Creating sacred time means that  we embrace our time as our most precious resource and we spend it on what matters most. 

How we choose to spend our time and who we choose to spend it with (or focused on) becomes our most crucial decision as we navigate multiple priorities, passions or projects (or external demands).

Before you dive into your weekend, whether you are working or off,   I invite you to take 5 minutes to set intention for creating sacred time.  Here are three quick steps to help you on your way:

1.  Think about how you want to feel about your weekend and what experiences you want to reflect on when you go to bed on Sunday. What is your desired state?

• Do you want to feel prepared for the week?
• Do you want to feel rested?
• Do you want to feel like you enjoyed friendships or activities? 
• Do you want to feel accomplished that you finished reading that book?
• Do you want to feel spaciousness- like you truly unplugged?
• Or maybe like you...

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

- Jimi Hendrix

You have the right to love.... 

I think that is a message that is getting buried right now and yet it is the power of love that is going to help navigate whatever challenges we are facing.

So, a simple reminder again- you have the right to love....

• yourself
• your body
• your home
• whomever you want to love
• your business/ career
• your hobbies
• your environment
• your community
• your life
• your values and beliefs

This weekend....

Exercise that right...love it up and be open to receiving it from others who are exercising too :)

My family loves to go river rafting. This summer we hired professional guides and paddled in the Grand Canyon. It had been awhile since we were in someone else's boat, following their commands, and we did so willingly as it felt like the stakes were high.

I loved watching the Guide read the water ahead and then tell us to paddle forward two strokes or four or paddle hard or take a break.  Each of those commands represented a strategy to navigate the moment - fully knowing what's coming up around the riverbend.

Taking a break becomes a super important strategy to be able to sustain the paddling through the big waves.

It's no different in navigating business.

We know that success comes from showing up, doing hard things, and building systems over time that will make your operations more effective and efficient.

 We make waves on purpose and sometimes by accident- and if we are following the river analogy, we won't be able to sustain our work without...

Thinking about the end of your business while you are starting it or navigating its growth can seem counter intuitive, but it can actually be one of the most powerful planning strategies. This process can be just as much fun as planning an adventure, road trip or vacation.

In each of those scenarios, you are likely to have a purpose for your adventure, a destination and some idea of what you want to experience, right? And at the end - you can picture getting home safely, having some time to decompress and unpack, and then having memories to return to.

Your business is no different. All things eventually come to an end and it can bring great peace and joy to know what that desired state looks like ahead of time, so that you can make decisions along the way to support that end.

• running a school
• long term lease/rental to a farmer
• tiny house community
• RV park
• subdivided homes and condos
• raising livestock
• developing a restaurant

While some of these ideas have been interesting...

I think we all know that it's dangerous to compare ourselves to others, right?

What good becomes of it?

Yet its human nature, like moths to a flame, to take a peek at others' lives and businesses and do a little comparison.

This can be a helpful exercise and can serve you when you are looking for new models, a way to differentiate yourself, or inspiration. It can be harmful when the comparison leaves you feeling like who you are or what you are doing might not be enough.

If you find yourself in this situation, consider trying this deliberate activity of compare and contrast by answering these three simple questions:

• How are you and this other person or business similar? (find 3 ways)
• How are you uniquely different? (find 3 ways)
• How does this serve you and/or your clients/ customers? (find 3 ways)

As you are answering these questions, notice which answers make you feel stronger and more confident. Consider how you might put more intention and focus there. 

This...

What would it feel like to be successful in your business?
Have you thought about it that way?
What if the indicators of success were made up completely by you?

Many of my clients come to me feeling overwhelmed with how they will make their businesses financially sustainable.

While having financial goals is an important piece of the puzzle, I have noticed that even when the money is in the bank, that doesn't mean you will feel successful.

Why is that?

I have a hunch it's because our culture has a tendency to put the pressure on to say it's never enough. We need more security, more systems, more growth, blah blah blah.

Is that true?

What if what we really need is more joy, connection, and space for creativity?

AND

What if focusing on those indicators of success would help the bottom line?

Happy Friday,
Jen

When I think about the freedom I want most for myself and for you… 

it's freedom from suffering.  

Suffering from thoughts that make us feel like we’re somehow not enough, or that there isn’t enough or that any good measure of success starts and ends with our financial statements.   

Suffering from ideas that the weight of the world,  family or business rests solely on our shoulders.

Suffering because a mindset of productivity and responsibility without balance, leads to results of disconnection and overwhelm.

Suffering because we know that inequities of freedom for “some” are at the cost of freedom for all and sometimes we feel powerless to affect change- even in ourselves.

As we enter a weekend intended to celebrate America’s independence and freedom, I invite us to consider if our freedom is in balance or if we are shackled to ideas or ideals that actually create less freedom in our lives or the lives of...