General Archives - Page 3 of 27 - Create A Life You Love

What station are you “tuned” into?

What if there are “realities” and things you want to experience that you cannot see, you cannot tap into, because of the “station” you’re tuned into?

I was just reflecting on this as I drove one of our sons to drop a car at the local Meineke this morning, then shared it in our morning coffee chat with a fellow dad, and finally created a little video about it.

Now I thought you might enjoy reflecting on this, too!

In short, we’re all “tuned into” certain beliefs and patterns of thinking and self-talk — often unconsciously — that create a kind of filter that only allow us to “see” things that reinforce our beliefs or match our pattern.

Hence, in a sense, what we believe — what we’re constantly thinking, talking about, and saying to ourselves — becomes our “reality”, and nothing else “exists” for us.

I had a mini experience of this recently when Rachelle drove off unknowingly with my sunglasses and I wanted to take a bike ride. As my eyes were still feeling sensitive to the pollen in the air, I was bummed at first, wondering what to do.

Then I just “accepted” the situation and decided I was going to bike anyway and enjoy the ride.

As soon as I relaxed, an idea came to me — why not use one of the clear “glasses” that we have for protecting our eyes when using power tools?

Now just a moment before, those glasses didn’t “exist” for me — they didn’t exist in my reality, and I couldn’t “access” them.

But as soon as I relaxed my own reaction to the situation, all of a sudden I was able to “tune into” another channel, and get another idea — and in a sense, “manifest” something out of thin air!

Now you may be saying those glasses were already there — but for me they weren’t, until that moment that I became aware of them.

How about for you?

What might be “already there” around you that you can’t yet “see”, because of certain beliefs, reactions, or self-talk — and what if you were to relax a moment — release your current thinking, beliefs, or patterns — and make room for something new, for a new idea, a new possibility, even a new way of being?

What might you discover?

Have fun pausing and playing with this idea.

Yours in wellbeing,

Ben

P.S. Ready to get more tips to thrive by email? Join me here.

Are you choosing your programming?

Ever feel like you’re continually getting pulled in multiple directions? Like there’s always something vying for your attention?

In a sense, we’re all being programmed, or influenced, all the time.

The question is – are we choosing our programming?

Are we choosing what we’re giving our attention to, what we’re listening to, and what we’re thinking and talking about, or is someone or something else determining that for us?

What if we all took moments in our day to “step away”, to turn off outside media, voices, the news – and even step away from emails, messages, and others’ requests – and “tuned in” to silence…

…to space

…to stillness

And perhaps to our “inner voice”, nudges, inspiration, and inner knowing?

Ever get a great idea while walking?

Or in the shower?

We live in a busy world, and there are so many things calling for our attention.

Perhaps two conscious steps we can take are to choose what we’re listening to – something that stretches us, challenges us, or lifts our mood and makes us feel good.

And then second – to take moments in our day to “unplug” even for 60 seconds – to be still, go for a walk, listen, journal, and allow space for something besides what’s coming to us externally.

One place I’ve practiced this is at the kitchen sink, or pausing between activities to just be still a moment – perhaps place my palm over my heart, take a few deep breaths, or say a little prayer or affirmation for the day. This immediately shifts my nervous system and reconnects me to more than just my external circumstances.

How about you? Ready to choose your “programming”, and then even to step away at times from all programming and listen within? Or have you been practicing this already? If so, would love to hear what’s working for you, and what you’ve noticed along the way!

Where does your value come from?

I tend to read multiple books at the same time (especially my non-fiction ones), and one of the books Rachelle and I have really been enjoying lately is Kyle Cease’s The Illusion of Money.

He has a chapter in there called “Raising Your Value” that sparked some thoughts today regarding something that many of us face in life — whether in our career, our relationships, or our work as an entrepreneur — and which can profoundly affect how we feel and how we show up — and ultimately the results we create, too.

First a question —

Where does your value come from?

Many of us may have an initial spiritual answer — our faith, our Creator, our family, love — and we also believe each of us has an intrinsic value.

But how many of us often “forget” this value when we’re engaging with the world, and especially when we’re in business or marketing a product or service, or paying our bills?

So here’s a question for us all as we go through our day, interacting with the world, posting on social media, and engaging in conversations:

Where does our value come from? Are we needing external validation — whether it’s a title, promotion, our bank account, our results, or others’ perception and response to us — or are we letting our creativity, gifts, joy, and intention flow through us into our work, our posts, our conversations, our day regardless of how people seem to respond?

What if we chose to let what inspires and energizes us flow through us and approached our day and our interactions with a bit of curiosity and even a sense of adventure?

What if we allowed ourselves to create, share, and — as one of my key mentors whom many of you know, Artemis Limpert, says — “beacon out” without being attached to the outcome?

What if we “showed up” in life or our work or business with the thought “I am an amazing person, and I see your brilliance, too. Let’s see if we can partner and create something magnificent together?”

Those of you who journal, you might enjoy taking a moment to write a couple thoughts that are stirring in you right now. And feel free to share them in the comments below — I’d love to hear what’s stirring in you!

Then expand your awareness as you bring these thoughts to how you show up in your day.

Food for thought as we go forward creating a life we love.

Enjoy!

P.S. Get more tips to Thrive with Dr. Ben by email here.

Dadpreneurlife – Adventure Week With the Kids

Just created this “dadpreneurlife” video at Rachelle‘s suggestion – a combo of life and business and a recent “adventure week” with the kids. Perhaps it will inspire you in creating your own adventures!

Special thanks to the guys at Quest Outdoors here in Louisville – though they didn’t make it into the video, I did stop by in the middle of the week and they hooked us up with a fun solar light and a great map of Red River Gorge.

What’s one of your favorite “mini” adventures, or one you’re planning this year?

Enjoy!

P.S. Get more tips to Thrive with Dr. Ben by email here.

What’s your Kryptonite? (Guest post from Rachelle)

So we all know the story of Superman and how kryptonite made him ineffective. His experience gives an intriguing perspective on our own.

We all wrestle with things that take us out from reaching our potential, or thriving in our relationships.

One of the benefits of being in free enterprise with Ben for over a decade now is that I have learned much about myself. I know more about what my fears are. I know that sometimes I will get stuck and depressed. I know what makes me ineffective.

Here is a very recent story: I struggled for several months about where I should focus my efforts, and I felt overwhelmed by the “daily feeding” and what felt like a burden of supporting our kids’ schooling and needs. It really took me out.

Thankfully, I made a little trip to Michigan and got recharged by girlfriends and remembered what abundance and support felt like. It was a sweet tipping point. Once home, I got into a groove with my food and the ideas for writing and marketing came flooding in. I was also excited to add my enthusiasm to Ben’s efforts.

And then, I got back on Facebook; my sweet Kryptonite.

On our Mac I seemed to be able to handle it: I focused on our international team and sending out value on my Biz pages. But once I put it on my phone, my brain flow and imagination disappeared. I kept checking the notifications and, embarrassingly found myself reacting internally to political stances. I got so distracted, I quit exercising and writing. It seemed like I lost weeks of momentum in only a day. I lost this “Super Entrepreneur in self-mastery, creating ideas in the sauna, powerful woman”.

The difference this time around is that I have a new sense of kindness to myself. I have a knowledge that even though I am stuck or feel like a failure, I can change. I can find my sweet spot and vision again. It helps to choose that All is Well in this moment. It also helps to eventually laugh and celebrate that you have more material for writing, and for coaching others.

Whatever your Kryptonite, you can get to a better place. You can keep making your vision a reality. It isn’t just starting over, but rather keeping on with new clarity and strength.

It is so worth it.

Rachelle Lo is a “mom-preneur” running a household of 7 kids plus Ben 🙂 She loves English breakfast tea, her dutch bike, and sharing food ideas with friends, and now writes as a columnist for the New Buffalo Times. Connect with her on Facebook at Rachelle Lo