Right Brain Planner

There are a ton of how-to’s with regard to living a life we love … and loving the life we live. But in very simple terms, we accomplish what is in our heart in three steps:

decide

declare

do it

{repeat}

And baby steps definitely count!

The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want. ~Ben Stein

If you don’t know what you want to do — determine what you do not want to do! Compile a list: write it on a mirror, doodle it, type it, write it in the comment section below; the possibilities are endless! Truly!

Every morning is a fresh beginning. Every day is the world made new. Today is a new day. Today is my world made new. I have lived all my life up to this moment, to come to this day. This moment — this day — is as good as any moment in all eternity. I shall make of this day — each moment of this day — a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity. ~Dan Custer

This moment is indeed as good any moment in all eternity to begin — to cease rehearsing all the reasons we cannot do something — and let go of all the baggage of the past. You know, like when we started something new {or resumed something old} and then got sidetracked. 

And another thing, Braveheart …

We are not behind.

We are precisely within the time frame set by our own one wild and precious life. The clock is ticking, that is true. But we are not behind! Our life certainly can-not “leave” without us!

Life is an obstacle course; and just when we believe we have mastered it … the course layout changes.

But here is the deal:
We have the option of changing, too.

If something is really bothering us … it is a perfect opportunity to stop hyper-focusing on it {in total paralysis} — and to take aim and use it as a target! The mere fact that it is bothering us is evidence {read: a blaring alarm!} that change is needed. So let’s decide to be in charge of change instead of listening to that dang alarm all the time!

This is my target practice list for this month:

1. work on updating my blog 30-minutes/one day a week
• create new blog badges
• update my post categories
• update pages w/visuals
2. organizing {purging!} my studio
• file cabinet {5-minutes/day}
• storage closet {5-minutes/day}
3. garden-management {ungardening}
• patio garden area {10-minutes/day}
• weeding {10-minutes/day}
• supervise the un-gardening {reduction} of my gardens
4. creative planning updates {20-minutes/4 times/week minimum}
• reading {journaling notes/mind-mapping}
• this is like breathing for me … short session minimums are typically exceeded
5. watercolor experiments and practice/sketching {15-minutes/3 times/week minimum}
6. make a hula hoop … more about that tomorrow! UPDATE — {it isn’t to be; too strenuous for MS to handle …}

 [She] only earns [her] freedom and existence who daily conquers them anew. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We tend to resist change: altering our habits and intentions, our definitions of who people are and what specific events mean to us. We often use labels and value statements without a thought. Especially when it comes to self-evaluation, self-care and valuing our time and talents.

Life is change.

Every day.

There are contrasts of thoughts and doing, opinions and options. There are choices that ignite our inner cranky. We are familiar with the particulars of our dailies and our relationships … That familiarity numbs us a bit at times. Our discontent and.or dreams are met with internal responses such as: “This is the way it has to be.” or “This is the way it has always been.”

And often our contrasting-baby-steps behavior and action in new directions is met with opposition. The courage and determination of our inner warrior(ess) is challenged by the people in our lives who are used to us being a certain way, because our change is igniting their inner cranky.

Our courage and determination can also be challenged by the our own doubts and perfectionistic expectations.

Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence. ~William Blake

Contraries:

• confirms change
• clarifies our intent
• not a reason to quit.

♥ What would you do {change, dare to be, want-to-do} if you knew you could not fail, Braveheart?

p.s. {on April 1st there will be a new resource to inspire new ideas about journaling … and it will be helpful to you as you dare to do what is in your heart}

Click here for daily clues … Because you will want to know more about this particular {something big}, Braveheart!

The way you relate to your thoughts, that’s what you bring to every relationship you have, including the one with yourself. ~Byron Katie

October of 2011 was a monumental time of declaration for me … A time of retooling {starting over and creating something better}. A time to decide. Thus, freeing up the energy being spent on what-abouts, what-ifs and when-oh-whens!

Decisions and choices felt like “too much” — but at the same time, these elements of change held the promise of what I knew I wanted for my life. But still, it was a challenge to choose. The what-if’s, the unknown how-to’s and the physical limitations of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) offered exit ramps every day, as I journeyed in the direction of my dreams.

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. ~William James

My choices were to move deeper into my perrsonal practice — as well as my research and collaborations — pertaining to the benefits of swirling artistic expression with the everyday realities of adapting to personal challenges. And how said artistic expression {all-things-creative} has the ability to empower each of us to overcome challenges and personal limitations.

overcome/

re·ver·ber·a·tion

Sparkly reverberations: peeking back to the past when I can vividly remember how different I always felt from everyone else; reflecting upon how those differences both made me, me but also made me feel like I led a double-life {one for people to see; one safely within to keep me sane and remind me who I was/am} … and a series of echoed reminders of how I will know when I need to know — propelling me onward.

Sometimes knowing is a feeling.

I can feel the energy of reverberations from the past propelling me through this time of planning and multi-faceted choices for Next. I can see that my concerns about making the “wrong” choices are unfounded. I know that despite the stress of busyness {and MS wonky-ness} that there are no rules to accomplish living a life I love, except to do what is in my heart. And that … that part is becoming easier every day!

The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge; it is always simple and direct. ~Calvin Coolidge

{something big awaits …}

♥ Click here for daily clues … Because you will want to know more about this particular {something big}, Braveheart!

Endurance is frequently a form of indecision. ~Elizabeth Bibesco

I am so inspired by these syllables of wisdom. When I first read this quote … I didn’t really understand what it meant. Then it hit me:

There is a fine line between stalling and endurance.

This month will be a month of moving beyond {stalling; sorta wanderin’} swirly habits that minimize my art journaling time; my intention is to begin new habits as I devote priority status to my own art journaling. I will be practicing techniques familiar to me as well as testing new ones. Taking baby steps to living my questions via in-action moments of intention and consistency. I will:

• participate in Balzer Designs Art Journal Every Day
• reacquaint myself with hand-lettering {♥ this site!}
• create quick backgrounds {such as this one by Traci Bunkers}
• post on Mondays about Creative Every Day Multi Media themed-projects
• tweet from the fabulous Art Journaling ning group of Comfortable Shoes Studio

And I invite you to join me in creating your own journal page(s) …

• If you are interested in creating {collaging, writing, painting, etc.} a one-page dream sheet {personal/business plans} — post a comment below and I will contact you about a private group on Flickr. Or send me a message via the Right Brain Planner Facebook page {I am revamping my own creative business plan along with creating some dream sheets for wishes I have …} ♥
• More info about the details of this opportunity!

“Emboldened by her vulnerability and a shift in focus, she knew what she would do … She would stop {waiting for that imaginary day}.”

 A good intention clothes itself with sudden power. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will post progress pics of my art journaling adventures on Instagram during the month of March! So stay tuned!