Don’t let anything dull your sparkle: manage your mojo with a mantra

My mojo is missing, my mood is meh and I can’t put my finger on it. When I told that to one of my sisters recently, she said: “Turn it over to the Lord. Be your sparkly self again.” This requires daily, oftentimes minute-by-minute, discipline. Yet I’m the first to admit that I frequently allow circumstances beyond my control—the mess in the world, others’ actions and reactions—to dictate my disposition. To rub me the wrong way. To dull my sparkle. But what if we were to adopt a mantra when we’re tempted to pull up an easy chair and accept mediocrity versus excellence? Or pessimism rather than optimism? Perhaps now is the time to recommit to memory the prayer of sorts I devised when I first began the practice of Bikram yoga (see “Waiting for better days”). Because I am strong, I am healthy and I am happy. And I refuse to remain stuck in a rut. Stay tuned for mojo updates.

What’s your mojo mantra?

Image source: https://fityourself.club.

A state of limbo

[Image credit: digitalart]

Limbo: a state or place of confinement; an intermediate place or state.  Instead of a rut this time, I would define this (limbo) as my current place of residence.  For months I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on with my GI tract (doctor appointment next week) and skin issues (derm follow-up in June), my writing career is neither coming nor going, my fitness results seem to be stalled and my dreams are hinged on a Someday with no set date or time.  Although I’m not taking the clichéd one step forward and two steps back, I’m also not moving ahead as fast as I’d like.  Maybe that’s the point — the purpose of my limbo as a time for healing, refining, pushing through and practicing patience.  I wouldn’t be able to manage these tasks if life was traveling a mile a minute.  It also allows me to relax in a pair of comfy shorts and tank top, hair thrown into a messy ponytail and face free of makeup on a weekend afternoon, knowing that time will not pass me by.  Perhaps limbo isn’t so bad after all.

How do you spend your times of limbo?

Take the pain out of change

[Image credit digitalart]

When you resist change, you experience emotional pain and physical pain.
When you welcome change, you relax and open to new possibilities.
Resistance is an experience of fear and doubt,
and openness is an experience of love and trust. ~ Gary Zukav

Last week, a close friend pointed out my dislike of change.  Along this same vein, another accused me of being fearful.  I wouldn’t say it’s fear, per se, just that my fondness for routine tends to be rather overpowering.  I’ve rambled about change in the past — how it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, to live the status quo.  Shortly after the conversation about my aversion to change, I ran across the above quote.  Talk about the error of my ways practically biting me in the butt.  Not only have I been dealing with emotional pain, but it’s manifested itself in physical discomfort.  Because the truth is: I’ve been resisting change … not sure I “have the guts.”  But I want to be the person who welcomes change.  I want to relax and be open to new possibilities.  I don’t want fear or doubt to keep me in chains.  And when I come right down to it, change isn’t the painful part (for me, anyway).  It’s resisting, rather than welcoming, what is truly an inevitable in life.  From this day forward, I choose love and trust.

Is change something you typically resist, or welcome?

Spring-cleaning checklist

[Image credit: Suat Eman]

The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days,
waiting for better ones ahead. ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley

A couple of days ago I wrote about the rut I’m in and the possibility that it’s related to a case of spring fever.  But I also suggested a good seasonal cleaning might be beneficial.  I’m not talking about donning the rubber gloves and scrubbing the windows and screens, or purging closets and cupboards (although definitely not out of the question).  What I’m referring to is getting rid of the stuff — baggage with labels such as disappointments, failures, poor choices, regrets, (fill in the blank here) — we’ve accumulated since the beginning of the new year (or well before that) which hinders our daily living.  The past is the past.  Let’s purpose to leave it there right this very moment and focus on Today.  We can still wait for a better Tomorrow, but let’s work at arriving there with a much cleaner slate.  I think that may be the trick Ms. Hinckley is talking about.

Are you in need of a little spring cleaning to remove the baggage weighing you down?

A case of spring fever

[Image credit: dan]

You may be familiar with the TV commercial catchphrase from the 80s: I’ve fallen … and I can’t get up.  On that same note, I’m stuck in a rut … and I can’t get out.  I’ve periodically written about the occasional funks that move in with me, the longest one taking residence shortly after I returned from my trip to the Midwest in January.  But I wouldn’t label this one a funk.  I’m happy and fulfilled in my day job as I continue learning the ropes of the publishing trade.  I’m also 19,000 words into one story, drafting another and invited to write a new magazine article.  Further, I continue to tackle my yearly goals one at a time.  But I’m restless.  My mind keeps drifting to the should’ves, could’ves, would’ves, didn’ts — how the years ahead have started piling up behind — and I’m afraid I will be forever stuck in this place where I’m comfortable, but not really living.  I just wish I’d muster the courage to seize the day I can’t seem to reach.  Or maybe it’s simply a case of spring fever cured by a change of scenery.  In the meantime, a good seasonal cleaning might not be a bad idea either.  More on that later …

What would you do if you could throw caution to the wind and seize the day?