INTRODUCING: ASHLEY

”I know I can’t just sit here hoping that life will one day make me happy. It doesn’t work like that. “

An over-sized mug warmed one hand while the other gently tucked a stubborn strand of hair behind my ear, fighting the persistent breeze. I slid a foot out of my well-worn shoe and tapped it against the cool sidewalk, as if slowly counting the undeniable stars in the sky.

My 22nd birthday was spent sipping hot chocolate in front of the Eiffel Tower. That evening I realized how alive I was. An unforgettable moment accented by the twinkling lights around and above. That moment.

Somewhere over the past two years, I lost sight of my dreams, my moments, and began to settle into a “normal” routine.

And that is not okay with me.

The first 18 years of my life were relatively uneventful and the definition of by-the-book. I graduated at the top of my high school class and attended a medium-size, private university because I thought that’s what you did. Four years later I was left with a fancy piece of paper, but no set plan for the future.

So, on a whim I accepted a teaching assistantship in France. The experience was full of culture, self-exploration, and travel. I wandered through tiny European towns and I ate gelato like it was my job. I learned that I adore red wine, that I’m happier with friends close by, and that I can push myself further than I ever thought possible. Through all of this soul-searching, I also discovered my passion for counseling children. You know that feeling when fireworks are exploding inside you and you can’t wait to share that energy with everyone around you? That’s how I felt about this discovery. I applied to graduate school feeling confident that I had my life perfectly mapped out.

That fall I packed up three suitcases and moved to New York City to begin working on my master’s degree in Psychological Counseling. I felt like I was stretching myself, in a good way. I traveled through Europe, was on the right track professionally, living in the most vibrant city, and my relationship with my then-boyfriend of five years was becoming more serious. It seemed like the pieces were falling into place.

And then all of the sudden my life began to crumble.

In 2008 my dad passed away. Four months later, my boyfriend and I broke up. When I graduated in May 2009 and could not find a job, I moved back home and into my childhood bedroom, unemployed.

Now, I’m no expert, but I believe this is what they call your Quarter Life Crisis.

NOT PART OF THE PLAN!

Slowly I began picking up the pieces and putting together a life that wasn’t part luck, part shame, and part embarrassment. I wasn’t creating a life I was in love with, but one I could live with.

For now.

I found a job in my field that barely pays the bills and have settled into that unfulfilled routine over the past two years. Last July I began dating an amazing guy who makes my heart smile, but with over 2,600 miles between us, it can be challenging. A few months ago I signed a lease on my very first solo apartment and am learning that I’m pretty good at cleaning the bathroom, but will do anything to avoid taking out the trash.

Considering where I was two years ago, my life doesn’t seem so bad today. It’s perfectly fine by many standards, but it’s still not full of that audacious joy I’ve heard so much about.

I have big goals, things I want to accomplish and memories I want to leave a mark on my life, but I realize I can’t keep waiting for these next steps to just happen. I’ve had some curve balls thrown my way, and I know I can’t just sit here hoping that life will one day make me happy. It doesn’t work like that.

This is MY life.

I need to be brave, take ownership, and start living on my own terms.

This is the year I create my own happiness and make my own dreams come true.

I think I’ll start by making some hot chocolate.

Cutting The Literal And Metaphorical Crap

posted 5th September 2011 Written by: Hannah CATEGORY: Hannah, Job/Career/Work, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 5

INTRODUCING: HANNAH

“ I want to do ALL the things that light me up and make me feel drunk with joy.”

The first thing I did at work this morning was change a poopy diaper. Tell me that anyone wants to deal with literal crap first thing in the morning (or at all).

I also do boogers, accidents, owies, and “Oh, oops, the markers slipped and I drew all over my friend’s face”s.

“I cook mac ‘n cheese and chicken nuggets and try to convince myself not to eat them. I watch Toy Story…again…and again…and again. I get “the look” from mommies when they realize I’m only a nanny. I deal with kid drama, parent drama, other nanny drama, and my own I-love-this-kid-but-I-hate-this-job drama. I very often say things along the lines of, “Sadie, we do NOT sit on our friends’ heads!” and “Emma, it is NOT okay to rub your turkey on your foot and then eat it!”

And I’m not afraid to admit, I’m a damn good nanny.

But on the weekends…oh, the weekends…On the weekends I get to exercise my creative muscles. On the weekends I am a photographer.

Rewind 16 years. I’m 14 and have borrowed my dad’s “fancy” camera to take pictures of the boys I have crushes on at the school basketball games. I’m using black and white film, have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m loving every second of it.

I take my attention from the cute boys and start shooting other random things instead: the contents of my (messy) bedroom, hands (of anyone I can get to stand still), the dog. I tell my parents that I want to be a photographer when I grow up. They chuckle, not unsupportive…realistic would be the right word. And I go do my homework.

I started nannying just out of college. “This is temporary. Just until I find something better,” I’d tell myself daily. I wanted to go back to school for social work or join the Peace Corps or be a writer or an artist.

Eight years later, I’m still a nanny.

I can tell you what is in every nook and cranny of the Children’s Museum (you don’t want to know). I know who Rosetta and Silvermist are (They’re Tinkerbell’s friends, in case you were wondering). I can tell you exactly how many zoo exhibits you can make it to before a potty break and a snack are in order. I know what Butt Paste is. I know which silence means the kids are napping, and which one means they’re doing something they shouldn’t be. I know this job in and out. It isn’t challenging. I am not learning. And I am BORED!!!

I picked up my camera again on a whim during an “in-between nanny jobs” period. It wasn’t long before kids’ parents started asking if they could buy photos, or book me to shoot a birthday party or a holiday card. And suddenly, I had a business where before there was none. But the bills keep coming, and before I realized what was happening I had another nanny gig.

My weekends light me up. And I want more. I want more ME. I want to do ALL the things that light me up and make me feel drunk with joy. I want to be a photographer and a writer, a world traveler, and an event designer. I want to be creative every single day. I want to wake up so stoked for what is to come that I don’t even wait for the coffeemaker to beep before I get out of bed.

So what do I do? How do I force out all the crap (literal and otherwise) from my life, and embrace the stuff that makes me giddy? How do I take the leap into the unknown? How do I give myself permission to be the most amazing, happy, authentic self I can ever imagine being? And how do I become that person? I’m working on it. But hold that thought. It’s the “we’re getting into trouble” kind of silent in there!

A Systematic Approach to Claiming Joy

posted 7th May 2011 Written by: Dee CATEGORY: All Posts, Dee, Inspiration, Life Lesson, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 4, Tips & Tools, What I've Learned

As a loyal Stratejoy follower, a central message that I’ve taken away from this community is that joy is within our reach. Every single one of us. The catch is that we’ve got some self-exploration and investigation to do before we can grab it and make it our own.

And, I know, I know. I’m always raving about Molly, her programs, and her generally awesome approach to life and rocking it right now.

The reason is not that I’m some psycho-obsessed fangirl (only a little), but because I’ve learned tangible, applicable, concrete, proven skills that I’ve applied to my individual quest for joy, authenticity, bubbles, laughter, and everything juicy good.

The point isn’t that my life took a turn overnight when I put these skills to work. Of course not. But, the point is that with the strategies I’ve learned through my course in Deliberate Living, jotted down in my journal, and let Molly burn into my brain, I’ve been applying them at my own speed, at a rate that’s healthy for me and works in my own day to day. I’ve tailored them to my own needs. Created systems of my very own.

We can think and talk and write all day long about how we want joy in our lives, but unless we go get it, we’ll never have it. Here’s how I go get it.

My Seven Systems for Growth

Sabotaging Unproductive Habits- It’s about identifying the habits I have that lead me down paths that don’t serve my best self. At first, it seemed as though I was tricking myself and that felt…wrong. Well, I was. “Wasn’t my willpower enough?” I thought. No. It wasn’t. And, I’d been giving myself concrete evidence for years that my willpower and desire were just not enough to prevent myself from falling into cycles of laziness, mindlessness, etc. For instance, I realized that an aspect of my life that was preventing me from moving forward was my habit of walking into my apartment after a long day or stressful event and straight to the TV remote. On. Trashy TV. Mindless. Numb. Day Over. Instead, now I trick myself! Amazing! I keep the remote waaaaay back in a corner of my closet. If I want to watch TV, fine, but it’s going to be a conscious, aware decision, by golly.

Putting Fierce Self-Love Within Eyeshot- It’s about channeling my creativity in a way that builds reminders of the woman I am and want to continue to be. If you came to my apartment, you’d see positive sticky-notes on my bathroom mirror, colorful hand-made collages on my refrigerator, a framed picture of a hula-hooping 80-year old woman on my dresser, photos of my near and dear, books that inspire, and art I’ve created. Because sometimes we just plain forget, lose focus of our goals, and need elementary reminders in plain sight.

Maintaining A Detailed Health Journal- It’s about taking the precious time to sit, breathe, put pen to paper, and focus on how I really feel. I do know that time is precious, trust me. Which is why it is a gift I’ve focused on giving to myself. I have a pretty, pretty journal, some bright markers and pens, and a calendar. I sit down and I track how I’m feeling from day to day. My body (sluggish, bloated, achy, energetic, rested?), my mind (clear, cluttered, racing, numb?), my heart (full, guilty, lonely, hopeful?). It doesn’t only give me an opportunity to clear my head, this practice has helped me identify two of the most significant triggers to my mood swings. I was able to see, right there in my calendar, that I’ve got a classic case of the winter blues and am in need of steady Vitamin D and that the week after my…ahem…menstrual cycle was hell for me. My hormones were sending me into a crippling depression that I was spending the other three weeks of the month trying to clean up after. Because I’d realized this, I was able to discuss options with my doctor and reach a conclusion that I’m not a headcase! I’ve got PMDD!

Establishing Self-Serving Routines- It’s about honoring who I want to become by giving myself a chance to find inspiration, check-in with myself, clear my headspace, and realign. What works for me is getting up early in the morning in order to prepare myself for the day ahead. Shower. Walk dog. Coffee. Makeup. Outfit. Breakfast. News. Hair. Twitter. Dishes in sink. Out Door. And even though I have an equally if not more strong urge to stay in bed until the last possible second, I know that my whole day will follow suit if I don’t put my feet on the floor and give myself what I need- that routine. The same goes for the evening. Computer off. Books for class put away. Bag prepped for next day. Lamps on at bedside. Makeup off. Inbox cleared. A little lotion on my hands. Something soothing on pandora. A quiet prayer. My journals, a book I’m reading for leisure or a favorite magazine in bed with me. The rest of my days allow for spontaneity, but those routines ground me. I need them. I know that.

Eliminating Toxicity- It’s about lifting the weight from my shoulders so that I can move forward. A really effective challenge that Molly presented me was to make a list, no matter how long, of the elements in my life that were creating a cloud of dread. Big stuff to little stuff. Debt to that dress I need to have dry-cleaned. And yes, setting aside a whole day or longer, if needed to tackle it. That conversation I needed to have with my parents. The appointments I needed to make. Cards I wanted to send and drawers I wanted to clean. And when I made the list, WHOA! It felt so doable. Everything that I had been letting eat at me took one good afternoon to eliminate, essentially. Toxic crap comes up all the time. The trick I’m using it to give myself a scheduled block of time each week (really, only about an hour), to just do it and be done with it. Bills, errands, phone calls, whatever. I know that for me, that’s what I do on my free Tuesday afternoons. Always fueled by caffeine and with a happy hour with friends as a treat for taking care of it, obviously.

Using Gratitude As A Counter-Action For Stress- It’s about reminding myself of what I have (so much) in order to eliminate feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. My nasty, all-to-common tendency to dwell on the bad and forget the good. To think about the obligations, the rain, tests and papers due rather than the beauty of nature, my upcoming plans, my health, my fortune to be in school at all. When a walk my dog up the block, I try to memtally list as many things that I’m grateful for as I possibly can (the pretty color of that lady’s dress, the smell from the restaurant, my mom’s phone call earlier that day, all the plans I have that weekend, the lunch I fixed, etc). The walk helps to clear my head and by the time I’ve returned home, I’m a new woman. I also often jot down similar blessings in a journal that I’ve designated as my special Gratitude Journal. After a stressful day or period in my life, even if I think I can’t muster a single thing to offer thanks for, I can look to that journal and remember that there is so much that makes me fortunate.

Making The Mundane Special- It’s about stuff I’ve gotta do anyway and how to make it lovely. When I know it’s going to suck, I’ve got to incorporate an aspect of pleasant or I just won’t do it. Sad but true. Dishes to do? Light a candle. Gobs of homework? Film Scores radio on repeat. Toilet to scrub? Wear that sassy dew rag I tie-dyed in Austin. Dreaded phone call to make? Hot cup of tea. I find it really fun to think of ways that I can make what would otherwise be terrible into a chance for beauty. There are so many opportunities for joyful simplicity that we can marry with our obligations and life suddenly becomes a string of delight, with some responsibility mixed in. Paying bills is way better whilst wearing incredible lipstick, you know?

Certainly, those aren’t the only systems I’ve been exploring. I am also working to incorporating a regular mindfulness practice, acknowledging those in my corner, practicing self-expression, and learning to ask for what I want among many, many other tactics. The point is that I’m learning what works for me. I’m putting in the time, thought, and effort, because, damn it, I deserve it. I deserve all the joy I can scoop up. And I’m working to build my own, individual definition of joy. And, finally, I’m getting a return on my investment in myself.

It’s crazy to me that just within the last year, I’ve become so very aware of what I really want, made such progress in actually going after it, built so many supportive relationships. I’m so thankful that this community has given me the strength to dive right into exploring what I could do to make my life better. It’s given me a place to take my temperature, so to speak, know how I’m feeling, and not be afraid to think about how I can both maintain what works and improve what doesn’t.

It’s given me a place to share all that. Now, that’s a system that really works.

The Gutsy Girl’s Guide to Success

posted 20th November 2009 Written by: Molly Mahar CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Molly

How to be Extraordinary on Your Own Terms

(This is a blog post of my eBook that you can get by signing up for the eNewsletter on the right side of this page… Why would you want the free eBook now that it’s a blog post? Because it’s 100 times more beautiful, you can print it out, scribble in the margins, and truly make it your own. I’m putting it on the blog because I felt the need to make sure you had all read the manifesto!)

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

There are a few things I know about you already.

You are a Gutsy Girl. You want to be Successful. You get all tingly at the phrase “Extraordinary on Your Own Terms”.

You and I have a lot in common.

If you’re shaking your head already, thinking, “Oh man, I wish I were gutsy” or “I’m about as far from successful as one could be right now” or “Extraordinary? Hah! I’ll settle for ordinary” – Stop it right now. Stop thinking yourself down and out.

In case this wasn’t already obvious, I’m Molly, the founder, voice and big dreamer behind Stratejoy. I lead lifestyle design workshops online and off, provide keynotes on authentic happiness and head a website full of resources and inspiration to conquer the Quarterlife Crisis*. I love what I do.

Oh, and it is not pronounced Straight-Joy. It is Strata-Joy, as in Strategies for Joy. That is something I know for sure.

This guide is my public proclamation to help “The Tribe” kick ass as you realize your own authentic success and joy. Welcome to The Tribe!

WHAT ELSE DO I KNOW FOR SURE?

I know that by clarifying your personal definition of success and cultivating powerful habits, you can lead an authentically joyous life. I believe in your capacity for growth, for success, for truthful living. I know that the day-to-day can be more than a to-do list. I believe that you can feel at peace with yourself and energized about the path you are on.

*You do not need to be in the midst of a Quarterlife Crisis to read this guide. But if you are, it will be insanely useful.

I know that being extraordinary means you are living deliberately, sharing with the world the very best you have to offer. I believe that you have unlimited power to contribute, as long as you practice unconditional self-love.

I know that settling is never the answer, that fulfilling others’ expectations is useless is in the long run. I believe in your uniqueness.

I believe in that big, bold juicy version of your life and your ability to embrace it, to create it, to make it your reality.

I’m providing this Guide to Success because I love when we’re all on the same page. And trust me, this is an incredible page to be on together. It is a declaration to the Universe that you believe in your capacity to create an extraordinary life on your own terms.

Hold on to your hat sister. The road ahead is full of surprises, pit stops for Rainier cherries & dancing in the moonlight. We’ll probably have to change a flat or two. We’re going to be awed by vistas undiscovered, fueled by roadside lemonade and amazed by every new town, every new friend.

Why? Because life is Extraordinary. You’ve just got to be following the right map. Your Map.

THE JOY EQUATION

The Joy Equation is the basis for this Manifesto and for the Authentic Happiness Movement. It’s the backbone of the Guide to Success and being Extraordinary on your own terms.

It’s not the end all, be all – but it is a remarkable process to start living life on purpose.

CONNECT WITH YOURSELF
+
DEFINE SUCCESS
+
CULTIVATE POWERFUL HABITS
+
COMMIT TO YOUR HAPPINESS
=
AUTHENTIC JOY

Ready to break it down?

CONNECT WITH YOURSELF

(Step One of the Joy Equation)

If you stripped down to the very base of yourself – if we took away your job, your bank account, your schooling, your relationship status – who would you be?

This can this be difficult. I get it.

We are so full of others’ expectations – starting with our families, our peers, our bosses/teachers/gurus – of who we should be, that we frequently have no idea who we actually are. Am I the smart, bossy eleven-year-old that my childhood teachers think? Am I the overachieving independent good girl with a hankering for dramatic relationships that my high school friends remember? Or am I the selfish, big dreaming, fun-loving woman my parents believe me to be?

Another roadblock in uncovering our true self is the social personas that we’ve developed. We’ve formed these personas to deal with difficult people, with situations we find uncomfortable (like an ill-fitting job) or with society’s version of what is important. The social personas are like cloaks we slip off and on: your saleswoman self, your sorority girl party animal self, your never-say-no helpful self.

And all of this is dangerous! In the midst of other’s expectations and social personas, you can easily end up chasing a life that won’t fulfill you, because you don’t recognize who “YOU” are. You just keep fulfilling expectations or changing cloaks to fit into situations, to please others, to behave appropriately.

I don’t know anyone who did anything amazing by behaving appropriately…

I am giving you permission right now to be “YOU”. You don’t need a handy little tag line – the nice girl next door, the wild adventurer, the wicked smart corporate go-getter – you just need to allow yourself to shine through. Explore your whims. Relax into your quirks. Celebrate your strengths and accept your weaknesses. Allow yourself to practice authenticity in aspects of your life. Trust that “YOU” are enough.

How? Good question. Do whatever it takes to recognize who “YOU” are and how “YOU” show up in the world. Practice listening to your intuition, voicing an opinion instead of relying on, “I don’t care, whatever you think”, making lists of YouJuice*, standing up for yourself, allowing space for exploration and shooting down limiting beliefs.

*YouJuice is anything that reminds you of yourself: quotes, lists, pictures, people or places.

Questions To Ask to Connect with Yourself:

What do you have to offer?
What makes you extraordinary?
What repels you? What attracts you?
What makes you feel alive?

My clients’ favorite exercise in connecting with themselves is identifying their core values. I once heard values described as “habits of your heart” and this phrase has become engraved in my brain.

What do I really care about when the chips are down? What are the true habits of my heart? When you clearly identify your values, you’ll feel a sense of relief because you’ve articulated what’s most important to you.

Just in case you’re interested, the values I’m operating from right now are Love, Authenticity, Dedication, Inspiration, Delight, Connection, Vitality, and Exploration. Yes, I have those memorized. And yes, they required lots of self-exploration to really nail them down.

DEFINE SUCCESS

(Step Two of the Joy Equation)

It’s a big word. Success. What does it conjure up for you? Unless you live in a cave, there are probably aspects of money, power and perfection woven into your vision. These are the social definitions of success present in our western world. Not that money, power and perfection are inherently evil. We need a bit of all of them to make a difference in the world.

And I’m not turning down a big lotto win or speedy metabolism if they happen to fall into my lap…

It’s just that in order to truly be successful, you need to be successful on your own terms. And in many cases, society’s darlings – money, power, perfection – may not actually play a big role in your version of success. You need to shine where it counts for YOU. And that takes defining success on your own terms. And defining success takes self-awareness and guts.

Self-awareness is a process of understanding who you are and what makes you happy. As I’m sure you’ve already realized, self-awareness plays a large role in The Joy Equation.

Many ordinary people let life slide by falling into a mediocre acceptance of convenience or bad habits or “good enoughness”. They refuse to be self-aware. They don’t want to tackle the work of setting their own course for their life, for really striving towards their big dreams. Whether it is fear of failure, lack of self-esteem or shortsighted vision, ordinary people just accept life at face value. Even if that face value, well, sucks.

But not you! You’ve already declared yourself to be Extraordinary. You’re here to shake things up! You’re here to bust out of your Quarterlife Crisis or your bored funk. You’re here to define success on your own terms and go after it with enthusiasm and belief!

I’m so glad. I feel honored that I’ve got your attention for this short amount of time. You’re going to be one of the amazing women who will take the time and energy to figure out what it’s really going to take to rock your world.

Pat yourself on the back, hot stuff.

So what’s the reward for working towards your version of success? Authentic joy. Kicking ass on your own terms. Inspiring others to examine their priorities. Sparkles and laughter and a rich fullness to life. Feeling like the hard work, blood, sweat and tears are worth it. Living in alignment with your values, on a platform built from busted assumptions and closely examined expectations.

Questions To Ask to Define Success

What do you want your life to stand for?
What is the sphere of influence in which you wish to work?
Who are your role models, living a life you desire?
What can you sacrifice in order align with your success?

“Don’t ask what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” –Harold Whitman

I’ve seen success defined by hundreds of different factors. Don’t be afraid of your imagination. Go wild here! Use your grandest self to really create the best version of you.

In this day and age, a woman’s success is no longer a cookie cutter process of graduating, getting a real job, finding a partner, having children… We have choices and freedom that allow us to design our own version of success, incorporating the pieces that reflect our best life.

Maybe you want to travel around the world, create art, launch a business, run for office, or be an advocate for social change.

Maybe you want to go back to school, move out of the country, become foster parents, design gowns for the First Lady, travel the states in an Airstream, create an urban commune, or invent a new jelly belly flavor.

Maybe you want to publish a bestseller, film a documentary, dance, raise a large family, compete in the Olympics, be a teacher, break a world record, or make millions selling your start-up.

Which of those ring true for you? Take the time to figure it out and set an authentic course for your life. Define your success!

One of my favorite methods of drawing our attention to our definition of success is to create a personal mission statement or mantra. This is a little gem that you carry around with you to remind yourself why you do the things you do.

My mantra is, “To celebrate life authentically and inspire others to do the same.”

On those really tough days when I lose focus on my goals and feel a whim to go back to a corporate gig, I repeat my mantra and realize that relying on a fatty paycheck for work I will likely loathe is NOT celebrating life authentically! And I must celebrate life authentically!

Whenever I start isolating myself in the office because it’s easier than living out loud all of the time, I repeat my mantra and realize that holing up and avoiding making new connections is NOT inspiring others! And I must inspire others!

Get it?

CULTIVATE POWERFUL HABITS

(Step Three of the Joy Equation)

I know The Secret is still all the rage these days, but success is not just about visioning, imaging it so, or thinking it real. I certainly believe in the power of your thoughts to change your experience of reality, but I do not believe you can manifest a Honda Fit to appear in your driveway.

Sorry, girls, I just can’t go there.

But I do know there are certain powerful habits you need to cultivate in order to be Extraordinary, to experience authentic joy. I’ve detailed five of my most essential habits – pursing worthwhile goals, protecting your personal resources, practicing gratitude, meditation, and giving out – in this third step of The Joy Equation.

FOCUS ON PURPOSE

Pursuing Worthwhile Goals: Now that you’ve defined success, it’s time to create goals that will help you create forward movement towards that vision of your best life. This is big. Setting and tracking proper goals is essential to measuring your journey and knowing when to celebrate or when to plot a new course.

I have plenty of resources on how to set proper goals, but that’s not what this Manifesto is about! I don’t want to leave you empty handed however, so I’ll share a few of my top tips

Create clear, specific, measurable goals with a deadline
Write them down
Make them public
Design accountability into the process
Seek support
Be willing to make sacrifices

Protecting Your Personal Resources: We have just a few resources that we truly control. Our time, our energy, our money and our care. Are you spending them on the right things? On the right people? I firmly believe we don’t have to do anything… You don’t have to stay in that job. You don’t have to stay in that relationship. You don’t have to slave away at the gym to validate someone else’s perception of attractive. You have power to make changes in your life, both large & small.

Gutsy girls examine their lives closely. They ask themselves, “Why?” Why do I work overtime? Why do I spend time with these specific friends? Why do I increase my debt by shopping online? Why do I wake up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the gym?

Sometimes the question is, “Why don’t I?” Why don’t I quit my job? Why don’t I forgive my ex? Why don’t I make time to meditate? Why don’t I write poetry? Why don’t I dance in the fountain in the middle of downtown?

With that kind of powerful self-examination, you can make conscious decisions about spending your personal resources. It’s the little things every day that add up to your experience of life, so be deliberate in what you do!

I call it living life on purpose.

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT

Practice Gratitude: Gratitude is larger than the simple expression “thank you” for a gift or kind act. Gratitude is appreciation for your present reality, expressing love to those you care for, not taking things for granted, being present to the wonder and fortune in the moment, thanking your higher power and savoring the sweet. You can practice gratitude by keeping a journal where you record what you were thankful for that day or that week. This may seem like a small habit, but the payback in your happiness is strong and lasting.

Meditate: Take time to simply be by sitting quietly and clearing your mind. Concentrate on your breath flowing in and out through your nose or on a simple mantra. When you catch yourself thinking about something else, simply label the thought “thinking” and then return back to your breath. There you go! My three sentence direction to mindfulness mediation.

Meditation is a powerful habit of training yourself to live in the present. Even if it’s not something you’re familiar or comfortable with, it is absolutely worth the time exploring this habit.

Give Out: Mentor, contribute, practice random acts of kindness, express forgiveness. Make a loan, give your time, be fully present for your family, change the world. There are a million ways to give of yourself. Do it big, do it small, just do it. It’s one of the most positive equations in the world: You give of your time or resources, which improves someone’s quality of life, which makes you feel appreciated and valuable, which in turn improves your quality of life. We’re all better off. Magic.

A habit is “an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.” These powerful habits will positively contribute to your authentic joy. Make good use of them. Word.

COMMIT TO YOUR HAPPINESS

(Step Four of the Joy Equation)

Striving to be all things to all people is exhausting. It’s a common expression of women, of the caretaking role we’re conditioned to fulfill: How can I help you? How can I support you? How can I take care of you?

Why don’t we try asking ourselves these same questions? How can you support yourself? I’d like to suggest the fourth step of The Joy Equation.

Commit to your own personal fulfillment and happiness. Commit with your whole heart. Commit with your full sense of self.

Perhaps this means clashing with society or the expected or the persona your partner or friends or family expect you to be. I’m asking you to be okay with that – to step fully your own happiness and reflect yourself authentically. To challenge the status quo. To be brave enough to speak up, look up, live it up.

This is your life after all. This isn’t a dress rehearsal and we don’t get a do over.

This is our shot to be Extraordinary.

And by being Extraordinary, by living life on your own terms, you’re setting off a chain of positive reactions. You’re allowing others to see the true you, the one that’s been buried or burnt out or scared. You’re inspiring those around you to seek success that is authentic to them. You’re teaching your children to express their uniqueness, to have faith in their individual worth. You’re setting an example of truth, an example of courage.

Are you up for it?

Committing to your own happiness guarantees your success. It gives you a safety blanket when the going gets tough. You’ve already made the commitment to travel this road, so just wrap that blanket of commitment around you and face the icy patches with your chin up.

You may have to adjust your course, but you’ve already made the commitment to move forward. There’s no option to bow out or retreat, only to respond to the challenges with gracious flexibility and patience for pit stops.

This commitment is essential. This commitment to your happiness is necessary.

Are you with me? Yes? Wooooo Hoooooo!!

Now, do something about it.

A commitment requires some sort of pomp and circumstance ritual. This can be anything you like, but make it official! Tell someone. Head over to the Stratejoy Facebook page and leave your commitment on the wall. Hold a ceremony for yourself. Create a vision board that expresses your vision of success & your commitment to seeing it through. Write yourself a letter dated to open 10 years from now.

I’m challenging you to make it real.

THE STRATEJOY TRIBE

This is not meant to be a Guide that you read once and set aside. I wrote this Guide as a call to action.

If you want to join me on this quest for Authentic Happiness, I’d be honored to walk with you. Our paths may be different, but our destinations of fulfillment are the same. Let’s do our part to make life a celebration, a joyous occasion to make a difference by living authentically.

Drop me a note on our Facebook Page or contact me if you’d like to share your journey. I’d be thrilled to hear from you.

If this Guide inspired you and you’d like to help spread the word, please encourage your girlfriends, coworkers, neighbors or daughters to download their own copy. The more the merrier! Literally!

If you’d like to stay connected with more of my writing and that of other Extraordinary women, you can subscribe to the blog by RSS or by Email. Or join in the discussions on the site! Your voice is important to the world and your contribution appreciated.

ONE LAST THOUGHT

Can you imagine the amazing things that might happen if all Gutsy Girls out there decided to be Extraordinary? What if we all gave up the idea of settling and instead decided to push forward, celebrating the journey towards our big, bold, thrilling dreams? What if we all woke up excited to tackle the day ahead?

What kind of incredible movement might occur if that was the case?

That’s a world I’d like to live in. That’s a world I’m doing my part to help create.

So I ask, what is your Success? What does your Extraordinary look like?

I’m immensely grateful that you took time out of your busy life to read this manifesto. I truly hope it sparked something for you — a little flame of possibility, perhaps?

Until next time, Gutsy Girl, wishing you peaceful contemplation and boatloads of joy,

p.s. If you just read through this Guide without stopping to do the work, go back and do the work!

p.p.s. If you’d like to explore the ideas in this Guide with more support, take a peak at my online course, The Joy Equation: A 30 Day Guide to Living Life on Purpose. It’s a great antidote to a Quarterlife Crisis! Word of warning however – if you’re not ready for some intense personal exploration, you’re not ready for The Joy Equation..

p.p.s. Or what about personal coaching! Also radical and life changing & positive!

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