Follow these Steps below to get an instant boost!

Step 1: Make a complete list of everything that is running around in your head taunting you with, “you’ll never get to me, you’ll never get to me.”

You know, things like that plant that needs repotting, or the thank you note that should have been written weeks ago, or that pile of papers that must be filed before something gets lost.

Now at least it is on paper and out of your head!

Step 2: Apply the Bag, Barter, Better It plan (from Martha Beck’s book, The Joy Diet) to each item.

Bag It—simply cross off anything that in the grand scheme of things is unimportant.

Barter It—find someone to do it for you.

Better It—do the task ASAP and reward yourself during or after for getting it done.

Here’s the plan in action. Bag repotting the plant because if it needs replanting it is obviously growing and thriving just fine in its current pot. Barter the filing or pay your son to do it during his free time over the Thanksgiving holiday. Better the writing of the thank you note by doing it while enjoying your favorite cup of tea, listening to your favorite song, sitting in your favorite chair and writing on your favorite and most beautiful stationary.

Step 3: Take a deep breath and enjoy the surge of energy you feel because you just tackled at least 3 things on your list.

Step 4: Keep a notebook with you and when more To Dos pop into your mind, write them down. Again this keeps them from taking up your mental space and clear mental space always equals more energy.

Still have questions about how to boost your energy sans caffeine? Ask away. Leave a comment or question below…

As I began my meditation practice this morning, my mind was drawn to clients I work with who are struggling with issues of anxiety. You see I know this struggle well because for many years, I too suffered from anxious thoughts over things both large and small. While I believe there are numerous contributing factors to anxious thoughts and patterns of behavior–caffeine, TV news, hormonal imbalance or as they classify it in Ayurveda “too much vata,” I know from experience that what it most often boils down to is “stinking thinking” and that working on your thoughts can provide instant relief.

There are several methods for addressing your anxious thoughts such as Bryon Katie’s, The Work or Wayne Dyer’s version that he describes in his new book, “Excuses Be Gone” and I’ve used various forms of these methods on myself and my clients with “great success,” to quote Borat. But my new favorite method for dealing with anxiety and perfectionism, which I find seem to go hand in hand, is to ask, “In every moment am I choosing what energizes and excites me?” I can just hear those anxiety prone ones among you saying, “Oh if it were only that easy.” But stay with me and maybe you’ll see that it is.

As I mentioned earlier, this topic of dealing with anxiety was on my mind this morning as I sat for my morning meditation, which by the way is a great exercise for quieting anxiety. It is my practice to use quotes, inspirational passages and the like as a focus point each day. Today I pulled a card from a Law of Attraction card deck  “Ask and it is Given” created by Abraham-Hicks.

This is what it said, “My Slightest Improvement Is of Such Great Value: There is tremendous value when you are able to deliberately cause even the slightest improvement in the way you feel for even in that small emotional improvement, you may have regained a measure of control. You no longer feel powerless. And so, your trek back up the Emotional Scale is now not only possible, but it is relatively easy.”

So how does this relate to “In every moment choose what energizes and excites you”? Well, it’s like this…the more you choose to focus on things that energize and excite you, the more the things that energize and excite you will show up in your life rather than the things that make you feel anxious. Again, I realize that there are many factors that can contribute to the monkey minded state of those plagued with anxiety, but this is a method you can use any time, any where to bring yourself some relief. And I’ve found that the more you use it, the better you get at it and the better you get at focusing on things that bring you joy rather than things that make you feel anxious, the more joy producing things will begin to show up in your existence. But don’t take my word for it; try it.

Here’s how it works:

Situation: OMG! My house is a wreck! I’ll never get it in order. STOP and ask…

Q: Do I mop the floor first or wash the dishes?
A: Whichever feels more exciting in this moment.

Situation: How can it be bedtime already, I still have a million things on my “To Do” list. STOP and ask…

Q: Do I read a bedtime story to my child or get to that paperwork still on my desk? (Or maybe just tuck myself in as well as my child and let’s all get some rest!)
A: Whichever feels more energizing and exciting right now.

Situation: I’ve been working on this project all week and I don’t seem to be accomplishing anything. STOP and ask…

Q: Do I sit at my desk and work through lunch again or do I ask a co-worker whom I enjoy to join me for a bite?
A: Whichever feels the most exciting.

In the end, you’ll probably be more productive because you’ve allowed your mind to relax and quiet, which will help you to focus and work better when you really need to.

If you are struggling to choose, go inside and ask your body. It never lies, but that’s a whole other blog post. Stay tuned. (But only if it feels energizing and exciting. LOL!)

Above all be easy with this process and remember as the card says, “even a slight improvement is of great value.” You may not get to choosing only “energizing and exciting” at every turn in one day, one week, or even one month; but moving even a slight bit away from feelings of entrapment and powerlessness is a move in the right direction. Celebrate that!

get more info about Ayurvedic medicine from an expert,
Dr. John Douillard www.lifespa.com

experience instant thought relief at www.thework.com

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Welcome and so glad you’ve joined me on this journey toward holistic wellness.
I look forward to sharing ideas with you to help you bring greater balance, energy, peace, joy and health into your life. So here we go…

photo: justinmarantz.com

If you’d like to receive new blog posts automatically, click the orange rss feed button at the bottom right under “stay updated” and/or to join our e-mail list enter your e-mail in the “sign up here” box and click “go”.