Motivation

What do Elks, Faith and Certainty have in common?

So a funny story to remind you to have Faith and Certainty in what you are doing and who you are.

I go into the mountains and the woods each morning to run the dogs and it nourishes me (and it is always off the beaten path). So this morning bright and early I grab a friend and we go off. When we walk we share our challenges and our celebrations, so she was talking about her work, why was she doing it etc. As she’s talking I hear a massive rustle in the shrubbery and think it is some of the dogs, so don’t really pay attention.

The noise gets louder so I look up and I see a massive (yes honest, this isn’t a fishing story) bull elk, with a huge rack on his head charging at us. Well holy hannah! Talk about frozen, then a bizarre nano second of – where is my camera, to “we need to throw ourselves down this rocky bank and hide behind that big tree now!”

All of the labs were totally oblivious to what was happening, but the minute my friend screamed as I grabbed her to throw her down the bank – lol (not too sure if it was me throwing her down the bank or the elk she was screaming at) my Akbash (Turkish Mountain Dog) whose nature is the protector and the guardian whipped around, spotted this 1200lbs of flesh hurtling at us and he was like the Flash – white fluid motion hurtling towards this thing. The elk obviously saw and did a majestic veer and Legolas (that’s the dog) hurtled after him. 1.5 hours later the dog came back looking very tired.

Then the interesting thing was as we continued (yes of course we had to keep going) up the mountain I started saying how yesterday I had been having a pity party of “Who am I to move my business this way?” “There are tons of people with more experience” – blah, blah, frigging blah. Then I realised that I had treated Faith like a handbag yesterday – I had put it down and couldn’t remember where I had put it. So I scrabbled around for a bit and found my handbag of Faith and tucked it under my arm to remind me to have faith in me, faith in my gifts, faith in the universe, higher power, divine, fairies – you name it.

So when I got home after the gorgeous adrenaline rushing exploration this morning I grabbed my Animal Speak book to look up Elk. The message for Elk is one of Nobility and Strength as Elk can run for extended periods of time and that is how they outrun their predators. So the message was you are about to hit your stride, strength and don’t give up as it is right there. also Elk are not a solitary animal, they function best in community of their own kind, which I love – Interesting…….

So today as I pondered Certainty and heard – Your function, your purpose is to live a life that’s not of littleness, but one of magnitude. It made me smile. Then the quote from Course In Miracles – If you knew who walks beside you on the way you have chosen, FEAR would be impossible.

It reminded me to keep my handbag of faith nearby and just keep in my stride.

Gratitude and value will improve your money…..

Jenny Heston · 2:28 am ·

I am a huge proponent of Gratitude – every night I write 10 things that I am grateful for that day. When I reflect back on what I have written, the majority of them are about other people – kids, family, situations and events that I have participated in with friends, outside things such as my home, my garden, not so much about ME.

Have you ever taken time to really, REALLY appreciate how frigging amazing you are? How valued you are? Or do you define your value based on what others think?

As humans we often base our perceptions of ourselves on what others think, your friend said you were good at baking – so you value that. Your 5^th grade teacher told you you were great at Math, so you focused on Math. A choir leader told you that your voice was grating, so now you don’t sing. Your boss told you you were inept but you weren’t.

Who defines your value?

I have a fun exercise that I invite you to try daily. The School of Positive Psychology says – a habit is created in 21 days. So let’s create a habit that really supports you and allows you to relax into how amazing and wonderful you are and how bright your light shines and how your light impacts people whether you realise it or not. Watch what happens…..

So here we go, either first thing in the morning or as you are heading to bed, write down 3 things – that’s it, just 3 things that you value about YOURSELF.

Don’t be vague and ambiguous. An example being – “I’m healthy.” Cool, that is great, but does it stir an emotion in you? What does healthy feel like and look like for you? How about something a tad more specific such as:- “I am strong, flexible and healthy; my legs are toned and my arms are strong.” Does that evoke a more emotional response?

Here’s the challenge. Can you write 3 things a day for 21 days that you VALUE ABOUT YOURSELF? If you have always over committed, said yes to everything and put other people’s needs first all the time this will be a delicious challenge for YOU.

There is a caveat. There is no repeating. In other words, if you have written 3 things you can’t repeat them. You need to dig and explore and like an Archaeologist find more things that you value about YOU. Trust me; you are an untapped mine and you will be able to go for years, let alone 21 days.

If you are game and do this process watch what happens. In the past when someone complimented you did you brush it off and dismiss it with a “Yeah whatever, anyone could do this.” You go out to breakfast with a friend who pays the tab. In the past you may have had a debate about who is going to pay. As you didn’t value yourself and weren’t open to receiving.

All I can say is STOP! You as a person, a human a being on this planet and part of the mixed community are important and valued. Take a deep breath and when that compliment comes – smile and receive it. When your friend offers to buy you breakie, grin with a full tummy and say “Thank you”.

If you really, truly value yourself you are open to receiving.

So let go of any control issues, sit back in a comfy chair, grab something to write on/with and really start appreciating YOU. This isn’t selfish or narcissistic. It’s a case of you being the tenacious archaeologist and discovering how delightful, delicious you are and the gift that you are right here, right now.

BREATHE AND REVEL.

Can you honk like a goose?

Jenny Heston · 12:54 am ·

Have you ever tried to honk like a goose? I have, often. Especially now in the fall as the “V’s” of Canada Geese fly overhead honking away as they vanish off into the horizon or slow down to land on the lake first thing in the morning. It’s quite amazing to watch, huge “V’s” of geese all in formation, honking away, none are colliding, you don’t see one veer off on their own tangent and they all gently settle with a delicious “splush” amongst the mist rising off the lake. [Read more…] about Can you honk like a goose?

Motivation

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