Wish for the Stars
Your Dare for this week ~
Dream Big & Reach for the Stars….
How often do you let yourself REALLY dream?
You know, for those things that seem impossible – or hard? For those things that seem out of reach and beyond anything that you could have (or deserve) in this life…
This week.. open up your heart, listen, hang out.. see what it is that you really want. That you really and truly wish for.
And then, let yourself dream about it. Imagine yourself there.
Having it. Being it. Feeling it.
Experiencing it.
Let your imagination get the best of you. Don’t hold back.
Don’t edit.
Did you hear that? Don’t edit. Don’t protect the dream (or yourself) by only wishing some of it.
Let the dream flourish. In all it’s glory.
And, dream yourSelf flourishing.
How does it feel to let yourself imagine the stars?
Leave a CommentBring Your A-Game
If you didn’t know, I am back in school, pursuing a passion of mine. It’s been 20 years and in many ways it is kicking my butt.
But, there is this other thing happening…
I am totally rockin’ it – bringing my A-game and really pushing myself.
I’m a good student and can get pretty decent grades just by showing up and doing the work, but I am so committed to winning here – to excelling – to turning myself into an amazing designer, that I keep taking it up a notch. I keep seeing how much more I can do.
There have been many nights (and weeks) where I am exhausted because I stayed up way too late or have been stressed and worried about how I am doing.
But, more often then not, I feel really satisfied. Full. Happy. Content. Proud.
So what does this have to do with YOU?
Everything, really. Because it’s about this whole phenomenon of bringing your A-game to life.
If you are feeling dissatisfied, frustrated, bored, not good enough, stressed, etc…. my guess is that you are not bringing your A-game.
What does the A-game look like?
It is you – surrendering completely to whatever it is you are working on. Going for it with all your strength and your power and your delicious, ferocious love.
It is you putting yourself to bed at night knowing without a shadow of a doubt that you gave it everything you’ve got. That you didn’t sell out, or cut corners, or cheat in some way.
It is you pursuing your dreams with an undying, delirious passion. Those things that make you happy and fulfilled and inspired all the way to the core of your being.
It is you saying no to the shoulda’s and woulda’s, the things that you think will make you happy, but they won’t. Because they are not really the stuff that makes YOUR heart sing.
It is you looking for ways to be better, to push yourself, to discover what you are really made of.
You know what it looks like.
There have been times in your life – maybe even right now – when you have brought your A-game to the party. When you have played full out – given your all – revealed your heart and soul with no fear or reservation.
You know those moments.
It may be that it has been awhile since you lived like this – giving yourself fully to task at hand.
So often, we walk through life just going through the motions, it may be that you have become a bit numb even.
But, no worries if you have. Don’t go beat yourself up about it.
Just know that you haven’t been bringing your A-game.
And, then, if you are inspired to do it – start playing a little harder, a little more fully, with a bit more passion.
See what happens. You just might surprise yourself.
Leave a CommentComments: How does it feel when you bring your A-game to life?
Ask Yourself This Question
A weekly feature, where I double dog dare you to do something bold, something creative, something courageous.
So that you can more fully become who you really are…
Ask Yourself This Question ~ What do you stand for?
Do you know the answer to this question? Like, do you REALLY know? In the depths of your soul ~ what is it that most matters to you, that you won’t settle for no matter what? What is it that wakes you up from just going through the motions? What motivates you to make things happen? What will you not be silent about?
What do you stand for?
This week’s challenge is to get yourself clear. Really, really clear. What do you stand for? What moves you? What inspires you? What do you line your life up to fulfill? What will you not take no as an answer for.
Write it out. Draw it. Photograph. Articulate it.
Share it.
Let the world know who you are what your life is about.
A stand is a powerful force. You can’t mess with it. It propels you, it pulls you, it demands of you to live your life in the most truest way. If you think of someone like Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ that was a man with a stand. There was no questioning it. No running from it. No hiding from it. No ignoring it. Who he was and what he was here on this earth for was loud and clear.
Do you have a stand? Something that you are unafraid to shout out loud from the highest mountain. Something that moves you, all the way to your bones. If not, it’s time. Time to take a stand. Time to claim what you are on this earth to fulfill.
My stand is that all moms get to fully express their passions and live their dreams – full on, no settling, no waiting for someday. That is what my life is for. That is the life I am living.
So, what is your life for?
Leave a CommentComments: What is your stand?
Dedicated To All Of You
Imagine A Mother by Patricia Lynn Reilly
Imagine a mother who believes she belongs in the world.
A mother who celebrates her own life.
Who is glad to be alive.
Imagine a mother who celebrates the birth of her daughters.
A mother who believes in the goodness of her daughters.
Who nurtures their wisdom. Who cultivates their power.
Imagine a mother who celebrates the birth of her sons.
A mother who believes in the goodness of her sons.
Who nurtures their kindness. Who honors their tears.
Imagine a mother who turns toward herself with interest.
A mother who acknowledges her own feelings and thoughts.
Whose capacity to be available to her family deepens as she is available to herself.
Imagine a mother who is aware of her own needs and desires.
A mother who meets them with tenderness and grace.
Who enlists the support of respectful friends and chosen family.
Imagine a mother who lives in harmony with her heart.
A mother who trusts her impulses to expand and contract.
Who knows that everything changes in the fullness of time.
Imagine a mother who embodies her spirituality.
A mother who honors her body as the sacred temple of the spirit of life.
Who breathes deeply as a prayer of gratitude for life itself.
Imagine a mother who values the women in her life.
A mother who finds comfort in the company of women.
Who sets aside time to replenish her woman-spirit.
Imagine yourself as this mother.
You ARE this mother! Thank you for taking the time to visit these pages, to read what I write. Thank you for dreaming, for wishing, for living true. I feel so blessed to be a part of your life and that you are a part of mine.
Have a great weekend. xo~Lisa
Take A Courageous Step Forward
A weekly feature, where I double dog dare you to do something bold, something creative, something courageous.
So that you can more fully become who you really are…
Take A Courageous Step Forward
18 years ago I dropped out of college.
I was a math major who decided that what I really wanted to do was be a film maker. So I quit in search of a film school. Then one thing led to another, and I never went.
Probably 7 years or so later, I was working for a company, working too hard and dreaming of something else, something more creative and artistic. I boldly decided to quit my job and go to art school ~ to study photography.
Which, never happened. I ended up staying with the company, living in Europe and doing lots of other really cool, amazing things.
But, no film. No photography.
Then, I became a mother and this photography passion started to bloom again. As well as a new interest in graphic design, making websites, that kind of thing.
But, going back to school? Or pursuing my passions full time? Yeah, not going to happen.
I’m a mom and I had other obligations taking care of my family, running our household, etc. I didn’t have the time or the money to spend on exploring my passions. My family needed me and taking huge chunks of time for something just for me, well, that would just be unthinkable.
Sound familiar?
Well, then the unthinkable happened and our family broke up. As I started to confront my life and what I was going to do, those old artist dreams bubbled back up to the surface.
Putting one foot in front of the other, doing tons of research, I found myself applying to school – to a multi media program that will teach me so much about all these things that I have dreamed of over the years – film, photography, graphic design.
School started today. 
And I am so happy. Like seriously on the verge of happy tears all day happy. Why? Because a deeply buried dream is here right now. It’s happening. NOW. It is no longer a forgotten, never going to happen wish, or a someday, but not now dream. My being an artist dream is here right now in THIS moment.
Sitting in class today, being totally blown away by all that I am about to learn, feeling so confident in who I am, in my dreams, in what I want for my life, these are the thoughts that kept floating in my mind ~ “I am an artist. A real artist. Learning, exploring, discovering. I am doing it. This is who I am. I belong here.”
My dream went from dream to reality. I have a huge, long list of art supplies that I need, things I don’t even know what they are. But I get to go buy them. I fiddled around with a super sexy macinosh computer fully loaded with all the latest and greatest. And I have some amazing people lined up to show me how to use those art supplies and what to do with all the latest and greatest.
The dream is here. I’m doing it. It’s real. It’s happening.
And, what an amazing feeling that is! To realize something that my heart has been longing for, aching for really. For it to be transformed from a wish to reality. I feel so fulfilled, so confident, so inspired, so full.
So, this is your dare for the week:
Take a courageous step forward ~ toward your dreams. Do something that brings whatever it is you want for YOUR life that much closer to actually happening. It doesn’t have to be a big, huge step, but is does have to be courageous. A leap of faith. Moving your life directly into the space you want it to go without knowing just how amazing it will feel when you get yourself there. Without being sure just how happy you will be when you discover that you made something happen that you really, really wanted.
Trust me, today is proof. You will be happy and you will feel amazing.
Drop the excuses and the reasons why you can’t. Don’t wait for something totally sucky to happen that forces you to take some action. Give yourself permission. Someday is not going to happen unless you act today.
Leave a CommentWhat is that deep, buried dream that you still really, really want?
Find 2 Hours For Your Dreams
Week Four of the Free e-Course: “8 Weeks to Feeling Like You Have More Time”
You can jump into the course at any time ~
Week One ~ Setting Your Intentions and Recommendations to Get the Most Out of the Course
Week Two ~ Freeing Up Your Mind ~ The Big Brain Dump and Tracking Your Time
Week Three ~ What is Your Attention on and Perceptions
Week Five ~ When Was The Last Time You Asked For Help?
Week Six ~ What Are You Grateful For?
Week Seven ~ Making Changes That Become Habits
Week Eight ~ It’s All In Your Mind, A Little Pep Talk
Find 2 Hours For Your Dreams
So at this point, you should have a bit of a sense that the trick to feeling like you have more time is shifting your perception to time. And this, I know, is easier said than done. So this week, we are going to put it to the test.
Your assignment this week is to find 2 hours just for you. 2 hours that you will use toward fulfilling on your dreams. 2 uninterrupted hours of you painting, or writing, or taking pictures, or meditating, or doing whatever would have you working toward your dreams. 2 hours without the kids, the spouse, the laundry, the bills, or your never ending to-do list.
Yup, 2 hours just for you. Not to just wander around and shop, or go to the movies, or do something else that is just “doing nothing”. These 2 hours are for you to get on the “making your dreams happen ship” and see where it sets sail.
Oh, and these 2 hours are not to be had at midnight or before the crack of dawn, they are going to happen right in the rhythm of your normal day to day life.
You may have to hire a babysitter, or ask a friend a favor, or turn off the TV, or (gasp!) ignore the dishes, or get off the phone, or give up something else that is just wasting your time. Not that whatever you would be doing wouldn’t be fun, or even nourishing on some level. But, you working on and fulfilling your dreams is 100 times more important and this week you are going to prove that to yourself.
You might find yourself battling those inner voices telling you that you don’t have anything worth while to work on, or that it’s not fair for you to take this time away from your kids, or that your idea is stupid, or that maybe it really is better to wait to get started on this until the kids are older. Whatever you are telling yourself about why you can’t take these 2 hours is the exact thing you need to do battle with to fulfill on your dreams. So get in there and battle if you need to ~ you and your dreams are worth it!
A few ideas to make sure your 2 hours are well spent:
- Prepare your workspace ahead of time so you can get right to work. You don’t want to spend your 2 hours organizing your supplies and setting up your work station. You want to be able to sit down and get right to work.
- Create an intention for what you want to accomplish in your 2 hours. With an intention, you will be focused and will be way more productive vs. just sitting down and “seeing what happens”. An intention my be something like, “I am going to walk around the city for 2 hours seeking our beauty to capture on film.” Or “I am going to sit down for 2 hours and write until I have written 2000 words.” Focus your efforts.
- Make sure you schedule this time with no kids around. They will find ways to interrupt and you will find yourself pulled to be there for them. Set yourself up to win, by making sure no one can find you while you are working.
Ok, lovely mamas, that’s it. Go find yourself 2 hours, push through the excuses and get working on your dreams! Find the time, no matter what, and see what happens when you do.
What are you going to spend your 2 hours working on?
Want to “officially” join into the course? You can sign up here:
Your Unique Contribution
{You have a purpose by ourlittlelovenest on etsy}
You have something to say.
I know you do.. it’s in there, wanting to get out. We all do. We all have our own unique contribution that we are here to share with the world. There is something that you are when you get all the barriers and the junk that keeps you small ~ out of the way. There is something you are wanting to say with all that you do, something you want your whole life to be about.
What is your message?
Do you know? Have you articulated it in a way that it communicates through all that you do?
Who are you for the world?
It’s a big question, I know. But one worth visiting. I’m sure you are somewhat clear about who you are for your children. But, who are you for YOU? And who are you for everyone else that crosses your path?
If you were to choose a word or a phrase that captures the spirit, the essence of your unique contribution, what would it be?
- Bold
- Passionate
- Making A Difference
- Loving
- Compassionate
- Gentle
- Free
- Daring
- Full of Life
- Courageous
- Joyful
- Peaceful
- Jazzy
- Creative
- Funky
- Exuberant
- Radical
- Fulfilled
- Discovery
- Adventurous
I think you get the idea. You can add to this as well….
- Discovering the world as a family.
- Sharing the joy in life.
- Courageously living dreams.
- Daring to tell the truth.
- Creating sacred space.
- Inspiring health and vitality.
- Loving with a full heart.
- Making a difference for all children.
- Living a radical existence.
- Funky, creative energy.
- Giving myself fully to all I do.
- Living full of life.
I encourage you, no I urge you, to create something that captures who you are and what you are contributing to all of us.
Here is why…
Imagine that you have really created this way of saying who you are. And it IS who you are! Being that inspires you and fulfills you and motivates you. Then you start to bring that into all that you do.. being a mom, working on your art, creating your home, building your friendships, your work, taking care of yourself, loving your mate, helping at the homeless shelter, whatever it is you are working on in your life.
Imagine yourself so totally being YOUR expression. How would that make a difference in how you experience life? How would that contribute to your family and the people you interact with? How would that impact the world around you?
As moms, we are hard on ourselves. We don’t give ourselves enough credit for doing this amazing, life changing job ~ raising little people into grown up awesomeness!! Instead, we beat ourselves up, tell ourselves we are not doing enough, etc, blah, blah, blah…
Well, what if instead of all that self sabotage garbage, you stood up ~ proud of who you are and walked through life shining that radiance where ever you went. What would your life be like then?
So, tell me? What is YOUR unique contribution?
Inspire me in the comments below…
Leave a Comment
It’s Okay to Rock the Boat, You Know?
Playing it safe is no fun.
Why not stir things up a bit ~ shake, rattle and roll??
I know that there have been many times in my life when there was something I really, really wanted. Something that inspired me and moved me and made me say YES! to being alive.
Hand and hand with that, I would say that often those things did not fit into the mold of living a nice, safe, comfortable life.
Living our dreams, going out on a limb, going for it ~ that takes risk. And risk is not always the most comfortable thing to experience. Especially for some of the people around us.
I don’t know what it is about doing something risky, but it seems to bring up all the worry and concern of the people around you. Ever notice that?
Who knows why? ( I have my theories ~ it has them be aware of all the dreams they missed out on, it has them have to look at the safe way they are living, they have been hurt and burned in the past and they fear that for anyone, especially someone they love)
Whatever the reason, it takes a bit of thick skin on your part to keep going for your dreams in the face of all that worry in concern. It’s a bit like a fish swimming upstream.
Well, I am here to tell you that it’s okay to rock the boat!
Really it is! In fact, I think you should be going for your dreams, stirring things up a bit. Too much of life is spent doing the “right thing” and sticking to our nice, safe, comfortable existence.
- What if you did go buy a bunch of paints and carved out some studio space in your basement?
- What if you signed yourself up for that photography class?
- What if you did sell the big, expensive house so you could live a more simple life and have time and money to travel?
- What if you did audition for that play?
- What if you invited all your friends over to share your latest culinary experiments?
- What if you went ahead and pulled your kids out of school so you could homeshool them?
- What if you started that novel?
Don’t you think the world would be a better place? With you in it ~ fully alive, pursuing your dreams, living with passion? I do.
Leave a CommentSo tell me… What is it that’s holding you back?
Finding Your Bliss
What is it that you love to do?
What makes you happy, inspired, full of life?
Not sure? I think it is pretty common for us to loose sight of this when we become mothers. All of our attention goes to our little ones – what do they need?
So, we stop listening to our own hearts and we stop doing things that are just for us. Things that make our spirit sing.
You may be wishing and wondering and wanting to go chasing your dreams, but you just aren’t sure what they are anymore.
So, how do you discover what you are passionate about? How do you find your bliss?
Here are some things you can do that should point you in the right direction:
1. Sit quietly and think about how it is you want to feel as you are going about your life. Write it down. Let you mind go and write down whatever you think up. Peaceful, excited, inspired, loved, passionate, exuberant, calm, etc. Only you know how it is that you want to feel. Keep writing until you get it all out.
2. Do you notice a theme on your list? Could you narrow the list down to 3-5 words that sum everything up for you? Feel free to use a thesaurus to find the perfect words that really say it for you. Write those down on an index card or small piece of paper that you can have in front of you or carry around with you wherever you go.
3. Now start to notice when you are doing things that make you feel those things. What things are you already working on that make you feel what you are wishing to feel? What things to you daydream about that make you feel this way? Start to notice what brings about your desired feelings.
4. Those activities, thoughts, behaviors will point you to the things that bring you happiness and fulfillment. See if you can’t do more of that stuff and less of the things that don’t make you feel the way you want to feel.
5. Another thing that will point you toward your bliss is to pay attention to the things you like to talk about with the people in your life. What do you go on and on about? What could you discuss for hours and only get more excited about?
The key with finding your bliss is that only you know what it is. Only you know what lights your fire, makes your smile and has your soul say YES!
The only way to connect with that is to listen. Really take the time to listen to what your heart wants to express and then find ways to express that.
Also, you can’t make yourself passionate about anything. You either are or you aren’t. So, yes, you may love the idea of being a painter, but if you are not passionate about painting, then pursuing a painter’s life will only leave you frustrated.
Finding your bliss is really an exercise of telling the truth about what inspires you, what doesn’t, and then lining up your life to live your own truth.
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Make An Impact in the World Today
What you do impacts the world.
Do you ever think about that? How your actions and choices make an impact, not only on the people around you, but on the entire world?
Well, what you do does impact everything around you.
If you are settling, not going after your dreams, merely surviving, going through the motions, then that is the message you send out into the world.
Our children learn from us and they will follow in our foot steps. So, how we are and WHO we are directly impacts them and their future.
But, what we do, who we are, the life we live extends far beyond them.
If you are ALIVE and passionate and beaming from deep in your heart, then wherever you go and whoever you talk to will get some of that awesomeness all over them. They will then take that spark and run with it in their own lives. You will leave an impact on them ~ it could be big or small, but you will leave an impact on them. And you will probably never even get to know just what that impact was.
Who’s to say that your bright light shining in the world doesn’t inspire the young woman at the super market to go on to make a huge difference in the lives of children in Africa? Or that a mother in your playgroup will be so inspired by who you are that she brings a new consciousness to how she is raising he own children and one of her kiddos grows up to be president of the United States?
You have NO IDEA of the impact you make! Yes, these examples are big, but how do you know that something like this couldn’t happen?
Or, conversely, say you are grumpy and in a fowl mood, which make you be rude to someone at the bank. You don’t mean to be, but the black clouds of doom are following you every where you go. And they stick around with the bank teller, who then goes home and yells at her kid because she has had a sucky day. Who knows the impact that will have on that kid and who he will become some day.
Yes, extreme. But, how often do you let yourself be with the impact you make? Do you ever think about that? How one thing leads to another and if we all brought our own spark, our own passions out of the closet and SHARED them with the world, what kind of a difference would that make?
Good ideas, inspiration, magic starts with just one person willing to share what they see possible in the world. That can then get all kinds of good things happening.
What kind of a spark could you start today??
