Tag: Mindfulness

Gratitude walking my way to better mental health is just one of the ways that I keep myself grounded. I’ve talked about my gratitude walks previously but let’s delve into this process a little more and exactly how I am able to use these walks to direct my day.

The holidays are approaching and we all know that they can cause anxiety for some. Whether it’s the emotions you associate with the season due to past experiences, missing those who are no longer here to celebrate or overwhelmed with the gift buying process, the holidays can bring with them negative emotions. It’s important to be intentional and develop a game plan before they get here so we are being proactive instead of reactive.

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All journeys require that we exercise some degree of patience. But patience can be a difficult practice, and delayed gratification gets old- especially in today’s world.

With technology ever-evolving, just a simple thought spams your social media feeds and internet browsers with exactly the thing that visits your daydreams. And if you actually search for a sectional or sofa? Forget it! You’ll see so many sofas online that your nightly dreams will be plagued with flying chairs.

How they are able to do this is beyond my understanding but I am very clear on the why. The more we see that wishlist item, the more likely we are to succumb to our desires, pull out the debit/credit card, and buy.

Continue reading “When Delayed Gratification Gets Old”

It has been an entire year since we launched our intentional farm and we thought it would be fun to do a little Q&A to celebrate our blog anniversary. So here goes! 

Continue reading “It’s Our Blog Anniversary, Here’s A Q&A To Celebrate!”

_{I wrote this many months back when I was overworked and overwhelmed. I’ve made a lot of changes for the better since then, but still wanted to get this piece out because it’s a reality that lots of us walk through every day. I hope you all are well. Not just appear well, but that you are really well.} 🙂

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I woke up this morning with anxiety. It happens more often than I’d like to admit. But here I am, admitting it. 

After sitting in a corner of my dark closet for a 10-minute meditation, I felt better…for a spell. I called my therapist for a chat but he couldn’t squeeze me in today. He couldn’t get me in until next week.

Next week it is then. Carry on…

Continue reading “Donuts Make Everything Better”

Intentional living is a personal journey. A journey that sometimes means finding the courage to go against the norm. It’s about taking steps, usually small ones, to get closer to the life you envision. And since everyone’s dreams and priorities are vastly different, your journey will be different as well.

Continue reading “Finding Courage To Live Your Intentional Life”

The kitchen is a sacred space.  It’s where delicious food comes to life.  But I never wanted to prepare the meals, I just wanted to enjoy them.  Unfortunately or fortunately, Simone never agreed to this philosophy. I fought this responsibility for a long time for a few reasons, but cooking helped my personal growth and changed my perspective. Embracing this shared cooking responsibility has been a long time coming.  Let me first explain.  

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Finding inspiration and hope is something that I think is critical in life. There will always be times when we need a little encouragement or motivation.

I’m inspired by history, especially those persons who advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable.  I’m inspired by quotes and by everyday people who do extraordinary things.  It’s what gives me hope.  But what really inspires me is reading or watching how people transform their lives through the art of storytelling. 

Recently I began reading  Barack Obama’s book, Promise Land, and in it, he details how he floundered around in high school and actually described himself as a “lackadaisical student.”  But all that changed in the 10th grade when he stumbled upon a few books at a garage sale authored by notable social activist.  He feverishly read those books from cover to cover and this began his political awakening.  This political awakening gave him a better understanding of social issues as he entered college.  

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In a world where materialism is brandished and praised, we remind ourselves continuously to stay grounded in our beliefs- the best things in life are free. People and experiences are where true happiness lies. We like the occasional shiny new thing like anyone else but we are intentional to keep things in perspective.

It’s easy to lose sight sometimes because our society has an obsession with items of gratification. Commercials that promote brand new cars with 0% down, unsolicited credit cards in the mail with our names on them, and holidays that persuasively encourage us to spend again and again.   

We try to remember the things that bring us joy.  Those things often don’t cost a thing.  For me, it’s our big family group hug, our dance parties in the family room, or yard work. FREE! As each day passes, I want my kids to know their childhood was filled with love, laughter, and fun. And for me and Simone, these are the things that sustain us and gives us purpose.

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Fear is a powerful thing. It’s so powerful that it can change a life for better or worse in an instant. In order to live a life of intention, we must learn how to conquer fear and not let it be self-limiting. 

Of course, there is good fear. The fear that tells you not to touch a hot stove or jump into traffic. Those fears protect you. Your intuition also provides good fear. Listen to it. 

I’m talking about the fear that makes your star shine a little less bright than it’s destined. The fear that tells you to say no when deep down you know you should be saying yes. 

Our Intentional Farm is part of my self-exploration. It’s a place where I can express myself, unapologetically.  A place where I can tap into my creativity.  But, I struggle.  

Continue reading “How to Conquer Fear: Don’t Let Self-Doubt Lead To Self-Sabotage”

I’m a very goal-driven person. The act of setting a goal and then working toward it, making incremental progress is so motivating to me. Getting to that feeling of accomplishment keeps me going when the journey gets inevitably difficult. But still, I often let myself succumb to everyday distractions. 

Unintentionally or intentionally, I find myself from time to time letting distractions take me off course. 

Continue reading “Everyday Distractions And The Subconscious Ways We Delay Progress”