Category Archives: Year of Love

2018 Week 50: Guiding Star

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Week 50’s task of 50 Weeks to a Lighter More Loving You is GUIDING STAR.

This week we are going to find ONE WORD that will be your GUIDING STAR for the upcoming year.

As humans, we can’t resist the impulse to fill our lives with something. So in lieu of real purpose, we often settle for preoccupation. But purpose requires that we, in turn, are purposeful. As long as we’re preoccupied, distracted, or half-hearted, we’ll have trouble recognizing, understanding, and pursuing our true purpose in life.

We will be face with hundreds of choices everyday.  Getting clear on where you want to go, what kind of life you want to create, who you want to be, and how you want to inspire others helps significantly when you are faced with all those daily choices. 

At the beginning of every year I take time to work through a group of exercises and then end it all with finding a GUIDING STAR….or ONE WORD…my WORD FOR THE YEAR, that will be an easy reminder of what it is I am being purposeful about for the year.   

It helps guide decisions.  

It helps keep me on track.

It brings to mind my goals or intentions for the year.

It brings more meaning to my days and ultimately my year.

Here are the exercises:

  1. Review your TOP 5 IDEALS.
  2. Print off the LIFE WHEEL and in each section write one or two things in each section that you’d like to do this coming year to improve that area of life.  If you are totally happy with a particular area of your life, leave it blank or write what you’d like to continue doing.
  3. Make a List of 10 things you’d like to do this year.  Some of them may be the same as on a wheel area or it might be a more specific thing related to what you wrote in your wheel.
  4. Print off the WORD FOR THE YEAR WORKSHEETS and complete them.

This will take time to do.  The process helps you get focused and contemplating what in your life you’d like to do, work towards, or accomplish in the new year.  

By the time you get to the WORD OF THE YEAR, you will have focus and clarity. 

YOUR GUIDING STAR (WORD FOR THE YEAR) may jump right off the page! 

Once you have it, post it somewhere in your home where you see it everyday.  Use it as a meditation mantra. Tell someone your word. Write it down, take a picture of it, and use it as wallpaper on your phone or computer.  Just make sure you see it everyday.

This is the final task of 50 Weeks to a Lighter More Loving You…and it is a big one!

There isn’t much that makes us feel lighter and more loving then direction and purpose.

I hope you enjoyed this series. (You can find all the tasks under YEAR OF LOVE.)

Feel free to post your GUIDING STAR (WORD FOR THE YEAR) in the comments.

Cheering You on to a Whole Lighter More Loving You Heart,

Barbara

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2018 Week 49: Dear John

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Week 49’s task of 50 Weeks to a Lighter More Loving You is DEAR JOHN.

A Dear John letter was a type of letter written by an individual wishing to terminate a relationship.

The relationship we are “terminating” is with this past year.

You may be reading this while you are still living 2018!  That is okay.  You can still do this now OR wait till New Year’s Day.

You will find this helpful to start 2019 with a sense of closure, peace, and renewed focused.

Take some time this week (or on New Year’s Day) in your HaMakom, with your journal, to answer the following questions.

Saying Good Bye and Honoring the Past Year

Answer the following to help let go of the past year.  Write what comes to mind first.  Try not to over think or spend more than a couple minutes on each question.

  • List Events from this past year:
  • What lessons did you learn in the past year?
  • What are you most proud of yourself for from this past year?
  • What are you most grateful for from the past year?
  • What are you glad you are leaving behind?
  • What 3 words describe last year?
  • What would you title last year if it was a book or movie?

FINALLY, write a short and sweet Good Bye note to this past year.

Dear 2018,  

________________________________

There are several things I do on New Year’s Day to start the year.  This is one of them.

Whether 2018 has been a trying year or a good year, there is something powerful about reviewing it and letting it go.

Feel free to share the title of your year in the comments.

Cheering You on to a Whole Honored and Farewelled 2018 Heart,

Barbara

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2018 Week 48: Wish Book List

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Week 48’s task of 50 Weeks to a Lighter More Loving You is WISH BOOK LIST!

When I was growing up, we use to make our Christmas Wish List from the Sears Wish Book.  I remember pouring over the pages to pick one or two things I really wanted from Santa.  I’d fold over pages, circle things, and did careful study to narrow it down.

Your task this week is to grab your journal, set some time aside to sit in your HaMakom, and make your WISH LIST, so to speak, for your coming years.

It is the holiday season.  Time may seem precious.  You may wonder if you have the time and luxury to actually sit and do this task.

NOW, however, is the best time to be quiet, still, and do this task.  It will help with the holiday frenzy and you will be so focused come 2019.

Here is how to make your WISH LIST:

  • Fill in the blank to the statements forthcoming.  Just make a list.  See if you can make a list of 10-15 or more.  Don’t think too much.  Just make a list of the first things that come to your mind.

When my life is ideal I will be _____________. 

When my life is ideal I will have ___________.

When my life is ideal I will be doing __________.

  • Take that list and determine your TOP 5 IDEALS.  Do that by asking yourself, “would I rather have number 1 or number 2”.  Then take the one you pick and ask, “would I rather have number ___or number 3?”   Keep doing this till you have your top 5.
  • For each of your TOP 5 IDEALS, write a juicy paragraph being more descriptive about what that “ideal” would look like–the who, what, where.  Be as specific as you can.

That’s it!

What’s the point?

  • You are getting clear about what you want in your life.
  • You are becoming more aware of you, your heart’s desires, your purpose.
  • These are guide posts for your decisions. If you make decisions with your IDEAL WISH LIST in mind, watch how they will unfold in your life.

If you want to go the extra mile with this…

  1. Write each IDEAL on a separate note card
  2. Write three steps that would help you reach that IDEAL
  3. Keep the cards at your HaMakom and read them often…daily or weekly

Cheering You on to a Whole Time to Write Out Your Ideals Heart,

Barbara

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2018 Week 47: Stuff Your Stocking

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I do hope you took the time to do Week 46’s task of HaMakom…making your PLACE.  These last few tasks are going to take thought, contemplation and journaling.  The perfect thing to do in your special place!

Week 47’s task of 50 Weeks to a Lighter More Loving You is to STUFF YOUR STOCKING.

Many, many, many years ago, a dear friend of mine shared one of her family traditions.  Sometime during the Christmas season, each family member would take time to think about what THREE GIFTS they would give to Jesus.  They would write them down and put them in their stocking.

The THREE GIFTS were based on the Magi bringing three gifts to Jesus in the bible.

The gifts are not necessarily material things, but parts of their life that they would like to put in Jesus’s hand or something they’d like to do to bring more peace into their home/life.

Things such as…

  • turning over concern/worry in regards to finances, school, a relationship
  • better self-care in the area of ________
  • be more grateful, compassionate, or kind
  • a start of or increase in tithing
  • reading their bible more
  • more prayer
  • more consistent church going
  • be on time for things
  • serving others
  • being more patient
  • making an effort to be a better friend
  • saying “I Love You” more
  • sharing toys with siblings
  • looking for ways to make mom happy

They didn’t need to share what they choose with others unless they wanted to. The paper would stay in their stocking all year and be looked upon at the next Christmas to see how their gift giving went.

If it helps, use the Magi gifts as a guideline.

Gold

Gold is the metal of kings. When gold was presented to Jesus, it acknowledged his right to rule.

What is out of your control or do you worry about that you could give to God/Higher Power to make your life more peaceful?

Incense

Incense, or frankincense, was used in the temple as a form of worship.

What could you give to God/Higher Power or to your self that would show adoration, love, honor, care?

Myrrh

Myrrh was used for embalming. We do not know precisely what the wise men may have known or guessed about Christ’s ministry, but we do know that the Old Testament again and again foretold his suffering.

What in your life needs to die, so to speak, or sacrificed for you to live a lighter, more loving you?

What thing/thought do you need to say, “Remember, I embalmed that”  “It’s gone,” “that no longer is in my life,” “that once may have served me, but now I’m done with that” ?  (Maybe something you’ve been saying about your self that is not serving you or your life.)

This week your task is to STUFF YOUR STOCKING with THREE GIFTS written on a piece of paper and then put in your stocking (or other item you only bring out this time of year.)

Cheering You on to a Whole Stuffed Stocking Heart,
Barbara

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