Well, are you? …

Are you turned on to life?? =) (Gotcha!)

Why do so many believe that pursuing your joy is selfish?  Why do so many, especially women, feel guilty when they do something for themselves that makes them feel good in any way?

Let me propose two things to you …

1. We are all unique creations with our own bents, passions, and things that uniquely bring us great joy.

2. We are created to experience joy, pleasure, passion.

I am not suggesting that we are to be full-time pleasure seekers.  No, not at all!  But what I am saying is that experiencing joy, pleasure, passion is part of our design and for each of us that means something different and unique.

When you are turned on to life the world opens up to you in a whole new way … and might I add in ways you might be surprised.  Being turned on to life keeps you young and vibrant.  It fuels you in body, mind, and spirit.  Being turned on to life increases your life force … and it makes you more effective and fulfilled.

Being turned on to life doesn’t mean that there are no difficulties in life either.  There will always be difficulties spring up; it just means that you can deal with them more effectively.

So how does it happen?  How do you get turned on to life?  It’s starts by understanding who you are … how you are uniquely created … and embracing it all!

Does that seem daunting?  It really isn’t but I understand because I have been there.  I needed an emotional wellness coach to help me figure it all out and now I get to pass it on and help others turn on to life as well.

Wow!  Talk about a turn on! =) Love it!

Email me if you need help too … wonderwoman@shileennixon.com

Also, share your thoughts below in the comment section and then stay tuned for more about being turned on to life!

Shileen Nixon

Emotional Wellness Coach

Photo by graur razvan ionut at freedigitalphotos.net

Spring is finally here.  That alone is enough to make my spirit jump with joy.  This is, no doubt, a gorgeous time of the year as nature comes alive with new birth.

With spring comes spring-cleaning.  We all seem to naturally want to clean things out, freshen things up, and make our homes sparkle after a long winter, at least to

some degree.  Making things beautiful inside and out, we want our homes to be fresh and new just like outside in nature.

Spring is a time to come alive.  To come alive is exhilarating … especially if you have not been in that state for a while whether from a long hard winter in nature or from life’s hard knocks.

Below is a facebook status update from my girlfriend that I would like for you to ponder …

Spring has come to Pennsylvania. As I was clearing away dead leaves and debris in my flowerbeds, I was reminded that now is a prefect time to do the same within ourselves. ~ BI

No matter what emotional state you might find yourself in and for whatever reason, how can this beautiful season of spring, spring you forward into a higher exhilarated state of being alive?

As you become still and ponder my girlfriend’s thought, what debris in your own life do you need to clear away?  There is fresh soil under the dead leaves and debris.  What might you find after you have cleared it out?  How alive might it make you feel once it is all gone?  What’s the first step you need to take towards making it happen?

Spring is a time to come alive … Go for it!!!

I love The Wonder Woman Challenge website.  It represents me pretty well.  It’s cute, girly, feminine, fun, etc.  Does that mean it’s not relevant?  No, not at all.  It is quite relevant and where it looks like it’s all fun and games, it is far from that.

I keep hearing over and over stories of women who have lost themselves in taking care of their families and responsibilities.  And/or in pleasing everyone but themselves putting everybody else’s needs above their own.  The outcome is always sickness, depression, and unhappiness.  Time and time again I hear a version of this story.

Realize that this does not have to be a way of life for you.  You always, always have choices.

Have you ever considered what you’re designed to be?  Who you are designed to be?  Do you know what makes your heart sing?  What brings you absolute joy in a soulful way?

Stepping into your God-give unique design is a simple decision that will look different for you depending upon where you are on the journey.

1. If you have no idea what your unique design is then your decision is to choose to take the path to discover it.  This requires playful exploration along with personal coaching.  The Wonder Woman Challenge provides both of these elements.

1. If you already know what your God-given unique design is but are not living it out then your decision is to step out in courage and into your design.  This, too, can require coaching and continued self-care strategies to keep you in tune with your needs, desires, and dreams.

Either way, you are one decision away from discovering who are you, which means living a joy-filled life.

If it’s that simple why does it take courage?  Because you are daring to believe that you can be something different than you are right now regardless of your current circumstances.

I can guarantee that you are a beautiful, brilliant, passionate woman waiting to be recognized as such.  It’s all within you.  Take the simple step that’s right in front of you to know, be, and live your God-given unique design.

Which simple decision do you need to make today that will take you to what you were designed to be?  Do you need to begin the discovery journey or are you ready to step into your design and live it?

I would love for you to share where you are on this journey.  Leave a comment below, and as always, please let me know how I might help.

“When you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you are in a state of abundance. You are appreciating what you do have instead of focusing on and complaining about what you don’t have. Your focus is on what you have received, and you always get more of what you focus on. And because the law of attraction states that like attracts like, you will attract more abundance – more to be thankful for – to you. (The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract to be grateful for.) It becomes an upward-spiraling process of ever-increasing abundance that just keeps getting better and better.” ~~ “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield

Negative life stuff happens to all of us. It’s what we do with it that counts. What good does it do to whine and complain and stay in a mode of worry, upset and defeat? It does us no good at all as it will only keep us on a downward-spiraling path attracting more of the same. Who wants that?? I certainly don’t.

The Bible tells us to be thankful in all things for good reason. It also says the following for equally good reason:

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:8,9 The Message

Attracting and creating more abundance in our lives is all about changing our mindset. Start by cultivating an attitude of gratitude and let it begin right here.

I invite you to use this post as a place to express your gratitude at any time as many times as you want. Let this be a journal to God and His universe as it creates an “upward-spiraling process of ever-increasing abundance that just keeps getting better and better.” And the glory will be all His!

Jillian from “Biggest Loser” said something like,  “He needs to figure out that the self-image he created for himself just isn’t true.”  She was referring to a very young, obese contestant who was voted off the ranch Tuesday night.  No doubt at all she was right about the young man.

Her statement, though, grabbed me and I began to consider my own self-image.  

Have you ever gotten a message that who you are is not ok?  I sure have.  And for whatever the reason so many of us will take that message in and devour it until it becomes part of our identity. It can even sneak up on us … little things as well as really big important things.  We begin to create a self-image that just isn’t true.

I have found that my message lately has been “it’s ok to be you.”  It’s not just “ok”, it’s fabulous to be you.  You are the only person in this entire universe who can be you, who can influence the way you do, who can bless the way you do.  You can have the same job or “calling” in life as the next person but no one can do it like you because there is no one else like YOU. 

You are unique.  I am unique.  Embrace your differences.  Embrace all of those things that make you, you.  I suggest even embracing your shortcomings rather than fighting them.  It’s ok to have weaknesses.  It’s what you do with them that count. 

Learn to celebrate your strengths and manage your weaknesses.

The other day I noticed that I was berating myself because my fitness activity is not where it “should” be.  Should be according to whom??

I took a step back and had an honest moment with myself. What I discovered was that winter is not my best time of year.  I’m not competing (yet!).  I am in a healthier state that I’ve been in years.  I decided to embrace the situation.  It’s ok!  I’m ok!  So instead of setting fitness goals that will go against my natural rhythm, I decided to set goals that will flow for me. 

My goal for the remainder of the winter is to eat healthy and move my body every day.  I am happy to maintain.  Come spring I’ll set a lofty fitness goal and go for it with all I have.

What a relief!  I could have remained stuck in that berating mode but instead I took steps that nurtured a positive self-image and self-esteem such as:

     1.   Notice your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  What are they telling you?

     2.   Step back and have an honest and open moment with yourself.

     3.   Discover what you need.

     4.   Embrace yourself in a way that will create a positive flow of energy.

     5.   Set your goals accordingly and go with it!

I ask you …

     Is the self-image you have created for yourself true?

     Are you berating yourself over something that’s creating and/or supporting a negative self-image?

     What changes can you make to turn that around?

Most people make New Year’s resolutions at this time of year.  I do not.  What I do is choose something I want to work on in my personal development journey … something that will strengthen my “woman of wonder” status.

Pastor Favour asked the following question the other day on twitter:

“Which three words would define your personal development for 2009?”

I had already been thinking about this very thing.  I had one in mind but I needed to stop and think of two more.  Off the top of my head I listed courage, risk/faith, and focus.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about those three things ever since especially courage.

For someone who prefers to play it safe, deciding to focus on courage is pretty risky business!!  Wouldn’t you say?

Ok so my first order for courage is to share a secret with you.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m going to do this secret.  I’m just letting it be known.  It’s my way of throwing it out to the universe to see what, if anything, will happen.  Are you ready?  Drum roll please …

I have had a secret desire for years to …. to ….  to ….  sigh … ok ok … I’ll just say it…. to enter a fitness competition.  There it’s out.  And the world hasn’t come to an end, at least not yet! … lol.

That’s right! … a fitness competition. So why haven’t I?  Because I’m scared to death!  Talk about putting yourself out there!!  Do I have that much courage – that much faith & risk taking ability – that much focus?  No, not in this moment but I just might be willing to explore the possibility this year … maybe… sorta… LOL.  It certainly would strengthen my “woman of wonder” status, wouldn’t it?!

I’m trusting that by mustering up the courage to share my secret with the world is the first baby step towards victory!

How do you plan to strengthen your “woman of wonder” status in 2009?  Which three words will describe your personal development focus this year?  What secret desire do you wish to accomplish?

Oh do share!!  Inquiring minds want to know!! =)

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