Life is a series of daily practices.
 
That little nugget came to me during morning meditation and what I’ve noticed is though I preach often, I haven’t fully developed the daily practices that my soul is calling out for.  I understand that in order for me to be the very best version of myself, it’s important for me to acknowledge the practices I’ve allowed to fade and the ones I want to embrace and develop.
 
It’s the beginning of February, the second month of the year.  Let me ask; have you stayed true to the intentions you set or the resolutions you made?  And have you continued to work with the energy of the word or words you chose to carry with you through this calendar year?   How’s all that going for you?  What steps or actions have you taken in manifesting your intentions?  What new practices have you put into play?  It’s one thing to think of ways to be the best version of you, but it’s a whole other thing to create an action plan, take the steps and incorporate new practices into your life.
 
What is your soul calling out for?
What new version of yourself do you want to present to the world?
What new habits (practices) do you want to schedule into your life?
 
That’s right.  I said schedule into your life.
So often I hear people say they don’t have time for something.  I don’t have time to exercise my body, I don’t have time to meditate, I don’t have time to learn something new, I don’t have time to blah blah blah.  The practices are not going to schedule themselves.  It’s up to you.  This is where the action comes into play.
 
I invite you to take a look at your current schedule of affairs.  What have you made a priority?  How important is it to you to incorporate a new practice into your day, or week or month.  Remember, practices don’t have to be daily.  What matters most, is that you make the new practice reasonable.  What does that mean?  It means setting a schedule that is going to work for you. 
 
I have drastically increased my mediation practice.  I strive for daily, but I noticed when my husband is home, I tend to allow myself to let it slip, or I end up meditating later in the day, which I don’t like at all.  I allow myself to use him being home, as an excuse.  And that’s sucky.  So notice the moments when you’re allowing excuses to hold back the best version of you.
 
Reading.  What’s that?  (insert laughter)
Reading is a practice that I’ve let fade.  It’s an excuse, but I really love reading outside and right now in New England it’s damn cold!  I mean cold!  This is just another example of a practice that would aide me in being a better me!  So when I think about bringing this practice back into the fold, I think 3 days a week would work for now.  That’s reasonable.
 
I could go on and on with examples of practices and the reasonability around them, but I think you get the point I’m trying to make here.
 
I invite you to take another look at the 2019 intentions and resolutions you set.  If you haven’t taken any action steps around them, please do NOT start beating yourself up about it.  Remember, releasing all self-criticism is a practice.  Re-evaluate.  What’s a priority for you?  How badly do you want a new practice to be your priority?  Get clear, and then create an action plan.  Keep it reasonable!  Stick to it and let it become a new habit for you.
 
Invite the newest and best version of you emerge!  The world is waiting!

​When I was a kid, I just loved playing the board game CLUE.  Do you remember that game?  I remember playing game after game, figuring out who did what with what weapon and in what room of the mansion.  I enjoyed figuring things out.  Another activity I really loved as a kid, was playing school.  More so, playing teacher.  I would compose papers consisting of simple math problems or open-ended statements that would need to be finished and I remember handing these to my mother who would take them to work to photocopy for me.  My friends and I would gather in my back yard and I would hold class.  I would pass out the papers, be the teacher and of course, assign homework. 
 
As my childhood progressed, playing teacher faded and the passion of the activity faded as well.  I honestly don’t remember feeling as full of purpose as I did during those days, but as a kid I know I wouldn’t have been able to describe what I felt as purpose or passion.  I just knew it felt good to be up in front of a group of my friends.  My strengths, my natural talents or what I was good at, went unnoticed so I was never encouraged to follow, or move in the direction of what I felt I was good at.  I was however, encouraged to get a good-paying job with a pension and benefits, like healthcare.  Now, I’m not making light of the need or importance of a high wage, healthcare or saving for the future, nor am I blaming my parents for sending me in a direction they felt was important.  What I am saying, is that I am a late bloomer.  I was a tad late in attending the Passion & Purpose Party.
 
In the fall of 2009, almost ten years ago now, I started on my journey of self-discovery.  All the detail about that time doesn’t matter much for this story, but what’s important is that I began my awakening.  I started to become more aware of myself, my life, the people around me and the world.  And I started to make changes.  I began following what some might refer to as clues.  For what felt like the first time in my life, I had the urge to do something different.  I had been working in the same job for almost 20 years and you know the thing about that job, it offered me a high wage, benefits, health insurance AND a pension!  But I was feeling motivated to do something else and that was when coaching started making an appearance. 
 
Thinking back on my life, people have always come to me to talk with me about their issues or problems.  Most times the conversations would end with the other person feeling motivated or inspired to do something like set a goal or make a change.  I imagined coaching would give me the skills and tools needed and I was very much aware of the fact that through my own healing birthed a desire to help guide others on their own journey, so I enrolled in a coach certification program.
 
That was just the start.  I also enrolled in a yoga teacher training program and was certified.  I became increasingly interested in the metaphysical and spiritual and suddenly discovered my intense love of reading.  Again, late bloomer.  I enrolled in workshops and events of topics of interest and discovered something else.  I discovered a voice within me that was telling me I needed to be up in the front of the audience.  It was a drive to move from audience member or participant, to teacher and facilitator.  BOOM!  Another clue of consciousness.  A PASSION-filled clue of consciousness.  (I really do love word play)
 
The topic of this speech is passion.
My decade-long journey of self-discovery has enabled me to uncover and unleash my passions! 
I am a passionate advocate for self-healing and I am filled with purpose when given the opportunity to guide someone on their journey of self-discovery and healing.  I am passionate about reading and writing and know that one day in my future, I will author a book.  I am passionate about using my voice and this is why I joined Speaker Sisterhood.  I joined to improve my public speaking skills and to help other women find their voice and improve their speaking skills as well.  I am passionate about teaching and facilitating.  I lead several groups a week as well and have created and implemented a number of events.  
 
When I took a good long look at my passions, I discovered additional ones, like the passion I have to plan, create and develop classes, events or programs.  I love to implement, manage, facilitate and lead. This is where the many clues have led me.  This is what I’m good at.  This is what comes naturally to me.  It is said by some that there is a strong correlation between what we loved to do as a child and what our purpose or mission is here on the planet.  I am living proof that this is in fact, true.
 
I’m not entirely sure where my passions are leading me but I know it’s super-exciting and I’m truly looking forward to my future.  I keep following the clues and taking the steps and I know only good is before me.  I choose to move in the direction of those things that fuel my passion because I know I have a lot to contribute to my tribe, my community and the world.
 
As far as the game CLUE goes, well it’s clear I am a puzzle solver.  I like to figure things out.  I like to know the parts and the pieces and how they play a role in solving, creating and discovering.  By the way, it was Colonel Mustard, in the living room, with the candlestick. 
​

Speech given by Shauna Gullbrand on 1/7/19
Speaker Sisterhood Virtual Group led by Lenore Braun