Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”
- Marianne Williamson

That is all.

Plans: what funny things they are. As soon as you make them, they change. If you do happen to get perfect execution, you’re often left wondering “Is this really what I set out to do/achieve?” I found this quote today when I opened up my daytimer. (Yes, I still use an old-fashioned paper daytimer.. the kind that you buy refills for every year. And I love it. Moving on.) I’ve flipped past that page a dozen times, and had forgotten that the quote was there.

Perhaps it resonated with me more tonight because I am in a state of transition and growth. Perhaps it’s because I’ve got lots of questions about the plan that I’m making, and where it leads. Sometimes you do have to let go of plans to find your way, but I also think that sometimes you need to make some plan to get you on your way.

What do you prefer? A map, a plan, or wandering until you find your way?

Beautiful Zipper Pond in Taiwan from Toxel.com

My cousin and aunt were unexpectedly in town on Friday. We’re not close to our extended family, so it’s normally a surprise when we see them. My cousin (who’s nearing 50 by my estimate), said something that really stuck with me.

“When I was younger, I used to dream that one day I would unzip this fat suit and step out looking gorgeous in a bikini. I finally realized that ain’t happening.”

I’ve got a whole list of things that I’m not satisfied with about myself – from my hairstyle to the way that I choose to spend my time, and I just keep wishing for a “bippity-boppity-boo” that will magically transform me into the person that I think I want to be. Like C, I was waiting for the day that my suit unzipped and I could step out into the world as that fully fledged new person.

When I told JB what she said, he offered: “Did it ever occur to her to just take a jog?”

It’s a reminder that if we want to change, we have to take the steps to make the change happen. As much as I’d like to unzip, to bippity-boppity-boo, the only way for me to change is to take that jog.

That doesn’t mean I will stop looking for the zipper though.

When my coworker posted this as her status message one day, it made me wonder:

Who wants flies?

If I’m using honey, treating others the way that I want to be treated, and all of those other rules that were embedded in our childhood minds, shouldn’t I get something better than flies? How about “You get more avalanche bark with honey than you do with vinegar” or “You get more gold coins with honey than you do with vinegar?” Make it worthwhile for me to be nice! I’d settle for “You get more niceness with honey than you do with vinegar.”

I’m tired of people being unpleasant, demanding, and demeaning. Say thank you. Ask, not demand. Suggest, not request.

Even if you don’t want flies, you’ll get more good stuff by inserting a bit more pleasantness into your day.

How are you going to make today pleasant?

I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the last few weeks cleaning up messes that others have left behind (mostly of the physical kind), but it’s given me a lot of opportunity to think about the psychological messes that most of us sweep under the rug. I’ve also spent some time watching Hoarders (from A&E). It’s a powerful show about people who allow the compulsion to save items to control them.

I can’t say for sure if watching other people or cleaning up other people’s messes is really what did it for me, but I’m turning over a bit of a new leaf. (For those of you who know about my other “hobby”, you’ll be happy to hear about my New Leaf.) I want to be less about possessions, and more about exploration and fun, and experience. Artwork is all the more powerful when you create it. Evenings are more beautiful when you spend them with someone you love, even if that’s your dog, rather than shuffling your “stuff” from place to place.

I don’t expect to give up all of my consumerism, or live like a nun. I still expect to love shopping, but more for the browsing and imagination than the actual acquisition. I probably won’t make the bed eery day, but I’ll strive to make it on weekends. There’s no need to allow our things to take possession of us, when just a few minutes a day can help keep us possessing them.

1. Make a list of everything you plan to do today: In Column A, include the activities that drain you; in column B, those that replenish you. Now figure out how to remove one item from A and add one to B.

3. Take an extra step—and 499 more. “Exercise gets your heart pumping more blood to the muscles,” says internist Marianne Legato, MD. “It’s one of the best antidotes to fatigue.”

15. Write down what your purpose in life is. “You have to be going somewhere to have the energy you need to get there,” says cardiologist Mehmet Oz, MD.

Read all 23 tips

Share your favorite energy-boosting tips in the comments, please!

So far, I have:

• 8th Grade Graduation Certificate
• High School Diploma
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Certification

I’m considering:

• MBA
• ACE Personal Trainer Certifcation
• HubSpot Internet Marketing Professional
• Google Adwords Certified Professional
• Direct Marketing Certification
• Copywriting Certification Program
• Certified Property Manager
• Life Coach Certification

I could add to the list every day. I’m not sure if it’s the drive to always have a billion ways to support myself, or the curiosity I mentioned earlier. If I had unlimited time (and, lets face it, unlimited money), I would collect information like some people collect toenails and oversized jars of tomatoes while preparing for the apocalypse.

By the way, this is what I would expect my apocalypse shelter to look like:

Most of the certificates and diplomas on the “consideration” list are not there because I think they’ll enhance my life, but because I want the evidence that I have acquired the knowledge that the certificates are tied to.

• Scramble together 4 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs.
• Slurp minestrone soup instead of cream of anything.
• Go bunless—shed your hamburger roll.
• Ordering a cocktail? Make it on the rocks instead of frozen. Slushy fruit drinks tend to be made with bottled mixers that contain added sugar and syrups.
• Move your stash of Hershey’s Kisses at least 6 feet away from your desk—you’ll dip in half as often.
• Stop eating when you hit the crust. The edges and bottoms of baked goods are especially caloric because they absorb the butter used to grease the pan.
• Substitute nonfat Greek yogurt for a serving of sour cream. (I really can’t tell the difference!)

Read the whole list of 78 Ways to Cut Fat Calories from Your Diet.

What are you favorite ways to save a few calories?

4. Give up complaining. – Do something about it.

6. Give up waiting. – What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.

11. Give up thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

20. Give up letting your thoughts and feelings bottle up inside. – People are not mind readers.  They will never know how you feel unless you tell them.

26. Give up being anti-athletic. – Get your body moving!  Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the p90X workout. (This is especially true since I just finished reading Born to Run).

36. Give up persistent multi-tasking. – Do one thing at a time and do it right.

50. Give up putting your own needs on the back burner. – Yes, help others, but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

Read the full list of 50 Things to You Need to Give Up Today.

Motivation.

I’m not sure quite why, but I had motivation this morning. When my 6.8 lb dog started jumping all over the bed, and trying to nudge my face off of my pillow, I actually got out of bed, and took her for a nearly 2 mile walk. Afterward, I checked my email, narrowing down my unread messages to less than 20 (from nearly 100), and now here I am, writing.

If you’ve ever met me, chances are, you don’t think that motivation is something that I struggle with. At work, I tackle projects with zeal and mark tasks off my to-do list with zest. Work is easier than the rest of life though. I’m motivated by judgment, just like in school. Each review is like getting grades – and I want to be at the top of my class. That judgment, paired with the fear of disappointing those around me, drives me to work harder and longer than some of my counterparts.

Now, on Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night, what motivates me? What gets me to the gym, to the keyboard – anywhere that’s off of the couch?

i don’t know.

For the next week, I’m going to do my best to keep track of what does get me off the couch (and what doesn’t…). I’m motivated to keep track of this by my accountability to you. I’ll read about motivation, and test some of the theories. Maybe in the end it will turn out to be like The Happiness Project for those of us who need a little extra “go”.