Are You Aligned With Your Core Values?

“Aligned” (20″ x 20″) – SOLD

Are you living in alignment with your core values?

Are your choices aligned with your Higher Self vision of your life?

I woke up beating myself up because it was already 8:30 AM. My productive hours usually start at 5 AM.  But I stayed up until midnight watching a Bollywood movie, and my body claimed the next 8 hours for sleep.

I could have gone on beating myself up for my poor choice and dove into my work (writing several blog posts).

Instead, I accepted the sun’s rare appearance as an invitation to get myself back on the loving track.

I wouldn’t be spending the whole day until sundown at the computer or in the studio. Nope!

I brushed my teeth, packed my breakfast & pad of paper, and headed out to Fort Amherst on my bike – a seaside spot on the cliffs 20-30 minutes away.  There, I sat for a couple of hours drafting a few blog posts and enjoying just being.

This was only my 2nd time on my bike this year – the weather being only one of the reasons. It felt great to get my body moving with such beauty all around. It was grounding. It was connecting. The sound of the crashing waves on the cliffs nourished my heart while my smoothie and organic grapes nourished my body.

Was I still in negative self-talk? Absolutely not. What I’d perceived as a ‘failure’ was simply motivation to make a better choice for the rest of my day.

My body, mind & spirit were now in the right space to write to you.

That’s what this painting is all about. “Aligned” is a reminder that our life flows from our essence, our core values, towards our Higher Self vision of our life.

The upside down rose quartz worry stone in the top corner represents the dissipation of worries when love & compassion guides our perspective & choices.

Dragonfly energy helps us to look past the illusions and delusions of the shoulds, woulds, and coulds of life to know our own Truth and set our own direction.

This is why I wired the back of the painting in a way that lets you choose to hang “Aligned” in a way that speaks to you on any given day.

Living in alignment isn’t about being and doing for others’ approval. It’s about designing your own best life that reflects your values.

When we let go of those illusions and delusions that we’ve authored or adopted, we naturally become happier and healthier.

There’s no one telling me but me what time is best to go to bed or to wake up at. I’ve come to learn with time what my optimal conditions are for a great day. Beating myself up when I change that around a bit, however, is definitely not in alignment with my values of love, including self-love.

Time in nature, exercise, writing from a space of love (vs. obligation/scheduling) – those are in alignment with my core values of spirituality, love, beauty, integrity, and freedom.

What are your core values? What matters most to you?

Take a look at Scott Jeffrey’s list of 200 if you want to dive into this exercise.

Now take a look at the 8 areas of your life. How can you better live in alignment to your values?

As you read through this list, pay attention to what comes to mind/heart. If it feels loving, it’s your intuition speaking. If it doesn’t, it’s your critical self-talk.

What can you let go of in the areas that feel out of alignment? What can you add more of or change?

The 8 Areas:

1. Physical Environment
2. Fun / Recreation
3. Business / Career
4. Personal / Spiritual Development
5. Wellness & Health
6. Romance / Family
7. Finances / Life Planning
8. Society / Community

Awareness is key to emerging more fully as your True Self.

Writing this at the end of a bike ride, sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean was a great choice. My whole day turned out happier & healthier because I chose not to spiral down the rabbit hole of critical self-talk then dive into my work resenting the fact I was behind schedule and couldn’t enjoy the sunshine while it lasted.

I’ve designed a life and career that allows me the freedom to do so. Sure, sometimes I may not make the best choices. But that’s no reason to beat myself up. That wouldn’t be very loving. Instead, I continue to strive to live in a way that I’ll be able to say on my deathbed – “I have no regrets”.

You? What signals is your body, mind, or spirit giving you today to get your life back on track? These are gifts! Accept and act on those intuitive taps on the shoulders before they become a 2′ x 4′. It becomes harder then to live without regrets.

“Aligned” – SOLD
(20″ x 20″)
Acrylics & rose quarts on gallery-wrapped canvas. No framing required.