Laurie E. Smith's Blog, page 2

How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed and Get Unstuck (40+ Tips)

Ever notice how sometimes it’s easy to get things done, while other times it feels like walking through quicksand? It can be hard to motivate if we feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to get unstuck.

Most mornings, I roll out of bed raring to go. My mind is ready to write. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I get another burst of mental energy just before going to sleep at night.

During my usual afternoon energy slump, however, all bets are off. That’s when I’m most likely to feel overwhelmed...

How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed and Get Unstuck (39 Tips)

Ever notice how sometimes it’s easy to get things done, while other times it feels like walking through quicksand? It can be hard to feel motivated if we are overwhelmed and don’t now how to get unstuck.

Most mornings, I roll out of bed raring to go. My mind is ready to create. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I get another burst of mental energy just before going to bed at night.

However during my usual afternoon energy slump, I often feel completely overwhelmed. When I look at my long to-d...

A Solstice Tradition

Happy Winter Solstice!

I love this time of year. This week is the Solstice, the beginning of less darkness for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

Something our family has traditionally done as a Solstice tradition is asking ourselves:

What’s something that didn’t work well for you this year (something you’re done with and ready to LET GO)?

What’s something that did work well, or something new you would like to try in the New Year (something you want to invite in, a POSITIVE INTE...

A New Flow Strategy: Eliminating Friction

This past weekend, rain poured down as if the sky was crying its heart out. 55 mph winds knocked down trees, tipped over patio umbrellas, and sent trash cans rolling; it was a real temper tantrum.

Many years ago, on a similar rainy day, I went for a jog through the puddles and had the time of my life (see photo ). This past weekend, I was cuddled up under my favorite blanket by the fire, watching it from the inside looking out (still having the time of my life!)

Life is filled with unexpec...

Flow Connects Us to Our True Selves

When we do something we absolutely love to do, we often discover aspects of our True Selves that can change how we see ourselves and how we live. What I love most about offering my free Flow Challenges, where we do something daily that brings us joy and has the potential to get us into flow, is the self-discovery that happens.

During these Flow Challenges, I often get emails with stories and photos from those who have been participating. This one came from Carrie. Carrie’s email reminded me t...

The Dirt Diva ~ Flow Connects Us to Our True Selves

During our Flow Challenges, I often get emails with stories and photos from those who have been participating. This one came from Carrie. Carrie’s email reminded me that the greatest benefit of flow isn’t what changes on the outside of our lives. The benefit of flow is what happens on the inside–how we connect with our most creative selves, our True Selves, who we really are.

Intuitive art with plants created during 28-Day Flow ChallengeYour True Essence

After a flow experience, we of...

Research on Creative Flow

Following is an overview of research proving the benefits of doing a daily activity that brings us joy and sometimes gets us into a state of flow.

For those of you who have participated in my 28-Day Flow Challenges, I’m so excited there is extensive scientific research linking doing daily activities that bring us joy to good emotional and mental well-being.

This is one of the best videos (only 4 minutes!) I have seen about flow:

Video about brain activity during a flow state and h...

Can Flow Make Us More LOVING?

There seems to be a very powerful and mysterious connection between experiencing flow and seeing the world as a kind and loving place. During a past 28-Day Flow Challenge, Lyen chose to do daily nature walks as her daily joyful flow activity. However, Lyen put her own twist–with an extra focus on LOVE.

She sent me this message:

“Just got back from my meditative walk. Set my intention to look for manifestations of love. Saw tons of people walking with their dogs, and a dad holding his todd...

Flow and Miracles

Friends doing these 28-day flow journeys often email me, and tell me they feel newly connected with their inner guidance or start having more vivid dreams.

Others tell me about synchronicities that happen, new creative ideas for their businesses, or being in the “right” place at the “right” time. This is something I hear again and again. The more we get into a flow state, the more we seem to feel connected to and supported by a greater sense of flow.

Lizabeth (Instagram @perrymeuse) has participat...

Flow Calms Us

During a previous Flow Challenge, Letizia sent me the following note and photos of her artwork:
 
“It has been a lovely journey so far. Thank you so much for your wonderful inspirational emails – perfect bite-sized food for thought.

It has been interesting to observe how my 5 min (or often longer) drawing activity has not only influenced the tone of each day but has also shifted my mood and attitude over the longer term.

Holding myself accountable each day to take those 5 min just for myself wit...