Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny

When You've Outgrown Your Dreams

At the time we establish a dream, we have no idea how much we will grow and expand on the way to seeing the dream become a reality. What can we do when we outgrow our dreams? Recalibrate.

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When Big Dreams Vanish

At the beginning of this year, I took up a regular early-morning practice of naming “50 Possibilities” for the day that lay before me. It was awesome for a while. I would name things that were very realistic but which I still really wanted to see happen in my day, and I would also name “far out” things that a naysayer would roll her eyes at. The idea was to not limit myself and to keep believing that anything really was possible because all is new in each moment. Many of the things I intended—big and small—came into reality for me and I loved this practice. 

Until I didn’t. 

For whatever reason, over time, instead of becoming easier with practice, it started becoming more and more challenging for me to envision things I wanted. It wasn’t as if too many of the intentions had come true and I was out of ideas, it was that so many of the ideas started losing their luster. Huh? Why, I wondered to myself, would I not feel excited about things I thought I had wanted for years? This became frustrating and, frankly, a little alarming to me. What was happening to my ability to visualize what I wanted out of life? Had I reached the end of the road? That idea seemed ridiculous, of course, so what was going on? For weeks and weeks I had no clue and it actually started to get me down.  

I was finding it really difficult to stay focused on the tasks I assumed were important. I didn’t enjoy parts of my daily routine that had been pleasing to me previously. Eventually, I started questioning my contribution to the world. I was itching to explore something new, but was really struggling to conjure up what that was, and for the life of me, I just couldn’t get to a place of feeling excited about something to reach for. 

What I discovered was that this all can feel like a subtle form of depression.

Dreaming of the Journey

It had (and has) me experiencing firsthand the old adage about how it’s all more about the journey than the destination. “Life” as I knew it was (and is) great and when I looked around me I could see how much I had to be grateful for: loving life partner, working for myself which I wanted for years, a beautiful home in my favorite Phoenix neighborhood, a wonderful set of loving and supporting friends and more. I didn’t wish to dismiss the utopia I’d arrived at and that’s when it hit me. 

I had finally materialized just about everything that had been a dream for years! I had reached a destination of sorts and now it was simply time to think about plotting out a new journey.

This doesn’t mean to me that it’s time to leave my loving relationships, move out of my dream home and embark on a new career, in a new location, but it does have me realizing that it’s time for me to take a fresh look at my set of passions, values and ideals because I’ve grown substantially since that time (about ten years ago) when I made it clear to the Universe what I wanted (and got). 

Desires Spring from What We Know

Back when we set our sights on getting to where we (luckily) ended up, we lacked the awareness that we have gained since then. We didn’t know exactly what our capacity for growth was or what we’d learn in the process of obtaining out dreams. It makes me think about how at such a young age (high school) we are forced into choosing a major in college or trade school and then are so often disillusioned by the time we’ve finished our education or job training and then had a chance to try the work on for a year or so before realizing, ugh . . .THIS isn’t what I want to keep doing for years to come.

This didn’t exactly happen to me. I studied through a Visual Communications program (graphic design, photography and commercial print production) at Western Washington University and every area of my studies has served me throughout the twenty-five years I’ve seen since then. But I can see how easily it could happen to anyone because I had no idea what I was all about or what I really wanted from life at age 16. And, of course, I’m still discovering more about both those things and will continue in that vein until my current body is six feet under. 

As the lightbearers we are, we are evolving daily, though we may not see the changes in ourselves until we’re able to look back a year or more. As our horizons are expanded, we learn more and more about our truest nature and we are introduced to more and more possibilities, it’s easy to see how what we want out of life can change.

Recalibrating Hopes and Dreams

I know I’m not alone in this experience of recalibration. So many friends I talk with are in a very similar place of wondering what’s next. I’ve decided to take myself under new examination; to use fresh eyes and pretend I haven’t spent years defining who I am and what I’m about. I’m working with myself as I would work with any coaching client seeking clarity around his or her life’s purpose. I suspect that many findings won’t be new, but I’m actually deeply curious about the things that will be. I’m excited at the thought that the growth I’ve experienced over the past decade can now show me new possibilities to consider that I wouldn’t have known to consider previously. I will retake assessments and search out new ones and I will be open to the results being different than I expect.

Next year I’ll be 50 and I bet it will be my best decade yet. I can’t say what exactly I’ll be doing with my life or how similar or dissimilar it will look from how things are now, because I don’t know what I don’t know. But in the days, weeks and months to come, I’ll be sniffing out new possibilities and trying on new big dreams and we’ll see where it all goes!

If you, too, are feeling stuck and uninspired, I’d love to work with you to uncover your own new possibilities and perhaps slightly-reconditioned purpose. I’m available for phone/video coaching sessions as well as email coaching and I will share with you any helpful tools I discover as I continue on my own journey. 

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Mind-Body-Spirit, Hygge, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit, Hygge, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny

Is Your New Year Full of Possibility?

When we free ourselves from how we think things will turn out, something shifts and unlimited possibilities are our for the taking. Included in this post is a free worksheet to help you start thinking of new possibilities. 

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For the past month or so, I have been thinking, breathing and embodying the concept of possibility. I’ve grown tired of repeating certain patterns and experiences in my life and I’m making a sincere effort of adopting a new line of thinking—to remind myself again and again that in addition to coming from a place absent of love, every fear, worry and place of suffering comes from basing thoughts on what I know to have happened in the past. It’s just what a brain naturally does because to the ego, going about anything differently is a bad idea; to the ego, all change inevitably invites death. Luckily, you and I—our Inner Selves—are wiser than our egos. We have the ability to wake up and remember that everything is completely new in the present moment and anything is possible. Anything. 

Break Free of What's Familiar

When we are so accustomed to assuming we know what is going to happen on any given day and at any given hour, remaining open to possibility can leave us skeptical. It can be hard to put our trust into happy surprises coming our way because we fear we’ll be disappointed, and then we are, and the cycle continues. But why should we assume things ever need be exactly as they have been in the past? The future is unwritten. Events and patterns repeat because we will them to repeat—most often unconsciously—and we become comfortable with the familiar.

Invite In the Possibility of the New and Unexpected

I’m ready for many parts of my routine to be different; to be upgraded; to be beautifully extra-ordinary. To do this, I knew I needed to be able to expand my idea of possibility. I needed to think much bigger and not just occasionally when inspiration hit me, but daily—preferably several times a day.

The 50-Possibilities Practice

I began an early-morning exercise that I would play around with while still in bed, during the time when my rational-self isn’t fully awake yet, and here’s what I did (and am still doing each morning). I made an effort to come up with fifty possible (good) things that I could experience in my day to come. I included anything I could come up with, big or small, serious or silly. For example: I will discover a new way to wear something in my closet or I’ll discover a new book I need to read or ten new people will subscribe to my newsletter list or someone I admire will contact me with an idea for collaboration. And the things I came up with ranged from even simpler things to things of much bigger magnitude. The first couple days I tried it, I couldn’t come up with fifty, but more like twenty or thirty. It’s gotten easier over time, especially since I often repeat possibilities from one day to the next.

From day one, I’m delighted to tell you, many things that I put on my “50-Possibilities” list have happened. It’s been enough to feed my soul and make me want to keep doing the practice. We know that the first step toward creating anything we desire in life is to think it. So rather than continuing to live in mediocrity, dialed down from the magnificent experiences we long for, let’s THINK BIG and embrace the notion that anything IS possible! The practice of being open in this way can be revisited at any time, on any day—that’s its nature after all!—and heading into a new year makes it all the more fun in my mind; would you agree?

8 Points of Possibility

Let’s contemplate all of the possible things that can happen for us in 2018. I know thinking big is a muscle that may have atrophied a bit and could use some stretching and warming up, so I created a little worksheet for us that takes into account eight areas of life that hold incredible potential for us. These will look familiar if you saw the Life Balance Mandala project I posted not too long ago. 

If sharing a part of yourself with the world through the process of writing a book is a possibility that ends up on your list, you might be interested in a new course I’ve created called Discover the Book Within You. It officially opens for enrollment on January 8, but just prior to that, I’ll be sending out a special offer to folks on my newsletter list, so sign up (below) if this interests you. I’d love to hear what other possibilities you’re open to for 2018. Feel free to share in the comments or drop me a line; I love getting mail! 

Here’s to any and all of the possibilities that will bring us joy in the new year! XO

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DIY, Hygge, Lifestyle, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny DIY, Hygge, Lifestyle, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny

Why You Should Try Crafting Gratitude

Here's a little review of a wonderful new book by Maggie Oman Shannon called Crafting Gratitude. In this post, I share a bit about the book (including a project I have in the book as a contributor) as well as my interpretation of a project from the book—Thanksgiving Cards—just in time for . . . yep, Thanksgiving. 

Crafting Gratitude: Creating and Celebrating Our Blessings with Hands and Heart by Maggie Oman Shannon came out last month and I'm here to share with you that if you've been looking for creative ideas for bringing more of what you want in life to fruition, this is an excellent route to take.

 

I was already a fan of Maggie's other books—Crafting Calm and A String & a Prayer (coauthored with Eleanor Wiley)—so when she approached me a while back about possibly being a contributor in her newest book, Crafting Gratitude, I was obviously . . .both excited and grateful! :-)

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Maggie's new book is filled with so many great ideas for celebrating gratitude in tangible ways through tactile practices including many actual craft projects such as jewelry, candle-making and card-making. The chapters are focused on areas of our lives where we can ponder gratitude: relationships (including family, friends and our preferred Divine Source), health, prosperity, home, nature, opportunities, etc. The instruction in this book is completely text-based, and there are no illustrated step-by-step directions. As Maggie mentions in her book's introduction:

This is not so much a "how to" book, but a "why to" book; my intention here is to give you ideas for making these gratitude practices your own.

And a wonderful "why to" book it is!

 

Thanksgiving Cards

I was immediately inspired from the beginning of the book. In the first chapter, Maggie has a suggestion for creating Thanksgiving Cards in lieu of (or addition to!) traditional holiday cards. These are cards that you send to others to express how you are grateful for something they contribute to your life and happiness. This includes people who help in significant ways, but also those people whom you might not know as closely, but who make your life easier in some way. I loved this idea and couldn't wait to start crafting. I decided to hand-carve a stamp design that would be easy for me to add some color to via watercolor paints, yet didn't necessarily say "fall" or "turkey time." I also didn't want my cards to appear as typical "thank-you" cards (not there's one single thing wrong with thank-you cards; I just was going for a different type of experience) and I pulled it off in a way that I was happy with. 

 

It's fun experimenting with different color combinations!

It's fun experimenting with different color combinations!

I'm truly looking forward to sharing these with some of the people in my life who have recently been there for me in a variety of ways. And, as I was starting a list this morning, I realized I am going to need to make more! (There are worse things!)

 

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Values Bracelet

My own project in the book is a bracelet project that celebrates one's core values and unique place of purpose in the world. It's in the Gratitude for Vocations and Avocations chapter and my intention was for it to help readers appreciated the gifts they possess that contribute positively to the lives of others.

 

Values Bracelet from the book Crafting Gratitude by Maggie Oman Shannon (Project photo not included in the book. Books contains written instruction only.)

Values Bracelet from the book Crafting Gratitude by Maggie Oman Shannon (Project photo not included in the book. Books contains written instruction only.)

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Many of the project ideas in the book are ritual-based, which I love, offering numerous ways to practice gratitude on a regular basis, in ways that are suited to each person such as time of day or even time of year; activities meant to be practiced privately as well as ideas for families or groups; spiritual practices as well as simple daily reminders.

As we move into the celebration of Thanksgiving next week, I hope you'll give this book some consideration as a fun support system for celebrating gratitude the remainder of the year.

And as I close, I am grateful to you, dear friend, for continually reading my blog posts and providing me with a purpose. Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Tonia

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Mind-Body-Spirit, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny

Accepting the Stillness – an Act of Self-Love

Some days we just need to listen to the still small voice within, slow down and quiet the mind and body. Not to be confused with depression, periods of stillness and nondoing are essential for longterm happiness and wellbeing.

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Lately I've been in a season of operating more slowly, of doing less and being still. I get a natural urge to be this way every few months and it used to make me think something was wrong. I would seek out suggestions for improving focus, ideas for increasing energy and I would try to almost force inspiration into a mind that I thought was just being sluggish. It used to drive me crazy! It doesn't so much anymore; I've made peace with it and can actually kind of enjoy it now. 

It can be easy to feel guilty for not getting more done in a day or week. To fret that we will fall behind or are wasting time. But we are a part of nature and nature needs periods of downtime (known to us as winter) for replenishment. If we don't take this time voluntarily, we often get sick. We know this, and so often still ignore the need. I grew tired of being frustrated with these seasons of stillness (which came around much more regularly than actual wintertime) and having seen enough times that they really do seem to end when they're ready (when my inner-knowing is ready) and I always return to my enthusiastic-with- and inspired-by-life self. Trusting in this makes it feel OK. Slowing down and just being a bit more still with my life is actually like a little staycation and it's kind of nice.

I find myself meditating more often during prolonged periods of stillness. I very rarely ever go more than one day without meditating at least once, but during these times it's not uncommon for me to enjoy it three times a day. It feels like an act of self-love to give myself permission for this and to take extra time to simply listen to what might be going on deep within. And also to be patient with myself and not judge the slowing-down as inefficient, nonproductive or somehow irresponsible. Because in the long run, I believe it's the opposite. Another worry I used to have was that if I gave in and stopped fighting the urge to slow down, it would mean I would slowly ease into a period of depression which scared me more than anything. Through practice though, I've learned to tell the difference between having a desire to operate more slowly and do less busy tasks, and a feeling of indifference for life (one symptom of depression for me). And, if I'm not sure, I ask myself which it is. Then I listen for the answer.

 

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How do you feel about embracing the stillness? I'd very much enjoy seeing your answers to the short little survey below. I'd also love to give you a reminder that it's OK to keep still and embrace the quiet periods when they prompt you. So, I made three little concrete pendants and stamped them with a hand-carved stamp. I'll be giving these away to three randomly selected winners. To be eligible for the drawing, complete the following survey and include your name. The e-mail slot is optional; if you fill it in, I'll add you to my list, but I promise it's not required to have a chance to win. I will have a post about the giveaway on my Instagram feed and my Facebook profile. For additional chances to win, tag a friend in the comments for either post. I'll run the giveaway through the end of Friday (PST) and will announce the three winners Monday, Oct 30 on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for playing! xo

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Short Survey

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Publishing, Mind-Body-Spirit, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny Publishing, Mind-Body-Spirit, Lifestyle Tonia Jenny

Pen and Paper, Please - Why We Love Real Things

Are you a part of what I call the "planner craze"? Do you prefer printed books to digital books? Do you default to list-making by hand instead of in an app? If so, have you ever wondered why so many of us prefer actual things to virtual things? I'll share with you here what I learned about our culture's current return to the love of analog.

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In the last four or five years, there’s been a noticeable increase in a return to analog, and I’m not just talking about vinyl records. As creative types who love to make things, we artists are naturally drawn to the tactile, aren’t we? But I don’t believe it’s only artists who are beginning to realize their love of authenticity—of real things—over digital “convenience.”  

Suddenly it seems as if no one is too concerned with keeping their lives organized solely on their phones or hard drives. People are now NUTS for hardcopy planners. I have to admit, before owning my own business, I had little use for a planner of any sort, but now? I’ve come to truly [heart] planners. (I’m actually expecting my new Daily Greatness Journal for Business any day now!) And, of course there’s the case to be made for printed books versus e-pubs. 

I was curious from a human behavior perspective why we love actual things versus digital/virtual things, so I did a bit of research and came up with some very logical (and not surprising) reasons. On the chance you would find all of this interesting, as well, I'm sharing it here.

Writing with Real Pens on Real Paper

There’s something about writing on paper that gives a heads-up to our brains that we’re taking whatever it is we’re writing more seriously, even when this may not actually be the case. Because we can’t write as fast as we can type, we process more carefully when deciding how much to write down. Writing by hand using a series of finger movements that activate multiple regions in the brain associated with processing and learning/remembering. It’s like better exercise for our brains. When we have to slow down to write, we have more time to be creative and deliberate.

And then there’s the science of graphology and the aspect of our personality being alive fully in our writing. Not too much character to our typing!

Speaking of typing, think of how much more skill it takes to write than to type. Yes, you have to memorize where the keys are, just as you need to memorize the shape of each letter in order to recreate it with a pen or pencil, but essentially, every letter requires the same general movement with typing—pressing down. Handwriting on the other hand requires far more cognitive prowess. There’s holding and moving the writing implement in a variety of ways; being aware of keeping x-heights consistent and legible . . . I mean, it’s a lot of thinking. Studies show that children who learn to write by hand have much better recognition of the letters than those who only learn to type. It’s a body-memory thing. Recovering stroke victims relearn reading by tracing letters with their fingers. 

Reading Real Books

We all know the arguments for digital books: price, portability and physical storage. But the reasons we often prefer physical books seemed more elusive on the surface. The answer most people come up with is that printed books are tactile and feel good to hold. OK, I agree, but really, is that it?? 

Physical orientation memory - As it turns out, interacting with an actual book is actually more engaging to your mind and research also suggests reading hardcopy books aids in learning. Have you ever noticed that when you recall a quote or short passage from a book, you can nearly always remember the approximate place you read it—left page or right page and general placement on the page? This is due to what’s called physical orientation memory. This supports our survival because we need to recall where we spotted food, safe shelter, etc. Being able to physically “see” the spot on the page where we read something, increases the likelihood we’ll remember it. Can you imagine trying to recall placement on a scrolling webpage? 

Another reason we like real books is that we can gauge our progress through the book, being able to easily see how much we’ve read and how much is left. People are much more likely to finish a real book and give up much less easily. 

Real books are easier to interact with—easier to bookmark, easier to highlight favorite passages or make notes in the margins. Then, there’s the obvious advantage that the paper version won’t run out of battery life and isn’t prone to technological glitches. 

Technology advances, but the human form is much slower to advance. We need tangible things to help us feel alive and to keep our minds pliable and functional. 

 

 

Speaking of books . . . real or digital . . . how is the writing of your book coming along? Did I tell you I'm super excited about a course I'm putting together (I'm more than half done now!) called Discovering Your Inner Book Idea? [title may change] Be sure you're on my email list so you're among the first to know when it's available. And if there's any support I can give you for getting your book out into the world, you know who to call, right? :-)

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Mind-Body-Spirit, Purpose, Hygge Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit, Purpose, Hygge Tonia Jenny

How Are Your Values Making You Happy?

Do you know what your top-5 values are? Knowing the things that are most cherished by you has many advantages including finding more balance in your life by seeing more easily where you might be out of alignment.

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Values shape who you are, not who you think you should be. Many people neglect their innate values and instead choose to adopt values placed on them by their parents or friends. By coincidence these could be one in the same, but unlikely. 

One way to discover whether or not a value is authentic or imposed is to ask yourself, Does honoring this value with every fiber of my being bring a sense of love and peace when I inhale it? Or does it feel like work or something I'm supposed to do in order to find success or approval?

Not being clear on your core values can leave you searching and wandering through your life, not being sure where to go or what to do. Your values can actually assist you with your life balance; in knowing what actions to prioritize and allow to enrich your life. When you don’t have a clear sense of your values, your actions might actually be at odds with your core values and this leads to frustration and lack of fulfillment.

Do You Know What Your Values Are?

In a quest to bring other's top-5 values to light, I often include a values exercise in my offerings (such as The Why of You) that presents a list of possible values to pick from. It’s a long list! And the thing is, it can be easy to go overboard and pick many, many values from the list. This is because most of us will always identify—to a great or small extent—to nearly every value on the list. This is one of the things that makes us all One and allows us to empathize with others, regardless of our actual experience. But the thing that makes us each unique and different is that we all resonate stronger with some values than others.

For example, Community and Impact are two values that I appreciate as being very important and I make an effort to support each in my life when I can. But they are not actually a part of my personal top-5. Does this compromise my integrity or make me less honorable than someone who has one or both of them on his or her list? Of course not.

As you may have guessed if you’ve been with me for a while, Authenticity is one of my top-5. But I can’t expect that to be part of everyone’s list and I would never hold not having it on a top-5 list against them. I understand that it may very well be very important to them—maybe it’s even number six or seven on their list. It’s simply that they have other roles to play. By each of us holding different values at the top of our lists, it ensures that everything in the world gets taken care of because it would be crazy for us all to assume the responsibility for everything.

How Is Being Clear on Your Values Important?

  • Values shine a new light on your goals as you decide whether something you’ve set out to accomplish is truly in alignment with what you really want.
  • Recalling your values during times of uncertainty or suffering can actually help bring reassurance and even a sense of peace. 
  • A clear set of values gives you a feeling of purpose in your life.

How Are Your Values Making You Happy?

  • Are each of your top-5 values reflected in your current life’s activities—daily, weekly or at least monthly?
  • Think of each of the part each of values plays (or currently is not playing) in the areas of your work, your relationships and your personal time. 
  • Which values are you saying Yes to? Which ones might you be denying?

Just a little food for thought. xo

If there's anyway I can support you in gaining clarity around your values, I'd very much enjoy talking to you about it. Also, I'm currently putting together a rich e-course tentatively called Discovering the Book Inside of You. Mining for values, passions, skills and strengths is a big part of the course. To be among the first to know when the course is launched (and receive a special discount), be sure to add your name to my e-mail list.

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Hygge, DIY, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny Hygge, DIY, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny

Life Balance Mandala - A Fun Way to Check In

Here's a fun way to take a snapshot of how you're feeling in this moment. Creating a mandala is a wonderful way to connect to your innermost knowing—an artful selfie of sorts.

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There's a common coaching tool known as the Wheel of Life (not to be confused with the Tibetan Wheel of Life) that's used to take a snapshot of how you perceive the balance in your life on the day you complete the exercise. Lately I've enjoyed making mandalas in the transition time I typically enjoy between work and the activities of the evening and I thought it would be fun to apply the wheel-of-life concept in an artful way to the creation of a mandala.

A Wheel of Life is typically a circle divided into several pie sections with each section labeled with one area of life—career, health, recreation, romance, spirituality and so forth. A series of concentric circles are created at equal distances from the center—usually 10—with "1" being the innermost circle and "10" being the outside circle. The practice is to mark in each section of the pie what level of satisfaction you're feeling in that life area, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the least satisfied and 10 being perfectly satisfied. The finished chart is simply intended to give you a visual of what areas in your life you're more or less happy with in that moment. It's not meant as a judgement of any sort; it's just a tool to allow you to see the overall picture. And since mandalas are great meditation tools, I was in the mood to explore these areas of my life in a meditative way.

Would you like to give one a try yourself?

Using a compass, draw a circle on your chosen surface. I used watercolor paper and my circle had a diameter of 4" (10cm). Divide the circle into 8 sections. You could make each section equal in size, as I did, or—it's your mandala—if you like, make …

Using a compass, draw a circle on your chosen surface. I used watercolor paper and my circle had a diameter of 4" (10cm). Divide the circle into 8 sections. You could make each section equal in size, as I did, or—it's your mandala—if you like, make the sections different sizes. Create a series of concentric circles beginning in the center and working out. I wanted to use a scale of 1 to 5, so I made four circles and used the outside circle shape as the fifth circle. If you want a scale of 1 to 10, you'd need to draw nine additional circles. I kept it simple.

Label the sections lightly in pencil with the areas of your life you'd like to look at. I decided on: Emotional Wellbeing, Contribution, Fun, Meaningful Relationships, Financial Abundance, Body Wellness, Work and Spirituality. The categories are completely up to you. You could even make a mandala for one area in your life—creative practice, work, family, goals . . . you get the idea, and then create subcategories for that area.

Now decide how you'd like to visually score each section of the pie. For the example on the left, I put a small dot in the center of each section at the point along my 1 to 5 scale. This became the point of a petal for each area. For the example on …

Now decide how you'd like to visually score each section of the pie. For the example on the left, I put a small dot in the center of each section at the point along my 1 to 5 scale. This became the point of a petal for each area. For the example on the right, again I made little dots at the points I rated each area. These dots became the tops of circles that fit within the wedges. So the areas I rated a 5 were the largest and touched the outside circle while the areas I felt less satisfied with had smaller circles nearer the center. 

Choose colors (intuitively if you can) to represent each life area and work with each section of your mandala respectively. I used watercolor paints. Because I wanted to remember what each petal represented for me on the day I made this mandala, I w…

Choose colors (intuitively if you can) to represent each life area and work with each section of your mandala respectively. I used watercolor paints. Because I wanted to remember what each petal represented for me on the day I made this mandala, I wrote it alongside the petals. 

Work with your shapes, colors and sections in whatever way feels right to you. Just as you might date a journal entry, you might want to write the date somewhere on your finished mandala. I wrote the date on the back.

Work with your shapes, colors and sections in whatever way feels right to you. Just as you might date a journal entry, you might want to write the date somewhere on your finished mandala. I wrote the date on the back.

Remember to not think of this process as anything more than a snapshot of how you are in this moment. It doesn't need to be an indication of areas you "should" work on; it's simply a way for you to connect with what's going on inside you.

I'd love to see what you create if you feel like sharing. Just use the hashtag #lifebalancemandala.

And if there's any way I can support you in those areas of your life that fill you with purpose and allow you to share your message with others, drop me a note; I'd love to hear from you!

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DIY, Hygge, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny DIY, Hygge, Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny

Can Self-Love Be Hand-Stitched Into Your Heart?

I'm back with another meditative handcraft tutorial, this time a sweet hand-stitched dream pillow in pretty pink (the color of intuition, hope and love). If you've been feeling rundown, sad or frustrated with life, this self-soothing project encourages self-love and the space to pause and breathe. 

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During a period you may be feeling down, this sweet little project shows your heart some love, while the act of hand-stitching quiets your mind and reminds you you're truly always doing the best you can. When complete, you will write a short note of love to yourself, slip it into your heart and place the soft envelope under your pillow for sweet and supporting dreams.

A couple days ago, I introduced you to the powerful properties of pink and showed you how to achieve a beautiful shade of vintage rose by dyeing fabric with a dye bath made from boiling avocado pits! Now I want to share with you a feel-good project that uses the fabric (or any pink fabric if you don't wish to dye your own) you dyed. 

You could use a sewing machine to create the main structure of this project—the envelope—but I highly recommend you stay connected to the slowness of hand-stitching for this one, for its quiet dance of repetitive stitches and loving thoughtfulness for what you're creating. It will send soothing medicine to your heart, reaffirming the love you really do have for yourself deep down inside. 

Let's get stitching!

What You Need

Envelope

  • button, smallish, flat 2-hole
  • craft knife (sharp blade)
  • cutting mat
  • dyed fabrics: wide eyelet lace (at least 3” [8cm]), solid backing for lace and a simple cotton 
  • embroidery floss, color to coordinate with fabric
  • fabric scissors
  • needle(s), embroidery and sewing (optional)
  • paper scissors (or craft knife)
  • pencil
  • quilting ruler
  • rotary cutter
  • scrap paper and cardstock
  • sewing thread, color to match cotton fabric
  • straight pins

Sachet

  • drawstring jewelry pouch, small
  • lavender, dried
  • needle
  • rose buds, dried
  • sewing thread
1. Cut a heart shape from paper that's approximately 2-1/4" x 4-1/4" (6cm x 11cm). Using a pencil, trace the shape over the portion you wish to use of the dyed lace. Stack this over a solid piece of fabric and secure together with two or three pins.…

1. Cut a heart shape from paper that's approximately 2-1/4" x 4-1/4" (6cm x 11cm). Using a pencil, trace the shape over the portion you wish to use of the dyed lace. Stack this over a solid piece of fabric and secure together with two or three pins.

2. Thread an embroidery needle with a single strand of pink floss. Working about 1/8" (3mm) in from the pencil line, use a back stitch to create a line around the perimeter of the heart and secure the two layers together. Take your time with this and begin to feel your own heart unclench just a bit as you work.

3. Continue around until you're back where you started and tie a small knot on the back to finish. 

4. Use sharp scissors to cut out your heart shape around along the pencil line.

5. Cut a piece of cardstock to a 4" x 5" (10cm x 13cm) rectangle and verify your heart fits comfortably within the space.6. Cut a piece of scrap paper to 7-1/8" x 7-1/8" (18cm x 18cm). Set the paper at a 45˚ angle and set your cardstock just a littl…

5. Cut a piece of cardstock to a 4" x 5" (10cm x 13cm) rectangle and verify your heart fits comfortably within the space.

6. Cut a piece of scrap paper to 7-1/8" x 7-1/8" (18cm x 18cm). Set the paper at a 45˚ angle and set your cardstock just a little above center top-to-bottom and centered side-to-side. Use the 45˚ marking on your quilting ruler to verify you're lining things up squarely. Fold the corners in for the side flaps; they should just barely touch noses like an Eskimo kiss. Use your fingernail to score the side flaps where the top and bottom edges of the cardstock sit. You should have tiny triangles on the flaps at the bottom and larger triangles on the flaps at the top. 

7. Crease the folds. You're now going to replicate the envelope shape in fabric. Keeping the paper version as a reference will be helpful when you go to fold and press your fabric.

8. Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, cut two pieces of cotton fabric to the same size as your pattern—7-1/8" x 7-1/8" (18cm x 18cm).

9. Use a pencil and the quilting ruler to rule lines 1/2" (13mm) from each edge of one piece of fabric (on the wrong side if there is one).10. Pin the two piece together and thread a sewing needle with sewing thread. Carefully hand-stitch the pieces…

9. Use a pencil and the quilting ruler to rule lines 1/2" (13mm) from each edge of one piece of fabric (on the wrong side if there is one).

10. Pin the two piece together and thread a sewing needle with sewing thread. Carefully hand-stitch the pieces together using small back stitches or even a running stitch, sewing along the pencil lines. Use what feels enjoyable to you and take your time. (When you reach corners, simply create a tiny stitch to end up in the corner and then turn the work to keep going. Until when you're using a sewing machine, you will not continue on to the outside edge.)

11. Along one edge—it doesn't really matter which one—leave a gap of about 3" (7cm).

12. Clip the corners coming close to the stitching, but being mindful to not cut the stitches.

13. Press the seams back using an iron. 14. Do this for both sides.15. Carefully turn the work right side out, using a blunt pencil or dull-tipped dowel to make the corners nice and sharp. Fold in the side flaps until the "noses" touch, using y…

13. Press the seams back using an iron. 

14. Do this for both sides.

15. Carefully turn the work right side out, using a blunt pencil or dull-tipped dowel to make the corners nice and sharp. Fold in the side flaps until the "noses" touch, using your paper pattern for reference (the cardstock as well if it makes things easier).

16. Create well using the iron.

17. Fold up the bottom at the same spot you created on the paper pattern, so that the bottom flap overlaps the edges of the side flaps, between 1/8" and 3/16" (3mm and 5mm).18. Fold over the top—again, recreating the same shape you created in paper,…

17. Fold up the bottom at the same spot you created on the paper pattern, so that the bottom flap overlaps the edges of the side flaps, between 1/8" and 3/16" (3mm and 5mm).

18. Fold over the top—again, recreating the same shape you created in paper, with the top flap overlapping even more of the sides, so that the point is about 5/8" (16mm) from the bottom edge. Iron both creases to press.

19. To close the gap in the seam where you turned the work right side out, tie a knot at the end of some sewing thread, thread your needle and insert the needle from inside the work, going out at one end of the gap. Bring the needle directly across to the other folded seam and make a stitch about 1/6" (2mm). 

20. Drop back directly down to the side you started on and create a second stitch. Keep the thread pulled tautly to close the seam as you continue to the other end of the gap. 

21. Set the envelope aside and return to your sweet lace heart. You're now going to use blanket stitch (a.k.a., button-hole stitch) to both finish the edge as well as secure it to the back of the envelope. First you want to finish the portion that w…

21. Set the envelope aside and return to your sweet lace heart. You're now going to use blanket stitch (a.k.a., button-hole stitch) to both finish the edge as well as secure it to the back of the envelope. First you want to finish the portion that will not be secured to the envelope and will allow the heart to become a pocket. To begin, thread an embroidery needle with two strands of floss. Tie a knot at one end and insert the needle from back to front through only the top lace piece. Position this very close to the stitching that's already there and at the highest point of the right "lobe."

22. (Close-up of positioning.)

23. Bring the needle around the work to the back and this time go through both pieces of fabric, coming out through the original top hole. This creates a loop.

24. Insert the needle through this stitch.

25. At 1/8" (3mm) to the left of the first stitch, insert your needle through both pieces, front to back and see that the needle goes over the thread created by this second loop.26. Pull snuggly, but don't overdo it. 27. Repeat.28. Just as you …

25. At 1/8" (3mm) to the left of the first stitch, insert your needle through both pieces, front to back and see that the needle goes over the thread created by this second loop.

26. Pull snuggly, but don't overdo it. 

27. Repeat.

28. Just as you are perfectly imperfect, your heart doesn't expect all of your stitches to be perfect either. Continue stitching, keeping your stitches 1/8" (3mm) apart as consistently as you can, until you are at an equal point on the opposite "lobe."

29. One easy way to tell if you're at an equal point is simply to fold your heart in half.30. It's now time to secure the heart pocket to the back of the envelope. Use your iron creases as a guide to center your heart side to side, but leave a littl…

29. One easy way to tell if you're at an equal point is simply to fold your heart in half.

30. It's now time to secure the heart pocket to the back of the envelope. Use your iron creases as a guide to center your heart side to side, but leave a little extra space at the top. Pin in place.

31. Continue with the blanket stitch, but now when you insert your needle, go through the envelope, too and come out through the envelope at the edge of the heart. 

32. Work your way around to where you began stitching.

33. Thread your embroidery needle with one new strand of floss. Make a nice little top stitched detail around the envelope's edge beginning at one side flap's point and ending at the opposite flap's point. This can be a simple running stitch.34. Whe…

33. Thread your embroidery needle with one new strand of floss. Make a nice little top stitched detail around the envelope's edge beginning at one side flap's point and ending at the opposite flap's point. This can be a simple running stitch.

34. When you reach the second point, insert the needle through the seam, about 1/8" (3mm) from the point.

35. Now insert the needle through the corner of the other flap, again about 1/8" 93mm) either side of the point.

36. Return to the first flap/point and complete a loop that will keep these flaps tacked together and make it easier to complete the envelope.

37. Add the decorative top stitching to the bottom flap, but begin and end stitching just slightly on the side flaps.38. Knot/tie off and trim. 39. Set a small button on the top flap, centered and 1/2" to 3/4" (13mm to 19mm) from the point. Mak…

37. Add the decorative top stitching to the bottom flap, but begin and end stitching just slightly on the side flaps.

38. Knot/tie off and trim. 

39. Set a small button on the top flap, centered and 1/2" to 3/4" (13mm to 19mm) from the point. Make marks with a pencil just outside of the button. This will mark the length of your button hole.

40. Use a craft knife loaded with a sharp blade to slice through both layers of fabric along the length of the marked line.

41. To hand-sew the button hole, you're going to once again use  . . . you guessed it, blanket stitch/button-hole stitch. Return to using two strands of floss and a knot at one end. Insert your needle between the layers of fabric, back to front…

41. To hand-sew the button hole, you're going to once again use  . . . you guessed it, blanket stitch/button-hole stitch. Return to using two strands of floss and a knot at one end. Insert your needle between the layers of fabric, back to front, about 1/8" (3mm) from one end of the cut on either side of the cut you choose and about 1/16" from the cut.

42. Repeat the blanket-hole-stitching process, just like you did on the heart, only this time, keep your stitches close together and a bit shorter.

43. When you reach the end of the first side of the button hole, round the edge by keeping the top of the stitch (the raw fabric edge) small and the bottom slightly farther apart. Then proceed along the second side.

44. Continue until you reach the spot you began and knot/tie off. Press the button-hold work with an iron.

45. Sew the button on the bottom flap, lined up under the center of the button hole. Press all of the sides again with the iron to sharpen things up.

45. Sew the button on the bottom flap, lined up under the center of the button hole. Press all of the sides again with the iron to sharpen things up.

46. Tack side flaps down with a just a few stitches between the top fold and the end of the flaps.

46. Tack side flaps down with a just a few stitches between the top fold and the end of the flaps.

47. To secure the bottom flap, begin by securing the thread along one side fold, coming out across from the edge of the bottom flap.48. Insert the needle from front to back of the edge of the bottom flap and pull snuggly. Come out along the seam of …

47. To secure the bottom flap, begin by securing the thread along one side fold, coming out across from the edge of the bottom flap.

48. Insert the needle from front to back of the edge of the bottom flap and pull snuggly. Come out along the seam of the flap, close to where the first stitch was created.

49. Secure the bottom flap to the envelope in a similar way that you closed the opening of the full envelope in steps 19–20. Be mindful to only sew through the top layer of the envelope body and the bottom layer of the flap.

50. To make seeing where to sew on the envelope body easier, fold the envelope back from where it and the flap meet. Note: When you get to edge of the first side flap, insert your needle between the two layers of the bottom flap's point, coming out at the point where the other flap's edge and bottom flap edge meet. Continue down the other side to complete.

51. Give your finished envelope a little loving kiss and set her aside for a moment. If your little jewelry pouch has a drawstring, remove it.52. Fill the pouch with a blend of dried lavender and rose buds. Don't fill too full; you want the finished…

51. Give your finished envelope a little loving kiss and set her aside for a moment. If your little jewelry pouch has a drawstring, remove it.

52. Fill the pouch with a blend of dried lavender and rose buds. Don't fill too full; you want the finished dream pillow to be soft and easy.

53. To temporarily seal the pouch, make a very loose running stitch along the opening. No need to knot, really. When the dried flower mix looses it's pungency, you can easily remove the stitched thread, refill with fresh flowers and sew a new loose seam.

54. Insert the pouch into your finished envelope.

55. Button the envelope closed. Ta-dah! :-)

55. Button the envelope closed. Ta-dah! :-)

Write a little message to your heart. Something you'd like to sink in deeply and flow throughout you as you sleep.

Write a little message to your heart. Something you'd like to sink in deeply and flow throughout you as you sleep.

Fold up your love note and tuck it into the pocket. Place the envelope under your bed pillow. Sweet dreams. <3

Fold up your love note and tuck it into the pocket. Place the envelope under your bed pillow. Sweet dreams. <3

I hope this little project soothed you and that working on it really felt like an act of self-care because it was. In addition to acting as a messenger of self-love to your heart, anytime you have a question for your Higher Self, you can write it on a slip of paper and tuck it into this pillow before sleep. Answers will come the next day—most likely when you least expect it.

For additional support in finding the answers to the questions you already have within yourself, please let me know and we will find solutions together. xo

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The Power of Pink + How to Dye with Avocado Pits

You won't believe how easy it is to dye fabric this beautiful shade of pink (the color of intuition, hope and love!) using a handful of fresh avocado pits! I'll show you how in this post.

The color Pink has wonderful properties. As a blend of Red (bravery, passion and determination) and White (lightness, insight and innocence), Pink is intuitive, hopeful and loving, but also playful, nurturing and understanding. Is Pink your favorite color? You are loving, kind and sensitive to others. You long to be accepted for who you are and you lean toward childlike wonder and optimism. I've always been a huge fan of pink for many reasons, one of which is that it often reminds me of my maternal grandma, whom I associate with roses and peonies. 

For a couple months now I've been seeing several social media posts featuring fabric dyed the most gorgeous shades of vintage pink and when I first discovered the dye came from avocado skins or pits, I was amazed! I knew I had to try it for myself to see if it really was as easy as everyone made it sound. It is. So I'm excited to share the process with you, because I'm guessing you love pink, too. (It can be our secret if you like.) If you wish to try this process, start saving your avocado pits. Rinse off the fruit flesh and keep them fresh in a container in your refrigerator until you have enough to give the dye bath a good shot at working—8–12 or so.

And . . . because of the loving properties of Pink, I'll share with you a self-love project that I created using the fabrics you'll see me dye, so come back to check that out if you're curious about ideas for using the fabric made from this easy process. OK, let's get to it!

What You Need

  • avocado pits (I used 10 from a variety of avocado types)
  • fabric to dye
  • soup pot (dedicated to dyeing)
  • stove
  • water

 

1. Decide what fabric you want to dye. I chose a light cotton, some muslin, a wide piece of lace, some recycled silk strip and some new silk cord.

1. Decide what fabric you want to dye. I chose a light cotton, some muslin, a wide piece of lace, some recycled silk strip and some new silk cord.

2. Place fresh avocado pits in a pot and fill with enough water to cover your fabric, plus what will boil off. It doesn't look like it here, but this is about 6" (15cm) of water. Note: Use a pot that will not be used later for cooking.&nbsp;

2. Place fresh avocado pits in a pot and fill with enough water to cover your fabric, plus what will boil off. It doesn't look like it here, but this is about 6" (15cm) of water. Note: Use a pot that will not be used later for cooking. 

3. Place pot on the stove and bring to a boil.

3. Place pot on the stove and bring to a boil.

4. While you're waiting for the water to boil, if you want to try a bit of tie-dyeing, prepare a piece of fabric for that now but some combination of folding and banding. I decided to give it a try with my largest piece of fabric—the cotton.

4. While you're waiting for the water to boil, if you want to try a bit of tie-dyeing, prepare a piece of fabric for that now but some combination of folding and banding. I decided to give it a try with my largest piece of fabric—the cotton.

5. As the water heats, you'll see it begin to turn the water pink. When it reaches a full boil, it's time to add the fabric.

5. As the water heats, you'll see it begin to turn the water pink. When it reaches a full boil, it's time to add the fabric.

6. Dyeing professionals will tell you to prepare your fabric before dyeing it. They'll also say to get the fabric wet before placing it into the dye bath. I didn't do either. I just plopped the dry fabric, one piece at a time, into the bath and smoo…

6. Dyeing professionals will tell you to prepare your fabric before dyeing it. They'll also say to get the fabric wet before placing it into the dye bath. I didn't do either. I just plopped the dry fabric, one piece at a time, into the bath and smooshed it down to cover it all. I know getting it wet first helps keep the color uniform, but I was actually hoping for some irregularity (hence trying the tie-dye for one piece), so I didn't worry about it.

7. Reduce heat to a simmer. I let my fabric simmer in the dye bath for a half hour. Remove from the heat. You can rinse and dry your fabric now, but the color will be pale. Leave it in the room-temperature bath overnight for stronger color. I chose …

7. Reduce heat to a simmer. I let my fabric simmer in the dye bath for a half hour. Remove from the heat. You can rinse and dry your fabric now, but the color will be pale. Leave it in the room-temperature bath overnight for stronger color. I chose to remove the recycled silk and not leave it in the bath with the rest. (You can actually see what I used the recycled silk for in this previous post featuring a beaded bracelet.)

8. After leaving the fabric in the cooled dye bath overnight, wring out the pieces, rinse them well and let them dry. Isn't this color gorgeous??

8. After leaving the fabric in the cooled dye bath overnight, wring out the pieces, rinse them well and let them dry. Isn't this color gorgeous??

Now that I'm convinced how truly easy this process it, I'm going to start saving more pits and plan to dye a T-shirt or two—probably one solid and one with some tie-dye technique. I'll probably also look into suggestions for fixing the color so it withstands multiple washings. Or not, we'll see. :-)

Don't forget to check back on Thursday to see the pretty project I made using my pretty pink fabrics.

If you give this a try, I'd love to see what you create, keeping the powerful properties of pink in mind. So much loving potential here! xo

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Can #[number]daysof[something] Improve Your Life?

I'm by no means a #[number]daysof[something] professional, but I have participated in a few and I've even surprised myself at how fulfilling they can be AND that I actually have it in me to complete them! In this quick post, I share with you the benefits of the #[number]daysof[something] challenge in hopes you'll give the next one that calls to you—in even some small way—a chance.

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They've become pretty popular, haven't they? #30daysofthis, #40daysofthat or even #100daysoftheotherthing. Have you ever participated in one of these challenges? If not, what are your reasons? (No judgement here, I promise!) 

My first challenge was self-imposed and was did not actually have anything to do with an Instagram challenge. It was self-prescribed art therapy during a challenging time in my life and I needed a daily outlet of expressing what I was going through. I didn't commit to a particular period of time, only that it would be daily. To make it easier to achieve success, I made some parameters for myself so I'd avoid excuses. It had to be completed on my phone (always with me and no need for set-up time) and I was limited to three colors: black, white and red. I posted these daily creations on Facebook and ended up doing it every day for over a year.

Fast forward about five years and after seeing a friend's participation in the #100DaysOf Challenge for several rounds, something was prompting me to give it a try. I recalled the days of my doodling challenge and figured if I could stay engaged with that for so long, I probably stood a decent chance of 100 days—IF, again, I made it simple. So, I participated with #100daysofpersonalsymbols. A year later, I participated again with #100daysofteastains. 

One-hundred days is a lot, I won't lie. But it was doable and the sense of satisfaction I gained was totally worth it, not to mention the bodies of work that resulted from each. I also learned something new about myself each time. So when a friend recently challenged me to a yoga challenge, I had to really think about it for a bit, but knew it was something I could tackle and felt highly compelled to try. By the way, so far it's going GREAT and I am reaping the rewards physically. What I didn't expect was to run across another challenge today (yesterday as of the publishing of this post) that I found hard to resist. (#40daysofnocomplaining if you're interested.) My thought after committing: What is happening to me?

A part of me is now wondering if participating in these could become its own habit. Here's what I'm finding to be the benefits of these challenges and I challenge you to give a #[number]daysof[something] challenge a try!

  • The chance to try something new
  • The probability you'll learn something new about yourself. I discovered I'm a much better illustrator than I'd every imagined! Also, I'm now learning I've spent years bending my spine one direction, but not the other and in moving in new ways, I'm increasing great energy flow!
  • Reasonable commitment. New Year's challenges can be pretty tough to live up to, but thirty days (or so) is completely doable!
  • Accountability. Completing challenges is so much more fun when you have a community to share your daily experience with. I really believe this part—daily posting on Instagram or the platform of your choice—is the key to success. 
  • Self-love. Participating and achieving what you set out to accomplish really feels like a gift to yourself.
  • Fulfillment. Participation builds self-confidence.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this sort of challenge or with any new challenge you're considering. I've been brainstorming about what type of challenge I'd like to initiate myself and would love to hear your thoughts on that as well!

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Meditate and Make - Multitasking for True Fulfillment

Beading on a loom is a wonderful form of meditation. As a bonus, when you're done meditating, you have completed a wearable item! In this post, I'll show you—step-by-step—how to use the Baby Jewel Loom to create a pretty beaded bracelet.

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Every Thursday I've been posting something about publishing and believe me, there's more where that came from! But I wanted to detour just a wee bit today and share with you a little how-to bracelet project. I am a firm believer that many handcrafts are some of the best meditation when steps in the process are repeated over and over. (Art making can be meditation, too, such as Zen doodling, but I liken art-making more to art therapy simply because different brain processes can be involved in creating intuitively vs. creating with a set, repetitive pattern.) Certain beadwork falls into this repetitive category and I've found working on the Jewel Loom ripe with opportunity for falling into a meditative state. And because meditation leads to greater self-awareness—something you know I'm all about encouraging you to explore—I thought you might enjoy something different this week.

I've been using the Jewel Loom for several years now and have made countless projects with it—both beaded and straight weaving. Well, now there's a new loom in town—the Baby Jewel Loom and I find this so exciting because I'm always drawn to smaller tools as I like working small. "The Baby" is about half the size of the full Jewel Loom and is perfect for making simple, regular bracelets. (The full version works for bracelets, too, but I always found it better suited to wrap-style bracelets which are typically twice the length of regular bracelets.) I know many of you enjoy getting your toes wet in the creation of simple jewelry projects and I love introducing you to ways of making that you might not have considered before. So, here is my first project using "The Baby" and I'm sharing it with you.

Here you can see the Baby on the left and the original on the right. As you can see, I'm gearing up to make a wrap bracelet on the original but haven't committed to a design just yet. Today we'll be focusing on the Baby Jewel Loom.

Here you can see the Baby on the left and the original on the right. As you can see, I'm gearing up to make a wrap bracelet on the original but haven't committed to a design just yet. Today we'll be focusing on the Baby Jewel Loom.

What You Need

  • Baby Jewel Loom
  • beading needle(s), 2 is helpful but not required
  • beading thread (I’m using white Nymo)
  • decorative 4-hole button (for closure) 
  • seed beads, size 11/0 (I prefer delica), color to coordinate with your ribbon
  • silk ribbon (I’m using recycled Sari strip), no wider than 1/2” (13mm), 23”–26” (58cm–66cm) length
  • two-hole tile beads, 6mm, 19–25, color to complement your ribbon

 

1. Start with a length of ribbon/recycled fabric that's about 1/2" wide and 2' long. (13mm x 61cm) and fold it in half. Turn over your loom and place the loop over one knob. Think about something from your day that you'd like to release—some little …

1. Start with a length of ribbon/recycled fabric that's about 1/2" wide and 2' long. (13mm x 61cm) and fold it in half. Turn over your loom and place the loop over one knob. Think about something from your day that you'd like to release—some little stressor—and twist each half of the ribbon inward, imagining you are wringing out the stress. Hold in place with your thumb as you carefully turn the loom back over.

2. Keep twisting the pieces for the length of the loom and secure to the opposite end using your thumb again, and leaving about 1/2" (13mm) gap between the two strands. Carefully turn the loom back over to the back.

2. Keep twisting the pieces for the length of the loom and secure to the opposite end using your thumb again, and leaving about 1/2" (13mm) gap between the two strands. Carefully turn the loom back over to the back.

3. Tie the ends together around the other knob.&nbsp;

3. Tie the ends together around the other knob. 

4. Turn the loom back right-side up. Cut a piece of beading thread to a length that is comfortable to you. I always work with a piece about 55" (140cm). It took me two and a half lengths (I think), to complete this bracelet. Tie one end of the threa…

4. Turn the loom back right-side up. Cut a piece of beading thread to a length that is comfortable to you. I always work with a piece about 55" (140cm). It took me two and a half lengths (I think), to complete this bracelet. Tie one end of the thread to the left strand where it sits on the loom's grooves. Leave a tail of about 7" (18cm).

5. Take a nice deep breath and welcome yourself to the beading process! Thread you beading needle and guide it under the two strands of ribbon, coming out on the right side.&nbsp;String on one seed bead, one two-hold bead and a second seed beed.&nbs…

5. Take a nice deep breath and welcome yourself to the beading process! Thread you beading needle and guide it under the two strands of ribbon, coming out on the right side. String on one seed bead, one two-hold bead and a second seed beed. 

6. Coax the three beads together in a little row, between the ribbon strands and up against the edge of the loom. Don't forget to breathe.&nbsp;

6. Coax the three beads together in a little row, between the ribbon strands and up against the edge of the loom. Don't forget to breathe. 

7. So . . . I got a little carried away here with the process and forgot to stop for not one, but two pictures! Ugh . . . so i'm going to add several more beads to the length of the bracelet and then show you the process again, this time with photos…

7. So . . . I got a little carried away here with the process and forgot to stop for not one, but two pictures! Ugh . . . so i'm going to add several more beads to the length of the bracelet and then show you the process again, this time with photos! But basically, with your finger pushing the beads up a little, bring your needle up from under the strands and around to the top of the right strand and insert the needle back through the three beads, this time right to left. Then, bring the needle and thread down under the strands again, left to right and thread on one seed bead. Insert the needle through the second hole of the two-hole bead, thread on a second seed bead and again, nestle everything between the ribbon strands, holding them up with your finger. Again, thread the needle back over the top of the right strand and through the three beads. Now, I'll show you again with better pics . . .

7. (again) Pretend we are still at the beginning of the bracelet. With your finger holding the three beads in place, and the needle in your other hand, bring your needle up and to the top of the ribbon strand and insert the needle back through the t…

7. (again) Pretend we are still at the beginning of the bracelet. With your finger holding the three beads in place, and the needle in your other hand, bring your needle up and to the top of the ribbon strand and insert the needle back through the three beads, with the needle on top of the left ribbon strand. Bring the needle under the work and thread on one seed bead.

8. Thread your needle through the second hole of the two-hold bead. It's hard to see in this photo, but my needle really is through the brown bead.

8. Thread your needle through the second hole of the two-hold bead. It's hard to see in this photo, but my needle really is through the brown bead.

9. Thread on the second seed bead.

9. Thread on the second seed bead.

10. Use your finger again to nestle everything nicely between the ribbon strands. Bring your needle up and to the top of the work and thread it back—right to left—through all three beads with the needle remaining on top of the left strand.

10. Use your finger again to nestle everything nicely between the ribbon strands. Bring your needle up and to the top of the work and thread it back—right to left—through all three beads with the needle remaining on top of the left strand.

11. Repeat the entire dance by guiding the needle back under the work—left to right—and threading on three new beads. The process will feel not-so-meditative for the first three or four beads while you are still learning, but shortly after, it truly…

11. Repeat the entire dance by guiding the needle back under the work—left to right—and threading on three new beads. The process will feel not-so-meditative for the first three or four beads while you are still learning, but shortly after, it truly will get easier and you will find yourself getting into a rhythm; completely forgetting about everything else. You will enter a flow of creation, even though you are paying full attention to what you're doing. Continue adding beads until your strand is just a bit longer than the entire circumference of your wrist. For me this meant 19 two-hole beads—about 4-1/2" (11cm). If your thread gets too short to work with, tie the thread on one ribbon strand and then thread the remaining thread through one row of beads. Cut the excess. Cut a new length of thread and tie it to the left ribbon strand where your work currently ends. Proceed as normal. After you've added a few beads, thread the tail through a row or two of beads and cut off the excess. Do the same for the tail at the beginning of the bracelet.

12. Turn the loom over. Remove the work from the loom by untying the ends.

12. Turn the loom over. Remove the work from the loom by untying the ends.

13. To create a closed loop for your button, you have a few options. If you are already a peyote stitch lover, you can create a little tube like I did and thread your loop through it to remove some of the slack. You could also simply tie an overhand…

13. To create a closed loop for your button, you have a few options. If you are already a peyote stitch lover, you can create a little tube like I did and thread your loop through it to remove some of the slack. You could also simply tie an overhand knot above the beads. Another option would be to wrap wire or waxed lined around the strands. Whichever way you go, check that your button will comfortably go through your loop. If you're ready to be done with this project you can skip ahead to step 19 to complete the bracelet, but if you're not ready for the beading to end and would like to further embellish your bracelet with more delicate beads (so pretty and worth the effort!), I'll share how to do that next.

14. Cut a new length of beading thread and thread your needle. Insert it through the three beads on one end of your bracelet. I started with the loop end, but it doesn't really matter.

14. Cut a new length of beading thread and thread your needle. Insert it through the three beads on one end of your bracelet. I started with the loop end, but it doesn't really matter.

15. Leave about a 7" (18cm) tail. On the working thread (the one with the needle), thread on three seed beads and then insert the needle back through all three beads.

15. Leave about a 7" (18cm) tail. On the working thread (the one with the needle), thread on three seed beads and then insert the needle back through all three beads.

16. Snug up the three beads by pulling gently on the working thread. The beads should create a little triangle. Thread three new beads onto your needle and go back through the same beads again. (Note: if you don't have a lot of hand strength due to …

16. Snug up the three beads by pulling gently on the working thread. The beads should create a little triangle. Thread three new beads onto your needle and go back through the same beads again. (Note: if you don't have a lot of hand strength due to arthritis, like I do, using a pair of flat-nose pliers to pull your needle through makes life much easier. It can get bulky with thread inside those beads after a few passes. Just be very gentle as sometimes you will break the beads with too much force.)

17. We now need to move down to the next row—the other end of the two-hole bead. But we don't want any more beading thread to show than we need to. Hold your working thread out of the way and insert your needle into the ribbon "roll" at a point that…

17. We now need to move down to the next row—the other end of the two-hole bead. But we don't want any more beading thread to show than we need to. Hold your working thread out of the way and insert your needle into the ribbon "roll" at a point that is even with the bead you just came out of. Exit the needle close to the hole of the next seed bead.

18. It's time to repeat the process. Thread the needle through the row of beads next to where your needle came out. Thread on three new beads and come back through the same row. As before, thread on three new beads, go back through the same row and …

18. It's time to repeat the process. Thread the needle through the row of beads next to where your needle came out. Thread on three new beads and come back through the same row. As before, thread on three new beads, go back through the same row and now on the opposite side of the bracelet, repeat the step of threading the needle through the ribbon "roll." Continue for the length of the bracelet, taking your time, breathing (!) and enjoying the process. This is your time to be in the moment. When you've finished with all the rows, tie a knot around the ribbon strand and thread through a few beads before snipping off remaining thread.

19. We're now going to thread our ribbon strands through our button—one strand per two holes, cross-style. Here's an easier way to get your strand through the button holes. Cut yourself about a 9" (23cm) length of dental floss and fold it in half. W…

19. We're now going to thread our ribbon strands through our button—one strand per two holes, cross-style. Here's an easier way to get your strand through the button holes. Cut yourself about a 9" (23cm) length of dental floss and fold it in half. Working from the back of the button through to the front, thread the two ends of the floss through one hole.

20. Thread one ribbon strand through the floss loop.

20. Thread one ribbon strand through the floss loop.

21. With your fingers on the floss close to the button, pull the loop through the hole. (Note: if try as you may, the ribbon just won't pull through, you may need to drill your button holes a bit larger.) Repeat the floss threading through the hole …

21. With your fingers on the floss close to the button, pull the loop through the hole. (Note: if try as you may, the ribbon just won't pull through, you may need to drill your button holes a bit larger.) Repeat the floss threading through the hole diagonally across, going back through the button from front to back. Then repeat the process for the other strand and remaining two holes.

22. Tie a knot on the ends of the strands (I like to leave the strands a couple inches [5cm]&nbsp;or so) and cut off the excess. Adjust placement of the button to fit your wrist comfortably.

22. Tie a knot on the ends of the strands (I like to leave the strands a couple inches [5cm] or so) and cut off the excess. Adjust placement of the button to fit your wrist comfortably.

Congratulations! Look at the beautiful bracelet you made! And I hope you enjoyed the rewards of meditation during the process. I'd love to hear about how it goes for you and see pictures of your creations. xo

Congratulations! Look at the beautiful bracelet you made! And I hope you enjoyed the rewards of meditation during the process. I'd love to hear about how it goes for you and see pictures of your creations. xo

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Mind-Body-Spirit, Purpose Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit, Purpose Tonia Jenny

Leaving the Familiar

Leaving one's comfort zone behind is both scary and full of promise all at once. In this post, Christine Mason Miller lets us in on not only about her move across the country but about being comfortable in the space of having no idea what's next.

A guest post by Christine Mason Miller

My work has always been about encouraging others to create a meaningful life but it has been expressed in many different ways.
— Christine Mason Miller

I worked with Christine several times on book projects when I was an editor for North Light Books. Beyond publishing, we find it very easy to be friends and share many interests and values. Being aware that she is currently going through a stage of transition, I asked if she would share her story here of leaving behind everything familiar to explore something new. I can't wait to see what develops for her in this new stage of pursuits and endless—albeit it unknown—possibilities. I have no idea of the ways she will find to continue to share herself with us, but I know with confidence, they'll be first-rate, full of empathy and wisdom. That's how she is, regardless of the road she's on. —Tonia

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Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
— Howard Thurman

Almost exactly twenty-two years ago, I marched confidently into the Santa Barbara City Hall to apply for my business license. That day—which was perfectly sunny with clear blue skies, just like most every other day in Santa Barbara—I had a vision, I was fearless, and I completely took my inevitable success for granted. I didn’t question whether or not it was going to happen; I knew it was going to happen. Which sounds a lot like arrogance, I know, but it had nothing to do with thinking I was a big shot and everything to do with total, utter ignorance.

I had a clear image of what I wanted to create but no idea of how to actually make it real which was, it turns out, the best of both worlds. Growing my business was like playing a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I may as well have been blindfolded when I started; the first steps I took toward realizing my dream had me in various states of progress versus backslides. It went that way for a while, but over time I found my footing (and lost the blindfold) and I’ve been going ever since.

These days, when someone asks what I do, I usually flounder. I talk about the different things I’ve been doing over the past few years—writing a book, facilitating retreats—but eventually offer a broader explanation, which is that my work has always been about encouraging others to create a meaningful life but it has been expressed in many different ways. It started with a line of handmade greeting cards launched from a two-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara in 1995 and now finds me a brand new resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with nary a project, goal, or offering in sight.

Because I am essentially wrapping up the past twenty-two years of my professional life—officially, legally shutting down my business—in order to make room for what’s next, which is, at this point, a complete mystery.

Even though my work (whatever it ends up looking like) will continue to be about providing soulful, creative support and inspiration to others, it feels important that it be built on an entirely new foundation. The good news is that my life is currently rife with metaphors in this regard, as my husband and I have just moved from Santa Barbara to Milwaukee. All the physical and geographical foundations of my life are changing—my home, the space I work in, my community, my zip code. Everything is brand new.

There is no need, really, to close my business bank account and make the dissolution of my business official. I won’t likely do anything radically different in Milwaukee. Aside from paying taxes to Wisconsin instead of California, our move doesn’t need to be more than a tiny blip of inconvenience. But deep down, in that space where my intuition resides, I have heard the call loud and clear: Empty the building, close the doors, lock it up and don’t look back. This is a time for new beginnings and new pursuits, all of which need to come to life in an environment free of old stories, patterns, habits, and belief systems. 

Over the course of my career, I’ve straddled the before and after of the internet and social media age. I had a website when I started my business, and that was a rarity back in the day. There was no Facebook, Instagram, Squarespace, Snapchat, or Kickstarter. I’ve had to learn (again and again) how to navigate and utilize all of these digital tools and platforms to further my work and offerings. I have had to learn how to create, communicate, share, and promote everything from a course for aspiring authors to a retreat in the wilds of Big Sur. Much of what I do involves me sitting at a computer, which I could have continued to do indefinitely whether we stayed in Santa Barbara, moved to Milwaukee, or traveled around the world.

My work has become, in a way, rootless, at least in terms of geography. There isn’t anything wrong with that per se, and many would argue that is the new normal, but after all this experience in the realm of digital interactions and exchanges, I am longing for something physical, tactile, and textural. I want to have to figure out how to work my magic based on the energy I feel in a room. I want the intuitive. I want the sensory

I have never lived in Wisconsin, and I know very few people in Milwaukee. I don’t know how I am going to meet people, make friends, find my tribe. And I have no idea how I can be of service to this new community. Are there people in this new city that are longing for the kind of support I am able to offer? Is there a way for me to channel the lessons, experiences and wisdom I’ve gleaned over the past twenty-two years—both professionally and personally—into a meaningful offering that can be shared on the ground and in person rather than predominantly online?

I have been given a few clues over the past few months, and I’m holding them close. They aren’t guiding me toward an entirely new vocation, but they are encouraging me to continue to sit still (or as still as I can in the midst of setting up a new home), be patient, and lean into a space of trust—trust that my path will reveal itself and that this act of closing the doors on everything I’ve done up to this point is important and necessary. And that, when the time feels right (and I know I’ll know when that is), I need to keep the words of Howard Thurman fresh in my mind. I need to begin to build my own foundation, clear of clutter from the past, with gratitude, with trust, with joy.


Christine Mason Miller is an author and artist who has been inspiring others to create a meaningful life since 1995. Transplant: A Podcast about Home, inspired by her recent move to the midwest, can be found at www.christinemasonmiller.com.

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Mind-Body-Spirit, Publishing Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit, Publishing Tonia Jenny

Your Beautiful and Inspiring Book is Exactly the Right Type

Just as it takes five types of people to run a peaceful society (do you know your type?), I'd like to share with you five types of art inspiration books I believe keep the creatives of the world thriving. 

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Just as the five elements work as a team to sustain wellbeing in the body, a balanced mix of five basic types of people—assigned as archetypes—ensure society thrives and avoids downfall and catastrophe. I was fascinated to learn about these five types several years ago in Simon Chokoisky’s book The Five Dharma Types: Vedic Wisdom for Discovering Your Purpose and Destiny and it’s something that's stuck with me. Now I often try to guess “the type” of various people I know or come across. If personality types fascinate you, too, I highly recommend you read the book. And for instant gratification, in exchange for opting-in to his e-newsletter list, you can take the free test on Simon’s site to determine what type you are. I'm not going to go into too much detail about the types, or how they work as a group, because you can learn about all of that much better from Mr. Chokoisky, but I do want to share the gist with you. 

It Take a Variety of Types to Live in Harmony

Here are the five types to consider and very, very brief qualities associated with each (read the book to discover a much richer understanding of all five and to learn how they work together):

The Educator

The Renaissance men and women of the world, these people are knowledgable on a wide variety of subjects and make the best teachers. It's their role to assign meaning and purpose to life and to inspire and counsel others.

The Laborer 

Laborers require little to feel gratified in life and in addition to be the builders and creators, they're also very grounded and devoted to loving connections with others—particularly family.

The Merchant

Merchant types ensure commerce flows and doesn't get stagnant in the hands of greed. They also have the ability to evoke strong emotions in others and love frivolity and having fun.

The Warrior

As you can guess, the Warrior's role is to protect society. They are the most disciplined and skilled of all the types and can master nearly anything. They are usually perfectionists.

The Outsider

Outsiders are innovative and rebellious. Ultimately, society relies on this type for innovation and advancement—anything requiring radical thinking. 

 

Every Individual Type is Vital to Success of the Whole

No one type is superior to the other four. Each is actually essential to a happy and fully functioning culture. As with any philosophy around archetypes, we are all a mix of all the types, and that holds true with the Dharma Types. At the same time, one type will always dominate and that type has its shadow side as well as its noble qualities. Try to imagine removing one of the above types from the population. Not a pretty picture, right? Or, imagine there being too many or all of one type. Again . . . not a world I would want to live in. Yet, if we're not aware of how important it is to acknowledge why we can't all be the same and that the world does indeed run on there being a nice variety, we can tend to think everyone should be like us—whatever type that is. Feelings of shame can occur when multiple messages around us are telling us we "should" be more like the Warrior for instance—fearlessly defending all of the injustices in society—when in fact we may be an Outsider or an Educator and actually have a very different role to play. No one type can be completely content on his/her own. We need one another to not only enjoy life fully, but to survive. 

 

What Does This Have to Do with Books?

Just as we need a variety of people types to thrive in society, I believe we need a nice variety of art-inspiration books to develop our creative wellbeing. So I came up with my own 5 Book Types!

How-To Technique

This type teaches someone specific techniques to apply to a variety of projects. Example: Soldering, Color Theory, Photography

How-To Project

Project books usually include a handful of basic techniques and then a variety of projects to which the techniques are applied. Example: Painting Seascapes, Knitting Sweaters, Paper Party Decorations

How-To Process

This type takes several techniques, combines them in a unique way and then instructs how to use them not to replicate provided projects, but to be able to design or carry out one's own projects.

Creativity

What I consider to be creativity books may not actually have any techniques to share, but rather encourage ways to bring more creative time into one's life using a variety of prompts or suggested approaches.

Art Inspiration

This is pure art for art's sake. While there may also be content about process or technique, the primary focus is to provide inspiring examples of art that the reader can use as a jumping-off point in his/her own art. This would similar to going to a museum. 

 

Maybe you hadn't previously considered this variety when the notion of writing a book first occurred to you and you began to worry your offering didn't fit the "norm." I think you'll agree with me that we'd be very sad if one of these types of books went away, as each nourishes a different part of us and encourages growth in a specific area. We need a variety of types! If publishing a book that will inspire others is something that's been calling to you, but you don't know where to begin (maybe you're afraid you lack the writing skills?) or how to organize your ideas, I'd love to help you figure it out. You are exactly right, just as you are and you're definitely the right type to inspire others with what you know—whether that's in a book or another form. xo

P.S. I'm currently working on a new offering that will support you in going from desire-to-publish-a-book to complete book outline, ready to begin writing and creating! Be sure you're on my e-newsletter list to be among the first to know and to receive special offers. Enter your address in the box at the bottom of this page.

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Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny Mind-Body-Spirit Tonia Jenny

How to Answer Yourself from Your Heart

A quick exercise to cut through the analytical jibber jabber and go straight to the place true wisdom resides.

My thinking writes rightso I move my pen leftwardfor it speaks my truth.

My thinking writes right

so I move my pen leftward

for it speaks my truth.

The next time you're having a debate with yourself in your head (which, if you're like me, will probably occur within the next hour if not the next ten minutes), just for fun, try this little trick: Grab a pen and paper and write out a question you're seeking clarity on. Before you answer, move your pen to your non-dominant hand. Now write what this hand wants you to write. What comes out may in fact be an answer or it may seem unrelated. Either way, there is true wisdom in those marks because writing in this way comes from the heart more than the head. You can see what words come out as coming from your intuition, your Higher Knowing or the innocent child within. Yes, yes and yes. Whatever it is that you wrote, it's something your heart—your soul—wants you to know. 

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