ReclaimU Tidbits

A Hammer or a Shoe?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I was putting away towels in our bathroom the other day and noticed the bottom of one of the trim boards was sticking out a bit. On closer inspection the issue was a nail that was about halfway out.

I was in a hurry and the thought of going downstairs to get a hammer then being careful and making sure I didn't hit the nail hard enough to mark the wood just sounded like too much trouble. So I whipped off my shoe and gave the nail a couple quick whacks and it was done; simple, quick and easy.

There are many things in our life like that nail. They are there and need to be handled. We can over-plan and over-think these things or we can just do them. Yes, I know there are things that require a little planning or the right tool; but not everything and not every time.

Action: Review your to-do list and see if you can knock off a few items simply by allowing yourself to do thinks more simply.

Do you long for peace?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:51:00 +0000

When I got up this morning the house was still; everyone was asleep and peace blanketed everything. I made a cup of tea then sat down and reveled in the stillness. I enjoyed the quiet, not having anyone asking anything of me, and not having to be anywhere or do anything. It was just lovely.

Then I thought about what it would really be like if this is the way I lived my life. I imagined how it would feel if this was my constant state, if I truly lived alone and had no responsibilities, no activities, no place to be and no one expected anything of me. The truth is that it would get old very quickly. I dream of time on my own because it's a break from the everyday, an oasis in the midst of the craziness of life. But it's not how I want to spend my entire life.

As you redesign your life be careful to focus on what you truly want and love and not just escaping the things that have been tiring or frustrating. You want to focus on your passions and your priorities.

Action: Make a list of your highest priorities, the things that mean the most to you. Then be sure that the activities on your calendar support those priorities.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.

Moving from 'I Hate My Life to I Love My Life'

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2011: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (See all Business Skills Books)

Choose Your Life

The Brilliance of a Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0000

As the summer rolls along it seems like things get busier and busier. The time left to spend with my girls before they start school is drawing to a close. The time to plan and host fall events for my business is getting short. Things are exciting and fun but moving at break-neck speed and there is so much I want and need to do.

It's easy to just work harder and faster, give up sleep and try to get more done. But the real solution may be to do something counter intuitive and take a vacation.

Today's local paper, The Herald Palladium, has an article on vacations and the benefits to our health. It turns out that people who take vacations have less health problems and live longer than people who don't. My experience has been that taking a vacation also clears our heads and helps us be more focused and more productive in our work.

Action: Take a look at your calendar and find time to relax, whether it's a vacation, a stay-cation or a micro-vacation, carve out time to relax, de-stress, and have some fun!

Recommended Resources!

9 Things to do on a Family Stay-cation

Vacationing with Another Family

3 Ways to Make Your Stay-cation Feel Like a Vacation

Do you know?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Today's Tidbit is provided by Lori Saitz of Zen Rabbit Bakery

How many times have you answered a serious or probing question with the phrase "I don't know?" Often people respond with "I don't know" because they haven't really given consideration to the question or they don't want to "go there" and examine what their true answer would be.

Any time I've been in this kind of conversation with my friend Janine, she always follows up with, "well, what if you DID know?" Grrrr! Now I have to dig deeper. The truth of the matter is, at some level, conscious or not, you DO always know. And when you have someone like Janine who pushes you to pay closer attention (most people won't do this on their own), the real answer comes out.

Who is the Janine in your life? And when was the last time you talked to her? Or who needs you to reflect that question back to them?

A breath of fresh air

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Today's Tidbit is provided by Judy Davis and is straight from her Daily Direction Moments blog.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Wow it seems like forever since my last blog post…but with moving to a new Military post and all that that entails, inspiration has been taken over by my need for sleep!

But slowly we are adjusting to the altitude of Colorado and making it home. While I’m not totally “with it” or “settled in” yet, this afternoon we had the first true storm I’ve seen in years (El Paso dust storms DO NOT count…LOL) and a funny thing happened….much to my surprise I was excited and enjoyed every moment of it!

Now for some of you that may seem like not a big deal, but for me storms used to bring with them extreme stress and anxiety. Storms were not my friend…but this time was different…I saw the clouds building and marveled at the beauty and different shades of gray. I heard the thunder and smiled remembering what the air smelled like after a good rain. I caught pieces of hail in my hand and giggled as I dashed back in as lightning struck. And I watched as the clouds parted and the sun peaked through revealing a beautiful skyline.

The fact that not having storms these last few years stopped my fear of thunderstorms seems fascinating and got me thinking about how our fears pop up and we either feed them or they go away. The fact that there weren’t true thunderstorms (or at least not the kind we get in the Midwest) meant that I unconsciously didn’t feed into that fear, and therefore it actually disappeared. Wouldn’t it seem to be true that any fear that we have if we stop feeding it that it will go away?

Change our thoughts, change our lives; right?……we hear that statement over and over and sometimes we just need proof that it’s true, and funny thing is that proof often comes to us in the strangest ways…and sometimes it’s as simple as a breath of fresh air after a summer storm!

Recommended Resources!

Waiting for the Fear to Subside

How to Deal with Bouts of Doubt

Breakthrough Your Fear of Success with Lisa Jamenez

Get Off Your "But": How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself (See all Success Books)

Is your grass green?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:07:00 +0000

Consider this comment posted by a FB friend of mine:

"The grass is always greener where you fertilize and water it."

It's easy to get into a comparison or complaining binge. When things are tough or just not happening the way you would like it's tempting to look around and think about how it might be better if you did what the guy with the green grass is doing.

The truth is this: his grass is green is he is caring for it. Whatever type of grass, whatever plot of land he chose to grow it on, he's caring for the grass. It's not about the brand of sprinkler head or the style of fertilizer spreader; it's gaining a little understanding about quantity and frequency then going out and doing it. Then doing it again, and again.

And if the grass is having a problem he may tweak his approach and see what happens. He may do a little research or call in an expert to give him some advice. Then it's back to following through with the action.

Action: Fertilize and water your grass. Whatever it is you want to do or change, put in a little time, effort, energy. Learn about it then do it, and do it regularly.

Recommended Resources!

Sometimes you need a little outside perspective to get you over the hump, back on track or moving forward. A coach or personal consultant may be just the ticket so here are a few I know:

Sandy Fowler - Helping moms find the time to "have it all" and love their life while doing it!

Judy Davis a.k.a. The Direction Diva - Teaching network marketers how to have a strong, stable business that fits them and their life

Beth Buelow 'The Introvert Entrepreneur' - Life and leadership coaching for introverts

Therese Skelly - Mindset secrets, marketing ideas and inspiration for the conscious business owner

Sheila Hawkins - Time, space and life management

Beth Bracaglia - Organizing for the home, the office and the business owner

But where's the river?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

We all face challenges as well as times that we just want to do something really different. At these times creativity is the perfect tool to help us out. But then that little voice kicks in and starts telling you that you aren't creative enough or that you're blocked. That's when you start to believe you aren't creative enough to do whatever you want.

And it's just not true.

We all have the ability to tap into creativity to create change, have fun, make something, solve a problem or design just the right thing. It's simply a matter of moving the roadblocks out of the way and relaxing our way into it.

As Drew Emborsky told me in yesterday's Heart Filled Holidays interview - creativity is like a river constantly flowing. All we have to do is take our bucket down and dip it in.

So don't worry about coming up with something on your own. Just follow your intuition and your happy feelings right down to the river and dip your bucket in.

Action: Believe you are fully connected and have total access to the river of creativity. Then, relax, let it go, and allow that creativity to bring you ideas (and write them down as soon as they come because they can be a bit elusive).

Recommended Resources!
Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.)

The Art of Creativity

Heart Filled Holidays 6-6-11 show: interview with Drew Emborsky (starts 15 min into the show)

ReclaimU interview Drew Emborsky

A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative (See all Health, Mind & Body Books)

It's all in your head

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I was talking to a woman recently who was having some health issues. She had made some lifestyle changes several months ago and, since making these simple shifts, her health has been improving and she consistently lost weight over several months. She felt great and yet, as we were talking one day, she said if she wanted to be healthy she had to start running. Huh? Your health is improving, your weight is down and the doctor is thrilled with you. Why on earth do you have to start running to get what you already have?

It was simply a story in her head. Over her lifetime she had come to believe that in order to be healthy she had to be doing a standard gym work-out. This isn't true, and she knows it because she'd already proven it. She was living proof that what she was doing, the lifestyle she was living, was healthy for her.

So as you are going about following your dreams or creating a change in your life consider this: If you are pushing to do something it may not really be necessary. There really might be a better way that fits you perfectly. The belief it has do be done a certain way might only be in your head.

Action: Listen to yourself when you are talking and double check to see if the things you say are true or if it's really just a story in your head. Be open to possibilities.

Is it true?

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (See all Personal Transformation Books)

Are you ready to find your purpose?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 25 May 2011 05:00:00 +0000

At some point we all begin to wonder what our life purpose is. This becomes increasingly important to us as we change the course of our life and our career. But determining it can feel far beyond our reach.

The good news is that you don’t have to be able to point a finger at a statement and say that without a doubt this is why you are here. You don’t have to be doing something that is big and splashy and will make the morning news. If you live in a way that is meaningful to you and is in service to others then you will be living in a purposeful way.

If you are searching for your life purpose then remember the most important thing: Trying new things and exploring possibilities can only help you clarify it.

Recommended Resources!

What's My Purpose

Find Your Passion (automatic audio - ReclaimU interview)

Purpose Your Life

The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

The Success Principles(TM) (kindle)

Are you missing the most beautiful music in the world?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 18 May 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Today's Tidbit is reprinted with permission from Sandy Fowler's blog.

This is a story sent to me in one of the myriad emails I receive. I delete most of them unread. However, I felt compelled to open this one and I'm so glad I did! I don't know who wrote the original email but I looked on Snopes and the story is true. Take a minute and read it, then see if it changes your priorities, your perception or how you go through your days.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time.. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made..... How many other things are we missing?

Action: Pause. Each and every day take time to pause and appreciate the beauty around you; join the laughter, smell the flowers, savor the story, appreciate the generosity, welcome the smiles. There is beauty in every life, notice it, enjoy it.

Feeling like someone took your batteries out?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:00:00 +0000

We all get tired, discouraged, or wonder where we'll find the energy to go on. We all run in to bumps in the road, and that's okay. However, even though we know life isn't always sunshine and roses, sometimes we still need something to get us out of bed in the morning or something to encourage us as we move forward.

That something can simply be reading an inspirational quote or listening to a recording that fires us up. It can be a photo, a journal, a dream board or a group of people; anything that shores us up, recharges our batteries and moves us forward is good.

Action: Grab one (or two or three) of the inspirational items below and enjoy it. Let its energy seep into you and carry on to the next step.

Believe in Yourself

Don't Quit

Motivate Us

Living the Life of My Dreams

The Fastest Way to Change Your Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Today's Tidbit is a guest post from Lori Saitz founder of Zen Rabbit Bakery.

Want to know how to quickly change your outlook on life? Make yourself valuable to someone else. Get out of that egotistical place of focusing on self and find a way to make good things happen for other people.

Everything else in your life will fall into place when you do that.

Lose the mediocrity and indifference and challenge yourself to find ways of happily surprising customers, clients, colleagues and friends. Encourage the people around you.

"Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Here are a few simple, super easy ideas on how to deliver value:

Smile
Take action (instead of just thinking/talking about what you're going to do for someone else)
Listen
Complain less (or not at all)
Make eye contact
Hold the door or elevator
Give a sincere compliment
Be enthusiastic
Be patient

All these are free and the opportunities to implement are all around you. Go forth and create happiness!

Action: Do something for someone else today. Rinse and repeat each day this week. Enjoy the rewards.

A Simple Path - Serving Others

Gratitude Cookies

The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary (See all Success Books)

The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary kindle version

Are you ready to chase a squirrel?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I was watching my dog when we were out running the other day. He appeared to be tired and was lagging behind a wee bit instead of running 6 inches in front of me. Then, suddenly, he's racing past me into the woods at top speed. Why? A squirrel crossed the trail and all his instincts kicked in.

It reminded me of the story told in 'One Minute Millionaire' and what this woman was willing to do to get her children back when her father-in-law took them from her. Would she be willing to step out of her comfort zone? Would she be willing to change? Maybe her instincts as a mom will kick in and give her the push she needs.

And what about you? Are you willing to change? Will you step out of your comfort zone? Will you do something new? Will you wait until you are pushed to the point where your survival instincts have to kick in or will you do it now?

Action: Take that next scary step. Move out of your comfort zone and just do it!

Motivation to Ignite Your Life

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life - Kindle

The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth

The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth - Kindle

ReclaimU Change Summit

Just "muscle" your way through to happiness and success

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0000

We spend so much time focusing on what we perceive to be our shortcomings that we forget to use our strengths. This is especially true when we begin the process of "self-growth". Somehow we get the idea that the key to getting what we want is fixing everything that's wrong with us.

But what if success and happiness lie not in fixing our problems but in using the best part of us? What if it's about doing what you're good at?

Action: Take inventory of your personal assets (not your money - you!) then do 3 things that capitalize on your greatest strengths. Focus on using your strengths as much as possible.

Recommended Resources!

Are you happy to be you?

What are your strengths?

The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others In Your Life

Are sticks and stones stopping you?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:05:00 +0000

We've all heard the old adage "sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me". Well, I say it's not true. Words can hurt more than sticks and stones precisely because we think they don't matter. Since we believe they are harmless we go on our merry way, not paying any attention to the words we choose to use or the messages coming at us all day long.

Well, if you aren't paying attention, then it's an ambush and you don't have any defenses set up. It's important to pay attention to the words we use when we talk to ourselves as well as when we're speaking to others because, whether we realizer it or not the message gets through.

Action: Notice! For the next week, simply pay attention to the words you use when you speak to yourself. Listen carefully to the messages inside the books you read and tv shows you watch. Notice what the words are saying and filter them. Turn off the messages that you don't like, the ones that will try to keep you down or disempower you. Turn up the volume on the good things and start saying positive things to yourself every day.

Heart Filled Holidays radio show - May 23, 2011

Understanding Words, an End to Conflict

Prosperity Mind

Prosperity Mind!

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Living the Life of My Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Living the life of our dreams must include being happy. We can live in the house of our dreams, have the relationship of our dreams, or work the job of our dreams, but if we aren't happy in our life as a whole it isn't really the life of our dreams.

Happiness lies in know what you really want and going for it . . . and enjoying every step along the way.

The thing that trips people up is they think they have to arrive at some destination in order to be happy; they have to be thinner, be richer, land that job, be successful in that business, marry the perfect person, make a certain amount of money. They believe happiness lies in an outcome or in a certain set of circumstances.

But really, happiness is in your mind; it's a result of the way you see things and subsequently how you feel about them. The beautiful thing about that is you can affect your happiness anytime, anywhere. You can be happy right now. You can be happy on your journey. And you can be happy when you arrive at a longed for destination.

Action: Write down 3 things you are happy about right now. They can be absolutely anything from "the sun is shining" to "my husband emptied the dishwasher" to "she loves me". Anything at all that can bring a smile to your face when you think about it is fair game. Read the list a couple times a day, letting yourself enjoy the good feelings these things bring. Feel free to add to your list over time.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Typically we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.)

Creating Happiness

Three Easy Steps to Creating Happiness in Your Life

Living the Life of My Dreams

Choose To Be Happy: A Guide to Total Happiness

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Designing for Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I was looking out the window today and it looked wonderful out there! The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and there wasn't any sign of wind - a wonderful March day.

Then I went outside. It was only about 30 degrees out there! Definitely not what I was expecting.

Have you ever done this? Have you ever thought something was different than what it really is based on a quick peek from the other side of the glass? I know I've done it and I've seen many other people do it. They watch someone else's life and they think it looks perfect. They see things happening that they are longing for in their own life, and they assume a lot; just like I assumed that sunshine and blue skies meant nice weather all around.

So as you are designing your life, be sure to design what YOU want, not what you see other people living. As you design your life, don't compare yourself to others. They might be living a life that is full of sunshine and 30 degrees and you want sunshine and 90 degrees. Decide what you want then aim for that. (And don't forget to be flexible along the way. 90 degrees may have sounded great when you were surrounded by snow, but once you warm up a bit you might decide that you like 75 degrees better, or even 55 degrees.)

Action: Make a list today of things you KNOW make you happy, not a list of things you feel you lack, but things that actually make you happy. Then check off the items that you already have in your life. Choose one without a checkmark and take some action toward adding that to your life.

Definitions of Happiness and a Happy Life

The Station

Don't Compare Yourself with Others (video)

7 Tips for Getting Happy in 5 Minutes (video)

Keys to Happiness (a ReclaimU interview with Jacqueline Johns)

Why? Are you stressed out, flailing or failing?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000

When we are changing anything in our lives it's easy to get caught up in the possibilities. We start trying everything we think of and, before you know it, we're tired, frustrated and not enjoying any of it.

At that point it's easy to say that we made the wrong choice and to throw in the towel.

But, before you do that, let me ask you a simple, one word question, "Why?". Why did you do this in the first place? What were you expecting to get out of it? Why do you wan to take that particular action?

When we chase all the possibilities we can get lost in an ocean of them. There are just so many different things we can do, say or try that, if we try them all, we end up overwhelmed and unable to enjoy any of them.

But when we focus, when we know what to say yes to and what to say no to, when we only stick with the options that support our main objective, we can be successful.

So the key is to know what your main objective is, what your why is. Once you know that, make choices that support it.

Action: Choose an area where you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed, or not getting results you want. Write down your why; why you are doing that particular thing. Only choose to do things that support your why.

Last 15 min. of the 3-21-2011 Heart Filled Holidays Radio Show

(Although I recommend listening to the entire show, the last 15 min is an excellent explanation on your 'Why'.)

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

'Spring' into Success

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000

As I was looking out my front window the other day I started to see the earliest signs of spring; the snow melting in the yard and birds pecking the lawn to look for dinner.

As I stood there I started to think about this process of spring coming. First the snow begins to melt, but not all of it right away. We will have snow in the shady areas for weeks after the rest has melted. While the snow is still on the ground we may see some early flowers, like Crocus, poking their heads up to look around. After that the trees and shrubs will begin to bud, the flowers will sprout and the birds will return.

Even while all of these things are happening there is so much going on that we can't see; the sap runs in the trees, the ground thaws and the bugs and worms come up in the dirt.

It will be 2 months before we see the full beauty of spring and get to experience the warm breezes and blooming trees and shrubs. It's a process, something that takes time and patience.

And so it is with us. Whether we are changing ourselves, our outlooks and attitudes, our relationships with others, our ideas about money, the way we spend our free time or whether we are starting or changing our business, it all takes time. When we know what we want it is easy to become impatient or to expect instant results. But, like the coming of spring, many things must happen before we can experience the fullness and true beauty of the season.

Action: Stop, breathe, be patient. Be kind to yourself and stop beating yourself up for "a lack of results". Continue moving forward and simultaneously wait for the beauty of spring to burst forth in your life.

Practice Patience with Hermit D. Frog

Patience

The Power of Patience

Patience Pays Off

Is your life 'humid' or 'damp'?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:00:00 +0000

When I ask you if it's humid today, what type of weather do you think of? Hot or cold? Sunny or cloudy? Winter or summer? And if I ask you if it's damp, what type of weather do you think of?

Technically those 2 things are the same; a high concentration of water vapor in the air. In fact, they are listed as synonyms for each other in the thesaurus and humid is used in the definition of damp. So what makes them different? Us! The way we think about them, our mindset, is the only real difference.

When you thought about 'humid' most likely you thought about hot weather, even a sunny day. When you thought about 'damp' most likely you thought about cooler weather, even a cloudy or rainy day.

That's the power of our mindset. We have the ability to change the way we see, think and feel about any situation. And it's a wonderful power! Just think, you make any situation easier to handle and maybe even turn a negative around to a positive, just by changing your mindset.

Action: Identify a situation in your life that is not as you would like it to be. Write down the situation. Now identify the good aspects or the positive steps you can take, or are taking, to make it better. Focus on those positives as you continue taking action to make things better.

You Have a Choice

Attitude of Gratitude

Will Smith on Success Mindset & Personal Development

The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Everyday of Your Life

Have you tried this odd solution to being overwhelmed?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:00:00 +0000

What is one of the toughest choices you can make? To stop "doing" when you feel buried. There are those times when I feel like I have tons of work to do, and that if I just get these few things done then everything else will turn around; all the "problems" I am experiencing will go away.

While it is tempting to think that way, and to work harder and longer, there is another truth here - we need to balance our life with our work ethic. Sometimes what we need is a break from the work. I'm not talking about just goofing off but rather taking a constructive break.

Often when we feel buried and ineffective there is something else at play and it is wise to step back and deal with the root of the issue.

You may need to create a master to do list and make some tough choices about what is going to get done and what's not going to get done.

You may need to check the tasks you're doing against your priorities.

You may need to do something that truly recharges your batteries and fills your soul.

Whatever the issue is, working harder and longer will only make it worse until you choose to deal with the root of the issue.

Action: If you feel buried, take a step back and find the root cause. Take an action step that will solve the real issue before you go back to work. And consider taking a little time to recharge your batteries along the way.

Recommended Resources!

Clutter - The Body Mind Connection

Yoga

Time Management - Priorities

Letting Go of Stress

But what about me?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:00:00 +0000

When our life changes our schedules can get thrown for a loop. Suddenly we find ourselves with more responsibilities, more choices, more wonderful and exciting things to do, but with no more time in which to do them. Our calendar fills up and we get overly busy.

Of course, something has to go. Unfortunately the first thing to go is usually us; the time we spend on our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is way to easy to just skip our meditation this one time, which turns into two then three. It's convenient to skip the run today and gain the extra time in our busy life; and tomorrow it's even easier. Then we skip our prayer time 'just this once' because we just don't have time today, or the next day, or the next. Soon we aren't doing anything to take care of ourselves.

The dichotomy of this is that, at first, we have more time to finish all the things on our to-do list, but within a very short time we actually end up getting less done. We skipped these activities and ran ourselves dry so now we just don't have as much creativity or energy to complete the things on our to-do lists. More important is the fact that we won't be enjoying ourselves anymore either.

Instead of an exciting adventure, our journey becomes something to 'get through' so we can have time to breathe, relax and enjoy ourselves. We lose sight of why we are doing this and get totally caught up in the how and when. But if we can just continue to take care of ourselves we can stay balanced and enjoy the journey along the way. We will do better and get more done in less time, having more energy and a zest for life.

Action: Do something today that nourishes you physically, emotionally or spiritually. Repeat every day this week. You can do the same thing every day or something different, just be kind to the person who is responsible for your happiness.

It Will Catch Up with You

Yoga Class

21 Ways to Reduce Stress Now and 3 Ways to Eradicate it from Your Holidays Forever

Chill! Create Your Own Spa

Walking Meditation

Five Good Minutes in the Evening: 100 Mindful Practices to Help You Unwind from the Day & Make the Most of Your Night

Self Care Cards (Large Card Decks)

Veggies vs. Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:00:00 +0000

We’ve all heard it and we’ve experienced it. When we eat an ice cream sundae for dinner we just don’t feel as good as if we’d eaten a well rounded meal with a big serving of veggies. Oh, it was fun, and we certainly enjoyed ourselves. But our bodies know the difference.

While we can do something like this once in a while and it won’t have a great impact on our health, imagine doing it every day; a candy bar for breakfast, some donuts and a soda for lunch, followed up by that big banana split for dinner. How do you think you’d feel by the end of the day? The end of the week? And what about your energy levels? Your ability to think creatively and clearly? They would all go down the drain.

I realize you know that and, generally speaking, you probably eat fairly well. But what do you read? What did you watch on television last week? What are you listening to on the radio? The same way that food affects our bodies, other things affect our thinking. The things we watch and listen to affect the way we think. The little messages seep inside our minds and shift our focus toward them.

So when you read a romance novel and the hero is a perfect man you begin to expect that in your spouse. When you watch a show where the wealthy people are all selfish and mean you begin to believe it yourself. And when you watch people living in unfortunate circumstances and never rising above it, you begin to believe that’s the way things are.

But, when you read a story of triumph, when you watch someone succeed, and when you listen to an inspirational speaker, you begin to believe that as well.

The choice is yours, ice cream or veggies?

Action: Choose one book, one audio and one video that you can read, watch and listen to for the next couple of weeks. Then spend your free time nourishing your mind and your spirit.

Recommended Resources!

Randy Pausch talk on Oprah - video

The Last Lecture - book

The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth- book

10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace - gift book

The Secrets of an Inspirational (In-Spirit) Life - audio

The Ultimate Gift - movie

Have you perfected your whine yet?

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:00:00 +0000

When you regularly attend events that focus on a particular topic you start to run into the same people over and over. After just a couple meetings (and sometimes one is all it takes) you can already start to tell who will never achieve their goals. It's those people who have perfected their whine.

They have a long sad story about why their life is the way it is. They have a list of things they tried (usually just once) that didn't work. And they have an endless to-do list that doesn't allow them the time to use the techniques they've learned.

But...they can give you all the sports scores from the last week. They can tell you everyone who was on Dancing with the Stars and they can give you the play-by-play from the latest reality show. They've read the latest beach book and they can sing this week's number one hit.

So why aren't they successful? It's about how they view themselves and what they do with their time. When you want your life to be different you must become the person who would live that life. You will most likely have to change the way you think and the way you act. You will take responsibility for your life and the choices you make.

The good news is that you're already on your way! If you're reading this then you are certainly filling your time and your mind with positive thoughts and ideas that will lead you forward. You are taking the reins and making over your world, turning into one you will truly enjoy.

Action: Monitor what you watch, read and listen to. Screen carefully and only allow in those things that move you closer to being the person you want to be, the person who can live the life you want to live.

Recommended Resources!

Where are you going? Moving from I hate my life to I love my life

Carpe diem! from the Rich Dad blog

Eliminate procrastination

How your thoughts create your life

The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

The best way to prepare for a new task

noreply@blogger.com (ReclaimU) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:00:00 +0000

It happens all the time. We decide we want something different in our life or we are faced with a new challenge which requires us to tackle a new task. Suddenly we have to do things we've never done before.

Naturally the first reaction for most of us is, "Where can I learn how to do this?" We search for instructions or a mentor so we can gain some stable footing and move forward in confidence.

But what if there isn't any information to be had? What if you just don't have those resources available? Some people will throw up their hands in despair and wail, "I can't do this! I don't know how." But those who really thirst for change, those who are determined to live a new and different life, those who are ready for something else, those people will refuse to take no for an answer. They will step forward and do it anyway. And they will learn by doing.

Yes, there's a good chance they will fall on their face. Yes, they may fail, they may even fail multiple times. But, if they keep going, they will reach a new place and they will bring a pack full of knowledge with them. They will bring ideas, thoughts and know-how that they never would have gained by following in someone else's footsteps. They will gain confidence and a new bearing that will gain the respect of others. They will succeed.

"the preparation comes afterwards when we actually do the task!" Fr. Richard Rohr

Action: Take the next step with confidence. Then, whether you succeed or fail, take another step. (If you need a little accountability or a little nudge just comment below or email info [at] reclaimu.com and tell us what you're up to. We'll pop back some support to help bolster your confidence and a little reminder that will hold your feet to the fire. Write "blog post 1-26-11 in the subject line if you email us.)

Recommended Resources!

One Major Ingredient for Success

Is It Time to Turn Down the Volume?

'Can we fix it?' is the right question to ask