UnPush in Health & Playful Dare Recap 2018

In 2018 I chose a phrase to guide my year and, silly me, I thought it was all about business.

PLAYFUL DARE was my phrase. To me, it meant I would challenge myself to take a risk every day in a playful way. Expand my business in an organic way. Say something I knew to be true. It felt like the strength of a rock, solid and purposeful, yet playful.

Playful daring felt great when I started!

But along the way, I started struggling. Instead of letting the dare happen organically, I was forcing myself to take a risk. I’d lost the play in PLAYFUL DARE. I was relying on willpower and gumption, believing I could rest/take a break/sleep another day, once “all this work” got done.

The problem was that it never got done. And the self care that I promised myself never happened. And my Essential Self , Martha Beck’s phrase for the authentic me that gets buried under the social self that’s out there doing what I think I '“should” be doing, my Essential Self started resenting all this work and no play.

Guess what happened?

My Essential Self whispered in my ear, “You’re not feeling great. You should slow down.”

“Hah!” replied my Social Self. “Watch me tap into my superhuman energy and push through this!” (She’s addicted to DOING.)

Then Essential Self tried to get my attention by tapping on my shoulder. My energy tanked. I noticed I had less momentum in my day. When I sat down, I fell asleep immediately. My brain was cloudy. My creativity went dormant.

I ignored it and pushed ahead.

Essential Self tried again. Turns out the adrenal glands don't like being stressed out with no reprieve. I took some time to understand my bloodwork, got on medication and soldiered on.

Next my Essential Self sent another message, a little louder. Perhaps at volume 5. I got sick with a virus that just wouldn’t quit. “Not gonna quit!” screamed my Social Self.

I coughed so hard that I dislocated a few ribs. I was trying to sleep sitting up to ease the pain and I was miserable. Volume 7.

Social Self pouted and persisted in the Doing… as much as I could. (Are you starting to see the ridiculousness in this???)

The next and thankfully last message came with more pain. Volume 10. I broke a bone in my foot. I literally could not walk and was ordered to stay off my feet.

Social Self finally got the message, loud and clear. There is a clear pattern of No Success in the DOING Right Now. My body needs to do NOTHING.

I threw myself into resting. I rested and slept and kicked back a lot. I gave myself permission to stop pushing. I stopped tormenting my brain with noisy chatter about how I “should” be DOING stuff. I relaxed into BEING.

I learned something profound.

I don’t have to earn my worthiness. I’m here and that makes me worthy. I don’t have to prove anything. I don’t have to DO anything. I’m worthy.

My word of the year PLAYFUL DARE ended up being about daring to do nothing as often as I could for the first half of the year. Daring to say “not now” and “my priority is healing myself and staying connected with my family.” Daring to believe that I am worthy because I am.

Did you get that?

YOU are worthy because you are.

Period.

A few months later, I was feeling better. PLAYFUL DARE took on a new meaning. A dare to be playful in my clothing choices, the events I said yes to and my relationship with my husband and kids. A dare to grow my business while being mindful of my energy.

The concept of UNPUSH, my 2019 word, expands on what I've learned from PLAYFUL DARE.

UNPUSH reminds me to slow down, reminds me I don't have to do all the heavy lifting alone. I'm partnering with synchronicity and magical opportunities that show up when I set intentions.

UNPUSH makes me a better wife because I’m focused on me, making myself the best version of me. I’m staying “in my own lane”, instead of nagging my partner to do his life differently. When I tell him what he “should” do, I repel him. When I tell myself how I want to grow, I magnetize him to me.

UNPUSH makes me a better mom because I have no agenda, other than help my kids learn to be kind and confident humans. I’m not attached to the specifics and the labels.

UNPUSH puts me into feminine flow, into the energy of following intuition and effortlessly taking the right next step. UNPUSH allows for organic motion and progress.

UNPUSH taps into the easy flow of water energy and water is vastly stronger than rock.

How about we learn to UNPUSH together?

Word of the Year + Go with the Flow = 2019 AMAZINGNESS

You’re invited!

I'm hosting a virtual workshop "Go with the Flow" that will help you start 2019 on purpose.

During our time together, you will identify your word to guide your year and take this process deeper by learning how to get into the energy of flow. You know the times you’re in flow—you see the next right step and the world feels abundant with opportunity.

I will teach you how to get into the energy of flow and unpush your way into success...which is completely the opposite of struggling and pushing to make progress.

Whether you're a pro at choosing your word or you've never heard of it but are curious, you'll be in the right place. :) 

Thursday Dec 13th 4-5:30pm Pacific time $49 ❤️

Why You Should Choose a Word of the Year

Do you choose a word to guide your year?

I've been selecting a word of the year for about a decade and what I've found is that my word gives me permission to explore new ideas. I love the process and how it's evolved over time. Each word I’ve chosen feels right for a set period of time and I remember them all fondly.

Years ago, I chose my word by myself, with my last year's calendar in front of me so I could remember my main projects, life events, celebrations and struggles. Over the years, I started inviting my friends to join me and that evolved into what is now Celebrate You®. We start with a day of unapologetic dreaming called the Celebrate You Extravaganza and continue to gathering in self-discovery and celebration as we evolve.

Some sample words you might want to explore:

• Intuition

• Abundance

• Health

• Connection

• Self-compassion

• Boundaries

• Savor

• Self-care

• Truth

Do any of those words speak to you?

If not, ask a friend to exchange notes with you. How would they sum up your last 6 months? And you do the same for them.

Or the next time you've got family or friends around the dinner table, start a conversation. "I'm thinking about choosing a word of the year. Who's in?" You’ll be amazed at what happens next! Kids get involved, the conversation deepens and you all feel connected. After you each have a word, it’s easy to check in with the group, maybe weekly or monthly, to see how their word is influencing them.

Have you chosen a Word of the Year for 2019 yet?

It’s not too late.

In fact, today is the perfect day to choose a word to guide you.

Here’s how my word picks bubble up—I reflect on all that’s happened and the major lessons that I’m learning (or not!) I might look at my calendar to see where I’ve been lately and what I’ve achieved and what I’ve struggled with. I think about how I’ve felt physically and emotionally. Word possibilities start to swirl around my mind and eventually one or two stand out. It might take a minute or a month to filter through the options.

The Gulp Factor

I know I’ve got my word when I see it in my mind and I get excited and a little nervous. My friend calls this “The Gulp Factor”—seeing the significance and meaning behind the word and being a bit awe-struck by the depth.

Poet and artist Mary Anne em Radmacher and I had a blast sharing our 2018 words and how they have impacted our year in this video. Not surprisingly, we both had more than one word to guide us. We also choose words regularly to impact our week, day and hour.

Mary Anne em Radmacher & me chatting about our words of the year

In this Video:

• Our 2018 words and how they’re influencing our decisions this year (spoiler alert—we both have more than one word!)

• How our words sometimes have a different purpose than what we imagined. How funny is that, Universe!

• Some techniques to choose a word of the year

• Our 2019 words!

How to choose your word Video

Have you ever been curious about how a word can guide you? Here's a quick guide to choosing a year and a few reasons why it's such a meaningful practice.

Why a WORD is better than a New Year’s Resolution

You know that exhilarating feeling of setting a Resolution in January… followed by that “oh well, guess that’s not going to happen” disappointment in March? Let’s avoid that. Setting a huge goal then realizing you aren’t going to do it isn’t kind to yourself. The classic example is “I’m going to the gym every day and I’m going to lose 20 pounds this year.”

That’s a BIG goal.

And there’s brain science behind why big goals fail most of the time.

Our brains just can’t handle that kind of massive change. We’ll have more success if we take tiny steps toward choosing new habits that support the big goal, like step one might be putting our tennis shoes by the front door for the first 3 days and step two might be putting on work out clothes the next 3 days.

See that? We haven’t even gone to the gym yet and we’re on day 7. But that’s how your brain works.

Instead, when you choose a word, it’s easy to incorporate that word into your day. Maybe your word is Health. “Health” will help you make micro-decisions throughout your day. Maybe you’ll take a smaller portion of breakfast. Maybe you’ll journal for 5 minutes. Maybe you’ll count your steps and challenge yourself to take 50 more steps each month. All of those actions support your word “Health”.

Get someone else involved for success

The other piece of successfully choosing a word is to have someone to talk to about your word. To have accountability on what you say you’ll do. To offer compassion when you forget. To encourage you when you need help. Family, friend, co-worker… find someone you can share this journey with.

You’re invited to join my tribe

You're invited to join the Celebrate You tribe for a day of unapologetic dreaming. A day of opening up to the Universe and partnering with magic. A day that holds laughter and self-discovery in an intimate setting. The Celebrate You® Extravaganza is a life-changing event that will provide clarity and focus, based on your values. Join HERE.

Let me know your word in the comments.

Choose your Word of the Year

Do you choose a word of the year?

I've been selecting a word of the year for about 8 years and what I've found is that my word gives me permission to explore new ideas. I love the process and how it's evolved over time!

I started choosing a word by myself, with my last year's calendar in front of me so I could remember my main projects, life events, celebrations and struggles. Over the years, I started inviting my friends to join me and that evolved into what is now the Celebrate You™  movement. We start with a year-end review and intention-setting retreat in January and continue the monthly gatherings--including monthly topics and tools to live an authentic life and a workbook to hold all the content .

Here's a 2 page worksheet to get you started on your word!

And a link to the recording that accompanies the worksheet: "How (and Why) to Choose a Word of the Year".  The recording includes instructions on how to use the worksheet, a guided visualization that will help you find your word and a challenge--find a safe place to share your word: maybe at your family's holiday gathering or in another supportive environment.

Here's another resource--a Facebook live with me and Mary Anne Radmacher with ideas on choosing a word to guide your year. (Please forgive me looking at my phone screen at the beginning. My job was to make sure we were live, and my phone said we weren't. I was a little worried... )

Watch what happens when you take the conversation to this level of authenticity! 

I'd love to hear from you. What's your 2018 word?

Words to explore:

• Intuition

• Abundance

• Health

• Connection

• Self-compassion

• Boundaries

• Savor

• Self-care

• Truth

Try it--the next time you've got family or friends around the dinner table, start the conversation. "I'm thinking about choosing a word of the year for next year. Who's in?" You might just be amazed at what happens next!

For more information about Celebrate You™ groups and how CY renews our commitment to our word every month, click here.

Celebrate You™ Workbook lets you Kick your never-completed Resolutions to the Curb

The easiest way to ditch the New Year's resolutions that fade by March and design REAL life-long changes that support you!

By designing a 30,000 foot, high-level plan for the year based on your values and intentions (Celebrate You™ Workbook), then breaking the plan into quarterly and monthly achievable goals (Celebrate You™ Planner), it’s easy to align your big intentions with your every day actions. You’ll see amazing results!

The Mission of the Celebrate You™ Workbook: Creating a Life Filled with Intention

To guide and support you in creating a life filled with intention and purpose so that you go to bed knowing you checked off the boxes that really mattered.

You’ll see the benefits of living with intention starting on day one.

· Become aware of your purpose each day

· Enjoy a deeper understanding of yourself

· Create boundaries around your day

· Design your day so it’s easy to accomplish your goals

· Add healthy habits into your day effortlessly

· Make your dreams a reality with inspired actions

Click the image to see sample pages.

Stop making those guilt-inducing, hard to accomplish New Year's resolutions that fade and welcome the Living on Purpose Philosophy of the Celebrate You™ Workbook.

Message from Lisa Honold, Founder of Celebrate You™

“I’m Lisa Honold, Certified Martha Beck Life Coach and my mission is to inspire and support you as you create an extraordinary life, moment by intentional moment.  I’m founder of Celebrate You™, a global movement that celebrates intentional living. I dedicate this workbook to you, a human being who dares to celebrate your greatness. ”

2017 Word of the Year

Radiant

That's my word for 2017.

I'm defining radiant as expressing love, confidence and happiness and it's the feeling of being aglow, sending out light, shining brightly, dazzling. It inspires me to take what I know in my heart and radiate it outward.

In previous years, I've chosen words like: abundance, live luxuriously, intuition, inspire... and I'm always amazed at how useful each word has been. How the word gives me permission to explore, learn and challenge longstanding beliefs.

I cherish this tradition of choosing a word. Now each member of my family chooses a word, generally around Christmas time. I talk with friends about their words. It's a cool way to have a deep, genuine, ongoing conversation in a new way.

In my program Celebrate You, we spend time honing our intentions for the year before inviting this year's word. We try on a few words, hesitantly, seeing if they fit or if there's another word that feels more right. We share the word in the group and the power of the word increases. We continue to come back to the word each month and share lessons around our word.

What’s your word?

I encourage you to spend a few quiet minutes to find a word you'd like to partner up with this year. Write it down. Refer to it often. Invite a friend to join you. See how it influences your year.