__________________________________________________________________ Making Lives Simpler Practical News and Tips for Living the Life You Truly Desire __________________________________________________________________ May 2000 Volume 4 Issue 2 __________________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Going With the Flow 2. 5 Quick Tips Going With the Flow 3. 5 Quick Tips to a Free Tips eBooklet 4. Their Tips 5. References _____________________________________ GOING WITH THE FLOW In my last newsletter to you, I related how I was honoring what was happening in my life over the last few months and my "going with the flow." To do this means continuing to discover and acknowledge my natural rhythms, flows and cycles. Then taking steps to honor these natural rhythms, rather than begrudging their existence and denying their timeliness, I find it easier not only to keep my life simple, but help it become more enjoyable and rewarding as well. Life is full of many cycles. There are the different seasons of the year and the changes of nature within each season. During colder months, you may find yourself wanting to linger in bed a little longer each morning, to spend your evenings curled up with a good book in front of the fireplace. When the flowers begin to bloom and the birds begin to sing you may find yourself bounding out of the house, eager to face life. You may be up with the sun each day in the warm weather or enjoying the treat of an evening stroll. And when the trees' leaves fall you may think about what you shed in your life. Another cycle is the rhythm of being a "day person" or "night person." Knowing which allows you to schedule activities that require the most creativity and focus during those times of day when your energy is highest. For some, that's first thing in the morning, during that stillness of dawn. For others, it's in the afternoon when you're "revved up," and for still others, it's in the quiet of late night. Whatever your rhythms, use them to take control of your schedule. Plan meetings, projects, or creative endeavors during the times of day when your energy is high. Tackle your miscellaneous list when your brain has retired. That might even include reading e-mails! I've found, for instance, as I've come to know myself better, I get more creative work done in the early morning hours. (I say that as I write this newsletter very early in the morning!) No-brainer tasks are left for my afternoons. I'm also careful how I prioritize my time and make sure I leave some reserve time for the unexpected. And when the weather is just right, which is just about always in San Diego, I use some of my reserve time to enjoy the outdoors! By becoming aware of the cycles of nature and your own body, you can make your life more effortless. Instead of swimming upstream, let the current carry you, "go with the flow." You'll find that you'll accomplish more with less effort and you'll enjoy your life much more, too. Linda __________________________________ 5 QUICK TIPS FOR GOING WITH THE FLOW 1. Take time each day to be still and become aware of how you're feeling. 2. Record your feelings in a notebook and start to notice patterns. Are they cyclical (monthly, yearly), or related to the seasons or your own life stage? 3. Also start to notice when what you're doing seems to go "against the flow." 4. Look for places where you can reschedule or restructure your days. 5. Know that honoring your natural patterns is also honoring who you are and will contribute to a more fulfilling life. __________________________________ THE OFFER STILL STANDS In my last newsletter, I offered the first edition of my tips eBooklet "101 Tips to Simplify Your Life" (a $5.00 value) at a nominal cost of just $1.00 as my gift to you for your support of my work over the years. The offer is still valid. Here's how to get your copy today: 1. Prepare a self-addressed business size (number 10) envelope with a 33-cent U.S. Stamp. (For orders outside the United States, note postage inclusion in Tip 2.) 2. For U.S. orders, please include $1.00 for taxes and handling. For international orders, please include $2.00 U.S. to cover postage, taxes and handling. Make checks or money orders payable to "Simplify Life." 3. Mail to: Simplify Life, PO Box 1480, Poway, CA USA 92074. 4. Order soon as the offer is good only while supplies last. Limit 1 eBooklet per address. (I will let you know through the newsletter when supplies are depleted.) 5. Sorry, Simplify Life cannot be held responsible for lost or misdirected mail or cash lost in the mail. ______________________________________ THEIR TIPS "In the absence of certainty, instinct is all you can follow." - Jonathan Cainer "You must have a room or a certain hour of the day or so where you do not know what was in the morning paper ... a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are, and what you might be." - Joseph Campbell "We have all been placed on this earth to discover our own path and we will never be happy if we live someone else's idea of life." - James Van Praagh _________________________________________ REFERENCES To find more resources or to order these go to http://www.simplifylife.com/reference.html The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wildness and Personal Renewal Through Nature by Cass Adams (Editor), Elizabeth Roberts (Reading Room 8 - Additional References of Interest http://www.simplifylife.com/readmore.html ) The call of the wild might just be the calling of our soul. A new anthology of nature writers and poets explore this possibility in The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wildness and Personal Renewal Through Nature. It is within the sanctuary of the wilderness, far from their computer screens and local espresso vendors, that these highly acclaimed writers find their strongest voice. As a result, the writing is as gritty and down-to-earth as it gets--vivid stories of encounters with animals, wretched weather, fear, humility, and, ultimately, with spirit. Living in Balance: A Dynamic Approach for Creating Harmony & Wholeness in A Chaotic World by Joel Levey, Michelle Levey (Reading Room 1 - Define Simplifying Your Life http://www.simplifylife.com/stratgy1.html) A balanced life equals health--mental, emotional, and physical. "Living in Balance," written by two experts on the subject of balance, offers a synthesis of ancient wisdom traditions, such as mindfulness, with cutting-edge research on peak human performance, to show readers how to master the art of balancing within an environment of rapid change. _______________________________________ MORE ABOUT "MAKING LIVES SIMPLER" Linda Manassee Buell is a full-time Personal and Business Coach, and author of the audio tape, "Simplify Your Life, 7 Simple Strategies for Doing What You Love to Do." She has also recently revised her helpful eBooklet, "Simplify Your Life: 101 Ways to Create the Life You'll Love." To order your personal copy by check or credit card, just go to http://www.simplifylife.com and click on Shop the Store. Anyone is welcome to subscribe to "Making Lives Simpler." To subscribe or un-subscribe, send an e-mail to requests@lists.webvalence.com with "subscribe MakingLivesSimpler" or "unsubscribe MakingLivesSimpler" as the subject. (Be sure there aren't any spaces between the words MakingLivesSimpler.) This mailing list is confidential and will not be sold, traded, or bartered. Linda's e-mail address: Linda@simplifylife.com Linda's Website: http://www.simplifylife.com "Making Lives Simpler" (c) 2000 Simplify Life All Rights Reserved