Life Renewal and Reinvention Specialist

Marie 

Knapp

Marie Knapp, RN EdD

Welcome Message

Learn more about DallaCor


Contact:


519-371-1255

marieknapp@dallacor.com

Tip #2: Unclutter Your Life

 

Unclutter your life and notice what is left when the clutter is gone. It is there that lies hidden the real you. You won’t find what is meaningful for you if you fill every second with things to do and places to go. It doesn’t lie in busyness.

 Meaning lies in the quiet times when you listen to the birds in the morning or the leaves rustling with evening breezes. It lies in the times you quietly watch a tot play with a new toy or a six year old learn to ride a bike. It lies in the moments when you are not filling your mind with chatter or your vocal chords with continuous talk.

 Unclutter your life and notice what is there when the clutter of driving here and there, buying this and that, chatting with this one and that one has stopped and it is just you. Just notice. Breathe deeply and feel the nurturing life flow through every cell and feel gratitude for the body you inhabit. Just notice the sensual experience of being alive at this moment now. Just notice whatever wants to be noticed.

 Just notice. That is the first step in being more conscious. Notice. Noticing has an effect in itself.

Once your noticing has given you clarity, then decide on one action you will take to incorporate some of that stillness into your life. Let me know what you notice and what you do with that.

Enjoy noticing the quiet calmness around you and smile.

Meaningful Life Choices Tip #1

Do you start thinking about fall planning as soon as we get into August like I do?  For me, September is as much the beginning of a new year as January is.  How do you make decisions about what you will do or not do in the fall? 
 
Good preplanning for wise choices involves some self awareness.  Have you given any thought to what is important to you?  Does life seem to just fill up without giving conscious thought to what to fill it with.  This seems true whether you are busy with young children and full time jobs, or approaching or experiencing retirement.  Over the next few e-zines, I will give some tips on how you can make more meaningful choices no matter what the situation.
 
Tip #1:  What do you most enjoy?
Perhaps like me, you often leave this till the end and if there is time, you add in something that would be enjoyable.   Sometimes life gets filled with a whole bunch of “have to’s” and “shoulds” before even noticing what you love doing.   When did you last do something you really enjoyed? 
 
Over the next week or so, pay attention to what is enjoyable – things that can be included as fall activities.  Maybe it is related to music, or outdoor activities, or gourmet cooking?  Maybe it relates to animals or plants?
 
Just notice.  That is the first step in being more conscious.  Notice.  Noticing has an effect in itself.
Once your noticing has given you clarity, then decide on one action you will take to incorporate some of that enjoyment into your life.  Let me know what you notice and what you do with that.
I love music and want to give that more attention this fall.  I am contemplating joining a singing group like Sweet Adelines.  Perhaps I’ll buy an ipod and speakers and reorganize the music I already have.  Maybe I will buy season tickets to the Symphony.  Or perhaps I’ll take in a musical in the Entertainment District of Toronto.  I have just been noticing how I would enjoy any or all of those things.  Just noticing.  Hmmmmm.
 
Next time, a new tip.  See you then! 
 

Enjoy noticing the enjoyable things in your day. 

Namaste
Marie 

PS  I am also now using Twitter  @marieknapp

Live Your Life with Meaning and Wholeness

 Is your life what you want it to be?  What are you doing about it?

 Are you going through life in a blurr with a long list of To-Do’s and no sense of how this is going to change or get shorter?  Remembering that every moment is an opportunity for new possibilities, consider that you can make a difference in your own life.

 1. In order to make a shift, it is important to stop rushing and take a few moments to be calm and reflect.

2. In you calmness, follow your breath and allow yourself to feel connected to who you are. Bring that awareness through your body right down to you feet and connect with the earth. Breathe in the earth energy. It is strengthening and grounding.

3. From this place, examine your to-do list. On a separate piece of paper make 3 columns and head each one as follows:

Identifying what is meaningful to you gives you a measure by which you can decide on the activities you wish to do more of.  It also gives you a sense of how you want to be in the activities that don’t seem to be currently giving you a sense of meaning and purpose.

Marie Knapp is offering intensive one-day workshops to guide people in just this.  For more information contact Marie at 519 371 1255  or marieknapp@rogers.com  

It’s Your Life – live it well

Marie Knapp

Marie Knapp

August 2009