Archive for October, 2010

                 

Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I’m stealing my “3 Rs” from a magazine ad.  

An ad for a colon cleansing product, of all things.   

Yeah, I know.  Strange source of inspiration.   

Whoever wrote the copy for that ad sure got my attention, and in a positive way. 

I thought to myself, Hey, I want to feel that way, too! 

Didn’t make me buy the product but I sure ripped out the ad so I could save it for inspiration and to share with you.  

I hear you saying, Enough already!  What the heck are the 3 Rs that you’re so enamored with, Margie?  Just tell us already.   

Okay, here they are, with my own ideas for implementation.  

RECLAIM your body’s natural abilities. 

If you’re anything like me, you have a tendency to take for granted your fabulous body and its marvelous functions.  So, how can we RECLAIM our natural abilities?  You know me, I’m all about small changes and little tweaks that we can incorporate into our daily lives – small, consistent efforts that will add to our lives in a big way.  Here are some ideas to get you started reclaiming your body in just a few minutes a day:

Go for some gentle stretching or some soft, fluid yoga postures.  Do you sit hunched over a computer or the steering wheel or slouched on the sofa?  Reclaim your flexibility! Do a shoulder shrug; do a seated twist; lie down and stretch your arms and toes as far as you can.  You get the idea.  Just stretch.

Take a few minutes to breathe slowing and deeply.  We spend most of our day taking shallow, short breaths.  Reclaim your lung power!  Expand your belly as you inhale and then slowly exhale.  Repeat until you feel yourself slow down and relax.

What other natural abilities are you inspired to reclaim?

RESTORE energy and balance. 

Life tends toward hectic-ness and chaotic-ness, not so much towards balance.  We know that we can’t control all the things that come flying our way on a given day.  But, there are certainly small things we can incorporate into our day to RESTORE our energy and balance in the midst of chaos.

Focus on beauty.  Take just a few minutes to slow down and focus on something beautiful and natural.  Gaze upon and then mentally construct a detailed description of something natural and simple like a cloud in the sky or the sunlight coming through the trees. It’s amazing how quickly you’ll return to a place of mental calm and balance.

Loving touch is a powerful means to restoring balance.  Give it a try.  Just reach out and touch someone you love – give them a hug, hold their hand, or play footsies.    

What other ways do you restore your energy and balance during the day?

 

REJOICE in a healthier, happier you. 

Move, baby, move!  Dance around the house for a few minutes (how about just one song?).  Dancing to whatever music gets your toes tapping is such a fabulous way to enact ALL 3 Rs – you’re reclaiming your body’s natural abilities by moving, you’re restoring energy and balance, and what a fun way to rejoice.

Play like you’re a kid again!  Do something FUN and silly.  Do the hula hoop, play hopscotch, swing and slide at the playground, put on your old roller blades, skip down the street, blow bubbles, or do whatever floats your boat.  Just do something playful and rejoice!

 

 Here’s to the new 3 Rs – reclaim, restore, and rejoice. 

Here’s to a healthier, happier you.  And me, too!
Margie

Wander Woman: How high achieving women find contentment and direction

I just finished reading this fabulous book that made me feel like the author had been following me around and getting to know me better than I knew myself.  I kept finding myself saying, “Aha, so that’s why I do that!” and “So, I’m not crazy after all – other women feel this way, too.”  And stuff like that. 

Author Marcia Reynolds, PhD, has described me to a tee. 

And I believe that she may have your number, too. 

Check out her insightful book about women who want more out of life and who feel like it’s out there for them if they could only put their finger on what’s missing. 

Boy do I know that feeling!  That’s the reason I’m a life coach today – I had that feeling, found my own path to fulfillment, and now want to help other women find their path.

I had the good fortune to speak with Dr. Reynolds on a conference call just the other day along with a handful of other “wander” women. 
What a wonderful experience – to have a dialogue with the author of such an inspirational work!  Her energy and enthusiasm for spreading the work about all of us Wander Women seems to be limitless. 

Read it yourself and let me know what you think!
~Margie

        

I don’t know about you, but I can get pretty wrapped up in feelings of worry and fear about the future. 

I’m a champ at predicting just how dire things could get.

Oh yeah, I’m good.  But, really, what’s the point? 

Why does my brain want to “go there”? 

Well, mostly it’s trained to protect me.  My brain wants me to know what’s possible and wants me to be prepared for the worst.  (Girl Scouts, unite!) 

Sounds harmless enough.  Sounds like a good preservation plan. 

But what if that part of my brain is working overtime, and on scenarios that just aren’t likely to happen?  Sigh. 

That’s a lot of energy.  A lot of mental energy and a lot of emotional energy.  All wrapped up in the future, which hasn’t even taken place. 

What does that leave, in energy reserves, for right NOW? 

Not so much.  And what have I got to live in?  The future?  Or right now? 

Oh yeah, I’m only here right NOW.  And now.  And now.  That’s all I’ve got. 

That’s all I need.

I’m a fan of Eckhart Tolle and his magnificent works on enlightenment and the power of now (being present as much as possible).  That’s it.  Be here.  Now. 

Sounds fabulous.  It IS fabulous.  But for me, it takes a lot of practice. (Nothin’ wrong with practice.)  And a lot of reminding myself that the future has always taken care of itself (yes, with my help – but certainly not by worrying about it).

So that’s my reminder to myself and to you.  For today, just be here.

Be here, now. 

Look around you and notice what’s what.  In this very moment there isn’t a whole lot to worry about. 

The future will take care of itself if I spend my precious mental and emotional energy living now. 

And what a fabulous “now” I can create.  So can you.  Start … now! 
~Margie