Inspiration
Manifesto: 10 Steps to Living Life on Purpose
We must consciously, deliberately, and with vigorous determination live the life we desire. Almost anyone can get by with just doing the bare minimum, but to live a life of meaningful value requires effort beyond what you and I think we're capable of. But the beauty is that we are capable, just as the flower blooms from a tiny seed, so too will our life flourish from something small to something truly remarkable and miraculous. With love and determination we can do anything.
Manifest a purposeful life:
- Figure out how you want to feel about your life. What words, emotions, and actions define you?
- Make time for quiet moments of solitude.
- Read constantly.
- Be honest with yourself, always.
- Follow your values.
- Have and fearlessly pursue your priorities.
- Listen more than you speak.
- Balance fun and not-so-fun.
- Do meaningful things.
- Live your own adventure.
With Love,
Marie
Food
Wellness
Yummy Autumn Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice and everything nice. 'Tis the season for cozying-up with a little "over-dose" of all things pumpkin. And I could not help but try these smoothie recipes that embrace the season and give me another way to use up all this pumpkin I've got. There are soooo many recipes, but these were the best three I tried and enjoyed. Feel free to do as I did and substitute or add ingredients to your palette's content. If there are others you've tried and enjoy let me know.
Bisous,
Marie
Vegan Pumpkin Banana:
Kept this one almost as is and have been enjoying its yumminess all month.
- 3/4 cups unsweetened almond milk (I used sweetened almond milk)
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1 teaspoon finely ground flaxseed
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree (fresh is best, but canned will work)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons grade B maple syrup (OR honey)
- 1/4 teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
Get complete recipe here.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie:
I removed the agave nectar to give me something slightly less sweet.
- 1 cup coconut milk (in the carton, not the can)
- about ¾ cup (give or take) canned or pureed pumpkin
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp. agave nectar
- 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
- ¼ cup unsweetened flaked coconut (very optional)
- ¼ cup pecans
- 2 frozen bananas (peeled and cut into thirds)
- 1 cup ice cubes
Get complete recipe here.
Apple Dates Banana:
Added pumpkin, just because.
- 1 cup milk (I used almond milk)
- 1 medium banana, peeled
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into large chunks
- 6 dates
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Get complete recipe here.
Enjoy!
Featured
Simple Living
Designing a Life You Love
It always seems impossible until it's done. --Mandela
Life presents us with so many options. We truly live in a time like no other where almost everyone has a real chance of living a life of their choosing. But with so many options we can easily lose sight of what it is that we truly want from our life. We're bombarded so much information about what an ideal life should look like, especially through social media. If we're not careful we could end up living a life not of our choosing or design, but one subtlety forced on us. There's nothing wrong with exposing yourself to possibilities and new ideas, however, any decision we make concerning our life should be done intentionally. Is it possible to live a life of your choosing and design? Yes, it takes time and experience, but there is no truer or better way to live.
Make time for the things that feed your soul.
- Getting to know yourself is the greatest gift and expression of self-love there is. When we are in tune with who we are we make decisions that are in our best interest. We do and say things that are a true reflection of who we are.
Seek experiences.
- Live for the moments that when reflected upon will make you smile and express inner joy. Those moments don't have to be by design or something big, they are usually unplanned and happen when we live presently in our life.
Always question your intentions.
- It's easy to get caught-up in a trend or doing something for show or for social media. That is no way to live. Be honest with yourself and pursue life to please you first, not others.
Create routines that you enjoy.
- Set up rituals and habits that will propel you closer to the life you want. Find what works for you and what you truly want to do. And go do that.
Treat your body well.
- Eat well, sleep well, and move often. Your body is a sacred temple and should be treated as such. We only get one so let's treat it with love.
Bloom.
- I love the quote "A flower doesn't think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms." Life is not a competition and the moment you start thinking of it as such you've lost. Life is a beautiful and unique journey and there's a place for each of us in it. Find yours and make it beautiful.
With Love,
Marie
Planning
3 Steps to Refocus & Revitalize
I've been on a small unplanned hiatus due to life's demands. As the newsletter subscribers know I celebrated my birthday, my brother's wedding, and a few smaller milestones since the last post. During that time I was not successful at managing and balancing my other demands. It's definitely disappointing to fall behind, but I understand it's part of the life process. What matters most is getting back on track and making the most of the present moment. So how can we do that?
Examine
- This was the most important on my trek back to productivity. Examine your current planning/work system and environment to see if any adjustments can be or should be made. Chances are there's something that isn't working anymore. For me it was my planning system which served me well for the year, but was no longer useful. Also, I found working away from home on more difficult tasks forced me to get those tasks done.
Compartmentalize
- If you're balancing a lot of varying duties it's vital to have a system that streamlines everything into a manageable and feasible process. As I've mentioned before, I keep separate planners/notebook for the different areas of my life, but I have one master-planner that oversees it all. This way I don't worry or forget to give attention to an area. It's good to keep those areas separate, but under a single umbrella.
Be Intentional
- Losing our way, getting off track, dropping the ball, however you want to think about it is a natural part of life. When we seek to get back to the way we want things to be it's important that we are intentional with our actions. Maybe you were overworked and now a crash is taking over, or had a big event that you're still reeling from, whatever the situation know that you can return to a state of productivity and focus. It will require effort, but the universe will configure around your best effort. So be bold and get back on the horse.
What are some other strategies you use to help you get back going? I'd love to know, share in the comments below.
Love,
Marie
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