Amy Hoppock's Blog, page 7

Where Am I Letting Fear Have Too Much Control Over Choices That I Make?

Questions have power! 32 Questions: A Personal Quest Through Questions is my book. This is your invitation to engage with important questions to ask yourself. This week is all about Question #8 in 32 Questions: Where Am I Letting Fear Have Too Much Control Over Choices That I Make? {ALSO- As we enter the Christmas Season, be sure and check out my E-book Christmas Presence{Linked here} It includes simple questions, a few reflections, to bring more {Purpose} {Pause} and {Presence} to your holiday season. Fear is not bad and fear is not the enemy, let’s begin there! Fear is a part of the family and it serves an important purpose. There are times when fear helps us and can literally save us. However, fear is pretty pushy and somewhat manipulative and with today’s question, we can begin to look at how we may be letting fear hold us back. There are different kinds of fear. The fear that you feel when you hear a noise in the middle of the night and your heart starts pounding; fear with a physiological reaction. That type of fear is easy to identify. It is not the kind of fear that holds us back from making choices. “Fear can have a voice, but it doesn’t get a vote.” Elizabeth Gilbert There is a much more subtle kind of fear, one that lurks just below the surface. The psychological fear we can identify exactly when it happens and why. Subtle fear is harder to identify and more chameleon-like. It shifts shape and shifts the words, but the underlying message is always the same: “I am not enough. I am not good enough, my thoughts are not smart enough, I don’t have what it takes, someone else is better so why should I.”Sometimes we “fancy” this message up and call it something like common sense, logic, wisdom, or even perfectionism. I am pretty proficient at giving into fear and giving it a respectable title. The past year has been a year of starting to identify the fear and move forward with fear; not let fear keep me still. “Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcomes, and fear hates uncertain outcomes.“ Elizabeth GilbertBig Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Subtle fear may ask these questions (and more). What will people think? What if I fail? What if they don’t understand what I am trying to do? What if . . . It is all too easy to dress these fears up in logic, perfectionism, and wisdom when really all we are doing is protecting ourselves and NOT naming the fear. Elizabeth Gilbert in her book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, has a lot of good things to say about fear and how it holds us back. She suggests that when we are going to start something we tell fear; it can come along on the ride, but it has to ride in the back seat and we will not be listening to any of its suggestions and for sure it doesn’t get to change the radio! (see the letter below) This approach to fear is so helpful. Fear IS a part of us and in all of us. But, fear can’t drive, can’t steer and for sure does not get to choose the soundtrack. Acknowledging fear (and then sending it to the back seat) is another way we move from reactive living (that stimulus/response pattern) to responsive living (something happens (PAUSE) then response.) (More on reactive and responsive living here.) Fear thrives off and grows with reactive choices. Fear is always in the driver’s seat when we are living in a reactive place. Another easy way to address fear is to ask, “What if it does work out?” “What if I can do this thing?” Change those “What if” questions from fear-based to success based! These questions are questions we can use in the PAUSE to quickly move from reactive to responsive. Where am I letting fear have too much control over choices that I make? Maybe it is time you have a talk with fear and tell fear to sit in the back seat! Dearest Fear: Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us because you always do. I acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life and that you take your job seriously. Apparently your job is to induce complete panic whenever I’m about to do anything interesting—and, may I say, you are superb at your job. So by all means, keep doing your job, if you feel you must. But I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused. And Creativity will be doing its job, which is to remain stimulating and inspiring. There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us, so make yourself at home, but understand this: Creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way. I recognize and respect that you are part of this family, and so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still—your suggestions will never be followed. You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.” Elizabeth Gilber {Excerpt from Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear} Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down. I’m super excited to be partnering with Genysys to lead this course. Maybe it’s something you would be interested in? I’d love to share more details.

The post Where Am I Letting Fear Have Too Much Control Over Choices That I Make? appeared first on The art of powering down.

2019 Reading Challenge-November Update

{As we enter the Christmas Season, be sure and check out my E-book Christmas Presence{Linked here} It includes simple questions, a few reflections, to bring more {Purpose} {Pause} and {Presence} to your holiday season. The practice of keeping track of the books I have read in a month is always surprising.  Technically I read 7, but I’m sharing 8 because I finished one on December 1st, and it’s appropriate for the season.  One book I’ve been reading slowly for several months, several of the books on my list this month were very short, quick reads (but enjoyable none-the-less)  Between November 3rd and 15th I didn’t finish a single book. I was pretty sure my reading kick was over, but then, I read one book, which led to another and before I knew it, I was off and reading again.  The lesson learned was, it’s okay to take some time off and keeping a list The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache) By Louise Penny “Fear lives in the head. And courage lives in the heart. The job is to get from one to the other.” ― Louise Penny, The Long Way Home The Nature of the Beast (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache) By Louise Penny “I mean some can predict the future because they create it,” said Rosenblatt. “Oh, not the good things. We can’t make someone love us, or even like us. But we can make someone hate us. We can’t guarantee we’ll be hired for a job, but we can make sure we’re fired.” He put down his apple cider and stared at Gamache. “We can’t be sure we’ll win a war, but we can lose one.” ― Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast I’m making my way through the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series.  They are such fun reads. The Nature of the Beast was my favorite of the two I read this month.  The story was SO far fetched, and yet based on a true story. (Think impossibly HUGE missile launchers hidden deep in the Quebec woods.)   The Writing Life by Annie Dillard Encounters with Chinese Writers by Annie Dillard “There is no shortage of good days. It is good lives that are hard to come by. A life of good days lived in the senses is not enough. The life of sensation is the life of greed; it requires more and more. The life of the spirit requires less and less; time is ample and its passage sweet. Who would call a day spent reading a good day? But a life spent reading — that is a good life.” ― Annie Dillard, The Writing Life There were my first two Annie Dillard books ever.  I read Writing Life first and enjoyed it so much I checked the library to see what else they had, of course, I couldn’t pass up a book about Chinese writers.  I really enjoyed both books and look forward to reading more by this noted author. The Way of Gratitude: Readings for a Joyful Life by Michael Leach (Editor) ” Under the influence of awareness, you become more attentive, understanding, and loving, and your presence not only nourishes you and makes you lovelier, it enhances them as well. Our entire society can be changed by one person’s peaceful presence. -Thich Nhat Hanh in The Way of Gratitude; Readings for a Joyful Life This book is fantastic.  It’s short essays on gratitude. Authors include Mary Oliver, J.K. Rowlings, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Rohr.  I used this as a morning reflective reading for several months. I’m reading another collection for Advent, Goodness and Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas that is already off to a great start.  These collections are very well done. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern “You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.” ― Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus I LOVED this book.  I didn’t know that Victorian Era fantasy novels were my thing.  But, apparently, they are. This book reminded me a bit of The Night Tiger which I read earlier in the year.  They both were set in distinct times and places, with an element of mystery, magic or just “possibility” that ran through the story.   I’ve been pondering this book since I finished it. It’s probably one that I should re-read because I’m sure I missed some of the depth just trying to figure out the story. If you are looking for a fun, beautiful, mysterious book, this is one to check out.  Morgenstern has a new book that was just released, I will be reading that soon. It was fun to discover a new author. The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us by Bruce Feiler This is the kind of non-fiction book that I love.  Feiler’s young daughter was looking at the Sistine Chapel ceiling and asked, “Where am I?” That led him to consider the implications of the Adam and Eve account in scripture. He dives into popular culture, religion, philosophy, social science, and feminism tracing the impact of Adam and Eve. A super interesting and important read.  Light of the World: A Beginner’s Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine Amy-Jill Levine is a Jewish scholar, she read the biblical accounts of Jesus’s birth from a Jewish perspective.   It’s a small book, that I found difficult to read. It just didn’t flow for me. I read one review that said it was “choppy” and I would have to agree. Several of the reviews mentioned a book that was similar but better written, The First Christmas by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.  I’m a chapter or two into this one, and I have to agree, it’s much better.  Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post 2019 Reading Challenge-November Update appeared first on The art of powering down.

What Are My Personal Blind Spots That I Have Been Unwilling To Look At?

Questions have power! 32 Questions: A Personal Quest Through Questions is my book. This is your invitation to engage with important questions to ask yourself. This week is all about Question #7 in 32 Questions: What are my personal blind spots that I have been unwilling to look at? {ALSO- As we enter the Christmas Season, be sure and check out my E-book Christmas Presence{Linked here} It includes simple questions, a few reflections, to bring more {Purpose} {Pause} and {Presence} to your holiday season. This is a tough question. It is a question that we should gently ask ourselves, with curiosity. With the expectation that we will learn something that can be helpful. Let’s embrace that we have room to grow! Room to grow means we are alive and engaged, that we care about ourselves and how we interact with those we love. Growth is good! Looking around with courage AND grace to see the opportunities for personal growth means we are engaged with our lives and not living on autopilot. The people closest to us could probably answer this question with great ease. It is a “blind” spot because we cannot or choose not to see it. We all have blind spots, it is not something that is unique to only you. It is a universal truth; a part of our shared human condition. Observing life has been a theme in conversations and reading over the past week. I was talking with a friend who has a lot of BIG things happening in life. After getting caught up on an overview of all “the things.” I asked him, “How do you manage all this and not go crazy? What tools are you using?” His answer was surprising, and not surprising all at once. He said, “I am a curious observer of my own life.” I could immediately see how that position was helping him be engaged and supportive; yet detached and not a victim of circumstances beyond his control. “If we can’t self-observe, we can’t self-correct.” Christopher L. Heuertz The Sacred Enneagram How do we identify and find our personal blind spots? These are a few questions that may be helpful. I heard someone talk about an exercise that could be another tool towards uncovering personal blind spots. He said that he wrote down all of his “self-talk” for a day. It is one thing to catch yourself, yelling, shaming or chastising yourself; it is another level to write it down. The step of writing his self-talk down was when it started to sink in that he often treated himself with great unkindness. After listing the ways that he talked to himself he had to imagine saying those words or phrases to a close friend. He said, “I would never say to a friend what I say to myself.” It is a difficult, but powerful exercise in self-observation. Perhaps listening to how we “speak” to ourselves for a day would start to provide some hints to the blind spots in our lives? Thinking about blind spots is not always easy; but, it is a tool for growth and awareness. It is how we grow, and growth means we are LIVING life, not letting life pass us by. Blind spots, like any of the 32 Questions is a question that we get to carry with us and let it roll around in our head and heart and observe what we learn as we live with the question. “Time is what we spend our lives with. If we are not careful we find others spending it for us. . . . It is necessary now and then for (one) to go away… and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of oneself, ‘Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?‘ . . . If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one’s time—the stuff of life.” ― Carl Sandburg Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down. Don’t forget to download Christmas Presences {Here}!!

The post What Are My Personal Blind Spots That I Have Been Unwilling To Look At? appeared first on The art of powering down.

Where Is There Abundance In Your Life?

Where is there abundance in your life?

The post Where Is There Abundance In Your Life? appeared first on The art of powering down.

Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life?

Questions have power! 32 Questions: A Personal Quest Through Questions is my book. This is your invitation to engage with important questions to ask yourself. This week is all about Question #6 in 32 Questions: Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life? Questions help us see and explore. There is inherent grace and curiosity in questions. Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life? This question shouldn’t be viewed as one more thing to add to the already too long to-do list. It’s a question to help us explore what we are doing right now and what opportunities there might be to make our lives fuller, simpler or better in a small, positive way. I wrote about this question last year. When I read that piece I realized that positive pattern stopped working for me after a while and is no longer a part of my life. And that is okay. We can try something for a time and as Marie Kondo has taught the world thank it for its service and move forward. (With no guilt or shame and recognize that it’s time for something new to teach us and shape us for a while.) Several months ago I was invited to do something new. The invitation was to write a daily Haiku. Once a month I share one Haiku with the two other Haiku writers and respond (called Haibun). I love words and putting words together. A Haiku is a seventeen syllable poetry form, that originated in Japan. The first line is five syllables, the next seven and the final line five. It’s an interesting form because it’s not counting words, it’s counting the parts of the word. I spend a lot of time clapping and using my fingers to measure the syllables of words now. Both when I’m writing a haiku and as I go through the day and hear interesting words. The practice of writing Haiku forces clarity. So many times what I want to say is six, seven or eight syllables and I have to rephrase and rework an idea to find the absolute essence of what I wish to communicate. Earlier this week we shared our Haiku and Haibun together. The other writers are new friends and we are learning about each other through seventeen syllables. One of the Haiku I had received was difficult on first reading. I wasn’t sure what the writer was really getting at. I sat and studied the words and wrote my response. As he shared his thought process and meaning it was amazing to realize we had all understood the essences of his thoughts. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to add this new habit and pattern to my routine. It always feels a bit daunting. Can I do this? Will it help me? Is it worth the time? Will I like the people? The rewards of this new pattern continue to unfold. The practice of finding the absolute essence of meaning and putting together simple words to communicate clearly is flowing over into other areas of my life. This one practice has given me a new lens to view words and the art of communication. Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life? Choose to focus on the positive. This question is not about changing a bad habit or a negative pattern. It IS about adding something of joy, interest, and value to your life. You have permission to try something new and decide if it is a positive pattern or a helpful habit. Sometimes things look good on paper, but when we actually try them it doesn’t work. In that case, let it go and move on! Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life? This should not be a question that brings guilt. Let this be a light-hearted question of curiosity. If you decide to add something let it be positive, helpful and something that serves you! Looking for another Haiku? Check out this one from Micheal Kroth at Profound Living. He introduced me to the art and practice of Haiku and I look forward to his words every month. Do you want me to send you a Haiku postcard (real mail) sometime? Send me a message or comment below and I’ll surprise you in the next few months with a Haiku!) Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post Where can I add a new habit or positive pattern into my life? appeared first on The art of powering down.

Reading Challenge-October Update

I spent (almost) all October with Inspector Gamache, the mystery series by Louise Penny that I can’t stop reading. The stories are so engaging, thought-provoking, surprising and strangely comforting. That’s not to say these murder mysteries don’t have dark turns, scary moments and heart-pounding suspense.  Because they have all that too. I read a total of 7 books in September. They included books 5-9 of the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. The Beautiful Mystery was my favorite, it was set in a remote monastery in Quebec. It was truly a BEAUTIFUL mystery. I forced myself to read 2 non-Louise Penny books this month. They were surprisingly similar. Five Things I love about the Inspector Armand Gamache Series by Louise Penny. Inspector Armand Gamache. He commands leadership, not through power (which he has) but through kindness, restraint, thoughtful reflection and observation. It’s refreshing to read about someone who is governed by kindness, respect, wisdom, and patience.  These aren’t always the qualities of leadership that are written about. Penny makes a strong case for rethinking what leadership qualities and character are most effective. Three Pines. Three Pines is the small, almost hidden, appearing on no map, village that time seemingly left behind. It is the place where most of the stories are set. I’m a small-town girl at heart.  Three Pines is appealing for many reasons, but the people are what I love the most. The people who make up the community we come to know (and love) in Three Pines are diverse, flawed, interesting, talented people.  They practice hospitality with grace. People are accepted for who they are, flaws and all. It’s beautiful. Wisdom. I don’t often find myself underlining or pondering sentences or quotes from fiction books.  In Every book I’ve underlined something that is profound, meaningful or thoughtful.  “The four sayings that lead to wisdom: I was wrong I’m sorry I don’t know I need help” – Louise Penny “Life is choice. All day, everyday. Who we talk to, where we sit, what we say, how we say it. And our lives become defined by our choices. It’s as simple and as complex as that. And as powerful. so when I’m observing that’s what I’m watching for. The choices people make” ― Louise Penny, Still Life The characters.  The only other series that I have felt as connected to the characters is, of course, Harry Potter. I’m 9 books into this series and I love continuing to learn more about Inspector Gamache, Claire, Peter, Gabi, and Oliver. With each story, we come to know more about the joy, pains, and character of the people who make up the stories. Each book is like reconnecting with old friends. The Bistro in Three Pines.  It’s a place I want to spend my time.  The Bistro is a delightful meeting place in the center of Three Pines. They serve French pastries, licorice pipes, antiques, a warm fire, comfortable chairs, hot cider with cinnamon sticks and freshly baked bread.  Louise Penny writes about food in a very inviting way.  I did read two other books this month, not authored by Louise Penny. A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.  This is the memoir of Joan Didion’s first year after the surprise death of her husband.  It was a lovely, heart-breaking book. This was my first book by Joan Didion. She reminded me a lot in her style, pace and voice of Madeleine L’Engle.  “A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.” ― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking My final book of October was, The Rock That Is Higher: Story as Truth by Madeleine L’Engle.  I started this book last year and had not finished it.  I was drawn back to this book after reading the Joan Didion one.  Both women are professional writers who take their craft seriously.  They were married to artists (actor/writer). They have affection for their Episcopalian roots and the liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer echo ever so gently in both of their writings.  Both live and write in New York. “One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how wrong somebody is—how shallow it is to look at the Resurrection as a mere, explainable fact—when I see only the mistakenness of others, then I am blinded to their being children of God, who are just as valued and treasured as are those who more nearly agree with me.” ― Madeleine L’Engle, The Rock That Is Higher: Story as Truth Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post Reading Challenge-October Update appeared first on The art of powering down.

What Is My Heart Telling Me That I Need to Listen To?

“Heart” comes from the Latin cor and points not merely to our emotions but to the core of the self, that center place where all of our ways of knowing converge — intellectual, emotional, sensory, intuitive, imaginative, experiential, relational, and bodily, among others. The heart is where we integrate what we know in our minds with what we know in our bones, the place where our knowledge can become more fully human. Cor is also the Latin root from which we get the word courage. When all that we understand of self and world comes together in the center place called the heart, we are more likely to find the courage to act humanely on what we know.” ~Parker Palmer In Healing the Heart of Democracy How do we listen to our hearts?  What does that even mean? Sometimes it is easier to listen to friends, family, a favorite author or teacher, anyone rather than listen to our own heart. Listening to our hearts is tuning into our longings, hopes, dreams, and our tears.  Those thoughts that catch us off guard.  The things that scare us. I read recently the things that really scare us are the things that matter the most. I know I am listening to my heart when something feels “just right” and “a little crazy” all at once.   There is a sense of “yes” and “what am I thinking” all jumbled together. The heart is subtle, but persistent when trying to get our attention.  When I think back on the “heart-telling” moments in my life, they are big and small moments.  Sometimes small interesting ideas the “pop-up” is what listening to my heart looks like. Other times my heart has helped me make big, important, life-shaping decisions.  Listening to our heart is a task and tool that is for big and small decisions. We error when we categorize listening to our heart as something that we do for the “big” things. Our heart is available to guide us in all decisions. There have been times when my heart whispered an important insight long before I was ready to listen. It is funny how our heart is always right.  There have been times when I have known my heart was saying, “not the right path.” I choose to listen to my logical, “smart” brain, only to end up making a mess of things. Later I realized, when my heart told me, that was not the right path, it was right. If I would have listened then I could have saved myself at minimum some frustration. It is all too easy to become disconnected from our hearts. The more that I listen to what my heart is telling me, the more “it speaks”.  There are also times when I forget or stop listening to my heart and it will be quiet and still. What we focus on expands.  The “shoulds” and the “oughts” are a hint that it is not from the heart.  I should go see that person, I really ought to volunteer for that thing.  Should means: “to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness.” (That is straight from the dictionary, the primary definition of the word).  Obligation, duty, and correctness do not feel like heart words. Those words feel like words of expectation and conforming (preforming) for others. KEY: Any time a thought starts with “I should. . . ” it is worth stopping to consider, “Is this my heart telling me or is this my head telling me?” What does it look and feel like when you listen to your heart? Can you identify times in your life where you DID listen to your heart? How did you know it was your “heart telling”?  What about times you listened to the “shoulds” and “oughts” over your heart? Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post What Is My Heart Telling Me That I Need to Listen To? appeared first on The art of powering down.

How Can I Plan My Life/Day Around What I Truly Value?

Questions have power! 32 Questions: A Personal Quest Through Questions is my book. This is your invitation to engage with important questions to ask yourself. This week is all about Question #4 in 32 Questions: How can I plan my life/day around what I truly value? I like this question because it is obvious, and yet easy to overlook and never really answer for ourselves. When we take the time to be clear I think it helps everything flow a bit easier in our busy, complicated lives. Any tool that helps relieve complications is worth considering. When we are living unaware (unreflective or reactive) we are not actively considering how to arrange our day to day decisions around our values. Taking time to identify our values and think about how to live based on those is a powerful shift. Moving from being unaware to being aware does not have to be hard. It does need attention. My theory is most people have two complementary (or competing) sets of values. I like to think of them as “aspirational values” and “operational values.” Aspirational Values are the values that we aspire to. The ideals that we hold and believe in, but we might not always achieve. Operational Values are the default values that we actually live by. An example might be helpful: Aspirational value is telling the truth. The Operational value is telling the kids that McDonald’s is closed on Sundays to avoid a huge meltdown and conflict. The operational value is peace. We may value telling the truth, but when faced with truth or peace, we choose a “white lie” to achieve peace! There is something subtle that happens when we say one thing and do another time after time. At the heart level, we start to wonder if we can trust ourselves. The internal conflict over “what I say” and “what I do” is not a fun place to live. It produces guilt and confusion at a deep level. This is why it is helpful to acknowledge our aspirational values and our operational values. At the very least when we are clear that two different forces are at work within us. Then the operational values have less guilt-inducing power. The easiest way to do this is to write two lists. Write your aspirational values; the values that you want to have, that you believe matter, the things that your faith, family or friends talk about. Then write a list of your operational values, the values that you actually live by. I have an aspirational value of shopping local. I see the impact that shopping at the farmers market and local shops has for real people. I love all the impacts of that decision. Yet, my operational value is efficiency and ease. So, given the choice of going to the farmers market and three other local shops to get what I need or swinging by the closest big-box grocery store, I am going to choose the big grocery store or Amazon almost every time. When I identify the tension, it has less guilt-inducing power. When it comes to talking about values, I say tell yourself the truth. How would your days look different if oriented around your true values? There are things that we have to do. Dishes are not going to clean themselves and laundry (unfortunately) does not fold itself. The question to consider is: would anything change if I lived a day, a week, a month or a year informed by what I value? Would you make different choices? If you had a clear understanding of your values, operational and aspirational would that help you structure your time with more intention? Resources: Question 1,-What does my ideal day/week/year look like? This was my first essay from 32 Questions. Reactive and responsive living is really what this question is about too. How to Transform Podcast: 4 Approaches to the Future In my conversation with Ray on our podcast, How to Transform, we talk about one of my favorite tools, the 4 Approaches to the Future. A lot of my thinking about values is influenced by this concept, on this podcast you get to learn about it directly from Ray! Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post How Can I Plan My Life/Day Around What I Truly Value? appeared first on The art of powering down.

Reading Challenge-September Update

This month was a month of reading surprises! I found a series that I’m loving and keep picking up the next book almost the instant I finish the books before. (My October reading maybe entirely this series!) I read a book about sweetgrass, corn, the movement of frogs, basket making and the power of gratitude. I laughed out loud and found myself moved to tears more than once as I walked through each essay in this wonderful book. Finding an all-consuming series and wonderful writing about grass- these types of surprises are what make the reading life such a wonderful adventure. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series by Louise Penny Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1)A Fatal Grace (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #2)The Cruelest Month (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #3)A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #4) I LOVE this murder mystery series, I can’t stop reading it. These books about murder investigations are comforting and beautiful, in a surprising way. Chief Inspector Gamache is the head investigator of murders in Quebec. For the most part, these are set outside of Quebec in a quaint little town deep in the woods near the Vermont border. Three pines is a town that time forgot. The books focus on the humanity of the living more than murder scenes and scary storylines. Inspector Gamache is a true gentleman and renaissances man. You can feel his kindness, empathy and commanding leadership through the pages. The author, Louise Penny writes with such beauty about the people, scenery, and food. They are lovely, enchanting books. As I’m progressing through the series I see a larger story is unfolding about the characters, but it moves at such a gentle, comforting pace. This series has been on my radar for a while, I’m glad I finally took the time to start reading them. Life is a choice. All-day, every day. Who we talk to, where we sit, what we say, how we say it. And our lives become defined by our choices. It’s as simple and as complex as that. And as powerful. so when I’m observing that’s what I’m watching for. The choices people make” ― Louise Penny, Still Life Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer Will Schwalbe (author of Books for Living, a book I enjoyed earlier this year) believes that anytime you knock over a book in a bookstore, it means you have to buy it. The book has chosen you. I didn’t knock this book over, but it caught my eye at two different book stores. I knew it was choosing me, and I’m so glad it did. It is a collection of essays, exactly as the subtitle says; indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teaching of plants. It’s beautiful, disturbing, awe-inspiring and hopeful. There were essays that brought me to tears, and others that made me giggle and I’ll never look at corn, beans, and squash (called the three sisters in indigenous wisdom traditions) the same way again. It’s not a quick read, I slowly savored each essay. “Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them. Introduce yourself. Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life. Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer. Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need. Take only that which is given. Never take more than half. Leave some for others. Harvest in a way that minimizes harm. Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. Share. Give thanks for what you have been given. Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken. Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.” Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants Sharing Silence: Meditation, Practice and Mindful Living by Gunilla Norris I found this book in the most wonderful used book store in Pullman Washington. It was a narrow little space with tight shelves and used books overflowing in piles on the floor. I could have spent all day. My kids, not so much. I love the adventure of a used bookstore. You never know what you might find. I had heard a few people mention and quote Gunilla, so when I found this book, I bought it. Her writing is some of my favorite kind of writing; poetic, lyrical, simple and profound. I look forward to reading more. Politicians and visionaries will not return us to the sacredness of life. That will be done by ordinary men and women who together or alone can say, “Remember to breathe, remember to feel, remember to care, let us do this for our children and ourselves and our children’s children. Let us practice for life’s sake.” ― Gunilla Norris The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo When I was not-so-patiently-waiting for my next Inspector Gamache book to arrive from the library this book came up on a Kindle Daily Deal. It was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick with compelling reviews. I enjoyed this book. It was magical and a bit mysterious. It reminded me a bit of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, a book that I read earlier this year set in Myanmar. I love when authors are able to capture the mystical culture of Asia. It’s the story of a young orphan boy, a British doctor, and a young girl, that are drawn together in a strange and mystical way. The story jumps between different characters and their storylines, I wondered at times how in the world it was all going to come together, and yet it did. A very beautiful book. “In Cantonese, two was a good number because it made a pair. Three was also good because it was a homophone for sang, or life. Four, of course, was bad because it sounded like death. Five was good again because it made a complete set, not just of the Confucian Virtues, but also for the elements of wood, fire, water, metal, and earth.” ― Yangsze Choo, The Night Tiger Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post Reading Challenge-September Update appeared first on The art of powering down.

How Am I Blocking My Own Success?

Questions have power! 32 Questions: A Personal Quest Through Questions is my book. This is your invitation to engage with important questions to ask yourself. This week is all about Question #3 in 32 Questions: How and where am I blocking my own success and forward momentum? This question is not my favorite.  It is a question that cuts through all excuses and rationalizations and gets to the heart of it.   It takes away the “victim option” and forces us to look at our own actions and attitudes. It is painful to admit that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. Elizabeth Gilbert says,  “your family knows what buttons to push because they installed them.”  This is true.  As individuals, we also know our own fears and insecurities better than anyone else.  We know our own buttons to push, and sometimes can push them and stop (block) ourselves without even realizing it. (It’s not only me, is it?)  We face a dilemma any time we try to move forward; start something new, break out of old habits or set our sights towards growth.  We are working with two forces: growth and inertia (the tendency to remain unchanged)  Growth says, follow your heart, explore, learn, expand.   Inertia says do not move and everything will be just fine. Inertia is really our reptilian brain.  The reptilian brain has an important task to keep us safe.  Safe can be staying in what is known, even if it is not the best thing.  Growth is moving into unknown territory and in direct conflict with the job of the reptilian brain. Both the desire for growth and our reptilian brain are part of our human wiring.   We live in paradox, two opposite forces within us, asking for our attention. No wonder life is hard! How and where am I blocking my forward momentum and success? One of my favorite methods is to rationalize why not. I am a thinker, I solve problems by thinking.  I use that skill to block myself, I will overthink anything. I can also quite easily identify all the reasons why it would be safer to just stay where I am than move forward with any growth or change.   Thinking is one way, others may use feelings a block. “I just don’t feel it.” “My heart is telling me…” We all have our preferred block method.  This question is asking us to identify our default block style.  Once we understand our natural tendency and preferred style it can be a little bit easier to spot when we start to use these tricks and tools on ourselves. It is easy to rationalize that this question is for someone else, someone more interested in success or someone working in a different job.  It is a question for all of us.  No matter what our definition of success, (which is a great thing to consider as well,) we are probably finding creative and tricky ways to “block” ourselves. Some blocks might sound like... “I don’t have time.” “Others would feel bad if I… “ “I’m not very good at…” “I don’t deserve…” “I will start tomorrow…or the day after that… ”  Defining Success… Success is a confusing word.  Success tends to get closely associated with; a big following, being wealthy or famous. I think we can take back the word and use it better. Success in the dictionary means a favorable or desired outcome.  That is a definition that has more meaning in my life.  It is a success if dinner is not burned and even better if everyone eats it without complaining.  That is a desired and favorable outcome!  Don’t write off this question because it contains the word success. Rather think about what success actually means to you. It is uncomfortable to think about the big and small ways that we block ourselves.  It forces us to be real about the ways we talk to ourselves and the things we focus on, and the things we choose not to focus on.   This question forces us to take responsibility for our own actions.  It is way easier to give others credit for blocking our success when really it could be our own thoughts and actions that provide the biggest block.  I do not like this question.  But, I am going to continue to ask it.  What about you? Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

The post How Am I Blocking My Own Success? appeared first on The art of powering down.