How to Make The Most of Our Summer

Woman wearing a straw hat and sun glasses on a beach

How to Make The Most of Our Summer

They say time flies when you are having fun and nothing can be more true then our precious summer months. Once September approaches, I always find myself saying, “the summer flew by”.

The key to getting the most out of our summer is by being more intentional with this time. Our short summers are precious, so to really maximize the time and benefit here are some of my simple rules:

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Start Each Day with a Powerful Intention:

I have often found in my life that when I start each day with an intention I get the most out of that day. Intentions in our mind are like channels on a TV, you can choose what you are dialed into and what you want to focus on. So when we set intentions to have a great day, to have fun, to be productive so I can play hard etc., we get to experience exactly that.

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End with Gratitude and Reflection:

Ending each day of your summer before you fall asleep with some daily gratitude will anchor in that good feeling and raise your vibration for your next day. Gratitude at the end of the night allows you to anchor in all the good that you have. It will allow you to tune into more of the magic that is all around this time of year.

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Summer Goals:

Set some goals for yourself. These can be small, like reading a new book, or big, like learning a new skill. Writing down your goals and checking them off as you go gives you a sense of accomplishment and keeps you motivated.

  • This summer me and my family have all decided to learn Italian. We are having so much fun on Duolingo spending minutes a day and challenging and motivating each other.

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Making the Most of Nature:

Nature is medicine and this time of year is extra special with everything in full bloom. Go for a walk in the park, hike a trail, or just sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. Nature is very calming and helps you feel peaceful. It also gives you a chance to think and reflect on what is important to you.

  • One of my daily intentions is taking a walk break at work. Productivity goes up, and I get to enjoy some of the awesome whether during my workday.

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Practice Mindfulness:

One of the reason time seems to fly is because we are not anchored in the present moment. This means paying attention to the present moment, taking time to pause. You can do this by meditating, being intentional with one thing at a time, or simply taking deep breaths and focusing on your breathing. Mindfulness helps reduce stress and increases joy.

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Make Time for People Who Fill Your Cup:

Surround yourself with positive people. Spend time with friends and family who make you feel good about yourself and learn to say no to those that don’t. Connection and love are a huge part of our inner peace.

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Lastly, Put Yourself FIRST.

Remember that it’s okay to take breaks, say no when needed, and have fun. Do things that make you happy, whether it’s playing a sport, painting, or just relaxing with a good movie. They key is to give yourself permission to do this, hang up your martyr card and take time to enjoy and have fun! Taking care of yourself gives your more capacity for everything and everyone else in your life.

By following these tips, you can make the most of your summer and get the emotional nourishment you need. Enjoy every moment!

With love,

Julie

The Positive Change Group

Are you Ready to Let Go?

Are you Ready to Let Go?

 

The willingness to let go this fall is a beautiful reminder of the natural rhythms that happen within the change of season. Have you noticed that fall is a time of letting go? We see the trees literally letting go of their leaves, and when we do this from an emotional healing place, it gives us space to let in the new.

Before it gives us space to let in the new, it also gives us clarity; clarity of what we want. Clarity of what our new program can be. On more dreams, bigger dreams, and aspirations.

When we are bogged down with limiting beliefs, whether that’s insecurities, feelings of not being good enough, it would do us good to let go of the things that don’t serve us. Are you repeating a program from the time you were a child that has held you in darkness and not allowed you to shine your light?

What are you willing to and permitting to release and let go to create clarity; to empty your tank? Let’s look right now at all the things that you can let go of.

Old Habits:

October can be a great time to reflect on unhealthy or unproductive habits and consider letting go of them to make room for personal growth.

Grudges and Resentments:

Just as trees shed their leaves to start anew, individuals can release grudges and resentments that may be holding them back from moving forward in their relationships and personal well-being.

Stress and Anxiety:

Autumn can be a time to embrace tranquility and reduce stress. Letting go of excessive worry or anxiety can help create mental space for a sense of calm.

Material Possessions:

As you witness nature simplifying itself, you might consider decluttering your own life by letting go of material possessions you no longer need.

Negative Self-Talk:

Shedding self-doubt and negative self-talk can be a powerful way to promote mental and emotional growth.

Expectations:

Release unrealistic expectations you may have placed on yourself or others, allowing for more authentic and less stressful relationships and experiences.

Regrets:

Just as the falling leaves can symbolize the shedding of regrets, it’s a good time to reflect on past mistakes, learn from them, and let go of any lingering regrets that may be hindering personal growth.

Past Attachments:

Whether it’s relationships, memories, or experiences that no longer serve you, October can be a time to release attachments to the past and embrace the present moment.

Fears:

Face your fears and consider letting go of irrational or limiting fears that may be holding you back from pursuing your goals and dreams.

Expectations of Perfection:

Let go of the need to be perfect in every aspect of your life. Instead, embrace imperfection as a natural part of the human experience.

When we link the idea of letting go with hypnosis, we achieve an emotional detox. The healing power is really in just releasing and letting go so that the magic of transformation can happen.

Tips on how we let go when we notice the leaves falling from the trees.

  1. Become consciously aware of the thoughts in your mind that are creating disharmony, meaning emotional discomfort. You can do this by questioning your emotions and asking, “What is my emotion connected to?” “What thoughts or programs am I telling myself?” Once we can pinpoint the thought then we can simply do a tapping exercise to let that go.
  2. Do a brain dump. Write in your journal all the negative things you’re ready to let go of. Just do a brain dump on a journal very cathartically to let it out. You can burn that page, ceremoniously if you like. The key is to just let go of what no longer serves while sitting in presence.

The idea of letting go during October when the trees shed their leaves can be a metaphorical reflection on personal growth, change, and renewal.

By Julie Cass

The Positive Change Group

 

Work Life Balance – Why it is impossible to achieve unless we internally shift.

Work Life Balance

Why it is impossible to achieve unless we internally shift.

 

Work-life balance is something that millions of people try an achieve every year with very little success often leading to burnout and overwhelm.  What exactly does work life balance mean and why has this become one of the most sought-after ideals of our modern-day world?

Work-life balance is often referred to as balancing the time we spend at work with time spent in our personal lives including time with loved ones, social time and selfcare.  The problem with this is we may never actually get a balance between the two, however what is important is how you feel.  The truth is it is nearly impossible to achieve balance all the time because there will be time-sensitive deadlines or projects that come up with work and throw the balance off.

So how do we successfully manage this delicate equilibrium between the demands of work and personal life?

Rather than waiting for your external world to give you the balance, they key is understanding that it is an internal job to achieve this balance. So much of this has to do with our perspective on things. What is the story we are telling ourselves and where is your mind right now?  Many times, we feel out of balance because our mind and body are disconnected.

Let me explain.

1. Upgrading the ‘story’ we tell ourselves

A mindful approach to your thoughts will help you achieve inner peace and balance. Many times, our inner story is around telling ourselves how hard something is or complaining about the task at hand or the person we need to deal with. A self loving or balanced approach to creating inner peace must first come from changing inner dialogue to more up-lifting and encouraging statements such as:

“I got this.”

“I am strong, and I can handle this.”

“This project might be demanding but I can do it and I am giving myself the necessary breaks I need to recharge.”

“This might feel like a challenge right now, but the answer is always there, and I will figure it out with ease and grace.”

“Right now, I am going to solely focus on work and then tonight when I am home, I will enjoy a wonderful meal with my family.”

If you want to feel better the most effective way is to change your internal story. You will feel better when you change what you tell yourself!

2. Connecting Your Mind and Body – Being Present

Being present is an essential aspect of attaining work-life balance. It means fully engaging and immersing oneself in the present moment, whether at work or in personal life. When you are present, you can give your undivided attention to the task at hand, improving productivity and efficiency. Being present also enables you to connect with others on a deeper level, fostering stronger relationships and social support networks.

In the context of work, being present means focusing on the task at hand, minimizing distractions, and practicing mindfulness. It involves being fully engaged in work-related activities and avoiding multitasking, which can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress.  Multitasking is like fracturing your energy trying to divide yourself in pieces leaving you feeling depleted. With singular focus, you can be more present and hence more productive and achieve better outcomes. Ultimately, you will feel better and have a bigger sense of accomplishment allowing you to leave work at work.

Conversely, being present in personal life entails dedicating quality time to loved ones, pursuing hobbies and interests, and taking care of yourself physically and emotionally. It involves setting aside work-related thoughts and concerns and being fully present with family and friends. Set your device aside and engage in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation. Being present in personal life helps you recharge your batteries and find fulfillment outside of work. This meditation is helpful in becoming aware of the present moment.

Work-life balance is primarily an internal working that necessitates self-reflection, setting priorities, and making conscious choices. Being present in both work and personal life is crucial for achieving a good balance. By cultivating mindfulness and being fully engaged in the present moment, you can enhance your overall well-being, improve productivity, and foster meaningful connections in all aspects of your life.

by Julie Cass

The Positive Change Group

 

How to Live an Optimized Life

How to Live an Optimized Life
You may have mixed emotions based on life over the past two years. Are you hoping for change and improvement and yet feel disappointed?
If you are tired of feeling frustrated and want to live a fully vibrant life instead, then there are a few key principles that are necessary for us to integrate.
 

Below are tips on how to live an optimized life.

 

Raise your vibration any chance you get:
Pay more attention to how you feel. Your feelings are your roadmap to letting you know if you are living an optimal life.
  • When your conversations feel heavy, then change the subject.
  • If what you are watching doesn’t make you feel good, then change the channel.
  • If what you are listening to doesn’t make you feel good, then change it to something that does.
Raising your vibration is one of the most powerful things you can do to create a happier reality. Use your feelings as your guide and do more of what feels good.
 
 
Focus on what is in your control:
There have been many things that have been out of our control the past couple of years. When we focus our attention on this, we feel heavy and it breeds fear. Instead, focus on what’s in your control as this will heighten your energy and your mood and help you know how to live an optimized life.
 
 
Ask for what you want:
Being clear on what you want to create in 2022 is the first step to manifesting. Being more deliberate in your creations is called being a “conscious creator”. In order to do this:
1. Get clear on what you want.
2. Don’t put any attention on what you don’t want.
Many of us are programed to focus more on what we don’t want and the problem with this is that you create more of what you don’t want.
 
2022 is the perfect time to make these changes and deliberately bring in more of what you do want.
 
 
Let gratitude change your attitude:

 

When we have gratitude for what we have we always feel better. This raises our vibration instantly. Also if we can have gratitude for what we desire and believe it is coming, this is where the true magic happens.
 
Let gratitude for what is and what is to come be your focus this year.
 
 
The Positive Change Group offers an ‘Empowered’ course online, you can check it out HERE.