Doing An Editing Business Differently

by

I am here to do things differently. I feel like I have known that for a long time.

When it came to starting an editing business, I did a bit of research into what other editing and proofreading professionals were doing to promote their work—from their websites, to their social media, etc. I saw editors sharing their tips and tricks to catch errors as you write. Things they catch all the time as an editor/proofreader. Providing tools to help others edit or proofread their work better.

And as I looked around, I realized that’s not at all what I wanted to do with my editing business. I see the formula, and I don’t want to use it.

I believe through inspired actions on a new path, I can still find success with my editing business.

(In fact, that’s a common thread in my life… If I see one path, you can bet I’ll want to do it my way. And hopefully show you that you can do things your way too. )

I’m pulling back the curtain a bit on this since I want to be transparent.

My editing business is different.

I have no interest in teaching you how to write. Or how to proofread your work. At least, not at this point in time.

Of course, I could make resources for that, but that’s not the way I want my editing business to work or even how I want to promote it. (UPDATE: Now I have a Self-Revision Checklist & a mini-course email series, From First Draft to Publish Ready available for free!)

My goal is to inspire more creative flow & freedom.

To unlock the treasure trove of stories within you so they can pour out with fewer obstacles and challenges.

To encourage a healthy, harmonious relationship with your creativity.

To help you seek more joy, beauty, and nurturing in your life—to ultimately take care of yourself, and thus the insightful creative within you.

That way you can write what you’re meant to write from a more balanced and healthy space.

I care about the creator within, much more than trying to teach you how to edit your work.

I’m not knocking that as a valuable skill, because it most definitely is. (Ideally, you would revise your book before sending it off to an editor, for example.)

But I care more about you getting to tell your story. Period.

I want you to find the joyful flow that sparks your creativity and sends you flying down the path of writing the book and telling the stories you’ve always dreamed of sharing with the world.

I want the words to flow out of you with ease.

You have a voice, and you have a story to tell.

And I want to see you use it for the highest and best good.

I want you to find the balance in your life, so you’re not struggling to survive while also trying to sustain a creative routine. Because that’s not sustainable.

I’m a firm believer that when you take care of you, your creativity will come.

That’s what matters to me.

When you take care of you,
the creativity will come.

Editing and proofreading have been the heartbeat of my adult career.

And then, if you so choose, I can help you with the more technical editing know-how to help you clean it up, so it’s clear, easy to read and understand, and free from discrediting errors and mistakes. Because that’s another way of how I love to help support creatives and writers. Whether you hire me as your editor when you’re done getting your story onto the page, that’s up to you!

(Does this mean I’m turning into a creativity/book coach as well as a book editor? I don’t know, but I’m open to it. The downloads and inspired actions I’m getting for The Intuitive Editor are taking me in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and I’m loving the journey.)

So, while you may not find “can you find the mistake” posts on my Instagram page, my hope is that you will feel inspired to pick up that pen or get out your keyboard… And get writing. Get working on your creative dreams. Show up for them like they want to show up for you.

And do it for you first. Create what you want first.

And keep it fun. Try not to force it from a painful place.

My hope is that by enjoying your life more and engaging your creativity, you start to create a life you’ve dreamed of (or something even better!).

Just like I’m creating a business that feels good to me.

Let’s start to see creativity differently together.

All Roads Lead to Editing: My Story CV

by

Have you ever looked back at how your experiences have added up to where you are now?

It’s quite invigorating and encouraging when you connect the dots between all you’ve done. The patterns that show up, the passions that emerge… It can be valuable information about what you truly desire to do. In fact, it could create a map to show where you’re heading.

Well, come to find out, telling stories (and polishing them up!) has always been at the heart of the work I do.

When I sat down to reflect on my work history to see how my previous experience bolsters my credibility as a book editor… I came up with quite a bit, and I’m excited to share it with you!

overhead shot of a person with a pen using a laptop

The Road That Led to My Editing Career: A CV

As an IT assistant during college…

I got to assist in writing a cybersecurity newsletter that broke down complex technical stories into actionable ways to protect yourself online. Just a couple of years of this work led to me taking over the helm of that monthly newsletter to this very day, sharing important cyber news stories and tips for a 5,000+ organization to bolster cybersecurity awareness—to protect their employees and company assets.

In my university’s sports media office…

I learned the importance of editing while writing athlete feature stories. I also learned that the red pen can be wielded for good to create more powerful language choices for compelling stories.

My speedy keyboarding skills were also put to the test in transcribing interviews for sporting news updates (85+ WPM, thank you very much). 

In the newsroom…

I got to help curate stories from the endless influx of news submissions and also write news stories for the web.

But my favorite part of that job was proofreading broadcast lower third headlines (the ones at the bottom of the screen) as well as cleaning up and creating a better flow to the scripts for the anchors, so they wouldn’t stumble over their words or mispronounce names.

Although not entirely PC, I did earn the moniker among colleagues as the “AP Nazi” for keeping the station’s web & broadcast content aligned with the Associated Press guidelines. I even remember a producer saying, “Did Mikael take her pass yet? Then, we’re good to go.”

As a communications coordinator for a state business association…

I got to write about all things business for social media, email marketing, radio spots, and website content—while proofreading anything the association sent out. I became fondly known as “The Machine” for punching out efficient proofreads in a pinch for almost all of the departments within the chamber.

I also took tremendous pride in being the head curator and editor for their annual magazine, Life in Utah, for the two years I was there before taking the leap to move to New York City to explore performance opportunities.

They even trusted me enough to keep me on as a contract editor for subsequent issues of the magazine and important documents after my departure. (And colleagues from that office still call me on occasion for quick proofreads!)

As an actor & performer…

I literally got to put on a show telling all kinds of stories. I got to tap into characters, their motivations, how they change through a story, and emotionally dive into what it takes to make their story seem real and relatable on stage. And this is critical to understanding characters and story arcs in books!

When those gigs led to teaching music and performance to elementary students, I got to create story plans to keep the littles engaged in learning the fundamentals of music (all while singing silly songs!). Getting to know the stories of the children I got to teach was a new kind of thrill (and so was their excitement for my weekly visit).

As a freelance writer & editor in the Big Apple…

I got to connect with a wide variety of entrepreneurs and businesses to translate their messages and stories into about pages, blog posts and articles, press releases, and other web copy and content. I got to offer college essay & SAT/ACT essay prep feedback to students preparing for their next stage of life.

This is where I learned copywriting and writing on the fly (Fiverr is a whole thing, my friends). My quick typing and ability to break down complex concepts into relatable and understandable stories really came in handy!

And now, as a book editor and copyeditor…

Editing and proofreading seemed to always be one-off jobs… Until I got the invitation to become a contract book editor from a friend, who also helped edit my book, which would light a fire deep within me that just couldn’t be squelched. My career focus was found!

Now I take content and stories and make them shine, by cleaning up the text to keep readers engaged in the moment and in the story. I bring consistency and polish to dialogue, characters, and narrative arcs, so it all makes sense to your audience.

And the message you’re trying to communicate? It actually reaches them so they say, “I really needed to read this right now.”

Because… We all have a voice. We all have a message. And we all have a story.

And that brings me to one of the mottos of The Intuitive Editor:

Your story matters. Your message matters.
Your words matter.

And your story deserves to be told in a way that you’re proud of.

So, ultimately, my favorite thing is polishing up words & stories to make them shine and work for you rather than against you.

It took a while, but eventually I discovered that this is the work I can get utterly lost in because I love it so much. Improving others’ writing (even my own) has been a lifelong passion, and sharing ways to create a more impactful statement or message? My version of Turkish delight.

Believe me, I know it can be so nerve-wracking to put your words out there, and my hope is that my storytelling and editing expertise will improve your writing and storytelling abilities while instilling the confidence to share your message without fear of looking inexperienced or unprofessional.

You deserve to be seen and heard in your full glory, and it’d be my utter pleasure to help you proof & polish your story to help you share it with the world.

If you’d like to work with me, discover my editorial services here. I look forward to discovering your story & helping you to proof & polish it! 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Making Comparisonitis Work For You: How to Use Comparison to Find Your Direction

by

From my working chair, not so long ago, I found myself on an Instagram page of another book editor. And they were killing it.

(Or at least that’s what it looks like on social media, and we all know how much of that is just appearances…)

I was totally into what they were sharing. Thought their social media game was on point. Looked like they were #bookedandblessed in every pun imaginable. Discovered we had quite a bit in common… And then I noticed they were 20 years old and started their business around the same time as me.

Cue my mood crashing, as a 30+ year-old, who only recently decided to pursue an editorial business after years of trying to identify the the skills I most wanted to use to help people. (And who has also had a decade-plus of professional experience this young person has not had, but that certainly wasn’t coming to mind at that moment.)

I fell into the comparison trap… hard.

The comparisonitis. I drank the compareschläger (as Marie Forleo calls it). The whole bottle, probably. Tears were shed, though I strongly suspect the full moon played a part as well in heightening emotions. Either way, my confidence tanked, the comparisonitis the culprit.

This surprised me, honestly… I am solidly in the “the only person I compete with is myself” camp. Cheering people on as they rock what they’re doing is one of my very favorite things.

Most of the time, I have no reason to compete or compare myself to anyone else because I know everyone is their own unique person, meant to do great things in their world with their gifts and talents. I think that is one of the most beautiful things in this world!

And I still found myself comparing my business to another book editor’s social media profile.

Because I’m human. And humans tend to fall into the comparison trap with each other, even without trying to.

The Reality Check

Calming myself down, especially with thanks to my partner, I remembered that this person is not me. And I am not them. And though we are similar, we do not do our work in the same way. They can rock their social media game while I wish I could bag social media all together. All they are doing that I wish I was doing… I don’t have to do it and I do not have to do it like them.

I can release my grip on the compareschläger, put my head down, listen to what my own heart has to say, and then put in the work to do the work that I actually want to do.

Because, once I sobered myself up, I realized that this instance of comparisonitis gave me a glaring billboard for the work I really want to do.

The book editing and copyediting is the work I truly want to do.

(Along with writing my own books, of course!)

And this epiphany came with this reminder:

You don’t compare yourself to people who are doing things you have no interest in…
You compare yourself to the people who are doing what you truly want to do.

This is why comparing yourself to others and looking at where you get jealous of other people can actually be a helpful tool. It may not feel good in the moment; however, it can point you in the direction of where you most want to move in.

How to Use Comparison to Find Your Direction

Start to notice when you get jealous of someone else or find yourself falling into the comparison trap. And ask yourself why those feelings are arising.

You’re jealous of that woman who can work from the beach on her laptop? How can you create that feeling with your own work from where you’re at until you can make that a reality for yourself?

You find yourself comparing your achievements to peer who seems much further along than you? What is it about what they have or are doing that you seek?

Odds are, because there’s something there, something you desire on a much deeper level, that you haven’t achieved yet… Or maybe even something you haven’t acknowledged that you want.

I have a feeling you’ll find your own aha moment in asking why the feelings of comparison and jealousy come up, especially if you’ve been questioning your purpose, direction, or next steps. I know I did.

Find out what the desire is—the desire hidden deep underneath the mask of comparing yourself to another—and start moving toward it.

So, you may see a refocus from me on sharing more about the book editing and copyediting work. I love the intuitive side of my business, and I don’t want to let it take away from the editorial side of things that I utterly love doing… My intuition supports my hard-earned editing skills, and it thrills me to no end to see how I can help others with these gifts.

And I plan on using any social media stalking of other editors for inspiration and ideas, not comparison. If it start falling into the comparison mire again, I’ll know to pull myself out before it gets too far. Because we all know that can work against you rather than for you.

Remember that only you can do the work you were put on this earth to do with the gifts that only you have. No one can do it like you do… So keep going, especially when comparison comes along to try and derail you. Let the comparison be fuel for you to pinpoint the next steps for you to reach for your dreams.

Want to join me in putting down the compareschläger, putting your head down, listening to your heart, and doing the work you really, really want to do? See you there. <3

Do Expectations Serve Your Creative Process?

by
blank paper with pen and coffee cup on wood table


Did I tell you I’m writing a book?

It’s a story that’s been brewing within me since high school, but somehow now is the time that it feels right to get it all fleshed out. It’s taking directions I don’t think I was expecting when I first started envisioning it 15 years ago, and I find that exciting. I have a general map of where it’s going but also releasing the reins to see how the story wants to be told…

I’ve always loved writing. As a little kid, I was the kid sitting in the shadows of the big brick building, notebook in hand and just jotting down story ideas as they came to me. I can’t count how many stories I’ve written, but just writing stories alone has always felt natural—creating characters and new worlds to explore as I wrote them down.

It came as no surprise when a healer in NYC told me that my sacral chakra was thumping and bumping with stories that wanted to be born, like warriors yearning to burst through into the world. 

When the pandemic began, it felt important to return to my creative writing practice. As something to create, keep myself engaged, and to give myself permission to work on something I really wanted to work on.

My mermaid novel, the one I’m presently working on, practically danced onto the stage of my mind and said, “It’s my turn!” 

While I previously self-published my first novel in 2015, I cannot say I have any expectations for this mermaid book… Kind of like I have no expectations as for how the nitty-gritties of the storyline will work out, as I let the inspirations come as I go. I’m typically a pantser (writing by the seat of your pants, a NaNoWriMo term), not a plotter, though I do believe an outline can be helpful. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this book yet, how I want it to be published, if I want to go self-publishing again, or if I think I’d like to shop it to agents or to a traditional publishing house.

I’m finding that I love just being in the process of writing it, without any expectation of what will come of it once the book is fully written—though I can already tell it’s a book of epic proportions. Somehow, this book has been transforming into an epic environmentalist fantasy mermaid rescue tale (or tail?), and it’s quite a thrill of a ride to see how it all unfolds. 

Which leads me to what I’m musing on today… 

Expectations.

Where, how, and why we have them, and how they ultimately serve us and our creativity. Particularly in regards to our dreams or what we want to accomplish. 

This morning, in my reading time, I kept coming across the idea that God/the Universe/Source experiences life and itself through us as human beings. That expectations can get in the way of truly experiencing life to the fullest and essentially separates us from what IS by focusing on the future rather than the present. It does harken back to the whole “focus on the journey, not the end result” concept. How you can never truly know how something will work out and how expectations can set you up for disappointment, resentment, or even anger. (From Conversations with God, Vol. I)

The idea of releasing expectations to allow yourself to immerse into the experience you feel inspired to take, from my understanding, is how things can turn out even more magical than you plan for. Allowing yourself to do something for the joy and pleasure of it without having to think about the end result can open up universal possibilities to fill in the gaps and create something more than you imagine. 

Why not take a passionate step forward even if you can’t see the way ahead
or what’s at the end of the road?
Why not enjoy the journey toward something you want,
but also allow yourself to be open to something even greater if you take inspired action?

Life wants to be fulfilled through us. Life yearns to be experienced just as we as humans yearn to experience life. If we put expectations on everything that will happen to us or how things will turn out, we could cut ourselves off from the universal flow that wants to work with us. We cut ourselves off by focusing on the future outcomes rather than staying present in the moment to our needs and inspirations as they come.

By staying open, by releasing attachment to outcomes or results, we open the doors to be surprised by life, by the universe, by the greater power present in every creation in this world… 

So, I invite you to take a look at where you may be harboring expectations when it comes to your dreams, how you can release your hold on them, and how you can start taking inspired action just because that’s what feels right to you in the present moment.

Do something just to do it, because you love it. Not because it will get you something, somewhere, or someone. Focus on how it feels to do it in the moment so you can carry that feeling with you—because, ultimately, it’s the feeling of what we desire that we are chasing. 

Stay present. Take a breath. Release expectations for how it will go or end.

And go write that book.* Just to do it. 

***

* – Or any other activity you feel lit up by. 😉

As a writer, I’ve been through the editorial process with my own editor (and plan to again—even editors have editors). It’s not as scary as you might think! I credit my editor with helping my story to truly come out how it was meant to… And I want to help you do that too!

If you’re in the market for an editor who also knows what it’s like to be in the writer’s shoes (thus knows how to make it more fun and easeful), check out my editorial services here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Musings on a New Moon

by
crescent moon in black night sky celestial photography

What if I release desire?
What if I release clarity—or the need to know the outcome or the “how”?
What if I release trying to “manifest”?
What if I release personal preferences and wants?
What if I release needing to know my next step?

What would that look like?

What if I embrace surrender?
What if I embrace trust—in myself, my intuition, and the forever loving guidance of the universe?
What if I could just let life flow?
What if I could release outcomes?
What if I could embrace natural expansion and growth?

What if instead of feeling scattered, I allow myself to feel led and guided by one thing only: the love of god and the universe?

What if I release all the identities I’ve had, claimed, or sought?
What if I allow God and the Universe to move and actualize through me?
What if I trust that I’m always divinely led and guided?

I know that I constantly worry about the “how”… How to attract clients, how to get clarity, how to find purpose, how to hone in on what I actually want, how to find my next steps, how to bring in money. And on and on…

What if I just… let that all go?

What if I don’t need to know what I want or how it looks?
What if I don’t need to know how clients and money will show up?
What if I don’t need to know any of this?

What if I could free my mind, body, and spirit of that constant question of “how” and just trust that life will lead and guide me to the people, places, situations, and work where I can best serve?

How freeing would that feel?

Leaning into that trust, surrendering what could be for what is, right now, in this very moment.

So… 

What if I let go of the “plan”?
What if I release the chase?
What if I let go of the vision?
What if I release the need to have a vision at all?

What if I release any thought of the future and instead stand fully present in the here and now, and know without a shadow of a doubt, that I’m exactly where I need to be and that life and the universe are always working out in my favor?

***


Can I tell you that a weight truly lifted from my head after writing all this out, a weight that I didn’t even know was there? 

Just the idea of releasing the need to know or plan or do anything like that… To just let yourself be. 
Surrendered to the moment, surrendered to life. 

There’s something so freeing about not having to worry about what it is I want and instead have life lived through me as I go.

 

“I didn’t want to be in charge of my life; I wanted to be free to soar far beyond myself. Let the flow of life be in charge. If life brought events in front of me, I would treat them as if they are meant to take me beyond myself.”
– Michael A. Singer, The Surrender Experiment


It’s a new moon in Pisces today… And this is where my head and heart is. My contemplation today took me down this road. It feels vulnerable yet somehow incredibly freeing. Perhaps I’m embarking on my own kind of surrender experiment.

There are all these pressures—from society, family, friends, work, ourselves—so I guess I’m just wondering what happens when you let those pressures, demands, expectations, and questions fly away. I’ll leave you with this final question that I’m feeling into. 

What if what I want is just to surrender and expand into my fullest potential—in this moment and every moment hereafter—even if I have no idea what that looks like?

I am willing to trust and surrender to something greater to find out.

Joy Challenge #4 ~ Unexpected Delights

by
surprised ethnic girl picking apples on tree

This week for your Joy Challenge, let’s keep it extremely simple…

surprised ethnic girl picking apples on tree

Unexpected Delights

I’d love for you to keep your eyes open for this Joy Challenge.

Set the intention before you leave the house to be delighted by what you see. Then, let yourself be delighted by what’s around you.

Let the unexpected things grab your attention. It could be an animal (or more!), an insect, a child, the shift of colors in the leaves, or a lovely exchange between strangers that you observe.

Be open to being delighted by the random happenings and nature around you!

How this challenge went for me…

I saw school of fish, flashing their silvery bodies as they crossed the Hudson on my usual visit to Riverbank State Park for my morning walk. I hadn’t seen that before! The Hudson usually has pretty cloudy waters, so to actually see the shape and form of the school topped with the flashing and splashing of their swim brought me a fresh joy.

Also, seeing a cute Pez dispenser at the store gave me a tickle of delight, so I had to pick that up too.

I’d be tickled to know what ends up delighting you in your observations this week! Leave a comment below and let me know!

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels.com

Joy Challenge #3 ~ Song from Your Youth

by
boy tuning transistor radio

Our joy is found only in the present, so we are going to create some joy from a past love for a twist today..

And when I say a past love, I mean a song you loved in the past.

boy tuning transistor radio

A Song From Your Youth

Identify a song that brought you joy as a kid. And then go find it. If you can, find it in the original rendition you first heard all those years ago (same artist, same album, etc).

Let it be a song you haven’t heard in who knows how long.
Let it be a song that whenever it was on the radio in the car, you yelled out to let it keep playing.
Perhaps it’s a song from a movie or from a TV show you particularly enjoyed.
Or a song that your dad used to play when he got ready in the morning,
or the song your grandmother used to hum to herself as she went about her day.
It could be any song, as long as it was one that made you smile as a child.

Then it’s time to get present with a song that delighted you as a child to see how it brings you joy now.

Plug in your headphones and turn it on with whatever source you can find it on. Hear the song with your adult ears.

The goal this week is to bring a new sense of joy to an old love of music.

Most songs are only 3-5 minutes long, so I challenge you to sit and listen without any other distractions. Just sit. Close your eyes. Focus on just the sounds coming into your ears and the how the vibrations make your body feel. And listen to your song.

What emotions does it bring up for you?
Did you find new meaning in it?
Does it make more sense now or does it confuse you even more?

A bonus challenge:

If you want, choose more than one song of your childhood to return to to re-enjoy! Maybe make yourself a playlist of your favorite tunes from your youth that you can return to anytime you like.

How this challenge went for me…

A few songs I love from my childhood that immediately came to mind include:

“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips
“Dreams to Dream” from Fievel Goes West
“Whatever You Imagine” from The Pagemaster
“Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks (why this was a 3-year old’s favorite song, I’ll never know!).

I loved rediscovering the harmonies in “Hold On”…
Hearing “Dreams to Dream” replays the animated sequence with Tanya from the movie. “Whatever You Imagine” is one of my favorite songs ever so it’s always been in my playlists. And “Thunder Roles” returns me to the living room in my grandparents’ house with my little black tape player.

Music carries memory and history… See where your childhood favorites return you to.

Maybe these will spark further memories of songs you love from your childhood!

Did one song in particular come to mind at reading this post?
Does it carry significant meaning or a special message that’s relevant to you now?

I’d be tickled to know if your chosen song brings a needed salve or message to you right now. If you feel like sharing, let me know which song you chose to return to in the comments below. You may remind someone of a song they loved too!

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com

Self-Care Practice: A Walking Meditation

by

Did you know that movement can also be meditative? If trying to sit down to quiet your mind for meditation is difficult for you, this is one meditative practice I love to return to.

woman walking in forest

Take a mindful walk.

Plan it in your calendar for at least 10-15 minutes a day (up to an hour if you feel like it!).
No distractions, no earphones. Be fully present to the nature around you.

Begin walking slowly and intentionally, breathing in your natural rhythm.

Feel every step you take, how your feet hit the pavement or ground. Feel every sensation in your body, from the inside out to your skin. Connect with your inner self with each sensation that you feel.

Without losing that connection to your inner presence, start to stretch your awareness to your surroundings: what do you hear, smell, and see? Observe with no attachment.

If you get lost in thoughts, simply bring yourself back to your experience–the sensations, sights, sounds, and the feeling of your inner being within you enjoying the walk that you’re on.

Afterward, if you feel so inclined, journal out your experience and see what pours from you.

This is a time to return to your senses, clear your mind, and ground yourself into your body and spirit. This will help to keep you present while also treating your body to some conscientious movement. Good for mind, body, and spirit and for fueling your intuition and creativity as well.

This is here for you whenever you need it. Take care of you.

This is an excerpt from The Intuitive Creativity Forecast, a weekly email subscription that offers cosmic and energetic guidance for the week, including an intuitive pulse for the week, a peek at the astrological atmosphere, and ways to spark your creativity and intuition, and more. It’s a suggested $8/month exchange to keep the magic of the Forecast supported (about $2/email!). Sign up for the weekly Forecast today!

Joy Challenge #2 ~ A Moment Outside

by
blonde haired girl wearing pink sweater

This Joy Challenge will require you stepping beyond your doorway this week. This might be a change for you or it might not be, depending on your routines. Either way, take a moment to breathe everything in for this challenge.

blonde haired girl wearing pink sweater

What’s Outside is Inside

Go outside with minimal belongings with you. If you must have items, keep them in a bag or in pockets and not in your hands. No earphones or added noisemakers. No mask (give yourself the space to feel safe doing so). Time to bask in being outside with no distractions.

Find a sunny spot that feels good to you or a favorite place you like to visit, sitting or standing. Let the sun beam down on your face with your eyes closed. Hold your hands out to your sides with your palms facing up or forward in receptivity.

Use your senses. Feel the warmth of the sun or the sweep of the breeze on your skin. Breathe in the air and taste it. Smell it. Listen to the sounds around you, first in your immediate surroundings, then extend your hearing beyond what’s closest to you. What do you hear? Feel your feet on the ground and let Mother Earth nourish you as you breathe in and Be. What do you taste, smell, hear, and feel?

Keep breathing in the outside air for a couple of minutes or more. See how your body feels.

Then open your eyes and smile at the sun and thank it for its light and warmth. Thank the earth for supporting you and your health. Let that gratitude wash over you as you take in another deep breath from the world around you.

For a bonus challenge:

Stand with your back against a tree, on the ground beneath a tree, or go barefoot in some grass to truly sink into mother nature’s healing energies. If you feel so inspired, frolic and play in the grass! Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Be a kid again and relish in what you used to do as a child when you got to play outside. Roll down a hillside if it’s available to you!

Nothing heals and brings more balance to our bodies than being outside, in the sun, and connecting with nature and the earth.

Being outside as The Intuitive Editor

What has surprised me most about The Intuitive Editor brand is how much of the natural world is in its core energy. Trees in particular have come through quite strongly in what I create and intuit for content… Perhaps because books are made up of trees, and being a book editor is my absolute favorite job in the world?

Personally, I love touching the branches of trees as I walk by, standing with my back against a tree with my feet among the roots, or just resting my hand on their thick trunks. It always brings me such peace… and Peace is the sister of Joy.

Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know how being present with your nature outing goes for you. I look forward to hearing about it.

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Joy Challenge #1 ~ Journey of a Sip

by
breakfast close up coffee coffee cup

Do you want to know the secret to being in alignment? To be in tune with your natural intuition and thus your muse of creativity?

Following your joy.

That’s right. It may be more simply said than done, but that’s why I’ve decided to start this Joy Challenge as a weekly prompt and reminder to you to find moments of joy in your day.

To quote one of my favorite teachers from my youth, D. Kim Clayton, “The simplest of things bring the greatest of joys.” And I’m here to remind you of ways to breathe in more joy into your life.

For these challenges, I encourage you to partake in the exercise at least once or as often as you like. Daily if it feels supportive for your personal joy!

Read on for your first challenge…

close up coffee coffee cup tea

The Journey of a Sip

Before you get too far into your day, I challenge you to take your time with your morning beverage of choice—tea, coffee, cacao, whatever it is you sup first thing. This can be a practice you do every day, or something you do when you remember.

Turn off any other sensory distractions. The entire experience should be focused upon only the body parts that come into contact with your drink. No music or podcasts, no TV, no reading material. Sit down and relax if you can. If standing, rest your hips against something to stabilize yourself if needed.

Give yourself a moment with your cup before your first sip. Hold the mug or cup gently yet securely in your hands. Give it a swirl if you want. Enjoy the aromas that emerge from the lip of the cup. Breathe it in. Exhale it out through your mouth. If it’s a hot drink, watch how the steam dances with and away from your breath.

Now close your eyes.

Slowly tip the cup onto your lips, letting the liquid tread its way to your mouth. Pour in just enough that your whole tongue is embraced by your morning drink for few moments.

Note how the flavor hits your tongue. Does it taste different on the tip of your tongue versus the left side, then the right side, then the middle, and the back? Refrain from swallowing just yet and let the flavors settle in your mouth.

Let your morning beverage tell you a story of what’s within it. Focus on the sensations, the flavor and aromatic notes. And once you swallow, what flavors remain? How does your tongue feel now? Observe.

Now open your eyes.

Then, thank your morning brew for the journey.

How this challenge went for me…

This morning, the coffee I drank struck me with an initial cinnamon sweetness on the tip of my tongue, making it tingle in glee. As the coffee made its way back on my tongue, a new richness took over, almost like the coffee bean centered itself on my tastebuds, freshly roasted. Then a slight tinge of cocoa emerged. Along the sides, my tongue tingled like the tip of my tongue had, thanks to the dance of liquid on the edge. I’m left with a slightly smoky flavor with the spice of the cinnamon lingering all over my tastebuds.

Now… that was an incredible journey for me this morning. Savoring my first sip of coffee, particularly if it inspires me to keep savoring each sip after like that one did.

For a bonus challenge:

If brewing your morning potion is a part of your morning routine, look for ways you can draw it out and find joy in the process. If you infuse your brewing experience with your own joy, imagine how that journey will go!

You don’t have to write down your experience like I have here, but this is my example hopefully to inspire you. Whatever your art is, perhaps this exercise will spark something for you to create or muse on!

Feel free to comment below and let me know how being present with your morning brew goes for you. I look forward to hearing about it.

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com