I know I’m not the first person to come up with “Inspired Action’, but it hit me like a ton of bricks tonight. I was talking with a friend tonight about someone else I know who is getting involved in online marketing. I’ve been talking with this person for a couple of months and know exactly how they feel. When I started on this journey a couple of years ago (I didn’t do a whole lot until the beginning of this year), I was in the exact same spot as this person. There’s SO much information available and so many different directions you can go in, it’s hard not to want to jump on every opportunity, ebook, teleseminar, or product launch that comes your way. This is sort of where this individual is. They’re going in every direction that comes their way. I’m not doing that anymore.I’ve realized that the difference for me now is that everything I do feels like ‘Inspired action’.

There’s a big difference between activity and productivity. Personally, I’m sort of a fan of both. When it comes to starting a business, both are important. Too much productivity feels like a JOB though….not what I’m looking for anymore.  I’m hardly against hard work, but when what you’re doing doesn’t feel like work, you know that it’s because you feel inspired to do whatever it is you’re doing. I never feel like I have to “motivate” myself anymore. Motivation is external and inspiration is internal. Everything I’m doing is coming from within. The next thing I have to figure out is how to walk away when I’m feeling this “inspired”. There are plenty of times when I could keep working, but I know that keeping a balance is key to staying inspired. I’m still working on this, but I know I’m getting there.

This past weekend I had my girlfriends over for a ’sleepover’…yes, at 38 we still like having sleepovers! But before everyone came over we went and got massages. I’m sure I’ve written about this before, but I am a COMPLETE massage junkie! I would take a good massage over, well…..a lot of things (nothing great comes to mind).  I actually have sort of a regular masseuse that I go to at the spa in town. Unfortunately, she was booked during the time that I had my appointment, so I went with someone else. No regrets. The massage was good, but it wasn’t great. I’ve gotten so used to the other masseuse and the way she does things that I have to admit I’m becoming a little bit of a massage snob. However, what I get from the massage can definitely be described as ‘physical self help’ (yes, I made that up…..). While  someone else is clearly doing the massaging, spending the money on myself for this physical reward is worth every penny!

I’ve found that the massage does just as much for me mentally as it does physically (well, almost). I love to get 90 minute massages (who doesn’t?), and the spa that I go to is fairly reasonable for the price (I think it’s $95 for 90 minutes….which I’ve paid way more for a 50 minute massage at some hotels….and they have never been as good). What this does for me is it allows me to just sort of slow down my brain for a while. Like most other people, I have a lot going on in my life. I spend the majority of my work day on the computer so my neck is constantly tight. Because the work I’m doing is for my own company, it’s kind of hard to shut it off- and I love what I’m doing. So when I get a massage I really make a conscious choice to relax, breath deeply and enjoy the quiet.  I usually leave feeling in a very calm place….even if I have to get back to my ‘things to do today’ list- I’m able to enjoy what I’m doing, get more accomplished and at a less huried pace.

The beauty of getting older is that not only do you learn more about yourself, but you start sitting still with your feelings a bit more and actually listen to what is going on inside. Things are going really well with my business, but as I get busier, I’m also starting to figure out exactly what it is I want to do with this business.

I’ve tried a handful of things in my adult working life- and NOTHING has felt as right as this. When I started this journey, my intention was just to get a couple of websites of my own online and find the best way to monetize them. Months later I’m now developing websites for other people……and loving it to. Sort of….

One of the things that really drew me to starting an online business was that it didn’t feel like a JOB! I spent a good 15 years in management and tried a few different sales positions. What I learned was that I know I don’t want to be responsible for anyone anymore (employees) and I’m not sure to what degree I want to be responsible TO anyone either. So I guess that’s where the figuring it out comes into play.

A few years ago I would’ve taken some of the frustrations I’m feeling right now and done a number on myself in my head. NOW….I’m just sort of taking it all in and “sitting” with it. While I still don’t know exactly where I’m going with all this (the business), I’m clearly learning what I “don’t” want to do and starting to figure out which direction I “don’t” want to go in……. and the best part is that I’ve realized I don’t NEED to figure this all out any time soon. I’m just enjoying the ride.

You know you’re not taking the time for yourself when the little things start creeping up on you and getting under you skin. The day started out really well because I DID take some time for myself- I went and did pilates after dropping the kids off, then went home and got to work. I got a lot accomplished even before I picked the kids up (today was an early day, so pick up was at 1:00pm). It started more in the afternoon- when the phone started ringing off the hook! While I’m usually a “phone” person- for some reason it started making me a little crazy today. Clearly the notion that I don’t HAVE to answer the phone hasn’t sunk in yet. Because my business is picking up and I work from home, I can definitely see that I need to start taking my own advice and making sure that I take some time for myself and set some limits each day.

For some reason it was a little easier during the summer to take an hour out of my day and lay in the pool and read a book. As the weather starts cooling off and I’m getting busier, I think I’m going to have to unplug the phone once in a while and make sure I shut down the work and turn on my personal life (they seem to be getting a little mixed up). Maybe it’s because I have never enjoyed what I’ve done the way I do now (it really never feels like work). But in order to make sure it doesn’t start feeling like work, I clearly need to set some limits. I think I’ll start right now…..by going to bed.

You always know as a parent that you want your kids to be happy, and of course when they’re happy, you’re happy. As my kids get older, the moments of pure joy seem to less easy to come by…(not many 11 year olds get as excited about being able to say :”I did it! All by myself!”….the way they did when they were 3) It’s a little easier with my 7 year old, but with school, sports and friends, they get just as caught up in their own day to day doings as adults do. So being able to watch them these past few days has been pure joy for them AND me!

We’re currently in Maui, so it’s not too hard to have a good time here, even if we’re not doing much. We planned this trip months ago with my parents, so it seems a bit surreal that we’re finally here. I’ve taken my kids to the beach before, but it’s in Northern California, so the water isn’t quite as nice as it is in Maui. The first day we were here was absolutely wonderful! I still can’t decide if the kids had more fun in the surf or I did, just watching them SO happy! Watching them get pounded by the waves, then get up, laughing, and then going back for more….pure joy! Yesterday we went to a different beach, with boogie boards (and snorkels) and they did the same thing, only for longer and with bigger waves. The first night after the beach and dinner, I couldn’t find my son (in the condo), only to realize he had put himself to bed because he was SO worn out. Last night he passed out on the couch. Nothing beats a happy, exhausted child after a day playing in the ocean. Pure joy. And I’m so grateful to be able to witness it.

This was the next thought in the “Ten Thoughts for Whole Living” section of the September issue of Body & Soul magazine. Here’s the next thought: “Becoming aware of your habits is key to an intentional life”. As I read this thought, I realized which habits I was very aware of and which habits I habitually ignore.  One habit (although I don’t know if it’s a habit or a pattern…..hmm) that I need to become aware of is when I have a ton of things that I need to do (and want to do) and I start borrowing trouble. I can feel the tightening inside of me as I begin thinking this needs to be done, I want to do this, I’d rather do this, etc. When I do become consciously aware of the fact that I’m doing this, there are two things that always help.

The first thing is just to take a few deep breaths and sit with whatever it is that I’m feeling at the moment. When I can physically feel that I’ve calmed down inside a bit, the second thing I do is just to take SOME sort of action re: what needs to be done. I just did this today. I have a lot of websites I’m working on, projects around the house and a paper due for a class I’m taking. I came into my office, cleaned up the ’shrapnel’ from last week (unopened mail, lists, magazines, etc.), re-did my to-do list and am now comfortably working and not overwhelmed at all. Just getting everything down on paper has made me realize that’s it’s not as much as I thought, and the added bonus to living an intentional life is that nothing I’m doing ever feels like work.

So I had a TOTALLY proud mom moment that I just had to share. I took my son with me to turn in a bunch of recycling last weekend (I finally broke down and decided to turn in our cans and water bottles…$40!).  I had foot surgery a few weeks ago, so I needed him to help me get the bags out of the car. As I kept our place in line, he went and got all the bags out of the car (my little man….he’s 7 years old) like a trooper. The day we took the recycling in it was super hot (I believe it was over 100 degrees) and the poor guy running the recycling center was totally roasting, and it was only 10:30 am). I mentioned to my son that we should go get the guy something to drink when we were done. A few minutes later, my son looked up to me and said “I have my water bottle in the car and I haven’t opened it yet, can I give it to him?” I gave him the car keys and he went and got the water bottle, which totally made this guy’s day. Then as