Today I almost got into a car accident. I was in a parking lot stopped in my bright-you-can’t-miss-it red car with my daughter, waiting to turn left. All of a sudden we noticed a brand new Range Rover (the largest one) who decided for reasons unknown to put their gear in reverse and start backing up…fast! Luckily I pushed my hand on my steering wheel’s horn right away and kept it there while the Range Rover continued to back up. I thought the car would for sure hit me but they stopped with one or two inches to spare. Driving the Range Rover was a 20ish girl in the car who was texting on her cell phone. She just drove away, without an apology as at least ten people shook their heads at her.

An accident could have occurred because of multitasking and yet, we all look around and it is common to see drivers around us multitasking. They are holding their cell phones, talking and texting. Then there are always those who are putting on make-up, flossing, tweezing their eyebrows, shaving and even cutting grocery coupons with a scissors! I am sure that you have seen pretty crazy activities out there among your fellow drivers.

Are we really that rushed that we have to do these other things while operating a large piece of machinery? Are we “saving time” at everyone else’s expense?

By doing too much at one time or doing things too fast, we run the risk of costly mistakes which will cost us far more in time, money and energy than simply slowing down the pace and focusing on what you are doing.

Can we just slow down a bit?

Whatever happened to turning on the radio and winding down as we drive to our destinations? My Bluetooth has been missing in action for the past two weeks and I have been driving and listening to relaxing music and I notice that when I reach my destination I feel refreshed and recharged.

We have so many things to do in our days. We owe it to ourselves (and others) to slow down and cruise, especially when we are driving.

A Change of Scenery To Gain Clarity

Last year I spent half of the year in Hawaii. I know that the gorgeous sunsets, the vast Pacific, the emerald mountains and the amazing rainbows I saw each and every day allowed me to pause and reflect on the amazing beauty of the islands. Yet, it was something different that stirred emotions and feelings. It was the change in scenery and lifestyle that awoke ideas within me and sparked my creativity.

Sometimes a change of scenery is all we need to gain clarity.

My time in Hawaii made me absolutely aware that I wanted to inspire others more through my writing. It made my daughter absolutely aware that she wanted to study fine art. It made us both absolutely aware that beauty is all around us, everywhere we go and not just on a tropical island.

When we got back home, that beauty stayed within our hearts. Every afternoon when I take in the sunset in all of its’ red and orange hues, I breathe in the passion that has awoken within me. My daughter feels the passion when she draws, paints and designs.

I encourage you to try to find a place and time when you can seek a change of scenery to gain clarity. It can be triggered by a getaway to a different place but can also be close to home. It can be as simple as walking along the shore, taking in the beauty of nature or getting lost in a book.

These mini-getaways (whether physical or mental) can shift your perspective and give your mind, body and spirit a chance to sort out and recharge.

I encourage you to think about how you can get away to find a new perspective and new energy. Keep that vision alive as you make it happen.

It All Begins With A Vision, Your Vision

When you get inspired, you move closer to your vision, which reflects your passion and your purpose. Your vision is sacred and must be treated with care and respect. Write it down describing all that you can in vivid color. A design board or a notebook keeps your thoughts together and visually reinforces the life that you are moving towards.

You’ve heard of people putting pictures of a physically fit person on their refrigerator when trying to lose weight. This is a very effective tool to inspire and encourage. It engrains in the brain a positive result of what positive actions can produce.

Use that same technique to design your ideal life.

Amelia had been working in cubicle nation for fifteen years and had absolutely no interest in her job. Although she liked her salary, each year it became more and more meaningless because she felt that she was not making a difference in the world. She described herself as feeling like she was among the “walking dead,” those who woke up every day, went to work and came home all while on automatic pilot.

While visiting New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, she felt an incredible compassion stir within her as she saw the destruction. She spoke with many families and her heart opened up. For the first time in her life, she felt alive.

When she came home this passion stayed alive within her. She bought herself a scrapbook and started to fill it up with photos that touched her. She cut out photos from magazines of people touched by destruction, especially families with children.

This led to her realize that she did not have to move to New Orleans or become a full-time social worker to fulfill her passion. No, there were plenty of displaced families in her own area.

She started volunteering in local shelters and the difference in her demeanor is incredible. She reports that her life is filled with a depth that she could not get in cubicle nation.

You do not have to make a MAJOR change in your own life to make a MAJOR difference in the life of others.

It all begins with a VISION, your vision.

I Get My Best Ideas In the Bath

As we step in a New Year, let’s really stop the struggling with ourselves and begin trusting ourselves. We spend so much time and energy trying to achieve newer and greater things and can tend to lose sight of all of the beauty around us and within us along the way.

I get my best ideas in the bath. Seriously. It might be something about the flow of the water, the soothing warmth, the steam, the time-out relaxation time just for me. It is a place where I do not think about productivity or efficiency. I always effortlessly achieve my goal of relaxing my mind, body and spirit.

In the bath, solutions become clearer and my worries evaporate. That is why I make it a point to take one bath a day, usually after dinner before I really relax for the evening. Some days call for more than one bath and yes, they do make a difference in my peace and tranquility levels.

Try it! Let your family know that this is a time meant just for you, so unless it is a dire emergency (like imminent danger), you are not to be disturbed. Homework, phone calls and arguments among children DO NOT count as emergency or danger. This is a time when the family should be as quiet as possible so that when you are lounging in the bath trying to get your relaxation response, you do not turn off the water only to hear, “No fair, it’s MY turn! MOMMMMM!”

Maybe this could be a new tradition as you step into the New Year. Time just for you, what a novelty! You’ve got to leave the guilt and responsibility hat aside and let your husband watch the kids just for this short time. (When I mean short, it may just be five minutes at first but you can try to work up in small increments to a whopping twenty minutes or more!) Don’t worry about your family. They will eventually start to realize that after your bath, you are much more relaxed and peaceful, better equipped to conquer the entire family’s issues once again as the SuperMOM that you are.

So usher yourself out of this year and embrace the New Year and congratulations, you are now an official investor in yourself.

To Your Fulfillment,

Cara

Dr. Cara Alana is an inspiring Life Coach and author with a Doctorate in Psychology. Her empowering approach focuses on accelerated personal and professional growth where sustainable long-term change can be achieved, resulting in tremendous breakthroughs. Equipped with training in motivational psychology, she provides a safe and soothing place of growth and empowerment. What’s standing between you and your full happiness potential? Visit her website at http://www.lifefulfillmentnow.com

A portion of the following article recently appeared on a HUGE life and style site that reaches millions of viewers, glam.com (www.glam.com). It is a genuine honor to be selected as a feature author on their empowerment page!

In our fast-paced world, many of us feel the desire to slow down. And yet, we don’t. For instance, when was the last time you rested? I mean, take a quiet time-out during the day when you have “so- much-to-do” type of resting? Exactly!

The truth is that with all of our society’s technological advances, we are finding ourselves trying to keep up with the pace. We start to cram more and more into our already busy lives. We find that multitasking has become a way of life. We frantically try to cross off every item on our to-do lists and feel like failures when we fall short.

Why do we expect so much of ourselves?

When are we going to slow down and rest?

Rest does not have to mean a nap. It can mean not checking your email or surfing the internet for half an hour. It can mean sitting quietly and pausing to reflect. It can be closing your eyes and letting your mind really relax.

These small acts ways of relaxing make profound differences in your focus and your energy. By taking the time to simply slow down, you allow your mind, body and spirit to relax, refresh and rejuvinate.

This week I encourage you to be really mindful of adding some rest time to your life. Take time out to rest from the noise (and your phone) and let yourself go to a place of quiet. Just fifteen minutes a day will make a BIG difference. The concept is so simple and yet, why aren’t we doing it?

Give your to-do list a makeover.  

Part of relaxing is taking time to prove to yourself that you deserve to take some time for yourself. You have the intention to slow down and relax and you will, that is, after and only after all of the items on your To-Do list are completed.

Let’s take a look at this To-Do-list. It may contain errands you need to run in order to make your life run more smoothly. These might include the grocery store, putting in gas and washing the clothes. However, many women I know also put items on this list that they WANT to do but now have evolved into things they NEED to know. These include losing twenty pounds, getting rid of their wrinkles and getting six-pack abs.

The problem with these “bigger” goals is that they are items that are not easily checked off, at least now this week. These goals take an enormous amount of time, energy and dedication. Including these items on your regular To-Do list is not only unfair to these “bigger” goals, they are unfair to YOU. No wonder you can’t rest!

Try this. Limit your To-Do list to simple tasks that can be done today or at least this week like going to the dry cleaners, washing your car or going through that pile of papers on the table. By keeping this list simple with manageable items, you are saving yourself a great deal of stress and anxiety. You are also giving yourself the gift of progress at the end of each day.

The “bigger” goals can me on another list that you can call your “Future Wish List” list. You can break these big goals down into mini-goals. For example, if your goals are to lose twenty pounds you can break that down into diet, exercise and attitude and celebrate each small victory instead of chronically like a failure. The weight of not failing short of accomplishing all of your goals can really hold you back. By putting items on their respective lists, you can sort them out in your mind as what is reasonable and unreasonable for today.

So give yourself a break. You will be able to relax knowing that you have created more space in your life to rest in the luxury of today’s accomplishment.

Have you lost your optimism?

In today’s economic climate, it is easy to lose our optimism. That is why it is so important now more than ever to embrace what we are grateful for, even if it is one thing and that thing seems small like that you CAN pay your bills, that gas went down 30% since last month, and that you and your family are able to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.

It’s the simple things that can make all the difference. So can relaxation.

Are you getting enough sleep each night? Try to get at least seven hours of sleep for a couple of nights and observe how your energy and tolerance levels go up.

Are you practicing positive self-talk about your body? Ladies, this is an IMPORTANT one because your body hears everything you say and can get pretty resentful if you are critical. So be easy on yourself, your body will thank you and start cooperating when you want to move it around.

Are you loving and respectful? It is not easy to be kind when others are not, but by keeping a spirit of loving kindness, you are allowing your spirit to experience an invaluable sense of peace.

No matter what is going on in your life and in your world, you CAN control how you react and interact with yourself and with others. And in this crazy world, THAT we can be grateful for.

To Your Fulfillment,

Cara