Back in Salt Lake City!

In High School I was really involved in DECA — a competitive marketing club. I qualified back to back years for International competitions and one year it was in Salt Lake City. Six of us traveled there together to compete and climb mountains and see the freshly vacated Olympic grounds, the Temple, a baseball game and make memories I’ll never forget.

DECA left such an impression on me, it is some of my fondest memories of that stage of life and something that I excelled in—I earned countless medals, a Letter, I was awarded a scholarship, and was the president of my chapter. I learned lessons about confidence, teamwork, leadership, and grit. I spent hours and hours writing, researching, rehearsing, and presenting projects and role plays. I learned what Flow felt like—I could get lost doing that work late into the evening and I couldn’t get enough. It set the stage for my professional life and in the former years of my career I maintained the spirit by leading and organizing clubs, volunteering as a judge and filling my cup with professional development by being on the board of IIBA.

When I look back on those times it brings clarity that I am truly — as Jen Hatmaker puts it — in my lane, doing the thing meant for me.

As life has a tendency to do, the path takes a few turns every once in a while... Becoming a mom was the best thing but honestly I had missed connection to that spirit of business and entrepreneurship and leadership and although I needed the time away from the corporate world, I always had hope tucked away in my heart that entrepreneurial life would find me somehow. I didn’t know how.

So, here I am full circle, back in Salt Lake attending another International event, reflecting on those formative years (man I am old enough to use that phrase now!) and so thankful for them, and for the broken road that led me back to here to reignite those dormant parts of me that felt so native for me years ago.

Let’s get this party started! This is going to be so good. On my way to the Lavender Farm & Distillery In Mona, UT!!

(pictures to come! I am having technical difficulties!)

A few posts ago I was referring to my word in 2018.  It was actually a couple of words - "Calm Confidence"

I was working on my vision board for myself, my family, and my business and while I was making my lists, it hit me what my word should be this year.

Unencumbered.

Right. I had to laugh.  You know you're on the right path when it doesn't seem like you would have chose it if you were really calling the shots. haha.  I mean what a dork,  I coudn't just settle for "freedom" or "unburdened" or "liberated" or something less nerdy?  I even negotiated with myself that it should be "light"  instead.  And that is definitely the runner up. Or it might be the one that I actually tell people lol so that I don't feel like such a weiner for my dramatic word choice.

Our team is making a necklace with our word.  I mean I have to put that on jewelry?

But,  the spirit was clear.  That is the one.

unencumbered
adjective

1. not impeded, slowed down, or retarded; free to move, advance, or go forward.
2. having few or no burdens or obligations.
3. not burdened or weighed down, as with bulky or heavy objects.

It's so right.  I get in my own way so often.  I let other things get in my way.  I walk heavy. 

So, this year, I am going to travel light. I am going to ditch excuses. I am going to just do the dang thing. I am allowed to enjoy the process. I am allowed to let life flow to me. I am allowed to move forward!

i am light,
i am free
i advance with ease

What's your word for 2019?

Last December I got myself this gift. It’s in my bathroom and I look at it every day. Last December I did not have any self-worth or courage. I was riddled with anxiety. I was sort of a loose cannon. I had literally just felt the call to start my business and was being swept up with a current of momentum in my soul that wasn’t going to heed my mind’s protests or hesitation with this plan laid out before me. So, in the business, we went through the exercise of picking a word for 2018 and I chose “calm confidence” because I had seen that phrase used to describe Sacred Mountain, (which had made me “get” what oils were all about) and I knew I’d need lots of it this year.
What a year it has been. In the beginning I was faking the confidence part, and lacking on the calm. In the middle I realized my word should be humility. I had started the year trying to compensate for where I lacked, but I had over-corrected. The difference between artificial growth and authentic growth is humility.
I faced some big scary self-development truths this year. I experienced unbelievable healing on several fronts, and it was all by the grace of a God who was going before me, leading me on a yoke through hills and valleys, giving me rest, giving me challenges, giving me blessings in the form of people and support and angels to guide me towards unprecedented growth.
I am just where I am meant to be. I just keep saying yes to the next step, and hanging on through the next lesson, and allow myself to be molded and formed for a greater purpose. And somewhere along the way when I wasn’t looking for it, that calm confidence did show up. 🙌

I'm thinking hard about my new word for 2019.  I know that setting intentions is very powerful and I am full of faith that this journey will continue to lead me to new opportunities, new heights, and new challenges for the glory of God!

What's your word for 2019??

Do you feel in touch with your dreams and the things you are called to do in this life?

If you’re feeling a little stuck or uninspired, try these things.

1. Get quiet. Spend some time meditating and envisioning what your future looks like and listen for divine inspiration.
2. Examine your strengths and gifts. Those are the breadcrumbs to finding our paths.
3. Focus on any beliefs you have that are limiting your ability to dream. Do you feel worthy of good things in your future? Do you have thoughts about what is available to you that cast a narrow boundary on your options? What can you do to invest in expanding your view to accept that life is for you, not against you? Spend some time thinking about ways you’ve been limiting yourself and work to expand your perspective.
4. Focus on how you want to feel, or how you might impact others, rather than material things. Our soul craves meaning which is deeper than material objects and we are more likely to achieve big things if we have altruistic visions in mind.

Widen Your Scope
God created you (and every person on planet Earth) with several parts. Like a pie with separate pieces, each part is critical to who you are; and all of these parts must be considered when you set goals.

Spiritual
Family
Social
Physical
Work
Health & Wellness
Start thinking about what you hope these areas will look like 3-6 months from now.

Importance of Affirmations
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the benefits of positive affirmations, I’d like to explain a little about them. An affirmation is really anything you say or think. A lot of what we normally say and think is quite negative and doesn’t create good experiences for us. We have to retrain our thinking and speaking into positive patterns if we want to change our lives.
An affirmation opens the door. It’s a beginning point on the path to change. In essence, you’re saying to your subconscious mind: “I am taking responsibility. I am aware that there is something I can do to change.” When I talk about doing affirmations, I mean consciously choosing words that will either help eliminate something from your life or help create something new in your life.

Louise Hay is the queen of affirmations and she has a ton of really good ones here. Look at her examples and choose 2-3 of them or write your own that you can put on your vision board.

Why Vision Boards Work
What we focus on expands. When you create a vision board and place it in a space where you see it often, you essentially end up doing short visualization exercises throughout the day. Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do.

Our brains love pictures and we unconsciously work to achieve whatever messages we tell ourselves most.
So, what's the big secret to creating a vision board that works? It's simple: Your vision board should focus on how you want to feel, not just on things that you want. Don't get me wrong, it's great to include the material stuff, too. However, the more your board focuses on how you want to feel, the more it will come to life.

It doesn't have to be perfectly pretty or curated. Put thoughts and pictures that you want to bring into focus regularly.  Don't go overboard.  I think 3-5 themes is a sweet spot.

God has plans for all of us.  He nudges us along on our path and gives us lots of opportunities to find our way to his path for us. 
Do you feel lost?  Do you feel afraid of what is before you and uncertain about all the steps ahead?
God is found in the stillness.  It is sometimes really hard to decipher among the voices from outside, inside, and everywhere in between to find the true voice leading you to the next step. 
We often want to know the whole path before us.  We may have heard his call but have a hard time trusting how it will all unfold to get there.  We stand frozen because we are afraid to go forward without all the information.
In surrendering to His plans for us and trusting the Spirit to guide us,  we only need to listen for what the next thing is for us to do.  Like a headlight on a foggy night,  the light shines just far enough ahead for us to inch forward,  trusting that the path will be made for us. 

Hone Your Listening Skills
If you're having trouble hearing the Spirit, it could be that you've tuned too far into the future.  God's grace is sufficient for us, when we stay focused on the present tasks ahead of us for the day,  and not try to solve the burdens of tomorrow. Quiet yourself and ask,  what is the next thing I need to do in this moment?  Breathe and trust that each next moment will be provided to you if you faithfully follow the breadcrumbs.  If you're still not sure,  ask the Spirit to strike from your mind the things you are not called to do,  and to bring forward the things which are best. 
The key to walking God's path is to be in constant communication with Him.  He might take a different route than you would choose, but the rewards are more than you could imagine.

Discernment
Have a big decision to make and all the voices are jumbling in your head?  Or do you have a big idea and you're not sure if it is yours or His? Here are some ways to discern the call:
Does it scare you and excite you?  (Yes? - likely from God)
Does it feel like you would have come up with it on your own? (No?  it is probably from God!)
Is it grounded in truth, love, and supported by scripture? (Yes-->From God!)

Stepping out in faith.  When it is really scary. 
But I'm not good enough.
I'm not worthy of success
What if ... ?
I'm not...
But...
Spend some time thinking about the wounds from your past that might be holding you back from stepping forward.  God leads us through things that stretch us out of our comfort zone and also challenges us to work through those things that can help us shed wounds from the past.    “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.” Romans 8:28. You may have gone through some hard things in the past.  God will take that pain and help you transform it into something beautiful.  Your best use of energy is spent on finding your gifts,  giving God control, trusting him, worshiping him, and leaning on Him.  He's got the rest.   "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

You don't have to know all the steps.  You just have to take the first one.  Listen to the Spirit guide you one step at a time.

Resources that have helped me with discernment
Acquiescing to God's Call Video on Brilliant Perspectives
She's Still There - Chrystal Evans Hurst
21 Days of Prayer Monique McLean
Jesus Calling - Sarah Young