How to Add More Adventure to Your Life
A trip to Disney World, swimming with dolphins, tubing down the Comal River, two-stepping in a saloon, sledding in the snow, three live concerts, hiking a mountain to see the sunrise, donating to charity, trying something new, doing something scary.
This is just a small list of what I accomplished in a year back in 2016. And I’ve been doing similar and even more so every year since.
People make a lot of comments about how much I do, all the adventures I go on, and the fact that I’m ALWAYS doing something new. And it’s true. I pack a lot into my days, months, and years.
But anyone can!
If you LOVE adventure, but maybe you don’t know how to do all those things you want to, or don’t feel like you have the time or the means to do it – then this is the post for you!
I’ve always loved adventure, but in the years prior to 2016, I sort of just let life “happen” to me. When my ex and I had a little free time, we’d figure out something fun to do – maybe a trip to the lake or a family hike somewhere.
We had some fun, but it seemed like most days for filled with just work, and downtime was filled with TV or movies to pass the time.
But a life full of fun requires intention.
Here is how I switched from letting things just happen for me, to taking control of my days and choosing when and how much adventure I’d have in my life.
I started writing it down: I read The Success Principles by Jack Canfield in 2015, and there is a chapter where he challenges you to make a list of 100 things – big and small – that you want to accomplish within a certain timeframe. The idea is that once you write these things down on paper, your brain goes to work to figure out ways to accomplish them. You will start to do these things on the list even within the first 24 hours.
I started doing this at the beginning of each year. I write out 100 things, big and small, that I want to accomplish in the year, and then I revert back to this list several times throughout the year to gage where I’m at and remind myself of what I haven’t done yet.
My list includes all sorts of things – big trips, weekend trips, day trips, date ideas, small acts of kindness, business goals, personal development goals, you name it.
This sets mega intention around what you want to do in a year. It’s huge. This one thing has made such a big difference in my life personally!
Put it in the planner! Don’t have a planner? Well, it’s time to invest in one! Once I’ve got my list of 100, I go through my calendar and get a general idea about when I can do all these things. Doing this shows you that you DO have time. You just have to be intentional with that time. So jot it down. If you can put things on exact dates, then do it, if not, make a note in a general timeframe to remind yourself what you want to do then.
Once I have something in my planner, it’s more than likely going to happen.
Commit to the adventure. There will come a time when you come to a timeframe where you had planned an adventure, and when you get there, you just don’t feel like doing it. Somedays, sitting around the house just sounds like more fun! Or we tell ourselves about all the laundry that needs to be done or the house that needs cleaning.
Well, guess what?
You are certainly allowed to stay home. Sometimes that’s necessary. But this is the time when you really need to evaluate your priorities and goals. There was a time that I had scheduled taking my daughter to the zoo. I had worked all week, was pretty tired, and a day vegging out at home sounded like a much better plan. Not to mention my 6 year old was moping around the house, wanting to watch cartoons all day rather than go anywhere. Me too, girl. Me too.
I had to step back and really evaluate the situation and decide what my priorities would be that day. I realized quickly that a day at the zoo was exactly what we needed. We’d both been working and in school, and rather than zoning out in front of a TV and phone, we needed to get out of the house and have some fun! Sometimes it takes some work and effort in order to get to the FUN.
But it’s so worth it.
We ended up having a great day. We took a lot of photos, ate fun food, connected, and recharged for the week ahead.
And guess what?
The laundry still got done, the house still got cleaned, and we both still got plenty of rest for the week ahead.
Intention, intention, intention. When people ask how I fit some much into my life, this is my answer. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to have tons of money or time. You have to have tons of intention.
What’s important to you?
What memories do you want to have with your family? Do you want memories of game nights at home? Do you want camping trips and hikes outdoors on the weekends? Do you want trips to the mall with your teens? Do you want date nights and connection with your spouse? Do you want to try that dance class at the gym? Do you want to pick up a new hobby?
Write it down, plan it, and then hold yourself accountable to making it happen.
You won’t want to do it when the time comes. Our brains like comfort and adventure and new things can be a little uncomfortable at first. And new adventures take time. But this is when you decide what you really want, and you make it happen.
You’ve got this. There’s a whole life out there waiting for you to embrace it.
xoxo,
Liz
Your Health and Wellness Journey Starts Here
Do you feel like you could use a little help?
Do you feel like you’re doing the right things? You’re working out, eating well, drinking your water, taking your vitamins, but still ending up tired, unfocused, and just not feeling your best?
I know the feeling, as I’ve been there myself. In fact, I’ve been through the wringer with my health and wellness journey, and I feel like I’ve tried just about everything out there at one point or another. But let’s start from the beginning.
Once upon a time…
You could probably find me on a treadmill at any given time of day, making sure I wasn’t gaining an ounce, with a protein shake on deck to follow-up. I was consumed by fitness, obsessed with my body, and completely lost on the inside.
This was about 10 years ago, and a lot has changed since then, thankfully. Back then, I was involved in fitness competitions, on the verge of disordered eating (if not already there), and about one M&M shy of a mental breakdown. I didn’t know what it was like to be healthy and live a normal life at the same time. To me, the two couldn’t exist together, and I was ok with the fact that my life would “never be normal.”
Eventually, my metabolism crashed. I spent the next several years gaining and losing the same weight over and over again, and overall just really hating my body.
Something had to change.
It took a divorce and me hitting rock bottom for me to finally let go of the rigid reigns I had on myself. In those moments, I could no longer obsess over my fitness plan or what I was eating. I had bigger things to worry about, like how I was going to pay my bills and take care of myself and my daughter.
After a very hard year of discomfort and massive internal growth, I came out on the other side healthier – not thinner or fitter – but healthier on a deeper level.
I was finally able to let go of the reigns and give my body what it needed to make it through some tough times. This sometimes meant rest when I had originally planned a workout. It meant fueling my body with nutritious foods that kept my energy levels steady. And it meant supplements that helped keep my mood elevated and my mind clear.
Did I magically morph into the same body that I had when I was competing? Absolutely not. In fact, I went on to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism and will forever have to take T3 and T4 hormones for the rest of my life.
But I did finally learn to appreciate my body in all its phases – a little fluffy, a little leaner, and everything in between.
Today, I am happy to report that I have a very happy relationship with my body. I absolutely still strive to maintain a healthy physique, but it comes from a place of loving my body rather than hating it. I also focus more on how I feel now, and make sure I’m implementing things that help keep me happy and vibrant.
My health and fitness goals today are set around:
eating foods that make me FEEL good
working out because I ENJOY it
progressing in the gym because I LOVE feeling strong
setting goals because I LIVE for the challenge
and supplementing with high quality products that help boost immunity, manage stress, and maximize energy.
Focus on the feeling.
A key part of my transformation came from my diagnosis of hypothyroidism. I was going through a phase where I was beginning to think I was depressed. I was noticing things like:
I was tired all the time
My skin was extremely dry and tired looking
I didn’t want to get out of bed many days
I was skipping out on work, or working below my potential
I was not excited or motivated about anything (which is out of the norm for me)
I was put on an antidepressant first, which I hated and quickly quit. It wasn’t for several more months until I found out I had hypothyroidism. And in that time between thinking I was depressed, and finding out my correct diagnosis – I experimented with a lot of supplements in hopes of finding my good mood again.
I later found out I had hypothyroidism, and was put on medication to rectify that. But in the meantime, I had found several things that had worked to really boost my mood, elevate my energy, and help me manage stress.
Today, I get most of my supplements from the brand I am partnered with. After years of research and trying different brands and products, these are the ones I can’t go without!
Full spectrum hemp oil with the best absorption and instant onset that helps enhance my mood, helps me focus, and keeps me calm.
Hormone and support, helps to balance estrogen, and aids in energy and muscle tone. This is my happiness in a bottle!
High-quality, daily nutrition in the form of chelated vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and probiotic. These provide the best absorption (a difference I can feel), with an added focus on inflammation and gut health.
All-natural vitamin sprays that make travel a breeze and the whole family can enjoy. The sleep spray is a favorite for all of us!
My little side-kick that helps curb appetite and provides clean energy! A lifesaver with my slower thyroid.
Something for everyone – whether you’re needing a boost in your mood, suffer from inflammation and chronic pain, need to manage stress, want to feel more energized, or want to reach some fitness goals. Click any of the photos to check out the links.
Aside from these, I also take a high-quality fish oil supplement and vitamin D.
These days, I’m feeling great! I’m healthy, I’m happy, I’m energized, and less stressed. If you’re looking to feel whole in your own life, or feel like you’re doing all the right things but coming up short, then give one or all of these a try! A good supplement can go a long way. And a healthy body and mind will take you far!
xoxo,
Liz
You Are Exactly Where You’re Meant To Be
Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.
1 Corinthians 7:17 The Message
Have you ever felt like you’ve missed your chance to pursue a dream or ambition?
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of a certain career but didn’t pursue it early on and feel like it’s too late now. Maybe you want to pick up a new hobby but don’t think you’re young enough or perhaps have missed the mark. Maybe you have a big dream but can’t see it coming to life because of kids, and jobs, and life. I’ve been there too, and to be honest, I still stumble across those feelings when a new ambition hits sometimes.
But the truth is, it’s never too late to pursue something on our hearts. I truly believe we are always right where we need to be, and it’s our responsibility to live, love, obey, and believe right there.
In 2018, I walked into class on my first day of nursing school. What would normally be an exciting time for someone going after a lifelong career goal was instead drenched in shame and self-doubt. I wasn’t an eager 18 year-old starting her first day of college.
Oh no, no.
I was 34. And a mom. And completely behind the curve. Plus, I already had a Bachelors degree. Most of my friends going back to school at this age were going for their second Masters or a PhD.
I’ve wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. In fact, I have several old “When I Grow Up” school projects riddled one way or another with nursing as the end goal for me. I even went as far as starting college as that 18 year-old girl with a nursing major and plans to get it done. But somewhere along the road my plans changed. I ended up leaving college to join the military, was later married and had my first child, finished my first Bachelors degree, and eventually divorced and remarried. All while throwing in a few cross-country moves, and several career changes.
So as I walked into class that first day, I wasn’t filled with excitement. All I could hear was my inner mean girl telling me that I was too far behind. That I could have been 10-years into this profession by now. That I should be pursuing something more noble like a Masters or Doctorate.
The following morning, I read a verse from The Message (I recommend the real Bible over The Message, but The Message is SO great for putting a modern tone on some amazing verses that could otherwise be missed), that reads, “Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.” 1 Corinthians 7:17. Talk about the kick in the teeth that I needed! God does that sometimes
And then it hit me.
I was exactly where I needed to be. Right there, in that moment. Sure, it would have been great to have a 10-year head start on that career, but you know what I would have missed? Every moment in between. I would have never had the opportunity to serve my country and to feel the immense amount of pride that comes from that. I would have missed all the hard lessons, integrity, and bravery I gained from that experience. I would have missed having my daughter Kira. I can’t even imagine life without her, and I would have missed out on it. There would be no “her.” I would not know so many of the amazing people I’ve crossed paths with over the years of moving and job changes. So many people have touched my life and ultimately changed my world, and I would have never experienced their magic. I would have missed meeting my husband. The life of my dreams that exists right now would have never happened. And so many more things would have been missed if life had gone “as planned.”
God’s plan is perfect.
His timing is perfect, and you must trust the timing of your own unique life and know that you’re always exactly where you are meant to be. You’re allowed to do life differently than the person standing next to you. Give yourself grace. And when God opens a door for you that you think you might be “too old,” or “too late,” for, then you better run through it, fully afraid, but fully trusting that he won’t take you anywhere you’re not meant to be.
Don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you that you’ve missed the mark. There are countless stories throughout history of people who seemed to be too far in life but went on to do and create amazing things. You’re not exempt from that list. Whatever your goal or ambition is, big or small, I encourage you to go after it. Make a plan and have faith that God will work out the details on the way. And be grateful for where you are now. The things you’ve done, choices you’ve made (both good and bad), people you’ve met, and lessons you’ve learned have all prepared you for what is to come.
Your story is unique. Your ambitions are yours for the chasing.
Five Steps to Finding Real, Lasting Love
I will never forget the day I decided to walk away from my marriage. It was the year I would be turning 30. The year I was supposed to start having my life together and growing into the best version of myself. Instead, I was broke, unhappy with myself and my life, and facing the reality that my marriage was over, and I was officially becoming a statistic. In that moment, if someone would have told me I’d find true love in the years to come, I would have laughed in their face. Or maybe tried to fight them. I don’t know. In that moment though, it seemed impossible. I also knew the other statistic. The one about being more likely to divorce in a second marriage. My love life was doomed for sure
Despite thinking that day that I’d be forever single, I did end up going on to find real love. A healthy relationship based on love and respect. One where I’m seen and valued. But it didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly took some work to get there.
Here are the steps I recommend to help you find the love of your life:
1.Take some time to work on you.
Aww. Did you think we’d get straight to the dating part?
Nope! This journey starts with none other than YOU.
When I got divorced, the one thing I didn’t want to do was jump into another relationship, with all my baggage (we all have it, and most of us have a lot), and end up just another statistic – divorced again. So, I went to work on myself. The goal was simple: self-reflection. I had to take a good hard look at myself in the mirror and find the parts of me that were difficult to love.
I realized quickly that even though the marriage ended for a few big reasons, my behavior definitely played a role in it. I realized after some self-reflection that I had a short fuse when I didn’t get my way, and that many times I acted like a child. This was baggage that needed to go. I also realized that I avoided tough conversations. Something that definitely poses a problem in a relationship that thrives on solid communication. Check. I gossiped to my friends about how terrible my marriage was. To the point where my friends got tired of hearing about it because they knew I wasn’t going anywhere. And many other revelations were realized during this time as well – all of which I’ll save for the book I’ll write someday – too juicy for the blog!
The bottom line is, this isn’t necessarily going to be a pleasant time. It takes commitment to do this. It takes a real desire to want more and trust that something amazing is on the other side of this process. It also gets more fun as you get rid of some baggage and really fall in love with yourself.
Here are some things that can help:
Read, read, read! Personal development books can be your best friend here! Find the topics you need help with and get to work!
If you can afford it or insurance covers it, get a therapist! The best thing I have EVER done for myself was worked with therapists. They can help you uncover painful events from your past that are holding you back in certain areas of your life. They can help you realize unhealthy traits about yourself and help you fix them. Do not underestimate the power of a good therapist!
Pray a lot. We will get to this more, but for now pray for clarity. Pray for revelation. Pray for grace.
Have your friends pray for you. If you don’t have any praying friends, it’s time to find some! If you really do need prayer – send me a message and I’m happy to pray for you or with you.
This is a VITAL step, so take it serious. Fall in love with YOU, and love will find you.
2. Learn to be alone
Wait, what? Yep. Still not dating yet.
During your journey of self-reflection, learn to be alone. So many people are just terrified to be alone. So. Many. People! Don’t be those people. You can do this – I believe in you. I took a whole year to do this. Now, you don’t have to take that long, but be ok with just being single for a while as you go through this.
Eat dinner alone, go to the movies alone, travel alone. The more you can be comfortable being by yourself, the less likely you are to pick the wrong person simply because you’re lonely.
And I get it. Loneliness sucks. Especially if you’ve just gone through a breakup. Or if you haven’t. We’re relational creatures that thrive on connection. It’s in our DNA. If you are having a really hard time being alone, then get with your friends and connect that way. Make sure you’re connecting with friends who support you in this and want the best for you though – not the ones who want to get you out on the town to mingle. The whole idea here is to emerge on the other side as a whole person…not a half of a person looking for their other half. A whole, healthy person will attract another whole and healthy person. So suck it up buttercup and get to enjoying your own company for a bit.
3. Make a list of what you want
Not quite to the dating part yet, but we are making progress!
Once you’ve dealt with your own baggage and have learned to be by yourself so you don’t have to rely on someone else, it’s time to start thinking about your person.
Get out a piece of paper, your journal, or computer and write out the top qualities you want in a partner. I’m talking about the non-negotiables. Are they loyal? Do they need to be taller than you? Hey, this was important to me! It’s ok. This is your list. Write it all out – what you really truly want in the person you plan to spend forever with.
This is very important, so don’t just do this in your head. Jot it down on paper, because you’re going to need to go back to this a lot!
4. Pray, girl!
Next – you’re going to pray over this list. Every. Single. Day. If you can trust God to do big things in other areas of your life, you can trust God to bring the right person into your life. He did for me, and this is exactly what I did. Read over your list every day and thank God for this person. Pray that they are being pruned and primed just like you are for the time that you two will meet.
I know this might sound silly if you’re not the big praying type. But if you’re not the big praying type, then maybe this is the time to start. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
So. Read your list. Pray. Repeat.
5. Go on dates!
Yassss. We’re finally here. I told you this takes a little work. If you’ve done the work up to this point, you are ready to find your match.
I will say, while dating is fun and all, it’s also a little exhausting. Especially if you’re over your mid-twenties, divorced or broken-up, or just truly on a mission to find your forever person (isn’t that what dating is for?). But try to enjoy the process! If anything, you get some great stories to tell your friends down the road.
Ok, I’m not going to get into dating too much on this particular post because I could go on forever, and if you’re single, you’ve probably got some experience in this arena.
But here is the difference this time:
Whatever avenue you choose – blind dates, dating apps (I met my hubs on Tinder, heyyy), going out on the town – don’t forget about your list.
When you meet the most dreamiest of dreamy and they start to sweep you off your feet, before you get your head too far up in the clouds, take a minute to grab that list! Do they align? Do they meet those qualities you listed as non-negotiables. I’m not talking about meeting 50% of the requirements. I’m talking about 100% match of what you wrote out on that paper. Don’t go making exceptions because they’re beautiful or have nice abs. Those things fade. If it’s not a 100% match, that’s not your person.
I’ll say that again. If it’s not a 100% match, that’s not your person.
I can’t even tell you the amount of McDreamy’s I met who swept me straight up off my feet at first, but then when I checked my list – my vision of what I truly wanted – they fell short. And it sucked in the moment and I wanted to just say, “well, that’s ok.” But I didn’t, and I’d let them go. And Every. Single. Time. That person ended up being someone that would not have been good for me. I would later find out that they were unfaithful (thank God for the “People You May Know” on Facebook – another story for another time), or that their values didn’t align with mine, or whatever else. That list can be your life-line if you let it!
And from there, just keep dating – it’s how you meet people! Don’t be afraid to date someone who isn’t “your type.” Maybe your type sucks and you need a new type. Be open to meeting people, and trust that God is working on your behalf.
So that’s it. I leave you here. Dating and being a boss, knowing EXACTLY what you want in a relationship, knowing the WORTH and VALUE you bring to the table, and knowing that you’re OK being alone in the interim.
Creating Bliss Through Your Surroundings
Have you ever had one of those days where you’re just in a mood and you don’t even know where it came from? Like you just woke up, and BAM! Don’t talk to me, don’t look at me, don’t even think about me or you may catch some hands! I know I definitely have. Sometimes there’s just no amount of good coffee that can break me out of that funk.
But I have noticed a theme on these days. When that bad mood just pops up out of nowhere? Yeah, it’s usually coming some SOMEWHERE. And that somewhere is often in my surroundings.
In my years of self-development and growth, one thing I’ve gotten really good at is being very self-aware. Bad moods creep in all the time. I am by no means a happy-all-day-everyday kind of girl. But I’ve gotten to the point where bad moods don’t just happen for the whole day. They happen, I notice, and I go to work to figure out why.
This whole happiness thing that I preach about all the time? It’s not a one-time choice to be happy, and then life is blissful from there on out. Oh no, no. It’s constant effort and constant choice. It’s being self-aware and asking myself lots of questions throughout the day to figure out why I’m feeling certain ways.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves in a mood?
Well, one of the biggest mood-crushers I’ve found over time is my surroundings. We are what we consume every day. I believe that both physically and mentally. Our surroundings, whether we realize it or not, play a huge role in our mood on a daily basis! So, the first step of getting out of that bad mood and into a better one, is by checking in with your surroundings.
Here are my keys to boost your surroundings in order to naturally bring more happiness into your life:
What am I listening to?
Take note of what’s playing in the background. When I’m at work, we have telemetry monitors (heart monitors) for all of our patients that show their heart rates in real time at the desk so that we can see what’s going on with them, even when we’re not in the room. When there is an out-of-range rhythm or rate, the monitors will beep to alert us to check the monitor and to check in on that patient. Well somedays, we will get a patient whose monitor is being finicky, or they have a fast heart rate that hasn’t been controlled yet. When this happens, the monitor goes off constantly. It’s just an alarm, but since the alarm means something is out of range, it sets off an internal alarm for us. Now, throw this in for a whole day (which sometimes happens), not only do you end up emotionally exhausted by the end of the day, but more often than not, you lay down to go to bed at night and still hear those alarms in your head even though you’re no longer at work.
Background noise in everyday life can have this same effect. I know many people like to have the news on as noise in the background, but are you listening to what is actually being said? And more importantly, are you paying attention to what that’s doing to your physiological state? It is likely stressing you out without you even realizing it! What about music in the background? Have you paid attention to the lyrics? I was recently feeling very tense during a workout and was trying to figure out why. I finally stopped and paid attention to the music I was listening to. It was dark and heavy, and I was feeling that!
Regardless of what you’re listening to, take note! Is it positive? Is it encouraging? What is it doing to your internal state?
Here are some of my favorite things to listen to – and these are things I listen to DAILY that truly truly help me to be encouraged and in a great mood:
Worship music or encouraging music – stuff that makes you happy! Sad music is fun sometimes, but we don’t want to be sad. We want to be happy!
Podcasts – I LOVE a good podcast. Now, I don’t listen to the dark stuff. Whatever season I’m in, I find something I can listen to that will serve in that area. Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of small-business stuff. In the past I loved mindset and fitness podcasts. Tony Robbins is great to listen to (not sure if he has an actual podcast, but you can find him anywhere).
Silence is golden – sometimes I like to just go outside and listen to the wind blow. There is beauty in silence if you’re willing to sit still and listen for it.
WHO am I listening to?
Sometimes it’s the people around us that are bringing us down. Have you ever been around that coworker that just drains you? The energy-sucker as I call them. More than likely, that person does a lot of complaining and gossiping. Now I know we can’t wear earmuffs to drown out every Negative Nancy we have to be around, but we can make a conscious decision to not absorb it. Drown it out as much as you can, don’t engage in the conversation with them, and if you do get stuck talking to this person, be the one who lifts the conversation to a higher level.
What am I looking at?
If you’re sitting at your desk, staring down a stack of bills, it might be hard for you to be really happy or pleasant (however, I have another way of viewing this that I’ll save for another post). But you can take a break. Take a moment to change your scenery. Get outside, or even just get to a window to change the view. What we see can play a big part in our mood, so be aware of what you’re staring at all day. If your social media feed is all negative, then maybe it’s time to follow some different accounts. And again, with the news playing. If you’re staring at doom and gloom all day, there is a good chance you’ll be feeling doom and gloom all day. Instead, set your computer or TV screen to display photos of your loved ones, watch an uplifting movie, or turn it off altogether.
The mind will start to believe what the eyes show it all day, so be careful what you’re letting in.
Physical surroundings – icing on the cake
As I write this right now, I’m sitting out on my back patio. The sun is shining, it’s a beautiful 60 degrees, and there is a perfect breeze in the air. Days like this don’t happen all the time in the Midwest, so when they do, I make a conscious effort to get outside. I encourage you to do the same. Sunshine is so good for us! If you can get out into it, do it! When I’m at work, I will often go have my lunch in front of the big windows of the hospital (unless it’s nice, and then you better believe I’m out on the patio!). It’s a short break in a long day, but that little bit of sunshine really helps get me through the rest of my shift.
If you love the snow – get out in it when you can! If you live by the beach – please PLEASE tell me that you’re taking advantage of that situation!
The bottom line is this: I believe getting outdoors can boost your mood almost instantly. I think we’re intrinsically connected to nature. Like we get closer to God being outdoors in creation as opposed to man-made buildings. Maybe that’s me being a hippie. Who knows? Give it a try and see if it works for you.
Other ways your physical surroundings impact your mood include your home and work space. If you’re anything like me, a tidy space probably makes you less stressed. When I come home and see my house a mess, I turn into a bear. I’ve had conversations with my family about this, and bless their hearts they do try to clean before I get home, it’s just not usually to my standard – and that is a whole other sermon. Ha!
But if a tidy space is important to you, then get to tidying! If you can splurge on it, I highly recommend a cleaning service. And if not, then tackle it on a weekend and then just do a small bit each day to maintain it. If you have older kids – put those sweet babies to work! It builds character, I promise. When your space is clear, your mind is clear, and when your mind is clear, you’re less likely to be in a funk.
And finally, when’s the last time you had a change of scenery? I know we can’t just up and take vacations every time we get in a bad mood. Boy, wouldn’t that be the life! But we can implement habits that change our scenery from time to time. If all we do is wake up in a house that may or may not be a joyful place, and then go to a job that may not be a joyful place, that doesn’t leave a lot or room for a blissful surrounding. Create a place you can escape to for some solitude, prayer, a good cry, or just a few moments of silence. This could be your backyard. It could be a quiet drive down a country road (I love a good drive – it’s good for the soul!). It could be a trip to your local gym to get in a good workout and be surrounded by people working to better themselves – I could go on a whole sermon with this too, whoo! It could be a walk at the end of the workday to decompress and practice some gratitude. Whatever this is for you, use it as a time to get positive. Let it be your place where you recharge and get clear and focused. And happy!
I hope you will find these tips on building blissful surroundings helpful and put some to use if you don’t already! I can’t promise you days full of nothing but happiness. I still come home from work and turn into a bear most of the time. BUT, I have the tools to change my surroundings and in turn, fix my bear attitude.
Give these a try and let me know what you think!
If you’d like more tips and information on creating a life of JOY sent right to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter coming soon!