JANUARY L.I.F.E - What Is Your Story? Laying The Foundations

New year. It starts off with so many new intentions, hopes, and worries about the future. In a way, with the run up to January 1st, and being bombarded with new plans, products and workshops, we start off slightly overwhelmed. There's a subtle panic to find "our word", planner system, intentions, etc.

Let's pause here. 

Lay aside for just a moment everything new you are holding for 2018 and turn your focus not on things, systems and words...

...but on yourself.

I'm hoping you're here to join us on a wonderful adventure that is LIFE. To change our life, or just to improve it, and realise our dreams, we've first got to find out, to discover by way of a journey, who we truly are.

What is your truth? What do you feel you wish you could express if you were brave enough? What part of yourself do you hide because of fear? 

Finding our truth and expressing it is more about removing the blocks we have built up over time. 

If we don't deal with these, then all our intentions and everything we started in the new year will be for nothing. Our excitement will wear off and we slip into our former routine and limiting beliefs. 

I'm going to suggest a completely different way to approach the way we do things. Please do not be put off by the simplicity of what I'm about to share. If put into practice they yield fruits and reveal treasures that I think will surprise you as it has done with me!

Ground Clearing & Foundation Laying

Commit this month to go on a journey of self-discovery. While everyone is busy setting new goals and intentions, spend January on you and uncovering your truth. This lays a solid foundation for your goals and intention setting. 

To live out our dreams we must be our true selves. How do we do that? How do we know that we're not already doing so?

If there are parts of yourself you hold back or cannot express, you are blocking yourself from flourishing and dis-empowering yourself. Therefore you know you are not living your truth.

The goal is to come to a point in life where you are empowered, have no need to impress others, able to embrace both your strengths and weaknesses, be your own ally, and know your worth.

It's a journey. One where we take a step at a time, exercise grace and patience, and refuse to judge ourselves when we get things wrong.

The First Steps

So, choose a time where you will be uninterrupted and grab your journal.

Ready?

Make a note of your answers and any thoughts that come to you as you work through the following self reflection questions.

• Think of all the times you have held back from expressing yourself. What was it that you wanted to express and why did you hold back?

• What are you passionate about? Does it line up with your dream? How are they connected?

• What limiting beliefs do you have? These can be anything, big or small, about yourself or the structures and/or system you live in, that hold you back from being yourself and living your truth. Please include whether or not you think you may have a victim mentality. For example, you're stuck because of the people/circumstances around you, and that things would be different if.....

• Do you believe you are unique, strong, and that the world needs your uniqueness? If not, why?

Okay, so by now you should have a good idea of what your blocks are. This is the rubble blocking the way to your dreams. This is what we will be working on using a variety of different tools. We will, at the same time, be nurturing your passions. But for now let's start with replacing those negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

I want you to take at least one piece of this rubble and replace it with it's polar opposite. For example, if you have low self esteem, use an affirmation such as;

My high self esteem allows me to accept compliments easily and also freely compliment others.

 It is important, as you repeat this and allow it to go from your head to your heart, that you notice any compliments given and accept them! Allow them into your life. Your self worth will grow in time. If you slip back into negative thinking, acknowledge it and then let it go replacing it with something like;

I call on the law of forgiveness. I am free from mistakes and the consequences of mistakes. I am under grace and not under karmic law.

The idea is to build your arsenal. Words have power. For every limiting belief, doubt, fear, negative thought, find its polar opposite and use it! Reinforce them by writing them on cards and in your journal. 

As you repeat an affirmation, visualize yourself as that person. What does she look like? What is she wearing? How does she handle difficult situations and people?

Next, if you haven't already, begin to build a portable vision board. Add images that inspire you and promote your passions, dreams and aspirations. For a tutorial on how to make one for your Travelers Notebook, see my video HERE.

Important Advice!

I cannot stress enough how important it is to first thing in the morning or failing that, some point in the day, read something that will build you up. I appreciate not everyone is a reader and I'm not saying you have to read loads. But if you can pick just one book (see recommendations below), that feeds your passion and self worth, it will give you the motivation and guidance you will need.

One more thing. Gratitude. It's vital. If this word causes an internal sigh then just commit to being grateful for one thing each day and build on that. It's more powerful to find the good in a particular trying situation and be thankful for that. Include gratitude in your journaling. 

So by now you have a lot to work through and to go on. I will be linking to helpful blogs, books, workshops etc to encourage you on your journey. So be sure to check in with the Facebook group HERE and to share your creations and journal pages. 

Future topics we will focus on, as well as blog posts by others, are 'Finding Your Role Model', 'Developing Your Passion, Calling & Dreams', 'Creating Ritual', and so much more! 

Wishing you a very exciting, miraculous and dream filled 2018! 

Book Recommendations

I often recommend older books as they seem, for whatever reason, more meaty. They refuse to dance around subjects and rather blast them wide open, explaining every piece. More modern writings give fresh and new insights as well as being a nice easy read. Feel free to add your own the comments. The first four listed are my go to's. I dip into them all the time. 

 The Writings of Florence Scovel Shinn

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Master Key by Charles Haanel

A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

Women Who Run Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Wake Up To The Joy of You by Agapi Stassinopoulos