Years ago, I came up with this acronym for GOALS.  Little did I know then, how much this fits into my current path of mindfulness.  I gave up on making New Year’s resolutions years ago and starting choosing only a word for the year.  This year was different.  I joked about my word should be FOCUS or VISION because the year was 2020.  But in all honesty, as I am choosing joy, happy, and just the state of being my true self, mindfulness is my foundation.  So my mantra for the year is my acronym GOALS.

This is as individual as it comes because only we can define what success looks like for ourselves.

I define success most by my favorite quote: Wisdom begins in Wonder.  If I follow that with my orderly actions then I am successful.  I am not one to define success by money, or popularity, or outward rewards. My success, perhaps because of my introvert personality, is truly based on if I can share something that helps others.  That is my reward and yes, a passion.

Most of the books I create, things I share in my workshops, or even here on my blog, are based on my own wonderment.  I explore and follow, most time, where my intuition takes me.  Where my wonderment leads me.  For example:

My actual word for 2020 is SELF.  That was the unfolding in 2019.  My love of words and what I learned years ago, about looking up the true definition of a word I use, rather than my perception of the meaning, lead me back to the journey of words with the prefix SELF.  That unfolded into the recent “Define Yourself“ mindfulness journal.

It is often said, “We teach what we most need to learn” by Richard Bach, but the one that I feel fits for me more is

“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” ― Phil Collins. 

So my plan, my GOALS mantra, my word SELF and to continue to share and practice what I preach.

Main step for January.

1.  More consistent yoga practice and accountability using my Mindful Movement tracker and intentions book.   I signed up for  Curvy Yoga after a several year hiatus (the synchronocity of that one, will be in an upcoming post)

How will you show up for yourself this year? Do you make resolutions or choose a WORD for the year?

The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

I can admit that this quote is a direct reflection of me…. especially at this time of year…that wonderous week between Christmas and the New Year.  For as long as I can remember, this week, every year is one of the most impactful time for me.   It is now a habit, not a planned or forced event.

The reflection of my past year, what I have done, or not done, what my hopes and dreams  and goals are and how I have lived my life so far, ruminate within my waking thoughts.

I could say that this year is no different, but yet it is worlds apart, in many ways, then previous years.

I am looking forward to my week of reflections.  I can honestly admit to myself that this past year has been the year of ME.  Focusing on my self-care and self-compassion has put me on track in ways I could only have dreamed of.  I have faced fears, taking leaps of faith and the best part…..I am honestly and truly at a place where I can trust myself and not worry as much as I use to about what others think.  This is because they all come from a place of love!

Mindfulness is the key component for this feeling.  I reflect on my plans, dreams, actions and past with no judgment.  It is what it is and guess what.  That is okay.

I am excited about the upcoming year 2020.  Not only is it a new year but a new decade.  I can truly trust the flow of my life and where I am headed.

On the outside, most of my accomplishments have occurred within the last 2 months.

My first mindfulness workshop,

My 1st article on Elephant Journal published. You can read it HERE,

4 Mindful Seeing e-books published on Amazon

and today…..My Mindful Eating Journal became available!

(Yes, this is an affiliate link)

There is much more in the works for Miz Mindful and I hope that you will join me!

Namaste and Happy Reflections

Tis the season! Hustle, Bustle, and the never ending to do list! It use to take the joy out of the season for me. In years past, I spent most of December, in an overloaded frenzied mind state.  Honestly, I lost the joy in celebrating the holidays.

This year, I have found myself enjoying the season more than ever. I can look at it, again, through the eyes of a child, with all the excitement and giving spirit.   That past frenzied mind, in years past, left me depleted and feeling like I had nothing left to give.

I looked at this blog the other day and realized it had been a bit since I posted.  But the whole purpose of this blog isn’t about a schedule or how many posts I write, how many comments I get, or any of those other of the past “blog success” tips.  It is about sharing how I use mindfulness in my life.

So, how have I been doing that.  I still write in my journals every morning.  I give time to my projects and I have taken some leaps of faith and let the quiet inspirations guide me.  I have cleared space in my busy schedule to make sure I am taking care of me. I have carved out time to address the needs of the season and allowed myself space to check in several times a day.

The end results have given me more time and energy than any past years I can remember.  The flow within my schedule has been amazing to me.  Here it is 2 days before Christmas and the shopping is done, all the presents are wrapped, the baking is complete and I can enjoy this week!  Hallelujah!

And I don’t know about you, but what often added to my hustle bustle was my mindset also getting ready for the new year.  This has always been the time frame of making goals, making plans, and reflecting on the year past.  Mindfulness has helped me tremendously with that.  Yes, that still all occurred but it didn’t bring me down or amp me up.  It just is.

While I looked at that I can see just how much I have really accomplished in my personal goals during the holiday season.  Yes…. that feels good.

I had my first mindfulness workshop with plans for a few more in 2020.  I took a risk and did something I have wanted to do for over 5 years.  I had my first article published on Elephant Journal.  Elephant Journal has been around since 2002 as an online forum for the Mindful Life.

I published 4 e-books for mindful seeing and I am working on 2 in print journals that I will keep you posted about.

But most of all, mindfulness infused my spirit of the season and left me with the space of gratitude and giving.  Now it’s your turn…… Tell me about your ” tis the season”

Do you ever feeling like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole?

As I travel through my mindfulness journey, I am gaining immeasurable insights about my life and how I use to try and fit in.  But honestly, don’t we all try to do that at some point or another.

I spent a few years, after reading Susan Cain’s book, Quiet, I was on a learning path about being introverted or extroverted.  Tons of information from that book resonated with me.  Mainly, introverts are trying to go against their own grain, their own personality, to fit into a work or school environment geared toward extroverts.

Mindful living is showing me, naturally, what is a better “label” for me.   I am simply an informal person. In doing my research recently, I discovered just how much informal practices are part of my natural nature.  Mindfulness is informal while Meditation is more formal.  Mudras are informal while Yoga is more formal. My writing style has always been more informal than formal. Even my learning style is informal.  That  “Wisdom begins in Wonder” quote I love so much is simply informal learning.

My Gifts of Gratitude post touched on walking an unbeaten path but I am seeing more clearly that is simply about an informal personality.  Falling into my own perspective and definition of what being responsible and “adulting” meant did not coincide with who I am.  Simply stated, I spent most of my life in an argument with myself about how I was suppose to act versus who I am at my core.

It’s been a freeing change of thought to realize that it is nothing more than feeling most at ease in my informal state of being.  I no longer feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.  Each has a place and time in my everyday life.

Let me know if you are more formal or informal

One quick trick for a mindful moment is using mindful seeing.

You can use this anywhere you have a view. Without judgment, look at the patterns, colors, and textures. Look at it as if it were new to you. For example, in the picture above, don’t look at it as if you have been there. Look at the ripples in the water, the textures of the plants and rocks. Look at the different shapes. Pay attention to the small things. Do this for 3 to 5 minutes.

You have now taken a mindfulness break. Proceed on and notice how you feel