Renewal... one of Oprah's Tips on How to Live Your Best Life

The following post is all about what Oprah wrote in her book LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE which I am currently reading. I am just so inspired with her article that I decided to repost it here. I'm sure you will feel enlightened too after reading her piece. You see, many of us have this tendency to be on the verge of a meltdown whenever we get so buried with work. Oprah reminds us all to have time for renewal... a time to love ourselves even if it's just one day or few moments in our very busy, driven lives...

"I was in my 20s when I figured out how to regulate my energy. I'd taken a job as a reporter and was working hundred-hours weeks, trying to be a team player. It was only after I became depleted that I realized I had only a certain amount of energy -- and I needed to conserve and restore it. I understood that I had to keep giving back to myself to refill my tank.

Now, when I begin to feel exhausted, I pull back. If I'm at work and people are lined up at my desk with one request after another, I literally go sit in my closet and refuel. And I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal --- a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk, and I allow myself to BE -- capital B-E -- with myself. When I don't, I absolutely become stressed, irritable, anxiety-prone, and not the person I want to be in the world.

The way you eat makes a difference in terms of sustainability, which is why I avoid sugar -- I don't want a high followed by a fall (see my Food Blog for some tips). I don't do energy bars or caffeine. I've learned to listen to my body. I know I'll be hungry at ten o'clock every morning, about the time I finish taping my first of two shows. At four in the afternoon, I'm ravenous. "Must be ten of four," I'll announce during a meeting, "because I could eat this cushion." That's when I have my biggest meal of the day --- usually a protein and some kind of fruit or vegetable.

But feeding yourself is more than food. I believe we're all connected to each other's energy fields -- whenever you walk into a roomful of people, your energy is either restored or taken away from you. If I'm around someone who saps me, I have to put up a barrier -- a nonphysical wall that keeps that person's negative vibes away. I also have a couple of energy idols --- people whose energy amazes me. Diane Sawyer is one. I don't know what I would do if I had to get up at three or four in the morning. And there's nobody like Tina Turner. How does she do that in Manolo Blahniks?

Energy is the essence of life. Everyday you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach your goal, and by maintaining focus. That means asking yourself: Is what I'm doing part of my overall plan and can I release the energy I'll need? ------ Oprah

The last line definitely blew my mind away. Over the last couple of months, there have been some opportunities offered to me which after much thought, I simply refused. I don't have a definite answer as to why, but I just mostly relied on my gut feel at that time. They just didn't feel right. I had queasy feelings in my stomach which are definitely a bad sign. After I read this article, and considering the fact that I just accepted a new job without even thinking so hard about it, it was all because those that I've let go were not part of my overall plan while this one that I've accepted, is. Therefore, I have the energy to release for it, despite my very busy, hectic schedule.

Having shared my simple food for thought, I wish you also gained a bit of wisdom from the article and I wish you all well in your present and future endeavors. Should you need some more enlightenment in a more unconventional way, do head to my Wiccan Blog for some magical help. The Kicking Pinay also does positive spells and tarot card readings. ^_^

The Fundamentals of Success #3: Decide What You Want

It's been months since I last posted on this blog. For the most part, I was practicing all those lessons I learned in the first two chapters of Jack Canfield's book "The Success Principles": 

Read more: 

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT

The Fundamentals of Success #2: Be Clear Why You're Here

It's been a long while since I last posted on this blog. Did you miss me? I surely missed sharing my thoughts here. It's just that I took some time off practicing what I've been preaching. In my last post about Success Principle # 1, where I mentioned the equation Event + Response = Outcome, I did change some of my life responses in order to get the best results (deeper happiness, better health and more wealth). I learned to give up some jobs in order to give more focus to others that I truly am passionate about, I learned to value my health more by really taking action like attending health seminars, eating the right food, drinking my vegetable juice (that tastes like real fruit!), surrounding myself with happy, healthy and positive people, napping every chance I get when I don't have the time to really sleep due to heavy workload, pursuing my love for acting, investing my money rather than doing some mindless shopping, etc. And the results? I am indeed happier, I increased my net worth, I am more at peace with my life, I am sexier than ever (I lost a couple of pounds in just a week of drinking my veggie juice and I have maintained my desired weight since then), I look younger according to people I meet and I am feeling a lot more excited about life! It's really true... your fate is in your hands. If you want to change and recreate a better life for yourself, all you just have to do is change your responses... act in ways that produce more of what you want!

Now that I've graduated from Success Principle #1, it's time to practice Success Principle #2: BE CLEAR WHY YOU'RE HERE.

What is your purpose? I remember several years ago when I purchased this book "The Purpose Driven Life". I never really finished the book. I think I got lazy reading it and perhaps I just didn't have the right motivation then to really change my life. The book is still with me and I plan to finish reading it one of these days. But in Jack Canfield's book "The Success Principles", I immediately learned how to properly pinpoint what is it that I am really here for. What is really my purpose?

To be "on purpose" means you're doing what you love to do, doing what you're good at and accomplishing what's important to you. When you truly are on purpose, the people, resources, and opportunities you need gravitate toward you. The world benefits, too, because when you act in alignment with your true life purpose, all of your actions automatically serve others.

When I thought about it, I started listing things that I am deeply passionate about and am happy to do even if I don't get paid for it: Acting, VA job, being an advocate for the World Health Organization, my small entrepreneurial biz (Victoria's Secret lingerie, Nail Art) and blogging. It's no wonder that I keep getting more of these things in my life lately.

Brian Tracy, one of America's leading authorities on the development of human potential and personal effectiveness, once said: "Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it." Everything I do should be an expression of my purpose. If an activity does not fit my formula, then I shouldn't work for it. Period. It's that easy. And you know what? Thinking about it, it really is true! Last month, an investment opportunity came to my lap. There was a proposal for me to join an events company. I love going to events but it does not mean that I'd love to organize major events too. I didn't feel good about it, it seemed like I was not aligned with it so I said no. Then very recently, I accepted a job offer for a new travel magazine. I was to become its managing editor. I do love to travel and I do love to write but that does not equate to my being good at being a managing editor. I didn't feel quite right about it and I kept failing to give it time because of my other commitments. So after much prayer and contemplation, I gave it up too. Now I feel lighter and more aligned with my real purpose.

So how do we know what is our purpose anyway? Why are we here?

YOUR INNER GUIDANCE SYSTEM IS YOUR JOY.

You will know your purpose because it is that which gives you real joy. So let your emotions guide you. Follow that which gives you bliss and abandon those that give you misery. That's what I did. And I've become more successful today than I was a month ago.

Here's what Jack Canfield taught me in knowing my purpose:

1. List two of your unique personal qualities.
Answers: My being optimistic and my being industrious or hardworking

2. List one or two ways you enjoy expressing those qualities when interacting with others.
Answers: I express my optimism and industry by supporting and inspiring other people through my blogs, through my work, businesses and craft, when I talk to people, attend events, and share my experiences in my online and offline social networks.

3. Assume the world is perfect right now. What does this world look like? How is everyone interacting with everyone else? What does it feel like? Write your answer as a statement, in the present tense, describing the ultimate condition, the perfect world as you see it and feel it. Remember, a perfect world is a fun place to be.
Answer: Everybody is genuinely kind, nice, generous and supportive. Everybody is happy, successful, healthy and wealthy no matter what they do in their respective lives.

4. Combine the three prior subdivisions of this paragraph into a single statement.
Answer: My purpose is to use my optimism and industry to support and inspire others to become happy, successful, healthy and wealthy in their respective lives.

The fourth answer will be your purpose. Mine is: "My purpose is to use my optimism and industry to support and inspire others to become happy, successful, healthy and wealthy in their respective lives."

Once you have determined your purpose, you should read it everyday. Keep a copy of it and put it in your wallet so you can take a look at it every now and then. Make it your mantra. You may even want to create a vision board about it especially for those who are visually and artistically inclined. This (and your emotions) will be your guide so that you know if the things you do in your life are in alignment with your purpose. When you're aligned, things become easier for you. Life becomes a breeze. So sit back and relax and start discerning what your purpose is. 'Til my next post. Be well! ^_^

The Power of Discernment

In my last post I wrote: "Make sure the choices you make are consistent with your inner values. By aligning everything in your life, you are aligning yourself with the universe. When you are aligned with the universe, we all know what happens next.... your life will then be a series of one miracle after another."

I took my own advice when the job I was pursuing didn't feel right anymore. After pursuing something that I thought I would love to do for the rest of my life, I realized that it was not the case. Ever since I learned about The Secret in 2007, I have become more aware of my emotions and my varying states of being. I have somehow developed this habit of knowing when I am one with the universe and when I am not. Our emotional guiding system, when discerned and used properly, is really a tool leading us to the right path in our lives. When you feel that you are at peace, happy and abundant then you know that the direction you're taking is the correct one.

At that time, I was doing everything I can to keep loving my job because truth be told, I loved it! I was excited by it! I didn't know anything about it but I was willing to learn. After all, it is a very prestigious one and it took a very rigorous process before I was even offered apprenticeship. However, I also didn't want it to be just about that. I've already spent the last 6 years of my life sticking it out in a job I didn't like but a million other people will die for because of the huge monetary benefits it offered. But I don't want history repeating itself. I've already learned my lessons in that and I wanted to move on. So as soon as I experienced the telltale signs, I acted on it. I quit and started pursuing those other unconventional things that I loved to do since I was a little girl. Money is not so great (yet) but I am happier, healthier and more full of love than ever. Now, that's a very strong indication that I am doing something right. And since then (it's been roughly four weeks since I left that job), I noticed that blessings have been pouring more often and a lot faster than usual. That's how the universe works. It likes speed and results! Most of the time, it's just us who are putting hindrances to the blessings that can't wait to fall on our lap. So let's try to make them come easier and a lot faster! Listen, act and believe. Then life gets easier.