Hello, Subscribers. One of my former leaders told us it's not worth doing if it isn’t fun. This forms the core philosophy of my weekly writings and will help you prepare for the week through the power of play to set yourself up for success. Incorporating play into your daily routine can enhance your creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being, leading to personal and professional growth. I glean insights from my inner child about behaviors and patterns and can help you do the same. Let’s get set up for success.
It’s time for an accountability check-in. My third round of the 7 Days of Rest Challenge, created by Nikki St. Paul, was more successful this week. I focused on physical rest since I had not felt my best and took a few mini vacations away from my phone. I kicked off my 7 Days of Play Challenge and experienced the powerful and transformative impact of play. The next one starts tomorrow, so sign up today to get started. Ironically, I think I have made light of the powerful and transformative impact of play with all the fun I have been having. I’ve sold myself short for the value I bring into the world. I’ve been more disciplined with my five-minute tasks and am almost ready to unleash Mission Inseparable which is 7 Days of Play for people in relationships.
This week, we're featuring The Poké Tarot Pack, a creation of BlueberryBlanket. What goal do we want to accomplish next week? I’m sure every audience member has a unique goal. We will use the inspiration of The 9 of Pentacles to give it some depth. My friend and LinkedIn Coach, Ekua Cant, shared a brilliant post about bridesmaid vibes. What stood out was “Discounting your multiple years of lived experience because it’s not an ‘official qualification’.” Diancie is a beautiful rock/fairy type Pokémon dressed in a beautiful wedding gown with pink diamond accessories. She is the Queen of her domain and can create diamonds instantly. Where are you ready to rule your life? Having a S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goal is a best practice for success and will guide you in your journey. Diancie recognizes that they are the prize. Most of my goals help to make other people successful. That’s bridesmaid vibes. What can I do differently in my goal setting that creates a win-win situation? For example, a personal goal of going to bed on time every weeknight helps me be rested, allowing me to be at my best. Or making a personal goal a priority will make me feel more fulfilled and be able to pour from the overflow instead of being drained. Envision yourself winning this week and include as many details as possible. How do you feel? What are you wearing? Who is with you?
What can prevent us from achieving these goals? The Page of Pentacles features Trapinch, a ground-type orange insectoid Pokémon, coming out from the sand to gobble up a Pokeball. Trapinch feels like other people who want to sabotage our success. They lay in wait, sowing doubt or discord and pounce, seizing our prize. You may have a different interpretation. Perhaps you are the one waiting patiently to seize your opportunity. Maybe a lack of patience is your pitfall. Or Trapinch could be defending the prize as it digs out of the hole. Pages are generally associated with learning new things. What are the knowledge gaps that prevent you from attaining your vision? Diancie is ready to rule, but maybe you are still finding your footing. The incredible Robin Divine has a mission to move to Mexico. Lately, she has broken up her funding goals into daily sprints. Her posts share her to-be vision, and you can’t help but root for her. Maybe you are at a Trapinch level and just starting, so you should consider breaking up your mission into smaller pieces so you don’t bite off more than you can chew. She is almost a quarter of the way to her goal and since motivating and encouraging people to empower their community is a constant goal of mine, I am sharing her donation link.
What can help us to win this week? The King of Pentacles can help us on our journey. Nidoking is a poison/ground Pokémon type and looks like a cross between a giant purple bipedal reptile and a mouse. Its back is turned to us, showing off a line of spikes, and it looks over its shoulder, daring you to challenge its authority. My Business Coach, Yinka Ewuola, is calling out all the Bad Gyals this week. She defines Bad Gyals as “The women done towing the line. The women who ain't working for free. The women who don't need permission to create a new and better future of themselves. The women clear on their boundaries.” Nidoking is not playing around regarding its domain, and neither should you. Everything is an energy gain. Count the cost of every yes because it is a no to something else. Yes, I’ll help with your project, but it may mean no I will not finish my work on time. A yes to a movie night is a no to a good night’s sleep. As I learned from Mark Travis Rivera in a Wisdom Wednesdays talk hosted by Manuela Contreras, you sometimes have to push through. However, it would be best if you built in time to recover. I know I am embracing Bad Gyal energy this week because I understand the value I bring into this world. I can’t be helping other people transform their lives by setting myself on fire to keep everyone warm. Will you say “Yes” to yourself this week?
What is a way forward as we begin the week? The Wheel of Fortune features Seviper, Lucario, and Luxray draped around a wheel against the clouds. Simipour, Scolipede, Buffalant, and Braviary are outlined in the yellow background, symbolizing the four seasons. Seviper is a poison-type grey snake with yellow hexagon markings on its back. Luxray sits on the wheel and is a blue and black electric type Pokémon resembling a lion. Lucario is a steel-type Pokémon and resembles a canine as if the Egyptian God, Anubis, were made into a Pokémon. Change is inevitable. Sometimes we are up, and other times we are down. During the change cycle, we must embrace different facets of ourselves and use various skills and talents. The similarity in the coloring of the three creatures makes me feel as if they are connected. Where are you on your journey? These creatures could be aspects of yourself or your foes. Is someone squeezing the life out of you? What will you do to counter? Are you being cowed by someone else’s dominance? How will you build your confidence and esteem? Unsure what the other is plotting? What are guiding questions to help you gain clarity about their intentions? Or perhaps these are not external forces but your inner challenges. In any event, reflect on your potential obstacles and devise a plan. For example, Seviper feels like my tendency to procrastinate. My solution is five-minute tasks. As you plan for the week ahead, give yourself buffers to overcome unexpected change. Namaste
Please get in touch with me if you wish to incorporate play into your day to spark creative ideas and get unstuck.
