Archive for Life Balance
Practicing the Art of “Being”
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I’ve spent the majority of my life “doing” rather than “being”. After all, there are places to go, people to see, and things to do, right?
This approach to life fell short for me over ten years ago when I made the bold and courageous decision to leave behind the security of my steady paycheck. I quit my “Corporate” job to pursue my entrepreneurial dream because I was exhausted and burnt out from all of my “doing” for the sake of what?!
Little did I know that I would find myself going through life transition upon life transition, starting with my divorce and the subsequent hurdles of my daughter’s health struggles.
Because of these changes, I was challenged to find answers to the questions of “Who am I?” and “What’s next?”
I could write a book on the topic and some day I just might! In the meantime, the key learning is that I am a “human being”, not a “human doing”. Out of this paradigm shift, I have reaped the benefits of living a heart centered life and I am committed to supporting women like you to do the same.
For those of you who are “do-ers” (which is 99.9% of the women out there), here are some practical next steps that will help you “to be”.
- Slow down and breathe fully. Repeat multiple times during the day!
- Go for a walk in silence. A little bit of exercise, a chance to be and not just “sitting still”.
- Get up early in the morning before everyone else wakes up. Drink your coffee in silence and breathe some more.
- Stop talking and listen. Pay attention to others and to your inner voices, your body, etc.
- Read my blog article “On the Verge of a Break Through” for more insight.
Learning to “be” is essential if you want to find inner peace, joy and greater purpose. It’s a huge shift from the crazy-making world we live, yet so worth the perseverance and commitment to find it.
So what else would you add to this list? Share your comments at Facebook and the Blog…And then, breathe and “just be”!

In the Absence of Complete Clarity
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Do you find yourself in the absence of “complete” clarity. I’m right there with you because in this season of my life, there’s a lot in flux in both my personal life and business. I have a sense of where these shifts will take me and I’m moving forward in action in new and positive ways.
At the same time, I find myself challenged by the lack of “crystal clear clarity” that “us coaches” support our clients to discover. Perhaps you’re like me, finding your schedule jam packed, having little margin, and new opportunities coming to you at warp speed.
Here are some of the realizations I’ve had over the past few weeks:
Strengths taken to an extreme become a weakness. My can-do attitude has resulted in me saying “yes” too often. Don’t get me wrong; I am saying “yes” to good things that honor my values, strengths and vision. The end result however, is that my quiet time has been impacted and the quality of my personal relationships is being affected. What about you? What strengths have become weaknesses in your life?
The “good” can crowd out those things that are “best”. When you receive an opportunity that appears aligned with your strengths, talents, values, vision, etc. pause before saying yes. Evaluate whether the opportunity is “good”, “better” or “best”, and choose accordingly.
Replenish on a grand scale so you can continue to give to others in a big way. You must renew and replenish to the same degree you are giving to have increase your impact, influence and results. To be in service from a “full” tank you need to take care of yourself. This isn’t selfish; it’s a fact of life!
So now what?
Reduce your screen time—my daughter’s pediatrician told me that she should have no more than 2 hours of TV, Computer, and Electronic Games a day. Hmmm, I wonder what that means for us adults. For me, this means that I must turn off the computer when I leave my office daily.
Aim for an earlier bedtime—what bed time allows you to wake up being your best self? I have found a time that allows me to wake up refreshed and every time I “push it”, my morning is challenged.
Radically reduce your multi-tasking—you can’t send an e-mail, put a load of laundry in the machine, talk on the phone and be present all at the same time. Keep the main priority your focus and be real about how many activities you can handle at any given time.
Here’s the truth in all of this. You need to shield yourself from the busyness to hear what your body, soul and spirit are saying. External noise and excessive activity interferes with your ability to hear the still small whispers within that will give you the “complete” clarity you need.
What do you think? I welcome your feedback and comments.

Permission to Unplug!
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Do you need permission to unplug? Is your blackberry, computer, kids, work, or whatever else keeping you “amped” up and on “overdrive”?
I’m headed out of town tomorrow and you know how that goes! There are errands to run, logistics to coordinate, packing to be completed in addition to the regular routine of life and business!
Breathe with me please! In this moment, let’s all take a deep breath inward and exhale all of the spinning and frenetic energy to “be still” and remember what really and truly matters.
I’m traveling to Breckenridge, CO for a training retreat with my friends and colleagues of the WayPoint Coaching Community. So here are some other action steps that I’m giving myself permission to take in the coming days:
- No e-mail, facebook, twitter, or internet for the next 5-days! I know…this is going to require self-control and tons of prayer!
- Being fully present with the training our group will be doing.
- Opening my heart to receive the renewal and replenishment that I really need.
- Engaging with my WayPoint Coaching Community with the intention to allow every emotion to surface because it’s all welcomed and necessary for my renewal.
So that’s me…What about you? What do you need to unplug from? What steps will you take?
We all know it’s a choice to take a break, yet I know that you need permission. Super Mompreneurs and Women Extraordinaire need to know it’s OK. So today, permission is granted for you to take a sabbath from whatever is keeping you on the fast track. Why? Because when you slow down, you are actually more Super, Amazing and Incredible!
Will you join me on this adventure? Let me know by posting your comments below.
P.S. No e-mails, blogs, facebook posts, or twitters from me until next week! I’m declaring the victory right now…Wish me luck!

Taking Care of Business means Taking Care of YOU!
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Remember that song by Bachman-Turner Overdrive called “Taking care of business?” Oddly enough, this song randomly popped into my head this morning so I googled it to find these lyrics:
Taking care of business, everyday
Taking care of business, everyway
I’ve been taking care of business, it’s all mine
Taking care of business and working overtime.
This little ditty could actually be the theme song for every woman out there, and most definitely applies to those of us who work from home as entrepreneurs and Mompreneurs! No matter who you are engaging with, whether it’s in your home, community or workplace, you are most likely “taking care of business” from the time you awaken until the time you get to bed!
And today marks the fact that there are only 100 days until the end of the year. Nothing like adding some pressure!!!
So here’s what I’m curious about. As you “take care of business” are you “taking care of you?” If not, you might be working from an empty tank, reducing the quality of your health, diluting the impact of your results and hindering the quality of your relationships.
Here’s the truth…Taking care of business means you must take care of you! To positively influence others in your life your gas tank must be refueled regularly.
You probably “know” this to be true, so the real question is whether you act in your life as if you believe it to be true. Would others in your life see you as present, loving, and available? Or do they see a woman who is distracted, on edge and unavailable?
What does it mean to take care of you? Read the list below and find one that you’ll commit to in the coming week:
- Go to bed 30-minutes earlier.
- Schedule some quiet time before your day starts.
- Take a lunch break.
- Make time to go for a 15-minute walk around the block.
- Take a hot bath.
- Slow down your pace.
Any one of these activities will become a conscious way to replenish. With a full tank, you’ll be much more effective at “taking care of business, every day.”
What will you commit to? I’d love to hear what you’ll say “yes”. Post your comments below…and Enjoy!

Slow Down and Breathe
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On your mark, get set, GO! It’s off to the races, go, go, go…Come on get going, now! Can you feel the shallow breathing, the quickness of your pace, and your thoughts being consumed with “what’s next?” It’s almost suffocating, isn’t it?
Thanks to blog read Lisa Lauffer for her inspiration as she shared that tip #27 from the Quick Tips for Daily Living blog post has encouraged her to “slow down”!
Here’s what Lisa had to say:
“I felt led lately to follow #27–sloooowwww doooowwwwwnnnnn. I mean really–what’s the hurry? Why am I trying to get through everything and get everywhere so darn fast? Aren’t I doing all these things so I can enjoy the journey of life? This single one-liner has led me to take many a deep breath and sink into my experiences, so that even if I’m scraping dried food off my countertop with my fingernail, I’m really engaged with that activity! And I’m loads more engaged with my kids. Life feels fuller, and I close my eyes at the end of the day with much more satisfaction.”
Ahhh, breathe into that?! Feel the spaciousness and life that comes with slowing down and breathing.
I want to invite you to slow down for a minute right now and breathe fully. And by the way, it doesn’t take any extra time for those of you with with an already full day!
As you breathe, contemplate the following questions:
- What do you notice around you? Become present to your surroundings.
- What’s going on in you? Check-in with your thoughts, your body, your heart to become conscious right now.
- What’s the wisdom from slowing down and breathing? Make a choice right now that will allow you to engage completely with today’s journey.
I’d love to hear the impact this has on you. Share your comments below. And keep breathing!











