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Day 11 Intentional Living: Your Story Creates Your Life

What’s Your Story?

Your story creates your life.  Do you need to rewrite your story?  Our lives appear as we say they look.  We all have an account of our life, the question is, are you telling an inspiring story, or one of drama, struggle, and strife?  It is rare that anyone goes through their life without some hardship, tragedy, or challenge.  However, the meaning we give to these events can determine how our life looks and feels.  We can classify ourselves as a victim or someone who used the occasion to change our life for the better.  We get to decide this.  There are some fantastic stories of overcoming horrible life circumstances and going on to make a significant contribution to the world.  And, there are stories that on the outside appear to look like a fairy tale, but unravel into profound tragedy.

The Greatest Story Ever Told

I challenge you to be the author of your story.  Get your journal out, or a notebook, or a stack of paper and write the title on the first page.  The title is, The Greatest Story Ever Told.  Now, start writing.  Start creating a life that you love.  Use this as an opportunity to rewrite your story.  Make it great.  Make it inspiring.  Make it a life worth living!

  Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
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By | June 11th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 10 Intentional Living: Focus On The One You Love

Focus On Your Relationship

We must focus on our relationships to protect them from being jeopardized by outside distractions.  Our lives are full, and the world moves fast.  There are massive amounts of distractions that can cause us to be pulled off center when it comes to the ones we love.  I believe that digital devices are beautiful vehicles for connection to the outside world.  However, there is an addictive component to excess use of these tools.  Instead of spending one-on-one time with family and friends and practicing full presence, we reach for our phone to see if we have any new friend requests.  We hope for a bunch of “friends” to “Like” every post.  We monitor our followers on Instagram as if each one is a cherished person in our life.  The fact is, social media and much of what is available to us via the internet has been developed to increase your dopamine levels and keep you coming back for more.

Digital Detox

I invite you to commit to a digital detox so that your relationships can begin to thrive.  Human beings deepest desire is to be seen by someone.  Be that someone.  Limit your time on your instruments and instead create ways that you can spend more time seeing those around you.  Look them in the eyes and smile and let them know that you appreciate them.

https://youtu.be/7hQShnOw7IQ Stay true and be you —

Annie Facebook Comments

By | June 10th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 9 Intentional Living: Take An Inventory Of Your Life

Take Inventory of Your Life

At least once a year, I like to take an inventory of my life.  It helps me to know where I stand and what areas I want to tidy up and what challenges I want to give myself for the following twelve months.  I suggest that you do the same thing.  It helps you to recognize and appreciate all that you do have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.  It gives you the opportunity to get rid of those people, places, and things that don’t serve you or bring joy into your life.

Life Domains

I suggest that you go through the following life domains and make a list of all that you have in each of these areas and express your gratitude for everything on the list.  The second part of the exercise is to go through these same life domains and determine if there is anything you want to add or delete.  It helps you to clean up your life path for the next twelve months and live with clarity and design versus by default.  Do this for yourself.

Family

Friends/Affiliates

Marriage/Significant Other

Vocation/Career

Money/Finances

Physical Health

Personal Development

Learning/Creativity

Recreation/Leisure

Other

  Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
Participate in the Online Edition of Lines In The Sand Join Us Now

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By | June 9th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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Day 8 Intentional Living: Manage Your Emotions

Manage Your Emotions

When you start to master your emotions, you will begin to master your life.  Here’s the great news, you get to choose how you are going to feel each day.  What do I mean by this?  Our lives have only the meaning that we give to the events that happen to us each day.  If someone says something to you that you don’t agree with you can choose to take it personally, feel bad, and get angry,  or, you can determine that what someone else says to you has little to nothing to do with you, but everything to do with them.

Change Your State

Emotion has momentum.  Have you ever noticed that when you are having a challenging day, things seem to keep getting worse as the day goes on?  The same goes for when things are going well.  More good stuff just keeps coming your way.  If you ever find yourself in a slump, you have to do something to change your state.  This almost always requires a physical change or pattern interrupt.  You may need to go for a run.  You may need to go jump in the ocean or a cold shower.  You may need to change your environment; get out of your office and go on a walk, if you are inside, go outside and visa versa.  Maybe it is meditation or breathing exercises.  Whatever it is, do it.  Choose to feel better.

Get Grateful

Finally, anytime you are feeling stressed, anxious, or out of sorts; get grateful.  Think about

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By | June 8th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 7 Intentional Living: Body Scan of Appreciation

Body Scan of Appreciation

When is the last time you said thank you to your body?  I invite you to do a body scan of appreciation.  How do you do it?  Well, start at your toes, move to your feet then up your legs to your hips move on to your waist, fingers, hands and arms and say thank you.  From there go to your rib cage, back, chest, and shoulders and once again, say thank you.  Then move up your neck, face, and to the top of your head and appreciate every inch of you.  Oh, and then there is the 60,000 miles of blood vessels that run throughout your body, the 115,200 times a day your heart beats, the 23,040 breaths you take each day, and the 37.2 trillion cells that compose your body.  This amazing infrastructure works tirelessly for you each day with beautiful collaboration and communication.  And, have you ever thought about how you don’t have to do anything for all these systems to operate as they are supposed to on your behalf?

Take Care of Yourself

Since your body works so hard for you, the least you can do is take good care of yourself.  Be mindful of your nutrition.   Get the exercise and sleep that you need for your body to function efficiently.  And, think good thoughts.  You design your life by the way you think.  If you think good thoughts you will have good feelings.  I suggest a monthly body scan of appreciation.  Do it.

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By | June 7th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 6 Intentional Living: Managing Your To-Do List

Managing Your To-Do List

Managing your To-Do List can assist you in creating a life that feels good.  What do I mean by this?  Well, the first thing that I invite you to do is clarify the Top Three ways you want to feel.  Do you want to feel peaceful, content, free?  What?  Spend some time thinking about this because it matters.  Once you have proclaimed how you want to feel, I want you to go through your To-Do List and do some prioritizing.

First, list everything that you get to do in order to clean up your To-Do List and manage your life.  Then take action.  Put the least desirable requirement of your time at the top of the list and work your way down from there.  Doing this allows you to get the ‘shit sandwich’ out of the way first and end on the most desirable thing to do.

Second, look through your list and decide who or what on it doesn’t allow you to feel the way you have declared that you want to feel.  This might be a so-called friend who is an energy drainer.  It might be a board that you serve on that is not serving you.  It might even be a spouse or significant other.  Whatever or whoever it is, you must let it go.  And, I will tell you that you know in your ‘gut’ what the right thing for you to do is.  Trust your gut.  Let it be your trusted guide as you

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By | June 6th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 5 Intentional Living: Astonish Yourself Every Day

Astonish Yourself Each Day

Several years ago, I took it upon to astonish myself each day.  I did this by finding something I had never seen before on my way to my office each day.  One day it was a beautiful shrub, another day it was a red door on a house, and another day it was an entire house.  Yes, believe it or not, I have been traveling the same stretch of road for 16 years, and a few weeks ago I saw a house that I had never seen before.  And, it’s a big house.  And, it has been sitting there the whole time.  Noticing that house for the first time was an excellent reminder to me to be present and open to astonishment every day.

Your Intentional Living Challenge

I want you to join me on this journey of astonishment.  I want you to start looking for the things you have never noticed before.  There is tremendous beauty in the world when we are open to seeing it.  So challenge yourself to see things in your travels each day that is astonishing.  It can be the smallest of things, like a weed growing out of a crack in the concrete.  Talk about determination!  Have fun with this.  Start writing your discoveries down.  Make a list of your astonishments.

  Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
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By | June 5th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 4 Intentional Living: Mindful Self-Talk

Mindful Self-Talk

You must have mindful self-talk.  The conversions you have with yourself are conversations with the Universe.  Your subconscious mind holds on to the negative self-talk you have with yourself.  The old saying “garbage in, garbage out” is true.  You will feel and act in accordance with your self-talk.   What you say to yourself matters. Stop focusing on what you don’t have. Instead, focus on what you do have and be grateful. Negative Self-Talk is a terrible habit, and you must kick it’s ass to the curb NOW. Talk to yourself the same way that you do to those you love and honor. Your words create your world. Change your words, and your world will change too.  What is your negative Self-Talk and what are you going to do to change it?

https://youtu.be/b8RDV5OuCoE Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
Participate in the Online Edition of Lines In The Sand Join Us Now

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By | June 4th, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 3 Intentional Living: Give Yourself Quiet Time Each Day

Quiet Time

Carving out quiet time for yourself each day is essential.  Give yourself this gift.  Use the time to sit quietly and be attentive to your breathing.  Notice your heartbeat.  Focus on how you feel.  You can use this time to meditate, read, and reflect.  There are many meditation resources available to assist you in embracing your quiet time.  I have created the “Be”- Attitudes Kit which is a tool to help you focus on a thought which will assist you in setting the tone for your day.  The key is to allow yourself time each day away from distraction.

Create Your Very Own Quiet Place

In the Lines In The Sand course that I teach, one of the things that the participants do is create their very own quiet place.  This can be a room in your home, a quiet corner of your garden, a man cave or she shed or anywhere that brings you peace.   Add books that you like, a candle, a cozy throw, peaceful photographs, crystals, or anything else that helps you to relax and focus.  Make sure that this is your space.  Others are not allowed in your space unless they are invited.  This is your sacred space.

https://youtu.be/uyQScaClm1g Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
Participate in the Online Edition of Lines In The Sand Join Us Now

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By | June 3rd, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Day 2 Intentional Living: Appreciate Yourself and Others

Appreciation

We get so wrapped up in our days and routines that we often forget to stop and appreciate others.  We can take the service that people provide us for granted.  Today is all about appreciation. In order to appreciate someone or something, you have to be present. So wherever you are today and whoever you are with, be completely there with them. No phones, no iPads, no distractions. Just you and them.

Acts of Appreciation

Here are a few things you can do to show others appreciation:

  1.  Tape “Thank You” to the outside of your trash cans so the trash person feels appreciation when they pick up your trash.
  2.  Ask the checkout person at the stores you shop at what their name is and then thank them for helping you using their name.
  3.  As a family, go around the table and take turns telling each other what you appreciate about them.
  4.  Send someone you love flowers, just because.
  5.  Make a friend their favorite meal.
  6.  Write an appreciation note and send it.
  7.  Donate your used books, clothes, and household items you no longer use.
  8.  Call someone you know who is in a rough patch and let them know you appreciate them.
  9.  Open a door for someone.
  10.  Look people in the eyes and say hello.

Stay true and be you —

Annie Create a Life You Love
Participate in the Online Edition of Lines In

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By | June 2nd, 2018|Categories: Thoughts from the Barn|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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