3 Ways to Reignite Your Passions and Put Yourself First

I have a client I will call Sarah. Sarah has been a mother for as long as she can remember, and in this time Sarah slowly lost touch with her own needs and desires. She spent so much time caring for others, that her own joy factor got pushed aside. When I asked her what her passions were, she looked at me with a complete blank stare. She honestly had no idea what her passions were. I of course told her that deep down she knew exactly what her passions were, they were just buried over the course of time.

Each and every one of us is unique and creative in our own way, it is just a matter of uncovering the truth, listening to your inner guidance. Sarah was excited to uncover her passions, she just didn't have much faith that much was going to be discovered. One symptom that many people experience is forgetfulness. We get so busy in our lives that we simply forget what it is that pulls at our heart strings. We also need to let some things go in our lives to make room for those activities that really excite us. I am a firm believer in simplifying your life first before embarking on major life changes. You will set yourself up to fail if you don't take this crucial step. Get rid of what is draining and taxing you in order to make room for what fills you up. After working with Sarah, she was ecstatic that she found her "calling".

She realized she had a passion for animals. She decided to volunteer at the local animal shelter. This volunteer work brought more meaning and joy to her life than she ever could have imagined. She finally listened to her inner guidance system and put herself first for once. She also realized that putting herself first was not a selfish act, but an act of love for her family. She taught her children by example to follow their hearts and listen to that gentle voice inside. This joy radiated to all those around her and people were amazed by the transformation. This week open yourself up to rediscovering your own passions and desires. Here's how:

The first step in discovering your passions is to take a step away from the noise and chaos in your life. It is important to be in a quiet atmosphere in order to focus and clear your head. Review your life and pinpoint when and where you were the happiest. What experiences brought you joy? Who were you surrounded by? Jot down what comes to mind.

If you are still clueless as to what your passions are, go on a treasure hunt in your own home. Look at your bookshelves. What types of books are you drawn to? Do you have countless numbers of gardening books? Do you have books on travel? Look at your photo albums? What brought you joy in the past? Your home is a blueprint for where your passions lie. Take a good hard look at what your home says.

The next step is to get engaged in a variety of activities. Sign up for classes that have sparked your interest in the past. Try something new, you may be surprised by your level of fun. This is your opportunity to put yourself out there and see what happens. You may be surprised who you will run into or what opportunities may present themselves. This is the time to open yourself up to possibilities

Lifecoach Leslie : Leslie Gail is a lifestyle expert, best-selling Author, MomTV webshow host and radio host. Her most valuable job however is being a mom to two wonderful children. She is a seasoned life coach with a wealth of experience, and has helped countless people transform their lives in positive ways. She is passionate about offering simple and practical advice that moms can relate to and connect with. She can be seen every Tuesday LIVE on her MomTV webshow, where she chats with moms from all over the country. You can also listen to her radio show on Mondays where she connects with other renowned self help experts. You can visit her website at http://www.newlifefocus.com/ for free advice and resources. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two children.

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Use Fall Energy to Reinvigorate Yourself

Use Fall Energy to Reinvigorate Yourself It’s raining, there is a crispness and coolness in the air; the leavesare starting to change and fall as the days grow shorter and shorter.Its the autumn, my very favorite time of the year.Let's use the fall energy as a time for letting goand releasing old energies that we would like to leave here in 2010while we prepare and gather what we would like and need to bring into2011.

1. Reflection of the Past Year

Notice what you did this year, what was the year like for you?Were there were any memorable or life-changing events that took place? Werethere any doors or opportunities that opened for you or lessons thatyou learned? In a journal, begin to write about anything that stood out whilereflecting back over this past year. Write about the openings, gifts,challenges, hardships, losses, and new beginnings. Was there an overall tone of the year?

2. What Needs to Stay and What Needs to Go

What people, behaviors, actions, thoughts and ways of being are workingfor you? Who do you feel good around, supported and inspired by? Who brings you down and is negative? Who needs to go? We can’t make room for the new if we arefilling up space in our lives with energy that doesn’t work for us anymore. Same with behaviors, thoughts and actions -- what’s healthy andwhat’s toxic? What is holding you back and keeping you stuck? What issupporting, healthy and feeding you to thrive in life? What needs togo? What needs to stay? Make a conscious intention to let anything goin your life that has held you back from moving forward and being allthat you can be.

3. Cleaning House and Organizing

I have heard more than once that the home is a reflection of the self andyour energy. A cluttered house is an extension of a cluttered mind. Ifthere is stuff everywhere there is no breathing room to be able tothink and expand. Getting rid of things can also be metaphoric forgetting rid of the old energy in your life. Nothing new can come in ifthere isn’t any space for it to land, So throw away those old papers,donate your old clothes that you haven’t worn in 10 years, organize your home and feel thedifference in energy and space you have created.

4. Nurture Yourself

We just transitioned into fall from summer. The energy of summer isall about being outward and social. The fall is a time of reflectionand preparation. It’s a great time to re-balance your energy fromsummer and rest up before the holiday season. Things like yoga,massage, cooking, snuggling on the couch with a great book and a nicehot cup of tea or hot chocolate or watching a movie are some greatways to recharge. Make a list of 10 things that nurture, recharge andmake you feel good . Pick a few things each week and do them.