Passion Test Meets My Soul's Agenda

Between my birthday and the New Year, like many, I have been on a reset journey. For me, it looks like reevaluating what I want from life.

A few months back, I came across Janet Attwood's Passion Test. You're supposed to write down a whole bunch of things you want to experience from life and then evaluate them on what you are more passionate about. You end up with a top 5 that you spend more of your attention on.

When I did this the first time, I got "Knitting my own clothes with nice yarns." It was a fun answer and I have been getting some nicer yarns and having a blast making my clothes. Most of the others just kind of fell by the wayside.

This time, I was reminded of a couple of things. One is my motivator and the other is my Soul's Agenda word. I thought I would talk a little about both and then explain what happened when I applied them to the passion test.

Motivators

There are 4 main ways in which people are motivated. 

1. Some people are motivated by passion. Just feeling passionate about something keeps them going, it lights them up and they act on the things they are passionate about. These people need to feel that passion for all of their goals. 

2. Some people are motivated by vision. They get a vision of what they want and that's enough. As long as they hold the vision, they are taking action and moving forward.

3. Some people are motivated by their why. As long as they have a good why, they will keep going.

4. Some people are motivated by peace. Will the goal bring peace to the heart? Then they more likely to act.

You may notice that 3 of these are frequently addressed in the goal setting world. In fact, it's really easy to tell people to find what they are passionate about, create a vision/goal, and make sure they have their why. Most people will find success from this because it will hit their motivator. The 4th one has a harder time finding motivation in general.

Soul's Agenda

The Soul Agenda word is a concept presented by Ani Anderson in her book 'Finding Your Soul's Agenda". You go through a process to find your one word to live life by. You'll also create your own definitions as well as look at what it feels like to live in the opposite. Everyone has a word that they use to describe an expansive, joyful feeling we get when we do something that is right for us.

A friend got Thrilling as her word. I know of someone getting Passion as their word and another getting Adventure. Alive or some version is a known word as well. My word is Light, mostly it is in the form of not heavy but also not dark works.

Back to the passion test.

I think I am motivated by peace. When I try to follow the idea of passion, it's hard to find anything that motivates me for long. It is easier to do it if it will be fun but even then, it's just not enough to keep me going. If I was motivated by the vision, I would be so successful. I am constantly trying to get the goals and visions in my mind, just to have them be forgotten. I know if the why would inspire, I would do a lot more.

My friend couldn't understand why I wasn't motivated to clean up a room when it would mean that my kids and I would all have a room. Things were a bit chaotic after my mom died. One would think giving my boys a space to sleep would be motivation but it wasn't. Even the idea of helping people in some way just doesn't motivate me. In a moment it feels like a nice plan but it does not sustain.

The problem is, peace isn't really a word that motivates me either. Peace is an elusive word. That's where the Soul Agenda word comes in. If I think about what makes me feel light, that is something I want to do. 

I did the passion test. I asked the passion questions. I got this list:

1. Using Natural Yarns to knit me stunning clothes.
2. Created a Home for Christ to dwell in.
3. Hold space for Christ in my heart.
4. Spend quality time with my family.
5. Create and hold space for Love (Christ) in people’s homes.

It's an okay list. They are all things I desire. I decided to try a different approach. This time, I traded out "passion" for my Soul Agenda word. Which one makes me feel Light? My list is a bit different.

1. Creating a home for Christ to dwell in.
2. Holding space for Christ in my heart.
3. Creating and holding space for Love in people’s homes.
4. Spending quality time with my family.
5. Married to my sweetheart.
6. Using natural yarns to knit me stunning clothes tied with making alpaca socks for my kids.

More importantly, I do feel peaceful about this. The order changed a bit and my knitting moved way down the list. I enjoy my knitting but if it's all I do during a day, I feel heavy at the end of the day. I want to go to bed feeling light about my day.

Will this motivate me? I'm still not sure but I know I feel better about my list then I ever did passion lists.

I hope something in this inspired you, helped you to feel a bit lighter and ready for the New Year. I hope 2025 is a great year for you!

Hugs,

Michele

Soul Shine Specialist
Let your soul shine big, bright, live, and beautiful!

The Rhythm of Life

In, out. Up, down. Energized, tired. Life is full of rhythms. Rhythms are even found in the seasons. It's a cycle of up and down with the summer being up and the winter being down. The spring and fall are the transition periods of moving into the next phase. We see the same with the moon. Full is up and new is down.

We currently live in a society that doesn't work with the rhythms. We push through the down phases and are often so exhausted we can't benefit from the up phases. Then life gives us a reason to pause, whether we want it or not.

I, myself have moved into a required winter phase. A winter phase is a period of rest. It's a place of reflection and nourishment. It's a period where the energies are lower and the nights are longer. If we were to live a life where we slowed down in the winter and truly used it as a time for reflection, we'd have so much more energy in the summer.

Even in my required winter phase, I won't be able to rest like I really need to. At work last Friday, I fell. I ended up in urgent care and finally a knee brace. My knee is currently diagnosed as severely sprained. We're waiting until swelling has gone down to determine if there is more to this than originally thought.

With an injured knee, I should be resting. I should be using this time to go inward and reflect as I rest my body. Since the accident, I have been doing this. The problem is I still need to feed my family. The doctor only said I couldn't work until the 10th. Oh, sure there are restrictions but guess where I will most likely be tomorrow and if I can't go, I'll go without pay. They'll set up a chair at the register and I really don't see how that can work, the registers are designed for standing work. I'll not be able to put my leg up.

This is how our society works. A person gets sick and unless they are so bad they can't move, they are at work. Our jobs expect it. One fellow employee came to work with Strep.  Not only was she not taking care of herself, but she was also infecting the rest of us. I don't usually get it but I got a little because my body has been so tired from work.

If we can, we need to be following the rhythms of our own bodies. If our body is tired, rest. Get your sleep, take it easy, choose reflective activities, etc. Stop pushing through and listen to your body. Sleep when your body says sleep. When you replenish your body, you will have the strength to do activities again. If you don't, it's because your body has been so overworked that it has gone into a phase of required rest.

Seasons. We have winter. This is the period of rest. I don't know about you but I feel like hibernating. Unfortunately, society has a different plan. We have one of the most beautiful and yet exhausting holidays right in the middle of winter for my part of the world. If you don't believe me, hang out at Hobby Lobby for a day. The number of people we have coming in to get an early start on their Christmas prep is astounding. Instead of resting, we're shopping, decorating, having parties and gatherings galore. Those gatherings are a big deal so they take a lot of work.

We move from these crazy holiday activities to the new year. Setting goals and reflecting on the old and new years are perfect activities but we aren't planning our goals wisely. Instead of looking at the seasons we're anxious to jump into our goals right away. We burn out because we're starting these major goals in the middle of the rest season.

In spring, we start to get some great energy. We get super excited and then we make a mistake. We do too much. Think of spring as the waking up period. Sure we have a lot of energy but it's not like we're in our most energetic phase. It's a transition season. We'll have a burst of energy followed by a need to rest. If we were to plan our activities accordingly, then we'd do a little more activity then we did in rest. We'd choose smaller activities to work with the small burst and we'd save the big activities for when we have a lot of energy in the summer.

Summer is a time of full-on energy. The days are long, most of us are getting our vitamin D directly from the best source. We tend to have more energy. If we have planned our new year's goals according to season then this is the time when we can get the majority of that accomplished.

We move into fall and we are in a winding-down stage of the year. We start to get a little more tired. The weather sends us indoors more. We're harvesting the fruits of our labor and hopefully storing for winter.

This cycle will happen to some degree no matter where you live in the world. You may not see a full-on winter cycle in your part of the world. You may be in a completely different cycle if you are in the opposite part of the world, Christmas in summer sounds great to me. Some places don't really have transition periods, they seem to go straight from one to the other. If you are aware of the seasons around you, you will be able to work with what you have.

Let's move on to a smaller cycle. This is the cycle of the moon. Most women know that they are affected by the moon. How their own monthly cycles fit in is something they get to figure out. A good idea is to track your own energy in relation to the moon. I was surprised to note that as we get closer to the full moon I have more emotional energy then I had when the moon was new. I hadn't realized how affected by the moon I really am.

If you can realize how you are responding to the moon, then you can plan your monthly activities to coincide with your energy. Big projects during the full moon. Reflective activities during the new moon.

Now, imagine if you took your daily cycles and planned that way. You'd sleep when it's time for sleep. You'd notice when you have the most energy and plan your activities accordingly.  You'd rest, even for a few minutes if necessary, when you are tired. Instead, we push through and then wonder why we get burned out.

Let's look at your homes for a minute. How can you apply these principles of rhythm in your home? Maybe it would be a good idea to set up a cleaning cycle that works with the moon. Smaller and more reflective tasks around the new moon and those big items around the full moon. Maybe you have a room that takes more energy to clean, choose to clean it during the full moon. When are the spring and fall of your day? Choose smaller tasks that don't take much energy to do for the spring of your day. Take a moment in the fall of your day to appreciate the fruits of your labor. Take these same principles and add them to every part of your life, to the best of your ability.

Once upon a time, the majority of society lived this way. We didn't have electricity and lamps weren't great to do work by so when the sun went down, people went to bed. They did less physical work in the winter and a lot of work in the summer. They lived off of the land and in harmony with the cycles of the land. In my ideal world, we're doing similar again. We're living in harmony with the rhythms of life.

What season is your life in? Are you taking full advantage of that? Me, I'll be resting as much as I possibly can.

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the souls who love them.

Bigger Than Life

I recently read a book by Ani Anderson called, “Find Your Soul's Agenda: The one word that will make your whole life a success”. (Yup, this is an affiliate link.) In this book, she talked about her journey to a word that would change her life.

The best thing about the book is that she walks you through finding your one word, or in my case short phrase, that is what your Soul's Agenda is. It's based on the idea that our Souls came here to experience a certain kind of feeling. Not a new concept, right?

The difference is, she takes you through a process to find a word that describes what your Soul came here to feel. For me, that phrase is Bigger Than Life. Once you know your word, you'll then define it. This is important because this isn't about what society thinks the word means. It's about a definition that inspires you. You'll also come away with a Soul Agenda statement. Mine is:

My Soul's agenda is to feel Bigger Than Life and to invite you to experience the same.

Once you have your word and definition, you can apply it to every amazing experience you've had and see that yes, it was a perfect way to describe that memory. You can use it to create experiences in the future that will bring that feeling about. She even teaches you how to use it to make decisions. The first part is, which of these will cause me to feel (insert soul agenda word here)? She has a tip for if neither choice matters.

After you know your Soul's agenda, you'll learn how your Soul has been living on purpose your whole life. I was raised with the idea that you can't feel bliss if you haven't felt pain. That basically to know what a positive feeling feels like, you have to experience the opposite.

There are two sides to every feeling. We focus on what we want and label what we don't as being bad. What if it wasn't bad but rather an opportunity to learn what it feels like to be in the opposite of what you want to feel? The Soul's Agenda wants to feel both in order to fully experience its agenda. You'll define the opposite of your Soul's Agenda and see where that also applies to every horrible experience you had.

With this information in hand, you have choices. Do you want to learn the lesson or repeat the lesson? Do you want to stay in whatever negative feeling you have? If yes, awesome, do it. I suggest also saying, “I feel this (insert negative feeling) fully and completely.” If you want to feel it, really feel it. If your answer is no, then you can easily say, “I release this feeling and choose to feel (insert positive here.)”

I hope you decide to read the book. I promise, whatever word you think might be yours isn't likely right. I thought mine might be freedom. Freedom is a part of my definition, but the word doesn't come close to explaining how Bigger Than Life feels.

Have an amazing day!

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.

Organization Styles

When one studies a lot about the home and how it can serve you, one gets led to some interesting videos. I have really loved a couple and so I wanted to share them with you. One part of me says that is counter-intuitive and the other part of me says, it's not about who shares the message, it's about the message and getting it out there.

Today's share is about some of what makes people different. Sometimes, we read a book, watch a video, or see a person then we think, “Okay, I can do this.” After a while, we fail. Why? Is it something wrong with you? Absolutely not; you are great and wonderful the way you are. Is there something wrong with the system? No, it's a great system. The reality is, there are so many systems out there because there are so many different kinds of people. The system isn't right for you, or at least not right now. It's finding the right system for you, at the right time of your life.

I remember when I was doing the FlyLady system. I struggled like mad with the daily tasks, but I thrived on weekly tasks. I remembered how I had created a weekly laundry system for myself when my oldest was little. I was so good at following those weekly routines I had set. Why didn't I do so well on the daily? I would beat myself up thinking something is wrong with me.

It's not that there was anything wrong with me. It's just that I'm more of a bigger picture planner with a flair for spontaneity. I love to set weekly intentions that I then look at each day to see if there is something right for me to do today. I love weekly routines but when it gets more detailed like a daily, I get all locked up and do nothing.

Although this video is about organizing your home, I'm currently enjoying some changes to my time planning. Slowly, I've evolved a system that works great for me. I'll share that with you, just in case there are some things that work for you.

I use a dot-grid journal. I tried the bullet journal style of doing things, but it just didn't feel right for me. I loved writing and drawing in the dot grid, so I continue to use it. I love making a monthly spread and I have finally found some weekly spread ideas that I love. I had a recent change with an announcement from my church, so this is what it looks like now.

Each month, I create a monthly calendar and note the important dates. I then set a goal in four areas. A spiritual goal, a social goal, a physical goal, and an intellectual goal. I had been trying to do seasonal goals but even though I like the bigger pictures, this idea never quite sat right with me. I'd do great for about a month and then I'd start finding other things to do instead. For me, monthly is a great chunk of time to make a goal for.

Each week, I create my weekly calendar and note more detailed events. I have a couple of trackers but not many because I can get overwhelmed with those details. I look at each of the four monthly goals and ask myself what I can do on them this week. I don't really have a great routine going right now because my work schedule varies so much.

Each day, I create my daily spread. I have a monthly theme, Halloween this month, and I draw a little sketch each day. This is important for me because I love to look at what I did and often show off the cute little pics to my friends and family. It's so much easier to look back on my page and see the fun images which then encourages me to finish my daily tasks.

Here's where my planning gets even more detailed but not in an overwhelming way. I get in tune with my Higher Power and we plan some things for my day. I start with some questions. What can I do for my weekly goals today? I then go through seven areas asking similar questions. Sometimes I get a few things; sometimes I get “do nothing.” I find the more in tune I am when I plan these things, the more likely I am to get them done.

The seven areas are:

God. It's super important to start with your higher power. If you don't have one, get one. The higher self, God, the universe, a tree, or whatever. Something that you can have a daily council with. What can you do today to have an increase in that relationship?

Self. We can't take care of others if we are falling apart. Too often, especially for us women, we put others' needs before our own to the point that we break down. It's important to take care of ourselves. What does your body need today? What do you need to do for yourself today?

Sweetheart. I do this even though he hasn't shown up yet. I ask if there is anything I can do for this relationship. Sometimes there is, other times it is to remember that he is here for me. This remembering will bring him closer vs the doubt that would push him away. After the kids are grown and gone, will this relationship stand? That's why it is the first relationship after God and self. This is the person we love and want to be with forever so take care of it.

Family. It is up to you to decide who belongs in this category. They may be by blood and they may even be those super close friends. What can you do for this area of your life? Who do you need to connect with?

Friends and extended family. Again, this is an area that it is up to you to decide who belongs here. What can you do today for this area? We never know the impact we can have when we follow the simplest of promptings here. We could get our own answers or help a friend who was really struggling.

Community. This area is quite large. Have you noticed that we're working our way out, each area a little bigger than the rest? This area is your neighborhood, your workplace, businesses, church groups, other social groups, schools, etc. These are the people you have contact with in some way. This is where this blog comes in for me. What can we do for work today? What can we do for church? Who do I need to connect with?

The world. This one can be quite surprising. Sometimes, I get “simply shine.” Other times, I'm inspired to make a video, write a fb post, or even blog. I know that those often belong in my community area but it's not about pigeonholing things, it's about following the ideas that come. A world idea could be doing something with your family. That will then create a chain reaction that impacts the world. We just never know. What can you do for the world today? What is your reach, your impact?

As I have implemented this form of planning in my life, I feel more fulfilled. I may do things that are not on the list, I may do very little. Today was mostly a day of rest. My body needed it and so even though it was a day off, the list was quite small with a couple of areas having nothing to do. My goal is to tune in each day and ask. My Higher Power sees things that I don't, so who better to plan with?

Here is the video. She's talking about organizing your home and I hope you find great inspiration both from me and from her. I wish you the solutions you are seeking, the ones just right for you!

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.

It's About That Feeling

What do you want to feel in your home?

For me, the answer is easy. I have thought years about what I want my home to feel like. For the longest time, I didn't know how to describe it. I remember going into other people's houses and feeling something. I loved being there and I knew that I wanted that in my home.

As I have worked with different people, I've noticed that we all want something from our homes. Some people are looking for a peaceful haven, some are looking for an escape from the world, others are looking for a place of gathering and family.

As you are deciding what you want your home to be, think about these things. Do you want your entire home to feel one way? For me, this is the case. I want people to walk into my home and feel a peace that they want to feel in their homes. Maybe you want a home that has a different feeling depending on the room. Maybe you want the family room to feel fun and the bedroom to feel restful.

Close your eyes and imagine you're looking at your ideal home. It can be the home you are living in, or it can be that dream home you will have someday. Take a deep breath and feel the joy of knowing that is your home and it's just right for you.

Now, walk through the front door. What do you feel as you walk in? Write the word or words that best describe that feeling. Look around and take it in, the feeling and any details you notice. Are there certain colors you need to note? Certain shapes, smells, etc. Are there people there or are you alone? Write it all down because there is a message in each little detail that you become aware of.

After a while in this first room, walk through each room of the house. Note the same things. First, note the feeling and then note the details. Write them all down.

If this is the home you are living in, what can you do right now to bring that feeling into each room? Can you bring the colors in, the smells, the shapes? What is the next step to creating the home you want?

If this was your dream home, what can you do to bring those feelings into the place where you are now? We need to surround ourselves with those feelings now if we want to be aligned with those feelings when we move in. Can we use some of those colors and smells in our current place? Are there things we own that don't fit that feeling? Are there things we need to add to bring in those feelings? What is your next step?

Here is an assignment for you. Every day imagine your home. Tune into those feelings again. Follow it up by asking yourself, “What would it take to bring this feeling into my home?” When you get an answer, act on it.

Feel free to review last week's post about What Would It Take.

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.

Feng Shui or Not to Feng Shui

Today, I want to talk about Feng Shui. It's kind of a challenging subject because I have some pretty mixed feelings.

First, Feng Shui is about the energy flow in your home. A good Feng Shui consultant will have you set clear intentions as you clear, arrange, or enhance your areas. This is a key factor in Feng Shui. It's really about getting you aware of the effect your surroundings have on you and using intentions to change it. I think more and more practitioners are becoming aware that to really make a difference you get to address the inner world as you are changing your outer world.

In Feng Shui, there is a map called a Bagua that you place over a room or building. Although the most popular maps have nine areas, originally this was an octagon they placed over the space. The eight directions came to a unified point in the middle. To make it easier, they put the eight areas to the outside in boxes and then added a middle section that is about health and unity. I think it's based on the idea that you will be in good health when all of the areas of life are balanced.

Traditionally, the Bagua was placed with the bottom of the map over the east wall. If you have studied any Native American cultures and other old tribal cultures, you will find a similar idea. The Navajo Hogan is traditionally supposed to have its door to the east. When someone dies in the Hogan, they board up the door and cut a door in the back to remove the body through. The east is the rising sun, new life to a new day. The sun “dies” in the west. Similarly, new energy comes from the east, which is why ancient Feng Shui used the east wall.

Now, we use the wall that the energy enters your home or room; the front door or room door. It won't matter which direction you face your home. If your door is on the west, you place the bottom of the map with the door wall. The door can be in any of the three sections at the bottom of the map.

For myself, I usually take a slightly different approach. If someone needs the Bagua, we use the Bagua. If someone is more intuitive, I'll guide them to make their own. I'll ask them what area in their room represents money. When they have their own map made, they'll apply it to their house. Remember, intention is a key factor so either method will work great. The important part is that you intentionally change the energy.

One of the things that I don't agree with in Feng Shui is how they use colors and elements. The colors were chosen by a culture that has white as a color for mourning, whereas we use black. This is where I think intuition really needs to come into play. What color represents money for you? If you were to add one of the five elements wind, water, fire, earth, or metal which you would associate with money? You could then use colors or elements in that area as you feel inclined to do. The same goes for symbols. Traditionally, China has a color and symbol that means money. The question is, does it really mean the same to you? Find your own symbol that represents wealth for you.

One thing I do love about Feng Shui is the recognition that all things have a chi, which is really energy. Each item has a story to tell and for you, that story could be a blessing or a curse. This is a part of why clutter is such a problem. If an area of your home is bogged down with clutter, it will bog down your life. Stepping into a world where everything around you makes your soul sing, will create a life that makes your soul sing.

If something doesn't make your soul sing, there are choices. Let it go is just one way. Another way is to clear the energy. This is a lot of what I do with homes. I have already shared a few posts about how I do it with everyday items. Things you can do for yourself, or you can hire someone like myself to help you out.

Whether you choose to follow the Feng Shui map or not, there are many things you can do for your home with clear intentions. Ask yourself where the different areas are represented and then take time to clear them out, intentionally decorate and plan the space.

Is there too much red which is often associated with fire? You may feel like you're burning the candle at both ends. Bring in some other elements to balance out that red fire. Are you feeling stuck in your life? Check out the energy flowing in and out of your home. Does it come in through a clean entrance, inside and out? Does it have a way to flow out? So many questions and solutions are available as you look at what your room, home, or even work environment are telling you.

If you need help with what to ask or even an outside perspective or guidance, this is one of the things I offer. Of course, I'm always thrilled to clear out the “chi” as well. 😊

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.