health – Of Undisputed Origin

Generating Good Vibes & Why You can’t afford Another Negative Thought

October 25, 2017 Madeline Johnson2 Comments

This is probably TMI and I never told anyone outside of my family this, but here you go. . .

I have been emotionally drained this past year (wait, my entire adult life) with a very unstable ex-husband who is non-compliant with his medication. The father of my four darlings, this charismatic dude is lashing out and vibrating at a super, super, super angry and rage-full frequency.

He comes with the complete package – bipolar, borderline personality disorder, substance abuser and quite frankly a big, no, forgive me HUGE pain in the ass. Yes I knew he had this disease and yes it has been an extremely rough road, yes we had some great times in-between, but the biggest problem I have right now is he is displacing his pain, resentment and rage on his own grown children.

Thank God they are strong enough to see through the manipulation and self-pity.

Look, I know he is sick and yes I have been compassionate, but as anyone involved with someone who has untreated bipolar that is exasperated by drug and alcohol abuse will tell you – it is just horrifying to see someone self-destruct when they know very well that there is medication and healthy ways to manage this illness. To make matters worse, he had an incredible nine years of wonderfulness in-between episodes. I am grateful to have had that time with him, BUT. . .

I just see way too many people with manic depression and mental illness struggling to take care of themselves while broadcasting their lives on YouTube and blogging about their daily challenges. It seems extremely selfish for him to at the very least try to commit to lifelong mental health.

What a beast of a disease.

So, I search for solutions. Not for him, for ME now. I am done with trying to fix someone who doesn’t want help. Disease or no-disease, there comes a time when you have to protect and care for yourself. Shout out to all you amazing caregivers out there. I feel you.

Where do I begin?

Right now I feel like I need to wash, no SCRUB off the toxic and at least try to vibrate on the highest level I possibly can.

Help. I’m looking for the blessings. Sure it could be worse, but damn.

The quote that keeps me hanging on lately –

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.

Please someone help me see the possibilities.

Rule #1 Stop doing things that don’t produce results.

I use to smile a lot. I smiled because I was genuinely happy inside. Then somehow life started to feel like an uphill battle, a long, arduous climb. The thing I like about smiling is that if feels like the boldest statement you can make, without saying a word.

Strangers would comment about my smile. Out of the blue, I would be walking down the street, on the train, at work, “what a contagious smile you have”. Great smile, they’d say and they’d smile back.

My smiling days. It felt like my energy was pure & protected from the pains of the world.

I remember once my father asked me when I was smiling one morning “what the hell are you so happy about?” It was as if he was accusing me of being phony, fake, a poser. It crushed me for a while. But I kept on smiling.

I want to get that great big beautiful smile back. I want to FEEL the way I did when I didn’t know much.

I want to dance, sing, celebrate, love, kiss, hold, run, laugh, swim myself back to that state of being – that sweet inner bliss – for no apparent reason I just glow.

I understand it’s about raising your vibrational frequency. Or at least that’s what the people say on the internet :). Look, there is even a vibrational emotional scale that someone put together. I have no idea if this is true, but I know I want to be in the blue/violet zone even the turquoise.

The funny thing about those smiley days, it wasn’t as if my life was any better than it is now. Perhaps it was full of what I perceived to be more promise and hope. There were dreams, visions and ideas. Sometimes, I think it’s about getting back to your original story line.

How to Re-energize My Life & Produce Some Damn Good Vibes

So the story goes that watching my thoughts can lead to better emotions which will then dictate improved behavior and possibly upgrade my vibrational frequency.

My plan?

Stay away from people who are low energy, negative thinkers, complainers, whiners and of course just downright mean. Mean people just suck.

Track my emotions during the day and use them to inform me of what I need to fix.

Also, do more to improve and increase my vibrational state –

Meditate

Listen to music

Drawing & painting

Dancing

Outdoor Bike riding

Cycling

Long walks and hikes

Watch inspirational books, movies

and listen to some of my favorite podcasts and spiritual teachers

Use aromatherapy while sleeping and at the desk

Stay outdoors, one with nature, as long as possible

Swimming the waters

Living in a state of appreciation

Dedicate myself to doing what makes me happy & relaxed.

Be The Light You Need

June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

torch

And in the word’s of William Shakespeare. . .

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”

Your fate is in your beliefs and behavior, and how you respond to life events.

release

Those who have been reading know that I am working on improving my behavior. Here I share a few things that have changed. These are new perspectives that have helped me grow.

1. I have let go of trying to change or control others. You just can’t. Change yourself instead. Besides, it’s more interesting and rewarding. Life changes, when you transform. You heal, life heals. It is that simple.

2. Realize that feelings should be processed not suppressed.

Carry

3. Give up suffering needlessly, no longer worrying about worst case outcomes. The truth is, life is full of surprises. You must be wise enough to know that life doesn’t always produce what you wish would happen. It’s typically creates what is most likely to happen. Prepare for that.

4. Learn to listen and observe more, to understand what is really happening around you.

5. Take stock of this moment while mindfully paying attention to the here and now.

6. Choose to be more responsible of all that is happening in your life. I am beginning to own mine. It makes me feel stronger. More accountable. Even a little more in control.

your-attention-please-no-one-is-coming-to-save-you-this-life-of-yours-is-100-percent-your-responsibility-quote-1

7. Understanding that you should embrace your eccentricity. It’s what makes you, you. Don’t be worried about being different. Appearing normal will get you no where. Stop behaving as if you are seeking the approval of others. Seek approval from yourself.

8. Please continue to release all that no longer serves you. Let the useless go. People, places, things.

9. No more delusional thinking. Experience reality for what it is, not what you wish it was. That is kind of like #3.

Yoga-Quotes201

10. Seek clearly without judging. Then you will see it most realistically. Reality is your friend.

11. Honor yourself and your desires.

12. It’s not necessary to share every little emotion, thought or feeling with anyone who will listen.

13. Forgiving and letting go. Put that on repeat. It is so freeing.

bull shit

14. Cease to react to every little thing that happens.

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Wise Advice for Waking Up to Your Life

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

Here’s a Damn Good Recipe for Failure & Unhappiness, for a life of misery.

Be self-righteous, wallow in self-pity, drown the day in fear and complacency. Look at your life and others with anxiety, jealousy, and hatred.

Now here’s a More Delicious Recipe for Harmony, Peace & Happiness, for an extraordinary life.

Take it on the chin. Be flexible, resilient, forgive more. Work smart and hard and always look at life with confidence and gratitude.

The Waking by Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.

I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?

I hear my being dance from ear to ear.

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?

God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,

And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?

The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do

To you and me; so take the lively air,

And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.

What falls away is always. And is near.

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

I learn by going where I have to go.

Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke

When life feels like . . . .

Repeat this little prayer. . .

Right now I am frustrated because I am not taking better care of myself. Which got me wondering about the payoffs I experience for staying stuck in my progress. For not waking up more and doing what needs to be done to change what I don’t like about my life.

Dig deep for the payoffs for not moving towards your goals today. Ask yourself some BIG questions.

What am I avoiding? Hard work maybe? Self-discipline? A little pain now for bigger gains later?
Who am I punishing by staying this way?
Am I avoiding the true expression of my emotions? Are they too frightening to feel?
What if I am waiting for a guaranteed miracle? Who will bring it to me?
Perhaps being stuck is really manipulating myself and others?
Maybe I am looking for special attention? Wallowing in self-pity?
What will I miss most if I do succeed?

Understand the difference between I will try and I will find a way “Results are a function of your commitment. Most people are unaware that where they are is exactly where they want to be.”

Clearing All The Clutter for Clarity & Purpose

April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

A few months ago I began stripping away all that no longer serves me in my life. What is that suppose to mean? Without boundaries, I let way too much in and life got way too crazy. I was tired, pulled in a million directions and honestly, I allowed it. Frankly, I didn’t know how to say no.

I said yes to everything and everyone. It’s not a good idea. Well sometimes, in the beginning saying yes is good, like when you are building a career, but too much yessing can lead to real chaos and letting people down, including yourself.

I am moving towards a minimalist lifestyle that will give me the freedom to go and do what I want without the burden of having so much to take care of, including a house too big, a life too wide open and the collection of twenty years of unnecessary, unwanted “things”. Things I don’t use, wear or want any longer.

I started by cleaning out twenty years of clutter in the attic. It was exhausting and energizing at the same time. While I am not one to hold on to things, like memorabilia, my daughters had piles and piles of grammar and high school “stuff” they had collected throughout the years up there. I even made it a moment. I asked them all to come over for a memory lane party. They laughed at old love letters, praised their early art work and cringed at their eighth grade diaries. They didn’t want the stuff either. The memories they decided to keep are tucked away in the corners of their mind or on Instagram. The rest they let go of along time ago.

Clearing away the clutter for me also involves displacing anything and anyone (eew, that sounds harsh) that is no longer useful, helpful, valuable or lovable in my life. You see, I began to feel like others were pushing and pulling me in too many different directions, while my priorities were left on the back burner. I am now older and wiser and know that whatever time I have left on this planet, I would like to deliberately create some moments of creativity and adventure before it’s too late.

So what am I going to trim down, clean up, give away and simply remove from my life?

Frumpy Frocks & Spontaneous Purchases. Starting with my closet, shoes, sweaters, shirts, bags, dresses and worn out jeans that I have not even touched in six months or more. Good will and good riddance. I want to create a really fun “uniform” to wear. Something I don’t have to think about. That’s one less decision in the day.

Space Fillers & Dust Collectors. Souvenirs, books, artwork and other knick knacks that are no longer aesthetically pleasing to me. If it does not spark joy, I just don’t want it. I haven’t read Marie’s book and I won’t. The sparking joy was my review take away. It makes sense.

Crazy Makers. People that require special handling, those that need kid gloves and jokers that confuse me. Anyone that I find annoying or that appears to be even relatively unstable. You know, I have been a magnet for the crazy makers for many years. This also includes anyone who bores me, those that aren’t original, open-minded or interesting or genuinely fun to be around. The self-absorbed, stuck or painfully sad. Anyone I don’t have a true kindred enthusiasm for or feel I can growth with as I adventure on. Yeah, they’re gone.

Obsessive Worrying & Ruminating Thoughts. Negative thoughts that clutter my mind, that make me feel less than I really am. Small thoughts. Sad thoughts. Critical, mean self-talk. No more worrying, because, “Worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.” Read on: 12 Toxic Thoughts You Need to Drop for a Better Life

15 Cant’s Miss Ways to Declutter Your Mind and this advice from Tiny Buddha have helped me a little as I make a list of what I don’t want in my life anymore, including. . .

Shitty Projects & Confused Corporates. Work that feels stupid, repetitive and ridiculous. People that go round and round because they don’t have a blueprint. Working with incompetent people. Things I just don’t want to do that I don’t have to do.

Excess – too many of any one thing. Rooms in my house, blankets on my bed, uncomfortable chairs, hard pillows, greased-bottom pots, scratched pans, broken cups and any sticky old debt on the credit cards. Oh to simplify and simply live with just what I need.

Random Files & Duplicate Photos. Files on my computer, my “filled-to-the-brim” email inboxes, old notes, usb drives with old brochures and dead campaigns, duplicate photos, and old contacts in my phone. People that I no longer talk to.

Crackers, Chips & Junky Food. Food and drink that makes me feel sluggish, fat and tired. Nah. Doesn’t serve me well at all. I never understood why they called it comfort food, expect for warm dishes of mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.

Time & Energy Wasters along with Old Fears & Everyday Frustrations. Good bye time, energy and money wasting activities. Waiting on lines, calling customer service, meetings in person that could have been Skype-d. Drives to stores when Amazon delivers. Anything that makes me feel like I need to be doing something else while I am doing that. Like commuting.

Mediocre Netflix Series & Silly Youtubers No, I just can’t. This is no way to fall asleep at night. I no longer enjoy watching crappy HBO shows just because everyone else is binging on them.

Bad habits. Yeah, like relaxing with two glasses of wine before I go to sleep. Fading into Facebook as my head hits the pillow. Any excuse not to work out. Answering the phone most of the time. Being too nice and polite to time suckers. Being neurotic while calling, emailing and texting the same message to one person.

Packing My Schedule. Yes, I am clearing out the calendar and filling it up with dates I save in the future for things I want to do. Wrapping up old projects and getting rid of the guilt. End commitments with a clear conscience.

One of the most difficult clutter to clear is that which we think we are suppose to keep. The inherited heirlooms, the mementos, the sentimental shit. I don’t make photo prints of photos any more, so shouldn’t I just digitize the old ones?

My new mantra everything should have value. When we begin to desire to clear out the old and useless, we are getting ready to heal, grow and begin a new. Getting clear about what you do want is a process of trial and error.

When you’re stuck in a state of ambivalence, you must do whatever it takes to break the impasse.

I am concerned about filling it all up again. I am a big believer that new habits must replace old ones in order to grow.

I will watch the slow the accumulation of possessions, for to live is to create and consume. It cannot be avoided – especially in our society and culture. But if the influx of possessions into our homes can be slowed, clutter can be managed efficiently.

To slow the accumulation of things in our homes, we need to change our mindset and begin evaluating our purchases differently. Realize that your purchases cost far more than the price on the sticker. Each one will also require time, energy, and effort once they enter your home. Before making a purchase, begin asking yourself these questions:

Is this item really needed?
Do I have a place to store this when I get it home? Do I want to lug it around with me?
How much extra work will this possession add to my life?
Am I buying it for the right reasons?

On Being Your Own Life Coach

November 14, 2016 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

If we are truly living, then we are immersed in a life of learning and growing as human beings.

As we are growing, we are in a continual cycle of aspiring, succeeding or failing. With wisdom we realize these positions are transitory. Quote from The Ego is the Enemy.

Personally, depending on which “part” of my life that I observe, I am currently in all three cycles all at once.

Aspiring, Succeeding, Failing

I am aspiring to launch and build my business, I am succeeding at helping my parents navigate their battle with cancer and I am failing at sustaining a relationship with my brother.

I am aspiring to find the best way to help my parents without enabling them, I am succeeding at keeping up with my own health and fitness routine and I am failing at prioritizing my time at work each day. I over estimate what time I really have and over promise to those clients I want to please.

What helps me during cycles of failure, is to be my own best coach. Just like a coach who faces a loosing team, I champion myself through difficult moments of exasperation by reminding myself of who I am and what I am capable of. I promise to face each moment with my highest standards.

On Being My Own Best Coach and maximizing my own potential.

I remember and I realize . . .

the impact of my attitude on my life.
to believe in myself.
I am never given more than I can handle.
I don’t have all the answers right now.
to remain solution focused.
to ask questions and ask for help. I investigate and research those that have been here before me. I look for guidance.
I should listen for answers and rely on others who can help.
I need to make corrections. Corrections in my work, my attitude and my behavior.
that God is working with me every day. Guiding me to do my best. I am not in this alone.
I have done more difficult things before and I have made it through, successfully.
I remember that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

Surefire Success: How to Get What You Want

September 13, 2016 Madeline Johnson1 Comment

I love listening in between the lines. Especially to smart people. People like performance coach, Tony Robbins. Evan Carmichael edited an all day Tony coach session that you can watch here. I am watching about ten minutes a day every morning and taking copious notes.

Inspired by Tony’s tenacious approach, I created this surefire success equation to get anything you want. Anything. A raise at work, a new startup business off the ground, shed the last ten pounds, you name it. Anything you want.

Know what you want and believe you can have it.
Know what it takes to get what you want. If you don’t know, find out. Ask the people who have what you want what it took to get it. What did they have to do to achieve the results. How long did it take? How much work did they do each day?
Ask yourself the question, what is absolutely certain, 100% necessary, in order for me to get what I want. What must I do in order to get the results I want.
Make the list of what you absolutely must do and get to work.
Do the work. Do it daily. Check off the list. And then review your results. Be sure you are getting closer to getting what you want. If you are not getting results, get REAL with yourself. What are you not doing? What are you doing wrong? Where do you need help? New skills?
Ask yourself, can I do any of these tasks, the actual work, better. Not faster, not quicker, but better. Are there any tools to help me perform the work better? Any professionals out there who can coach you? If there are, then find the tools, find the people. Use the tools. Hire the people.
When you do get what you want, appreciate it. Be grateful for the work it took to get there.

What type of mindset does it take to win? To outperform and produce stellar results.

It’s not just practice that produces results. It’s perfect mindful practice. Practice combined with absolute certainty that you will achieve whatever you set out to do. You burn the boats.

Tip Sheet for #6

Absolute certainty that makes you tap into your full potential that has you take massive action which in turn produces remarkable results that reinforces your belief in your absolute certainty.

This is what it takes to get what you want.

And using failure as a tool.

Mindset Tip

Don’t choke at the free throw line. Be absolutely certain in your mind that you know without a doubt that you will achieve the results you want.

Improve Your Life in Just Ten Minutes a Day

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015 Madeline Johnson1 Comment

I am astonished at the benefits I have seen from taking just a few quiet minutes a day for stillness meditation. I am not talking about Buddhism here, but a simple commitment to quieting the mind, while sitting still and focusing on your breath.

What Top Performers and Leaders Say About Meditation

“Meditation more than anything in my life was the biggest ingredient of whatever success I’ve had.” That’s what Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates — the world’s largest hedge fund firm — explained in 2012.

Oprah Winfrey meditates for 20 minutes a day. Sitting in stillness helps her consistently perform. “Knowing for sure that even in the daily craziness that bombards us from every direction, there is — still — the constancy of stillness. Only from that space can you create your best work and your best life.”

Personally, for me, there has been a self awareness that has increased which has helped me become more confident and aware of what I am doing in the current moment when I am not quieting my mind. Its the after effects of meditation. Like when my husband spilled his Heineken all over our modem in the middle of a Jet’s touchdown, frying out the wiring and shutting down our internet service. I didn’t freak out like I use to. It was like a calmer storm. A category 1, not a 5.

The Benefits of a Calmer Mind

As your meditation practice develops you start to see things in your everyday more clearly. Insights arise to help you make connections and you notice things that you hadn’t noticed before. You listen to others more intently. You have more ideas and additional benefits like. . .

The ability to act consciously instead of reacting to people and events.
The ability to redirect your negative thoughts and emphasize positive ones.
The ability to think more clearly and solve problems more creatively.

Ten Minutes of Meditation a Day

I know you have 10 minutes somewhere in your day. Schedule it now on your calendar. Find a quiet spot for you to take a break, a momentary pause. Find a place to sit still and close your eyes. As you begin quieting your mind, focus on your breathe moving in and out of your body, while synchronizing your body and mind to be together for ten quiet minutes.

Yes thoughts will come. Your mind will move in all different directions. That is okay and very, very normal. You will think about emails you have to write, items you have to pick up from the store on your way home, bills you have to pay and that person you want to tell off at the office.

It’s okay, let them go and go back to your breathe. For ten minutes a day. Make it a practice and you will see an incredible difference in your life over time.

The Real Magic of Meditation

The benefits will include seeing things differently, solving problems that had you stumped, new connections and ideas will come to you, innovative ideas, important ideas. Your creativity will begin to bloom. You will begin to notice how you behave under certain conditions. You may want to change that behavior and you may have never noticed it before you began your daily mind quieting practice. This is called self-awareness and this is the biggest benefit and magic of mindful meditation practice.

Inspiration to Read and Listen to

Unmistakeable Creative A Soulful Exploration of Inner Wisdom with Susan Piver of the Open Heart Project

Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life Master Any Skill or Challenge by Learning to Love the Process

The Real Reason You Aren’t Succeeding

October 14, 2015 Madeline Johnson7 Comments

Whether you are trying to get ahead in your career, start a new business, lose 15 pounds, cut sugar from your diet or just be a calmer and more peaceful person, chances are you are frustrated with your rate of improvement. You wish you were making more progress. You think you are doing everything right, you just don’t know why you don’t see the results.

Planning vs Action

Those of us on the improvement track all do it. We create a list, a plan, a budget and we spend hours reading and learning how to take better care of ourselves, our families and our future. It is remarkable. We have access to an amazing amount of information to help us become better versions of ourselves. Wiser financially, stronger emotionally and healthier physically and yet so few of us actually see the results we want. The results we want to see are had with less planning and more daily practice. We need to take action and work the plan.

We need to practice every day, just the way professional athletes, writers and artists do. We need to go pro.

Getting Ready to Get Ready

This is how it is for many of us who become fixated on the emotional high associated with personal growth. We might make a little progress and feel pretty good about that. It’s easy to keep learning and studying new inspiring ideas, creative methods, and techniques while convincing yourself that you must be making progress simply because you’ve invested a lot of time and effort in learning and growth.

We spend our time getting ready to get ready to improve our situations. We’re reading all the books, watching the videos, listening to the podcasts. One of the big traps is believing that you’re making progress when there’s no actual evidence of it. This idea of going pro and stepping up your game, is inspired from the quote below and the book Turning Pro.

“To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence.”

Read more in Steven Pressfield’s Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work

Execution is the Elixir

Planning without action creates a false sense of security. You may feel more confident if you meet with a life coach, financial advisor or spiritual guide, but scheduling time with them, listening to a TedX video or attending a seminar is not doing the actual improvement work. Journaling, note taking and writing the ultimate goal list is not going to make the difference. Action and practice every day will.

From Procrastinator to Producer

Perhaps you consider yourself a procrastinator and that is why you don’t move into action. “The Procrastination habit catches people in a vicious cycle: get overwhelmed, feel pressured, fear failure, try harder, work longer, feel resentful, lose motivation and then procrastinate.” Read more in The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

Propel then Practice

Every single morning I give myself the ultimate rallying cry, a trumpet call. I call it my $25 million dollar life. I’ve printed it out on a double side of copy paper and I recite it out loud every morning. It’s my manifest destiny and it reminds me of the greatness I want to achieve and the action necessary to get there. If you try this, I would love to hear how it is working for you.

Better, Not Perfect

Execution is the real elixir, the secret, the answer to self-improvement. We just need to get better, not perfect. Sure we can still learn by the book, but we need to go out and test our new found knowledge.

What you Measure Tends to Improve

Taking action begins with making sure that whatever you are setting out to do you have –

broken it down into daily doable habits
created projections for success
continue to track measurable milestones
have a clear vision of what success looks like

For example, if you want a calmer more peaceful day, than begin to practice 10 minutes of morning mindful meditation. Measure your heart rate and breathing before, during and after with Spire, the newest device to help us navigate this chaotic modern life. Now, what does a calmer and more peaceful day look like to you? What are you doing? How are you behaving? Be mindful of the success you want to achieve. You will know you are successful after many hours of practice and the way your life improves.

Put your Emotions in Motion

Anger and frustration are huge motivators for me. If I feel really frustrated I don’t linger around and complain, I get into solution as quickly as possible and then do something about it. I make the call, put on my workout clothes, apologize. . . whatever will help me move away from frustration.

I don’t know anyone who likes ruminating about negative thoughts, so get creative and find a solution to what is nagging you and just do it.

Next time you feel like you just can’t get motivated remind yourself what you don’t want and use those emotions associated with it to propel you out the door.

Ready, Set, Action

A friend of mine told me about the 60 second tip. When you are gearing up to do something good for yourself but you are not in the mood or you are too tired, try it for 60 seconds. See how it feels. Check out this site “Know more in 60 seconds” http://www.knowmoreinsixtyseconds.com

Re-Commit Every Day

“Turning pro is like kicking a drug habit or stopping drinking. It’s a decision, a decision to which we must re-commit every day.” Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro

Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work

What are you trying to accomplish? What tips do you have to help take more action?

Fun and Easy Ways to Refuel Your Emotional Tank

October 10, 2015October 10, 2015 Madeline Johnson2 Comments

fuel gauge showing and empty tank — A clear sign of burnout is when you feel tired all the time. **Exhaustion** can be emotional, **mental** or physical. It’s the sense of not having any energy, of being completely spent.

Read: Ten Signs Your Burning Out and What to Do About It

Yes we all need a good night’s sleep and maybe a cat nap during the day to refuel. Eating healthy and regularly throughout the day is important for staying energized too. However I have noticed that much of my exhaustion comes from rushing, worry, feeling unorganized and overwhelmed. This isn’t physical, this is complete mental exhaustion.

Crash and Burn

If I don’t take a moment to refuel throughout the day, I am usually spent by the end of the day. No time left for me, him, the children. No one. Truth be told I am so tired of the daily crash and burn.

Stop and Pause.

Take notice of what is good right now. Be mindful of how great this moment is. It’s a beautiful fall day. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, my coffee is strong and I am writing this post. Life is good. All is okay.

Take a Energizing Breathe.

Not working? Can’t get there? Mind is too wound up with ruminating thoughts? Stop, pause, breathe. Breathe in for the count of 6, hold your breathe for 2 and release slowing through your mouth for 7.

Inspired by Others.

Be inspired by others. The women in front of me in Spinning class this morning had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery less than three months ago. The woman to the right of me teaches autistic children all week. They were sprinting way faster than I was. They completely inspired me.

Easy Access to Joy.

Deliberately create easy access to joy. Organize your home, office and car with refueling stations.

Listen to a great podcast or audio book on your drive.
Fill a full gallon of water with fresh lemon slices to drink throughout the day.
Make a tray of energizing ice cubes. Mix 1 tablespoon of spirlulina with 12 oz of lime juice and freeze. Add two cubes to your water. Spirulina ice cubes idea from Dr. Oz. Add a bit of honey to the water to sweeten it up.
Create a quiet haven in your home with books, a candle and a comfortable chair so you can sit and read for a while. This is like your own little refueling station.

Transition throughout Your Day. Create 4 Refuel Rituals to help you –

Start your morning in a more powerful and energized way. Start with a little gratitude.
Create a mid-day recharge ritual
A work to home ritual without the alcohol.
Finally, create a relaxation ritual to calm you down.

Enjoy an Energizing Snack.

One word: Chocolate

Taza “Wicked Dark” 95% Dark Stone Ground Chocolate, 2.5oz/70g

Do the One Thing and Do the Fun Thing.

When running through your tasks and to do’s for the day, be sure to include the one thing that you should have done months ago that is weighing you down with worry and the one fun thing that you keep putting off.

Tidy Up.

Fold your laundry. Clean out the junk drawer. Take everything off your desk. Organizing something makes you feel so in control, doesn’t it?

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Laugh.

You can’t go wrong with Ellen. Here she is with Johnny Depp playing Never Have I Ever. Play a funny prank on someone. Seriously. Find something to laugh at or someone to laugh with. Read a funny book. Esquire Magazine’s list of funniest books ever here.

Buzz feed’s 25 Easy pranks to play here.

How do you refuel during the day? I am always looking for something fun, new and creative to try. Please share in the comments below.

The Relentless Pursuit of Greatness

October 9, 2015October 9, 2015 Madeline Johnson3 Comments

My husband drives me crazy. He never writes anything down. Not a single reminder. Not even a note in his phone. He laughs at all my list making. So what.

The Secret to Achieving Your Goals

Now, I imagine if you are reading this, the headline got you and you are looking to achieve something great. Weight loss? More money? Better relationships? Peace of mind? Whatever you are attempting to get better at, it helps to set goals. Here is the formula I found works for anything I want to achieve and it is a mash up of some of the best advice and tips from experts throughout history on how to go about setting and achieving goals.

Scientific behavioral studies at Harvard have proven that those who WRITE down their SPECIFIC and ACHIEVABLE goals increase their chances 10 fold. I add that WRITING and SPEAKING your goals OUT LOUD with emotion each day in the morning (and maybe in the evening too) increases your success even further.

It’s simple, it’s easy and here is how it works.

STEP 1. SET PRECISE and MEASURABLE goals that you are CONFIDENT that you can achieve.

For example: I want to lose five (5) pounds by Thanksgiving, November 25, 2015.

I found this free Body Weight Planner recommended by Shape Magazine and developed by the National Institute for Health with the help of Dr. Kevin Hall’s research group for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to better understand how diet and exercise quantitatively contribute to weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

According to this calculator, I’ll achieve this measurable goal if I walk/hike and run at a moderate jogging pace for 60 minutes a day seven (7) days a week consuming no more than 1,955 calories a day. I calculate this is a loss of .75 (3/4) of a pound a week.

STEP 2.WRITE them down on paper (or in your phone) and keep them in CLEAR site. READ the goal OUT LOUD each morning.

Me in the mirror every morning:

I will be 123 pounds by Thanksgiving in 48 days by following these easy steps to achieve this weight. I will practice self-discipline and design my days around achieving this goal. Relentlessly.

STEP 3.BREAK down the goal and REMOVE all obstacles involved in the process of achieving it.

Each Bite Counts

Each day, I commit to counting calories – the LoseIt App is wonderful for this, as is the FitBit calorie tracker. You can also use a note book. Here are 5 great calorie counting sites/apps that you might want to try. I will jot down what I ate or take a photo of what I ate to calculate my calorie intake every day.

What if it’s raining?

How will I make SURE that I get in a 60 minute moderate run/hike each day? What if it rains and I can’t go outside? Will I go to the gym? Do I have a way of doing this at home in the house? Will I ask a friend to hold me accountable? Will I get it out of the way every morning? What if I am traveling?

Have a PLAN to REMOVE every obstacle.

No more chips. Damn.

I eliminate all refined carbohydrates from my daily meals. No breads, crackers, chips, cookies, etc. I will try to each a very healthy, plant-based meal with protein three (3) times a day and limit by alcohol to 1 glass of white wine. I will consume no more than 1,955 calories a day.

STEP 4.READ your goal OUT LOUD every morning and include HOW you will FEEL when you achieve your GOAL.

Me, in my head all day long:

I will look and feel amazing in my jeans, feel lighter on my feet and freer and more energetic. All that movement will also help me feel less anxious and healthier at 123 lbs.

Inspired by Executive Toughness: The Mental-Training Program to Increase Your Leadership Performance

You can do this four step process with anything you want to achieve, including making new friends, getting a raise, building a business, whatever. The secret is a mindful attention with intention and focus on your goal.