Less Technology, More Time

Less is More Series | Week 6

Need I say more? Can I get an amen? 

I was out to lunch the other day with a friend, and I saw a family of 5 all out to eat together.  It was super nice until I noticed this:

-Dad: on his cell phone

-Mom: on her cell phone

-Kid #1: playing with the Ipad

-Kid #2: playing his leap-frog game

-Kid #3: crying because he wanted to play with the Ipad

You guys, my heart hurt. It made me stop and think.  Have we lost the ability to realize what matters most? Are we going to look back and wonder what we could have learned about our family over that precious lunch time together? Time is such a treasure that we take for granted, and sometimes, technology is the bag of chocolate chips that we need ‘just one more handful’ of (confession: I just wanted to mention chocolate, because I’m craving it).  Anyways, you get the idea.  We think, “just 5 more minutes of facebook...” and then all of the sudden, your entire night is gone, and you haven’t said a word to your family, friends, roommate, or dog (for those of you that this applies to).

Don’t get me wrong, technology isn’t all bad (I mean, hello! Long distance relationship here! Preach! Thank GOD for Skype!), but there is a time and place where technology does more harm than good. Yea?

Let’s make a commitment to spend time with one another...like, real, time. Face-to-face time.  Laugh until you cry time.  Genuine, loving, and tech-free time.  

Like what you see? Read my last post here. 

Less Fear, More Focus

Less is More Series | Week 5

What are you fearful of?

Whatever it is, it can be paralyzing...can’t it? 

It’s amazing how much time I spend in my day thinking about what could go wrong, instead of just focusing on the task at hand, and kicking it in the butt! Having less fear, and focusing more? It’s a win win for more productivity, more accomplishment, and overall, more happiness.  

When you focus on what is truly important in this life, (like making a positive difference and your overall happiness), oppose to what’s not super important in this life (like making a ton of money or how many Instagram followers you have), it’s amazing how your fears slowing shrink. 

Focus > Fear. Done. 

Less Expectations, More Experiences

Less is More Series | Week 4

False expectations of yourself? Yep. We all do it.

We put ourselves in a category of comparison, and we start to expect things of ourselves that, quite frankly, don’t make sense.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not confusing this with unrealistic expectations...which, to you, might sound like the same thing.  But to me, that means that something is impossible, and I’m a firm believer that anything is possible.  However, false expectations are the ones that just don’t.make.sense. They don’t fit who you are, but instead, they fit who someone you idolize to be.

Stop beating yourself up over not living up to your false expectations of yourself...start experiencing life as it hands it to you.  Live it. Breathe it. Don’t get upset when things don’t necessarily go the way you wanted...the way you expected.  My bet? God has something way cooler for you down the road, and you are missing an amazing opportunity to experience just want that is, by getting caught up in the jumble of false expectations.

^ps-I’m mostly writing this to myself to remember...but will you join me in it?

Check out week three, two, and one of this series here!

Less Hustle, More Heart

Less is More Series | Week 3

If any of you follow my little INSTAGRAM over here, you may have noticed a bit of a breakdown last week (followed by a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my East Coast Main Squeeze).  Yep, I officially had one of those “I'm-stressed-to-the-max-and-I-will-cry-at-any-second-because-everything-that-could-go-wrong-today-is-and-I-am-way-over-my-head-and-forgetting-to-breathe-because-I-have-no-control-over-this-situation-so-I-might-pass-out” days. The days where you have so much to do (not even necessarily work related), you just want to take a nap and forget about it all for an hour...or five.

It was just this past weekend, reflecting back on it all, where I realized that I’ve started to lose sight of my heart, and instead, was living for the hustle.  You know, the 

“How’s life?” 

“Just crazy busy!” 

conversations that happen day in and day out.

I’m realizing that every time I say yes to something that isn’t from the heart, I’m saying no to something that is.  Every yes that isn’t from the heart, is another moment of added hustle... What if I only said yes to things that gave my heart the giggles? Gave my heart compassion? Gave my heart purpose? Maybe I wouldn’t have as many days of total franticness (although, the flowers were a nice bonus) ;)

Let’s commit to one another: saying more yes’s to things that make our hearts soar, and more no’s to things that just...don’t. You in?

Check out week 1 and week 2 from this Series!

Less perfection, more progress

Less is More Series | Week 2

Dear all perfectionists,

Warning: sometimes, perfect isn’t always the best. *gasp* I know...I know... but here is the deal people: perfectionism can hold us back from making progress in our life. For example, you have no idea how many drafts of blog posts I have pending on my little slice of internet right now. It’s actually embarrassing.  The real reason I don’t post them isn’t because they aren’t ready, it’s because they aren’t perfect. Correction: perfect to my standards...

...and that’s just it.  I wonder how much more progress I would make in my life, if perfection wasn’t always a standard. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I want the work sent off to my clients to be perfect, but I also don’t want my life to be debilitated and frozen, just because I couldn’t get past that cloudy monster called ‘perfection.’

Think about it, how much more progress would you make in your day, if perfection wasn’t your standard? Think about how much further you would be with your dreams, goals, and day-to-day living. Sometimes you have to punch perfection in the gut, and make things (big things) happen.

Sincerely,

Miss Progress

Read Week 1 of this series here: Less comparison, More Creativity.

Less Comparison, More Creativity

Less Is More Series | Week 1

‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’  We’ve all heard it, but seriously, isn’t it way too true? And not only does comparison diminish joy, but doesn’t it steal creativity as well?  I can’t tell you how many times I get on a stalking cycle (not in a creepy way, I promise...), of so many experienced designers I adore, and just get way down on myself. While their work serves as inspiration, that’s exactly where it should stop.  So often we are paralyzed to act on our own ideas, moments, and creativity, because ‘it won’t be as good as so-and-so.’ YIKES. Let’s put an end to that. 

How often are you paralyzed by comparison? Really, take a second to think about it. The amount of time is ugly and gross. Are there ideas you’ve wanted to explore, things you’ve wanted to do, dreams you’ve wanted to accomplish? Well then, do it! You have my full permission to stop comparing yourself to others. Creativity is beautiful...explore it. 

Less comparison, more creativity.