What Does It All Mean?

When bad things happen to good people we wonder, “What does it all mean?” We search for answers. We drive ourselves crazy looking for the lessons to be learned. Funny, we don’t normally do the same when GOOD things happen. We just accept that this is the way things should be. We have a sense of entitlement and naturally EXPECT that good things will happen to us. Most times, we don’t even acknowledge the good. We don’t pay tribute to the gifts in our lives.

Why is it that we can trust that all is as it should be when everything is running smoothly but when the arse falls of out ‘er, we panic? (That’s a Newfoundland expression but I’m guessing my intelligent readers will get the proper gist.) Ah… this is where the learning is needed and some would concur that this is why bad things continue to happen… because we are NOT learning the lesson!

We must trust that all things that happen to us and around us are happening for a reason. There is a greater plan that we may not yet understand – perhaps we never will. We must remember to look upon the universe and its great sense of humour with awe and just get out of the way. Sometimes we have to leave well enough alone and not look so hard for the meaning. It will show up when we are ready.

A Healthy Start

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Honeselty, I never really understood the science behind that statement, but I have always been a healthy breakfast person and can’t function beyond 10:00am without food. My take on it is that you are setting a solid nutritional foundation for the day – treating your body like a temple by giving it what it needs to perform.

Today starts the beginning of another work week. It is a Magnificent Monday and, following a healthy breakfast, I give myself what I need to embrace my potential. Keeping my Vision of Success in mind, I begin this Mondays planning my week: at home, at work, at play and at peace.

• I plan my meals for the week so I’ll make healthy food choices (most of the time – it is summer, after all) when I’m alone and with the children;

• I schedule lunch and coffee with friends I haven’t seen in a while;


• I commit to daily exercise whether it be a hike with a friends, a solo trek in the park, a bike ride with the kids or some serious dancing;

• I ensure there is ample time allotted to accomplish my work objectives – those things that must be completed this week in order to keep my project moving on track and within budget;


• I book meetings with new acquaintances who are certain to become important people in my business network;

• I confirm a special outing with my children where we will help a friend celebrate his book launch: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131125776923224&ref=mf

• I carve out ‘play time’ on the weekend to celebrate several milestones with a great friend and colleague but aim, as part of my Vision, to incorporate play (i.e., for me: music, fun, laughter) in as many activities as I can throughout the week.


• I know that a part of each day will be spent in solitude to continuous to nurture my soul… walks in the woods, time at the beach, reading, meditating, writing.
Ahhh… glad I took that PAUSE. Lesson Learned

Out with the Old

It seems like I’ve been de-cluttering for several months now. Perhaps as I move into my forties – a new phase in my life – this ‘clearing out’ is a necessary part of transformation: Out with the old to make room for the new. I think so.

When I am surrounded by clutter it can actually FEEL heavy… I suppose all the stuff absorbs energy and I can feel it sucking the life-force from me. Have you ever felt like this? Clutter is one of my triggers that I am getting overwhelmed. When I am too busy with projects and activities, my environment reflects it and I know that it is time to slow down!

In order to get through the process – which always seems SO impossible in the beginning – I will use my 5 Steps for a Successful Execution of my Personal Vision of Success, with a focus on HOME, to stay on track.

Step 1 – CLARITY. I will visualize a clutter-free environment: everything in its place. Only things of value (practical or sentimental) have a place in my home. I will see it clearly.

Step 2 – COMMITMENT. I will make a firm declaration that I am executing my vision of success (as I see it). I will tell my children about the plan so that they can buy into the whole process and hold me accountable, too (and contribute to the vision since it is their environment also).

Step 3 – CHOICE. I will make choices in alignment with my vision. This means thinking twice before accumulating more stuff, and being more conscious over daily activities which create clutter. Organizing different workspaces in the house – kitchen, office, family room, laundry, etc. – so they are more efficient will help a lot.

Step 4 – CONFIDENCE. As I see the results of making the choices above, my confidence will grow. My commitment will be reaffirmed and it will make the tough decisions easier. New habits will be formed and the cycle continues! What a beautiful thing 

Step 5 – COMMUNITY. When I know that I’m going to need a little more help (really, a kick in the arse) to get through, I will enlist the help of a trusted friend – one who is not emotionally attached to anything I own. I will marvel at how effortlessly he/she throws my things in the dumpster. Wow! I will know when it’s time to reach out… actually I’m just getting to that point now! And once that help comes, there will be no more excuses!! Out with the Old!! Lesson Learned.

If you are having trouble clearing out the old to make room for the new, ask yourself what limiting beliefs are stopping you. Acknowledge those. Be grateful for the learning. See what is possible without those beliefs that keep you playing small. Go on… clear it out and Embrace Your Potential!

http://www.embracingpotential.com