Get Your Mind Right - Reset to March Forward in a Positive Direction!

Here we are, just about half-way through the month, on Pi Day!

Today I had plans, weather changed those plans, decided to treat myself, came home to a broken garage door and a section of fence blown down. Flooding, crazy wind, mud everywhere. I was feeling the frustration build and I had to stop and reset. Sometimes you need to MARCH - actively move forward in a positive direction.

So, I'm listening to a pod cast about positivity, I'm going to work on my vision board and my MARCH One Word project. Then, I'm going to go to the grocery store for some healthy foods and ingredients for my Pi Day treat. Then, I'll revisit my business to-do list.

I have to get my mind right!

What are some of your favorite 'reset' buttons? Here are a few of mine:

Play with the pups. - If it were nicer today, we would be clicking on the harnesses and heading out for Patrol. Physical activity, fresh air, and my fur buddies always helps me find the positives!

Laugh at funny memes. - Yes, your favorite cat memes, silly memes, bad lip reading, whatever you're in to, can help remind you to laugh, to smile and to let go what has tilted your attitude to the negative and frustrated side.

Get sweaty. - There are lots of way to get sweaty - dancing, getting a tough workout in, doing yard work, getting freaky with your partner, all are great ways to boost those feel good chemicals in your brain and lift your spirits. There are so many benefits to your body and mind, this is one of my all time favorite 'reset buttons!'

Meditate. - I've got a fantastic app that I use, and most of the guided meditations are 10-15 minutes long. That's just long enough to get a good reset going - focus on breathing, and gratitude, and feel more settled and ready to march forward! You can check out the app I use here.

Listen to your favorite song. - We all have a song that makes us smile. Classical, hip hop, pop, country, indie rock, alternative, polka... cue that song up and play it loud! Sing it, dance, toe tap or just close your eyes and let it wash over you.  My current reset song is  Good, by Twin XL. That dang whistle just makes me smile! (It also gets stuck in my head!)

Listen to an audio book or podcast. - I just finished Michelle Obama's book, Becoming and Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis. Both are fantastic reminders of how we CAN overcome challenges in our lives through a positive outlook, hard work, some patience and some self love. I like to listen while I walk, drive long distances, clean the house or do the dishes.

Put away the tech. - Ya, this is a tough one for some of us, but a necessary reset. Put your phone on airplane mode (or turn it off all together), close the lap top, turn off the TV. By simply removing that stimuli, you may feel your nerves sooth and your attitude mellow.

Bake. - I love to bake. There's something soothing about measuring, mixing and timing. Baking has a rhythm, a reason, and an order. I follow recipes, embellishing or substituting occasionally, but within the parameters of the tried and true. And, as many of you have heard before, my love language is FOOD. I enjoy making treats for those I love.

Take the time to do nothing. - There are days in the summer and fall, where I just need to sit. I pull up a chair by the fire pit, no music or books, just me and my thoughts and a fire. Listening to the sounds of the wind, the crackle of the fire, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, or the cool breeze on my skin, the feel of crushed limestone under my feet. This is like meditation, but less structured.

Get out of town. - Sometimes you need a hard reset, a change of scenery, schedule, and maybe people. My family's go to is get-a-ways that involve mountains and hiking. I am better when I'm in nature. But I also enjoy tacking on a day or two when I travel for events to explore the cities I'm in and appreciate the unique activities and scenery they offer!

That's my short list of favorites - did any of them show up on your list, too? I'd love to hear about which ones did - and even hear about some that I didn't list that you love!

Resets are necessary. Success isn't a straight line from start to finish. We have ups and downs, and wrong turns and course corrections. I'm learning ways to help get back on track towards my goals and dreams.

The break has done wonders for my attitude today, and I'm ready to MARCH on with the rest of my afternoon and evening.

Until next time...

Ciao for now!

~jen

Let's MARCH.

I can't believe it's already March 2019!

Despite the prolonged snow and cold here at home, time still seems to fly!  Moving ahead with my One Word challenge, I've been brainstorming words that have come up in my meditations, in my reading and research, or in my action plan. What I've decided on seems simple (and cheesy) enough for me...  it is time to MARCH!

Wait, really? MARCH in March?

YES!

I plan to MARCH forward. It's time to follow the path I've set for myself when I decided to LEAP and ENGAGE. Moving forward with the pieces that are in place right now will help me find where the gaps are and where my challenges may come up, but I will be progressing all the while.

Marching isn't the fastest way to get somewhere - it's often slow, deliberate and measured. But it's consistent, and purposeful. And that's where I need to be right now. I need to build on what I've done, and continue forward. Progress, not perfection. Forward, but not in a hurry.

The month of March is usually about the time I get fed up with winter, can't seem to stay motivated, cave into my cravings (damn the Girl Scouts and their tasty cookies!) and have a tendency to take a step back in progress I've made.


Well, friends, not this year!  I'm here to MARCH forward, to make solid choices that support my goals, to be measured and deliberate in my actions. 

Throughout the month I'll be sharing how MARCH has shaped my intentions, actions and ultimately my results, so stay tuned for that. What is your One Word Challenge for the month? How have you been implementing the challenge into your overall goals? I'd love for you to share and we can help encourage one another!

My Craft project for ENGAGE didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped, but the process provided insight on how to improve. I'll be coming up with something special (and different) for MARCH, so hang tight for that to come, too.

Ciao for now,

Jen