THERE - T = HERE

Another big part of living in the Just Fines is always wondering when you will be THERE. We all have a THERE. And actually, we probably have MANY different THEREs that we are trying to reach. These little THEREs sometimes make it difficult to appreciate where you are. HERE. What a difference that T makes.

When we are not THERE yet, we feel unfulfilled, dis-satisfied, maybe even stuck and lost. It's like nothing we do is ever enough. We feel like we're pushing and pushing and never getting ahead. And we aren't. Because it's impossible to get ahead when you keep adding more and more
things to the list and keep focusing on all that you still have to do.

I hear from clients often that they are trying so hard to get THERE, they are not appreciating any of the HERE. When you do this--focus on all that you still have to achieve, still have to do, still have to be--you forget to acknowledge, appreciate and RELISH all that you HAVE achieved, all that you HAVE done and all that you ARE.

So, what does your HERE look like right NOW? What are its gifts and challenges? And how might those challenges be gifts in themselves? This might be a big leap for you. That's ok. Just be open to the question. Be open to your HERE and all it is. Now.

Image: africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

MORE on the inside and the outside

I recently did a workshop with my friend and workshop colleague, Sarah Savasky, who is an excellent style consultant. While we were creating the workshop, we saw more and more how alike our professions are—helping people get clearer about who they are and learning to express themselves. Her work focuses on the outside and mine on the inside.

This duality is often seen in my work with clients. A lot of times when clients are talking about some of the changes they are making in their lives—examining old patterns and altering them so they are more consistent with what they really want—I also hear they are examining the more physical things. Many times they are de-cluttering and simplifying. They are getting rid of all that extra STUFF they no longer need.

And sometimes it can be that they get a new haircut or start dressing a bit differently. I actually went through this myself pretty recently as well. When I moved back to California and realized how RIGHT it was for me to be here, there was just one thing that seemed a bit off. And that thing was my clothes. I had been used to dressing to ‘fit in’ as that was what I was most comfortable doing when I was in Sweden. That meant I wore A LOT of dark clothes most of the time. I didn’t want to call attention to myself so I played it ‘safe’.

Once here, I realized I craved more color, more mixing and matching and a bit more fun and even small bursts of quirkiness in my wardrobe. I felt so much like me on the inside that the outside was screaming to catch up. Thank goodness I had the help of Sarah—who guided me in seeing my clothes in new ways. In working with her, I was able to start playing and experimenting and having a lot more fun with my look and sense of style. Putting the outside and inside in alignment in that way made ME even stronger.

That consistency is BIG. Part of the MORE you are meant to be living means ALL of YOU wants and needs to shine. You don’t want to be hiding behind something that isn’t really you. So think about this in your own life. Are you being consistent in the expression of yourself both on the inside AND the outside? Does one need more attention than the other right now? What one small (or big!) thing could you do today that would bring the inside and outside YOU into even more alignment?

Image: africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net