Hey Gorgeous!
Happy August!! I hope wherever in the world you are, whether you’re heading into fall or spring, you are excited about the transition of seasons and soaking up every bit of goodness in the here and now!
So, time for an update on what I’ve been up to!
I’ve been pretty into Pinterest these days.
In the past, my Pinterest use basically consisted of collecting pretty images, categorizing them, and occasionally visiting my boards for inspiration and a little pick-me-up.
But otherwise, they sat there pretty useless.
Then I had an idea that felt a bit revolutionary to me (but is probably far from it!)
What if I actually did the things I pinned on Pinterest?
What if I actually took action on all the ideas I had collected on these gorgeous boards?
The thought was both exhilarating and overwhelming.
I don’t have that many pins, but when I think of it from a to-do list perspective, it seems huge!!
So, I did what any determined Pinterest lover would do.
I made another board.
But this one I called ‘Pinterest To-Do List.’ I made it secret so that I would feel free to be honest with myself and really put whatever I wanted on there!
Then I scanned through my boards and the personalized pins that populated my feed. I added only what struck me as things I wanted to do in the upcoming months – about 14 pins, many of which were for the same goal.
Some were just images – a girl sitting by a shaded pool, for example, because I wanted to spend more time enjoying the pool at our apartment complex instead of always saying I would.
Some were quotes that I knew spoke to my current personal growth goals and projects.
And some were legitimate home, relationship, or business improvement projects that I wanted to take action on to create more of the life I want to live and feel called to live.
I go in about once a week to that board and remind myself of what I’m going to work on (and get a fresh burst of inspiration!)
Next, I try to pick a manageable project or two to really focus on for the month, and then I go back to my feed and type in the search term that relates to what I’m trying to learn, and come up with an action plan of tips and steps to make it happen!
So, what am I up to this August?
1. Cleaning out and organizing my closet.
In our little 900 sq ft apartment, there is not quite enough room for two people over 6 foot to hold all of their large clothes and shoes!
But, while I could choose to be frustrated by that, instead I am seeing it as a challenge to really pare my closet down to what I actually like, and what will create the look I want to go through life in, rather than my ‘default’ looks.
What exactly does that mean?
A. Actually pulling inspiration from my ‘Outfits to Try’ and ‘Look’ boards and wearing them!
B. Getting rid of everything that’s dumpy. Period. It’s an easy way to make sure I don’t dress dumpily – you can’t when you don’t actually own anything that’s dumpy!
2. Decluttering our house in general.
I had a bad habit growing up of keeping almost everything from scraps of paper to worn shoes ‘in case I needed it someday.’ Meanwhile I would save my ‘nice stuff’ for ‘some day’ special enough to be worthy of its use.
Enough of that! Every day is a special day, and quite frankly could be our last. Plus, I find that when I use nice dishes, wear nice clothes, write in beautiful journals, and only fill our home with lovely things, my performance SKYROCKETS. I step into my best in every area of my life – from how I show up in my business to how I speak to my husband to my courage reaching out to people I don’t know or trying things I’ve never experienced.
Is the frivolity of lovely things significantly less than the most important aspect in our lives? Totally, and we need to be ready to lose them at any moment.
But if using the lovely things we already own, and maybe upgrading one or two daily-use items can have such a profound impact on the things in life that do matter? Let’s take advantage of such an easy win!
3. Recommitting to meditation in the presence of and under the authority of God.
This could (and will!) be a whole post in and of itself, particularly the importance and how-to of meditating strictly under the influence and authority of God.
But suffice it to say for now, that quieting our minds and taking even 10 minutes out of our hectic days to completely relax and recenter can give us the peace, security, clarity, and confidence we can often feel is just out of reach. It really is amazing how powerful this tool is! God has so much to give us, we just have to sit still long enough to receive it!
4. Heading to San Francisco!
My husband David will be speaking at a conference in San Fran, and we decided to turn it into our three year anniversary trip! As of next week, we will have known each other for four years, and been happily married for three! It’s amazing how this adventure keeps getting better as you spend more life together, consistently commit to kindness, and learn more about each other…but more on that next week!
If you’re based in or around the San Fran or Palo Alto area, let me know! I would love to grab a coffee with you!
And, this is a perfect time to announce an exciting new way I’m heading into loving on you all! As of this week, I’m offering private coaching half and full days – stay tuned for more information, and always know that you can shoot me an email at jackie (at) jackiedixon.org to ask me any questions and schedule a free consultation.
So, what about you gorgeous? What are you up to this month? Do you love the idea of using Pinterest or some other inspiration system to challenge yourself to actually do those things you’ve always said you would? If so, what are you going to choose this month? I’d love to hear!
And meanwhile, keep an eye on my travels – if I’m headed your way, let me know if you’d like to meet up for a day of total focus on you! It might turn out to be the day that changes everything 😉
With so much love, and always praying for your true freedom,
Jackie
P.S. If you’d like to peruse my Pinterest boards, (at least the ones I share! 😉 ) you can find my profile here.
