Welcome to my new Splash Into Calm blog. Stay up to date by "liking" Custom Calm's new Facebook page.
My previous blogs were focused around practical, simple practices, perspective and studies targeting the common issue of stress and pain. They were a great beginning, and now with the publication of my book Splash Into Calm, I have the opportunity to dive deeper and to offer my readers helpful, concise, uplifting, pertinent posts taken directly from the book. The book is written in an easy to follow format, based on the calendar year and presented in monthly themes, each having four articles. The new blog will follow the same inviting format.
To make this blog meaningful and practical, I take a “less is more” approach. In this complex world, there is a need for simplicity. That is exactly what Splash Into Calm blog is about—simple, realistic practices and ideas that profoundly enhance your daily living. My content from my book is communicated in a personal manner, with a bit of humor, sharing my own experiences, as well as those of my clients­­.
The overall theme of my book and posts is the absolute accessibility of calm living. Calm living offers you the ability to embrace each moment of your day. It opens you up to increased joy, spontaneity, and pleasure, because you are aware and alert. It is a fulfilling and wonderful way to live.
I look forward to offering you tips, food for thought and a community where you feel comfortable sharing your experience and asking questions.
This evening I have planned my formal book launch of Splash Into Calm. I have prepared, delegated, and today there are a few last minute details to be accomplished. After that, all I can do is to let go of the results and enjoy the event.
We not only worry when hosting an event, but also with each and every plan and person with whom we are involved. Worry envelops us and it spills out into our relationships. “What will happen if my two-year-old doesn’t get into the best preschool? I know it will affect his/her growth and future college options!” I enjoyed the perspective of comedian Tina Fey in her book Bossypants: “My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn anxiety into chin acne.” Yes, worry has a definite spiral, right down to our complexions!
This is a common occurrence. We are so busy worrying that every detail will go as planned that we are not present for the event. Letting go of the results is possible when we remain in the present moment. Tonight, that is will be my focus. Embracing each moment and experiencing the support and interest in Splash Into Calm. I will let you know how it goes!
Let me know in the comments below how you deal with worry. Does it get in the way of your enjoyment?
New Beginnings is the title for the month of January, but as I begin this next phase of my work I thought it would be a great focus for this week.
We undergo many changes: graduations, weddings, anniversaries, new jobs, divorces, deaths, illnesses, and more. Each phase of life-change brings growth, discomfort, and opportunity. Yet, we resist these changes because we are creatures of habit. We are comfortable with how things are. We want our children to stay adorable, looking up to us like we are perfect in every way—oops, my mistake—this is not a fantasy blog!
Throughout the process of writing, editing, selling and promoting my book “Splash Into Calm”, I have encountered discomfort as I have stepped into areas of the process that are new to me. This constant change has given me the opportunity to put one foot in front of the other and continue keep an open mind to experience the full scope of the process, both joyful and frustrating.
When we are receptive to change rather than resist the constant nature of change we find that we learn, grow, and find joy in the process.
How do you respond to change? Do you resist? Are you open to change? Let me know in the comments below.
I have renamed this blog Splash Into Calm, to reflect the title of my upcoming book.
I put a lot of thought into the title and decided on the term “splash” rather than “dive” because in our busy lives, we need simple solutions that are easy, playful, and quick to apply.
Stress is a fact of life and many of the practices available are effective, but they require a big time or financial commitment. We are not able or willing to add yet another item on our to-do list. Even something that is good for us can create stress.
I am a very practical person and I find that my clients will try something if I tell them to give it a three or four minutes a day. That is realistic for them and they usually follow through and begin to see the calming benefits of a short and simple technique.
Each week I will highlight a different aspect of “splashing around in calm” and how that impacts daily living. Stay tuned.
Let me know in the comments below if there is a topic you would like to hear about and I will bring some perspective and direction that is practical and approachable.
It has finally happened! I am finishing up my book and will be at print in the next few weeks. I wrote a book because I see the need for practical help with stress.
The book is part of what I hope to be a series called Custom Calm Chronicles and the first book is: Splash Into Calm.
There seems to be a myth that living a calm life means “uneventful” or “chilled out”, and that is far from the truth.
What calm living gives you the ability to enjoy increased stamina, vitality, clarity and ease in daily life. For those who enjoy living a full, busy life, then you will be able to enhance this lifestyle you already have with increased energy to do the things you love doing.
The book is filled with different perspectives and techniques geared toward quickly get centered. It is not that you will not have stress in your life, but you will know how to neutralize its effects. The best part is that it is practical, so there is no big time commitment. I have set it up in monthly themes to make it easy.
Short and simple is greatly needed. That is why I keep my posts short. In our busy lives we do not have the time, so why not quickly get to the point? Once I am at print, look forward to hearing much more about it.
One final thought; if I can find my calm center, than anyone can do it!
Let me know in the comments below what you do to come back to center when you get stressed.
I am in the last stages of my first book. After meeting with my editor I was raring to go on my final edits. My plan was to spend a few hours in the early evening to forge through it. That was my plan, however the universe had a different idea—a strong storm followed by a power outage! My book would have to wait. I had a choice–do I want to stay calm about this shift or do I want to be upset and angry?
I close to enjoy the change. After the storm cleared, my husband and I took our dog for her evening walk. We passed neighbors socializing with one another whom we had never met. It was as if there was a snow day from school and the adults came out of the woodwork. The lack of power changed everyone’s plans as most would have been on their computers or watching television.
We are creatures of habit and it takes some effort to make the shift to do something different.
Do not get too attached to your plans, because they can change in an instant.
Go with the ebbs and flows in life and you will find many new opportunities available to you.
Now, off to finish my edits!
What do you do when your plans are derailed? Do you try something else, or get frustrated by the change? Let me know in the comments below.
It is easy to be thrown off course by things that are out of our control.
I have been writing a book, and today finished the second draft. Off to my publisher it went for her review. I was excited about this major accomplishment, but my joy was short lived as I ran into a few glitches in areas in which I am unfamiliar.
The question I pondered was this: How do I want to handle this situation? Do I want to allow it to derail me, or take the next step to move into solution? I chose the latter. What I did next was simple—I took a break! Yes, I took myself out to dinner with a friend and after, got myself a treat. It was a form of celebration for a major achievement. For me, that was living in the solution.
There are times we simply need to regroup before moving forward.
I was not allowing myself the joy of sharing my accomplishment. We need to pat ourselves on the back from time to time for our hard work, rather than quickly moving to the next step.
Had I continued to sit at my computer trying to figure things out, I would have gotten nowhere, except stressed out. For me the solution was to fill up so I could forge forward.
Now I feel calm and centered, ready for the challenges ahead.
Let me know in the comments below what you do when you are stuck. Do you give yourself time to regroup?