Archive: Live Your Best Life

March 22, 2012

How do you want to be remembered?

I contributed to an article in the April edition of Woman’s Day.  The article, “Declutter Your Life” offers tips on eliminating stress and focusing on goals.

Imagine Your Death

The tip I offered is to think about the end of your life.  How do you want to be remembered? What will people say about you when you are gone?  Will they focus on what you did or on what you wished you had done?

It can also be helpful to think about how you will feel at the end of your life. Will you be at peace with your choices?  Will you be full of regret?  What can you do NOW to impact how you will feel?

Here is an article that can help point you in the direction of some areas you might focus on.  The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying is written by a woman who cared for people at the end of their lives.  It’s pretty powerful stuff.

Looking toward the end of your life can also be a helpful exercise when you are making decisions.  If you are trying to decide whether you should spend money to go to school, travel or move – think about how you will feel about your decision at the end of your life.  Ask yourself, “In the end, will this matter?” “Which outcome will bring me more peace, joy or contentment in the end?”  “At the end of your life, will you regret your decision?

Looking toward the end, can help you guide your present.

Filed under: Change, Live Your Best Life — admin @ 1:36 pm

November 10, 2011

Say It Out LOUD!

nruboc070100158_blog

Is there something you want in your life?  Are you holding it close to your chest, keeping it safe, hoping it will happen?  It can be helpful to protect your wishes or inner thoughts at times.  However, there are other situations where speaking your wishes out loud might help them come true.

What declaration are you ready to make in your life?

  • Are you ready for a new job?
  • Do you want to make money doing something you love?
  • Are you ready to be loved and respected the way you deserve?
  • Are you ready to truly love yourself?
  • Do you want more in your relationship?
  • Would you like some love and support?

What’s keeping you from saying what you want? Are you worried people will judge you?  Are you afraid of looking foolish?  I can’t promise you that everyone will love what you have to say.  I do know that when you say what you want, it can be more likely to happen.  If you want more foreplay in your relationship but keep that to yourself, NOTHING will change.  If you share your desire for more foreplay with your partner, together you can make it happen! In any of my big changes or moves in my life, I shared my desires with people.  I talked about wanting to spend time in Paris (truthfully I thought about it for years and nothing happened and when I started talking about it, things shifted).  I talked about starting my private practice (even though some people said it was too risky, too soon, too silly).

When you share your wishes out loud, a couple things happen.  You are setting your own plan in motion.  You make yourself accountable (if you say you want to leave your job and years go by, you will have to look more closely at your life).  You are also inviting other people to help you. If you share with your friends that you are ready to start dating again, they may have the perfect match in mind.  If you keep that to yourself, your friends might think you are content being single.

If there is something you want in your relationship, talk about it with your partner.

If there is something you want in your life, name it, say it out loud and share it with some trusted people.

Filed under: Communication, Live Your Best Life, Self-care, Support — admin @ 1:03 pm

October 2, 2011

Things to do in This Life

A little over a year ago I read a blog post by Goddess Leonie about creating a Things to do in This Life list.

I immediately started a list of my own.  It was fun to think about what I wanted in my life (I still add to the list now).   I love the idea of having a place to set whimsical (or very serious) goals.

One of the very first thing I wrote on my list was to live in Paris for 1-3 months.  You might consider this whimsical or maybe you think of it as a serious goal…the most important thing is that I did it this summer!  I’ve done a few other things on my list and this past week I was able to cross number 33 off my list.

33. See and touch and alligator in person

Julie holds and alligator

It’s fun to add things to my list and it feels GREAT to see what I’ve actually done on my list (and in my life).

What would you put on your list?  The items can be huge or small…they can make sense to other people or be extremely personal…they can be specific (I want to kiss my lover in the ocean) or a little more general (I want to love another person deeply).  What do you want to do in this life? It’s very powerful to actually write down what you want (in your life, in a partner, in your career).  Your “things to do in this life” list can help you create a road map for what you want in your life.  If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. What do you want in your life?

Filed under: Live Your Best Life, Pleasure — admin @ 5:38 pm

August 30, 2011

Are You Ready to Live More Fully?

blossomAnd the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin

In what ways have you stayed small? What keeps you small? Are you doing it for yourself or for others? Are you protecting people from your passion, your sparkle, your wonderful you-ness?

In what ways are you ready to blossom? Are you ready to unfurl your wings, extend your petals and show up fully in the world?

What risks are you waiting to take in your life? How can you be more fulfilled in your work, your relationship or your sex life?

With great risk comes great reward. Isn’t it time you lived more fully?

Filed under: Change, Live Your Best Life, Self-love — admin @ 4:52 pm

August 12, 2011

Luscious Living for the fall!

I am so excited about a workshop I’m leading in August and 2 groups I’m facilitating this fall.  You can find all of the juicy details below.

Orgasm Workshop -  Thursday, August 25th 7pm-9pm

Never had an orgasm? We’ll talk about things that might help you have your first. Having orgasms but want to have them in a different way or have more of them? We’ll talk about that too.  This is a great opportunity to be in a room with other women who are having similar experiences.  During this workshop you will have a chance to share your challenges and brainstorm new possibilities.

Each workshop will be part educational with information and resources I provide for the group and there will also be time for group sharing.  These workshops are an opportunity to learn about the theme and also share your experience with other women.  Each workshop is limited to 6 participants.  The cost is $25 per workshop.

Live Your Best Life

I am thrilled to announce that I have scheduled my next Live Your Best Life Group for women.  This time it will be 10 weeks so that we can pack all sorts of juicy goodness in the group.  I spent 5 weeks in Paris this summer; which was one of the ways that I’ve lived my best life this year and I can’t wait to share what I learned about adding pleasure to your life, taking care of yourself and living lusciously!  I hope you’ll join me.

Here are the details!

The group will meet at my office in NE Portland on Saturdays from 3pm-5pm, September 10 – November 19 (there will be NO GROUP MEETING on October 22).

We will be starting after labor day and be done before Thanksgiving so that you can totally focus on yourself before the crazy holiday schedule starts.

The cost is $25 per week.

You Don’t Have to be a Sexy Tiger – Discover YOUR Sexual Self

This is a BRAND NEW group I’ve developed based on the book I’m writing.  I can’t wait to help you learn who you are sexually!

This is a 10-week group for women who are tired of trying to fit someone else’s idea of sexy and ready to learn who YOU are sexually.

In addition to talking and sharing in a group setting, there will be exercises and assignments each week to help you find your unique sexual self.

This group runs September 12 – November 14 and meets from 7pm-9pm on Monday nights.

The cost is $30 per week.

The workshop and both groups are limited so if you are interested please let me know.  You can register by email (julie@portlandsextherapy.com) or phone (503-756-3478).

I’m so ready to live lusciously this fall and I hope that you will join me.

Filed under: Live Your Best Life, Self-care, Sexual Being, Sexuality — admin @ 8:59 am

July 22, 2011

Schedule Some Time for Yourself!

Take out your calendar or planner or smart phone and pencil in some time YOU time!  Grab your To Do List.  What’s on your list?  Is it filled with tasks for work, chores, errands, things for the kids?  Is there anything for you on the list?  Take a pen and write, “ME” at the very top of your list.  It’s time you focused on yourself.

If you don’t have time, then schedule 15 minutes.  If you don’t have money then do something for free.  If you don’t have energy then take a bath or a nap.  If you don’t care about yourself enough to treat yourself to some relaxation, pampering or special time; it’s time that changed.  No one else is going to make sure that you are practicing self-care – YOU have to make time for yourself.

Here are some ways you can take care of yourself

  • Get a massage
  • Take a nap
  • Play in the garden
  • Read a book or magazine
  • Go out with girlfriends
  • Do NOTHING
  • Sit outside (you can also do this and enjoy some tea, coffee, wine or lemonade)
  • Start an art project
  • Dance
  • Sing
  • Do something silly
  • Go for a walk
  • Meditate / Pray / or do something that speaks to you spiritually
  • Cuddle with animals
  • Write in your journal
  • Go to a museum

Do something that recharges you, tickles you, feels good, is relaxing, excites you, gets your juices flowing, or makes you feels special.

Do something that is just for YOU!

Filed under: Live Your Best Life, Self-care, Self-love — admin @ 11:49 am

July 6, 2011

It’s been 6 months, how are those New Year’s Resolutions?

Remember how gung-ho and ambitious you felt back in January?  Remember how you were going to change your life?  We are 6 months into 2011 and I’m wondering how things are progressing.

If you’ve been reading this blog since January, you know that I’m not a fan of resolutions.  They are typically temporary.  Resolutions are usually relegated to the month of January.  They are also often recycled year after year.  I recommend intentions instead.

What do you want to change or grow in your life?  What would make your relationship feel deeper, more vibrant or more enjoyable?  What element of your life needs attention, right now!  Don’t wait another 6 months to live your best life.  How can you embrace your best life this very moment?

Envision what you want your life to look like.  And then commit to doing one small thing today that brings you toward that vision!

Filed under: Change, Live Your Best Life — admin @ 3:38 pm

May 30, 2011

Live Life by Your Own Rules

I’m thinking a lot about life and my own personal “best” life.  What does it look like?  What do I want to invite into my life?  What do I want to let go of?  I know that MY best life is different than YOUR best life.  What does your best life look like?  What will it take for you to live your best life?  What will it take to live life by your own rules?

My May Newsletter is about this very topic.  You can see the whole newsletter here.

Sometimes my best life changes day by day.  Today’s best life is to have breakfast at a cafe, relax, do some writing, hang out with my love.  Tomorrow’s best life is to do some sightseeing and visit some museums.  When I get home my best life will include work, spending time with friends and snuggling with my dogs.  On this trip I am learning the importance of flexibility and doing what feels best in the moment.  Best is subjective.  Best doesn’t just mean different things to different people, it means different things on different days.  How are you living life by your own rules today?

Filed under: Live Your Best Life, Newsletter, Paris — admin @ 3:27 pm