Each day we get up and run through our mental checklist of all the things we have to do for the day. Our day progresses and we keep reviewing the list over and over. Each night we run through our mental checklist and see what we managed to get done during the day. We climb into bed and recall how overwhelmed we felt all day and what can we do to get more done tomorrow. This is the perfect recipe for paralyzing ourself and creating inaction. We then find our self unable to tackle any of those items on the checklist.

How do we break away from this pattern and regain the power of action that we unknowing gave away to the fear of the “checklist”?

The key is BALANCE. If you are not giving yourself the time to play and to experience living life for the enjoyment of happiness, you have locked yourself into a task filled life with no room for the love of SELF. I would recommend a balance between the checklist and playing. Schedule time for yourself to play in whatever way brings you joy. This checklist will be there after you take time out for you. Just like it is each morning when you wake up.

See if you can take this advise and “checkout” how you ability to wipe things off the ckecklist may improve. Let me Know how it works for you.

This past weekend I created an opportunity where I took me out for some me time. I had planned a motorcycle trip with a friend of mine for the weekend. We drove some of the most life filled back roads of Vermont. The rivers, the trees, the dirt, the wind and even the purr of my motorcycle came alive. I expected a fun road trip with a good friend, what I created was a breath of rejuvenation for myself. We traveled hours at a time just being part of the entire enviornment that we traveled through, I expected that to a degree. What I didn’t expect was how much I needed some me time. Time to recharge the batteries, to soak in life at its most inviting and peaceful quality-nature. I ask you to take time out to be with nature, to be with yourself and enjoy the loving and invigorating feeling. Let me know how it goes. Remember, you can make a thousand excuses for not taking time out for yourself but that just takes you away from loving yourself and nature. Enjoy.

Recently, I was in an elevator with six or seven others when two of them began to shout at the elevator for not moving quickly enough. Suddenly, the intensity in the tiny space became overwhelming. As the doors opened everyone began to push and shove their way through the opening and dash down the hallway to whatever destination they were headed for. I stood in the hallway watching as many of the others fast footed away. A few thoughts occurred to me; how willing are we to give our power to other peoples’ dreams, their beliefs? How fast are we willing to run from our dreams? Have you noticed a moment when you gave away your dream and ran with someone else’s dream? Take a moment and share the thoughts running through your mind with me.

A man was faced with making a choice to reveal is true heart to himself and those around him. It meant that he would have to possibly lose that which he thought was giving him comfort in life. He weighted all the options, calculated all the scenarios, and worked himself into a knot. He decided to . . . You can fill in whatever choice you wish from this point of view. The reality of it is that whatever choice he made, it was from outcome and not from his heart. He could never truly be in bliss because he was denying his heart, his integrity. Have you ever made choices for outcome and denied your heart, your integrity? How did you feel? Do you feel different when you choose from your heart and not for outcome? Be you, live from your heart! Let me know how you have experienced these choice paths.

We have all heard the phrase “Think outside of the Box” , what picture does that paint for each of us? It seems that this concept presents a never ending struggle of pushing against the hard surface of the box; be it wood, metal, or concrete. We all have our own perception of this box. We also believe that we are in this box against our will. I would like to change the point of view of the proverbial box by posing a few questions. What if we chose to be in or out of the box? Since we created the box, why not make it out of whatever we like? I would suggest making the box out of windows and glass doors so the sunlight could shine through it; so we could see for miles in any direction when we chose to be in it. Why not make it so the windows and glass doors could open with the slightest wind from our breath. The box doesn’t have to be a bad thing that we have to escape from. Let’s dream it as a place of choice that we can move in and out of with the greatest of ease. I ask that we take notice when we are struggling against something and see if we can make the choice to flow with ease. It really doesn’t mater if we are trying to “Think outside the Box” or enjoying the beauty of the box we created. I invite you to share your experience(s).