True Balance

Image courtesy of Peter Forton

The sankalpa I choose during Yoga Nidra meditation is “I am Peace” or “I am Peaceful.”  Sankalpa is defined as the resolve, determination and good intention that resonates and aligns sublimely with your essence.  Cultivating and sharing teachings to create a more peaceful love filled existence means everything to me as a woman, wife, mother, author and life coach.

7  Steps to Create More Peace in Your Life:

Positive Thinking

• Attitude is everything … Why not start by choosing happiness?  The next time you are cranky, think about how funny you are all puckered up and pissed off. Angry? Get over it!

Breathe

• Breathe deeply for 5 or 6 rounds of your breath every hour. When you pay attention to your breath your world will settle down.

Emotional Energy

• Let go of any excess baggage and learn how to tap into your happy place. Everyone has a crappy day … Learn to let it go.  Say so long, bon voyage, later days to that big ugly sack of sticky darkness.

Self Love

• Love yourself as you are - in this moment. You are an amazing critter. You matter.  Embrace your quirks, strengths, deficiencies and human kindness. There is nobody in the Universe quite like you!

Gratitude Power

• Begin and end each day thinking about what you are thankful for. Consider writing letters of gratitude to the people you love in your life. Let them know you think they are all kinds of alright. Share your Love!

Meditation

• Get centered by creating time for guided or silent meditation.  As little as two minutes counting your breath daily will make a difference. Do it … No excuses.

Knowing

• Your life is more important than you know. You are the author of your life’s story. What kind of life do you want to create? Begin …

Consciously embrace each step and become aware of how much internal peace you can create.  Peace begins within you and radiates out to everyone you encounter.

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.”

- John Lennon

Seth Godin is my very favorite marketer. He has a way of inspiring me to think deeply, stay on my creative path and evolve into the kind of coach and entrepreneur I set out to be.

Check out his latest supportive post here:

You Matter

When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter.
When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter.
When you leave the world a better place than you found it, you matter.
When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it, you matter.
When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter.
When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words), you matter.
When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.
When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it could be, you matter.
When you inspire a Nobel prize winner or a slum dweller, you matter.
When the room brightens when you walk in, you matter.
And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.

Visit Seth’s blog and sign up for his daily updates.

Enjoy this pithy guest post by my friend Bethany North.

What exactly is the purpose of spring cleaning? Of course, we are all familiar with clearing cobwebs from corners, throwing out old clothes, and even scrubbing down baseboards so that they look brand-new again. That being said, if the past year has brought you challenges and the regular dose of stress, you may want to take your spring cleaning to the next level by examining your personal life.

Clean out your mind.

This basically means unloading negative thoughts, problems you have been holding onto, and stress that has built up throughout the year. In the same way that you would throw out last season’s coat or shoes, this is your opportunity to toss out work stress, an argument with a sibling or friend, or even disappointments that you may have with yourself. That is so 2009! Instead of holding onto old issues, you can begin letting go of them slowly but surely by clearing your mind of this stress.

Organize your thoughts.

In the same way that you would organize an unruly closet or junk drawer in the spirit of spring cleaning, start by organizing your thoughts. Do you have a to-do list that never gets done? Do you have goals that you have not yet accomplished? It is so easy to procrastinate, especially when it comes to your personal life. However, now is the time to get it all down on paper! Start making a legitimate list of your goals, no matter how small or large they may be. Do you want to start your own business? Do you want to get a promotion? Do you want to stop smoking? Do you want to start treating yourself better? These are all reasonable goals that you can accomplish by getting organized!

Get down and dirty.

In the same way that you would move your refrigerator to clean under it as a result of aggressive spring cleaning, you also have the opportunity to get down and dirty and finally let go of issues that you have been continually struggling with. Whether you have always planned to lose 10 more pounds, eat better, or find a job that you are truly passionate about, get to the heart of what is really bothering you. Instead of complaining about your boss over and over again, now is the time to take action instead of sweeping dirt under the rug!

Follow these simple tips and your spring cleaning for the soul experience will be a success! This is your opportunity to make long-lasting changes by opening your mind and becoming ready for any opportunity that lies ahead.

Bethany North is prolific blogger and a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of her career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. Her specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and the Bunn O Matic Coffee Maker can be found at www.thecoffeebump.com