The 10 Best Lessons of 2012
The best life is lived by the day, not by the year, yet the end of the year is an opportunity for reflection and the beginning of the new year is an opportunity for renewal. Of course you don’t have to wait for the year’s end to reflect and renew- you can reboot your life anytime! Still, there’s something to be said for marking the end of the calendar year with celebration for all the things that happened during the year while setting goals for the year ahead.
As I reflect on 2012, in all it’s triumphs and challenges, I see the great lessons I’ve learned. I shared those lessons in blog posts and the tools I used to make the best of my life. I hope you stretched, grew, and learned as much as I did. Thanks for joining me on this journey. Here are my 10 most popular posts of 2012!
The 10 Best Lessons of 2012
01. How To Believe In Yourself (Even If No One Else Believes In You)
This post was inspired by some harsh criticism I received at work. Through this experience I learned to believe in myself and give my best, regardless of what anyone else thinks of me.
02. 37 Great Life Lessons In 37 Years
I celebrated my 37th birthday in 2012 with 37 great life lessons I’ve learned along the way. These are great lessons to revisit anytime I need a boost, or just a little perspective.
03. Simplify Your Digital Life
It seems life can become increasingly complicated and cluttered as we rely on technology to keep us connected 24/7. Sometimes I just have to declutter my digital life and free up a little mental space.
04. Have a Little Patience
I’m an active individual and I sometimes struggle to simply be. This post was all about recognizing that a little patience is good for me!
05. How to Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
In life it’s easy to get wrapped up in comparing myself to others and doing so minimizes my accomplishments and my journey. For better or for worse, this is my life and I’m the only one that’s living it. I’ve got to reclaim and celebrate my own awesomeness!
06. How To Stop Overreacting To Life
The quality of my life is all about my perspective. Sometimes my perspective gets a little skewed and I think little things are really big things. The good news is I can readjust my perspective!
07. 18 Ways To Have Fun At Work (And Life!)
Work is as fun as I make it, so I make it fun! Here’s a few ideas to get started.
08. Be Happy. Give Yourself Permission To Be Who You Are
I can, occasionally, let my goals get the better of me. I may focus on where I want to be instead of where I am and when this happens I feel decidedly unhappy. Happiness starts where I am right now, not where I’d like to be.
09. Know When To Quit
It’s okay to say no and it’s even okay to say no after saying yes. I wrote this post when I realized two volunteer positions were no longer working out for me. Almost a year later and I can say resigning these roles was the right choice.
10. Living a Balanced Life
Achieving work-life balance isn’t always simple or easy, especially when I let myself get distracted by all the little things that happen day-to-day, but balance is possible! One thing I’ve learned is balance is about quality, not quantity.
I love your comments! What great life lessons did you learn in 2012?
Celebrating Two Great Years
The Happiest Years of My Life
When I started blogging about work-life balance, and personal and professional development, I began enjoying life more and more each day. It’s not because my life is perfect, nor because I have everything I want- far from it! Life continues to have it’s ups and downs, challenges and joys.
My happiness flourished when writing about loving my work and my life inspired me to make the most of life every day. Loving my life is a daily practice of purpose, growth, gratitude, friendship, and celebration. That’s really all there is to it.
February is my bloggiversary! Two years ago this month I started Live Love Work. Little did I know I would grow personally and professionally, find wonderful friends, and experience new levels of happiness thanks to this blog.
The 7 Best of Live Love Work
How timely that I was nominated by my dear friend Deeone Higgs at Releasing Me Today for the 7 Links Challenge to share 7 of my best blog posts the month of my bloggiversary. I’ve lived, learned, and shared so much with you over the past two years, and here’s the best of Live Love Work.
1. My Most Beautiful Post: Have a Little Patience
2. My Most Popular Post: How To Live Healthy: An Essential Guide to Self Care
3. My Most Commented Post: 37 Great Life Lessons in 37 Years
4. My Most Helpful Post: How to make the best of your mistakes
5. My Most Surprising Success: 6 Things You Aren’t Doing on LinkedIn
6. My Post Most Deserving of a Second Look: Stop Negative Thoughts, Encourage Positive Thinking
7. My Most Fun Post to Write: Navigating Career Success Is Like Riding a Motorcycle
7 Insights into Live Love Work
In addition to the 7 Links Challenge, I am grateful to have been nominated for blogging awards by Deeone Higgs at Releasing Me Today and the lovely Amber-Lee Dibble at Alaska Chick’s Blog. Both awards encouraged me to share 7 things about myself.
I previously shared 8 things about myself in my niche amnesty post, The Genuine and Quirky Chrysta Bairre, and I hope you check it out! Today I’m going to share 7 things about Live Love Work.
1. The number 1 search term people use to find my blog is “positive thinking” and “think positive”.
2. The number 2 search term people use to find my blog is “gratitude”.
3. The search term that amuses me most is “Paul McGillion”, which leads to my blog thanks to photo I posted of me and Paul McGillion in my niche amnesty post. (Really, check it out if you haven’t already!)
4. My logo and blog design were created by my dear friend Erin Woodell at Moxie Image Studio.
5. I write most of my posts in 90 minutes or less.
6. My cat, Tiger, helps me write most of my posts. And by help, I mean sits on the desk and bats at my fingers while I’m typing.
7. Thanks to this blog, I’ve met more amazing and inspiring people than I can count on all my fingers and my toes!
7 Bloggers That Influence Me
Thank you to each and every one of you for joining me on this amazing journey! I want to take a moment and give special thanks to a just a few of the bloggers that have influenced me so far.
1. The first blogger that inspired me: Janet Callaway at JanetCallaway.com
2. The friendliest blogger I know: Adrienne Smith at AdrienneSmith.net
3. A blogger I’ve learned a lot from: Samantha Bangayan at What Little Things
4. A blogger with a beautiful spirit: Deeone Higgs at Releasing Me Today
5. A blogger with wisdom and wit: Kelly Gurnett at Cordelia Calls It Quits
6. A blogger with leadership and heart: Jon Mertz at Thin Difference
7. A blogger that’s just a lot of fun: Hajra Khatoon at Hajra Kvetches!
Thank you for celebrating my bloggiversary with me! I look forward to many great yearest to come!
I love your comments! What’s your favorite post on Live Love Work? How did you first hear about Live Love Work? What topics do you want to read more of on Live Love Work?
Keep it simple with one word goals
Setting goals is important to progress and achievement yet many of us find it difficult to follow through on long term goals. We feel inspired and determined when setting goals, and feel frustrated and defeated when our goals are challenged or abandoned.
I was recently inspired by a new-to-me concept for reaching my goals and I love it because of its simplicity- choosing one word to define the progress I want to make.
I can focus on one word that reflects my desired progress.
I can easily assess my options by asking myself, “does this choice apply to my goal word?”
I thought about my goals for the coming year, and one word that inspires my goals- RELEASE.
My goals are the road map that guides my purpose, but I make less progress when I attach my emotional, physical and mental well-being solely to the achievement of my goals.
While goals shape my attention and focus, I choose to delight in the day-to-day experience of life. Living presently and positively requires mindful action coupled with detachment from the results of my actions.
I make more progress when I quiet my mind and live fully in each moment. I am able to pay attention to my thoughts, feelings and motivations, and this allows me to make good choices.
When I compare myself to others: RELEASE
When I take on too much: RELEASE
When I get caught up in someone else’s drama: RELEASE
When I let mistakes interrupt progress: RELEASE
When I fear change: RELEASE
When I am dealing with a difficult person in my life: RELEASE
When I get stuck in negative thinking: RELEASE
When complaining guides my perception of situations: RELEASE
When I’m taking life too seriously: RELEASE
By releasing my attachments to and my assumptions about these challenges, I can focus instead on solutions and progress. I can focus on taking positive and productive steps towards achieving my goals.
Best of all, I can enjoy every day a little bit more when my success is not based on the final result, but simply doing the best I can with what I have today.
I love your comments! What word describes your goals for the year?
Image courtesy of Destinys Agent
Join the ConversationThe genuine and quirky Chrysta Bairre!
Relationships and reader engagement are the reason I blog. If I wanted to write only for myself, I wouldn’t be writing on a public blog which I promote online. I write to engage you.
Page rank is all well and good, too, but at the end of the day any confidence boost I get from stats ranks far below your comments, questions and connecting with you, and this is why I love your comments!
Through blogging, I have formed relationships with people across the globe- people I’ve never met. I want to build a relationship with you, so I’ll share a little more about me.
Yesterday I came across friend and fellow blogger Adrienne Smith’s post in which she took a break from her blog niche to share a little about the real Adrienne Smith. The idea of “niche amnesty” was started by DIY Blogger, which suggested bloggers break from their usual topics and share a little information about themselves.
So here it goes, 8 things you may not know about me, Chrysta Bairre:
1. Scootering is a way of life. I ride year-round, ride in a local scooter gang, and attend scooter rallies. Riding is a zen experience for me, I love it dearly, and I am grateful every day I get to live life on 2 wheels.
2. I’m a Colorado native. There are few places I’ve been that are as beautiful as Colorado to me. The Rocky Mountains inspire a sense of awe and peace within me. I’ll take mountains over beaches any day!
3. I can’t imagine my life without music. I love live music, particularly acoustic rock, folk and independent music. I have traveled across the country to see favorite artists in concert, and I am grateful to have met quite a few of my musical idols, including Tori Amos, Matt Nathanson, Vienna Teng, Melissa Ferrick and Charlotte Martin.
4. I share my home with 7 “furkids”- 2 dogs, 3 cats and 2 rats! I dream of taking a vacation to volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
My dogs, Kaylo and Maggie
5. The divine in me recognizes and honors the divine in you. I believe in the goodness inside each of us, and I see the connectedness between us. Personal progress for the greatest number depends upon unity and I accept and love you as you are!
6. I’ve learned that being a sci-fi nerd is about more than enjoying books, tv and movies. Science Fiction tells stories of hopes, dreams, and the strength of the human spirit to overcome overwhelming odds.
The fun of being a sci-fi nerd is going to conventions like Dragon*Con to geek out with other fans and meet celebrities. Embrace your inner geek!
Me with Paul McGillion at Dragon*Con
7. I’m a recovered perfectionist, and I couldn’t be happier about being imperfect. I was miserable as a perfectionist and I’m joyful as a human being. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a place for everything and keep most things in their place. Now there’s space in my life for things to be out of place and I’m okay.
8. I’m quite silly! I love to laugh, and love to make people laugh.
Mr. & Mrs. Silly
There you have it! 8 things interesting facts about me. Ani DiFranco sang, “you know there is strength in the differences between us, and you know there is comfort where we overlap.”
What do we have in common? How are we different? Please tell me something about you!
Join the ConversationLive Love Work: Love your work-life!
Namaste!
It’s a beautiful day in Colorado, as many days are breathing in fresh Rocky Mountain air and looking out at clear blue skies.
This gorgeous morning I am thrilled to share with you my newly re-designed website for Live Love Work! Live Love Work can now be found at www.liveandlovework.com. Please stop by and take a look! Your comments and feedback are appreciated.
If you are a current subscriber to Live Love Work, please take the opportunity to renew your subscription to keep new articles coming to your mailbox.
I am deeply grateful for your interest in Live Love Work, and I hope you find inspiration here. I look forward to sharing my experience, strength and hope with you, as you practice loving your work-life!
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Learning to Love This Life
I was driven to create my best life.
I have been driven to create a better life since I was 8 years old. I remember the moment clearly when I was assaulted by my alcoholic step-father and in that moment that I decided I would create a different life for myself than the life I had known.
I didn’t know how to create a better life, but I was determined to find a way. Careful to avoid the unhealthy habits I saw in my family, I searched for a better way to live.
I sought wisdom and insight from a place of love and compassion, and I was fortunate to discover new ideas that lead me to health, love and joy.
I continue to seek love, wisdom and truth in life, and I continue to live the best life I can possibly live. I express my passion for loving life in my work-life and my blog. Blogging is one practice in living my best life. I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned, and the attitudes and behavior that leads to a good life.
Sharing my experience is a practice of living my best life.
I am not perfect and I love me.
I am not perfect and I love me just as I am. I am a survivor of family alcoholism, sexual assault, family violence and poverty.
Surviving these experiences sparked my desire to a better life- a life of love, joy, gratitude and serenity.
It wasn’t easy to change the attitudes I learned in an abusive family environment and I didn’t know how to be loving. I thought perfection would allow peace and love in my life.
What I found in my quest to be perfect was more struggle. Trying to be perfect didn’t work for me.
What worked for me was learning to love myself just as I am. Growth and progress came once I stopped believing I had to be perfect to deserve good things in my life. I already deserve good things, and that belief allowed me to accept good things when they came to me.
I love my life.
When I accepted myself as I am, I felt love for my life and I began to live the life I wanted to live- a life of peace, joy and success.
It turns out experiencing a life of love doesn’t mean everything goes my way, or that I am perfect, only that I love myself as I am.
When I extend love to others and my joy and gratitude grows.
I couldn’t, and can’t, control the bad things that happened to me, yesterday or today. I can affect my own attitude, treat myself and my work-life with love, and live the best life possible for me.
I can love myself, celebrate my talents and accept my weaknesses.
I can love my work-life and take the energy, passion and commitment that I feel for loving my life to create success in my career.
I want you to love yourself and your life, just as it is.
I feel so fortunate to love the life I have, loving this life encourages me to share my love with you. I want to share the beautiful truths I have learned about life. I want to inspire you to love your work-life, and create your best life.
Whatever your life experience, I hope you embrace love for your life.
Most career advice is focused on situational definitions of success, but true career success comes from finding love inside yourself and extending that love to your work-life.
When you act and interact with your work-life from a place of confidence, gratitude, wisdom and love, you can have the work-life you desire.
Are you living the life you want?
How have you been inspired to live your best life? Do you love your work-life? I invite you to join me in learning to love this life!
Join the ConversationLet's Connect!
Chrysta Bairre
