5 Steps to Wellness

Being well in every dimension of our lives and taking inventory to assess our overall wellness is vital. I have found a great assessment tool that assists me in bringing balance into my life I'd like to share with you. This is is a whole person assessment program that can reveal your overal level of wellness in 12 dimensions including work & play, finding meaning, sensing and moving (exercise) and identify potential areas of change as well as help guide to meet your wellness goals. I highly recommend it.

We all all get out of balance sometimes and this is a great tool to be able to not only see where you might be lacking, but assists in creating goals to have wellness in an area we might be lacking in.

Here are 5 Steps to Wellness:


Step 1 - Assessment: Assess yourself in 12 dimensions of wellness.
Step 2 - Scores: Wellness & Satisfaction scores, areas of strength.
Step 3 - Personal Wellness Plan: Create 10 wellness goals based the areas you are most motivated to change.
Step 4 - Tools to Help You Reach Your Wellness Goals
Step 5 - Resources for ongoing wellness

Click the banner to take a tour on your own personal wellness inventory!

One Step Beyond...

I thought about reaching outside my comfort level and the 80’s ska song “One Step Beyond” by Madness came ringing through my head.

One step beyond what? Beyond the ordinary to step into extraordinary. One step beyond mediocrity and a life of routine and safety. Familiarity. There is nothing wrong with routine and even safety. We need structure. In fact, it is an important element in fulfilling visions and creating the life we desire. But join me on a journey (okay, now The Twilight Zone theme song just popped in my head) of stepping beyond what is familiar and into what’s next. It’s okay if we don’t know what is next, exactly. But taking a step into that direction, even if it’s a wrong direction, is worth the experience that makes up this present time and space that you and I abide in.

Think about it. Let it breath newness to any staleness you may have. Maybe it’s starting a new exercise program. Or a new job or career path. Maybe it’s asking that guy or girl out. Maybe it’s taking that dance class you have always wanted to take even though your best friend won’t go with you. Your journey is yours and sometimes on that road, it is a solo performance. It does not mean you are alone, it just means you are alone to make some decisions that will pose the opporutnity to leap into your greatness…

One step beyond ordinary!

On a wavelength far from home

You remember the verse from that 80's song. Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio." I'll refresh you and trust me, it will all tie in. "I wish I was in Tijuana eating barbecued iguana. I'd take requests on the telephone, I'm on a wavelength far from home."

Wavelenghts have to do with the Law of Attraction. Though I am pretty sure the verse in that 80's song by Wall of Voodoo was not referring to the Law of Attraction.

What is the Law of Attraction? Basically, Like attracts Like. Whatever "wavelengths," signals or vibrations we are putting out or thinking, we are attracting. Positive or negative. A great illustration of wavelengths that equate to the Law of Attraction would be a tuning fork that gives off a vibration. When another tuning fork is placed next to it, it picks up the other tuning forks exact vibration or wavelength automatically. You remember that from music class in elementary school, right?

The Law of Attraction has the ability to give us whatever it is we hold in front of our thoughts, what we we are focused on. If we desire something in our lives that we are lacking, be it an extraordinary relationship, amazing career opportunity or success, better health or whatever you can imagine, if we focus only on limitations, excuses and reasons why not, we cut ourselves off from the Universe. Doing so only reinforces our belief of not receiving what we want. But if we are open to possibilities, if we allow the Universe the space to bring us the information, tools, and resources that can help us, we have changed our vibration or "wavelength" of what we send out enough to make a difference in our future experience. We have then created and designed our future.

Aside from that song being stuck in your head now, what thoughts are you thinking? What are you attracting? What do you want in life? You can create it. Expect the possibilities and watch the opportunities come your way. Create the life you desire.

A great tool for doing so is to create a Mind Movie. Mind Movie you ask? You can learn all about it by watching the video on the right side of this blog page and by
clicking here to listen to my friend Ryan Higgins, creator of Mind Movies, on my radio show. Be sure to click "Ryan Higgins" when you are on the page. You may need to scroll the show listings down.

Think it. Dream it. Expect it. Be it. Live it!

Rock your Verve,
Rachael

Showing Up

Donald Trump once stated "90% of success begins with just showing up."

The Donald was referring to business. I'm gonna take it a step further and refer to life. Do you show up in your life? In your relationships? Personally? Professionally? Intimately? What do you mean, Rach, show up? Let me break it down for you, what Donald is eluding to is you have to play in order to be in the game. Participate. Engage. Interface.

Are you fully participating in your life? Are there areas where you shut down, withdrawl, go silent, go missing, start something and not finish or get emotionally high-jacked in the midst of personal conflict, in difficulties or rough and uncomfortable situations? Check in with yourself without judgement. It's your journey. Sometimes showing up is the last thing we want to do, but success and greatness begins with "showing up." It's not easy, but it is courageous and doing so catapults us into deeper, more meaningful, authentic relationships and experiences.

So here's another fun point of view I'd like to propose on showing up. Rock star, on tour. In other words, living with engagement (rock star) and showing up "on tour" in your life.

Personally, I will always dream, do, reach, be and make my own personal development and enhancement a core value.

I will, in my mind, always be a....

Rock Star, On Tour FOREVER!

Do or Do Not, There is No Try

I probably have the attention of Star Wars fans now. Yoda proclaimed "Do or Do Not, There is No Try" in one of the Star Wars episodes(you can leave me a comment and tell me which one, I'd love to hear from you). James Ray of "The Secret" stated it simply during an interview on Oprah, "Try is Failure with Honor." Tell it like it is, Jimmy Ray! I appreciate no-nonsense.

I appreciate no-nonsense because I have found when we let go of our stories for "why" we can't (actually, we are saying "we won't") do or have something we want or desire, then we move into a freedom and are able to let go of our "reason" for, as James Ray puts it... "failing with honor." It takes courage and willingness. Both of which are the foundation of true transformation and elevating our greatness.

What are your "reasons" for not having what you want or being who and what you want to be? Go deeper. Beyond the story. Take personal responsibility. It's courageous... and freeing. And you'll find how much more energy and vitality you will have by letting go of those "reasons" and taking personal responsibility for what we have or do not have. And always remember, it is a journey. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

"The aim of life is self-development. To realize (awareness) one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for." ~Oscar Wilde

Synchronicity

Though your first thought might be my blog title is a reference to The Police's 1983 album entitled "Synchronicity," it's not. Stay with me though, I am going somewhere with this. One way I enjoy winding down is perusing the book store and chilling in a big over-stuffed chair with a book or magazine-du-jour.

Tonight after a long and wonderfully productive week, I wound down the early part of my Friday evening at a the local book store. I know what you're thinking. Rock star. She really knows how to live it up but it was what I needed today to transition down. And I had an intention and was on a mission when I decided to go the book store this evening. You see, I just booked my flight for a trip I've been planning for over a year. A safari in Africa this Fall. Going to Africa on Safari is one of the trips on my "life list" and I had been toying with the thought of adding a Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, Africa's highest peak. I'll already be in Africa. I like adventure. I like being in locations that are off the beaten path and experiences that are bigger than I am. It was an easy decision. I added Kilimanjaro to my trip. Doing so, I wanted to prepare beyond what I had already researched online so I went to devour the travel section at the book store.

As I settled in the narrow isle, perched on the tiny wooden step-up bench perfectly level with the shelf offering books on Tanzania, Nirobi and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the distraction began. A loud voice calling out the titles of various travel books to someone in an adjacent isle. I took a deep breath, slightly irritated. She continued. Now I was annoyed. Could she not see I was reading and know of the unspoken rule that talking is a no-no in areas where massive amounts of books reside? I made sure not to make eye contact with my intruder. Low and behold coming from the left about three feet away a chipper voice leaned down and called out "what are you reading?" The moment I opened my mouth to respond I made the choice to be open to connecting, nothing deep, and not irritatedly dismissing what could be a nice conversation. I cheerfully stated my reading choice on Tanzania and Mt. Kilimanjaro. I ended up chatting with the woman for almost 30 minutes in a wonderful exchange and appreciation of travel and adventurous experiences. She had traveled extensively to amazing locations and shared tidbits of her journeys. She was there looking at books on the Cook Islands in Chile for a trip her and her Astronomer husband were planning three years from now when a total eclipse of the sun will be taking place and most visible in that area. She's not my new best friend and I may never see her again but in that moment it was synchronicity. Not only did I have a pleasant exchange that refreshed me, there was a personal confirmation of the fabulous-ness of my adventures in Africa this Fall.

What opportunities could you be missing that might provide or allow you to receive encouragement, or a refreshing exchange that could breed opportunities in business or relationships by not being open or available? Next time you are in the book store, the grocery store, the gas station or just moving through life be open to this state of being and having synchronicity and see what doing so can add to and enrich your day, week, month or future.

I am intrigued and my mind is now ticking about the possibility of Chile and the Cook Islands in three years during the total eclipse of the sun. Had I not been open to conversating, I might not have known about such a sensory experience to embark on and travel to. Synchronicity. Maybe I'll see her in Chile.

Rock Your Verve,
Rachael

Strength, Courage & Wisdom

Strength, Courage & Wisdom. It's song number five on one of my favorite cd's by India Arie from her freshman album entitled "Acoustic Soul." She goes on to sing "...it's been inside of me all along."

Outward support and structure from friends and programs are incredibly beneficial and vital in supporting our goals and visions. However, knowing that we are an incredible source of strength, courage and wisdom unto ourselves is wonderfully re-powering and fulfilling. It compliments and is foundational to build upon our outward sources. It is within us.

In this song, India Arie has a bridge that goes a little something like this...
"I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see 'cause I know, now that I've opened up my heart, I know that anything I want can be, so let it be."

True dat, India. True dat (interpretation: isn't that the truth!)

Rock Your Verve,
Rachael