It’s not always easy to tell the difference between what you really want and what you think you’re supposed to want. Internalizing what others expect of you makes it difficult to get in touch with your own authenticity. You align with your true desires by thinking about what you would want to do if there were absolutely no possibility of failure. If you could have or do anything simply by snapping your fingers, what would it be? You know it’s real if it makes you feel…
Free.
Jarl and Steve
It’s difficult to escape the powerful orbit of ingrained habits. Though the middle of the merry-go-round makes you slightly dizzy and uncomfortable, it still seems safer than exiting the spinning platform. The worry that the stronger force of rotation outside the center might eject and hurt you keeps you stuck. The most powerful concern that makes you stay in sub-optimal situations is fear of the unknown. But tolerating ongoing dissatisfaction is often far worse than the discomfort change brings. Taking a risk to courageously exit unpleasant situations is how you eventually arrive in…
Better ones.
Jarl and Steve
It’s common to get weighed down by the increasing load of responsibility you accumulate as you age. Obligations, commitments and even goals can feel burdensome. This can sometimes interfere with your ability to remember your prime directive (which should be tattooed on your forehead): you’re here to explore, connect, expand and enjoy yourself. Take heed of the advice consistently given by those who’ve achieved unusual success and great fortune: Don’t delay living your life as fully as you possibly can. The only time you can do that is…
NOW.
Jarl and Steve
Anything taken to the extreme is unhealthy. Even the stuff you think is good for you. Hydration is necessary, but drinking too much water is bad for your kidneys. Exercise is important, but overdo it and you can hurt your body. Working too much causes you to lose sight of all the other important parts of your life. When you go to an extreme, you eventually have to stop or life will do it for you. On the other hand, when you practice moderation, you stay…
In balance.
Jarl and Steve
There’s a causal connection between what occupies your mind and how you feel. But no matter how stressed, anxious or fearful you are, you can always access your personal reservoir of well-being by getting present. That means focusing your attention on this moment and removing it from the looped tape that’s making you feel bad (usually about what already happened or might go wrong in the future). When you clear your mind, it’s like hitting…
The reset button.
(Click here for simple instructions)
Jarl and Steve
Getting clear with others about behavior that’s unacceptable to you is a sign that you’re taking care of yourself. Even though it can be uncomfortable, it helps you avoid more heartache down the road. If you don’t hold the line, you communicate that what’s happening is okay with you. When you set boundaries and honor them, others do too. If what’s going on isn’t satisfying, don’t let a fear of being firm create a festering dissatisfaction with your life. Living life the way you want to absolutely depends upon you…
Setting limits.
Jarl and Steve
Your body’s sensations are messages. Not only do they tell you when you’ve surpassed your limits, they inform you about your emotions. Neglecting to pay attention to them when you’re stressed, angry, sad or out of balance results in unhealthy behavior. You may binge on junk food, distract or over-work yourself to avoid feeling them. The best way to process any sensations that arise is to pause, notice the part of your body that’s messaging you and just sit with it without avoidance strategies. Paying attention to the messages releases them. It makes…
Infinite sense.
Jarl and Steve.
Don’t fret if your desires don’t show up immediately. Focusing on how things aren’t the way you want only exacerbates dissatisfaction. Feelings and emotions that are consistently energized remain dominant long after things in the outside world actually change. The way to cultivate peace of mind and abundance is from within. What you wish for could actually be in your field of awareness, but it won’t be visible if you aren’t in alignment with it. Keeping your mind on positive expectations aligns you with what you want. You can do this very easily by acknowledging…
What you already have.
Jarl and Steve
Whether you’re hopeful about the world or view it as a sinking ship, your attitude tells you more about you than about what’s going on out there. If life seems good, you’re likely in the habit of looking for the upside. If it looks gloomy, you’ve probably been consuming a steady diet of selective information about what has, is or eventually will go wrong. Your viewpoint doesn’t indicate your level of intelligence or perceptiveness as much as it does the quality of your self-created lenses. If the world feels broken, maybe it’s time for…
A new prescription.
Jarl and Steve
How you feel has to do with what you think.
What you think has to do with what you see.
What you see has to do with what you believe.
What you believe has to do with what you’ve been taught.
Until you examine this chain reaction, you won’t understand that your freedom lies in your ability to frame reality through this cascade of perception and experience. If you’re really conscious, you understand that the way the world feels to you is almost entirely…
In your hands.
Jarl and Steve
You know: that there’s so much more to life than meets the eye; that most of what you worry about isn’t so important; that being loving and caring makes you feel loved and cared for; that you’ve got something unique to express and a limited time to do it. You also know that the sooner you align your true desires with your external actions, the better you’ll feel. In spite of the fact that it sometimes feels scary to be true to yourself, you know for sure that it’s the shortest path…
To happiness.
Jarl and Steve
You were born to learn and evolve. Acting on a sincere intention to grow any aspect of your life feels good. When you try your best it’s much easier to accept how the chips fall, even if it’s not what you expected. No matter how talented and intelligent you are, it’s your effort that ultimately creates satisfaction. When you head down the path of your choice with a conscious intention, life begins to flow for you. Knowing what you want is the same as asking for it. Get clear, look for direction and…
Give it your best.
Jarl and Steve
Every thought you think has an impact on the quality of your life. You’re the architect and builder of your emotional abode. Thoughts of gratitude, goodwill and joy add bricks in a castle of contentment. Focusing on what’s wrong digs a hole that becomes an oppressive dungeon. When a negative thought arises, acknowledge and feel it, but don’t linger on it. You have the freedom to choose how you classify and then experience the world. The kind of habitat you build affects everyone in your neighborhood, but mostly…
You.
Jarl and Steve
People are not created equal in each and every way. Some are good at math, some language, some athletics, some art. Regardless of how successful you are in any endeavor, there is one thing that you are the absolute best at being: you. It’s not important if your uniqueness isn’t as widely recognized or financially lucrative as that of someone else. What matters is that you acknowledge who you are, make peace with it and share it with the world. When you live in alignment with your own truth, your worthiness…
Is beyond question.
Jarl and Steve
The relationship you have with anyone else can only be as good as the one you have with yourself. While infatuations give glimpses, healthy relationships only happen between people who possess self-love. Disappointment and resentment originate from within. Self-judgment not only affects how you feel about yourself, it eventually erodes the sweetness of your unions with others. Whether you’re in a relationship or single, the most important thing you can do for your love life is to learn to love and accept yourself more. When you love yourself, every day is cause for celebration…
Happy Valentine’s Day
Jarl and Steve.
