transformation

Jun

2023

What is the 7-Year Itch?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

What is the 7-year itch? Most of us have heard of the term when referring to couples having relationship problems. There are many stories of couples experiencing issues or even breaking up around the 7th year of their relationship.

Of course, this situation between couples also happens in the 4th or 5th years or even beyond 7 years. So 7 is not an exact number in these situations. Is there a reason why 7 is an important number in these major life points? Apparently, there is.

The Magic of Number 7

In astrology and numerology, all numbers have a specific kind of effect in our lives. The use of the number 7 is also prevalent in nature and culture, religion and art.

Astrologists believe there are major shifts in the cosmos every 7 years.
Biology states that human cells replace themselves every 7 to 10 years.
The Bible tells us that the world was built in 7 days, there are 7 deadly sins, and 7 seals of God.
Mystics and sages in ancients texts identify 7 main chakras in the body and talk about the 7 laws of life.
There are 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 visible planets in the heavens, and the 4 distinct phases of the moon are approximately 7 days apart.
Art has 7 elements and Shakespeare wrote about the 7 stages of man.
There are 7 continents and 7 seas, 7 days of the week, 7 unique notes on the common musical scale, and 7 directions.

The 7-Year Cycle

The number 7 is also represents different cycles in our life. The 7-year life cycle is divided every 7 years from the day you were born. Most of us have heard of the mid-life crisis which usually happens around 21-41 years. Think about your life as cycles instead of a linear journey. Notice that there are major transition points in your life that happens around every 7 years. These are the times that we tend to transform our identities and/or add on to the roles we play for the people around us.

Think of how we usually go through life. We usually start school at around 7 years old. We transition to highschool around 14 years old and graduate college around 21 years old. Somewhere in between these 7-year cycles, we go into employment and develop relationships. Finally, we retire from employment around 55 years old, which is the 6th stage or cycle.

We usually think of the 7-year itch as just referring to romantic relationships. We can actually use it to refer to our own life’s 7-year cycles. This means, that whether you are in a relationship or not; you will experience the 7-year itch.

The 7-Year Itch

The 7-year itch is that urge to undergo a change in your life. Ideally, this is a natural part of life, just as how we expect the seasons to change each year. However, most of us are pursuing our goals without this 7-year cycle in mind.

This is why we hear a lot of people often suddenly quitting their successful careers. They choose to do something new and very different from their expertise. Some people even downgrade their luxurious lifestyles. They suddenly switch to living a less hectic life in the province, near nature instead.

These people have experienced the 7-year itch and answered that calling, whether they are aware of it are not. Meanwhile, the rest of us are surprised at what prompted them to make such a major life decision. Each 7-year cycle is basically when you experience a crossroad in life. This applies to relationships too. This does not mean an ending to the relationship. Instead, each person in the relationship should grow and evolve for the relationship to also evolve further.

This 7-year itch is an itch that you need to scratch; a calling that you need to answer to. Otherwise, you will feel stuck and frustrated if you remain in the same situation even after the 7-year cycle. Some may even fall into depression. For example, people who stay in their jobs for more than 7 years usually feel this kind of frustration. People who hang on to their relationships even if they are already unhappy, and end up ruining their relationship and/or themselves.

The only remedy to this is to have a major change in your own life. Think of it as having a clean slate to reset your life. You need to have something else that excites you, in the other dimensions of your life. This reduces the impact of the feeling of being stuck and unsatisfied in one area of your life.

The 7-year cycles in your life is a guide on how you should flow in your life journey. Each time you are nearing the end of a cycle; take the time to review your journey so far and be grateful for where it has taken you. Then, prepare yourself to welcome something new, whichever dimension of life it is coming from.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Todd Diemer on Unsplash.

Mar

2022

Religion and Spirituality: Is There A Difference?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

What is the difference between spirituality and religion? Spirituality and religion are different concepts; but they often get confusing. We often end up describing our religious beliefs and practices when talking about our spirituality. Their purpose and practices can overlap and crossover, but they do have some basic differences.

Institutional vs Individual

Religion, by definition, is an institutionalized set of beliefs. It is practiced by a group of people; generally, in the service and worship of God or the divine. Exclusivity is also a feature of religion. When you are a member of a particular religious group; you cannot be a member of another religious group.

On the other hand, spirituality is more of a deeply personal experience. Its purpose is mainly to connect with something larger than you. This is experience is also referred to as a divine connection. Spirituality is also inclusive as it recognizes different modalities of connecting with the divine. In both cases, the experience of engaging with the divine, through worship, or personal connection, is considered sacred.

Objective vs Subjective

Religion is more of an objective experience. The external environment has a lot to do with its practice. For example, you go to a place of worship (e.g., church, temple, mosque, etc.), and you learn from a book of scriptures. There are also traditions and rituals that you observe to practice your religious beliefs.

Spirituality is more of a subjective experience. It focuses more on the internal process of developing your inner understanding and self awareness. Spirituality recognizes that individuals’ have their own pace in developing spirituality. It also accepts different ways of observing one’s spirituality. Although the focus of the practice may be different, both encourage self-reflection for the individual to grow and improve.

Judgment vs Acceptance

Another difference between religion and spirituality is the approach or the perspective in their teachings. In religious beliefs, failing to observe or practice its tenets generally results in punishment; while those devoted to the practice are rewarded. Though this may not be the intention; sadly, the concept of original sin, judgment, divine retribution and reward, encourage devotion more often based on fear.

In contrast, spirituality has a less judgment-based approach and encourages a more compassionate perspective. It recognizes that there are different world-views with the belief that they can all co-exist through understanding and compassion, acceptance and understanding, and a common desire to create a peaceful world for all. Forgiveness and letting go are encouraged more than punishment. Though this may sound too idealistic; the underlying concept is basically to act in the world with love as your guiding principle.

Spirituality is an important component in your overall wellness. Spirituality and religion are different but they also have a lot of similarities. When you are a member of a religious organization; it does not mean that you cannot be spiritual. Spirituality encompasses different ways of experiencing the divine. Religious practices are one of the many ways to develop your spirituality.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels.

Mar

2022

How to Improve Your Intellectual Wellness

Reading Time: 3 minutes

How would you like to improve your intellectual wellness? Intellectual wellness is an important component of our overall wellness. We are actively using our intellect in our daily life even if we are not always aware of it.

A high IQ is not the only measure of intelligence. There are different ways that individuals manifest intelligence. We often think of Albert Einstein when we think of intelligent people with high IQs. But we also have geniuses in music, art, engineering, and other fields of study. Here are some ways that can help you improve your intellectual wellness.

Take Care of Your Health

It takes a healthy body to maintain a healthy brain. Your physical wellness is the foundation that will help you develop and enhance all other aspects of your wellness. So drink your 8 glasses of water daily, eat healthy, exercise regularly and sleep adequately. There is such a thing as a mind-body connection. You won’t be able to focus on improving your mind if you don’t have a healthy body.

To keep a healthy body in good health is a duty… Otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
Buddha

Plan your day so you can work SMART instead of working harder. Make sure to make time for meditation and self care to calm your senses. This will allow you to focus better so you can be more productive. This way, you will have more time to spend on the things you want and love.

Indulge Your Curiosity

We all have been curious as children but we learned to suppress this instinct as adults. Being curious doesn’t mean just asking questions. It is a desire to find the answers to your questions that makes it worthwhile. If you’re curious about a certain place, travel there and experience it yourself. There is no better way to indulge your curiosity than to be immersed in another environment. So don’t hesitate to take that road trip with your friends.

Be curious. Read Widely. Try new things. What people call intelligenve just boils down to curiosity.
Aaron Swartz

A more affordable way to satisfy your curiosity is by reading books, listening to audiobooks and podcasts and watching videos on topics you are interested about. You can also talk to other people who are experienced or experts at these topics. Taking classes and traveling to experience something new are also good ways to indulge your curiosity and learn something new.

Set Time for Fun and Play

Improving your intellect doesn’t mean boring yourself to sleep with reading or taking classes, even if you’re not up to it. Even at work; you should take breaks to reset your brain. Set time to play board games with your family, friends and colleagues. You can play checkers, scrabble, chess, or even snakes and ladders, just for fun. On your own, you can also challenge yourself with a crossword puzzle or sudoku or a rubik’s cube.

Play is not just about having fun but about taking risks, experimenting, and testing boundaries.
American Academy of Pediatrics

There will be times when you don’t even want to think and just want to have some fun. So go out and enjoy a walk or even a picnic at a nearby park. Visit a museum with your friends or an amusement park. Indulge in a hobby or find one. Do something creative like taking photos, making videos, drawing or scribble quotes, work on a coloring book. It’s not wasting your time when you’re refreshing your mind.

Reflect on Your Learnings

A journal is a great way to do some reflection. At the end of the day, or whenever you feel like it; write down your experiences, how they made you feel, how you can apply it to your future experiences. It doesn’t have to be too detailed. The main goal is to be able to review your experiences and inspect it for helpful tidbits that will benefit you, or other people around you. A gratitude journal is one way to encourage a more positive mindset.

Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.
Margaret J. Wheatley

There are always some good learnings to be had even in unpleasant circumstances. By journaling, you will learn how to look at things from a different perspective. It means you can look at things objectively, without your personal biases stepping in. This will help you choose the thoughts that will benefit you the most. In the long term; it will also help you control your self and your reactions; so you can keep calm and respond to the situation in the best way possible.

Maintaining intellectual wellness means always being open to learning new things. There are many ways to constantly keep learning. So don’t hold back from asking a question and trying to find the answers. It will definitely help you improve your social wellness and help you discover a whole new world of possibilities to move forward in life.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Monstera from Pexels.

Jan

2022

How to Stop Playing the Blame Game

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Are you still playing the Blame Game? Many of us as children have played this game. We did it involuntarily because we didn’t want to be punished for our mistakes. As adults, we are taught to take responsibility for our mistakes so we outgrow this habit. However, we do resort to this tactic sometimes in certain situations. Some adults even do not outgrow this mindset and are still playing it in their daily lives. How do you stop playing the Blame Game?

What is The Blame Game?

The Blame Game starts when one person tries to shift the blame away from himself and towards other persons, things, or circumstances. For example, when 2 children are fighting over a toy and ends up breaking it; they tend to blame the other child when questioned by their parents. As adults, this is a dangerous game to play as it has major, even dangerous consequences.

The Blame Game is very contagious. When one person starts it; those who are blamed usually end up blaming others in an attempt to not suffer any punishment. They also blame others so that they have other people to share the punishment with. This seems very silly but this is quite a common occurrence even in the most professional workplace.

Why Do We Play The Game?

Shifting blame away from ourselves is a defense mechanism. It is a tool we use when we feel attacked and want to fight back. It is an easy game to play because we all know that people are capable of lying. So, in the heated moments, we usually end up trying to figure out who or what to blame; instead of trying to understand the core issue or the root cause of the whole situation.

Those who are always playing the Blame Game are usually people who feel like they have lost control over the situation. They do not want to be targeted as the only one responsible. It is an attempt to get justice for oneself but in a very selfish way. When you start blaming others, it shows a lack of confidence on your part and a lack of trust in others’ opinions of you as well.

Are You Playing the Game?

You may not be aware that you are playing the Blame Game. Here are some behaviors and habits that serve as symptoms that you are in this game.

Excluding Other People. Are you in a group that regularly excludes one or more members in discussions? You have the impression that this person is “weak” and need not be included. If you find yourself being excluded or you are excluding yourself voluntarily; then you are in this game.

Looking for A Target. When a situation seems to be going downhill; people tend to find a scapegoat to shift the blame on. Often, the target are usually individuals who are the least knowledgeable about the whole situation; or someone who is deemed gullible. They would not be able to identify the real culprits.

Denying Responsibility. When things don’t go as planned, people often shift blame away from themselves by denying that it was their responsibility in the first place. They might lie and find excuses by blaming other people or circumstances as the cause that prevented them from completing their tasks or duties.

Finding Fault Instead of Solutions. When the focus of a meeting becomes finding who’s at fault instead of finding a fix or a solution; then everyone is playing the Blame Game. Everyone becomes distrustful of each other and afraid that they might be targeted by everyone else.

How to Stop Playing the Blame Game

Playing the Blame Game as children is understandable. As adults, we are all capable of planning our actions ahead of time to get the most favorable results; so we shouldn’t end up playing this game. However, if you do find yourself playing this game; then you need to work on your self so you can stop playing the game.

Get to Know Yourself. If you don’t know yourself, then you won’t recognize your own faults. There are many ways to do this. One is to meditate so you can reflect on your self. Practice mindfulness so you can identify your behavior patterns, emotional triggers, etc. Learn more about your shadow side, your different personas. Write your bucket list so you can identify your goals and dreams and how you can work on them. Have a gratitude journal so you know what resources and blessings you have that you can use for your goals.

Invest in Yourself. If you do not want to be the target of blame and to become a more responsible adult; then you need to start investing more time and resources in becoming a better version of you. Read books, watch learning videos, take classes, listen to audio books. By investing in yourself; you can become more knowledgeable and skillful in your work or passion. Unleash your genius and surprise even yourself. Working on improving yourself will help you become a more responsible person and will enhance your self-confidence too.

Learn from Your Mistakes. The only way to not be scared of making mistakes is to have a learning mindset. Don’t be scared to take risks and try something new. Take each situation as an opportunity to learn instead of a setback. With a positive attitude; you will not be scared to take responsibility for your own mistakes. People who have this attitude usually attract other people who also have a responsible character and who can help you in your endeavors. These are the kind of people who will find a solution with you instead of finding blame for negative results.

Learn to Apologize Properly. Part of being a responsible individual is to know when and how to apologize properly. Being able to acknowledge your own faults and mistakes shows the strength of your character. It tells other people that you are confident and reliable enough to fix things when they don’t turn out well.

Express Your Gratitude. Don’t be shy in expressing your thanks to someone. Not only will this show your sincerity; it also means that you are confident enough to show your true self in front of others. An attitude of gratitude also enhances your trustworthiness in other people’s eyes. It may be awkward to do this at first, but practice makes perfect.

In order to stop blaming yourself and others; you need to start taking responsibility. If you can acknowledge your own faults, then you won’t be inclined to blame others. You can only do that when you know yourself better. By knowing yourself deeply; you’ll also be able to recognize what situations you can take responsibility for and which one’s you’d rather give to someone more capable. This means that you make less mistakes which also means less opportunities to play the blame game.

Watch the video and get the worksheet to get more insights.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash.

Jan

2022

Crossroads: Making Life-Changing Decisions

Reading Time: 3 minutes

My friends and I recently had an encounter with a black butterfly. The butterfly stayed with us for quite some time before flying away. Out of curiosity, I researched what it meant. Many people believe that a black butterfly is a sign of bad omen. But contrary to popular belief, a black butterfly is actually a symbol of rebirth, transformation, transition and new beginnings. When my friends and I saw the black butterfly, we were at crossroad, making life-changing decisions in our lives, careers, family and relationships.

Transformation

Butterflies undergo metamorphosis in their lives. They were not born with such beauty. As caterpillars, they have long and worm-like bodies. Caterpillars wrapped themselves in cocoons in order to become the beautiful full-winged creatures known as butterflies. In order to become butterflies, caterpillars had to fall apart and die first. Butterflies need to undergo a very painful process before they can fulfill their purpose and become the best versions of themselves. And this is the very essence of life.

As individuals, we all need to undergo transformation in order to fulfill our purpose in lives. Unfortunately, the transformation process is not easy. Challenges are needed for growth and success. Everyone wants to become happy and successful, but how many are actually willing to change? In order for our circumstances to change, we must be willing to change the way we do things and change ourselves in the process.

We can’t continue doing the same things and expect different results.
– Paulo Coelho

Crossroads in Life

Crossroads are all about change. It is about making choices. In a a way, it is an opportunity to choose between different possible paths that you can take in your life. The choices can be equally good and exciting or can also be very painful. Whatever choices that are right in front of you, making a choice can be quite scary because change is scary. That is why many people remain stuck at where they are in their lives because of fear.

Whether you are contemplating on leaving your job, changing careers, migrating to a different country, getting married or ending a relationship; whatever life-changing decision you are trying to make, it is not easy. Crossroads decisions are hard. They are difficult because it involves changing the direction of your life. Although it is a natural part of life, there are instances that it is forced upon us by uncontrollable circumstances.

So, what to do when you find yourself at a crossroad?

1. Accept What Is

Do not resist. You are at a crossroad because it is life’s way of telling you to rethink the direction of your life. Are you on the right path? Open yourself up to the signs around you. What is life telling you? Move with the changes instead of going against them.

2. Trust Your Instinct

An instinct is a feeling inside you that only you can experience. Trusting your instinct means trusting yourself. Sometimes, we spend too much time asking other people’s opinion and trying to adhere to the status quo when in fact deep inside you, you already know the answer. Just learn to believe in yourself and what you can do and accomplish.

3. Act on It

Once you have made the decision, now do it. Make the leap. It is useless to decide on your head alone. Your decision must be coupled with action. Whether it is right or wrong, only time can tell. Every decision has no guarantee. There is no such thing as a win-win situation.

4. Give Yourself Time to Grieve

Big changes are not without pain. There will be a feeling of loss. It’s okay to not be okay for some time. Give yourself time to cry your heart out. One day, it will all pass. You will start feeling better.

5. Surround Yourself with your Support Group

Find your support group. The people around you will help you get through it. They play an important role in your overall recovery. Their emotional support can help you reduce stress.

6. Look Forward to New Beginnings

The best way to move forward is to dream again. Visualize what your whole new world will look like. This is the time to create new dream s and goals. Dream big. Rather than looking at the past, focus your attention on your future happiness and success. Embrace the changes.

Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.
– Tony Robbins

Click here to get a free copy of the Crossroads worksheet.

Click here to watch the video.

Feature Image by Pexels

First Published 10.24.2020

Dec

2021

Letting Go: Clearing and Healing Your Life

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Humans are sentimental beings and because of this; most of us are very bad at the practice of “letting go”. We horde memories, mementos, items, and even relationships because of how they make us feel. Even if some of them makes us feel unpleasant and uncomfortable; we keep them because they have become familiar to us. They have become part of our comfort zone.

However, staying in our comfort zone is not what we’re made for. We have to keep learning by experiencing new things, overcoming challenges, having fun, overcoming our fears, and many more wonderful encounters. This is what our bucket list is for. We should be constantly in the process of transforming ourselves as we work for our dreams.

Why We Need to Let Go

While we acquire things that we enjoy; we also need to let go of things from time to time. Just like a computer; we have a finite space for the things we want to keep. So we need to delete some files that we don’t need or use anymore so we don’t bog down our computer and we have space for updates. Similarly, in our life; we need to let go for many reasons.

We need to clear out old clutter that are only taking up space in our minds and in our environment. This will help us clear a path and space for the things we actually want to keep and the new things we want to have.

Letting go allows us to have a clearer mind so we can focus on what we really want and avoid distractions. It also starts the healing process for old traumas. By letting go of excess mental, emotional, physical, social and environmental baggage; we feel lighter in our mind, heart and body. We get a sense of freedom because nothing is holding us back anymore; or at the very least, our burdens have been lessened.

What and How to Let Go

If you are ready to let go; then take pen and paper and start writing down the things you need and want to let go. To help you decide what things to let go of, consider these criteria:

Things that have served their purpose in your life and are just taking up space.
Things that are holding you back from what you want to do or to be.
Things that you are not aligned with anymore based on your new goals.

These criteria will surely give you a lot of ideas on what to let go. It is helpful to break things down even more by asking yourself some guide questions.

Letting Go from Head to Toe

Start thinking about the things that you need to let go by reviewing yourself from head to toe. Ask yourself some guide questions for each section.

Mind: This is about your mindset, thought patterns, limiting beliefs.

What old thought patterns do I need to let go?
What limiting beliefs do I need to let go?
What things do I need to unlearn?
What materials / media do I consume that I need to stop consuming?

Words: This is about how you talk to your self as well as how you communicate with other people.

What things do I tell my self that I need to let go?
What words should I let go from my vocabulary?
What things do I say to other people that I need to let go?
What books or materials do I read or consume that I need to let go?

Body: This is about your self-image and the feedback about your self that you get from others.

What beliefs and experiences does my body have that I need to let go?
Do I have uncomfortable sensations in my body that I want to let go?
What bad habits does my body have that I need to let go?
What do I use or put on and into my body that I need to let go?

Relationships: This is about your social attachments and the mental and emotional baggage that you are carrying from these interactions.

Do I have toxic people in my life that I need to let go?
Do I have friends who I feel I need to let go?
Do I have work or business partnerships that I need to let go?
Is there a relationship situation that I want to move on from?

Environment: This is about the external stimuli that triggers you and your environment that influences you.

Are there things in my home that have served their purpose and are just lying around taking up space?
Are there things in my space that do not serve a purpose anymore?
Are there items and fixtures in my surroundings that I have an excess off that I need to let go?
Are there spots in my space that feel suffocating or heavy that I need to clear out?

Ho’oponopono: Healing Chant

After you have written your list; take a deep breath and close your eyes for a bit to calm yourself. The next step is to acknowledge the things you are letting go and releasing them back into the Universe. To do this, you can use the Ho’oponopono. It is a forgiveness and healing prayer from Hawaii. The prayer can be long but you can use the brief version as a chant.

I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you, I love you.

The prayer helps you to acknowledge and be grateful for the lessons and usefulness of the things that have served their purpose in your life. It is also a way to clear your space and your self of unpleasant and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings so you can start healing them. Finally, it helps you to accept things as they are, and to forgive yourself and others from all that has happened so you can move forward.

As you read each item on your list; say the chant for each item. Repeat the process until you have finished all the items in your list.

Releasing Your Self

Once you are done going over your list, it is time to release these old energies to complete the letting go process. A good way to do this is to burn the list and visualize all the feelings in those items being released back to the Universe. This is a signal to the Universe that you have actually let go and you are moving into a new direction in your life. As you watch the list burn, repeat the Ho’oponopono chant again until the list has turned to ashes. Take as much time as you need to bask in the freedom that you feel after this ritual.
Ideally, you should do this ritual outdoors, surrounded by nature. Think, bonfire by the beach. But if this is not possible; it could be as simple as burning your list where you have a view of the outdoors.

Watch the video and get the worksheet to guide you in this process.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Ryan Moreno on Unsplash.

Dec

2021

Redesign your Life Through a Bucket List

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Everyone is so busy in modern life. We are always pressed for time. It feels like the 24-hours that we have is never enough to be able to do all the things that we need to do in one day. However, despite our busyness, do you ever feel like you are not really getting anything done? Ask yourself, how many substantial things were you able to accomplish this week, last year or even in your whole life? If you are to die today, will you be able to say that you have lived a purposeful and meaningful life? If you can’t answer the question, it is a sign that you need a fresh start. It is time for you to redesign your life by creating a bucket list.

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What is a Bucket List?

A bucket list is a list of things that you want to do before you die. It can be a list of goals that you want to accomplish, things that you want to achieve, places that you want to go to and activities that you want to experience. The purpose is that when you look back into your life towards the end of your life, you can honestly and happily say that “Yes! I have lived a wonderful life!”

How to Make a Bucket List?

Making a bucket list is quite easy. All you need is a pen and paper or create a new text document. Now, ask yourself the following questions:

What are your biggest goals and dreams?
Are there any skills that you want to learn?

What activities do you want to experience?
Are there places that you want to visit?
If you have all the time and money in the world, what will you be doing?
Are there people that you want to meet?

In short, the list is all about you and your definition of what a fulfilling life is. There is no right or wrong answer. There are no restrictions. Just write what comes to your mind. What is it that you want? Do not be afraid. After all, it is free. But do remember that you have to be very specific. For example, if you want a car don’t just write the word car. Write “a ______ (color) ________ (model) _________ (brand). Don’t be bothered also by the process. Just have fun writing down everything your heart desires.

Bucket List Categories

Now start writing them down. Write as many as you can. Try to write up to 100. Why 100? It is because it will force you to totally visualize the future that you want for yourself. It is To make it easier for you, arrange your list into the following categories:

Goals I Want to Achieve
Things I Want to Own
Places I Want to Visit
Activities I Want to Experience
Skills I Want to Learn
People I Want to Meet
Books I Want to Read
Foods I Want to Try
Questions I Want Answered About Myself

It is understandable that some categories will have more entries compared to the others. It all depends on your values and what’s important to you. However, as much as possible, it would be better to list down more or less an equal amount of entries in the different categories in order to have a well-balanced life. Do take in mind also the different dimensions of wellness. For example, it is useless to have a successful work and career if you have a sour relationship with your family. In the same way, no amount of wealth in the world can help you if you have neglected your health. So, the key in making a bucket list is balance. Remember also that a well-balanced life is the key to your overall wellness.

Redesign your life by creating a bucket list now!

Click here to get a free copy of the bucket list worksheet.

Click here to watch the video.

Image Credit: stux from Pixabay Images

First published in 01.23.2020

Dec

2021

Redesign Your Life One Step at A Time

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Life is a journey with many paths to choose from. However, some people are not sure where their destination is; while some know where they want to go, but they’re not sure what path to take. Some are traversing the path they thought they wanted but have changed their mind. Whatever point you are in your journey through life; readjusting yourself to your goals is always a necessary and gradual process. This means that you will have to redesign your life one step at a time.

Proper Mindset

Change starts from within. Just like the metamorphosis of a butterfly; you only see the caterpillar and the butterfly. You don’t see what happens inside the cocoon. Your mind is similar to this cocoon. What thoughts you keep in your mind inform your actions and the results of your transformation. If you want to redesign your life; you need to first redesign your mindset.

Having a positive mindset motivates you to have a positive attitude. However, there are times when we are unaware that we are trapping ourselves in a negative mindset. It’s okay to not be okay and process your negative thoughts and emotions. But don’t dwell in that dark place. You won’t completely be rid of these thoughts and feelings. The only thing you can do is to be aware of your own thoughts and behavior and adjust your self as you need to.

Each Step Counts

Successful people know that taking the first step is a crucial factor in reaching your goal. No one can change themselves or their lives overnight. The person who conquered the highest mountain took the first step to climb it, and kept going. Small steps each day add up to hundreds, thousands, millions of steps in a year, or a lifetime.

We are often told to dream big even if we’re not sure how to get there. The only certain thing is that taking small steps will help you move forward. So don’t devalue the importance of small things. Changing one habit and mastering it will motivate you to change other things for the better. It is only when you look back, that you will be able to appreciate the major impact of taking things one step at a time.

Consistency is Key

Small steps can accumulate only if you keep doing it. Actions become a habit when done every day. Habits become a part of your lifestyle; when done consistently over a long period of time. The small things that you do consistently can define your whole life. If you want to redesign your life; then be persistent in your actions. Show up for your goals every day. Yes, you can take a break. But do the work so you feel deserving of your reward.

Doing small things that people don’t understand, consistently, may invite criticism. Challenges like this is part of changing who you are so you can reach your goals. However, when other people start seeing your results; their criticism will turn into admiration and curiosity instead. Consistent effort transforms you into that someone you’ve always wanted to be. People will value your opinions when you have succeeded because they see that you walked your talk. We all know the term “action speaks louder than words.” Your experience counts more than your words. When you accompany your declaration to change with small, consistent action; then you are on your way to success.

During this process, don’t lose patience and don’t be too hard on yourself. Major changes take time; healing takes time; success takes time. When we see a successful person, we only see the results of all their efforts. Redesigning your self won’t happen overnight. Redesigning your whole life is a life time process. The good news is; you can redesign it however you want.

Watch the video and get the worksheet to get more insights.
Feature Image: Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash.

Dec

2021

The Metamorphosis Challenge

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Everyone wants to change their lives for the better. Most people fail to do so because they don’t have a vision for what they actually want. If you don’t have a vision for where you want to be in life; then you won’t know what you need to do and how to act to achieve your goals. You fail in your metamorphosis; you fail the challenge of transformation and you remain stuck where you are.

The best time to start changing your life is now. Do the Metamorphosis Challenge to help you figure out what you want in life and what you can do to start your transformation.

The challenge consists of only 3 habits that you need to integrate into your daily routine for 30 days or even more. Each habit can be used independently but they are best used together. You can also choose the order in which you do each one. The important thing is to practice them consistently.

Visualize Your Dream

Take the time to visualize your dreams. Set aside time in the morning upon waking up and/or before going to bed to visualize. This is how you create a vision for your future. Developing a meditation practice helps with this. During your meditation, imagine what your dream life will be like.

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.”
— Carl Sandburg

Pretend that you have already succeeded in your goals. Now, close your eyes and visualize what it is to live the life of your successful self. To get started, you can visualize your ideal day.

Imagine your ideal day from waking up to going back to sleep. How do you feel upon waking up? What do you have for breakfast? What activities do you do throughout the day? Who are the people you are interacting with? What do you do before going to bed?

Remember to use all your senses in your visualization. How do your clothes feel when you go to work? What is the taste and smell of the food you’re eating? How does your office smell? What is the texture of the fabric of your laptop bag? How do your bedsheets feel as you settle yourself to sleep? You can be as detailed as possible. It’s your imagination, so you don’t have to scrimp on the details.

You’re trying to craft your dream life, your successful metamorphosis, so challenge your imagination. If you are finding it hard to concentrate on your visualization, then try to relax your mind and body by immersing yourself in a pleasant activity or indulging yourself in a hobby. You can do something fun for yourself or enjoy games with the family. Then, when you’re in a better mood, sit down in a quiet place and visualize.

Put Your Dreams on Paper

Each one of us has an idea of what we want our life to be. However, we don’t take the time to document it so we end up forgetting them. Some of us want to wait for a sign from the Universe before making plans. Others want to make the perfect plan in their minds first, before writing it down on paper. Don’t wait! Arm yourself with a notebook and a pen and use them.

The Universe is always whispering to you but unless you learn how to recognize it, thru meditation for example, then you won’t recognize the signs. Sometimes, the sign is an inspiring thought or idea that just comes into your head without you consciously thinking about it. This is called “inspiration”.

You won’t see an actual “muse” and hear it speaking to you, but an idea just pops into your head and it may feel weird or you may feel good about it. It may also come from your dreams and you vaguely remember it when you wake up. Write that idea down. Don’t think too much about it. Just document it on paper. Make a list, write a paragraph, a phrase; just write it down. You will realize where it fits into your plans later on.

Don’t wait to come up with a perfect plan in your head – it will never come. The human brain is only capable of processing the facts and experiences that you have personally accumulated. One person’s brain can never account for all possibilities because no one has a monopoly on knowledge and experiences.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Work on what you can control. Write down your plan, no matter how rough, of what you want and how to go about doing it, with what you have at the present moment. Your plan might not be perfect but it is a good starting point. As a human being, you are capable of adjusting to the situation if your plan encounters some road blocks or needs to be changed.

From a rough plan, you can also plan your daily activities. Then you can make a weekly, monthly, and even yearly plan of the milestones you need to accomplish so you can reach your goals. Working on your metamorphosis is a challenge that requires a lot of effort but it will be worth it.

Change One Thing at A Time

There are many factors that need to be in place in order for us to succeed in transforming our lives. We won’t be able to put everything in place at the same time but we can start changing one thing at a time.

For this challenge, there are already 2 habits that you need to make room for in your daily schedule. Instead of doing something unproductive, swap your unproductive habits and replace them with visualization and planning. Then do one more thing – make one other change to your personal habits and/ or your environment.

“Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
— John C. Maxwell

A major factor that you can immediately do something about is your environment. If you’re working in the office, declutter and clean your desk so you can be in a calm state of mind when you work. You can even try dressing differently so you can look and feel as professional as you can as you go about your job.

If you work from home, then setup your work space to optimize your productivity. You may want to clean and re-arrange your room so you wake up to an uncluttered, and organized room. Decide on what you can do to change your environment to put you in the right mindset for a productive day. Your metamorphosis starts from within but you need to transform your environment, your own cocoon, and make it conducive to your growth as well.

Another change that you can start adapting immediately is to organize your finances by creating a budget. You can also start eating healthier by planning your meals, getting more exercise, drinking more water, switching to natural ingredients in your personal hygiene products, keeping a gratitude journal, taking a sun bath in the morning, and many more.

You know your own habits so you know what’s good for you and what’s not. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out what you need to change. The most important part of this challenge is how determined you are to change.

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
— Colin Powell

There are so many things big and small, that you can do right now to start transforming yourself and your surroundings for the better. Your metamorphosis needs you to challenge your imagination, put in consistent effort and maintain your determination to succeed.

Focus on changing one thing, take things a step at a time, and you will find yourself transforming your life little by little. This is your metamorphosis. Take responsibility for your dreams today.

Updated: First published on 2020.08.01.
Featured Image: Original Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels.

Dec

2021

Metamorphosis

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Change is always happening all around us. The seasons change without us doing anything about it. All of us are in a constant process of transforming ourselves. Have you heard of the saying that each one of us is “a work in progress”? Each one of us is undergoing our own metamorphosis. It is up to us how long it will take for the change to happen and what the end results will be.

In Greek, the word has the following meaning: meta = changing, morph = shape or form, and osis = process of (*membean). Although, it seems to mean just physical change; it can also pertain to a whole lifestyle change. In reality, metamorphosis is a big word for it means a major change in many aspects of our lives. For each individual, it is a process of becoming something or someone else.

The word “meta” also means “with, across, or after” in Greek. It denotes a change of position or condition and seeing things across a period of time. You are seeing things from a different position or perspective. You may only be thinking of your life in terms of a year. Having a meta view of things means that you are now thinking about your life in 5 or 10 years time.

The word “morphosis” refers to the way an organism changes or develops. This means that a metamorphosis is a transformation that happens over a period of time. So, it is not something that is accomplished overnight or a few weeks or months. It takes time. And it can only be done slowly.

Your Metamorphosis

The important thing in your metamorphosis is that you define what you want to become. You get to choose how you want to go about your transformation and the challenges you want to overcome. You are in full control of how you want to change yourself and your life.

What are your goals for your own metamorphosis?
What change do you want to make in your life?
How do you want to implement these changes?
What changes are going on around you right now?
How will they fit in with the kind of life you want to have?

There will be uncomfortable moments as you adjust to your metamorphosis. For example, If you want to gain muscles, you go to the gym to lift weights and get body aches the next day. So, many quit along the way. But for those who persevere, rewards will soon follow. As time goes by, your body gets used to the routine. You are able to lift heavier weights more comfortably and with less pain.

Fully embracing your metamorphosis doesn’t mean that the experience will all be pleasant. A transformation requires “growing pains”. Learn to accept them as part of the process, and they become less painful.

Are you now ready to become the better version of yourself?

Updated: First published on 2020.07.03.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Ravi Roshan on Unsplash.