It's never not Now. Inspired moments.

Quoting myself from an Instagram post,

"

"It's never not now". So well said.

I always picture a timeline... and when we're running through life, not focused on the "now", each missed moment is the breadth of a thread... but when we are completely present in that moment, it becomes infinitely broader, more colourful, denser, it even smells and tastes better, and intuition, and other senses are invited in... that's the picture in my head, but my Goodness, he said it well.

" --

Crystal-Marie Sealy, @Successiory on Instagram

I keep meaning to draw that visual - it's so beautiful in my mind - maybe I'll update this post when I finally do create it. 

Inspired by this image: 

Truly, how much freedom will you find if you lived just right now. Sure, plan and reflect, but spend most of your time in the now - what would that do for you? 

Food for thought.

In love and light, 

Crystal-Marie S.

#BePresent #LiveInTheNow #TakeTheTime #MakeTheTime #ThingsTakeTheTimeTheyTake #SlowDown #InTheMoment #Successiory #CrystalMarieSealy #ThisTimeAndSpace

Time for Dreams

I love being a girl!

I just sat in a cafe near my home, to get away from the computer for a bit, and listened to 3 women

laughing heartily

in a very animated conversation. There really was no more beautiful sound in that moment. I couldn't help but smile.

Before starting my business, I made time for introspection.

I knew where my thoughts were and why, how I would manage them, if I wanted them to change, and what my small goals were. All logical, but at least I could hear myself think.

Today, in the midst of the 'busy-ness'

of managing my own organization, I rarely have time. I've been feeling those thoughts turn into feelings, all left unresolved, as

"there's too much to deal with first"

.

If you look back at my earlier posts, you would see how much time I spend writing about

self-care, self-love, me-time

and

the role of the individual

(the whole, complete individual) in creating

a powerful community.

Whether that community is your 'inner circle', your family or the world at large, I focused a lot on the

importance of you being the true you,

getting clear on who that is, if your community is to benefit fully. Our world functions best when we all flourish, but until we learn that

"we" includes "me",

we continue to see strife in our communities. I write this because I believe it, but do I live it? Apparently, not at the depth that I'd thought I did.

Just before those three ladies brought a smile to my face, I was hit by the reality that my head had been so far down in my business (my baby, don't get me wrong) that

I'd forgotten all the other things I wanted from life.

I was struck by a very

clear image of my daughter.

It's the craziest thing. I don't have a daughter yet, but since the age of 12, I'd been dreaming of becoming a mother.

Source:

protectyourdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/02/time-for-dreams.html

Out of nowhere, that image came screaming at me -

"I'm waiting", "Make it happen", "What about me?"

Am I alone in this? I forgot my other very important and time-sensitive dreams! In taking just 1 hour out of my busy day, away from my work and home environment,

my heart finally found it's voice again.

I want to be a

wife

and

mother,

all while I have my wits about me! I miss being a

great friend, daughter/confidant, sister/best friend, grand daughter

and

cousin!

Only

I

can make time for what is important. My business is my baby, yes, but it does not need all of me. Yours doesn't either.

Can you relate to this? What dreams have you had, but long given up on? Do you even remember?

Sit with your thoughts. Focus on happy things that make you relax. Maybe take a retreat, and listen to what comes up. Why not?

Make them real for yourself:

1. Write them down, or save Pictures of them, that keep them top-of-mind

2. Work backwards on small steps with deadlines that you can take each day

3. Smile and say, out loud daily, that "I'm coming to get you. In fact, you're coming to me."

Being positive doesn't mean you have to lie to yourself.

You should, in fact, be true to yourself about where you are, so where you will be very soon becomes a clearer, more rewarding, target.

What are your dreams?

They're not impossible.

I'd love to hear what some of yours are. Perhaps I can help keep you accountable in keeping them!

I hope I woke something up inside of you, today. Happy trails!

Season's Greetings & 2014 Review

I have heard many say, this year, that

2014 was both terrible and awesome at once.

I can truly relate. That means, however, that we've all grown in some way. You may have learned that

you're more resilient than you thought,

or that there are more efficient ways to do something or quite simply that you'll do something very differently moving forward. Whatever you learned this year, I'm sure there is a positive perspective and takeaway, if not a few. Would you be willing to share what those were?

I believe none of our experiences are for naught. They're all necessary to help others advance too.

Source:

protectyourdreams.blogspot.com/2014/12/seasons-greetings-2014-review.html

My 2014 Eureka Moments

I don't know where to begin, but I'll aim for a list of 12 lessons I've learned this year, that I hope can help you find greater efficiency, balance and joy, in all areas of your lives.

1. If you enter every situation with Thanksgiving, you'll be surprised at how it will be turned around for good. Whether that's based on a change in perspective or a miracle, it's good.

2. Lesson #1 above has led to a series of serendipitous moments that I could not have dreamed up myself. From people to opportunities to new mindsets, our words do manifest our experiences.

3. In being true to myself, as I embrace the lessons above, I've also been a great source of inspiration without even realizing it! People have been moved to love and intrinsic purpose, after listening to me gush on about what I've been learning and how it's helped me.

4. Money is a friend, not a foe. This year, my mindsets around money have changed to understand that as a friend, financial wealth empowers me to be even more generous. When I am financially healthy, it is far easier for me to help others achieve the same.

5. My intuition is not just 'in my head', so to speak. It is a very real aspect of my being that has, to date, never (seriously) steered me wrong. I've attracted like-minded entrepreneurs, just by trusting my gut. It takes practice when you've ignored it for so long, but try it.

6. Love is the opposite of fear. We all believe it's Courage, but courage is merely a product of Love. This year, I've learned to focus on what I'm pursuing in Love, rather than dwelling on what could go wrong as I pursue it (fear). What would it look like for you to live this way?

7. Self-care is not selfish. Self care is the wise setting of boundaries to ensure that you remain whole as you pursue your dreams which, inevitably, will help others. We are of no use to anyone if we are burnt out or spread thin. We can't do anything well if we're doing everything.

8. When I am taking care of myself, even when it means saying "No" from a place of love to someone or something, I have created a safe space for them, too, to do the same. No one is forced to do what they don't want to, or really can't, do.

9. Lesson #8 also no longer comes with guilt or anxiety about letting others down or fear that something or someone might fail because I said "No". I completely understand (most days) that this "No" sets clear boundaries for me to be able to be at my best when I do say "Yes".

10. Lessons #8 and #9 became real to me when I viewed them through the lenses of my Time, my Goals, my Space, my Perspective, my Pace of life and decision-making, my Feelings, my Preferences, my Comfort Zone and Stretch Zone*, and other aspects of life. (*Your stretch zone refers to moments where you risk stepping out of your comfort zone to try something new. You shouldn't be coerced to enter this zone; it should be your decision. The Panic Zone is that zone beyond your stretch zone. If you're in the panic zone, you're not ready. It's fine to step back.)

11. I've always known this, but never put it into words. I make decisions from a place of conscious awareness of why I'm making those decisions. Decisions are no longer based on false time-pressure or peer-pressure or any kind. When I make conscious decisions, I know I am committed to those decisions, to seeing them to fruition.

12. I'm now more comfortable knowing that I am not to be all things, at all times, to all people. I know that my part is important, but I am free to stay balanced, true to myself, as I do my part.

Some of you may have heard me rave about some or all of these, already, but those are my 2014 - year of Eureka Moments - lessons. I know I'm not alone though.

Willing to share yours?

Wishing you, your loved ones and everyone you encounter, love, joy, healing and prosperity in every area of life.

See you in 2015!

Best, always!

My Twitter Follow Philosophy

Thank you

for following

@Cmaries08

on

Twitter!

I hope you

enjoy my tweets

about: 

* Inspiring quotes * Good books (usually novels) * God in Christ *

* Modern-minimalist chic Fashion & Home Design * Dance

Below,

you'll learn more about

who I follow - Directly,

as well as

via Lists.

What I Tweet -

http://twitter.com/cmaries08

Follow Philosophy

Who I Follow Directly

In an effort to make my newsfeed less overwhelming for me, and to truly enrich those of my followers interested in the same topics, please note that I

directly follow

only

those who share information on these five (5) topics,

 and only

where aligned with my values

 - no expletives or put-downs!

My Twitter Philosophy, Who I Follow - 

http://twitter.com/cmaries08

Who I Follow via Twitter Lists

As my interests are many, including

photography, getting organized, the English language

 and

millennial encouragement

(in a world always on their backs), I use 

Twitter Lists

 to follow those who talk about my other interests.

Explore 

my Twitter Lists

! Subscribe to those you find interesting.

Other Tweets

Occasionally, you'll see tweets on dance classes, theatre performances or causes I support (e.g. 

@AISToronto

), but these are rare.

What's Your Twitter Philosophy

Does your Twitter newsfeed give the information you really want?

Not

if you

follow everyone who follows you.

If you do that, your newsfeed gets

overwhelming

and is of

little value to you.

Hope you're inspired to create and share

your own Twitter Philisophy!

Feel free to use this as a guide.

Live Out Loud Everyday Starting Today

I will start by thanking +Fast Company for their Google Plus post, 

There Are 5 Types Of Boredom. Which Are You Feeling?

, and +Michael A Wells, for his response, that he feels #4 everyday. Life is far too short for all of us to be imprisoned in 'existence' by our own minds. 

You have imprisoned yourself. How are you going to change it?

As someone who starts most things by thinking, planning or making lists, I say:

1. Create your vision: be it a vision board, a bucket list or one thing you always wanted to do.

2. Find out what it takes: brainstorm the list of steps you'd honestly need to take to make your vision a reality - time, energy, resources, activities, mindsets, everything you can think of.

3. Get organized: arrange this list in order of feasible timelines, categories or any pattern that makes it easy for you to follow. If it's overwhelming; simplify. Include 'change mindset'; eliminate your "I can't". 

4. Talk to yourself: seriously. you may or may not have a support system to help you along, so you are your support system. Throughout the process, remind yourself daily of where you're going.

5. Take micro-steps: leap where you can, but start with baby steps (one day at a time). Remember, a habit takes 21-30 days to be formed, or broken.

6. Track your progress: whether it's a physical journal, a digital checklist from your "Get organized" section, or your own invention, use something to track what you've accomplished along the way.

7. Pray: I include this because it's on my personal list, but whatever you believe, step back from your current situation to look at the big picture - the possibilities are endless when you're looking from afar. 

Dreams are big, and

anything worth something takes work.

 Reward yourself along the way to stay motivated. You've seen this 100, maybe more, times in your life, in various forms.

Just Do It.

This may be an iterative process, if you do it right. You may start small, but as you do more introspection, you'll start realizing there's no reason to dream small.

This is WINTER but SPRING is coming - Are You Ready?

After I write this post, I'm going to continue implementing as well. I've already started with my

Vision Board on Pinterest

(thanks to the advice of my friend Paulina N.) [You can see my other boards at the link provided, but my actual Vision Board is private.]

Some inspirational reading:

I specifically point to the books, not the authors. You may not appreciate the authors or support many of the philosophies presented, but at least they get you to dream a bit bigger:

1. The Art of Non-Conformity by Christopher Guillebeau

2. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Note:

Returning to the article that prompted this post, a word to all generations - X, Y, Z, Baby Boomers, etc -

live and let live.

Stop attacking each other, in particular, stop attacking the

Millennials (Generation-Y).

Their economic reality includes

a whole lot of "NO":

no job stability,

no jobs if not self-created,

no salary that can fund home ownership

in this lifetime,

and a number of other realities that the other generations haven't had to deal with. Perhaps the parents of the Baby Boomers get it. If you destroy the confidence of the next generation because you have to "put them in their place", there'll be no one left to take care of you. The "arrogance" and "entitlement" is perhaps what they need to survive their reality.