Every week I offer up a word for you to play with.

The word is REAL ✨

We invest ourselves into things that aren’t at all real and call it entertainment.

Getting invested in a great television series, rooting for a hero or hating on a villain – our emotions and curiosity get so engaged and we feel it all deeply. As a longtime Marvel fan – I have cheered and cried over story lines that have no basis in reality and I’m not embarrassed to admit it.

What does embarrass me a bit is that I’ve done the same thing elsewhere. I’ve gotten myself upset – even to the point of shedding tears – over situations that aren’t at all REAL.

I get ahead of myself, worry about the future and make mountains out of molehills about what might happen or could happen or what I’m worried someone will do or not do… taking myself on a wild emotional ride over pure imaginations.

Our brains are so incredible. Our emotions so intense. It’s easy to lose track of what is REAL and what is pure fiction.

It’s one thing if I want to let fiction take me on a ride for entertainment – it’s another entirely if I let me thoughts take me on a ride pretending it’s all a real problem.

If I’m going to upset myself – let a problem bother me, take my energy, distract me from the joys of life – it needs to be real… not made up stories and bullshit.

What was shocking for me to discover is that I used to bother myself a damned LOT with shit that just isn’t real.

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To learn more about using a North Star Word to shape your life, there’s a whole Challenge in the Stretch Yourself Challenge Guide you can get for free right here.

Shadow Journaling Prompt

Every week I’m providing a Shadow Journaling Prompt that you can use to bring a little more of your shadow out into the light.

This week’s prompt is: Am I upsetting myself about something that is more fiction than fact?

Let this question sit quietly and take a peek at it a few times this week. Keep it handy for when you feel a familiar or unexpected upset. Then let it do it’s work.

Note: Some journal prompts will tickle you and some won’t – it’s ok to cherry pick what you play with .

Abundance

I never want to miss an opportunity to invite you to lean into an Abundance Mindset.

Here’s a curious question for you…

What would make you feel more Abundant?

I’ve been buying paper goods in bulk for a few years now and this not only saves me quite a few bucks over time, it invites me to feel abundant every time I reach into the closet to pull a fresh roll or box out for use.

This may seem like a silly thing to you but the past broke single mom who survived a runny nose with scratchy toilet paper more than once enjoys the simplicity of being well stocked.

What are small ways you would like to feel more abundant? What if you create a few little pockets of ease and abundance in your life and focus on enjoying them?

And hey… if you’re reading this email you ARE abundant. You have a working communication device and power to run it… it’s a small blessings but it IS a blessing.

The more we appreciate the abundances you have, the more likely we are to create more of it.

Use These Ideas:

I invite you to keep this email in your inbox for a day or two.

• Play with the word REAL.
• Play with the Shadow Journaling Prompt.
• Play with identifying small signs of abundance in your life.

And if you crave conversation around it – come talk to me about coaching.