https://youtube.com/shorts/mfgpM9FIsW4
Just do it! We love to self-sabotage, “nobody cares” or “it’s not worth it” or “it will never work” but in all reality, you’re completely right until you actually DO IT. The action changes everything.
How hectic are your mornings?
I’m guessing you check your phone first thing when you wake up.
There are emails, notifications, texts… all kinds of pop-ups pulling your attention into all the things you have to do in your busy schedule.
And there you are, sitting in your bed, already stressed about the day. You’ve been awake for less than 10 minutes.
Does this sound like you?
I used to date a CEO/co-founder of a tech company who insisted that he check his phone first thing in the morning. He was needed!
And inevitably, there were always fires going off, alarms, people needing him to solve some sort of problem that was actually quite simple.
But he choose to give himself away first thing as he awoke.
As a result, he was already stressed, tired, and dreading the day before he got in the shower.
Not. Fun.
He didn’t establish boundaries for his personal time. And if you’re still reading, maybe you don’t either…
It’s not unreasonable to reserve 30 minutes for yourself to get going before you dive into work or responding to friends on social media.
For me, I spend the first hour or two nearly completely tech-free. This time is incredibly sacred to me so I can consciously choose what state of being I want to enter the day in.
I choose to love myself. To feel like a queen. To relish the morning sun. To slowly bring my brain to full speed.
The easiest way to stop yourself from looking through notifications is set your Do Not Disturb to turn off after you’ve had time to shower/get dressed/make your breakfast. Or Simply 10 minutes after your alarm.
Trust me on this one – it will change your life.
Let me know how it goes!
What is higher consciousness?
What is higher consciousness? It’s realizing what the actual f*ck is going on in your brain and making the game time decision about who’s going to call the shots – your ego, your emotions, or your higher self.
Any new endeavor is going to challenge you in ways you’re not necessarily prepared for.
Your inner critic, your inner voice, is going to try to keep you safe.
It’s going to tell you it’s already been done; you’re not good enough; you don’t have the following; you shouldn’t even bother trying.
And for most of us… we believe it.
But if you want to take a new path, you can’t believe that voice.
Are you aware of your choices?
Every single thing we do is a choice.
Everything.
Did you know we make over 30,000 decisions and choices every single day?
How many of those choices are you making consciously, with intention?
Surely what you choose to eat.
What posts you like and comment on.
But do you actively choose your thoughts?
Do you proactively choose your reactions?
Do you consciously choose your future?
Those of us who are pursuing something great in life, or something greater than what we have… we get to choose with conscious, aware, purposeful intention to get us to where we want to be.
What will be the outcome of your choices?
Success, Failure, and All the Things.
I used to think that failure is something to avoid at all costs.
The fear and perception around what it means to fail are so great for most of us that it holds us back from taking any leaps of faith.
But what is failure, really?
The mainstream connotation of the word failure implies that we have done something terribly wrong and that we are at a grave crossroads. If we fail, we lose life as we know it.
Financially, romantically, among our friends. The list goes on. Referring to something as a failure suggests there was nothing gained in the journey, and that the failure in and of itself has no value.
Hmm… Is this perception of the word actually accurate?
Failure is officially defined as, “a lack of desired success or not meeting the desired outcome.”
Way more mild than what my interpretation of the word means! It doesn’t sound that scary.
When we live in fear of failure, we grant it power over us by being “too scared” to go there. This mindset sets us up for desperation when a “failure” occurs because we are unprepared and emotionally distraught when it hits.
However, when we get intimate with our fears around failure, do the work to define what it means to us, and brainstorm the potential good that can come from failure, we equip ourselves with the tools to perceive a failure as a tool.
If we don’t meet a desired outcome, there is usually a reason why. Therefore, in every failure, there is a lesson to be learned or a purpose to be understood.
Whether it is something we did wrong, a blind spot we had, or a redirection to a new opportunity, a failure is a chance to absorb, realign, and strategize.
By adopting this mindset, we create the space to decipher the lesson and the purpose within the bigger picture when failure hits. We will know how to take what we learned, pivot, and improve.
Thus, a failure is only as bad as we choose for it to be. Further, the magnitude of which we mentally and physically feel a failure in our bodies is only as great as we allow it to be.
By re-defining the word, we choose how we tell our stories to ourselves and others. We can be a victim of life or we can be a student. Or, anything else we want to be!
On the flipside, what is success? What does it mean to be successful?
Many of us default to believing success means “having all the things.” That’s what the mainstream tells us, anyway. Is it possible the mainstream connotation of success is also misguided?
Success is formally defined as, “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.”
Few of us take the time to explicitly identify that aim or purpose, which leaves us on a path to something vague and intangible that never quite feels like enough.
If we haven’t clearly re-defined the meaning of success for ourselves, is there a date when this unclear success will be achieved? And if that date is not met, the entire effort is considered a failure?
In this scenario, if success is a goal we are always shooting for in the distant future, but we’re not quite sure what it is, it’s now more of an indefinite journey than a vague destination (that we never seem to reach).
That just seems like a world in limbo.
When we have a clear definition of success, we can see failure as a clue of how to reach the success we are seeking.
Besides, most of us aspire to some type of success in this life.
My friend, it’s time for you to re-define these words for yourself.
Think of a challenge or obstacle – something you’ve been thinking about quite a bit lately.
Ask yourself:
What does success look like for me?
What does failure look like for me?
If I fail, what is the worst possible outcome?
If I succeed, what is the best possible outcome?
If I fail, what is the best possible outcome?
If I succeed, what is the worst possible outcome?
Unpopular opinion (4/4): YOU are responsible for your own burnout!
Work/life balance is a constant struggle for most of us, which is why I created this 4-part Lifestyle guide to create more Flow and Balance in your life.
I read a piece back in June that proposed companies are not to blame for individuals burning out, but the individuals are.
Now part of this is out of workers’ control, but each of us still have the right to create boundaries in our lives.
Burnout is not simply correlated to the Quantity of hours worked.
It’s also influenced by the Quality of life experienced during and outside the working times.
Here’s my 4-part Flow Lifestyle to help you mitigate this risk.
These are super easy tips you can implement TODAY. No excuses!
4. Atmosphere – Is your workspace sucking the life out of you, or building you back up?
Meaning, do you feel comfortable, relaxed, inspired, and energized at your desk?
Consider adding things around your workspace that make it feel more exciting. Invigorating candles, fresh (or fake) plants, an oversized photo of your favorite nature spot. A CLEAN workspace.
There’s a reason the workforce is hustling to land remote work positions – where you work plays a huge role in your fulfillment, productivity, and connection to your mission.
Don’t believe me? Think outside of the box – this is 2022 and people are working on the beach for goodness sake.
Ask yourself – would you enjoy working in a basement or garage over a beautifully decorated, futuristic, open-air office?
Why is that?
Want to know the other parts?
Check my previous posts that cover:
1. Energy – we each have an energetic cycle that moves us from alert and engaged to sleepy and checked out. If you’re spending a ton of your day feeling sleepy, there is a way to remedy it – without more sleep!
2. Routine – does your daily routine support or inhibit your energy cycles? You might be surprised
3. Motivation – how are you strategically exciting yourself about a day well-spent? Productivity accomplished via ease and flow deserves celebration!
4. Atmosphere (see above)
Whenever you’re struggling with work/life balance, come back to this process!! It works EVERY TIME!
To help get others’ brains thinking outside the box, share with us your insights on work atmosphere below!
Unpopular opinion (3/4): employees are responsible for their own burnout!
Welcome to part 3! Avoiding burnout is a hot topic as our society continues to examine work/life balance.
You see, a few weeks ago I read an opinion piece that proposed companies are not to blame for individuals burning out, but the individuals themselves are.
While I don’t necessarily agree in full, I DO believe we have a ton of power in prolonging and reducing burnout!
Burnout is not simply correlated to the Quantity of hours worked.
It’s also influenced by the Quality of life experienced during and outside the working times.
Here’s my 4-part Flow Lifestyle to help you avoid burnout.
These are super easy tips you can implement TODAY. No excuses!
3. Motivation – when you’re training a dog, you give the dog a treat or praise after completing a task. They NEED this treat; it’s how good behavior is reinforced.
Same thing for children, and – shocker – adults, too!!
Do you have a celebration, treat, or reward waiting for you at the end of your day?
Not just something nice that typically happens, such as: streaming another episode; eating dinner with loved ones; or simply turning your computer off (as rewarding as that is!!)
I’m talking about the “I can’t stop thinking about this because it’s going to be so good” excitement that comes with reward and celebration.
Rewards motivate us to work with more focus and dedication, and create a deeper feeling of appreciation for the task at hand.
Productivity deserves celebration!
How are you strategically rewarding yourself for a day well-spent?
Want to know the other parts?
I’ll be posting the final part in-depth next week. Keep a look out!!
For now, here’s a glimpse of what we’ve been covering:
1. Energy – we each have an energetic cycle that moves us from alert and engaged to sleepy and checked out. If you’re spending a ton of your day feeling sleepy, there is a way to remedy it – without more sleep!
2. Routine – does your daily routine support or inhibit your energy cycles? You might be surprised
3. Motivation (see above)
4. Atmosphere – is your workspace sucking the life out of you, or building you back up? Think outside of the box – this is 2022 and people are working on the beach for goodness sake.
Sign up for the email list at the bottom of this page if you want personally notified as each post comes out!
Unpopular opinion (2/4): burnout is a self-induced situation.
I’ve been sharing my secrets to creating a life full of flow and free from burnout.
You see, I read an opinion piece that proposed companies are not to blame for workers burning out, but the individuals themselves are.
While I don’t completely agree, I DO believe we the power to set strong boundaries that prolong and reduce burnout!
Burnout is not simply correlated to the Quantity of hours worked.
It’s also influenced by the Quality of life experienced during AND outside the working times.
Here’s Part 2 of my 4-Part Flow to help you avoid burnout.
You can implement this TODAY. No excuses!
2. Routine – How you spend your morning affects the entire rest of your day. It shapes your perspective, sets your intentions, and determines the undertone of your mood.
Even deeper than that, your nighttime routine influences your sleep. The quality (not just quantity) of your sleep directly impacts both the energy you feel the next day and influences the strength of your entire body for weeks to come.
RED FLAG: If you’re regularly spending time on activities that are straining your eyes (streaming, scrolling) or are consuming in “excess” of what you realistically need (eating junk, binging Netflix), ditch these habits IMMDEDIATELY.
This is self-sabotage that is incredibly easy to avoid!
Each tiny habit you have snowballs into something bigger over time. It’s time to ask yourself if your habits are supporting you or sabotaging you!
Pay attention to your daily routine:
– Does this habit support my physical or mental strength, longevity, joy, and wellbeing?
– Is this habit the most effective use of my time? (Rest IS productive!)
– How does what I’m doing right now will benefit me tomorrow?
Answering these questions will uncover exactly what needs to change.
Then, the responsibility is YOURS.
** Remember: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results. **
Want to know the other pieces?
I’ll be posting the remaining 2 parts in-depth over the next couple weeks. Keep a look out!!
For now, here’s a glimpse:
1. Energy – we each have a cycle that moves us from alert & engaged to sleepy & checked out. If you’re feeling sleepy, there is a way to remedy it – without more sleep!
2. Routine (see above)
3. Motivation – how are you strategically exciting yourself about a day well-spent? Productivity accomplished via ease and flow deserves celebration!
4. Atmosphere – is your workspace sucking the life out of you, or building you back up? Think outside of the box – this is 2022 and people are working on the beach for goodness sake.
Sign up for the email list at the bottom of this page if you want personally notified as each post comes out!
Unpopular opinion (1/4): burnout is a self-induced situation.
A few weeks ago, I found an article asserting that companies are not to blame for individuals burning out, but the individuals themselves are.
While I don’t necessarily agree in full, I DO believe we have a ton of power in prolonging and reducing burnout!
Burnout is not simply correlated to the Quantity of hours worked.
It’s also influenced by the Quality of life experienced during and outside the working times.
Here’s my 4-part Flow Lifestyle to help you avoid burnout.
These are super easy tips you can implement TODAY. No excuses!
1. Energy – we each have an energetic cycle that moves us from alert and engaged to sleepy and checked out. This is the same reason why there are breaks in seminars and classes are usually capped at an hour.
You need to stretch, boost blood flow, hydrate, and refocus your eyes regularly to keep moving and grooving at 100.
Figure yours out!
Your cycle can range from 90-30 minutes and anywhere in-between (mine is 20-40 mins on a given day). You’ll feel a natural desire to get up…or lay down… at some point. Take note of the time.
Build 5-10 minute energetic resets into your schedule. Set timers and alarms that help you commit to your needs. These will remind you when to go on break and when break is over.
When the timer goes off, GET UP! Move your bum. Watch the sky out the window. Plan your evening. Plan an outfit for tomorrow. Find something unrelated to your work and give your mind a sort-of commercial break from work.
As you sit back down at your desk, notice the change in both how your focus is refreshed but also how your body feels. Compare that to other days when you don’t take these breaks.
Want to know the rest?
I’ll be posting the remaining 3 parts in-depth over the next few weeks. Keep a look out!!
For now, here’s a glimpse:
2. Routine – does your daily routine support or inhibit your energy cycles? You might be surprised.
3. Motivation – how are you strategically exciting yourself about a day well-spent? Productivity accomplished via ease and flow deserves celebration!
4. Atmosphere – is your workspace sucking the life out of you, or building you back up? Think outside of the box – this is 2022 and people are working on the beach for goodness sake.
Sign up for the email list at the bottom of this page if you want personally notified as each post comes out!
The Empty Cup Analogy
Have you ever heard the empty cup analogy?
Long story short – you cannot pour from an empty cup. This is factually true.
This is also true metaphorically – the cup is you, and the water is your energy.
Wouldn’t it be great if the water – your energy – was constantly overflowing?…
Realistically, how often are you finding yourself with no energy? How often is your cup empty?
You’re so accustomed to helping other people, taking care of your family, being the cheerleader for your friends, loving on your significant other…
But who is loving on you? Those deep parts of yourself that you don’t share with anyone. The fears, the feeling that you don’t deserve recognition, the lack of purpose…who is putting TLC into those parts of you?
Those parts of you are your foundation. They are the source of your water. The well of energy you keep on reserve. If it’s empty… If it’s closed off…
How can you possibly pour from it?
Kerstie Blue 