You may or may not know that Vision Boarding is my JAM. As a Life Coach + Photographer there is just something about laying out my intentions & manifesting dreams through photos and artwork, that totally appeals to me.
The truth is . . . I am a big fan of setting intentions in general, and another way to do that which takes far less time and poster board/scissors/glue, is writing Intention Statements! Intention Statements you say? If you're not familiar with them, let me explain! The basic format of an intention statement is kind of like a math problem (But way more fun!) and generally looks like this: I am letting go of and , and creating and for myself today. Where the "math" part comes in is that the idea is to have both sides be balanced. Here are some examples: I am letting go of the worry that I won't be able to work part-time and bridge my current work situation to my future dream job, and creating ease and a spectacular transition to self-employment for myself today. (That one was dated 5/12/2015 - look where I am today . . . It's powerful stuff!) Or how about this one: I am letting go of trying to Do It All and Do It All By Myself, and creating shared responsibility and joyful ease for myself today. See how it works? A few notes: 1. Just as with Vision Boarding . . . be careful what you wish for! Choose your words carefully as you set your intentions, and remember to try and keep them "balanced". 2. You can write intention statements daily, weekly, monthly . . . whatever cadence feels best for you. I have found in times of big change or angst that daily is an amazing practice! 3. Writing them Down is KEY! Sure you could probably think your intentions - but there is a power in putting pen-to-paper that definitely holds some magic. (One of my favorite books on the topic is Writing Down Your Soul - SO GOOD!) Are you struggling with a situation that could benefit from setting some intentions? Do you have big dreams that seem like they are just outside your grasp? Grab your journal and a favorite pen and try this for a week and see what happens! I'm so curious to hear the results . . . leave a comment and let me know! Love and Light, xo Eileen P.S. If you're in the Seattle area (and even if you're not!), I'll be leading a Vision Boarding Workshop at Atrium Arts on Saturday November 12th from 1-4 pm . . . I'd love to see you there!
A couple of weeks ago something I had been dreading for months actually came to pass: My unemployment benefits ran out. (Cue PANIC!) Yes I sort of had a plan, and no it wasn't a surprise. But I had miscalculated the actual end date by about two weeks - which was kind of a problem!
Being that I'm blessed with some seriously amazing people in my life, and had a few timely photography sales - I've been able to mostly bridge the financial gap, and went back to work on Monday for a former customer of mine. All good right? Not so fast . . . For starters I have to drive 30-60 minutes to get to work. During rush hour. Over a Toll Bridge. I've worked at home for the last five years people - this is a major change! Also . . . I have to get dressed. And . . . I have to work with people. And . . . The job itself is something I'm really good at, but don't particularly l-o-v-e. Full disclosure . . . I cried in the car during my lunch hour on the first day. BUT WAIT! Before you call the "Waah-mbulance", I'm going to share why all of this is actually really good. Working from home is a beautiful thing, but can also be pretty isolating. And I have learned that I don't actually do that well when I have that much time all by myself. Yes I'm an introvert, and Yes I love (love!) my alone time. But when it's all day, every day (regardless of how many people I talk to on the phone), it is not good for my soul. Not only have I been isolated from other people, but I've kind of isolated myself from the whole world. I don't have TV, and depend on Facebook and the News app on my phone to keep up with what's going on globally. Weak. So during that 30-60 minute commute? I get to listen to NPR - which makes me so happy! (& yes I know I can stream NPR on my laptop, but for whatever reason I just don't.) As for getting dressed? I actually love clothes and shoes, and while I am not in a position to be doing any shopping at the moment I get excited about putting new outfits together . . . it gives me purpose. There is a pretty flexible dress code where I'm working, so jeans and Converse are totally OK. Really? I have zero reason to complain. Quirky co-workers and not-exactly-meaningful work? Here's the deal: It's part time (I choose my own hours), and they are compensating me well. I've committed to helping them out through the end of the year at which point we will re-evaluate where they are and if they still need my help. Excellent! The biggest silver-lining of going back to work?: I still have 1.5 days a week to do my own thing, keep my dog-walking gig, meet with friends and take care of my life. I am now WAY more motivated to get my coaching business off the ground, and have so far done some amazing work on my days off. That my friends, is winning! I really do believe that "In the waves of change we find our true direction." Are there parts of your life that feel yucky? How do you think you might be able to reframe those? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Love & Light, xo Eileen p.s. Alternate titles for todays' post included "How to Check Yo-self 'fo You Wreck Yo-self" and "How to Turn that Frown Upside Down" - sometimes I crack myself up! :) Blogging . . . it's a good thing.
This week I am sharing with you . . .
Five Things I Learned From My Divorce!
Of course I learned a lot more than five things . . . these just still seem pertinent today, almost eight years later. Do you have any favorite things you learned from your divorce? I'd love to hear them. *If you happen to be in a relationship transition at the moment, send me a note! I'd love to chat with you for 30 minutes (Free!) to help you navigate your journey. Love and Light, xo Eileen
I originally titled my post for today "The Art of Asking" and then remembered that Amanda Palmer has a book of the same name. And while I think she's great, I haven't actually read her book - so it felt a little funny to "borrow" from that. The Beauty of Asking it is!
It may come as some surprise to you that I used to be the worlds' biggest complainer. Yep - I was miserable, and I was eager to share my misery. I believed in that old saying that "Misery Loves Company" - though really I think it just made me sadder. Truth be told, I think I lost some friendships with my miserable behavior over the years - and I can't blame my friends . . . I don't think I was very much fun to hang out with! In hindsight I can see that there was a root to my misery (or part of it), and that was . . . I wasn't asking for what I wanted! And at the time I couldn't even see my part in the problem. Hmmm. Many years later I am a big proponent of ASKING, and have learned a few things about why people don't, and best practices when you do. I think the most common reason people don't ask for what they want is because they are afraid of what the outcome might be . . . in other words, "What if I don't get what I want?" Not to state the obvious, but if you don't ask, you'll never get what you want so you might as well try! Other reasons might be that you don't think you deserve what it is you want, and it feels s-c-a-r-y to ask. All totally valid! However, once you start asking I guarantee that no matter what the result, you will feel empowered to do it more. It's magical! As far as pointers on the "How to ask" part, I can really only state one: And that is to Ask, and then STOP TALKING! This is no joke . . . if you have to literally put your hand over your mouth, do it! There is no need to justify what you want and why you want it and why you think you deserve it. Just let the question go - and then wait gracefully for an answer. (<--- This takes practice! Don't beat yourself up if you can't do it the first time.) Are you wanting to make some changes in your life, but are afraid to ask? (For a raise? To work part-time? For help with a project? To go back to school?) The worst that can happen is that the answer is NO . . . but what if the answer is YES - imagine what amazing adventures you might have and how you might be able to start living your best life!! So start asking - and let me know how it goes! Love and Light, xo Eileen |
Eileen WestMeet me here on Saturdays for some weekly vibes - honoring the week that has past, and clearing the way for what's new. Gather your journal and favorite pen, along with a hot cup of coffee/tea/chai - and settle in for 30 minutes dedicated to YOU. I'm in the top 100 Life Coach Blogs! Follow me on Pinterest!Archives
February 2019
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