is right for me.
21. Within me is the power to change my life. I will plug into it and use it to fulfill my purpose.
22. I no longer fear change! Every change in my life elevates me to new levels of empowerment.
23. I understand I’m the average of the 5 people I hang around with most. I accept loving and inspiring people into my life.
24. I rise above the daily chaos that keeps others busy and distracted. I allow myself to be centered, self-aware and wise.   
25. I accept that thoughts are things. I replace disempowering thoughts with empowering ones.
26. The past and future are illusions. We only have the present and I stay focused on the now, taking a moment at a time.
27. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. Cutting ties does not represent a failure. I know when it’s time to move on.
28. How I start the day sets the tone for the rest of the day. My morning ritual ensures I experience an extra great day.
29. Just because it’s a rule doesn’t make it right. I break the rules whenever my highest values are supported by doing so!
30. With each moment comes an opportunity to create a new beginning. My best self continually reveals itself to the world.

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:"You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of choice. Your mind is your room. Do you darken it or do you fill it with light?"  ~Remez Sasson

Women’s Empowerment Tip: Kick Your Habits to the Curb

Habits, no matter if they are good or bad, make us who we are…and, habits, no matter if they are good or bad, can make us or break us. 

Habits have a way of overtaking our lives and as a result we find ourselves stuck.  They’re sneaky; silently creeping up on you until you’re hooked!  You may not even realize the negative impact they are having on your life until it’s too late!  That’s why it’s so important to be aware of your habits and confront the ones that no longer serve you. 

Identifying bad habits is as easy as asking yourself, “What am I doing out of habit that no longer serves me?”  Look to the areas in your life that cause you constant struggle or challenge for an additional clue.  For example, if you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, your spending habits may need a review.  Habits such as eating the wrong kinds of foods in excess, shopping or eating out of emotion, spending too much time in front of the television, and most likely many more, might also come to mind. 

Once you have identified the habits you know you must change, follow these 6 tips to kick your habits to the curb:

1) Tackle one bad habit at a time and give your new positive habit 30 days to develop and establish new muscle memory.  Don’t be hard on yourself if you have a set-back; put any digression behind you and pick up where you left off.

2) Write it out; don’t leave commitments in your brain. Put pen to paper and gain clarity around the change you wish to make and why.  It’s tempting to skip this step but it’s extremely important!  Whenever you’re tempted to give up, this is just what you need to once again get clear on your objective and what it will mean for your life!

3) If the habit you want to change is an especially tough one, recognize the need for a step-by-step plan.  Just like when you create a plan to achieve a goal or finish a project, identifying key steps to break your habit will allow you to make small but steady progress each week.  Taking manageable action steps over time will ensure you have a successful outcome.

4) Habits are often prompted so it’s important to recognize your trigger (ie: If TV sparks a snack attack, stop the urge by eliminating TV time or replacing it with another activity).

5) Surround yourself with loyal supporters.  Let them help you and cheer you on!  Your Soulspring Group will undoubtedly be a valuable resource to you at this time.  They will gently hold you accountable to your mission and some members may even join you in your quest to kick the habit!

6) Awareness is key. Present time consciousness (PTC) will ensure you don’t mindlessly revert to old ways.  Don’t look back and don’t look ahead, stay focused on the now and take it a moment at a time.

It’s not necessary to remain a hostage to your habits.  A desire to change combined with a splash of will-power and the right support network, is all you need to change your life!

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:“The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”  ~Samuel Johnson

Your Summer Bucket List

The 4th of July holiday tends to mark the half-way point of the summer season.  We don’t know about you, but we’re wondering where the first half of the summer went?  Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?

Don’t let the few remaining weeks of summertime get away from you.  Make the most of the sunshine and warm weather by creating a special "bucket list" specifically for summer!  Need some inspiration?  We’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorite summertime activities and we know you’ve probably got a few ideas of your own.  Create a list of things you want to be sure to do and experience before the days get shorter (and the snow flies)!

1. Get up before the crack of dawn and savor the sunrise.
2. Buy yourself a hula-hoop and give it a whirl.
3. Wait for a warm rain (no hail, wind, or lightning please) and dance in it.
4. Find the most perfect picnic location, pack up your favorite foods in a basket, and have a picnic.
5. Go fly a kite up where the air is clear.
6. Here’s a real adventure if you’re feeling a little risqué? Go skinny dipping!
7. Get in touch with your inner child and blow some bubbles.
8. Be a do-gooder and volunteer for a day.
9. Be an astrologer for a night and lay out under the stars.
10. Try all 31 Baskin Robbins flavors.
11. Act like a kid again and instigate a water fight.
12. Combine the perfect shade tree with a perfect book for an afternoon of reading.
13. Make memories with the outdoors as your backdrop.  Schedule a family photo session with a photographer.
14. Connect with nature. Go on a nature hike with a camera and see how many species of flower you can capture on “film”.
15. Dream up some fantastic architecture and build a sand castle.
16. Show your team spirit and attend a Minor League baseball game.
17. Enjoy all-natural produce by visiting (and purchase from) a local farmer’s market.
18. Capture light by catching fire flies in a jar (but be kind and release them again).
19. Get creative with your grill – think pizzas, quesadillas, salads, and desserts!
20. Create a summer playlist. Pull together your favorite tunes for the season.
21. Head north and view the Northern Lights.
22. Take a day off work and surprise your kids by playing outside games all day!
23. Plan a mystery day trip for you and your group of besties!
24. Enjoy “the arts” in the great outdoors!  Attend an outdoor concert or live production in the park.
25. Find an outdoor eating establishment in your area and enjoy dining al fresco.
26. Toss out the maps – just pick a direction and drive for a day.  See what amazing things you can discover.
27. Forget about the PGA. Play a round at a miniature golf course.
28. Indulge in homemade lemonade on a hot day.
29. Make homemade ice cream. No maker – no worries.  Try this!
30. Spread some love. Pick flowers and leave them on someone’s desk, doorstep, windshield, etc.
31. See something on a HUGE screen. Attend a movie in a local park or go back in time at a drive-in theater.

Yes, don't forget to have some fun this summer.  We would love to hear about your experiences so please report back with a comment below!

The Soul Sisters

Soulspiration of the Week:
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~C. S. Lewis