Dynamic Living Newsletter Aug/Sept 08

As you might have noticed, the Dynamic Living Newsletter has been MIA for a couple months. Deepest apologies. However, at the tail end of buying a house, selling a house, moving out of one and into another, completing a major remodel, and getting married, hopefully you will forgive my delay.

That said, I'm delighted to celebrate this new beginning as Robin Berg (Peglow will become my middle name) with the man of my dreams, hubby I adore, Todd.

I wanted to share this sweet

Steve Z photo with you from our special day. Check out the Steve Z Wedding blog for recent photos as I'm sure more of ours will be up there in weeks to come. He's truly a gifted artist and photojournalist whom I'm confident will be famous one day. No really.

Action Addiction:
A Compelling "a-ha"
"Addiction" defined:
"The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something." (The Free Dictionary)
or
"Essentially, addiction designates a process whereby a behavior, that can function both to produce pleasure and to provide escape from internal discomfort, is employed in a pattern characterized by (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior (powerlessness) and (2) continuation of the behavior despite significant negative consequences (unmanageability)." (Wiley InterScience)

The Epidemic
I've accidentally found myself smack in middle of a current epidemic. I'll call it Action Addiction. It's rooted in good intentions and productivity, yet in the extreme, it leads to ineffectiveness and depletion. It keeps us moving non-stop, struggling with self-care, and finding "sitting down to do nothing" virtually impossible (lazy!). It leaves us exhausted, drained, sometimes crabby and feeling nearly incapable of stopping. Addiction.

I grew up with hard working parents born of hard working parents. My Mom's parents lived on a farm and there was always work to be done. My Dad worked for over 37 years in a factory and came home to work on the yard, car and house, or attend our sporting events. My mom worked for over 20 years as a nursery school teacher in conjunction with taking care of the house, sewing, homework help, meals, and chauffeuring active kids.

I learned well and became a highly productive and busy young adult. Busy became a state of being for me, like a shadow I wasn't even aware of. I've gradually stepped back to observe my "busy self," realizing I'm not my the "real me" while under its spell. It's a version of myself that keeps me from living fully expressed.

The Impact
This action addiction creates a constant underlying "dis-ease" and a sense that we should always be doing something/more, which results very simply, in stress, whether subtle, unconscious anxiety, or open intense stress. In a September 2007 American Psychological Association survey, it was found that among over 1,800 Americans surveyed, one-third of them are living with extreme stress and 48% believe their stress has increased in the past five years. Nearly half shared that it is has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lives, 31% of employed adults have difficulty managing work and family responsibilities and 35 % cite that work interferes with family or personal time. (Link to full article.)

There is a deeper impact. Joy. Living as though you're ever-failing, never doing enough is less than joyful. Measuring the success of a day by the completion level of a "To-do" list is dangerous, making our satisfaction contingent upon external factors that are often beyond our control and at times, totally unrealistic. We "suddenly" find ourselves exhausted after a blur of overwork, feeling depleted, and unfulfilled. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that's not what life is for.

Moving toward Peace
I've been grappling with moving toward peace. As usual, it's a very simple concept; not easy. It comes down to a paradigm shift, a shift in my beliefs and mindset about what is valuable in life. What I've discovered thus far is:

I'm happiest when I feel relaxed and am aware of my surroundings and choices-not compulsively running around "getting stuff done".
I'm committed to enjoy my life NOW, rather than working every moment hoping to enjoy it later.
I'm tired of being tired. I love how guided I feel when I am rested and peaceful.
I feel deeply connected to people and my surroundings when I slow down. (Rushing creates a sense of isolation.)
I'm skilled at multi-tasking and being productive YET I prefer the outcomes and sense of self I get while having a single focus. I lose touch with my heart when I get swept up in compulsive "I have to get it done" thinking.

It is time for me to shift my focus and how I value myself. I realize I am not my productivity. In order to evolve and grow, I must give myself permission to re-create my values, beliefs and ultimately, myself to be in sync with my life now. Game on.

Joy,
Robin

A New Way of Living

For 7 years I've been leading a women's series called: Access Your Power Within™

12 Power Principles to Juicy, Soulful, Living

Here's what it's deigned for:

Start living a highly conscious life of choice
Solidify the ritual of fostering your best self.
Immerse in a powerful community of women
Replace feeling "stuck" with patience and "knowing"
Develop and use tools to remove the obstacles in your way.
Be resilient despite challenges and set-backs
Utilize your own inner wisdom for guidance and aligned decisions.
Become a master of your energy and inspiration.
Liberate and nourish your soul. Be YOU daily.
Increase happiness through non-attachment and mindset

1st and 3rd Mondays monthly, 6:30-8pm

Listen to the Introductory audio (plays right from your computer now), or click here to download
MP3 version MP3 AYPW and listen later.

The main gist is feeling powerful in your life, having greater clarity and knowing how to listen to your inner guidance (and actually following the advice.) It is about becoming a master of your energy and what enlivens you, getting clear on desires, eliminating obstacles (physical, mental and emotional) between you and your desires, exploring self expression and how to be YOU regardless of your environment. How to be resiliant in the face of challenge and set backs while working manifesting principles to attract into your life what you deeply desire (and at the same time practicing graceful un-attachment to outcomes.) It is about letting who you truly are (your soul self, divine self) have space to breathe in your life. To touch a place where living is more flow and less struggle.

It's time to get inspired and create a life that delights you, by Accessing Your Power Within.

Find out more and register for 12 Principles for Juicy, Soulful Living Space limited.

Sneak Preview Nights:
Monday, November 3rd: The Power of Heart

Monday, November 17th: The Power of Cleansing

6:30-8pm. A few guest spaces available.

Get a sneak preview before you join!

Call today 303.282.1077 to reserve your spot.

this is your one life. why not make it amazing?

Robin Peglow M.A., H.H.C. of SOLH Coaching is a Speaker and Integrative Life Coach who specializes in group and individual programs designed to create sustainable change. She supports high functioning, intelligent people to get inspired about the possibility of living a fully-expressed, powerful life while deepening their contribution to others.

Contact Info
SOLH Coaching
Robin Peglow, M.A., H.H.C

robin@signsoflifehealth.com 303.282.1077 www.signsoflifehealth.com