Transformational New Year’s Practices

As the year draws to an end, people begin pondering New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, most resolutions aren’t successful. According to Business Insider, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February.

Given the dismal success rate of resolutions, below are three alternative practices designed to transform your life in 2020.

Transformational New Year’s Practices

 

#1 - Define Your Purpose

Forget about losing those last few pounds or taking that long trip. Instead, dig deeper to uncover your true purpose in life. To do this, ask yourself:

·       What are my deepest desires?

·       Why am I here?

·       How can I serve?

You can ask yourself these questions anytime, however, I find an added lift when I do this just before meditation.

Once you understand your true purpose, prioritize your goals in alignment with your purpose. Jack Canfield describes this in his best-selling book, The Success Principles:

“Decide upon your major definitive purpose in life and align all your activities around it.”

Imagine if we did just that! What if we knew our purpose and aligned every goal with that single purpose? This simple, yet profound wisdom offers the key to achieving our deepest desires.

#2 – Let Go!

Now that you know your purpose, what are you doing that sidetracks you and/or takes time away from your purpose? What behaviors, habits, or beliefs do you have that no longer serve you? Examples might include fears, doubts, negativity, judgment, or attachment. This practice is designed to help you let go of anything that no longer serves you in order to focus your mind, body, and spirit on your true purpose.

This simple three-step process will help you start 2020 with a clean slate!

Let Go Process steps:

1.     Identify those emotions, beliefs, or habits you wish to release.

2.     Write them on a rock (one per stone.)

3.     On New Year’s Day, go to a location of your choice, and release your rocks.

Tips:

o   A mountain, field, stream, lake, or the ocean are great locations for releasing your rocks.

o   An alternative is to write your releases on slips of paper and burn them.

#3 – Create A Vision Board

A vision board is a collection of words and images that represent your deepest desires. It taps into the power of visualization and is a great tool to help you manifest your desires. You can create a vision board using these 5 easy steps.

1.     Make a list of your deepest desires.

2.     Select pictures, words, and/or affirmations that represent your desires.

3.     Make a collage of your pictures, words, and affirmations. This can be on a display board, white board, or compiled into a digital image.

4.     Display your vision board in a prominent location. If you created a digital version, use it as the screensaver on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

5.     Look at your board on a regular basis throughout the day. Feel and fully experience the images and words you’ve put on your board, and believe that these desires will manifest in your life!

Use these three practices—Define Your Purpose, Let Go, and Create a Vision Board—to transform 2020 into the life of your dreams!

Wishing you peace, love, joy, and purpose in the New Year!

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

Nora's Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance— Reader's Favorite 2019 Bronze Contemporary Romance winner and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line? https://amzn.to/2OktquX 

***FREE PROMOTIONAL (AUDIBLE) AUDIOBOOK CODES ARE AVAILABLE FOR NORA’S PROMISE, while supplies last. To request a free audiobook code, please send an email to: SedonaYHutton@gmail.com.***

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—2019 IPPY Bronze winner for Visionary Fiction. The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc

To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/ (No spam—ever!)

Recommended Reading:

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://amzn.to/2QlG9vp

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

5 Easy Ways to Embrace Uncertainty & Change

Happy Fall! We’ve moved into the season where Mother Earth focuses on letting go and preparing for change. Fall provides a welcome break from the heat of summer and an indication that change is coming. As little goblins and ghouls come out for Halloween and leaves in hues of yellow, orange, and red flutter to the ground, we’re reminded that our lives also follow nature’s cycles.

Just as leaves release from their branches, we also have the opportunity to let go. Fall is the perfect time to consider any behaviors, emotions or undertakings that no longer serve us. When we eliminate that which holds us back, we open space for something new.

Like the earth prepares for winter, we too can prepare for change. Change is a constant in our lives. Things are always changing…sometimes this change is big, sometimes it’s small. Regardless of the magnitude, change can be scary or exciting. It’s all about perspective and choice. We can choose fear or we can choose to embrace uncertainty and change.

Fear keeps us stuck in the same place while embracing uncertainty allows us to learn, grow, and evolve through change. 

5 Easy Ways to Embrace Uncertainty & Change:

1.     Acknowledge habits, behaviors, and/or actions that aren’t working. By identifying, accepting, and releasing that which no longer serves us, we can create space for something new and nourishing.

2.     Learn and Grow. In The Ten Commitments Dr. David Simon states, “This planet is a school for evolution of the soul.” Take advantage of the learning, growth, and evolution opportunities that come with change.

3.     Positivity. Most changes have at least some positive aspect—the proverbial silver lining—so fully embrace and celebrate the positives.

4.     Expect Success! Although humans are wired to instinctively fight or flee change, when we reflect on prior changes, more often than not the outcomes have been positive. Expect the same with forthcoming changes.

5.     Surround Yourself with Change Agents. Spending time with individuals who are positive and open to new experiences can help us successfully navigate through change.

Let’s take a hint from nature—Release behaviors and actions that no longer serve us and create space for positive change in our lives!

“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” —Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

Nora’s Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance— Reader's Favorite 2019 Bronze Contemporary Romance winner & 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line? https://amzn.to/2OktquX

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—2019 IPPY Bronze winner for Visionary Fiction The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate….https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc

To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/

Recommended Reading:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

The Ten Commitments by Dr. David Simon: https://amzn.to/2UEH0J2

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

The Secret of Shifting from Negative to Positive: A Proven Method to Transform a Bad Mood

This past week wasn’t my best. I had difficult choices to make, a loved one had a health scare, and nothing I did went as planned. After recent rains, my dog dug holes all over the yard and my beloved Preds lost last night’s game. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

I know all about the Law of Attraction and the Power of Positive Thinking. I blog on these topics…I write about them in my novels. But knowing and doing are two entirely different concepts. I believe with every fiber of my being that putting out negative energy creates more of the same. Even so, at times the material world offers adversities that pull me down. Knowing what negativity does makes it all the worse. Wallowing in pessimism is like asking the universe, “May I have some more crap, please?” And so it goes….

Earlier today on my morning walk with my digger, Milkduds, I noticed a small tree at the edge of the woods. Tiny Kelly-Green buds trailed up long branches that just yesterday were bare. Studying the beautiful tree and its overnight growth, an awareness emerged. Today is a brand-new day and a new opportunity to create enhanced life experiences.

I spent the rest of my walk drawing in the beauty of nature and giving gratitude, because being grateful is a sure-fire way to improve a bad mood! Even when things aren’t going my way, I have plenty to be grateful for.

Studies have shown that when one is feeling genuinely grateful, it’s impossible to at the same time feel angry, anxious, or any other negative emotion. For this reason, gratitude has been an important part of spiritual teachings throughout the ages. There’s an inspiring chapter on this powerful process in the book The Secret by Rhonda Bryne.

“What can you do right now to begin to turn your life around? The very first thing is to start making a list of things to be grateful for. This shifts your energy and starts to shift your thinking.”—Dr. Joe Vitale

We are continually creating our lives through our thoughts and our feelings. The Universe simply reflects our energy and returns to us what we put out. Considering this, I let go of the issues that plagued my week and shifted my thoughts toward the positives in my life. It didn’t take me from zero to one hundred, but I’m well on my way toward a happy day!

“Gratitude places you in the energy field of plentitude. Glow with gratitude and see how awe and joy will make their home in you.”—Michael Beckwith

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of women’s fiction/romance novels with spiritual & new age twists.

NORA’S PROMISE, a contemporary sports romance: She trusts animals more than men. He runs through women like tires. Can one orphaned boy force them to change gears? Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2OktquX

CLOUD WHISPERS, a contemporary novel: If you like headstrong heroines, heartwarming stories of family and forgiveness, and new age concepts, then you’ll love this mind-expanding novel. Purchase link: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

To sign up for Sedona’s blog newsletter, tap this link:  https://www.sedonahutton.com/

Recommended Reading:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

Life Visioning: A Transformative Process by Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential by Michael Beckwith: https://amzn.to/2SLNjfw

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

New Year Intentions & Releases

Years ago, I gave up New Year’s resolutions after becoming frustrated with the cycle of making and breaking my goals. Sound familiar? Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions even though research shows that over 90% of resolutions are broken, most within the first month.

Over the years, I’ve found two processes that work better for me—a New Year’s Intention Process and a New Year’s Release Process. Below is a recap of both.

New Year’s Intention Process

In this process, I write down my top three to five intentions for the year. This may sound like a resolution process, but it differs greatly. When I used to make resolutions, they were tied to specific, tangible things like losing weight or exercising more. I use the intention process to focus on more spiritual qualities like peace, love, joy, kindness, and connection. On January 1st, I write my intentions and post them on a wall where the words will be in my line of sight every day. When I look at my intentions, they cause me to ponder how I can spread more kindness or how I can generate greater inner peace. This process helps me set a positive vision for the year and it benefits not only me, but others as well.

New Year’s Release Process

I use this process to rid myself of emotions, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve me. Examples include: Fears, doubts, negativity, and attachment. This simple three-step process helps me start the new year with a clean slate!

Process steps:

1. Identify those emotions, beliefs, or habits you wish to release.

2. Write them on a rock (one per stone.)

3. On New Year’s Day, go to a location of your choice, and release your rocks.


Tips:

o A mountain, field, stream, lake, or the ocean are great locations for releasing your rocks.

o An alternative is to write your releases on slips of paper and burn them.

Regardless of whether you make resolutions, intentions, releases, or use no process at all, I wish each of you great peace, love, and joy in the New Year!


This blog is written by Sedona Hutton, author of women’s fiction/romance novels with spiritual and New Age twists.

NORA’S PROMISE, a contemporary romance: She trusts animals more than men. He runs through women like tires. Can one orphaned boy force them to change gears? Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2OktquX

CLOUD WHISPERS, a contemporary novel: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate. Purchase link: https://goo.gl/N9aC38