I have worked from home for many years. Even most of my years in corporate – make that all but part of a single year, I had a home office rather than going to an office every day.

I designed my life that way even back when pretty much only us salespeople were able to do that. It just works for me. And the opposite – not so much.

It’s not that I don’t find it valuable to be around people, I love to do that – on my own terms, of course. I like to do my thing, my way, and I like to do it uninterrupted and without anyone looking over my shoulder. Even my fantastic husband! He is aware of this and while he doesn’t fully understand it, he supports me on it.

So, where am I going with all of this?

Well, I also realize that I can get myself in a rut, pretty easily and pretty routinely if I am not watchful. When I am engrossed in my work and especially when I am working to bust through to another level, I can become a prisoner of my own office. Which, since my office is in my home, makes for a very dull Susie. I found myself doing this a lot when I was working for The Man. I had intended to leave all of that behind.

But, alas…

I realized yesterday as I am wrapping up the final touches on my new marketing campaign, wow, when was the last time you really got out of this office? I mean, really got out. When was the last time you took an entire day off, or gasp! an entire weekend?

Me?! I’m the one who coaches and encourages my clients to be good to themselves and to take ME time on a regular basis.

Yeah, busted.

I love what I do. I mean I feel like I could do it all day every day, which is such a blessing! And I realize that actually doing so is depleting me of my creative energy, my vitality and my freshness.

So, I am committing to break that cycle today. I know that I will return re-energized, refueled and brimming with fresh ideas and a new spring in my step.

Who is with me?

One of the first areas I had to address when I started to consciously get my life in order was my health. While I have always been what most would consider “health-conscious” I really had some big holes in how I cared for my body and overall well-being. For years I had been kind of skinny-fat in regards to my health.

What do I mean by that? Well, it was more about appearance than actual health. Over the years I tried many things to stay slim. Not all of them healthy. Not all of them productive. Not all of them wise in retrospect. Can you say hello GNC diet supplements section?

Now, on one hand, our understanding of nutrition and fitness keeps expanding and new research is always being released that seems to counter what we knew yesterday. On the other hand, we forget, once again, to listen to our intuition and what our bodies are telling us and decided to listen to all sorts of experts and outside sources.

Once I took a step back from all of that and finally started to really listen to my body, mind and spirit, everything began to fall into place. I learned what works for me and what doesn’t. And I keep asking and learning, taking note. And I have to be brave enough to admit it, even and especially when I don’t like the truth.

I learned what made me feel great and just as importantly, I learned what didn’t make me feel great. So I limit or eliminated those things. I am not perfect, by any means. But I have a habit – a routine, guidelines that when I stick to, I know things go much better.

I have people tell me oh you must be naturally thin and fit. Well, yes. Because I habitually do the things that keep me thin and fit. I think and act according to the laws of being well.

Again, not every single minute, I do have moments and even months every now and then (try starting your own business!). Overall, however, I am on it and it is worth it.

That is what luck looks like.

I have energy. I regained my focus. I found renewed vitality and feel better now than I did ten years ago.

I also got support from a naturopath and limited my exposure to traditional medicine. Yeah. Me. The one who worked in the Healthcare field for decades (note – I never sold pharma which I am glad to say now).

I am not here to sell you on some diet plan or to tell you traditional medicine is bad. I am here to again beat the same drum I always beat.

Get to know yourself.

Love yourself.

Listen to your body, mind, and spirit.

Make a decision and choose wisely and on purpose. Look at your environment including input from all sources and make it more supportive of you. Make it better – just a little more all the time.

I have a confession to make. I used to write every day, as some of you know. It began to feel like a chore rather than a joy. So I stopped. I am glad I did.

The confession is that I think I stopped for another reason, one that as a Transformational Coach, I would prefer not to have to admit. I stopped because it felt like I was just throwing my words into the abyss where no one heard through all of the other noise out there. Perhaps there is truth in that.

The point is now well received. It doesn’t matter. The song is in me so I am to sing it (and sing I do – privately, for your protection). The words are in me so I am to write them. The ideas and thoughts are in me so I am to share them.  To give them power, energy and momentum within myself.

For I am a powerful, influential, wealthy thought-leader.

For myself first, and then for anyone else drawn to join the pride. The pride of those of us changing the world from inside ourselves – out by what we think and do with our careers and lives.

Stick around, if you are so inclined, things are about to get interesting.  If this isn’t for you, I send positive thoughts and prayers for your path and commend you for knowing what is right for you.

I will be creating a new list next week of only those who are staying. The rest will be removed from my list with deepest gratitude for them having been here.

If you are seeing this for the first time, you can opt in to The Good to Me Guide at www.thelifeIlovestartswithme.com.

Yesterday was opening day.  I took a little field trip, spent time with my husband and friends, and watched the game with an even keener eye on the power behind the game.  My musings and insights include the following.

1. It is about showing up. Day after day after day. It is also about changing up the routine when things are feeling stagnant – that’s part of showing up.
2. Never ever quit. If you have a burning, white-hot desire to be or achieve or do or have, never ever quit. If you don’t, create that desire ASAP, develop it more every day and if you can’t or choose not to, quit immediately. Otherwise it is too painful for any of us to watch and you are ruining it for everyone. There is something else out there for you because this ain’t it.
3. You can be sent to the minors at any time. Or you can move up at any time. You choose by your thoughts and actions – how you commit to your practice.
4. A team is only as good as its weakest player. The stronger players are smart to develop players who are willing to do the work. The owner is smart to part with those who aren’t. When one player improves, the whole team improves.
5. A team is only as successful as its clubhouse. If the guys are having fun and are on good terms with each other, that is when the magic happens for everyone, especially the fans.
6. Keep the customers happy with how you show up and how you treat them and they become fans. And they will follow you during the ugliest seasons, even if you haven’t ever won the Series. Yet.
7. A career 65% failure rate will get you in the Hall of Fame (.350).
8. Every player starts each season with a fresh slate of .0000.
9. Know your pitch. Know your zone. Watch for it, prepare for it, be ready for it. Do not chase. Make it come to you.
10. The coach is there to put the players in a winning position and to get the most out of those players by knowing how to reach each individual.   A coach empowers the player to own his pitch and lay off the rest.

One of the most frequent questions I get is regarding how to trust your gut. Tapping into and trusting our intuition is one of the best things we can re-learn to do. It is one of your most powerful tools in business, your career and life in general. It is our truest guide, and our direct connection to Source. In order to get better at knowing and trusting our intuition, there are things we can do, questions we can ask.

The more we get quiet, the more we ask, the more we listen, the more we stop everything when it is important and we are in doubt, the better we get at knowing and hearing the truth. It is a natural gift but most of us have had a long history of ignoring it and stuffing it down so we have lost some of the ability to discern.

As I am sitting down to write this and rewrite this, I realize it is not a perfect science. At the end of the day you just have to start doing it – practicing, trusting and tweaking based on the results. Old fears, hurts, protection mechanisms and limiting beliefs can get in the way. The more you are aware of these, the easier it is to check yourself against them. So if I know I have a limiting belief that I can’t make a big sale and I am engaged with a large prospect but then my head starts in with all the reasons I won’t get it or that they didn’t like me or that I shouldn’t have said this or that, I can see that it is my limiting belief stopping me not my intuition that I never should have gone for it. It also will not pass the tests below as you will see.

Anyway, I will start this guide by praying that God will open our spiritual ears and eyes and make it black and white – so easily discernable as we regain our natural state of knowing. I pray also that these tips will aid you in your journey.

• When you have a big decision to make or something to analyze, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Ask. Listen. Trust. Do not go back and forth overanalyzing, ruminating or asking anyone who will listen. Of course you can seek input from a trusted advisor but do not ask everyone. Learn to ask and listen. You will often get confirmation. Ultimately, no one can tell you what is right for you but you. And know that even when we “miss it,” it was still exactly what was best for us and good things will come from it. So relax!

• When, where and how did it come to you? Were you asking a question of yourself or God and then got an answer? If so, trust it. If not, how did it appear? A flash of inspiration? Go with it. A flash of random fear about something you have in your head, especially if you were in the midst of feeling good? Unlikely it was your intuition.

• If you feel a concern in your body, ask to yourself or even out loud, is it true? Go with the initial answer. Asking “is this true?” or “what is true?” or even “where is the truth in this?” is one of the simplest paths to discernment.

• Does it keep recurring as you brush it off? Again, if it is in your body, it is most likely your intuition.

• Does it help you? If not, it isn’t your intuition. Your intuition is always concerned with your highest good.

• Is it supporting your goals? If not, it is likely not your intuition. If it is alerting you to revisit your goals or actions toward the goals then listen more closely and ask better questions about what your next steps would be.

• Is it positive or negative? If it is negative it is most likely not your gut. The only exception here is a warning and that is informational not a panicky feeling.

• Is it based in fear, anxiety, panic or worst case scenarios? Not your friend. We cannot make intelligent decisions when we are in any form of fight or flight. We are literally cut off from our prefrontal cortex in those situations.

• Does it sound like your highest self? If it sounds like something less, it probably is.

• Does it sound like your stern parents? Your condescending boss? Not your intuition. Ask “is there any truth in this” or “is there something else I should check or do?”

• Is it supportive or detractive? Intuition supports.

• Is it information or simply emotion? Look for truth or info in the feeling. For example, I am afraid I will burn my hand if I touch that stove. Yep well that is not really fear but information. It feels different in your body when it is useful information. So again ask another, better question…”what is the truth in this? Is there something I can do about it?”

• Is it loving, kind, appropriate, timely? Intuition’s calling card.

• Is it forgiving and helpful, even if firm? If not, it isn’t your intuition. For example, if there is some sense of urgency or firmness that an action is the right one it is likely that it is your intuition if it is helpful and not beating you up. If it is a pushing or hard driving rather than a leading, it is likely not your intuition.

• How does it feel? If it feels like it is your gut from previous experience, it most likely is. You will be developing this muscle so you will be able to “know” even when words can’t quite describe how or why.

• Where are you feeling it? If in your gut, feel into it more and ask for clarity. Most likely intuition – they call it gut for a reason. You also may feel it closer to your heart.

• Is it only in your head? Not your intuition.

• Does it align with your truth? If not, not your intuition.

• Is it against you or anyone else? Not your intuition. Our intuition doesn’t judge or gossip about us or anyone else.

• Is there any panic or freak out in it? Not your intuition. Ask a better question.

• Is it judgmental or blaming? Not your intuition. Ask a better question.

A few years ago I was living the American dream. I had a high paying job, the house, the cars, the vacations, the fat nest egg. I don’t know that it was ever enough. I don’t think I ever kicked back and fully breathed it all in with pure joy in the moment. Except on vacation. There were fleeting moments when I was on the water somewhere when I could really drink it all in.

I was doing what I had been taught to do. Work hard, save and hoard. Play it super safe. That means play small and stay small. If you don’t put yourself in the game, you cannot lose. Play by these rules and you will be fine. I may have been fine but I was far from fulfilled. I was far from magnificent! I was missing my whole life, watching from the sidelines as it passed me by.

I never stopped to question the rules. I never stopped to question whose rules they even were. I never stopped to wonder if those rules were accurate or viable for me anymore.

Now I do. Now I question the rules that affect my life on a regular basis. Is it really required that you trade your life for some job that you like, mostly, but don’t love? Is that paycheck really security? Can that fat nest egg really provide you security if your mind won’t allow you to feel secure no matter what the number says?

I asked myself all of these questions and more. And the answers I found shook the foundation of all I had known. The answer I found, in a nutshell, was no. The life of my dreams, the security I sought, the work that I love, I realized are all available for me and are my choice.

God gave me a spirit of power, love and a sound mind – the ability to think for myself and to control my own thoughts. I was given these tools. And these tools are more important and more powerful than any circumstance or situation. These tools ensure that I can actually feel secure. These tools ensure that I can live in joy and gratitude in this moment and every moment. These tools ensure that I land on my feet. No matter what.

I have been thinking more about culture detox and corporate detox as I talk with my clients about this. How our environments, including and especially our work environments, have affected us deeply and physically. I don’t think we realize how real of a phenomenon this is. And how common it is. That “old baggage,” those old wounds, hurts, rejections, resentments, anger, etc. may still be lingering in your subconscious and in your body even if you have left that position or company.

I had a mentor some years ago who talked about stamping out negative thoughts and emotions. He taught me so very much about how to rewrite the story, reframe it and how to redirect the mind in a more positive way. These are extremely useful practices to have in your toolkit and are well worth the time it takes to master them.

One unintended consequence that befell his students was that we all tended to see those emotions as “bad” and thus to be avoided at all costs. We all wanted to be good students, so we started pushing them down, bottling them up, and generally rejecting every part of them. Seeing that we were to learn how to better handle emotions we got a little confused since we weren’t yet highly skilled at doing it. So we found a shortcut, or so we thought, in disowning those emotions and hiding them.

I don’t think that was what he meant to teach us but it is how so many of us interpreted it. We felt better in some ways, at least for a time, because we were not allowing any more negative energy in to fuel and grow what was already there.

Except that we forgot a big piece of the puzzle. Resisting and disowning those negative emotions led us, unwittingly, to shove them down where they would never see the light of day, healing oxygen or actual release. It was like we made a decision to tightly bind our wounds and not let any more disease in. But we forgot that in doing so, we trapped a bunch still inside. Where it could fester. Where it could still affect us, unconsciously.

In my work as a coach, I have to remind myself and my clients that the emotions are not WRONG. They are not BAD. If you are feeling it, you are feeling it. I do know that your mind is stronger than your emotions – eventually. Eventually your habitual thoughts will reduce or nearly eliminate many of the emotions we prefer not to experience. Eventually your mind will take on less and less from those around you. I don’t think we ever get to shielding 100% or even close to that so we have to take that into account as we work to consciously choose what we expose ourselves to.

Just remember not to stuff the emotion in your quest for mastery. Resisting or stuffing emotions down will tend to actually grow them. What we resist persists. Remember to actively release it and allow healing in even while you are training your mind to think better thoughts. Dwelling in the pain, anger, frustration, hurt, resentment, etc. and talking about that with those who will fuel this will also grow it. Then you will find yourself with much more to release.

The more you reframe and see the situation in a better light, the more healing will come. But don’t be afraid to release the emotion in a safe and healthy way in a safe, supportive but neutral, non-judgmental space. It has to come out somehow or it will continue to affect your life in ways you wouldn’t suspect – in your health, your relationships and your career.

Vitacost is out of my protein powder. They have been for several weeks. Actually, they had it and then sold out again.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, I realize how important planning and preparation are when you count on something daily or nearly daily.  I realize how important action is and second guessing isn’t.

I love Vitacost. It saves me time and money. This is not a paid infomercial for them. Yet. 😉 But just having the convenience of simply ordering online, reliably getting what I like delivered in just days and saving money on it to boot is fabulous. And when it isn’t there, I notice.

I had waited to get a coupon to save just that smidge more, which is why I missed that small window when they did have it. And I have waited for them to have it in stock again.

Alas here a week later, it is still out of stock. So now, I am completely out. I will have to suit up and brave the cold (it is 43 degrees outside now!) and take time from my more productive pursuits in order to go buy some at the store, wait in line and pay nearly twice as much for the same thing.

By being cheap with myself, I ended up costing myself much more. Waiting around rather than taking decisive action to replenish when the time was right to do so – waiting for a “better deal” – waiting for the stars to align, cost me more time, more money, more energy, more important outcomes.

There is always a better deal somewhere. There is always a worse deal somewhere.

I notice that I have had a pattern of waiting for it to return to normal.  Sometimes it simply doesn’t.

Seize the moment, my friends. Take the step. The time may not seem perfect. It never will. Don’t let your waiting force you to lose time, momentum and rhythm.