Nature girl in Arbonne

There is a certain kind of joy that comes along with being independent. I don't mean independently wealthy (but really who wouldn't be joyful with that), or not responsible for (or to) others - but I mean being confidant in your own capabilities, and being able to judge and make intelligent and proactive decisions.

It seems like a strange thing to be joyful about, independence, but there it is.

Since my start in Arbonne I think I have learned the most about independence because of my business, and not through life lessons. Right here I am going to tell you the most educational thing about Network Marketing: You get out EXACTLY what you put in!

Originally I chose Arbonne because I liked the products and I wanted to get them at a great discount. Nothing wrong there right? But the crucial thing that I missed was that I had stumbled into a BUSINESS! I thought it was fun, I had parties, and I earned some money, but I didn't think of it like a business. I guess it was kind of like holding handfuls of gold coins and thinking of them like tokens for skee ball!

Over the last year here in Hawaii I came to realize what I was holding. The team I am a part of (since my joining) has promoted three times! From District to Area, and now to Region - for those of you not familiar with network marketing - that's the difference between a part time fun job and career pay with a company car! That is the possibility and power of network marketing, but you need to look at it like the powder keg for change that it can be.

When you are independent you gain an objectivity about your life. You can step out from under the protection of familiar places and people, and see your life for what it really is...not necessarily what you think it is. You can see where you are dependent on other people (emotionally, physically, or financially), thinking you are being pushed about by circumstances beyond your control, or allowing yourself to be pushed or led by others. You can also see your own failings a lot more realistically without the added melodrama of self critique and negative reinforcement of a life not living up to our expectations.

When I stepped out from under my umbrella I realized that my life wasn't being helped by me parking it under a deluge of universal run off.  I realized that I had put myself in a mindset of expecting the worst instead of the best. At the same time I was being irresponsible with everything that I did have because I was always so focused on what I DIDN'T have.  The combination of mindset and action yielded a life I didn't recognize.

Now I'm not saying that the move to Hawaii solved all of my problems - quite the contrary actually. When we moved I saw really how much of a disservice I was doing to myself and my family with my thoughts, actions and reactions! But what I did realize, was the potential I had been shuffling around in the back of my mind. These past months have been a gradual opening of my eyes to the life I could have if I decide to go out and make it happen!

The empowerment that has come from this little baby streak of independence I am cultivating has been incredible. Now, in many ways I still have no idea what I want my life to look like, and even less of an idea of how to bridge the gap between my life presently, and the life I want to have. But I now understand that I can't stand still and wait for it to show up! The only way to get it...is to MAKE it!

If I put in the effort to shape my own life into what I want it to be, the odds are greatly in my favor of having a life I want.

...Nature girl

Nature girl vs. the speed of life

Anyone ever notice that time is not perceived at a constant rate? If you haven't noticed it, think about a long workday as opposed to a day with friends. How much faster does your day out go than your workday?

It seems right now that life in general is tripping over itself! Days fly by and nights seem too short to be real, but at the same time I feel such a wealth of time.  I have been doing all sorts of training with Arbonne, and getting back to reading things that not only feed my fun requirement, but also nourish my heart and mind.

I checked "The Secret", and "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" off my list of things I should probably read, add to that "Leader With No Title", and I'm putting little dents into "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" - it's a tougher read. Having a library so close has put me back into the mindset of the summer reading programs that I did as a kid. I still can't believe that I would read SO many books in such a short time!

There is a certain joy, almost an epiphany, that books can give you. It's like talking out your problems and hang ups with someone you are never going to meet, and has no reason (or ability) to criticize or judge! They offer only solutions, or escape, and fulfill that need to become bigger than who you currently are.

The creeping, speeding, and yet strangly open perception of time I am experiencing has been really enlightening as to how much time I have...and waste. I sit at work and space out, or stalk Facebook, or write, but I'm easily distracted by anything and everything else. Over the last few weeks I have really tried to limit my to do list so that I can focus on what is important - and it's working! Even though I feel the crush of speeding time, I am able to focus and achieve tasks much more efficiently, and I feel like I'm actually DOING more without the harried feeling. Major bonus.

Now if only I could make the nights a little longer, and be a little more rested, I would be unstoppable! Just wait, I'll figure out a way to make it happen.

...Nature girl