I walked into the kitchen to get.....to get......ummmmm....I know I came in here for a reason.
Or worse, you see a friend walking up to you and their name is....ummmmm....?
Like many of you, our car keys get misplaced, we know we paid that bill, we know that person's name, we know what we came into this room for, it is right on the tip of our tongue, but somehow it escapes us.
I believe that losing my dad with short term memory loss was a gift. It set me on a mission to figure out how to improve my memory.
Looking at our day as a whole, we forget billions of things. Are you shocked? I was. Do you remember feeling the floor as you got out of bed? Do you remember the toothbrush, cleaning each tooth? And the list goes on. It is fascinating to think about the huge amount of things we forget every single day. How do we choose what to remember?
Since I have been on this mission, my memory has improved. Here are the things that have helped the memory get stronger:
1. Staying focused in the moment. The more mindfulness becomes a practice, the better the memory becomes. We stop thinking about the past, thinking about what needs to be done, and we just immerse in the now and it is surprising that people's names pop up in our mind, we remember why we walked into the room, we know where we set out keys down because there was intention behind it.
2. Cutting out toxic foods and adding nutrition. This is different for everyone but I know for me, sugar and flour are big brain fog contributors and I was not getting the right nutrition. I didn't know this all caused brain fog but I do now. In fact, I didn't even know I was in a fog until it cleared. My Sudoku times improved 60% and it is so cool to have an actual measurement!
3. My favorite is memory games! There are so many games out there to improve memory. I am still looking into these but so far, I know they are helping me to remember more things in each day, well at least the important things.
We can all get a little bit healthier, practice a little more mindfulness, and get better with age, if we want to. I don't know if you have ever seen anyone lose their memory as they aged but it was one of the most painful things I have seen for them. My dad knew that he should know things but didn't. The anger and frustration was torture for him, from the inside.
If you would like to explore a little more about this, remember to click this link to get my 7 Days to Mindfulness!
We can get STUCK in memories of the past, replaying events over and over in our minds. While small amounts of reflection can be beneficial, dwelling on the past can prevent us from being fully present.
Just like driving a car, constantly looking in the rearview mirror can cause accidents and prevent us from enjoying the journey and reaching our desired destination.
So how do we break free from these mental cycles and focus on the present?
1. Acknowledge and accept:
The first step to freeing ourselves from the grip of the past is acknowledge that it cannot be changed. Similar to driving, it's essential to accept that whatever happened behind us no longer affects the present moment. Embrace the idea that the past has already served its purpose as a teacher, offering valuable insights and lessons.
2. Practice mindfulness:
Just as a driver must remain attentive to the road ahead, practicing mindfulness enables us to shift our focus to the present. Mindfulness involves consciously bringing our awareness to the current moment, free from judgment or attachment. By being fully present, we can appreciate the beauty of life and let go of repetitive thoughts about the past.
3. Release the emotional burden:
Like baggage in the trunk of a car, our emotional attachment to past events can weigh us down. To move forward, it's vital to release negative emotions tied to the past. One powerful technique is visualizing packing up the memories in a suitcase and setting them down on a train depot platform and get on the train, leaving the baggage behind.
4. Set clear intentions:
Having a clear focus on our present goals brings purpose and direction to our lives. Just as a driver sets a destination on their GPS, establishing clear intentions helps us navigate through life without getting stuck in the past. Write down your dreams, and the steps required to achieve them. This practice will cultivate a forward-thinking mindset and keep your focus anchored in the present moment.
5. Practice gratitude:
Gratitude is a transformative practice that helps us shift our perspective from what went wrong in the past to what is going right in the present. Every day, take a moment to reflect on things you are grateful for. Embracing gratitude allows positive emotions to flood your being, making it easier to let go of past grievances and embrace the abundance around you.
Just as driving requires our attention on the road ahead, living our lives to the fullest demands an unwavering focus on the present moment. By letting go of the past, practicing mindfulness, and setting clear intentions, we can liberate ourselves from the mental loops that hold us back. Remember, the journey of life is meant to be enjoyed, and I am here to support you, every step of the way. So, buckle up, embrace the present, and let your dreams drive you forward!
If you want a little help, grab my free Mindfulness guide here!
I walked into the kitchen and saw the sink full of dirty dishes. Immediately, I started the "why me?" thinking and the negative thoughts started to take over my emotions. I started to feel really down, like a steam roller had rolled right over me and squeezed the joy out.
Like many of you, we let what we observe, dictate how we feel. Whether it be chores that have to be done, mucking stalls, cleaning, feeding, cooking, laundry, changing oil in the truck, etc.
I believe we are in control of how we feel, maybe not what we have to do, but how we feel about doing it. There, I said it, we are in control.
That belief gives us power!
Here are three ways to let this work for you to fill you with joy, even doing chores.
1. When doing chores, reframe them into something that fills you with joy. Take the dirty sink of dishes. Changing thoughts to wow, that was an amazing meal and tasted so good. Just that small change starts the process to feeling better. What if we expand on it. There was so much love put into making that meal and we are blessed to have food to fill us up and nourish us. We laughed and connected while we ate. Just some samples and it can be done with any chore or task and just takes a little practice.
2. While doing chores, dance, sing, move, put on amazing music, listen to a great book on Audible, etc. Find something that fills you with joy and do that while you do the chores. P.S. Singing is supposed to help prevent dementia and is great for the brain, if you are like me, just make sure only the animals can hear you......
3. Find someone to do the chores with you or just to talk and share about what you are doing to enjoy your chores. A buddy system to joy. I tried it with the horses, but they just pooped on the freshly cleaned bedding!!!! I got a really good chuckle out of that one! Pick someone and cheer each other on!
Here is a free guide that goes along with finding your joy! GET YOUR JOY TODAY!!!
Sitting on the mounting block, tears streaming down my face, my beautiful horse, just breathing into me as I once again couldn't get on. I let fear hold me back from riding my beautiful girl. This wasn't the first time, but it was the defining time.
We were moving to Kentucky with property to ride on and I was terrified to ride outside the arena. My passion was to ride and yet, I was letting fear hold me back from hours of joy. Like many of you, whether it is something happened to cause your fear or the fear just crept in, the joy that is taken from us can't be replaced, it is gone forever.
I believe we were put here on earth to enjoy life and not only conquer our fears, but to help others conquer their fears as well.
Using a system, is a great key to success and you can conquer your fear too. Whether the fear is internal fear like fear of success, or external fear, like riding a horse, the system can be used to conquer either.
There are a number of steps in the system, but my favorite was to prepare for success. Creating a pre-flight checklist, like a pilot looking over a plane before flying was so much fun! I created one for me, and one for the horse. Imagine looking at what your fear, and creating the perfect checklist to know you are safe and don't need to worry about the fear, just like that pilot that feels safe heading down the runway at top speed to leap into the air like a bird.
There are a number of steps in the process but this one, creating a checklist will get you started on your way to feeling great about bringing that joy back into your life.
For more information on the entire system, you can read my journey, and learn the process in my book, Rise from Fear to Courage!
With the start of every new year, millions of people around the world make resolutions in the hope of improving their lives. However, studies have shown that a staggering 80% of individuals fail to keep their commitments within just a few months. This was shocking to me! I didn't feel so alone in my failure after learning this.
One of the key reasons why people fail to achieve their New Year's resolutions is the establishment of unrealistic expectations. Many individuals set overly ambitious goals without considering their current circumstances or abilities. For example, resolving to hit the gym for an hour every day when you've never been a regular exerciser can be overwhelming. I know I failed this one, more than once!
Another significant factor contributing to resolution failures is the lack of proper planning and accountability. Setting goals without a concrete plan often leads to aimless efforts, making it easier to give up over time. To counter this, break your resolution into small, actionable steps that you can follow. Additionally, finding an accountability partner or joining a community with similar goals can greatly increase your chances of success by providing support and encouragement.
Sustaining motivation and willpower can be challenging when faced with inevitable obstacles and setbacks. As the initial excitement wears off, it's common for individuals to lose interest and give up on their resolutions. To combat this, it's important to remind yourself of the underlying reasons why you made the resolution in the first place. Visualize the benefits and stay motivated by tracking your progress and celebrating small milestones along the way.
Perfectionism and the all-or-nothing mentality can also contribute to the failure of New Year's resolutions. Many people believe that if they can't do something perfectly, it's not worth doing at all. This mindset often leads to disappointment and eventually abandoning the resolution altogether. Embrace the concept of progress over perfection and recognize that small steps forward, even if imperfect, are still steps in the right direction.
And here is my number one tip to success........Really sit with how you want to feel, if you had been successful in your resolutions. Set your resolutions around how you want to feel, instead of the action of going to the gym or eating healthy. For me, when I set a goal to laugh 400 times a day, my whole world changed for the better. My relationships, my career, my living situation, my health (laughter really is the best medicine). I am not sure what it is for you, but I know that setting resolutions around how you want to feel, is a life changer.
If you would like to start finding your joy, get my free guide, 3 Steps to Finding Your Joy by clicking here! (And it will also get you on the email to find out about the 2024 PREP RALLY coming end of Sept. We need an adulting Pep rally to get ready for 2024 together!)
