Mix it up to beat the winter blahs

Yesterday I was hit with the winter blues.  The days are so short right now that it's dark when I go to work, and it's dark when I get home.  It's easy to feel depressed when each day is cut short, and it seems like there's not enough light to live your life.

So I decided to change it up and give my day a blast of energy.  I went for a run with my dog in the dark drizzle anyway.  It felt so good to get sweaty underneath my 4 layers even though it's freezing outside.  Little changes go a long way to enhance mood and vitality.  This morning I did yoga in a different place in the house- by the fireplace.  My body is craving heat and warmth.  My next stop... my local sauna.  It's common to get physically stiff and emotionally stuck during the holidays when we naturally move less, eat more and stress is at an all time high.  Here are some tips to help you boost happiness and energy during this crazy season:

1. Amp up your self-love.  We can only give our best to others when we have tended to ourselves first.  Carve out a little time for a luxurious bath, a yoga class or a massage.  You're worth it!

2.  Breathe.  When we're stressed, we have a tendency to hold our breath, clench our shoulders and brace for impact.  Instead roll your shoulders back and take 3 slow breaths, extending the exhale.  Imagine that you can clean and clear your mind with each breath.

3. Exercise.  This is the number one way to beat depression during the dark months.  Whether it's a walk outside, yoga class, spin class or even a solo dance party at home, just getting your heart rate up with do wonders for your mood, focus and confidence.

4. Meditate.  When there is no light outside, it's the best time to tap into the light within you.  Take 5-15 minutes to close your eyes, breathe and visualize.  Imagine a light inside your heart that expands with each breath.  Let it grow and surround you like a warm halo.  Feel insolated and protected by your own inner light.  Sit in this light as you breathe and feel comforted and connected.

Use these tips to beat to winter blahs.  They will ensure a happy and calm you in the New Year!

Surrounded by gratitude

This week I can't turn around without receiving more messages about gratitude.  To tell you the truth, I'm loving it.  Might as well jump on the bandwagon and express a little thanks.  Today my lesson in A Course in Miracles reminded me, "Love is the way I walk in gratitude."  Making a daily or weekly gratitude list helps me slow down and appreciate the life around me and within me.  As the seasons change, my list contains things like, the beautiful orange leaves or falling asleep to the sound of rain.  If I don't take stock of these little moments, the seasons and years have a way of just passing by.  I WANT to feel grateful.  It feels so darn good.  Plus sometimes I get so lost in my own thoughts that I forget where I am or what I'm doing.  I'm sure you've been there...you just checked your phone, saw an email and forgot what you were trying to do it the first place.  There are so many distractions.  Taking 5 or 10 minutes to physically write down a gratitude list has huge benefits.  Today on Marie TV I learned that writing a gratitude list for 21 days creates 25% more life satisfaction.  The participants in this UC Davis study ended up exercising more and drinking less alcohol.  Friends and family even reported that they were more pleasant to be around.  Sounds pretty great, right?  Do it for your friends, do it for your family, do it for your waistline!  If you want to hear more from Marie, check out her video below.

The challenging part is being grateful even when things don't go your way.  For example, today an important meeting was postponed.  I had been thinking about this meeting for a few weeks and had been preparing myself.  Instead of getting all pissed off, I decided to turn up the gratitude.  I see that this unexpected change affords me more time to research the foundation and prepare my cover letter.  I do believe that the Universe is conspiring in my best interest.  I don't know yet exactly where I'm headed, but I have faith that it's somewhere good.  The next time you're in a traffic jam, remember that you're supposed to be there.  Why?  Who knows?  Just turn up the gratitude, put on a podcast or call an old friend (hands free, of course).  Use that time to enhance your life instead of getting all upset and miserable.  Trust me, you'll be happier for it! 

Thanks for reading and taking time out of your day.  I'm grateful for you!  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Reflecting Back

One of the best things about having a blog is being able to look back at your journey.  This morning I was reading one of my all time favorite posts called Transformation and realized how far I've come.  At that time in my life (February 2011) I so inspired and lit up with possibility.  I was working on my National Boards and preparing for Seagal tryouts, both scary and overwhelming endeavors. Reflecting back, most of my best experiences in life have been the ones that scared me the most.  I had considered leaving teaching because I was so intimidated by National Boards.  Seagal tryouts were so far outside my comfort zone that I felt like I was tapping into a new side of my personality.  By allowing myself to chase scary dreams, I was able to expand and learn so much about myself.  A year and a half later, I sit here with a beautiful National Board Teaching Certificate.  I didn't make the Seagals that year, but I would not take back the experience for anything.  I was definitely guided in the right direction.  Shortly after, Kevin came into my life.  With his support, I entered the Ayurveda Wellness Counselor program.  Each goal that feels massive in the moment has been a stepping stone showing me the way.  Going to teach in Colombia lead me back home and into a career I love.  Going to Bali lead me to deeper meditation and Ayurveda.  Now I'm reconnecting with my inspired dreamer mindset.  I want to continuously live in that enchanted place of wonder.  There is so much life to live, and I refuse to limit myself in my own mind.  After finishing Half the Sky, I'm feeling called to explore other ways to serve women.  It doesn't seem like a coincidence that the Bill and Mary Gates Foundation is in my backyard.  It is time to play big and co-create with the Universe!

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?... Your playing small does not serve the world."  -Marianne Williamson

Half the Sky

I'm watching a powerful movie that speaks to my heart and inspires reflection.  It's called Half the Sky.  This documentary is based on the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Through story telling, it sheds light on issues of sex trafficking, education for girls, genital mutilation and rape in countries all over the world.  It's shocking and difficult to imagine living through the challenges that these girls face.

My initial reaction is to get on a plane and volunteer for one of these incredible organizations.  I also know that I can make a difference here at home in my daily life.  As a teacher, it makes me want to further empower the girls in my class.  Perhaps a lunch book club with stories of women leaders.  My students are in an important position with so many advantages to make positive change in the world, but first we need to build their confidence, ease their anxiety and tap into the power inside of them.  I can see the nervousness on their faces as they look up to me for approval.  My role is to teach content, but I know that I can help them find strength on the inside.

I want to live through example.  I am the product of a strong education for women.  This movie makes me extremely grateful for all of the opportunities I've had in my life.  It also makes me wonder, "Am I doing everything I can to make the most of this gift?  Am I contributing to my community?  If not, what's holding me back?"  I have no excuses.

Here are 3 small things I can recommit to right now:
1. Speak positively about myself and other women.  No gossip.
2. Be nice to my mom even when I'm feeling impatient or grumpy.
3. Take care of myself and be thankful so that I can be of service to others.

When you educate a girl, she tends to take better care of her herself and her kids, create a business, get married later and invest in her community.  When you educate a girl, you educate a village.  To care about a girl, is an enormously powerful thing.  Girls education is transformative.

Please watch this movie or read the book.  Join the conversation that impacts everyone.

Transition into fall the Ayurvedic way!

Cozy blankets, colorful leaves, walking in the brisk sunny air....  Fall can be a beautiful time of year when we follow the Vedic recommendations for how to transition our mind and body.  Here are a 5 easy steps to make this the best fall of your life.

1.  Begin your day with meditation.  Even 10 quiet minutes will create a calm tone for your day.  For amazing guided meditations visit:  http://www.chopra.com/library/guidedmeditations

2. Start transitioning away from cold, raw salads and towards warming stews and soups with vegetables, beans and your favorite spices.  For soup inspiration, check out: http://www.101cookbooks.com/soups/

3.  Obviously wearing warmer clothes is a smart idea as the seasons change.  It's especially important to keep your neck and throat covered during this blustery and chilly season.  In additions to jackets and scarves, add orange, yellow or red colors to harmonize with the shift.

4.  Fall is dominated by VATA, a mobile, dry, cold force.  It's easy to feel trapped in cyclical thoughts and worries.  Therefore, we have to add the opposite qualities in order to create balance and stabilize our mind.  Give yourself permission to rest, take a warm bath, slather on nourishing oil and wrap up with a blanket and some relaxing tea.  Avoid loud music, driving too fast and violent shows that will further aggravate Vata.

5.  If you have trouble sleeping, indulge in a sesame oil foot massage.  Sesame oil is warming, and this self-massage will relax your nervous system before bed.  Pull on some socks so that your sheets stay nice and clean.

Enjoy this beautiful season!

 

Slowing down for gratitude

The manifestation is complete.  I handed the keys to my ideal renter this week.  Kaley appeared a few weeks ago and fell in love with the place.  She is excited about the area and appreciates the old building charm.  It is the perfect fit.  This entire process has been incredible practice for me to let go, release my attachments and welcome the inevitable change that life brings.

As I adjust to living at home, I am committing to enjoyment.  I vow to cherish each day at home with my parents.  As we all get older, I realize that my time with them isn't infinite.  I promise to savor cooking with my dad, having coffee with my mom and snuggling with my dog.  As I relaxed with a magazine in the hammock today, I exhaled and felt complete relief.  Instead of rushing forward to the next goal, I'm going to slow down and feel thankful.  Thankful for yoga in the morning with my mom.  Thankful for good water pressure in the shower.  Thankful for delicious coffee, a lawn and a wonderful family.  These are my four precious months to take it easy and soak up this time.  Are you willing to slow down today for gratitude?  What are you thankful for?

Dating and Renting: The Parallels

"Hi Nicole!  I got your message.  I'm sorry but we've decided to look elsewhere."  The gasp that came out of my mouth showed me how invested I am in this rental process.  The wave of rejection that washed over me in that first instant was undeniable.  As silly as it seems, this process of renting my condo feels a lot like dating.

Excitement, connection and hope filled me this weekend as I showed Sara and John* my condo.  They loved the his-and-hers closets and extra storage unit for their snowboarding gear.  She loved the chandelier and wood floors.  She confessed to walking by the building the other day to daydream and get to know the neighborhood.  These comments felt like sweet nothings being whispered into my ear from a lover, promising devotion and security.  I felt like this couple would take good care of my place.  Plus two jobs can pay the rent easier than one!  It felt like the perfect match. 

"Did the dentist call?" my mom asks tentatively.  "No, mom."  After 4 showings on Saturday and multiple email threads with various prospects, I expected to be running credit checks on Monday.  Instead I sat contemplating a price reduction and checking my phone every 15 minutes.  Is the price too high?  Should I rename it a studio with sleeping alcove instead of a one bedroom?  Did I sound too eager?  Was it something I said?  Uggghhh...these feelings of doubt and frustration are enough to drive a girl crazy. 

Then I decided to reframe my perception.  This rental process is new for me and a huge growth opportunity.  Just last week I became landlord-certified and passed a site inspection with endless paperwork, copies and signatures.  We cleaned, decluttered and strategized.  It's going to take some time for my perfect renter to find me.  She is already on her way.  I just have to stay optimistic and cultivate patience.  Of course there are tasks I can do in the meantime to prepare (make copies of the keys, get rid of old paint cans, donate more unneeded things, etc).  This first round taught me (again) the importance on non-attachment to the outcome.

A miracle also happened last week.  I bit the bullet and paid $115 to join the Rental Housing Association.  This gave me access to all the rental paperwork I need to stay legal and protected.  It was an investment that I knew would benefit me and my renter.  As I shuffled through all of my condo papers, I found a check.  It was from 2009.  For $117.  I take this as a sign from the Universe.  Invest in the right things and the money will appear.  What you need will always find you.  I deposited the check, and it went through.  Thank you, Universe!

Just like in dating, the Universe has my best interest in mind.  I can sit back and relax knowing and trusting that divine timing is at work.  Breathe, meditate, take one step forward.  I'm going to keep showing my place, giving love away, and it will find its way back somehow.  It always works out.  I'm eager to see what miracle will happen today.  Universe, show me what you've got!

*Names have been changed for privacy purposes.