mimosalotus-blog

[mimosalotus-blog]

Need More Focus? Have More Fun.

“When someone asks you to go to the baseball game or concert or rock climbing, how does your body respond? Do you get a pit in your stomach or feel like all the energy drained out of your body? Probably not the best idea to do that thing then. Or does your heart flutter with excitement? Do you feel a bit lighter? These are cues that you really want to do that thing...”

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1mk

[mimosalotus-blog]

What Does Living Look Like?

Today, I visited a friend who is in the final stages of a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Like the other dear friends I've had to say goodbye to too soon, she is much to young to die. It makes me wonder what sort of balance is out of skew in the Universe. How this could possibly be happening. Something feels so monumentally off when we lose people before their time.

It feels surreal and wrong.

And yet, it's the most powerful reminder for the rest of us how precious life is.

It made me think hard about what it means to really live.

What does that look like?

On the surface, it might look like pushing boundaries and taking risks; traveling to the ends of the earth to pack your days with an endless supply of experiences.

But when I really think about what makes me feel alive, it's simply being connected to the moment...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1mb

[mimosalotus-blog]

Are You Limiting Yourself with an Either/Or Mindset?

"“There has got to be another way.”I’ve pondered this thought many times in my life from simple things like:How do I get to the airport in rush hour in the shortest amount of time? To the most complex like:How I can live my most happy life because what I’ve been doing isn’t working. As I’ve done my own internal work and asked myself this question in many situations, I noticed something that was common to my thinking: I had an either/or mindset.Either it had to be one way or the other. Black or white. Either this or that.I wasn’t leaving any space for ‘AND’ which offers many more possibilities..." 

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1lW

[mimosalotus-blog]

I've Been Consuming Too Many Empty Calories

I realized last week that I haven't been feeding myself very well lately.

And it has nothing to do with the Pop Tarts in my pantry...

What I have been doing is stuffing myself with "empty calories"—using TV or social media or alcohol to numb out after long, chaotic days of work and home renovation disruptions. And then I wonder why I still feel crappy in spite of my nightly "relaxation."

Brené Brown first introduced me to the concept of numbing out when I took her Gifts of Imperfection online course through oprah.com. (She talks about numbing a little here.) It's when we try to attain the rest and respite we're craving with things that simply don't feed our spirits...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1lG

[mimosalotus-blog]

37 Things I’m Happy I Learned By Age 37

Two years ago on my 35th birthday, I compiled a list of the most valuable wisdom I’ve amassed on my journey so far. Two (very growth-inducing and transitional) years later, my life looks absolutely NOTHING like I thought it would, but an interesting thing has unfolded… I’ve become even more grateful for this wild journey called life than ever before. And as I continue to more deeply embody these 37 things, I find myself creating a far more playful, adventurous, and inspired life- full of deeper relationships, laughter, and unabashed creative passion- than my twenty-something self could only hope and dream (or even bribe someone) for… Turns out 37 isn’t scary; 37 is now, and NOW is where the JOY lives...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1lw

[mimosalotus-blog]

Are YOU the One Getting In Your Own Way?

“If you want to be successful, you must respect one rule: never lie to yourself.” – Paolo Coehlo

I have a confession: for most of my life I was much more comfortable being in the background.

I hid in my life – who I was, what I thought, what I really liked. It’s not even that I was doing this intentionally; it just became familiar to me so it was a natural role for me to fall into.

I tried my hardest to the fit the mold of who I thought I *should* be rather than who I really was.

But as I’ve gotten to know myself better it required me to get really honest with myself about who I am and what I wanted to do in the world; it required me to stop hiding...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1lp

[mimosalotus-blog]

Where's Your Head?

Last week, I found myself cleaning kitchen renovation mess for the zillionth time, and the next thing I knew, I was on the computer Googling “Sisyphus.”

If you’re not familiar with Sisyphus, he was a king in Greek mythology who thought he was more clever than Zeus. Zeus, of course, disagreed… As punishment, Sisyphus was tasked with having to roll a boulder up a hill each day—but just as he was about to reach the top, Zeus would enchant the boulder and make it roll back down. And so, Sisyphus would begin again from square one the next morning. And every morning after that.

In my mind, I was Sisyphus.

Me and my yellow rubber gloves and cleaning rags were rolling boulders up hills every dang day. I had a story in my head on repeat about how infuriating and hard and not at all fun home renovations and clean-up were.

When we tell ourselves stories like this over and over—building bulletproof thought patterns—we’re actually rewiring our brains...

http://goo.gl/39rw48

[mimosalotus-blog]

How Do You Live

"Today marks the second anniversary of the passing of one of my closest friends, Sadath Garcia. His death was an earth shattering reminder that this precious life goes by in flash. Everyone who knew Sadath seemed to take a look at their own life and ask, "What would I regret if it all ended today?" Since then, so many of us have taken big leaps in our lives. We've stepped a little farther out of our comfort zones, worked harder at fulfilling dreams, deepened our connections with loved ones and stopped taking the unimportant stuff so seriously..."

http://wp.me/s2ZY5g-live

[mimosalotus-blog]

Must Read: Slim For Life by Jillian Michaels

“You can’t get clean on yesterday’s shower,” a dear friend said to me not too long ago. I was going through a bit of a funk, needing new inspiration to break through some plateaus, both physical and mental. This quote struck me to my core, as I realized the same tricks and tools I had been using to motivate myself and to raise my spirits just weren’t working anymore.

As luck would have it, I stumbled across Jillian Michaels’ “Slim For Life”. This was not just another diet book; it was a manual with practical, straightforward tips that anyone, and I mean ANYONE, can apply. I found myself remembering some of my old “rules” that I had let slide over the years. For example, I used to be a fiend about telling the maitre d at a restaurant not to bring bread to the table. Or the simple discipline of not eating carbs at night. I had somehow let small little things like this slide back into my life, one little cheat at a time.

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1jO

[mimosalotus-blog]

Why Your Change Can Make Others Uncomfortable

There is a lot of excitement around the start of the New Year.

New Year, New You.

Starting fresh, a clean slate.

It’s exciting to think of all the newness that lies ahead in the next 365 days.

And with all this newness, comes change and with change, comes growth.

But change can be difficult to the dynamics of a relationship, whether that be a romantic partner, a friend, a family member, or a co-worker.

To some people, change can be totally exhilarating; to others, there is comfort in what is known. That’s not to say that one way is better than the other but it can be difficult when one person decides to make big changes. It shakes things up.

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1kq

[mimosalotus-blog]

Letting Go of My Safe Life

It’s one of those vivid moments you don’t yet realize will be pivotal and something you’ll think of for years to come. A catalyst, under disguise as a troubling morning.

It was a Saturday this past June and the summer was just getting started. That weekend, I would sublet my apartment, break off my relationship, and prepare my words for Monday morning as I asked my company for a 30-day leave of absence. I knew it was more of a slow resignation, but I needed that cushion, just in case.

In retrospect, those few days felt akin to me swatting an arm across a metaphoric dinner table and quickly wiping away everything I had built in New York over the last four years. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do, but I knew what I was doing couldn’t remain. I made plans to move in with my brother in Los Angeles for the summer to take time to figure out a plan. Again...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1k4

[mimosalotus-blog]

How Looking Back Can Help Move Us Forward

As 2014 enters its last weeks, it is easy to start thinking of all the things we want in the New Year. This was a very tough year on a global scale and many of us are probably thinking, “Good riddance! Bring on 2015!” There is nothing wrong with looking forward to looking ahead. But I have found that if I don’t take a clear, clean, loving look back at the year that is passing away, it is all too easy to find myself sitting in the same place this time next year and wondering what the heck happened.

Enter the tool of reflection. Reflection is used in many traditions and practices as a way to center ourselves and authentically comprehend where we are right now, where we have been and where we want to go. Taking time to consciously make this assessment, in the way we used to balance our check books but perhaps a little more spiritually, is incredibly empowering. When I think of the word “reflection, “ I think of a mirror, and in the same way that you can’t really change the image staring back at you in the moment, what you see, and whether you like it, is very illuminating and inspiring. Assuming we can look with love...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1jX

[mimosalotus-blog]

The Way of the Soul: My 500 Mile Journey along the Camino De Santiago

On Wednesday, October 1st, I took my first step on the Camino Trail, also called the Way Saint James. The most common starting location is Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, located about 500 miles from Santiago. It is also possible to start in Italy, Portugal, and other locations in Europe. I really felt that if I could achieve that walk I would gain a different sense of life fulfillment that would add strength within myself, but what I didn't know is that it would bring way more that I expected...

wp.me/p2ZY5g-1jB

[mimosalotus-blog]

Shake Off That Offensive Comment

As I’ve been planning for 2015 and what I want to create in my business next year, I’ve made a commitment that everything I create will come from a place of deep service, love, fun, and humor.

Once I decided this, the Universe seemed to really want to remind me about the humor part.

I was at the vet’s office the other day getting my cat checked out. The vet and I were exchanging small talk: he was from Iowa; I told him I was a Hawkeye. He asked what I majored in and I told him Communications.

And then he said, “Oh, so you went for the easy major.”

I could feel my eyes grow a bit wider and I (in my head) had the ‘Oh no you didn’t just say that?!’ moment...

http://www.mimosalotus.com/shake-off-offensive-comment/

[mimosalotus-blog]

Spice Up Your Thanksgiving With These Festive Finds

We're dishing up some tasty treats and decorating tips to warm up your hearts and homes this Thanksgiving!

Great survival tips for first time hosts on the big day.

Hosting Thanksgiving doesn't need to feel overwhelming. These easy tips will help you get you ready.

Table setting to impress your guests...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1iR

[mimosalotus-blog]

Ten Things To Be Thankful for this Holiday

When you think about the past year what are you most grateful for? Are you grateful for the job you have or the one you expect will come? Are you still wishing for something big and wonderful to come into your life? Opportunities abound and the future lay bright and sunny but do you ever stop and give thanks to what you have today?

When Thanksgiving represents what you give thanks for in your life here are some things you might consider when you give yourself time to reflect on your job and your career in a meaningful way...

wp.me/p2ZY5g-1iF

[mimosalotus-blog]

Must Read: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken made my spirit soar and it was the first book in a long time that I could not put down. Unbroken is the true life story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympian and WWII hero whose story of survival has inspired many over the last half of century. His sheer determination is an unbelievable inspiration.

Since reading his story, not a day goes by that I don't stop and thank God for everything I have -- health, safety, LIFE. Ultimately, Zamperini's spiritual journey is the greatest takeaway from this incredible book...

http://wp.me/p2ZY5g-1ix