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What’s nudging you - - and what’s triggering you?

5/20/2020

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Are things as wacky for you as they are for the rest of us??  You are not alone.

What I've realized is that as shifts are happening, and we're adapting to the new transition, the new age, we have to grow into it.  Well, I knew this intellectually, but as I see it happening to me, and my clients and my circle of friends, it's starting to make sense.  

As we know, once things get back to normal, it most likely won't be the 'normal' that we knew before.  Another thing is that we may not want to go back to that old form of normal anyway. 

How we're slowing down, getting more time to think, reorganizing our daily lives to fit what's happening in our worlds, we start thinking.  We rearrange our furniture, clear out old junk, touch up things, spend more time reading, interacting with our spouses or children more….   

We notice things.  We notice what we want to do differently; what we want to stop doing; what we want to start doing; and what we'd rather have for dinner on Tuesday.  Suddenly, out of the blue, you may have had a craving for something, and urge to dust off a book and start reading.   
Shifts…

Maybe we're really ambitious and want to rush ourselves into major household projects or to write that book we always wanted to.  Great.  But only if it feels right.  Don't try to jump into it just because you think you should.

So, you're asking me, "Terri, what's this about nudges and triggers?"

Well, as our lives change drastically – and most of ours have – things start getting icky, or prickly, or out of adjustment.  Suddenly, the chair in the den is in the wrong place; the way your neighbor walks out his front door irks you, a conversation rubs you the wrong way, or the dude at the grocery store on Aisle 4 suddenly pisses you off.  In most cases, these things roll off your back, but if it irks you, then it might be a chance to take note of what is getting to you.

These triggers are calling to your attention something that might be out of alignment and need adjusting in your life.  My client had a situation with one of the PTA moms and she couldn't figure out why it bent her the wrong way.  She had to examine where it showed in a pattern with something she dealt with before.  It connected to some old beliefs about her integrity that challenged her.
A tweak here or there…

We're all evolving, advancing and learning, and when this happens, come opportunities for growth – and in order to grow, we sometimes have to remove things in our lives that no longer serve us.  When we clear out old dishes in the cabinet, maybe they are a metaphor for something bigger.  Or maybe, we just need space.

On the other hand, when we see that we're starting to become enlightened, or clearing out old thoughts and beliefs, and we revert or have a relapse, it's highly disappointing. In a previous conversation, it occurred to me that yes, we might be evolving, but even the Dalai Lama gets angry. We only see Deepak Chopra on a good day, and he probably gets in a funk now and then, too.  

Back to the slowing down theme.  As you might recall, I had surgery several weeks ago.  It was perfect timing in that we were supposed to be home anyway, and I had an excuse to rest.  During the first 2 weeks, I lavished in 3 hours' worth of naps a day. I set time for a ½ hour nap daily after that.  I enjoyed watching the clouds from my lounge chair in the garden.  Then, quietly, I started getting faint nudges from the Universe. There is something more out there.  However, the naps are what allowed the new ideas to come in.

What I noticed once I went 'back to work' was that I got less done per day, and I'm still not back to the old production level.  I was disappointed with myself, but it sure felt good. I'm feeling more creative and enjoying it. Sometimes I find that when I take the time to relax, go for walks and work in the garden, I get more accomplished in one hour at my desk than I used to get in half a day.  (Like this newsletter, for example…)

I'm finding more things to throw out, physically and mentally.  I sometimes have to stop everything and work on some thoughts and throw them in the trash can, too.  Then, I get a few more nudges.  I'm not sure what they mean, but I know it will all be clear sooner or later.  I'm growing into something and being guided.  I can't wait to see what I'm becoming.
The main thing I have noticed – and I find it's the same with my fellow coaches, I want to start some new classes, maybe a new program or group… but in order to do that, I have to go through some shifts to see what that is.  My soul needs some healing, along with my body lately.  

What I'd like to see all of you take with you is that this shift is going to take some time and we may not jump into it all at once. As we develop, we will see changes, but not necessarily recognize them right away.

Allow yourself to be what you need to be now.  Be present for what is. Notice what you need, what you feel, and allow yourself to feel it.   Allow yourself to find out who you are becoming.



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Photo by Caleb George on Unsplash                                       Photo by allison griffith on Unsplash


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How to keep your sense of Inner Peace by ignoring other people’s opinions

5/21/2019

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My mother often said “You’ll never see these people again anyway…” She used this any time my sisters or I were concerned about what people may think, particularly on vacation when we were having a bad hair day. 
What she meant was that she didn’t want us to base our values on the opinions of others. She was an amazing mentor.  She did what she wanted and wasn’t concerned about what people thought.

Remember when you were in high school and everyone was wearing Calvin’s, Esprit or Tommy Hilfiger? Or anyone who was anyone was on the cheer leading squad or football team, because everyone. was. Tanya Davis who gossiped about everyone annoyed you, but still, you didn’t dare want to be the subject of her rumors, because everyone. might believe her.

Living in Germany over 25 years has made me fully aware of how strong peer pressure is, even for grown adults. Not that folks are excessively fashion conscious, but many solely value the opinions of others. I see people, every spring, looking in their neighbor’s yards to see what flowers they put out; or cemetery plots to make sure theirs is as nice as everyone else’s; or checking first before making their own decisions. It’s rather amusing, that even a choice of flowers depends on someone else, and can’t be original.

Back in 2003, I read Martha Beck’s Finding Your Own North Star, long before I took the leap to be a life coach.  Among the inspiration and fabulous coaching tools, one chapter in particular was Who Is Your Everyone? Martha Beck explains that many of us hold ourselves back from doing our own thing, what our inner self is guiding us to do, because we’re afraid of what people might think. Chances are your ‘everyone’ is a small minority of people you don’t want to hang out with anyway. The people who think like you, love you and support you, are the people whose opinions you should honor, if anyone’s.

Recently, my friend Emm, also a life coach, told me about a magazine article her colleague wrote for the publishing company where she works.  Her colleague received a brazen, hateful comment from a local critic. No one knew who the guy was, yet it was hurtful. 
Emm said she empathized for her coworker, and yes, glad it didn’t happen to her; yet, she knew that no one took it very seriously.

Did this one person represent everyone’s opinion?  We explored the situation for a while, thinking of how we would react to various forms of criticism.  You can ask yourself these questions in any situation.


Would we value the critic’s opinion?

Would we question our own worthiness?

Would we take it personally?

Do we need this person’s approval?

Would it spoil your entire day or week?

 
 
 
Are you trying to be like everyone else or are you dancing to the beat of your own drum? 



Rebecca Campbell says, “Don’t dim to fit in.”
Wayne Dyer said, “Self-actualized people are independent of the good opinion of others.”
 
 
Think about how much you question your own inner self based on the opinions of others.
Then think about how you can change your self belief by looking within and finding what your inner self says.


  Do you want to blend in with the crowd ......  or find your own tribe... ???



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How to manifest your dream in 5 steps.

4/10/2019

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I came across a great formula for manifesting, that hit me rather like a slam as I was preparing a presentation.  I've used it for decades without realizing it;  so simple and easy to apply that I incorporated into a 5 step plan. 
 
I used it with myself as an example, and someone you would know, say, Freddie Mercury, so you can see it as it works.
 
 
1)  Find out what you want 
 
Even if you don’t know what your ultimate dream is, you can find something small that you want right now. 
At a point in my life at about 30, I didn’t know what I wanted in my life, I just wanted out of the rut I was in.  I found out what I wanted for today, or this weekend – perhaps to go for a walk in the woods or a bike ride along the river.  I knew each day, slowly, my life had improved.  What I didn’t know was that I was inching my way to the life I wanted.
 
Freddy always knew what he wanted, or it appears that way.  He lived for his music, to be a rock star – and he got it.
 
 
2)  Find your Tribe
 
Hang out with like-minded people who support you.
I found an outdoor program, where I could go on hiking trips and enjoy a group of people who also enjoyed what I did. I knew I was happy, and slowly discovering my passion.
 
Freddie had Queen.  The band supported and encouraged him and created together.
 
 
3)  Follow your passion
 
Whatever your passion is – what makes you feel joy, even for a while - do it as often as possible.
My passion changes, too.  At that early time in my life, I discovered snowboarding.  I couldn’t afford to go very often, but I signed up on budget group trips with the outdoor program, and kept going.  I felt exhilarated when I was gliding on the snow.  I knew in those moments, I had found utter bliss.
Freddy, of course, had his passion in music, and most of the pieces he wrote, had a connection in his soul. 
 
 
4)  Set an intention
 
When you know what you want, write it down, and allow the Universe or the Divine to bring it to you.   Hint: It helps if you forget about it.
 
After all the time spent with my new friends, eventually something was missing in my life – a partner.  I wrote down a wish for a man who enjoyed all the things I loved, and would be compatible with me.  Within 3 months, I was dating a man who shared my passions. We’ve been happily married for 11 years. I met him within a week of writing it down, but somehow forgotten about my wish. I found it written 2 years later.  
 
I’m sure Freddie set intentions, too.  Whether he wrote them down, or stated them, he achieved everything he set out to do.  
 
 
5)  Just say no
 
Say no to anything that goes against your dream, goal or your what’s in your heart.
I don’t listen to anyone who prevents me from doing what I want to do.

Freddie argued with record companies, the band and anyone else who tried to convince him of doing something he didn’t want.
 
 
See if this works for you, try it, and play around with the steps.  If you can do it most of the time, following your passion, you’ll be on the right track. 

I'd love to hear how it works for you.  Please comment below with your experience. 
 
 

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Why not stop and have a coffee?

2/22/2019

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You’ll hear this phrase often in Europe.  
 
You’ll be on the Autobahn and stressed in a traffic jam, and someone in the car says, “Let’s pull over at the next rest stop for a coffee.”

After a stressful day of errands or shopping for household furnishings, shoes, or whatever, your friend says, “Let’s stop at a café for a coffee.”

You had a rough day at work and come home stressed.  Your partner or roommate greets you in the kitchen, “Here, I’ll make a coffee.”

You have long line in security at the airport, or stressful train connection.  You have a few minutes until the next boarding time. Your travel buddy suggests, “Why don’t we pop over there for a coffee?”
 
All of these mean roughly the same thing:  stop… shift gears… relax a minute… take some time to regroup.  To a European, the meaning is clear.  An American might think about stopping at Starbucks for a to-go cup, but Europeans know when it’s time to relax, and answer the call.  No one has to explain it.  It’s all understood.
 
Of course, coffee could mean two friends meeting up to catch up and connect, a chat with a coworker, or relaxing on a vacation between sights; but in any case, the coffee is simply an excuse to stop and regroup. 
It could be a tea, a smoothie or hot cocoa, but the meaning is the same.  Of course, at cafes in Europe, there are other options to chose from.
 
Something magical happens. You make a pause in your day.  In a period of 10 – 20 minutes, the body slows down, whatever is behind us is temporarily forgotten, and most problems are solved.  In some cases, one can go back to what they were doing before, and everything magically works out.
 
On a metaphysical level, something happens in the body, mind and soul.  You hand everything over to an unseen force and let it go or release.  On a scientific level, your body might be creating new neurons in your brain and ceasing to repeat uncomfortable thought patterns.  On a physical level, your muscles start to relax and your heart rate slows.  On a spiritual level, you are handing over your problems to the Divine.  
It’s a shift to something, and it means much more than a hot beverage.
 
It’s not all about coffee. It could be a walk in the woods, a sit on a park bench, meditation or breath work.  
See how you can incorporate this practice in your life.  Try it – you might enjoy it.  

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Are you on the Hero’s Call to Adventure?

9/21/2018

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If you’re familiar with Joseph Campbell, you might be thinking the Hero’s Call to Adventure is something more like a lightening bolt or burning bush reality, and you’re waiting for a video from a princess and the Imperial Army to destroy your village or a tornado to zap you to Oz. Though sometimes hero’s journeys can feel almost fictional,, they aren’t always so dramatic.

A current day example I like to use is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where after 20 years in a no-so-rewarding job, he gets thrown into a process of downsizing, and frustrated and hopeless, he runs off onto a hopeless quest. Sometimes, it’s even more subtle.

We’ve been dreaming of venturing into something new, and wish we could just quit, but suck it up for another year or two, waiting for a better opportunity for fall into our lap. Maybe subtle opportunities and hints have popped up. One of my fellow coaches happened upon a Labrador retriever and began actively hiking in the woods to keep him engaged; which led her to taking a hunting course, and studying more about nature and environment. She’s still following the path and not sure where it’s leading her.

My friend Justin had been frustrated in his engineering job for years. He lived a colorful personal life of traveling Europe and following jazz festivals and culture events, always dreaming of organizing some kind of business to support travel and music in order to share his hobby with others. He suddenly was forced into retirement a few years early, opening the door to pursue his passion and start his business.

My knock on the door came from the outdoor program with US Army Recreation, inspired by my coworker, Mike. I eventually volunteered, leading to becoming a snowboard instructor, meeting my future husband, and discovering my gift of helping people to feel at ease out of their comfort zones. I always wanted to lead people on adventure trips as a career, but didn’t know where to start.

When the crash hit, where I became the victim of downsizing several years later, I was ready to switch from victim to hero and willingly jumped into the abyss. Still not sure where to go from there, I accepted each new assignment, sometimes not so eagerly, waiting and watching for further instructions.

Mind you, I’m still taking on new assignments, and following my journey, not sure where it will take me next.


If you’re wondering if you’re on a hero’s call, here a couple of signs to watch out for:

  • you have a vague feeling that you want to do something adventurous in your life
  • you keep feeling like something is tapping you on the shoulder or tugging at your sleeve
  • the more you try to relax, you feel more trapped in your current situation
  • you have found yourself curious or intrigued about something you’ve never been interested in before
  • you’ve always longed for something, but it seemed to far out of reach
  • You want to jump off the train you’re on, but are terrified of the unknown ahead of you
  • Your hobby or passion is taking hold of you and you can’t imagine not doing it


So what do you do with this? I suggest you keep watching for signs, following anything intriguing that falls into your path or steers you in another direction. If you feel like you’re sold out in your current job, keep this awareness and watch for clues, reminding yourself that you don’t have to do this. There is something coming.

How do you know when it’s time to take the leap of faith? Basically, when you’re back is against the wall, and you know you can’t stay. When you know to continue on is more painful than the risk of the unknown, it’s time.

In my case, I suspected I was getting the call, but still thought I needed a safety net. “I can’t quit without a back up job, even something part-time. That would be stupid.” I really was watching for Han Solo and OB-1 to show up, with a ship. Then I was given the choice to take a cut in pay or relocate eighty miles from home. It was a move to save the company from paying severance. I knew it was time. I realized sometimes we just have to leap.


If any of this hits home for you, I’d love to talk to you. Set up a 30 minute chat with me here.









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Are you caught up in a fog?

5/23/2018

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I was in Week 3 of Summer classes at the Junior College and exhausted.  PSYC101 was great, but GOVT101 lecture hall from 8:-00 – 9:45 was grueling. I still wondered if I would make it through the next 9 weeks. At 19, after taking a year off school to ‘find myself’, I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
 
My coworker Daniel suggested I join him for summer school.  “That way you can knock out 2 courses at once. American Government is a good one to get out of the way.”
Daniel and I both worked 6 am to 2pm. "Study from 2:30 to 5:30. It works out well.  I did it last year. We could carpool. Wouldn’t that be fun?” 
 
The mid-term was hell. The Government teacher – he reminded us he wasn’t a professor – wanted the discussion questions exactly as he programmed us to write them.  If we forgot some of his wording, he counted off.  I was one of the few who even made a C.  

Daniel took his test last night, so he wasn’t there. The 25 minute drive seemed like an hour.  I drove through a heavy fog. At 10:15, it was already pitch dark, even in July.  I almost didn’t know where I was, but I had been on that road for years, and already 16 times in the last few weeks.  I wondered what it was like to be in a fog back in the days of horses and carriages. It would seem like an eternity...  As I was inching at 30 mph, it would have been a flash to a horse carriage.
 
I was a little nervous, but drove through it. “I can see clearly now…” I sang.

Then it hit me.  If it were daytime, I would have been able to see the fog, like a cloud on the horizon in my rear view window.  I would see what was behind me.  I realized this was a great metaphor. In life, when we go through those foggy patches - like the one I was currently in the middle of -  and seem lost, sooner or later we get out of the fog.  Once we’re out of the fog, we can look behind what was before the fog and piece it all together. Unless the fog lifts suddenly, we will never see what was inside. 
 
I was so excited about my metaphor, I told Daniel the next day at work. “Cool metaphor. Are you going to write a poem about it?”  I didn’t do anything with it, except that I kept it in my back pocket, for anytime I needed a cool metaphor – or the next time I was in fog with someone.
 
Now, looking back 34 years later, I see it so clearly.  I had to go through that time in my life of not knowing, and continue through the fog, until eventually it was behind me.  It wasn’t important what happened during that fog.  I gained something.  If anything, I can spout of facts of 2/3 majority, vetoes and filibusters.  I definitely learned a lot in PSYC101.  Honestly, I don’t remember what happened after that. Eventually, I found my way, and I was stronger because of it.
 
The best part of it all is now, when I am in a fog in my life, I know it’s only temporary, and inch my way through and it will all be clear. Now, I will be more observant of what’s going on and where I go once the fog is lifted.  I know I will be able to piece things together a lot better than my younger self.
 
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You know what is true

5/16/2018

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Several years ago, I was talking to a coworker. He told me a story of his 12 year old daughter having problems with a teacher in school. The teacher was insisting on a concept that she knew wasn’t correct. As my coworker described, “I told her she knew the teacher was wrong, and she had to decide if she wanted to confront the teacher or not. I told her if she knows what’s right, there is sometimes no point in arguing.
 
Sometimes we have to suck it up and know in our heart what is true, and that sometimes even teachers can be idiots.”  It was a great value he gave his daughter. He gave her credit for her knowledge.
 
He went on to explain to me that it’s sometimes what we have to deal with at work. Our bosses can be idiots, or the upper management. Sometimes we have to feel inside that we know is true, while ignoring that the lie we have to accept is only temporary.
 
I suddenly remembered this story when I was working with a client. She felt the truth resonate within her ever being. She had to tolerate something she didn’t like. At one point, she had to choose whether to move on, or endure a lie. 
 
In our lives, we’ve been fed lies.  In school we were trained to think a certain way, as we were educated we were conditioned to believe all kinds of things. We were trained not to pay attention to signals in our bodies that alerted us to these lies. It went on with jobs, relationships and other situations that we put ourselves into that we knew deep inside that weren’t true. 
 
So many times, we’ve ignored these things. If we ignore them long enough, we get headaches, upset stomachs, and other stress illnesses.
 
When we look at ourselves, we may recognize the lies we have believed. Sometimes we have to dig further. The only way to really be sure is to see where it sits within our inner self. If it’s not true to our inner core, we will feel an unsettled feeling in our body somewhere.
 
Sometimes I sit outside and relax, or I go for a walk. The answer eventually comes to me. The truth comes out in ripples around me.  Once I know what is true in my soul, I am fine with whatever action I chose to take. 

Knowing the truth is liberating.

“The truth shall set you free.” 
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Self-Care doesn't always mean massages and bubble baths.

3/12/2018

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I know all you hear about is self-care lately -- get a massage, aroma therapy, meditate and drink a hot tea.  It seems to be the rap that’s going out. In fact, some of my clients are getting stuck on this. “Honestly, Terri, I don’t find baths relaxing.”  So what?  -- What would you like to do?
 
The message going out to the world is that self-care is all about relaxing, calm and wellness – in a conventional way.  Maybe it’s a way to sell wellness programs essential oils and aroma therapy.
 
Truth is: self-care can be anything you want it to be – and it’s totally up to you.
 
I know there are times that I just want to curl up in a blanket with a cup of tea.  I usually know what my soul needs at the time. On a warm spring day, I like to go on a bike ride, or a walk in the woods. Sometimes it’s raspberry season, and I’m eating the berries off the vine. 
When I worked my corporate job, I brought a book or kindle to work and read in the break room or cafeteria. If the weather was nice, I sometimes went for a short walk.
 
Let me sum it up for you.; Self Care.   It’s what your self needs to feel cared for at any particular time.  
 
For some people, it might mean cranking up the Bob Marley and dancing around the living room.
 
All within a week, I had 3 entirely different examples.  One of my clients said that she planned on spending Sunday afternoon doing collages and watercolors.  A couple days later, one of my clients said she wanted to finger paint, and had the paints and paper in her cabinet ready to go.  They both said that would put them in peace. 
 
One client said she had spent a couple hours at the museum of science and history, especially in the marine section, and felt like a kid let out of school. She love science and her inner child curiosity comes out.  I told her she should reward herself periodically with some kind of museum visit or science escape.  
 
For some more examples, I asked some of my clients and friends what they do for self-care.
 
Lots of different things came up.
 
Dancing
Going for a walk
Reading a book with a cat in her lap
Jogging
Working out at gym
Playing piano
Cooking
Gardening, yard work
Drawing
Doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku
Napping
Browsing at art gallery
Surfing
Cycling
Playing with dog/cat
 
 
Several years ago, I was at a training conference in Orlando. The weekend in between, everyone went to Disney.  Having not so much of a connection with my colleagues, I took off on my own. I allowed my inner child to come out and play.  I even spent almost 2 hours on Tom Sawyer’s island, surprising some of the adults as I ran through the woods and jumped on the barrel bridges…  I don’t think I would have let loose like that with my colleagues.
 
My husband gets excited when he has a new book to read. One friend delights in the adventure of an exploration in his neighborhood woods. 
 
To me, self-care is about feeding your soul.  Your soul knows what it’s craving for and your inner child knows what it needs.
 
I’m going to challenge you.  Quickly write down as many things you can think of that you can do in 10 – 20 minutes.   Keep the list and refer to it regularly, or when you have some spare time to fill.

If you're really daring, make a list of things you can do in one hour, and plan to do one each week.
 
I would love to hear more ideas.  Please feel encouraged to share yours below.
 
If you would like to talk more about self-care or want more info, please email me at:  terri@terrihofstetter.com  or schedule a 30 minute chat here
 
 
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Do you have a purpose?

1/17/2018

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What if I told you that you came here with a special talent, something that you and you alone can do?  What If I told you that the very thing that you love doing, and your way of doing it is your gift to the world, and all you have to do is find out what it is, and you will be totally fulfilled? 
Well, it’s true... 
 
What you do, and share with the world is your inner Genius, and that very thing is what you love doing more than anything else – and it’s what the world is looking for.  It’s your purpose in life, what you came here to do.
 
That’s what I do: 
I work with people to find their purpose, helping them to get in touch with their inner self, the part that knows what they have to offer the world, that knows what they do best and what they are meant to do.  It’s been wonderfully rewarding for me.  I’ve helped lots of people reach that discovery with lots of Aha moments and revelations.  

But it wasn’t so easy for me to accept or discover at first.  So I struggled. 
I think I had to hunt for it, and try other things out, so I could appreciate how valuable it is.
Yes, I totally enjoy my life and can’t imagine doing anything else. 
 
The other day I was thinking of a nice concept to help my clients with on the concept of purpose.  I remembered the term Dharma.   
 
Back in my late 20’s, as I began opening my eyes and my heart to spiritual development - 1994 I believe - I got my hands on Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.  I eagerly grabbed it and soaked up every word.  His concept of Dharma lit me up.   Wow!!   Really??   There’s something I actually came here for in this life??  And I can do anything I want?  I was ready to find out more. 

I danced on a cloud for about a week, eagerly awaiting a fantastic revelation.  What is it?  I kept asking myself.  Maybe if I ask God, I’ll get a sign, I thought.   After a couple of weeks, the book was back on the shelf, with other self-help books, to gather dust.  I kept that concept in the back of my mind for years.  Eventually the word Dharma became a regular word in my vocabulary. 
 
I had been trying so hard to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up that I had myself all confused.  Dr. Chopra suggests we ask ourselves the question, “If money was no concern, and you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?”  That in itself was too huge for me to grasp.  I asked myself that question so many times over the last 20 years, and even now, ask my clients. 
 
In fact, during that time, I worked at a high school, in the media center. I helped students to find their favorite books (what lit them up); and as they came in at lunch and before school, they would talk about what they loved, and share with me what they thought they wanted to be when they grew up.  I laugh now - I was doing it then, and didn’t realize it.  I think we all somehow find a way to live our Dharma, but don't always make it happen.
 
So I decided to play a bit with it today.  I remembered a day in October when my husband and I were hiking in the Alps.  It was an amazingly sunny day, and people were out all over the place; hiking with their dogs, on mountain bikes, living their dreams.   That’s what I do; watch people do their thing, while I’m doing mine, sharing the joy.  I answered my question.  When I’m not out doing my thing, I’m helping others to find theirs.  
 
So, what is it that you do?  What really lights you up?  What do you enjoy doing more than anything else?  Are you doing it now – at least in your spare time?  As you see, I was sharing with the students at the library, but that was a small part of my job. On the weekends, I was hiking and snowboarding, enjoying the outdoors, but not doing it for a living – yet.   

If you’re ready to discover your purpose, or find out more, about tracking your way there, contact me for discovery call here.

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What's your vision for 2018??

12/29/2017

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At the end of every year, between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I take some quiet time to review the last year, and set intentions for the next. I enjoy this time for myself, creating a cozy space for myself to let my thoughts flow.   Each year I do it a little differently.   Sometimes I make lists, sometimes  I meditate visions, sometimes I journal.   Each year, I look at the year just about to pass, and think of what I want to create for the next year.
 
I celebrate my successes, the friendships I made, and the joys as well as disappointments.  I pat myself on the back for a year well done.  I think of what I would like to create for the next year, and take some time to imagine what I would like.  I also take a little time to think of anything I would like to let go or release.
 
I’m learning more and more about the importance of visioning and setting intentions, as well as the power of writing things down.  As Mike Dooley, writer and speaker says, “Thoughts become things.”
If we can actually visualize what we want, it makes it more powerful.  Taking time to sit and ‘daydream’ can help to bring it into reality. Including your feelings and excitement will help to bring it into reality.  
 
I invite you to set a special time for yourself, creating what you would like for 2018.  What would you like to do this year?  What do you want to create for yourself?  Where would you like to travel to and experience?  What happened in 2017 that you’re really proud of or grateful for?
                             
 
If you’re new to this concept, here are a few ideas to try:
 
Making lists -   Take some time and write down your wishes, and seal them in an envelope, and put them away.  ‘give it to God’   Write down things you want to let go of: bad habits, thoughts, or hang ups you might have.  You can also list people you don’t want to associate with next year.  It works best if you do it long hand on paper.  You can chose to look at them the following year, or not.  It's up to you.
 
Bowl Burning Ceremony -  This is an old tradition. You can write down your wishes and the thigns you want to release or let go of, each on a separate piece of paper; and then put them in a ceramic bowl or metal tin (the releases first, then the wishes) and burn them, allowing them to be carried in the smoke.   Symbolically, and spiritually, you’re sending it to the heavens.  If you don't have the space to do the burning, you can ceremoniously tear them up or feed them into a paper shredder.
 
Vision Boards -  Many people enjoy doing vision boards. Cut photos out of a magazine and paste them to a poster board, representing what you wish for.  Keep it in a place where you will see it often throughout the year. Seeing it will help bring it into reality.
 
Daydreaming -   Visioning takes steps, and the more you put into it the better.  Imagine what you want, how it looks, sounds and feels.  Putting your emotion into it helps, feeling what it’s like to have it happen.  If you can create it like watching a movie; but from your vision point, like you’re actually playing in the film, it makes it more real. Do your happy dance in it, too.
 
Meditation -   Taking some quiet time relaxing, and allowing yourself to feel how you want your next year to be can help to bring it into fruition.  You can combine it with your daydreaming if you like.
 

It’s not too late to do this at the beginning of the year.  You could spend some time in January doing this as well.   Make this a special time.  Make it fun and enjoyable.  Make it you; however you would like to do it. You can play your favorite music, have a cup of tea, or anything you like.
 I invite you to share it with me on the comment space below.  If you have questions, you can email me: terri@terrihofstetter.com
 

Best wishes for an abundant, joyous and adventurous 2018!

 
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    Terri Hofstetter

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