Helpful things to cultivate....

“Transformation isn’t a Google download.” – Lisa Nichols Most of us want to improve our lives—laugh more, stress less, follow our bliss—but the *how* of transformation can feel overwhelming. Here are 11 practices you can start weaving into your life in helpful ways to live a deeper and more authentic you. 1. Let your imagination run wild Close your eyes and imagine your dream life. What does it look like? Where are you? What does it feel like? While sometimes we can get discouraged because what is here is different from the dream...but energy follows thought.  So think it, feel it, hold it in your awareness, trust it, connect to it...and the movement towards it will happen with more effortless effort. 2. Practice gratitude This one practice can change everything.  When we're mad, sad, or feeling discouraged, just think of three things you can be grateful for RIGHT NOW.  Sometimes this practice requires a little bit of Tapas - inner fire - but it is well worth it.  It has the power to change brain chemistry...and your whole day! 3. Pay attention By noticing what is in front of us, we enjoy ourselves more.  Start paying more attention to your daily routine. Listen to the wind, the birds chirping, the sound of your own breath.  Enjoy the smell of your freshly brewed coffee, your food, your arms.  Feel the cozy, softness of your bed, your seat and your body.  Relish the sights, smells, sounds, and feelings of your daily life. 4. Be real We all wear masks—pretending and posturing our way through dinner parties and interviews and cocktail hours. But releasing all that phoniness and asserting your authentic self will feel like a breath of fresh air. And watch out, it’s infectious: when you’re real, you’ll notice those around you get real, too. 5. Surround yourself with positive people You may have heard that you’re a product of the people with which you spend the most time. So pick the right crowd. Stick with the upbeat, optimistic people in your life; their company will nourish you. Avoid those that drain your energy, leaving you exhausted and unhappy. 6. Embrace change Change is the only constant, so it’s time to start welcoming it. Stop dreading it, avoiding it, denying it, or fearing it. Start seeing change for the possibility, fun, inspiration, and growth it can bring.  Embrace the spiral of change and transformation! 7. Trust your gut Your intuition knows what’s best for you and it will encourage you to live your right life. Your job is to honor that inner voice—you’ll be happier for it. 8. Enjoy joy What do you love to do? What makes you laugh? What makes your heart swell with happiness? Give yourself permission to do that, often. 9. Be gentle No one’s perfect, we all make mistakes. Go easy on yourself.  I say it again...go easy on yourself.  Develop your inner cheerleader, and make your mind your own best friend. 10. Get enough sleep In a culture that seems to celebrate those that pull all nighters and work until they drop, it’s sometimes hard to value rest. Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. 11. Find your own success Contrary to popular belief, success isn’t a corner office or a fat paycheck. Real success won’t just look good, it’ll feel good too. Chase your own success.