Resolutions & Regrets

IMG_9518This year is almost over. And feelings of regret pierce your heart because you didn’t fulfill your New Year’s resolutions – dreams you wanted to pursue and goals you wanted to accomplish. I’m here to tell you, it’s never too late! You’re not stuck and you haven’t lost time. Make the most of the days you still have left in this year instead of letting ‘what hasn’t been done’ bog you down. It’s better to do something now than to do nothing at all. Action begets action – it’ll propel you forward and set things in motion. No need to wait until January, get ahead start on your resolutions before another year begins. Start now. Feel great.

©2015 Susie Lee

The Art of Living Intentionally.

With the holiday season upon us, it’s easy for us to say yes to every party invite and become a Martha Stewart and Santa to everyone we know. The holidays can be challenging as we feel the heaviness of unspoken expectations and unrealistic demands that are placed on us. When we do things out of obligation we’ll feel resentful, tired, and angry – we’ll feel as though our time is not our own and we’re losing control of it. One of the ways we can bring joy and peace back into the holidays is by being intentional with our time – this may mean making decisions based on love rather than out of duty, learning to say no without feeling guilty, and learning to do less. May we master the art of living intentionally everyday.

©2015 Susie Leeintentional

Ruthlessly downsizing.

The other day, I was helping a friend move their parent’s stuff out of their 40+ years house. Twelve hours later, it seemed as though we hadn’t even dented their place. The next day, this forced me to reevaluate my own stuff throughout the rooms, closets, and crawl space. What am I holding on to that I don’t use anymore? And why am I still holding on to it? So I began to ruthlessly get rid of clothes, books, and knick-knacks that I don’t use, look at, or need.

Why do we hold on to unneeded stuff? I’m not just talking about physical stuff but emotional and psychological baggage in our lives such as anger, resentment, fear, regret, worry, pride, or jealousy. The consequences of holding on to these will eventually clutter our minds and occupy space in our emotional living room. It’s not easy getting rid of these destructive feelings because we’ve either grown accustomed to it, attached to it, or it’s too much work to get rid of. And we may even justify keeping our feelings. But at some point, we must honestly ask ourselves, ‘Why am I still holding on to this? Is it helpful, useful, or productive?’ If the answer’s no, get rid of it – it’s just weighing you down. For the sake of our wellbeing, peace of mind, and the health of our relationships, we must ruthlessly de-clutter our emotional baggage on a regular basis.

©2015 Susie Lee

14 Things Successful People Do On Weekends.

It’s Friday, and you know what that means right? It’s the weekeeeeend!! Unfortunately, many of us use our weekends to either play catch up or veg out. Instead of taking a mental vacation, why not try these simple steps to reenergize your body, mind, and spirit? Here’s to a fantastic weekend that’ll rev you up for Monday!

©2015 Susie Lee

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Inspirational to unmotivated

When I was growing up, I didn’t think I had many talents but the one thing I knew I had was the gift of encouragement. I loved cheering people up when they were sad or finding a solution when they had a problem. And since I’m generally easy going and happy-go-lucky, I always had a hopeful and optimistic outlook in life, even in hard times.

The fact is, even the happiest of people will have their off-days as they feel unmotivated, uninspired, or are emotionally unavailable. It’ll seem as though they’ve reached their maximum capacity to give – they can only say so many things, in so many ways, so many times.

If this is you right now, keep on moving – no matter how slow it may be. You may feel like ‘what’s the point?’ because you’ve lost your enthusiasm and zest. But these dry spells are necessary for growth as it prunes the unfruitful branches and turns off the autopilot mode. As with all things, this season will pass. And once it’s completed its work in you, you’ll re-gain your balance and start to bear fruit once again. Until then, keep moving.

©2015 Susie Lee

Fall in love & stay in love.

We must fall in love with our lives, everyday. I know some days will be harder than others but we must train our minds to look for new things to be thankful for or see new ways of looking at things we already have. If you fall out of love, you’ll fall into a rut – just as with all things in life. Fostering gratitude on a daily basis will keep fear, worry, and uncertainty at bay. And soon our minds will begin to see the silver lining in hard times – such as finding daily strength in the midst of illness, being thankful for employment during economical hardship, or witnessing a miracle in a tragic situation. Falling in love with your life doesn’t mean setting off fireworks or tossing the confetti but it should be measured by simplistic joy, new found energy, and a deep satisfaction. Find joy in the things you do, love those who are dearest to you, and give to those who need you. Fall in love and stay in love. Always.

©2015 Susie Lee

  

Periods of growth are painful, yet necessary.

Some periods of growth can be very painful, yet necessary – just like the growing pains we experienced in our bodies as kids. But the growing pains we now go through as adults aren’t physical but rather emotional, mental, or spiritual. Our transformations usually come through painful life changing experiences that shape our circumstance, mould our behaviour, or shift our paradigm. And in turn, they’re suppose to shed light into who we are and transform us into the person we need to become for our journey. May we grow stronger, wiser, and more compassionate through our growth spurts.

©2015 Susie LeeIMG_3845

Dreams die through procrastination.

kick in the buttLou’s story is heartbreaking yet compelling because I know many of us can relate to him on so many levels – fostering procrastination on a daily basis, mindlessly surfing the internet, being emotionally disconnected, compromising our dreams for financial security, or believing we’ll do it someday. The things we choose to do everyday shapes our world, thinking, and future. That’s why it’s important to be intentional with our time, talent, and energy. Despite our age, it’s never too late (or too early) but neither should we wait.

Take an honest inventory on where you’re at in life and what you want in life, and if those two don’t add up then adjust accordingly. This may mean letting go of toxic relationships or unnecessary tasks that hinders you more than helps you. Focus on what your core values in life are and manage your time according to those values. Go forward with confidence – you have the wisdom and courage to make the necessary changes within you for the life you want. Don’t let your dreams die, make them happen.

©2015 Susie Lee

Maximizing your mornings can super-charge your productivity.

Take Back Your Mornings

Courageously be yourself.

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