THE SEGRET FOR MY SUCCESS :-)

7 September 20147 September 2014Posted in My WorldTagged THE SEGRET FOR MY SUCCESS1 Comment

THE SEGRET FOR MY SUCCESS

🙂

One of the top questions I get emailed (alongside these) is how to be successful. To be honest, I don’t think success is ever something ever reached, only chased– at least for me. There are little check-in points for me where I can say, “Okay, good. Still on the right track,” or, “Ah, got to readjust a little bit.”

And as I’ve been getting older, I’ve kind of been trying to figure out what is the differentiation between a success moment and a not-so-successful moment. Really, I’ve been trying to figure out what that thing is that makes it work. It wasn’t actually until this weekend that it started to make sense.

I was explaining to a friend that I really do give myself weekends off, but I kick back into working at 5pm on Sunday. That ensures that I a) enjoy the weekend and b) have a better Monday. My friends know that when we make plans, I’m in as long as I can be back at my desk by 5. It’s a little rigid, but I do it every week. Then I was talking to Garrett how I sometimes feel scatterbrained and all over the place, but he reminded me that I always get everything done.

I think… my success secret is very simply… doing what I say I’m going to do, when I say I’m going to do it.

It doesn’t mean that sometimes things aren’t last minute or hectic or stressful, but they get done. Come hell or high water, a way to finish will be found. Even though it’s a simple concept, there are key components to a proper follow through!

My tricks:

1) Redefine success // I typically start with the biggest vision and then go from there. It rarely ends up being exactly how I think it should be in an ideal world, but done is better than perfect. When good enough is good enough, it’s good enough. I definitely can get stuck trying to get things just right, but when push comes to shove, I have to get it done. I don’t want my perfectionism getting in the way of me getting things done.

2) Prioritize // If I commit to something, I don’t want to disappoint myself or the other person by saying yes and then later backing out. This means that I have to be way better about saying no outright. Saying no isn’t a bad thing– I have to remind myself this ALL the time. Saying no now is definitely a lot better than saying yes and not being able to fulfill. However, I find this to be the most challenging thing. I never want to let people down! Reminding myself that I’m preventing myself from letting them down by saying no upfront is helpful.

3) Be On Time // My trick for getting to places on time is to the take the “arrival time” and immediately subtract 10 minutes (#the buffer). I continue subtracting different times it takes to do things. 5 minutes for locating an office in an unfamiliar building. 25 minutes for a subway ride. 5 minute walk to the subway…. etc.

Sometimes I even throw in another buffer time if I’m really nervous, or if the weather is bad, etc. Also, I find that this takes as much self-control as it takes planning. You can do all the time planning in the world, but if you click the snooze button or find yourself in a Pinterest black hole of distraction…. you’ll be late!!! And, sadly, sometimes it takes compromising to make it somewhere on time. Things can (and likely will) cause issues. You might have to skip the curling iron or skip the trip to Starbucks to get there on time.

This is more than showing up somewhere on time, it also applies to submitting a project or assignment on time.

4) Determine Hard Deadlines/Next Steps // While some things have deadlines built in (exams, projects, events), somethings are a little bit more open-ended. I find that it’s a lot harder to follow through with something if I say, “I’ll get back to you!” It’s so much better for me to say, “I’ll send you that email by Wednesday night.” A) The next step is an email and B) There’s a specific timeline now. The person knows when to expect a response and you know when (and what) you have to deliver.

4) Stay Organized // If I don’t record the deadline, I will forget. Almost always, I will forget. I set reminders in my calendar and write down action steps for getting everything done. If it can be done in five minutes, I’ll try to do it immediately. But if it takes longer, I’ll map out what needs to happen, when for a completed, on time project.

This also really helps me set better deadlines. If I see that I have a few things “due,” I’ll know I can’t commit to other projects around the same time and try to negotiate a different time. Besides the reminders and the dates in a master calendar, I also keep a running list of things to complete on a notepad so I can cross it off and have a visual understanding of accomplishment!

Sara Dal Monte

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HOW TO STAY ORGANIZED

4 September 20144 September 2014Posted in My WorldTagged interruptions, priorities changeLeave a comment

HOW TO STAY ORGANIZED

With summer coming to a close, it’s time to rethink priorities – either you’re just getting into the swing of things with school or kicking it into high gear at work after a summer of travel or possibly other interruptions. The truth is, staying organized is never as easy as it looks, even if you’re a total Type A. From time to time, even to-do lists can get muddled and calendars messy and overwhelming.
When you feel that start to happen, you can use these tips to regroup and refocus.Make Reasonable To-Do Lists – To-do lists can be lifesavers, but they can also be your downfall if you don’t keep them realistic. If your to-do looks more like the start to a novel, you may need to consolidate. Try focusing on the MOST important 3-5 items before even writing other tasks on your list. That way, you don’t look at a full page and feel overwhelmed, which often leads to more worrying than getting things done!

…But Make the List – When you don’t make a to-do list at all, it’s tough to get your thoughts straight on what must be done. If you aren’t much of a list maker, I suggest at least jotting the major priorities down, so you don’t get sidetracked.

Prioritize Regularly – The hard part of any commitment is that priorities change. There isn’t a job or class I can think of that doesn’t deal with interruptions. So, unfortunately, reprioritizing is often necessary to organization. Stay on top of it by regularly scheduling “check ups” with yourself to go over priorities. Maybe you’ve spent the last month staying after school with a math tutor, but now you’re falling behind in English. It could be that this part of your English course is more difficult for you than math, so you need to focus on that instead.

Compartmentalize – Who else hates seeing a binder overflowing with papers and sticky notes? It always made me a bit nervous. Instead, group things into main categories (and just like with to-do lists, you don’t want to break them down into too small of pieces), which will make it easier to divide and conquer tasks. That way, when it comes down to completing an assignment, you can pull out that piece exclusively – you’ll never lose items or have unwanted distractions in the way.

Choose Tools that Work – For some, a plethora of office supplies like color-coded tabs, sticky notes, and index cards, eases anxiety. But for others, this method only adds to the clutter. If you’re unsure what your perfect work environment is, try a few organizational supplies for a month. If, for example, you find that after a month keeping a daily planner isn’t effective, there’s no point in keeping it as your method of organization.

What’s your best way to stay organized? Share it in the comments below.

Sara Dal Monte

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MEDITATION IS SUFFICIENT

2 September 20142 September 2014Posted in My WorldTagged meditation, SUFFICIENT, totally insaneLeave a comment

MEDITATION IS SUFFICIENT

“You’re living in a world almost totally insane who can not use reason. If you can meditate, just only this, you’ve done most of what you can expect from a modern man, and if the meditation is going well continue to repeat “Thank My God!” But in meditation you never get to the top, you do not have to remember to say “Amen!”, you do not need.

Meditation slowly turns into your lighting, one day suddenly you become aware. Where did all that darkness? Where is that continuous mixing and rush of thoughts? What happened to your mind? Suddenly you have become like a hollow tube of bamboo, but not your emptiness is exactly one empty, is full of joy and rejoice to learn more. Danzi for no reason, when you do not need songs, songs you’ve never composed, dance or dances that you never learned and they are spontaneously presented in your awareness. “

This is lighting, but do not make a goal.
Meditation is enough, everything else follows on its behalf. “

OSHO – The Great Pilgrimage: From Here to Here

Sara Dal Monte

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CHANGING CLOSET

30 August 201431 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged CLOSET, Jen BrillLeave a comment

CHANGING CLOSET

LOVE. Wouldn’t mind changing closet with Jen Brill for a day!

Pictures via the Coveteur.

Sara Dal Monte

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#LET’S MEDITATE! // OPRAH & DEEPAK’S MEDITATION EXPERIENCE

21 August 201421 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged meditationLeave a comment

I’ve been trying to incorporate meditation into my daily routine for nearly a year now. Some days I am successful, but most days I am not. I’ve gone a good three days of meditation in a row before crapping out exclaiming that I just don’t have the time.

But that’s just not the truth. I know that’s a lie because lately I’ve spent two hours each night staring at my TV gripping my couch pillows while watching the final seasons of Breaking Bad which stresses me out and makes me cringe with excitement and fear and leaves me feeling utterly gross. If I have two extra hours for that experience, I most definitely have 20 minutes to relax into mediation for some feel good time, it’s just a matter of reevaluating my priorities.

Another excuse my mind likes to use to dissuade me is that I don’t know how to do it. That’s a lie too. Meditation is not rocket science, hell, it’s not even algebra. It’s simply sitting in the moment of awareness, breathing, focusing, clearing the mind and coming back to the now as many times as you need to within your given time frame.

When I do it, I feel great… but I never give it enough time to really feel the true benefits from a daily practice of meditation. I never give it the time to become a habit, a ritual, or a part of who I am, even though I keep saying that’s what I want to do. I’ve even designated one of our guest rooms as My New Meditation Room to help motivate me, but that didn’t work much either.

The other night while watching Oprah’s Master Class , I saw a commercial for Oprah & Deepak’s 21-Day Meditation Experience™, Expanding Your Happiness! beginning August 11, 2014, and I thought this was the PERFECT motivation for me to really give meditation a good go. Not only are the meditations guided so I don’t have to begin in silence, there’s a new one each day, and an email to remind me to do it.

Sometimes all you need is the right motivation.
I’m hoping Oprah & Deepak will give me the start I need to make meditation an everyday practice after the 21 days are over. To continue this stress-reducer every day and make it a part of my life is my goal.

Sara Dal Monte

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THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF HOLI

8 August 20148 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged FESTIVAL INDU, HOLI FESTIVAL, Prahlad, ShivaLeave a comment

The Hindu Festival of Holi
Learn about the Hindu celebration of Holi

Holi is a lively Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring. It dates back to texts from the 11th century and is connected to both deities and rites of spring. You may know it best from images of Eat, Pray, Love where villagers toss vibrant colored powders onto each other and dance in the streets with joy. Holi falls around the time of the vernal equinox – what in Western tradition would be the first day of spring. The deep meaning of Holi is connected to different Indian legends and their symbolic messages. The focus may vary depending on the part of India and the world where it is celebrated. Holi celebrates the story of a pure-hearted devotee, Prahlad who underwent many trials to maintain his faith as well as the burning of carnal desires by Shiva to reach a higher level of love. The stories, rituals and meanings behind them follow.

The Legend of Prahlad and Holi
Prahlad loved the Divine more than anything. This isn’t easy when your father is Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons. While Prahlad worshiped the Divine in the form of Lord Vishnu, Prahlad’s father persecuted him. He gave his son poison, but in his mouth it turned into nectar. He ordered that Prahlad be trampled by elephants, but again God protected him. He was placed with poisonous serpents, but they didn’t strike him. Finally, he ordered Prahlad to sit on a burning pyre on his sister Holika’s lap. Holika had been given a boon by one of the gods that she could withstand fire. Prahlad bowed to his father’s command, but when the pyre was lit, Prahlad was protected while his sister burned to ashes. The name for the Holi festival and the bonfires are derived from Holika’s name.
Shiva Burning Away Desires on Holi

Another legend associated with Holi is the story of Shiva and Kama, the lord of desire. Shiva is renowned for remaining undisturbed in deep meditation, but Kama sought out Shiva in order to stop a powerful demon who was destroying the earth. Only a seven-day-old child issuing from Shiva himself could stop the carnage. The people sought the help of Kama, the god of love and desire in Hindu mythology, so that Shiva might marry Parvathi and bear a child. Kama found Shiva in deep meditation and shot arrows at him to draw him out. But Shiva only opened his third eye and burned Kama to ash. The devas pleaded that Shiva restore Kama, and he was restored in ethereal form, representing a higher form of love. His intimate friend is Vasanta or the Spring. Shiva and Parvathi came together and gave birth to a son who killed the demon. The story represents releasing lower desires for desire for divine love.

Naturally Colorful Celebrations
The colors of Holi celebrate the renewal that arrives with the flowers and colors of spring. The colors were traditionally made from flowers, herbs and roots with medicinal value which may have been considered to act as protection against fevers and illness associated with the change of season. The powders were made from neem, turmeric, beetroot and its juice, henna and other natural plants. Red, green, yellow, blue and black powders fly from rooftops and in crowded squares and the festival transcends classes and caste. The colors used which were once made naturally from flowers are now often artificial. Environmental movements encourage a return to natural colors. The festival is celebrated over several days and may include creating beautiful and intricate rangoli or kolam patterns at the thresholds of houses as a way to bless visitors and those who enter.
Families also gather around a bonfire where an effigy of Holika is burned to recall the triumph of Prahlad and the burning of his evil sister. Like many spring festivals around the world, it may also represent the burning away of the dullness of winter. Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha, are also associated with Holi. The day after the burning of Holika, some people place the ash from the fire mixed with sandalwood paste on their foreheads. Though for many people it is a secular holiday, Holi ultimately signifies the triumph of good over evil and of sensual values over spiritual ones.

Holi Around the World
As the Indian population grows, Holi is becoming a familiar festival celebrated on campuses and at Hindu and Indian homes worldwide. Elders may share stories and legends of Holi while families cook special dishes, decorate homes and exchange gifts. In Nepal, Holi is a national holiday. It’s also celebrated in England, South Africa and elsewhere around the globe.

Sara Dal Monte

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DIY: COCONUT & LAVENDER BODY SCRUB

4 August 20144 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged almond oil, body scrub, lavender essential oilLeave a comment

When it comes to DIY projects you have to ask yourself, is it really worth the hassle?

In the case of this DIY body scrub the answer is yes and here’s why: cinnamidopropyltrimonium, cetrmonium chloride, dimethicone, etc.

Those hard to pronounce words are gd knows what, made of who only knows, ingredients listed on the back of products I grabbed from my shower. Now, I love my chemically packed products as much as the next girl but I couldn’t help but wonder if smearing this stuff all over ourselves, everyday, is really all that good for us.

I attempted to make a few changes, some were colossal disasters and others worked out great. I gave the “organic” shampoo/conditioner a go – absolute nightmare. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castile Classic Soaps‘ – major win. Tom’s toothpaste – it’s as though I never knew the other stuff existed.

And the best thing to come out of this bath-and-body-chemical-detox was this incredible homemade coconut and lavender body scrub. Complete with six real word ingredients (ginger, coconut oil, almond oil, sugar, salt and lavender oil) it has made my skin incredibly soft, smooth and glow – just like you see in an Aveeno commercial. And unlike other DIY’s that end up collecting dust after gluing, hammering and sometimes even crying, this DIY was four easy steps all of which are essentially pouring and stirring (promise, watch my LEAF video if you don’t believe me) resulting in 2-3 uses per week.

How-to: Coconut & Lavender Body Scrub

You will need:
– 1 tbsp ginger, coarsely chopped
– ¼ cup coconut oil
– ¼ cup cold-pressed almond oil
– ¾ cup granulated sugar
– ¼ cup kosher salt
– lavender essential oil

1. Heat ginger and coconut oil over low heat for 5-10 mins, remove from heat & strain.
2. While the oil is still warm, mix together almond oil & let sit until room temperature.
3. Once room temperature, stir in granulated sugar and kosher salt.
4. Add in 4-6 drops of lavender essential oil, stir then bottle (I added a ribbon, too).
5. Scrub and enjoy!

If you have any suggestions for other great natural products and/or bath related DIYs please share in the comments?

Sara Dal Monte

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THE BENEFITS OF YOGA

3 August 20143 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged NAMASTE, power yoga, YOGALeave a comment

The benfits of yoga provide both instant gratification and lasting transformation. In the fitness world, both are extremely important. Too much time with too few results can be incredibly discouraging, and monotonous routines week after week can lead to stagnation. Yoga can change your physical and mental capacity quickly, while preparing the mind and body for long-term health.

Yoga is for everyone

Most yoga studios and local gyms offer yoga classes that are open to all generations and fitness levels. It’s exciting to enter a room full of young teens, athletes, middle-aged moms, older gentlemen and even fitness buffs and body builders. Everyone can feel accepted and included and, unlike other sports or classes that focus on niche clients, yoga tends to have open arms. Whether you like to say “Om” or you can’t stand the word “yogi;” whether you are 92, 53, or even 12, yoga can help you.

Yoga encourages overall health and wellness

Yoga is not just about working out, it’s about a healthy lifestyle. The practice of yoga allows students to be still in a world consumed with chaos. Peace and tranquility achieved through focused training appeals to everyone.

Yoga’s deep breathing and meditation practices help foster an inner shift from to-do lists, kids and spouse’s needs, financial concerns and relational struggles to something a little bit bigger than the issues you face. Yoga helps relieve stressand unclutter the mind, and helps you get more focused.

Yoga has many faces

One of the benefis of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is tailored to your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, prenatal yoga, etc. Whether you prefer you’re at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options available to suit your goals and needs.

If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, power yoga may be right for you. There is a great online yoga program at Gaiam Yoga Studio that focuses on Hatha yoga.

If you are ready for a deeper practice, Advanced Yoga, or Bikram, also called “hot yoga,” may be just what you are looking for. In Bikram yoga, the room temperature is set to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in greaterelimination of toxins from the body through the increased production of sweat. No matter your fitness level, fat percentage, or health history, yoga has a place for you.

Strength training and flexibility

Yoga’s focus on strength training and flexibility is an incredible benefit to your body. The postures are meant to strengthen your body from the inside-out, so you don’t just look good, you feel good too. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder and neck pain.

The digestive system gets back on track when the stretching in yoga is coupled with a healthy, organic diet, which can relieve constipation, irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux. Another one of the benefits of yoga is that stretching and holding of postures also causes muscles to lengthen, which gives the body a longer, leaner look.

How does power yoga build muscle?

A more advanced form of yoga can amplify these effects. Adapted from the basic Ashtanga yoga, power yoga requires increased amounts of energy, focus and strength. Although power yoga is an evolvement of the basics, it certainly is not a basic course.

But how does it help build muscle? Deeper, more focused participation is required, because most poses are held for five full breaths versus the usual one to three breaths. Muscles are challenged as the mind and body have to work together simultaneously to hold a position or continue a succession without giving up. Breathing, posing, moving and increasing flexibility happen all together at one time, which solicits a new level of discipline in your mind and body.

Power yoga and the core

Isometric exercises are one of the best ways to build core strength. Isometric, stemming from the words “same” and “length,” simply translates to holding one position without moving. Power yoga uses isometric exercises along with other postures that are designed to make the core and back stronger. Flexibility and balance stem from your core, so it is very important to train this area of the body. In turn, you can increase the strangth and health of your entire body. Generally a higher-temperature room is used in this practice to help keep the muscles warm and release additional toxins from the body.

Power yoga’s effect on the total body

Here’s a list of some of the most beneficial aspects of power yoga:

It increases endurance, strength and flexibility.

Mental endurance and physical stamina are tested through holding postures for extended breaths.

Arm and shoulder strength is multiplied as you use your own body weight for resistance.

Lats and other back muscles begin to support the spine better than before.

Abdominals and obliques are refined and sharpened through building core muscles.

Poor and average posture begins to correct itself over time.

Hip flexors are stretched and rebuilt.

Glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves are tightened and lengthened where they need to be.

No matter what ails your aching body, or if you just want to take your fitness to a higher level, power yoga’s ability to build muscle has an undeniably effect on the total body.

Sara Dal Monte

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SUMMER IS A TREASURED TIME OF HUMAN RENEWAL

2 August 20142 August 2014Posted in My WorldTagged Buddhist monks, MANDALA, perfect circle, SUMMER, SUMMER IS A TREASURED TIME OF HUMAN RENEWALLeave a comment

Mandalas are circles train-tracked through with geometric pattern, hypnotic wheels designed to give a break to our busy minds and allow our creative pathways to run free. Mandalas represent the Self, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon ~ the wholeness and circularity of the universe.
Buddhist monks draw mandalas in the sand, finish them, erase them, begin again. The urge to make mandalas indicates a re-balancing process is underway in our psyches, for they represent reordering, stabilizing.

The cycles of nature form their own perfect circle. Summer is a treasured time of human renewal, a chance to live outdoors, to be barefoot in the sand, roll in the grass and ground ourselves to the earth.
To feel feral and free. The days are long and hot and inside those hours life’s beautiful possibilities are amplified ~ like ice, we melt into liquid, heat to a boil, then find ourselves floating, as free as the wind…