Reflection is important. Intention is important.and without action - both of these are, essentially, a waste of time. Yin needs yang, and yes we need to be in receptive energy, but we also need to do some things with all that we receive! All of us thinkers, dreamers, and lovers of the space of introspection can sometimes lose that last part - the ACTION part. And then we start to feel stuck, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, and a whole slew of other things.Finding yourself there? Ask how much new action you're taking on those inspired and deeper knowings you find in your reflective time....chances are it's not the same as what you'd like it to be.And listen, we get it: it can be so much more fun to be in the idea of things, because when it comes to taking action, we're confronted with all the sh*t that's kept us from that very action in the first place! Hello, change!This months' Blueprint is going to give you everything you need to move into a space of effortless effort. Where you're listening and doing and listening and doing, and there isn't the resistance that makes it such a drag.Because the truth is, the more you are in the circulation and the flow of life with consistent, inspired actions, the more opportunities you create for the universe to work with you.

KEY WORDS:

Movement, liberation, effortless effort

On The Bookshelf:

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield - this little read (truly you could devour it in a sleepy afternoon on the porch this weekend!) will give you a massive wakeup call about what it really takes to find success and turn your hobbies into your profession! See what we mean in the little snippet below...“When we're living as amateurs, we're running away from our calling — meaning our work, our destiny, the obligation to become our truest and highest selves. Addiction becomes a surrogate for our calling. We enact the addiction instead of embracing the calling. Why? Because to follow a calling requires work. It's hard. It hurts. It demands entering the pain-zone of effort, risk, and exposure.”Click here to grab your copy!

VIDEO WE LOVE

More Steven Pressfield, because truly...if you wanna get your cute butt into action, he's your guy! In this video he chats with another ACTION oriented maven, Marie Forleo, on overcoming resistance and why your talent actually means nothing.A favorite quote from their chat:

"The ability to overcome resistance, self-sabotage, and self-doubt is way more important than talent." - Steven Pressfield

SACRED HOME RITUAL:

A huge part of taking action is not burning ourselves out in the process - we want to begin to develop habits of sustainable growth and movement! This includes breaks :) One of our FAVORITE sacred home rituals throughout the day (can also be done in your office!) is to take a tea ceremony. Not as complex as it sounds - really just making yourself a nice cup of tea and honey, sweetness! With no phone or distractions, just you and your tea!

How to have a mindful tea ceremony:

Mindfully fill your tea kettle with water & set it on the stove to boil, appreciating the water going into the pot, the way the stove heats it up, etc.

Get your tea of choice - our favorite right now is Harney & Son's Blueberry Green - SO yummy! Click here to order. Engage all of your senses in the process, taking in the aroma of the tea, how the leaves feel, the sound of them falling into the tea basket.

When the water is ready, slowly and mindfully pour it over the tea, and let it steep!When it's ready, grab your favorite tea mug (our staple tea set can be found here!), your favorite honey, and enjoy! As you sip, reflecting, enjoying the stillness, the sweetness, and the sacredness of your little moment of pause.

THINGS WE'RE LOVING

The Savannah Bee Company is our new obsession! The work they are doing to protect our bee friends, simultaneous to bringing adorable, delicious things into this world, is something you want to be a part of!Click here and grab this jar of honey for your mindful tea ceremonies. Or send a bottle to the person who brings the most sweetness into your life!

ANIMAL TOTEM

If you haven't caught on to a theme here, we'll throw you one...our animal totem for ACTION is the Bee! Bees are a reminder to extract the honey of life and make our lives fertile while the sun shines - aka, when the inspiration is there, use that energy to take the action, and you'll find the sweet feeling of victory you're craving!If a bee has shown up in your life, examine your own productivity. Ask yourself if you've been doing all that you need to in order to move toward your goals and dreams.

CRYSTAL

November birthdays, you'll love this one! Citrine - the November birthstone - brings joy, happiness, and light to its environments. It is often referred to as the Success stone and prosperity magnet. Not because it attracts wealth, per say, but because it supports the internal cultivation of the will and determination to follow through.So! While you're reading Steven Pressfield and taking all the action he pushes you into, hold your Citrine in your pocket, have it in your wallet, on your desk, in a bracelet or a necklace, and know that you're are safe and secure in your new path of action.

CHAKRA

In taking inspired action, we need to focus on two main chakras - the heart and the solar plexus. We need to move the energy from our center of will and power and confidence, the solar plexus, and into our hearts - the center of compassion, creation, and steadiness.How to balance these two chakras in conjunction with each other:+ Active pranayam exercises like Breath of Fire+ Pulsing the navel in and out for 3 minutes+ Alternately lifting the legs up to 90 degrees while lying on the back for 3 minutesAnd journal around this prompt:What action is it time for me to take? What will moving out of resistance and into the flow of this process open up for me? Why am I ready to finally do this NOW? And how will I support and keep myself accountable to this, despite any doubt and resistance?Cheers to your month of ACTION!Blue skies,Josh