Affirmations are an amazing tool to have when you are ready to make effective, strong, positive change in your life.  They can help transform and squash negative thought patterns, while getting us on the road toward a big goal or achievement.  Also, they are constant reminders of how we want to feel, behave, be.  I like to think they help my brain work in technicolor!!

If you have a BIG goal in mind (anything from weight-loss, to improving your self-esteem), affirmations can really really help get you there.  Constructing a solid affirmation is mega important!  Here are some quick tips to help you get started on yours:

1.)  Open your heart and pour it on into your affirmation!  What would it actually *feel* like to reach this goal, or see this change occur in your life?!  Probably pretty effing amazing, right?  Seriously.  So, close your eyes, and imagine it happening…feel the excitement bubble in your stomach, and let the giddiness fill your chest.  Work from that spot when you write it.

2.)  Try starting it with “I am…” or “My”.  Using these words tap into your self-conscious to plant a seed of change.  These words also keep the affirmation very personal so that you “feel” it in your guts and heart when you say it!

3.) Be as specific as possible.  Clarify your goal to make it as vivid and tangible as possible, and create a phrase that really just does it for you, and can get you worked up and ready to fly!  Feel free to add specific dollar amounts, or pounds, inches, dates, etc.

4.)  Present tense only, please.  When you do this, you are treating the goal as if it already exists/has come to be, instead of pushing it off into the future.  ”I am at my ideal weight, and I love how I look!” is much more powerful than, “I will be at my ideal weight and will love how I look.”  See what I’m sayin’?

5.)  Keep it poz’, as in, “positive”.  Make sure your phrase states something you *are* doing/being/achieving/experiencing, and not something you are not.  ”I am energetic and happy” instead of “I am not lazy, and I am not sad.”  No brainer, right?

You can also use ones written by Affirmation Maven Priestesses like Florence Shinn if you find one that resonates.  One of my faves (courtesy of this fine woman) that I repeat 9 times every single a.m.:
“I AM NOW DILUGED WITH THE HAPPINESS THAT WAS PLANNED FOR ME IN THE BEGINNING.”
It really gets to me on a deep level, and I swear I see neon loveliness with sprinkles when I say it!

I’d llllove to read some of your favorite or spankin’ new affirmations!  Send’em over!  And if you want feedback on yours, do let me know! 

cool photo from: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-02/fly-brainbow-illuminates-connections-among-brain-cells-technicolor

Ssssshhhhh……  no excuses necessary.  It is what it is.  You spent time doing other stuff that was beneficial in other areas of life.  Relaxing, sleeping and taking care of yourself all fall under that!  In fact, you can’t expect to be productive, creative, prolific if you’re tired, deflated, uninspired.  Right?  (I need you to agree here…)

I am definitely not helping you to make excuses, or “enabling” you.  It goes against my self-realization religion!!  I’m simply saying that being angry with or judging yourself will not help to push you forward, get to the next step/chapter/phase/project/achievement.. “It’s never too late to start heading in the right direction.”  Seriously!  It’s Seth Godin who said it….SETH effing GODIN!  The Everything Guru.

If you didn’t start yesterday, today is a perfectly fine day to start (read that in a sweet and comforting your grandma’s voice). 

So, close them pretty peepers of yours, take a deeeeep breath, relax your shoulders (they’re tensed up to your ears right now!!), plant your feet firmly on the ground and get centered and rooted.  Now, open your eyes, tell Fear and Self-Judgement “thanks for stopping by dudes, but I DON’T NEED YOU!!!!!!” And get crackin’!  Rinse & repeat as necessary to get to a good starting point and send that badittude running.

It’s Monday, the kick-off of the week.  But, kicking off your next big or small action can happen whenever you want it to!  BOOM!  Easy peasy.

P.S. My mom had a plaque like the one above hanging in the kitchen during my childhood. Noooow I get it and deeply appreciate it.  High five Ma!

What keeps you from accomplishing the stuff on your to-do list?  How do you stop self-sabotage and get back on your track??

So, since the cosmos and the Universe are always right there with a wink to let you know you’re on track, I found this delish burning question from the truly and divinely BAD ASS Danielle Laporte upon entering my email this fine morn’:  ”How do I want it all to feel?”  She has provided a dazzling list of different areas of life that I’m excited to bite into with “the feeling”:

I want my day to feel like the Amelie soundtrack.
I want kissing to feel like dance-flying in the sky with a twirling electric purple dress.
I want my next success to feel like that delicious, satisfying exhaustion I felt after swimming all day when I was little.
I want my body to feel like light beams that stretch, flow and support like the silk aerial dancers use.
I want smiling to feel like glitter bombs.
I want my friendships to feel like cold white wine, campfires, circle journals, deep secrets, midnight bike rides, collages and mod podge.
I want my nervous system to feel like breathing underwater.  And a beautiful, transparent crystal.
I want my gigs to feel like tap-dancing, playing a neon electric violin, riding a mint green Vespa in Rome, an outdoor NYC summer concert at night in.
I want my neighborhood to feel like chinese lanterns hanging on trees.
I want my integrity to feel like the full moon.
I want my money-making to feel like the moment after it rains when it’s warm outside.
I want my word to feel like a cozy wood cabin in an enchanted forest.
I want my laughter to feel like a unicorn prancing on a heart rainbow.
I want the end of the day to feel like the last day of school.
I want being of service to feel like astral projection.
I want my philanthropy to feel like dancing.
I want my challenges to feel like fuel/foder/sparks/kindle.
I want my love to feel like the song “Quisiera ser alcohol” by Caifanes.

I cordially invite you to think about different areas of your life and how you want them to feel…   What gives you “the feeling”??

This year, the proverbial buck stops here.  Basta with all that negatron crapola.  I have committed to no longer living in FEAR and to live in a space of LOVE.  Embracing my birthday is part of that.

This year, I’m actually celebrating my birthday.  I will allow myself to be in the spotlight, and just express my gratitude for those who want to put me there.  I will focus on everything I HAVE accomplished in the past year, and all the cool-ass things on the horizon.  I will be grateful for everything I am, everyone I’ve met, and everything I have learned over the past year.  I will be thankful for all the delightful things in my life, and will be grateful for the motivation, passion, love, fire under my arse and desire to keep my eyes on the prize and work toward it.  From this day on, I solemnly swear to honor, respect and enjoy my birthday and leave Cap’n Birthday Negatron eating my dust.

Today, I will be sprinkling some extra pretty on myself and my surroundings:
~Outfit with extra pizzazz–CHECK!
~”Fiesta” red lipstick–CHECK!
~My favorite songs on queue, and heck, even a mariachi bday song–CHECK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVgRSHJkdMg

~Accept birthday wishes with joy and appreciation–CHECK!
~Yummy food & drink & celebration–CHECKETY CHECK CHECK!!

My name is Eyenie.  Today is my birthday.  I’m a year older, and that’s ok.

Now, I’m reminded of all the delights I want in my life, and having my vision board at my desk helps me to get my manifesting on every single live-long day. And, it’s sort of a work-in-progress.  I add things, remove, adjust, etc. as needed.  It has inspired me so much that, heck, I even made a video about it!  Take a look-see…  Happy manifesting!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAlUnQvuN9w

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/the-french-evolution-20120106-1pnyd.html#ixzz1igzOD7FX

So, this year, my main homework assignment is to be aware of how I approach new tasks and react to challenges in my life in order to proceed with love.  I ain’t about to be a mamby pamby and live driven by fear.  No way.

I invite you to join me on this quest to be love-driven.  What…are you chicken?!

May the next 365 days be filled with magical delights, wild success, positive energy, shining health, love and sprinkles!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KbZUCVoDIQ

Enjoy, and don’t forget to sign up for my totally FREE strategy session!

Making sure you find at least a little time to look good is so so so effing important as a spankin’ new mom.  I have learned that I feel a lot better, and am often even more productive, when I do a little fancy footwork and give myself some pizzaz.  Here is some stuff that has helped me:

1.)  I am sleep-deprived (are you?!), but I don’t want it to show.  In the p.m., put on some nighttime eye cream to make sure you’re hydrated when you wake up.

2.)  In the morning, while breastfeeding (for real!) I use one hand to put on some fantstic concealer under my eyes, and then a few layers of mascara so my eyes look open.  Then I put on a little blush on my cheekbones to give me some color, and some lipgloss or nude lipstick.  Total: 3 minutes of my life that make a huge frick frack difference.

3.)  Let’s face it folks, only a privileged few are able to fit into their pre-pregnancy clothes right after giving birth.  You don’t have to wear your maternity clothes, which is likely too big on you now.  Don’t nobody like spending loads of  money on stuff they’re only going to wear a few times…  This is where the magic of your local thriftstore comes in and caresses your life!  Hit the local Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. and buy some basics in your current size:  black slacks, a couple tunics, an easy-to-wear black dress, comfortable and flattering jeans, a fitted jacket and a wide belt.

4.)  Earrings + large bracelet.  I don’t know why, but they alwayz jazz up any basic outfit.

Seriously, these lil’ things change everything!

My significant other and I also decided to co-sleep with our daughter, and were excited about this decision.  Upon sharing it with those around us, I soon learned that many of them were definitely not so keen on the idea.

After many conversations with other new (and not-so-new) moms in my life, and after reading oodles of parenting info, I have realized that there is no perfect way to be a mother–there’s only my unique way.  When it comes down to it, we have to trust our gut and go with our intuition.  It’s ok if some people don’t understand or see the value in the loveliness I feel when carrying my baby close to me so that she feels all warm and cozy during her first months on this side.  And it’s ok if certain folks think it’s bad to co-sleep because my kid will end up being “impossible” and “spoiled” and that I will likely wind up being at her beck & call (because–GASP!–I breastfeed, too).

Some people sing “Rock-a-bye Baby” to put their chitlin to sleep…  I make up words to “I Love Rock and Roll” or whatever random song comes into my noggin when it’s bedtime.  Both are ok.

I have my own kooky style as a new mother, and I’m ready to rock it.