Renaissante

Cultivating a beautiful, authentic life.

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Weekend Reminders

by Liv | Jul 12, 2015

As I lay on my mat, stretched out + reveling in the subtle fire of a delicious Supine Spinal Twist (or Supta Matsyendrasana), Xavier Rudd’s “Follow the Sun” began to play.  At first, another melody floating through the air as background music to my meditative state, suddenly the song had my full attention + an idea for the week ahead…  The lyrics ripe with reminders, I wanted to share them with you + re-remind us all of what’s really important (especially if, like it does for me, Monday morning also means the beginning of a potentially fast-paced work week).

—

“Follow, follow the sun and which way the wind blows when this day is done.

Breathe, breathe in the air. Set your intentions. Dream with care.”

Reminder #1:  Breathe.

Pretty self explanatory.  We often remind ourselves to check in with our breath here at Renaissante, and today is no different.  Our breath is our essence.  When we connect to it, we connect not only to ourselves, but to everything else in the cosmos around us.

Reminder #2:  Intentions are everything. (So let’s cultivate positive ones.)

The last few weeks, months, hell, years, have been somewhat trying.  I feel like I continue to say that, but I also realize that when I chose to “open to abundance” I chose to take the good with the bad, the highs with the lows, the victories + the lessons.  And, wow, if we are open to it, there are a lot of lessons to be learned.  So, this week, my intention is to continue to pay attention to learning opportunities when they present themselves + to be more conscious of my breath at all times, not just when I’m on my mat or attempting to curb a stress-induced panic attack.

Reminder #3:  Pay attention to your dreams, but more importantly, that little voice inside your head that we also refer to as intuition.  (Your spirit has a phenomenal memory + your soul, a wealth of knowledge + emotional maturity.)

I’ve also been reading a lot of Dr. Brian Weiss’s work lately – Through Time Into Healing; Many Lives, Many Masters; Only Love is Real – in which he discusses his introduction to + subsequent exploration of regression therapy techniques for remembering past life memories + transmuting current emotional hangups or marked behavior patterns due to these experiences.  And whether or not you currently believe in reincarnation is kind of irrelevant, as he does an excellent job at also detailing the practical, applicative benefits of this type of therapy, regardless of whether you believe these memories to be ‘real’ or ‘symbolic.’  In these books, he talks about dreaming as another catalyst + vehicle for regression experiences and how our dreams may constantly be offering us subconscious, intuitive knowledge that we may not always be aware is inside of + available to us.  (Make my second intention to actually start keeping a dream journal.)

“Tomorrow is a new day for everyone, Brand new moon, brand new sun.

So follow, follow the sun, the direction of the birds, the direction of love.“

Reminder #3:  Act out of love.  Be honest + be kind whenever possible.

Hannah Hart recently posted a video (I can’t remember which one) in which she mentioned that some of the best advice she’s received has been to “Be honest + be kind,” and I have been ruminating over that since hearing it.  She talked about how often these ideas seem contradictory, but our test, as it always seems to be, is to figure out how to balance conflicting ideas or experiences.  The lyrics, “So follow, follow the sun, the directions of the birds, the direction of love,” reminded me of this outlook + I quickly recognized how the sun, the birds, nature in general is usually a pretty healthy balance of honesty + kindness – not always ‘kind’ in the sense that we might immediately deem so, but just, typically, + always honest without being unnecessarily harsh.  (I believe that’s a trait that sometimes comes with a human experience.)

“Breathe, breathe in the air, cherish this moment, cherish this breath.

Tomorrow is a new day for everyone, brand new moon, brand new sun. When you feel life coming down on you, like a heavy weight. When you feel this crazy society, adding to the strain. Take a stroll to the nearest water’s edge remember your place.”

Reminder #4:  Tomorrow is a new day.  Allow yourself to refresh, reevaluate, recharge.

If today wasn’t quite as you had planned – or even if it was – allow yourself time to reflect, refresh, reevaluate what’s important, + recharge so you have energy + stamina to take on whatever comes next.  “Take a stroll to the nearest water’s edge,” is extremely resonant with me, but it your happy place is elsewhere, I invite you to go there (either physically or via your imagination/visualization).  Either way, it always helps to take a walk out in the wild somewhere.  Get back in touch with the earth, our origins + roots, and feel some wind rush through your hair.  Tomorrow is a new day, yes, but don’t forget to savor this one as well.

“Many moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came. So which way is the wind blowin’, and what does your heart say?

So follow, follow the sun, and which way the wind blows when this day is done…“

Reminder #5:  Follow your heart.  It always knows feels best.

For example, my mind kept telling me to spend more time on this post, and not post something in a “haste,” but my heart feels as though the reminders are worth posting, even if I don’t have too much else to say.

—

I hope y’all are having a wonderful Sunday evening (if you’re in my timezone, and if you’re not, or you’re reading this later, then I hope you’re having a wonderful whenever you are).  ;)

Remember to practice your self love + self care. Remember to speak your truth + be kind. And most importantly, remember to breathe + follow the sun.

{To check out the full post, head on over to http://renaissante.com/weekend-reminders/.}

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Self Care Sunday –> Self Care Everyday by Liv | Jun 14, 2015 | Care, Inspire, Self Care Sundays

"On this particular ‪#‎SelfCareSunday‬, I am continuing to remind myself where I can continue to grow, but I am also noticing + celebrating where I’m thriving, where the growth is actually happening!"  Here's to practicing self love + care today + everyday!

{Check out the full post @ http://renaissante.com/self-care-sunday-self-care-everyday/ + find us always @ http://renaissante.com.}

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Clichés of the Good Life by Jenn | May 24, 2015 | Care, Eat, Inspire

This has been a challenging year but a true opportunity to learn about the wisdom behind certain clichés, like why "the little things" are so important... and what "living in the moment" could look like. And it just so happens to be a ‪#‎selfcaresunday‬, so what better way to ease back into therapeutic writing and sharing the journey.

http://renaissante.com/cliches-of-the-good-life/

and of course http://renaissante.com for ease of checking out the rest.

Love, love and more love.

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Meditative Monday: Reflections on finding myself, losing myself, + meeting myself again. by Liv | May 11, 2015 | Care, Create, Inspire |

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” // {e. e. cummings}

“By constantly copying little details of my unique expression + creative exploration, what this person doesn’t realize is that they are unearthing about a decade worth of emotional trauma.  One of my biggest insecurities is that even the people closest to me don’t really understand me + one of my biggest struggles is learning how to communicate what are often contradicting experiences that make up the one that is me.  And while it hurts like hell sometimes to watch someone romanticize my (far from perfect) life and take these traits + characteristics that have taken me so long to come to terms with on as their own, it also just requires me to further solidify my sense of self + address my insecurities straight on.  (Which, I suppose, is a blessing + a curse.)“ {To read more, visit us over @ Renaissante.com!}

[liviemay]

{caution. long post ahead.}

The final day of renaissanteblog’s #28daysofselflovechallenge encouraged us to ‘choose positive thoughts’ moving forward, even when it might not be the easiest of practices. Today, I began my day by noticing a moment of gratitude, a moment when I felt completely at peace + brimming with good spirits. I challenged myself to continue that feeling throughout my day, no matter what external forces might throw my way. (I’m not usually so good at this, for reference.) So I practiced being grateful for the positives + shrugging off the negatives, and my mood today has been significantly improved overall, I’d say. As part of this new practice of positivity, I’m also reminding myself of the little things throughout the day that make me happy. Today? This dress that was convenient, the right size, + on sale (after spilling mocha down myself this morning) and the beautiful, sunshiny day with a breeze. (Also, that magical feeling of sinking into the couch at the end of a long day. Yeah… back to that…)

[I’d honestly love to hear what y’all are grateful for today, btw. If you’d like to share.] ☺️ ❤

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Just a little reminder that the #28daysofselfloveachallenge is an ongoing challenge, one that we can continue to practice + perfect each and every moment!  And we know it says “February,” but don’t let that limit you!!  Practice self love + care everyday!  <3

[liviemay]

Yesterday, I posted about my #SelfCareSunday for renaissanteblog, and even though it’s now the dreaded day of Mon (lol), I figured we can always use reminders for self care + pretty photos to inspire us in that endeavor.

So here we go! Let’s see if we can make this Monday an unselfishly, but also a somewhat selfishly (yet still considerate), “Me-Minded Monday,” shall we?

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I know it’s not Sunday (or Monday) anymore, but it will be again, so here’s a look at our latest blog post (that I, Liv, totally forgot to post about here! oh no!) - complete with simple practices + reminders for self love, care, + discovery that can be used any day of the week!

Won’t you join us in celebrating #SelfCareSunday (and Me-Minded Monday) everyday?!  <3  Feel free to coin a term for Wednesdays as well, if you wish!  We’d love to hear your ideas!  :)

{And read more @ http://renaissante.com/self-care-sunday-its-the-small-things/!}

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Self Love Challenge, Day 28: Choose positive thoughts.

by Liv | Feb 28, 2015 |

Choose positive thoughts.

Today, this month, and every day moving forward.

—

Yesterday was my mother’s birthday, and she gave me some advice, as mother’s do, but she also unknowingly reiterated + reaffirmed today’s final #28daysofselflovechallenge challenge. While we sometimes have different language for some of the same ideas, we seemed to be on the exact same page with this one.  (Which – phew – assures me I’m growing in the right direction; so thank you, Mom.)

What it came down to? Choose positive thoughts.  Our thoughts are energy.  Let’s use ours for the better, shall we?  Let’s actively work to encourage loving + compassionate internal monologues… every day.

Choosing to focus on the positive in life is a real practice, so keep that in mind. It may not be easy all the time, but what use is spending your precious life focusing on the inevitable negative.  (I say inevitable because life happens… Sometimes it’s good + sometimes it’s not so good, and it is our job to learn how to balance + find our equilibrium.)

One way to do that is by choosing to fill your consciousness with positivity.  (Hint: You’re already doing the work by reading this and committing to the self love challenge.)

As we move on from our February self love marathon, we encourage you to continue this practice of positive self love, care, + discovery.  And remember, the 28-Day Self Love Challenge list can be used year round.  It is a tool to guide you through + to your own unique, beautiful, authentic life, not a strict set of tasks to be done at specific times.  Allow it to grow + evolve as is natural for you.  (Feel free to do what I’ve done and print it out + stick it somewhere you’ll see it often.  Those little glances could inspire you to give yourself a little love when you need it most.)

As for right now, keep on rockin’ at being you, and we’ll be back soon with more here at Renaissante!  Thanks for being here + sharing in this journey with us.

xo

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Self Love Challenge, Day 27: Write yourself a love letter.

by Jenn | Feb 27, 2015 |

Write yourself a love letter.

On our penultimate day of the challenge, we wrap the month up on a sweet note. Address yourself in the second person and let the love pour out. You can even imagine you’re writing to someone else you truly love for the first few lines to get it flowing.

Use a beautiful pen and beautiful paper, if you can. Or use a chewed up pencil on a cocktail napkin, I don’t care.

Sing your praises– don’t be shy about complimenting the letter recipient. Offer blessings of compassion, clarity, sweetness, truth, empowerment, unbridled joy. Celebrate you on the page.

Give, give, give– go to the extremes of your love-giving capacity. “I love you and I’ll say it until my face turns blue.”

If you’re not much of a writer, you can just write out a page, fed with a fire of true intention, “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you…”

And if you feel this statement still isn’t true– if you don’t believe you love yourself yet, “I want to love you, I want to love you, I want to love you…”

Or “I want to want to love you.”

Make it a written prayer to your higher self.

Or write yourself (your inner child) a letter of apology. “I’m so sorry I’ve neglected your needs and dreams all of these years. Please forgive me, I will strive to treat you rightly.”

Give yourself to this exercise; it will not lead you astray.

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Self Love Challenge, Day 26: Pick some flowers.

by Liv | Feb 26, 2015 |

Pick some flowers.

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." | {Gerard De Nerval}

If you haven’t noticed yet, we kind of love all things floral here at Renaissante. Whether in person, in print, or dreamt of during our loveliest daydreams, flowers seem to be an essential factor in our pursuit of beautiful, authentic lives.

So today, we challenge you to get outside + pick a few flowers – for yourself, for a loved one, for a stranger perhaps?  And if you do, we would absolutely love to see the gems you come across!  (Feel free to share photos or descriptions in the comment section below.)

*I feel compelled to mention that when we’re picking flowers, we are plucking them from their natural habitat, so I encourage us all to keep this in mind while we are enjoying + benefiting from this practice.  A few are fine, of course, and what you deem acceptable all depends on your ideas of sustainability, balance, + our relationship with the world that we are a part of.  All I’m really saying is let’s express some gratitude today + everyday.  ;)

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Self Love Challenge, Day 25: Tell yourself “I love you.”

by Jenn | Feb 25, 2015 |

Look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself “I love you.” And mean it.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first glance. It might be super easy for some. It might make some of us laugh or scoff; I know I did.

The first time I ever tried this, I couldn’t bear to look myself in the eyes, it was terribly awkward. When I finally did, I laughed hysterically out of nervousness for a full minute.

Then I broke down and cried, violently, and released many (though not all) layers between me and my love for self. It was much harder, much more embarrassing, and much more rewarding than I thought was possible.

Some suggestions:

Try this as you’re washing up and getting ready for bed. Take a deep breath and look at yourself in the eyes in a mirror, with both feet planted on the floor whether your sitting or standing. Notice the first thoughts that float to the surface of your mind, if they’re positive or critical. Consciously choose to release judgement.

Take another deep breath and say your name… “I love you.” Slow, steady, clear, and true.

Take a moment to reflect, then take a couple of slow breaths. Repeat your name “I love you,” as many times as you need to have it feel as real as possible.

If you feel compelled, take a few minutes to journal about what came up for you.

Optionally, you can think about three things you love about yourself and say them aloud to your visage. Consider finding one thing you love about your face as well.

Congratulate yourself! It actually takes beaucoup de courage to do this, no matter who or where you are in life.

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Self Love Challenge, Day 24: Make a list of things you are good at.

by Liv | Feb 24, 2015 |

Make a list of things you are good at.

This one is pretty straightforward.  Just like your list of accomplishments, today’s challenge is to list out all the things you’re good at, all those things at which you just rock!

It may sound simple, but sometimes humility can masquerade as writer’s block.  Try tackling these questions if you’re having a bit of trouble beginning your list:

What are your strengths?

Your passions?

What skill-sets do you possess that are unique to you?

What are some things that you gravitate toward, simply because they seem to come ‘second-nature?’

What do you find yourself doing when you are the most at peace?  (…even if the activity itself isn’t quite so tranquil.  This can be an active sort of peace for some of us.)

We all have specific strengths that are unique to each of us.  The trouble, sometimes, is figuring out what those are – and it can be a tediously long process, especially when our culture seems to shame many of us when we try to celebrate ourselves.  This act of listing out our positive attributes helps to foster not only positive self talk, but also positive energy moving forward through everything you do.

And remember, this is an activity just for you, so try not to be too shy.  It’s okay to toot your own horn sometimes, so to speak.  You are a magnificent being.  Remember, “It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

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Self Love Challenge, Day 23: Give yourself some room

by Jenn | Feb 23, 2015 |

Give yourself some room.

I mean all sorts of room: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual… in your living space, your headspace, your closet, your desktop, your inbox, your schedule. If you are someone (like me) who says or lives I don’t have time to take care of myself, I’ve come to understand– no one will give you the time; you’re going to have to make the room.

Some suggestions:

This month, I’ve been talking a lot about adding new and exciting this to your calendar, but perhaps there is a day or a week coming up you can clear to make sure you are spending time with yourself. If there is a day that you are faced with choosing between pushing through (and risking your health and sanity) or taking a break from your slew of appointments, consider the latter option seriously.

Take three deep breaths every time you have a chance– before you wake up, before going to bed, on public transit, right after you’ve finished parking or just as you get into your car, before a meeting, after a test… When you think you need to rush off to the next engagement, give yourself some space. Begin to build your buffer.

Consider looking into your closet and evaluating what to keep and what to let go of. Your closet (and your possessions in general) could be filled with things only things that you truly love, bringing a sense of ease to getting dressed and sacredness to your relationship with the material.

Play a game with yourself– every time you leave your room or the house, consider taking with you five things (it can be big or little, significant or superficial.

Clean up your desktop.

Set filters for your email and unsubscribe from websites that you don’t pay attention to– you can start with three! Unroll.me is a service that can help clean up and condense your email life.

This includes wiggle room– be nice to yourself. Next time the critical voice rears its head, consider turning down the volume and offering yourself some compassion instead.

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Self Love Challenge, Day 22: Soak up some sunshine.

by Liv | Feb 22, 2015 |

Soak up some sunshine.

This may be a bit easier for us West Coast folks at the moment, but just keep in mind that we can all benefit from catching a few rays.

“Atapa Snana is the yogic phrase for the healing science of sun bathing,” which I think is a beautiful term.  (It reminds me of the Japanese term for forest bathing – shinrin-yoku – and I’d like to practice both of these together more often, as it already is one of my favorite + most grounding activities; I had just never known specific terminology for soaking up the sunshine while taking a hike through the forest.)

Sunshine (in healthy doses) is essential for our well-being, physical health, and sanity.  Many of the other blogs + articles I came across discussing similar topics mention how Western discourse tends to focus on the negative effects of extreme, prolonged, + irresponsible sun exposure – which yes, can cause some pretty severe problems.  However, with that in mind, I’d suggest that we also have an issue with encouraging holistic, balanced solutions + lifestyles in general.  (It’s all about balance, y’all.) Plants need the sun to grow, and so do we.

Some benefits of soakin’ up the sun (thanks in large part to the Vitamin D it provides)?

Immune system support

Strengthening of bones + teeth

Helpful for fighting acne + preventing breakouts

Cancer fighting properties

Support against dementia + memory loss

“Essential for decreasing symptoms of asthma“

(plus many, many more…)

So, whenever you can, take yourself outside and let yourself sit beneath the sunshine.  Let it wash over you, let the warmth engulf your whole being, and take a deep breath, practicing gratitude for simply being alive + present in the moment.

Happy sun bathing, beautiful creatures! (Feel free to let us know where your favorite sunny spot is!)

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Self Love Challenge, Day 21: Take yourself on an artist’s date.

by Liv | Feb 21, 2015 |

Take yourself on an artist’s date.

One of the most daunting + also most rewarding experiences of my life has been learning, not only how to be alone, but how to enjoy it + at this point crave the solitude.  The second most difficult but ultimately most fulfilling activity I’ve found (thanks so much to Jenn’s introduction + articulation) is taking myself on what we call “artist’s dates.”

First of all, when do we take ourselves on dates? try to woo ourselves? strive to be the type of person we’d want to fall in love with?  And secondly, when do we allow ourselves space + time to just be creative? to soak up the world around us, bit by unique, awe-inspiring bit? Let alone, alone? with our thoughts? letting the creativity + pleasure of the situation be of the utmost importance?

If your answer is anything like mine, the answer has far too often been… um… never?

Calling myself an artist still feels a bit foreign on my tongue, but I feel the significance of its truth at my core and know it simply is, and I had better own it + learn to cultivate this part of me.  That being said, I understand that not everyone identifies as an artist, but that doesn’t mean that any one of us is not.  Everyone is an artist in some form or another.  Whatever it is that you are good at, pulled to do, driven by, etc., you are an artist in that craft or skill.  So take yourself on an artist’s date and allow yourself to be fully engaged, present, + inspired by the beautiful experience you’ve created by and for yourself to enjoy – because you deserve to.

If you don’t quite know what it is that moves you (yet) here are some suggestions to get those creative juices flowing:

Take a walk around your neighborhood.  (Sure, some of us may feel as though we do this fairly often.  If you’re like me, and you reside with canine companions, you may do this seemingly all the time.  This time, I suggest taking a legitimate stroll – like a meandering, slow walk around the block, down the lane, whatever…  Use all your senses.  Literally stop to smell the flowers, notice the minute details, listen for sounds you’ve never heard before…)

Check out [at] your local coffee shop.  (I include the “at” in brackets as to encourage you to potentially leave your laptop at home this trip.  Bring a journal, a book, a sketchpad… whatever it is that sparks that creative bug in you.  And I know, I know, some of us – many of us – exist in cyberspace 99% of the time, and our creativity seems fueled by and/or strictly bound to that realm…  I still encourage you to try.  If you’re a blogger, handwrite a blog post.  If you’re a photographer, bring your camera and not your phone.  If you’re a graphic designer, bring along some paper and your choice of writing/drawing implement.  Do it “old school” this time around.  Soak up the sights and the sounds of your environment.  Let them inspire you.)

Take yourself somewhere you’ve never been but have been wanting to explore.  (Yes, exploring untapped domains might be a tad intimidating, especially alone.  Some of us thrive off of this kind of adventure; others – like myself, sometimes – may feel as though a nice hole would be preferable to navigating any new space on our own.  It is truly different for each of us, but one thing is certain, when we – gently – ask ourselves to step beyond our assumed boundaries, we often find ourselves capable of much more than we had ever dreamed.  Check out that new shop you’ve been wanting to stop by, follow that path that you always wonder about but never venture down.  In that new experience, you are building a relationship with yourself and solidifying a foundation of trust + comfort with the person closest to you… you.)

And if you’re the type of person who has already pinpointed their passions, spend a day cultivating whatever it is that you enjoy + that fulfills you.  Allow yourself freedom for expression, reminders of gratitude, and space for compassion (especially with yourself, because yes, we can be our own worst critics).

Enjoy!

[renaissanteblog-blog]

Self Love Challenge, Day 20: Do whatever you have been meaning to try.

by Jenn | Feb 20, 2015 |

Do whatever you have been meaning to try. Learn something new.

I have a whole laundry list of activities and adventures that I’ve been meaning (for years) to try. Parts of the list are things that I crave, deeply, but that desire is always at war with stubborn fear and lingering doubt. But what if I suck at it, what if I fail? I’m not good enough, and I never will be are devastating earpieces that can wear a soul raw.

In college, even though it was something I loved, I quit ballroom dancing just a year into competing, and it took nearly six years pining before I took a single ballet class at a renowned dance studio just two blocks away from my apartment.

If the voice reasons with I just don’t have time for it, I’ve learned this could be an indication that some part of me believes I don’t deserve what I want… that I should be spending my time on practical matters, solving problems, working hard, making a change, taking care of others. But the truth is, if the heart is not nourished with the fulfillment of its desires, it will give up.

Some suggestions:

If you have no idea where to begin, journal for a whole ten minutes or whole three pages on what it is you want. You can start anywhere–as my friend Laura says (since this is an exercise she taught me) you can write “I want ice cream for breakfast, I want candy for lunch, a huge mansion, a pony!”– but inevitably something you want to try or learn or embark on will come forth.

If you have these nagging negative beliefs floating around in your headspace, see about combating them with an affirmation. I don’t have time for it can become I can and will make the time. What if I fail becomes I will learn and grow so much.

Fear and excitement can be seen as very similar sensations in the body. If both are present, you can acknowledge both and invite one to stay.

Put it in your calendar, and invite a friend to join you on your adventure if you feel you will bail otherwise.

Know that it is never too late.

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Self Love Challenge, Day 19: Make a list of your accomplishments.

by Jenn | Feb 19, 2015 |

Make a list of your accomplishments.

Like I’ve mentioned in the past, we are all fish in water. Our daily grind has us forget what we do well and all that we’ve accomplished– often we’re too focused on what we do poorly, what we don’t have, and what still needs to happen. As massive, creative beings, no matter where you are in life now, you have done SO much up until now. You have come so far.

So if it’s been a minute since you’ve acknowledged your accomplishments, your successes, write them out. From birth to present. Let it be an exercise in validating your glorious, creative self.

Some suggestions:

Don’t hesitate on what to put down or deliberate as to whether or not its worth writing. If it comes to mind, it goes to paper.

Writing it out by hand will add a level of ownership than if you type it (unless you’re using a typewriter, that’d be lovely.)

Once you’ve finished now (and if ever you are feeling in a rut) use it to affirm within yourself how much you’re capable of; if you’ve come this far, imagine how far you can go forward.

Congratulate yourself on being the rockstar/hero(ine)/creator of your amazing life.

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Self Love Challenge, Day 18: Take care of what you’ve been avoiding.

by Liv | Feb 18, 2015 |

Take care of what you’ve been avoiding.

We all have that one thing (or, if you’re like me, that list of things) that we need to get done, but that might not necessarily be too pressing a priority (nor likely a task you’re looking forward to), so it keeps getting pushed off… and pushed off… and pushed off… (You get the picture.)

There are always things to be done, refreshments to be made, clutter to be cleared (both physically + energetically), and if we procrastinate too long, we might find ourselves subtly bogged down by a nagging list of to-dos in the back of our mind.  (Not too helpful on the sanity front.)

Why not make a vow to yourself that today is the perfect day to tackle that thing you’ve been avoiding?  (And if you just don’t have the time today, why not make a promise to yourself to give this a shot when you do have a bit more free time to devote to you + your self care.)  Use this as an opportunity to clear space (even just from your mind + your to-do list) so that you have more room to focus on the things you truly enjoy + that fulfill you.  Plus, once you start crossing things off that dreaded list of to-dos, you may very well find a striking sense of accomplishment + fulfillment in that experience itself.

As with many of the other challenges, this one is pretty uniquely personal, so offering suggestions seems counter-intuitive.  No one can know your experiences like you do, and no one knows exactly what’s begging you for attention but yourself.  Instead, I offer you a sneak peek into my ‘list of things I’ve been avoiding’ in hopes that it may perhaps offer you a bit of insight or inspiration.