Present Over Perfect Challenge Group - Sept 19th

Life is messy and imperfect. It just is. I think that women especially, have this idea that everything and everyone needs to be taken care of and in the right place at the right time.

What about those of us who control freaks and don't want to have anyone else do anything, for fear that it would be "messed up?" Any other "freaks" with me? Holla!

What about the introvert (and extrovert) mommy out there who feels completely ALONE, even though she is around others all day long?

What if we could replace those worn down and worn out feelings with a new way of living--one of grace, space, and connection? What if we could do all that through a HEALTHY routine?

I'm excited to share with you an opportunity to join me with some other coaches on a journey of PRESENCE for 30 days. The basis for this group is a book entitled, "Present Over Perfect," by Shauna Niequist. The content of this book has really pierced our hearts and we cannot wait to share with you some truths from it. Starting on Monday, September 19, 2016, the "Present Over Perfect" Challenge Group will guide you in investing in YOU. You can determine your future, and it begins with a few small steps:

1. Join the "Present Over Perfect" Challenge Group by September 12th with a Challenge Pack.
2. Commit to participating in the group for the full 30 days, starting September 19th.
3. Pray for God to open the doors of your heart so that you can understand and apply all that He will be teaching us during this group as we change our hearts, minds, and bodies through healthy habits.

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What is this 30-day challenge group?

• Support and accountability through daily interaction with others on the same journey
• Motivation and tips on how to stay PRESENT and create a more simplistic life
• An investment in YOU and your health (Challenge Pack includes:)
  • 30 days of 30-minute exercises you can do right from home
  • 30 days of nutrition through Shakeology to keep your body on track
  • 30 days of Beachbody On Demand: FREE meal guides, streaming workouts, FIXATE Cooking Show with recipes and how-to videos to create healthy meals, and FREE 3-Week Yoga Retreat to help you slow down and be kind to your body
  • 30-day guarantee that you experience physical results and a healthier you
  • 1:1 Health and fitness coaching to keep you on track
  • Meal planning and prep tools
  • Clean eating recipe sharing
• Daily thoughts from "Present Over Perfect" (book purchase optional)

Want a taste of what is to come? Do you resonate with any of these quotes?

“Present is living with your feet firmly grounded in reality, pale and uncertain as it may seem. Present is choosing to believe that your own life is worth investing deeply in, instead of waiting for some rare miracle or fairytale. Present means we understand that the here and now is sacred, sacramental, threaded through with divinity even in its plainness. Especially in its plainness.”

“The world will tell you how to live, if you let it. Don’t let it. Take up your space. Raise your voice. Sing your song. This is your chance to make or remake a life that thrills you.”

“Maybe it is God calling a big cosmic time out on me; giving me a chance at a new way of living. This is what I know. I have always been a more is more person and something shifted in me this summer. Something inside me said, "No more!" No more pushing and rushing. No more cold pizza at midnight. No more flights. No more books. No more house-guests. No more all of these things. Even things I love. Things I long for. Things that make me happy. No More. Only less. Less of everything.”

“But this is what I’ve learned the hard way: what people think about you means nothing in comparison to what you believe about yourself.”

The feedback I tend to get from the people who need this the most is: "I just don't have TIME to add one more thing!" I KNOW! And THAT is exactly why I am inviting you to join me in this challenge.

I CHALLENGE you to MAKE the time for YOU.

That's right. I know it's not easy. I know you have a million plates spinning. What if you CHOOSE to take a few of those plates down for 30 days and spend 30 minutes on YOU? What would happen if you CHOOSE to take care of YOU? Maybe that means working out before the kids wake up in the morning. Maybe it means skipping one TV show before bed. Maybe that means you will have to honestly spend some time in PRAYER that God will help you make YOUR health a priority.

What would happen if you do? What will happen if you don't?

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It's time for CHANGE, my friends. It's not easy. It's not always fun. BUT--if you want to become a better YOU, it's time to believe that your own life is worth investing in!

A Piece of my Spirit Wings Painting Course : Speaking our Truth

Step 1:

With the above in mind, consider all the paintings you’ve made thus far in this course.

• What personal truths have emerged? Perhaps the truths are quite literal (Ex: I am strong, I am learning, I am brave, I am finding my way with an open heart). Perhaps the truths are less obvious yet are still expressed in your paintings’ moods and color expressions (Ex: I’m feeling bold, I love color, I don’t love painting faces, I do love painting faces). Write it ALL down. A list of words, stream of consciousness – whatever feels true – just get it down.
• I have found that my BRAVE needs to be heard for someone else to benefit. My BRAND of beautiful is something that is helpful and not unusual or different. The women/angels that have been painted all have a piece of me and they are all deep thinkers. They have a voice and a song that speaks to their hearts. They intent only good to come from their existence and strive to simply "be" for others.
• What has been the most honest painting that you’ve created? What makes it honest? What brave truths does it reveal about you, the artist? 
• My tribe one, was the most vulnerable one for me because I know others struggle and I know that I want to thrive; thus, those who struggle and end up thriving are the ones that I want to be with. They know the darkness and yet it does not consume them. They know how to turn that mess of their life into their message for others so that hope can continue on in this world.
• What has been the bravest painting you’ve created? What made it brave? How did it feel painting it?
• the trusting in His refuge and His strength was so hard to do and the most brave because I was sitting in a place of confusion and in a place of constant heaviness. The "ocean" or rain I felt was overwhelming and yet I knew that this rain would at some point lessen.
• What part of your truth have you not yet expressed creatively? For me, this answer is long. I have a lot of room to express things like my humor, my memories, my anger, my silliness.
• I've not expressed my anger, nor my humor, nor my silliness. I don't feel that this mode of expression is ready for that and that I simply need to get out the deep passion that is within me leading me to tell of the "truth" that speaks to others' hearts and how much they are worth and what this life means. I don't feel that my anger even righteous anger is really helpful to others at this time. I have opinions on political topics and on various social agendas but I don't feel that my voice would be helpful at this time. I feel like it would only add to the turmoil and negativity that this world feeds off of. I would love to show my silliness but am not quite sure how to do so yet.
• Considering your answers above, what truth has the strongest pull to be expressed in your creative journey today?
• to the young girl and woman who feels "less than" or "not enough" - you are braver than you think you are and have so much to give to our world, your gifts are special and tailored specifically to you; to the woman whose children have left the nest = your role of prayer and meaningful conversations has really just begun because now is when your children will begin to really spread those wings and see how high they can go before they fall and when they fall they need you there whether they know it or not; to the first-time mother who is struggling with identity and expectations of motherhood who needs to know that slowing down is good and that you are the best mother for your child tailor made for you in your womb or through adoption/fostering = you are right where you need to be; to the female athlete who compares herself to others' abilities and strengths = focus on what you have been given and make it the best you can; to the grandmother who isn't sure what else to give to her grandchildren = give of yourself and what legacy you desire to have whether the grandchildren are receptive or not because when you pass, their eyes will be opened to the truth that you were here for a reason and so are they.

“An artist feels vulnerable to begin with; and yet the only answer is to recklessly discard more armor” – Eric Maisel

When we allow ourselves to be honest about where we are – creatively, emotionally, and spiritually – we begin to nurture a truth inside us that may want to be revealed. I like to think of each painting of mine as a page in my journal. Whether I’m expressing tenderness or courage or grief, it all speaks to my truth in that moment – something I’m tossing around in my heart and trying to reconcile. It is my voice, whether it’s shaking or strong.

Step 2:

With the above in mind, consider where you’re at in your life.

• Are you in a place of stability, uncertainty, savoring? Are you building toward something, or dismantling something? Are you in a quiet season of your life? A season of juggling lots of roles? Where are you? How is your heart doing? Write it all out.
• I am now in a place of savoring and simultaneously in a place of uncertainty; I am building towards something bigger within me and within my story for God's plan; last year was about dismantling the busy-ness and dismantling the "hurry now" mentality; My heart is restless for continued striving which is no different than last year except I know have the choice of where my focused time goes rather than others choosing it. My heart wants more meaning and less turmoil and drama.
• How can you begin to express your truths and your vulnerabilities in your paintings so that they become a portal to your truest of trues, your healing, your rejoice, your sacred unfolding? Perhaps it’s with more mantras, or more icons and symbols that have meaning to your journey. Perhaps it’s infusing photographs, letters, and other mementos in your work. Perhaps it’s simply writing a letter to yourself on the blank white canvas that gets covered up with paper and paint, yet the energy of your truth is expressed. Remember, infusing our work with our truths can be softly subtle or literal and loud. Either way, it empowers our creative spirits toward a certain kind of freedom that comes from telling our truth.
• watermarks of my emotions would be cool; maybe more quotes that touch my heart; praying over my paintings and prints; more symbols?!; I would love to infuse letters from my parents, grandparents and boys; WOAH writing a letter to myself!! (energy of your truth is expressed)

Step 3:

Let’s take it a step further. Call upon your highest, wisest self who is in collaboration with your angels (Holy Spirit for Kara and her truest self). When it comes to speaking your truth, what does she want to tell you? Write it all down.

My truest self wants to tell me that it is ok to wonder and to even doubt the future ahead but it is not ok to stay still and do nothing. It is not ok to sit on my gifts and to let the world go by without them. She wants me to be my bravest self willing to give what I have as I have it and not to be perfect about it. She encourages me to try regardless of perceived "failure" and to live without being paralyzed or overwhelmed. She wants me to be determined because I have been given Jesus' strength and His Holy Spirit who has immeasurable strength and perception.

If you’re struggling, consider taking certain words from your answers from Steps 1+2 and plug them into the following letter from your Angel of Truth. The idea is to help you create a more fully formed message directly from your angel (His Holy Spirit), one that you perhaps use on your painting that we’ll start creating in the next lesson.

Dear {Kara},

Your truth shines brightly. May you continue to embrace the unknown and lessons of your beautifully messy life. And may you trust that your story  and your passions will continue to serve you toward a life of whole-hearted and brave living.  You can trust your wings.

Love,

Your Angel of Truth