7 Day Happiness Challenge Day 2

September 9th, 2014 Day 2 of the Happiness Challenge

1. Today I am happy for my health. I am grateful that my body is responding well to my pregnancy and that both mommy and baby are doing just fine. It is amazing to see how quickly my motherly instinct to protect has developed. I so look forward to nurturing my little man and keeping him safe. I am more mindful of my surroundings everyday and am more cognizant to welcome good health, peace and tranquility into my life. “Our environment, the world in which we live and work is a mirror of our attitude and expectations.” -Earl Nightingale I welcome a positive environment where I can be nurtured, can nurture others and thrive. 

2. Learning makes me happy. When I was younger I would always say that my dream was to be a lifetime student. I remember always being curious about the world and about my future role in it. I found it difficult to pick one particular interest that I was drawn to and found that I dabbled in lots of different areas. Choosing just one thing to focus my attention on always felt so restricting. I find that my list of interests is endless these days. I am drawn to art, to people, to history, to science, to music, to spirituality, to nature, to travel…etc. I thirst for knowledge and look for every opportunity I can get to learn and grow in this life time. One doesn’t stop learning when they leave school. There is so much more to uncover if you just choose to be curious. Life is a an endless cycle of learning and transformation. I seek out and welcome any experience that will bring forth additional knowledge and continued evolution. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi 

3. Being playful makes me happy. As much as I love a good conversation among mature adults, I find that I love being playful with people around me. Not only do I think it keeps you young, but it permits people to see a side of you that is innocent and free of judgment. It is not easy for many adults to tap into this side of themselves. It is almost as if their inner child has been locked up and left to collect dust. I say let your inner child out to play every once in a while! There is nothing wrong with focusing your day on both the things you find useful/necessary and the things you find pleasant. Attacking life in this way will leave you with very little regret and a life full of beautiful experiences. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Plato 

Ambition in the City 

 

 

7 Day Happiness Challenge

 

A few days ago, I was nominated by my dearest friend Jennifer to do the happiness challenge, by posting three things each day for the next 7 days that make me happy.  In my life I try to dedicate the majority of my time to doing things that make me happy. I try my best to live with intention and I accept sole responsibility for my happiness. For all of you Ambition in the City readers I invite you to take this challenge along with me this week. How are you welcoming happiness into your life?

September 8th, 2014 Day 1 of the Happiness Challenge 

1. This morning it made me extremely happy to coach a client around an issue that has been long burdening them. Our conversation focused on what they realistically had control over and how knowing this could empower them to experience their problem differently. As we tried on the various ways they could choose to experience their problem the problem started to loosen its grip on my client. It started to look smaller in their mind and even appeared more manageable. It made me happy to witness such a wonderful transformation happen right before my very eyes. When I can help someone to embrace the things that are beyond their control and to shift those things and situations that no longer serve them, my heart is filled with much joy. It is these very moments that resonate with my value of connection and service. It is a pleasure to connect and to serve people as a life coach.

2. Happy thoughts rushed into my mind as I felt my baby kick today. My heart became full as I welcomed each and every one of his subtle jabs. A little life is growing inside of me and that brings me so much joy. It is an honor to have had this little person chose me to be their mommy. I embrace and revel in these months of transformation and growth. I welcome this new chapter into my life and open myself up to all the lessons I am sure this new experience will provide me and my future son. I value family tremendously and have been blessed to have so many supportive and loving people in my life. It makes me extremely happy that it is finally my turn to create a family of my very own with my hubby this coming year. We can’t wait to meet you Alexander. :o)

3. I set the intention to approach this week with thoughts of love. I value love and welcome its power into my life.This morning I decided that my mantra for the week was going to be  “I welcome love and reject all negativity”. It is easy for us to step away from love and fall into negative thinking patterns so making it a part of our practice to be fully present and surrounded by love is imperative for a happy and healthy living. To aid me to keep me fully present and connected to this intention, I recently purchased rose quartz and black obsidian crystals to carry around with me. I can tell you that the two crystals provide me with a profound sense of calm when I carry them. Next week ill report back on how combining these crystals with my intention impacted my day to day dealings with the world around me.

“All great acts are ruled by intention. What you mean is what you get.”-Brenna Yavanoff

If you are unfamiliar with the world of crystals here are the meanings behind these two very powerful crystals.

Rose quartz is a stone of the heart, a Crystal of Unconditional Love. It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a Divine loving energy throughout the entire aura. Reawakening the heart to its own innate love, it provides a deep sense of personal fulfillment and contentment, allowing one the capacity to truly give and receive love from others. [Raphaell, 82-85][Simmons, 331][Hall, 236]

Black Obsidian  is a grounding stone that provides an instant connection from the Root Chakra deep into the core of the Earth. Black Obsidian will help to clean and remove negative energies in a sacred space or environment. It also assists in releasing those emotions/reactions that cause negative energy such as anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, etc. Once these energies are removed/released, Black Obsidian will help to keep the space protected.

 

Ambition in the City

 

Patience to be Present

Patience hasn’t always come naturally to me. As a child I always felt as though I was in a race. Always looking for immediate results and always in a rush to reach adulthood. When it came to reaching milestones in life I never found myself feeling satisfied. As one milestone was attained another was already in the works. As I write about this I feel exhausted just thinking of how my days used to be spent. How can a person dedicate so much time chasing after a finish line that’s never really there?  There would always be something else I NEEDED to attain and another thing to reach towards. 

As an adult I look back at my younger years and see how much of my time was spent planning, and how very little was spent in the moment. All those days and nights plotting and obsessing over my future. Endless hours devising check lists but never stopping to celebrate my victories. I was always on to the next thing.

It’s saddens me that so many of us live life in such a way. We hop from task to task, from responsibility to responsibility. Always focusing our energy on the things we have managed to convince ourselves is that bigger prize or achievement that’s just on the horizon. How much time have we lost? Who have we left behind or ignored in the process? What have we sacrificed to get us where we are today?

As a life coach and mom to be I look at life so very differently these days. I have learned to slow things down in an effort to enjoy the small pleasures in life. To take time to embrace the journey and not just the end result. I revel in the process of transformation and growth as it’s happening in the moment. Just as this little life grows inside me so too am I growing and evolving day by day. I celebrate and acknowledge things as if my life were being played for me in slow motion. I must be mindful and have the patience to be fully present. Life is what is happening now not what we hope will happen days, months or even years from now.

Enjoy the people around you that share in this life you lead. Acknowledge and appreciate them for the love and support they offer to you on a daily basis. Stop and celebrate a good days progress. You might have not gotten everything on your check list completed but it was a beautiful day and you were present for every moment of it.

Slow down to allow emotions, sensations and most importantly, your heart to guide you. Listen to your intuition and allow your acts to be ruled by intention. Never forget that what you are doing in this very moment is important and invaluable. You are evolving and learning every day so slow down to absorb the gifts being provided to you. Capture life lessons as they come. Life is meant to be enjoyed not to be rushed.

 

Cristina

Ambition in the City

 

Get Excited

 

Woke up feeling so excited for what’s to come. With this new little life in my belly I can’t help but see the world differently. It’s as though I am looking at life through my little one’s eyes. Everything is new, I feel more curious then ever, and i’m just so very happy to be in this moment. 

I am embracing every aspect of my day and ever encounter as if it were my first. I am feeling playful, energetic, and eager to be a part of it all. My body is having some difficulty keeping up of course but it’s OK because tomorrow I get to explore all over again. 

It’s been a few months since I last connected with that childlike part of me that looked at life this way and I thank the little angel growing inside me for bringing her back. 

What’s got you excited today? 

Allow your eyes to look at life from the perspective of your younger self. Embrace those things that used to make your eyes open up wide with excitement and heart pound out of your chest. It’s these things that truly make life special. 

Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Cristina 

Ambition In The City 

Back to Life

Hi my lovely ambitioninthecity readers. My sincerest apologies for not having posted in quite some time. It has been a very busy couple of months for me. I had to take a break from posting due to travels and some exciting life changes that have recently come up.

This January I will be expecting my first baby! I am excited to begin this next chapter in my life and am looking forward to seeing where this new adventure will take me and my amazing partner. I hope to return to blogging now that I have passed my first trimester and survived the lovely beginning symptoms of pregnancy. With a renewed sense of energy, I hope to bring Ambition in the City back to life. My coaching practice is still thriving in NYC but I really have missed connecting with people all over the globe. I look forward to writing again and I cannot wait to read all of your wonderful posts. It is good to be back!

I am ready to embrace all the new insights and learning I am sure to experience over the next few months and I look forward to sharing these insights with you all.

Thank you for all of your continued support.

Happy Blogging,
Cristina

Ponder This…

What will you STOP rejecting and what will you START embracing? 

Illustration Credit: suzannerivard.com

 

 

 

 

Do Stuff!!

Get out there and do stuff that matters! Go big, be bold and above all stop waiting for opportunities to present themselves. Create the life you want today! – Happy Matters LLC

For more information on living fully email me at creyeros@gmail.com

Now offering a complimentary coaching session to those that are CURIOUS about taking the next steps towards the life they have always envisioned. Sessions are offered in person or via Skype. Let’s get connected today! 

Ponder This…

What risks are you willing to take to get you where you want to be? 

When you take risks you gift yourself with the opportunity to learn. Regardless if your attempt is a success or a failure, learning brings with it its own rewards. Take pride in the risks you have taken. In the grand scheme of things the lessons are just as important as the desired outcome.

Ambition In The City

Unlocking Your Right Brain Power

Unlocking your right brain involves tapping into that part of yourself that houses your true authenticity and aliveness. When we function solely with our left brain we silence all that is unique and beautiful about ourselves.  Stop basing all of your decisions and actions on what’s logical, practical, and strategic, and start living from your intuition, inner yearning, and creativity. By stifling those aspects of ourselves that make us distinct we deny the world from experiencing all that we have to contribute. There is no amount of books or education that can replace what is inherently unique and wonderful about you. Share those thoughts, ideas, gifts, and talents with the world as they emerge. Your purpose in this world should never be forfeited to appease what the world thinks is realistic and or within your control. Step beyond what you think is logical and test the limits of your creativity and power. When we connect with our courage, confidence, and choice we allow for the flood gates of our right brain to open. Let your ideas flow and have faith in all that is possible. What’s your right brain got to say?

Ambition In The City

Competition Versus Creativeness

“Competition attempts to be like. Creativeness attempts to be unlike.” -U. S Anderson I don’t know about you, but I choose to be unlike anyone out there. We were each put on this earth with a unique purpose. In the entire world there is no one like you. Stop trying to be what you think others want you to be. Let’s stop being ridiculous, and embrace the fact that we are each essential in our own way. You have been living in the trap of competition for long enough. Why fight to have the same as everyone else when you can strive to obtain something different? Let go of the idea that the value system of the group is the same as your own. What do you value? What do have you to contribute that is good, and true, and unique?

Just as a painter puts paint to canvas with only his/her imagination and creativity guiding his vision, so too should we lead our individual lives. Paint the life you envision suiting your wants, and needs, not the life you see suiting others. It is only when we see value in our individual existence that we can look at life with creativity and wonder. We will take risks and explore every desire, every question, and every ambition that rises from within our minds. We will trust our intuition and resourcefulness, and know that every move we make manifested because we saw fit to make it so.

 

Ambition In The City