Tag Archives: resolutions

Less is More, so Let’s Celebrate First!

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“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” -Oprah Winfrey

Point to Ponder:
Have you taken the time to stop, look back and celebrate all that you did in 2015, or have you already begun setting goals, resolutions and making changes?

by Neissa Brown Springmann

It’s time to celebrate! That’s right, instead of setting new goals, and making resolutions and big changes, we are going to apply the proven strategy of focusing on less, rather than more. By simply sitting quietly for a short bit, we set ourselves up to have another meaningful, inspiring, intentional, productive and amazing year. What this means is we are going to celebrate and be grateful for 2015 first.

You may have noticed that I didn’t use the phrase, “set ourselves up to have our best year yet”. My reasoning is because our thoughts and words are power. When we use the term, “have our best year yet”, we are unconsciously putting an incredible amount of pressure on ourselves, while “dissing” last year (“diss” is slang for disrespect). And, saying “we are going have our best year yet” reminds me of my anticlimactic Junior and Senior Proms. The expectations were set so high that they could never be met, and the let down was inevitable.

You may have celebrated 2015 on New Year’s Eve, but it is likely that you were not alone during any part of the New Year. So, since there is no rush to plunge into big change, you can sit quietly and thoroughly think back….solely focus on you. Spend a moment looking through one whole year’s worth of photos, as well as through your day planner. That is where the real information and truth exists.

Interestingly, it is not human nature to start with gratitude, successes, unexpected wins and accomplishments of the previous year. Focusing on the one hundred things we didn’t accomplish, however, fogs the things that matter..the experiences that lay the groundwork for what is to come. So go to the proof that’s in the photos and planner, and you will experience exactly how meaningful, productive, inspiring and amazing your year really was. Without that quantitative data, we tend to look past the small but true events that create a very special and one-of-a-kind year!

So let’s do this — prepare for another memorable and important year by printing the handout and writing down (celebrate!) your 2015 accomplishments, unexpected wins and successes– no matter how big or small. And, to ensure you do it, find an accountability partner! I have one and I am happy to be yours too 🙂 I’m just a text or email away (neissa@igniteyourlifenow.com 512-413-8497).

Action Item:
Set yourself up for a meaningful, inspiring, intentional, productive and amazing year: Print the handout and write down your 2015 accomplishments, unexpected wins and successes— no matter how big or small.

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A Little Something to Get Your Heart Pumping for Your New Year

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“A life without passion is not a life. It’s merely an existence. Find your passion. Don’t settle. You deserve it!”
Kushandwizdom

by Neissa Brown Springmann

If your holiday was anything like mine, you’re still recovering from a week of Christmas gatherings — which of course were all wonderful and I am extremely grateful for — but DANG! I’m worn out and need a break from cleaning and trying to keep a tidy house for our company (yea right!), wrapping presents, delivering presents, going to church, playing Santa, traveling to grandparents’ etc… and somewhere in there trying to brush my teeth. With that said, 2014 is only a few days away and while you should certainly continue to enjoy the tranquil rhythm of the season, maybe somewhere in the back of your mind you can store what I think is one of the most incredible manifestos ever written. It’s just a little something to get your heart pumping and for you to chew on while thinking about what you want your new year (that’s twelve whole months, not just January) to look like. There’s no rush, so don’t feel like you need to buy a new journal or notepad and start writing down every thought that comes to mind. Rather, just read the manifesto and let it marinate.

If praying resonates with you, then pray that The Creator would intervene and fill your heart with love, passion and courage so that you can begin living out your passions that He has planted in your heart, whatever they are. If praying doesn’t resonate with you, then meditate and spend some quiet time considering what exactly it is you want your life to resemble.

I’m convicted in the notion that if we are bold and faithful enough to start living out our passions without over-analyzing the process or outcome, or the fear of failure and judgement…well, our life would be crazy good! The effects would be contagious and our family and community would thrive as well. It’s the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the world because when following our passion, we are growing a unique seed that was placed in our hearts, specifically for us to live, give out and spread.

Okay, I’ll stop there because I’m getting ahead of myself. For now, simply read the manifesto and I’ll be back in touch next week. Here’s to a passion-filled New Year!

The Holstee Manifesto

WEEKLY JOURNAL: Your Word of the Year

WEEKLY JOURNAL: Creating Your Powerful Intent

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“Our intention creates our reality.”
-Wayne Dyer

How is it that we are only one week into 2013 and I already feel disorganized and overwhelmed, to the point of near paralysis? To be honest, I have gone from thinking I could conquer the world to now being back to discouraging square one. Is it possible that I was overzealous and set too many haphazard goals in addition to suffering from post holiday blues? Yes!

Since riding the new years high, my life has settled back into the routine, and my unrealistic vision of being incredibly productive (both personally and professionally) with no interruptions, distractions or energy lows has come to a screeching halt. My lists and goals are not getting crossed off near as quickly as I had hoped, and if I am completely transparent, the truth is that I actually didn’t spend enough time thinking through and prioritizing my goals. Instead, I wrote a million things down, wished upon a dandelion and said GO!

All of this leads me to the big question, which is, once we settle back into our daily routines and that first-of-the-year momentum dies down, how do we get on track and stay focused on our goals, dreams and visions, all the while getting the absolute best out of life?

Besides acknowledging that everyday comes with curve balls and opportunities to get side-tracked and even quit, our first and most important step is simply creating a solid, concrete intent. As Debbie Ford states in The Best Year of Your Life:

Identifying our intent “acts as an organizing principle, guiding you to make powerful choices. It ensures that you are indeed the captain of your own ship, and it gives you power to choose your own destination…If you aren’t making the best possible choices for yourself on a daily basis, if you’re bored, resigned, or struggling; if you’re continually making the same mistakes over and over again — your intent is most likely old, out-of-date, and just not working for you.”

The sample intent that Debbie gives is: “This is the best year of my life.” Whatever your intent is, in order to make it come true, the most important step is committing to it — and right now. Everyday remind yourself of this intent and it will begin to inform your behaviors, actions, choices and words. It will become your personal operating system.

It is very likely that my intent is out-of-date and taking the time to rewrite it will make a momentous difference in my life. So, how about you? What will your powerful intent be? Regardless of what or how you choose to organize your intent, I encourage you to take the time and make at least one related to your most important goal, dream, vision or priority. And don’t be shy about it either. Let others know so that they can support you — because as we know, accomplishing anything worthwhile takes a village, and it just plain feels better to have some support and encouragement along the way.

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Point To Ponder:
Do you have an intent that will successfully guide your goals, dreams, visions and priorities, or are you simply wishing and hoping for the best?

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Action Item:
Create an intent around your most significant desire for yourself this year.

By Neissa

WEEKLY JOURNAL: The Road to Your Best You in 2013

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The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?
-Benjamin Franklin

by Neissa Springmann

I think it’s safe to say that in 2013 we all want to experience good health, happiness and prosperity. To get there, setting goals and being intentional about our wants and needs is necessary — but what if we first determined what our best really looks like? For example, rather than focusing on the desired outcome, let’s think about what we will need to do on a daily basis that will allow us to be our best and ultimately give our best to others. After all, isn’t the ultimate goal to lay our heads down at night knowing that we have done our best, used our gifts and helped one another? The process may look something like this:

Step 1: Ask yourself, what does my best self look like? Could it be…

7-9 hours of sleep each night?
Quality time with my family/friends?
Exercising five times a week?
Meditating each morning?
Eating five high protein/low carb meals each day?
Spending six days a week giving of my time, talents, or treasures?
Drinking 1/2 my body weight in ounces of water or cranberry water each day?
Resting one day a week?

Step 2: Ask yourself, when I make the effort to be my best everyday, what is the result? Could it be…

I am happy
I am energetic
I am fulfilled
I am patient
I am kind
I am productive
I am loving
I am generous
I am healthy
I am someone that people want to spend time with, allowing me to bring and spread joy

Step 3: Read the following five quotes, listen closely to your heart and without hesitation write down all of the ways you want to be and give your best this year. Keep this information handy, as this is the beginning of an exciting opportunity for yourself and everyone around you!

“It takes courage for a person to listen to their own goodness and act on it.” ~ Pablo Casals

“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

“The work of your heart, the work of taking time, to listen, to help, is also your gift to the whole of the world.” ~ Jack Kornfield

“The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment.” ~ John Gay

“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” ~ Joanna Macy

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Point to Ponder:
Do the actions you take in your daily life represent your best you?

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Action Item:
Determine what your ‘best you’ looks like and all of the ways you want to be and give your best self this year.

the iGnite blog

Body + Mind + Spirit

Tag Archives: resolutions

Less is More, so Let’s Celebrate First!

Point to Ponder:
Have you taken the time to stop, look back and celebrate all that you did in 2015, or have you already begun setting goals, resolutions and making changes?

Action Item:
Set yourself up for a meaningful, inspiring, intentional, productive and amazing year: Print the handout and write down your 2015 accomplishments, unexpected wins and successes— no matter how big or small.

A Little Something to Get Your Heart Pumping for Your New Year

The Holstee Manifesto

WEEKLY JOURNAL: Your Word of the Year

WEEKLY JOURNAL: Creating Your Powerful Intent

WEEKLY JOURNAL: The Road to Your Best You in 2013

Point to Ponder: Have you taken the time to stop, look back and celebrate all that you did in 2015, or have you already begun setting goals, resolutions and making changes?

Action Item: Set yourself up for a meaningful, inspiring, intentional, productive and amazing year: Print the handout and write down your 2015 accomplishments, unexpected wins and successes— no matter how big or small.

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The Holstee Manifesto

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Point to Ponder:
Have you taken the time to stop, look back and celebrate all that you did in 2015, or have you already begun setting goals, resolutions and making changes?

Action Item:
Set yourself up for a meaningful, inspiring, intentional, productive and amazing year: Print the handout and write down your 2015 accomplishments, unexpected wins and successes— no matter how big or small.