I love it Revathi! The Universe provides when the time is ready (even though we don't feel like it sometimes!). I appreciate you being here and am very glad the list is helpful❤️
Thanks for this reminder Kevin. A short meditation session will work miracles. I don't currently have that as a solid habit in the middle of the day but it's something to work toward.
I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
In the middle of the day? I tried that, but I found it hard to make it a regular routine. My daily schedule isn't always the same. So I changed it to first thing in the morning. One exception: years ago, I worked at a large tech company that had a meditation room. I had a regular Wed call at 11 am w/ a nerve racking "crazy" client. I used to walk around the block after getting off the call. But I'd still be stressed. Later, I switched to going into the mediation room and meditating for 10 minutes. That made a world of difference.
I do my contemplation in the morning too, although have had to occasionally take that break in the day as well. I know it would be a good practice to adopt. I love the work meditation room idea!
Great advice, Donna - it reminds me of the old saying "The next right thing" - doesn't matter what it is - a nap, a walk, a scream ;) as long as it feels right. And then do it again, and again.
A wonderfully practical piece with an interesting beginning, Donna.
Also, I haven’t had an energy reading, but someone bought me a voucher to see a psychic once and one of the things she told me, in no uncertain terms, was:
“you need to write”.
This was before writing was really on my radar — so it’s probably not surprising that I think she was right.
How fascinating that's what the psychic told you! I haven't been to many psychic's but I remember decades ago when I was planning to become a primary school teacher and was told that I should go into a field that involved healing rather than teaching. Later, unrelated to that comment, I became a chiropractor. Sometimes it's only in looking back that we can see the interesting accuracy of these things.
(I did also become a teacher, but not of primary age students!)
When I don’t know what to do next, I just have fun…it allows me to let go and regain the clarity I need…basically, by being happy now you’ll find what will make you happy in the future…I know it sounds strange but it’s true 😊
Oh my gosh this is IT! Stopping everything to have fun is the best way for our next step to appear. I would say this is the thing the rest of us (me for sure!) are trying to figure out and it likely stems from our cultural conditioning of driving forward. It doesn't sound strange at all, what is strange is there are some folks who struggle to have fun (also me sometimes). I think it would come down to knowing what each of us thinks is fun.
Thank you so much for this awesome comment. I hope it gets TBL readers thinking because it's very important❤
I love this list. So helpful. Figuring out where you want to end up— I don’t always know so what I usually envision is myself feeling pure joy. Thank you for this timely piece. 🥰🙏
This is interesting Carissa because I'm not sure I could picture myself feeling pure joy so now I'm going to try it. Do you put your focus on how you want your brain and heart to feel or is it more of a generalization?
The pure joy usually pops into my heart and soul when I picture myself with hubby and kids... which is where I want to end up always-- close to family.
Thank you Holly, I'm glad you like this little list. It's wonderful to see you in the comments section, I appreciate you taking the time to read and drop in.🙂 Sometimes life's chaos makes it too easy to forget that we are gaining forward momentum toward things that are important to us, so paying attention to those small things is helpful.
a small step a day is a really simple yet powerful advise. I find it sooo hard to "visualize" my dream life. I feel i have really strong almost vague desires and they come to me in pictures, but if i ever try to visualise what i want and what it looks like, my mind goes sjdgifehdief??? so I focus on the next best thing I can do for the time!
Mohika it's interesting you find it difficult to visualize your dream life, I am the same! I find I can think of specifics like my health but when it comes to 'seeing my life five years from now', or something similar, I can't see it. I have spent a lot of effort trying and now accept that's how it is for me so I focus on individual goals and desires, I will occasionally (rarely) use visual pictures and I usually write down what's important to me.
Ultimately, all any of us can do is focus on the next best step as you said.
Maybe I should write an essay for those of us who can't visualize their dream life? Thanks for planting the seed. Also, thank you so much for taking the time to comment, it means a lot to me that you are here.
Knowing where to draw the finish line or having a direction towards it is extremely crucial. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race and if we don't know where to stop, we will keep desiring more until the day we die, which is a recipe for an unfulfilled life. I spend so much time thinking about the goals I want to achieve vs the goals I need to achieve in my life. Thank you for mentioning this point Donna!
The goals you want vs the goals you need...that's a great perspective Mansi. It would likely help bring our actions into a clearer focus. When you mentioned we can keep desiring more until the day we die it brought to my mind our 'to-do' list and that we also will always have stuff on our to-do list until the day we die so we don't need to be a slave to it!
As always, thank you so much for being part of The Bright Life community💕
The one of these I've heard before and always try to keep in mind (especially with my tanking mental health lately!!) is, "Do one thing every day toward your goal." Even if that is the tiniest thing, it all still counts and at the very least lets you check something off your mental to-do list.
I'm sorry to, hear you're not feeling great these days buddy, I'm sending you big love and hope it passes soon. If I can remember to look back on my day and think about that one thing it helps me feel better, as you said then I can check it off the list.
Thanks for reading, I know things are getting very busy for you (which is great!).
Energy work is fascinating imo. As part of my Reiki 1 & 2 certification training we practiced on each other. It always amazed me how almost every time someone would comment on the difference in energy between my left (injured in bike/car accident) side and right side. I practice self-reiki frequently and it definitely helps settle my nervous system. Additionally I love and recommend Zero Balancing if you can find a practitioner in your area.
I agree Susan. While I work more on the neuromusculoskeletal system from an evidence based approach I always keep the other aspects of healing in mind as well. I love it when my patients get Reiki or some other form of energy treatment as it helps me to do better work for them even though I'm providing a different kind of therapy.
Congratulations on your Reiki 1&2 certs, that's awesome!
Thanks for dropping into the comments section, I always enjoy hearing from you💕
This is wonderful, thank you so much Donna! 🤗♥️ For me, the empty tank is when I need to revisit my foundation of comfort. I love that you got energy readings at your party. How fun!
I love your solid foundation of comfort Jenna! Invoke comfort - your words have stuck with me. I would love to send you the picture of the cards from my reading to get your interpretation, but I know they apply only in that moment of time. Of course it's so accurate it's hilarious - as if I wrote it myself, which in a way I did!
So much later in life I get anxious trying to decide on what could be our last move, and coupling in possible error as we made some not so good choices, or maybe better choices might have better in the past. Think that's why it's harder to climb up facing what we really want to do. Sometimes I feel I only have one choice left and will I be able to cover the expenses. It just felt easier when younger. I do love this insight, gives me incentive to not fear as much, try harder. 💞
I hear you CJ, sometimes the burden of deciding can feel very heavy. You may find comfort in the work of Ellen J. Langer, PhD, her new book The Mindful Body. She is a Harvard prof with a the refreshing outlook that there is no such thing as the wrong decision, only what we are going to do about it after it's made. I'm part way through her book and there is a lot of great info there.
I wish you the very best as you lean into your intuition, I hope you can trust that your highest and best self will lead you on the right path. Thank you so much for taking the time to share a bit of your story here, it means a lot❤
Finding comfort in your reading suggestion, I'll certainly check into it. Certainly ever so grateful for my journey so far, learning to lean into releasing fear. Thank you for opening ways to put forth my energy! 🙌
Finding this right on time! 🪄Thanks for your list Donna❤️! it helps🍁
I love it Revathi! The Universe provides when the time is ready (even though we don't feel like it sometimes!). I appreciate you being here and am very glad the list is helpful❤️
Sometimes when I can't see what to do next, a 10 minute mediation session can clear the cobwebs.
Thanks for this reminder Kevin. A short meditation session will work miracles. I don't currently have that as a solid habit in the middle of the day but it's something to work toward.
I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
In the middle of the day? I tried that, but I found it hard to make it a regular routine. My daily schedule isn't always the same. So I changed it to first thing in the morning. One exception: years ago, I worked at a large tech company that had a meditation room. I had a regular Wed call at 11 am w/ a nerve racking "crazy" client. I used to walk around the block after getting off the call. But I'd still be stressed. Later, I switched to going into the mediation room and meditating for 10 minutes. That made a world of difference.
I do my contemplation in the morning too, although have had to occasionally take that break in the day as well. I know it would be a good practice to adopt. I love the work meditation room idea!
Great advice, Donna - it reminds me of the old saying "The next right thing" - doesn't matter what it is - a nap, a walk, a scream ;) as long as it feels right. And then do it again, and again.
Ah yes, sometimes a scream is definitely the next, right thing!
A wonderfully practical piece with an interesting beginning, Donna.
Also, I haven’t had an energy reading, but someone bought me a voucher to see a psychic once and one of the things she told me, in no uncertain terms, was:
“you need to write”.
This was before writing was really on my radar — so it’s probably not surprising that I think she was right.
Thanks Donna :)
How fascinating that's what the psychic told you! I haven't been to many psychic's but I remember decades ago when I was planning to become a primary school teacher and was told that I should go into a field that involved healing rather than teaching. Later, unrelated to that comment, I became a chiropractor. Sometimes it's only in looking back that we can see the interesting accuracy of these things.
(I did also become a teacher, but not of primary age students!)
Yes, that’s a good point — it’s often hard to know if these things are accurate until years later.
Thanks Donna :)
When I don’t know what to do next, I just have fun…it allows me to let go and regain the clarity I need…basically, by being happy now you’ll find what will make you happy in the future…I know it sounds strange but it’s true 😊
Yes, have fun! As a creative, that's often what helps remove the roadblock, or re-inspires another creative burst.
Absolutely! It's a great thing when one thing leads to another and a reminder that creativity, just like fun, can't be forced.
Oh my gosh this is IT! Stopping everything to have fun is the best way for our next step to appear. I would say this is the thing the rest of us (me for sure!) are trying to figure out and it likely stems from our cultural conditioning of driving forward. It doesn't sound strange at all, what is strange is there are some folks who struggle to have fun (also me sometimes). I think it would come down to knowing what each of us thinks is fun.
Thank you so much for this awesome comment. I hope it gets TBL readers thinking because it's very important❤
Thanks Donna! 😉
Gentle, steady, encouraging: these are the words that come to me in reading this letter, Donna. And . . . baby steps to the North Star.
Phenomenal image of your son!
Thanks Sweetie❤
Thank you for this sage advice
You are so welcome. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!
A lovely gentle reminder to be kind to ourselves and to remember to take time for US. Thank you. 🙏
Thank you Sam❤
I love this list. So helpful. Figuring out where you want to end up— I don’t always know so what I usually envision is myself feeling pure joy. Thank you for this timely piece. 🥰🙏
This is interesting Carissa because I'm not sure I could picture myself feeling pure joy so now I'm going to try it. Do you put your focus on how you want your brain and heart to feel or is it more of a generalization?
The pure joy usually pops into my heart and soul when I picture myself with hubby and kids... which is where I want to end up always-- close to family.
They are a lucky family😘
Awww.
Love this list, Donna! thank you. I especially resonate these days with the one step a day toward what you want wisdom. 👣💕
Thank you Holly, I'm glad you like this little list. It's wonderful to see you in the comments section, I appreciate you taking the time to read and drop in.🙂 Sometimes life's chaos makes it too easy to forget that we are gaining forward momentum toward things that are important to us, so paying attention to those small things is helpful.
a small step a day is a really simple yet powerful advise. I find it sooo hard to "visualize" my dream life. I feel i have really strong almost vague desires and they come to me in pictures, but if i ever try to visualise what i want and what it looks like, my mind goes sjdgifehdief??? so I focus on the next best thing I can do for the time!
Mohika it's interesting you find it difficult to visualize your dream life, I am the same! I find I can think of specifics like my health but when it comes to 'seeing my life five years from now', or something similar, I can't see it. I have spent a lot of effort trying and now accept that's how it is for me so I focus on individual goals and desires, I will occasionally (rarely) use visual pictures and I usually write down what's important to me.
Ultimately, all any of us can do is focus on the next best step as you said.
Maybe I should write an essay for those of us who can't visualize their dream life? Thanks for planting the seed. Also, thank you so much for taking the time to comment, it means a lot to me that you are here.
Knowing where to draw the finish line or having a direction towards it is extremely crucial. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race and if we don't know where to stop, we will keep desiring more until the day we die, which is a recipe for an unfulfilled life. I spend so much time thinking about the goals I want to achieve vs the goals I need to achieve in my life. Thank you for mentioning this point Donna!
Love your words✨
The goals you want vs the goals you need...that's a great perspective Mansi. It would likely help bring our actions into a clearer focus. When you mentioned we can keep desiring more until the day we die it brought to my mind our 'to-do' list and that we also will always have stuff on our to-do list until the day we die so we don't need to be a slave to it!
As always, thank you so much for being part of The Bright Life community💕
Though I have many to do lists, I also like and pay attention to my to be list, and let the do's happen with out so much focus...
I love this Heather, your to-be list! I have the same thing but have never labelled it as such.
The one of these I've heard before and always try to keep in mind (especially with my tanking mental health lately!!) is, "Do one thing every day toward your goal." Even if that is the tiniest thing, it all still counts and at the very least lets you check something off your mental to-do list.
Thanks for sharing this list Donna.
I'm sorry to, hear you're not feeling great these days buddy, I'm sending you big love and hope it passes soon. If I can remember to look back on my day and think about that one thing it helps me feel better, as you said then I can check it off the list.
Thanks for reading, I know things are getting very busy for you (which is great!).
I will always make time to read you though. 😊
Thank you Hon❤
Energy work is fascinating imo. As part of my Reiki 1 & 2 certification training we practiced on each other. It always amazed me how almost every time someone would comment on the difference in energy between my left (injured in bike/car accident) side and right side. I practice self-reiki frequently and it definitely helps settle my nervous system. Additionally I love and recommend Zero Balancing if you can find a practitioner in your area.
I agree Susan. While I work more on the neuromusculoskeletal system from an evidence based approach I always keep the other aspects of healing in mind as well. I love it when my patients get Reiki or some other form of energy treatment as it helps me to do better work for them even though I'm providing a different kind of therapy.
Congratulations on your Reiki 1&2 certs, that's awesome!
Thanks for dropping into the comments section, I always enjoy hearing from you💕
This is wonderful, thank you so much Donna! 🤗♥️ For me, the empty tank is when I need to revisit my foundation of comfort. I love that you got energy readings at your party. How fun!
I love your solid foundation of comfort Jenna! Invoke comfort - your words have stuck with me. I would love to send you the picture of the cards from my reading to get your interpretation, but I know they apply only in that moment of time. Of course it's so accurate it's hilarious - as if I wrote it myself, which in a way I did!
So much later in life I get anxious trying to decide on what could be our last move, and coupling in possible error as we made some not so good choices, or maybe better choices might have better in the past. Think that's why it's harder to climb up facing what we really want to do. Sometimes I feel I only have one choice left and will I be able to cover the expenses. It just felt easier when younger. I do love this insight, gives me incentive to not fear as much, try harder. 💞
I hear you CJ, sometimes the burden of deciding can feel very heavy. You may find comfort in the work of Ellen J. Langer, PhD, her new book The Mindful Body. She is a Harvard prof with a the refreshing outlook that there is no such thing as the wrong decision, only what we are going to do about it after it's made. I'm part way through her book and there is a lot of great info there.
I wish you the very best as you lean into your intuition, I hope you can trust that your highest and best self will lead you on the right path. Thank you so much for taking the time to share a bit of your story here, it means a lot❤
Finding comfort in your reading suggestion, I'll certainly check into it. Certainly ever so grateful for my journey so far, learning to lean into releasing fear. Thank you for opening ways to put forth my energy! 🙌