questioning

sometimes the questions are more important than the answers

we value answers. people like the quick fix, solutions, end points, and having a clear expectation of what is to come. 

there is nothing wrong with answers- they are needed, warranted and important.  but what happens when the answers that we are seeking begin to eclipse the original question that brought them up in the first place?

throughout my ongoing study of intrinsic motivation, this concept has really began to stand out for me and can really applied to any circumstance, thought, short term decision, long term commitment…to life.

we have a tendency to use our energy, focus, and time on scrambling to get to the next step, cross it off the list, lose those last 10 lbs, become happy in our relationships, learn to manage our money, or any other area of our life that we tend to be challenged in…while in fact we are not that clear on the question that we are working so hard to find the answer too.

what are you wanting?

action steps, goals, and strategies are meaningless endeavors if you are unclear to what is most important to you. 

what are you wanting?

have you ever taken the time to explore and think about what it is you are truly wanting for yourself relative to your true goals or overall wellbeing?

what is it deep inside that you are wanting for yourself and what is most important to you?

i can tell you that it’s usually not a number, a dollar sign, or an award but rather a feeling or state of being …something you cannot put a price tag on.  it is something that is driven by you because it provides purpose and a value that cannot be defined by anyone else. 

if it is truly important to you…you will find a way to make it happen and your next steps will be apparent.

that is a true goal. 

make your goal the most important – keep your focus on goal, not the problems that happen along the way.

be flexible.

be determined.

be invested.

many times we work so hard to find the answers…and never take the time to understand what our question is. slow down and trust the process.

be purposeful in your endeavors. time is such a gift and should be spent on creating the life you want based on what is most important to you. 

as you look at past challenges and future hopes- take the time to ask the question.

sometimes the question truly is more important than the answer.

emerge

this week I had the opportunity to lead and facilitate an internal goal setting workshop.  we talked about goals and what the participants are really wanting relative to their overall wellbeing moving forward.  it was an awesome learning experience for me and really provided insight on how much people dwell on past “failures”, attempts, and setbacks to determine their present and future capabilities...and what a waste of time that is.

below is just what emerged for me after working with, listening, and just being with the participants.  i always love to share what i learn.

first, I dare to share a small piece of reality with you: you’re a fantastic person on an exciting journey, in the beginning or middle of creating a life that you want. building, growing, and moving forward is like building anything else - you build one brick at a time.  appreciate and celebrate the small steps- they really do equal miles.

• think positive and surround yourself with positive people. don't let unwarranted criticism affect you. know the naturally supportive and positive people in your life and choose to surround yourself with them…people that build you up and love you for the magnificent person that you are. speak positively and be kind to yourself…your thoughts will follow suit.

• be engaged. involve yourself in something that is both good for you and consistent with your expressed goals. feel good about yourself, you have to treat yourself as if you are already someone worthy of respect and good treatment…and you are. be engaged with positive activities, environments, and relationships that align with a healthy and balanced life.

• perfection is impossible. creating and living a perfect life is not going to happen…instead aim for doing the best you can with what you have and know that is good enough. success is contagious. you do not have to be perfect…just willing, honest, and able to trust yourself.

• positive mistakes despite a common line of thinking, a mistake does not make you a failure. in fact, it’s a sign that you are growing and simply given an opportunity to learn. stretch yourself to be uncomfortable every day by facing challenges, learning from them, and moving forward.  mistakes are just the catalyst for learning.

finally, always start the day right. remind yourself that you are a worthy, wonderful, valuable individual. you deserve to live up to your potential and embrace the wonderful person that is in you…don’t be the one person that holds you back.

it doesn’t matter where you have been. we live. we learn.

it only matters where you are now and where you want to go.

begin anywhere.

what can you do today to get you one step closer to a better tomorrow?

merci tuesday!

It's Merci Tuesday…you know what that means….we have good stuff to report!

My favorite things today…

1. Sleeping in the rain last night….well I wasn’t in the rain but it was raining outside. I love that.

2.     A client meeting….at a cheese plant. In Wisconsin. Enough said.

3.     I saw a really cute old couple (like 80 year old …that old) walking and holding hands. I love that too.

4.     A banana with nutella.

5.     I am a guest facilitator this week for an online grad course through MSU- I love being involved with others learning…I learn just as much as they do. 

6.     SPRING!

7.     I know more today than I did yesterday…love progress.

8.     My brother.

9.     Sounds crazy…but when someone just takes a moment to ask how you are doing…and they actually care about how you respond.

1.    I am tired…just means today was just filled with good stuff, action, and activity.  Being tired means you worked for it. I love that.

Hope your today was better than your yesterday…but not as good as your tomorrow.  

Remember to always remember your good stuff.

yOuR mOmEnT

FrIdAy FuEL



Looking back: this past week has been a big training week. Time. Intensity. Recovery. Repeat.  To round out the work week- this morning I had a 14 mile run with a special efforts thrown in the mix.  My legs were not as cooperative as normal from the start which can equal a battle between the mind and the body.

It was near the end that I had my moment.  It was the moment when everything told me to just stop…except for that little voice that said that – keep going. Sometimes the little guys do come out on top. 

The moment you are able to overcome, breakthrough, persist and just simply NOT GIVE UP is the moment where you grow, expand, learn, and push your limits just a little farther out. 

Looking Forward: Moments are relative…and can certainly last longer than a brief period of time.  Moments can be defined by finally letting go of the negative in order to create more space for something positive, taking a risk because if anything- you are bound to learn something, taking the first step towards significant change, working through loss and keeping hope of a promising future alive, or simply not pressing stop because that will not get you any closer to your ultimate goal.

Whatever your short or long term moments are made of: Keep at it.  Know the moments of weakness are the same moments that will someday define your strength.

Own your moment.

Be a fighter.

You got this.

danke tuesday!

dAnKe, TuEsDay!

back at it...another day with more opportunities to live out loud, have new adventures, and share yourself with the world. top ten blessings:

1. a whole lot of sun
2. a successful client meeting...first one down.
3. 10 hours of sleep 
4. sarah's almond biscotti...flavor parade for your mouth
5. phone calls with mom kratz
6. a plant delivery for me at work...love me some green.
7. compression socks to prep for tomorrows training brick.
8. meeting new people...new ways of thinking
9. a walk around Calhoun
10. the fact i get to get up tomorrow and do it all over again.

more often than not- we get hung up on focusing on the challenges, whats wrong, and all the obstacles that often get in our way in every element of our lives.  take the time to remember all the RIGHT things, people, experiences, and moments.  Keep your focus on the positive contributions you can make to those around you...and you will feel just as good as they do.

Chin up. If you had a tough day...focus on what went right and know that you have the chance to have an even better day tomorrow.  Make it what you want it to be.

iF

fRiDay FuEl 

“If” is such a big word for being only two letters.  Within that I and F are such possibilities. Such potential. Such power to become.  Exploring IF’s can be a relevant journey of thought…think about it:

WHAT IF…

• The secret to success is failure
• The timing is always right
• You came to realization that you are capable of more than you ever thought
• The benefit almost always outweighed the risk
• Living outside the lines became more common than staying in a safe place
• A smile was easier than a frown.
• You realized that you are not valued by the number of 0’s on your pay check, the number of trophies and awards you earn, the amount of friends you have on facebook, the kind of car you drive, the square footage of your house…but rather by your ability to love and be loved, to create memories, to offer your best to those around you…and to yourself.
• You started to do all the things you usually just talk about
• Rushing, moving, doing slowly turned into just being
• You realized that you have the ability to turn a life around…just by showing up.
• You were just a little more gentle with yourself…and dared to be fearless
• Listening hard, living with intention, learning, and appreciation were common staples of everyday life
• Living the dream really can be your reality- if you let it happen…after all, its just perspective.

More importantly…

What if you your personal IF’s truly became your WHEN’s and your WHEN’s became your NOW? 

DO IT: Pick just one of your own IF’s…make it your one NOW. (every if counts...even the small ones)

You got this. 

Happy weekend!

top tens

Its Grazie Tuesday!
Why would we not want to dedicate every Tuesday to favorite blessings? Here we go. Top Ten in no real order...

1. the opportunity to jump in a cool pool of water for a 2 mile swim at 4:45 am. 
2. Lifetime Fitness Plymouth has Woodway treadmills. I get to use them. BONUS.
3. RJF has Caribou coffee. fresh. everyday. 
4. Went out for lunch with new fun people...I like new fun people.
5. My St.Louis Park family gets back from CALI tonight! yay!
6. It was 62'. in March. enough said.
7. I got a care package of good stuff in the mail. 
8. I still get excited when my favorite song comes on the radio at just the right time. it happened. and yes, i turned the volume up. loud.
9. My work neighbor shared dark chocolate espresso beans. dang. those are good.
10. This kid:

what are you thankful for? let those blessings outshine those challenges...cause even the challenges are blessings. true story.

defined.

happy monday.made it through my first official monday on the new job and even drove home WITHOUT my GPS. thats right folks. this girl knows her way home. i am off training today so am resting my little legs and writing for the second day in a row. yeah baby

...and back to the beginning. in case you did (or maybe didn't) notice the title for this craziness is uPnUp. its not only a new word- but more of an attitude.  sometimes stuff brings you down. don't let it. sometimes people try to get you down. don't let them. sometime you may even bring yourself down. don't do it.
stop.
pause.
and think the one simple yet powerful word: UP. (or you can do the two for one special and throw them together: uPnUp)
life gets so much better when you think up.
try it.
double dare you.
title explanation done.
make it a good week.

shake it

i got this.
i have always thought about doing this...life in words. never thought i had the time or would make the time to see it through...change is inevitable. lets do it.
last week i moved, started a new job and flipped to a new chapter in life. to say that taking the leap was easy would be a slight understatement. i was content. i was happy. i was not looking to change things up. but when God presents opportunities - i choose to think about them and pull the trigger when it makes sense. this made sense to me. to keep it simple: sometimes one has to be bold, be brave, and simply believe that there can be more if you are willing to seek it out. i am on a journey to discover, explore, and truly maximize all i have and can be.  for me, that means stepping outside the box, being open to new terrain and jumping in with both feet.  the unknown can be a scary place...but its also the place where all the magic happens. i refuse to settle for the routine when life is all about shaking it up. lets get shaking.
tomorrow is a new day. new options. new choices. new adventures. new people. new places. new opportunities.
make sure you shake it up.

you got this.