Beauty Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Selah Reflections

Be Encouraged and Give Encouragement On the Hard Days (Video + Download)

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where words seem to fail, creativity seems to fly out the window, and ideas may flow but fall flat?

Well I have and this week has been one of them. I even had a different blog post just about written but didn’t finish it.

But, one word kept popping up, encouragement. So here are just a few thoughts to encourage you and resources for you to share and encourage someone else.

Be Encouraged and Remember, You Are Not Alone.

On the hard days, the great days, the stressed out and overwhelming days, the fun-filled days, the sick days, the stay-in-your-pjs-all-day days, you are not alone.

First you have a Heavenly Father who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

Second, we all have family, friend and framily (friends who have become family) who love, care, and want to support you.

Third the Selah Reflections community. Many of you I know personally, some I have come to know through email and over on Instagram, some of you I don’t know, yet. What I do know though is the huge, tender, generous heart of this community and know that help, support, and encouragement is only an ask away.

My gift to you today, is a short video for you to enjoy, be encouraged, and share .

Resources to Share Encouragement

There are times when you see someone you care about struggling and you can’t always find the words to say. Share the video – it’s really okay! And below is a image and verse from my picture book “Be Still & Know That I Am God”. I’m including a downloadable file at the link below that you can print out and enclose in a card, send in a text, or email.

If you don’t know what to say, just let them know you are thinking of them and available if needed.

Honestly, sometimes that is enough.

Click here to download hi-res version for printingHere are a couple of other things to check out and share.

I recently listened to a keynote presentation by speaker Keni Thomas, an Army Vet, who served in Somalia and lived through Black Hawk Down. God grabbed a hold of his life and he now is a singer, artist, and motivational speaker sharing his story. He teaches about leadership and reminds his listeners that they are special and unique, with God given talents to share. I was rather mesmerized. Visit his website at KeniThomas.com and scroll down to the video section and listen to the video labeled “Business”. It’s rather amazing.

Shauna Niequest has written an amazing book that I just love called Present Over Perfect. Cannot recommend it enough.

So today, be encouraged and take the time to encourage someone else. You never know just how much it might mean to them.

How Beauty, the Outdoors, and Your Environment Affect You

“Where you do what you do matters.” ~Bob Goff

The first time I heard this quote was at Donald Miller’s Storyline Conference. It was something that his friend and author, Bob Goff, had said to him. It’s one of those quotes that sits with you for awhile as you work on understanding the meaning.

Since then it has become one of my favorite quotes. It’s a concept that reminds me to pay attention to my environment while I am working, adventuring, or resting.

What Does This Quote Mean?

My personal definition is that your environment matters since it can strongly impact your stress level and your ability to find stillness and rest.

When you work in an office cubicle without a window how do you feel?
If you are an introvert in the middle of a huge room with 100’s of people, how do you feel after an hour?
When you are in a doctor’s waiting room that feels shabby and “doctory,” how does it make you feel?

Access to the outdoors is pretty important to me; so when I relax, I like to be outside. On the days I can’t get outside, or when I am at work, bringing the outdoors in is the next best thing. I can do that by using my photography as artwork on the walls, opening a window to catch a breeze or hear the birds sing, and working in an area where I get a lot of natural light. I’ve even tried plants! But that doesn’t usually go so well.

So, How Could You Apply This Idea In Your Life?

First, there are some questions you need to ask. When you are looking to find stillness in your life what is important to you? Is it beauty? Quietness? A soft fluffy blanket? Beautiful background music? A cozy room surrounded by family? Maybe it’s sitting outside in the sun with a great book?

If you are not sure, as you go about your day, start to notice where you feel the most relaxed in your home, office, and other daily activities. Keep notes about how you feel, how your tension levels rise or fall, and what makes you feel relaxed. I bet you will start to see a pattern.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

A Reading Spot: What about a favorite chair with a soft blanket and a great smelling candle?
A Workspace or Desk: I’m partial to a collection of all sorts of colored pens! 🙂 Family photos, inspiring quotes or photography, a vase of flowers. You even can find fun colored desk accessories. My Mom used to decorate her bulletin boards with gorgeous wrapping paper. She is also a HUGE fan of fun floral decorated file folders!
Family Dinner Table: What about making it regular habit of having a candle light family dinner? Does soft background music help everyone calm down a bit? Fun placemats, flowers on the table?
A Resting Spot: Do you have a favorite park with benches? Is there a lake you like to visit that is quiet and warm, where you can hear the birds sing?

Growing up my Mom had a set of fantastic books by interior designer, Alexandra Stoddard. She is someone who totally gets the idea that “where you do what you do matters”.

She emphasized using colors you love, using texture, and style to create an inviting home. Living A Beautiful Life, Alexandra Stoddard’s Book of Color, and the Gift of a Letter are some of my favorites. While her style of decorating is not my style, her advice and ideas are.

How Beauty and the Right Environment Affects Us

First, it can reduce stress:

For most people (but certainly NOT all!) clear, uncluttered, simple spaces to live, and work in, is soothing and calming.

Next time you walk into your kitchen, start to notice the difference in how you feel when the sink is full of dirty dishes vs. an empty sink. How does it affect your emotions and how do you feel about your kitchen in general?

Second, it can increase creativity:

Natural light, colors, a beautiful view, a gentle breeze, music, a clean desk space, or essential oils diffusing, all of these can make a positive impact as you work. It helps stimulate the creative side of your brain, link together ideas, encourage inspiration, and build confidence. I’ll take that if you don’t mind!

Lastly, it can help you find stillness:

Heading up to my office, I find it very hard to start my work day knowing there are dishes in the sink, laundry to be folded, or a desk covered so I can’t even see it or find what I need.

When it is time to settle in for the night, I need soft instrumental music, just enough light to read by, a good book, and a soft blanket, then my mind and body starts to relax. It helps me unwind and find stillness as I get ready to fall asleep.

Your Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It:

First, pick a spot like your desk, a reading chair, or your bedside table and take note of how you feel about it over the next week.

When things are piled up on your chair, or files scattered across your desk, or your bedside table looks more like a junk drawer, how does it make you feel? My guess is there might be sighing involved, your shoulders may tighten up, and at times you might just want to leave because it is too much to face.

Next, make a short list of what small changes you could make to help that area become a calm, beautiful spot to be in. Are there things you can get rid of? Can you find a better location for files? Is there a candle you can add or essential oils you could diffuse? Would adding artwork you love to the walls be the perfect touch? How about a small bouquet of flowers?

These are not huge, monumental changes, and that is good! The bigger the change required, the less likely we will do it. So it’s great to know that small, purposeful changes can make a positive impact on your environment which in turn helps you to find stillness in the midst of life.

“The Be Still & Know That I Am God” Collection
A Fine Art Photo Book paired with scripture and a Devotional Journal can help you find find stillness each day with the beauty of God’s creation and the gift of His words. Click here to find out more.

How to Start A Lifestyle of Simple Living

We have had some absolutely fantastic weather here on the Oregon Coast and it has been hard to stay at my desk. On this kind of day, I would much rather go for a hike or even just sit outside to read, write, and get me some good ole’ Vitamin D.

As I write this, I am sitting at the kitchen table, it’s quiet, the dogs are sleeping on the floor around me, the back patio door is open, and there is a soft breeze drifting through. It is one of the rare times I just want to sit without background music playing. The only sounds I am hearing right now are, the clock ticking on the wall, the birds chirping outside and the occasional car driving by on the road down in the valley below.

I have a couple of appointments today but other than that, today is for writing and business development. It’s a day made for creating.

Days like this feel like Simple Living to me.

What Does Simple Living Mean to You?

Recently this question was asked and I had to sit with it for awhile and then write out my thoughts and ideas. Writing is one of the main ways I process and plan.

One thing I do know is that each one of us is going to have our own unique idea of what simple living is and how it looks in our lives. I’ve also found that it is extremely easy to get caught up in someone else’s expectations of what simple living means to them, and speaking from experience, it doesn’t work!

It is good to understand that what simple living means to me, single, with a fur-baby, and 17 nieces and nephews, looks different for my sister who is the mother of 8, still homeschools 5 of them and is now an incredibly proud grandmother :).

It is important that we learn to define, and stand up for, our own definition of simple living.

Here is a short list I came up with in my journaling time of what it means to me:

Being purposeful
Slowing down
Dedicated quiet time and thinking time
Dedicated creative time
Spending time with family and friends
Flexibility in my calendar
Margin in my time and activities
Being in nature by spending time outdoors

Am I good at most or even any of these? Not really. It is something I continue to struggle with. I am a workaholic and this year I have some big goals that all too quickly eat up my time and attention.

What Does It Take To Live A Simple Life

Tsh Oxenrider of the Art of Simple, calls Simple Living, paddling upstream. I think that is a great description because Simple Living takes:

…intentional, purposeful decisions, and habits. It takes being willing to think outside the box and the willingness to be different than those around you.

…knowing yourself and getting a firm grasp on your values and priorities are.

…planning and forethought so you are not living reactionary so that you are only saying yes to the essential and the necessary.

…self-discipline to regularly review your goals, values, and priorities and keep them in mind as you live life and make decisions about what to say yes and no to day-in and day-out.

…being willing to be uncomfortable at times as you start to live differently than some (or all) of your friends and family.

The Reality of Living A Simple Life

There is a reality we all have to face, however. And this for me is where flexibility in my schedule is so important.

Life happens. Family members get sick, we get sick, client websites go down (yep , that is how I spent my Saturday night this past weekend!), we need to work overtime and more.

There are times when life just gets busy, too busy, and there is now way around it. There are times that in spite of our best efforts and intentions, our definition of simple living goes out the window for a season.

That doesn’t mean we stop trying and stop working towards this goal.

How to Start Living A Simple Life

I wish I had a magic bullet answer for you on this one. I wish I had one for me! There is no perfect solution, and to be honest, simple does not mean easy. In fact, I think it’s hard.

We start living a simpler life by being more intentional, thoughtful, and purposeful in life. And we can only do it one step at a time.

It is also best to start with one area in your life that you would like to simplify. If you try to tackle all areas of your life at once, it won’t work. You’ll get discouraged and stop because it will be too hard and overwhelming.

Simple Living Resources

If this is an idea that captures your attention and is something you think you would like to explore further, here are a few resources for you.

What I’m Learning About Balance and the Simple Life
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Upstream course by Tsh Oxenrider

Is there one area of your life you would like to simplify?

Making Time For The Outdoors & Filling the Soul

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
~Folliot S. Pierpoint

There are times, okay… MANY times, when I realize I need to take my own advice, so this past weekend I did! My Dad and I spent the morning at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm‘s 2016 Tulip Festival. SOOOOOO worth the time and effort if you are ever in the area.

For me, I get so wrapped up in business, in writing, in traveling, of trying to get through my to-do list that I lose track of my priorities and some of the reasons why I choose to pursue the crazy world of self-employment.

A few months back my friend Tiffany over at TiffanyAOlson.com had me take one of those quizzes that are designed to help you identify your values and priorities. It was a list of about 50 words to go through and narrow down to your top 5. It was hard! It turned out to be quite an interesting and revealing exercise.

My top 5 words were:

Beauty
Simplicity
Creativity
Freedom
Faith

I need to see the beauty of nature, God’s handiwork, each day. I crave the simplicity of enjoying the outdoors, my morning walk with Bailey, the freedom to go explore, creating something new out of the images I capture, and to celebrate the Creator who gives these gifts of beauty.

What I realized (again… seems like I need regular reminders) is that these priorities were not represented on my calendar. Yes I go out on morning walks with Bailey but exploring or taking time to be creative are way, way down the list.

Going to the Tulip Festival was part of getting these priorities back on my calendar.

When you go to a place like this it can be so awe-inspiring to see the variety of design, colors, size, shapes, and smells. It can be hard to take it all in.

With camera’s in hand, my Dad I dove in, taking hundreds of pictures of close-ups, of grand vistas like the above, and of course a selfie or two. Some day I hope we get there on a sunny day! Our 2 trips in the last few years have been on cold, overcast and rainy days.

It’s quite a feeling to be in the midst of a group of photographers, each one there to take photos of these gorgeous fields of flowers and create something beautiful. To be in the midst of all that creative energy was just kinda cool! It’s not something one gets to be a part of every day.

We had a photographer’s pass that let us get in before the general public and it was good that we did! Once the gates fully opened, finding “the” shot became virtually impossible.

Not only can spending time in the outdoors fill the soul, it reduces stress, clears the mind and just plain makes you feel better about life in general. It’s one of the reasons I take daily walks with Bailey, to clear my head before starting my day. It helps get the kinks worked out of my legs and gets Bailey out for a run along the track or trail.

It is an activity that fills me up. On the days I don’t get out for that walk, boy do I notice!

There is joy to be found in simple pleasures. For me that comes from seeking out beauty and spending time outdoors.

The trick is to be intentional about making time for the outdoors, or anything that fills your soul. And yeah, I’m not intentional nearly enough about this. I keep trying, but something usually comes up. As I have said in other posts, we need to create an appointment and keep it!

We are worth taking the time to spend time outdoors and pursue activities that fill us up instead of drain us.

I’ve been working on a list of activities I want to get back into my regular schedule because I know if I don’t it just won’t happen. That list will include hikes I want to take, camping weekends to organize, picnics to go on, and walks on the beach to collect shells.

What about you? What activities need to get back on your calendar?

Finding & Sharing Your Be Still Moments

Finding stillness in the midst of life is not always easy, it fact it’s downright hard most days.

So maybe we first start by finding a moment. A moment where there is peace, where the mind quiets, and you feel like you can take a few deep breaths.

It might only be a brief minute or two as you observe a small detail, a beautiful sunset, watching your child sleep, or enjoy the still of the morning with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed a new hashtag on some of my posts #bestillmoment. I usually find these moments on my morning walks outside with Bailey or in unexpected places. Like when I look out the window at the back of the house and get to see a Bald Eagle fly by, or when driving home after a weekend visiting my Mom and I see an unusual, beautiful cloud formation, or flowers in bloom or feel the temperature change and a hush fall as I enter a wooded area.

These moments happen when I slow down enough to look around and see, and I mean really see, not just rush by.

Okay I will admit then sometimes on our walks I’m probably yelling at Bailey to “get back here!” (especially if he is sniffing around a known nutria or porcupine hideout!) but, other than that I do try to pay attention, looking around for details in a scene, small moments, be still moments.

Finding a be still moment is something we have to train ourselves to look for. It doesn’t come naturally. For me, one tool I use is my camera. For you it might be your camera phone, a small notebook, a journal, or even the notes app on your smartphone.

Document Your Moments

Overtime, these can become quite the collection. My Instagram feed is about 99% scenery and landscape photography, it’s fun to look back through my feed and remember where I was and what I thinking at the time, it can be calming and relaxing. It also helps to motivate me to keep working at the habit of looking for these moments each day.

You can also document these moments by printing a picture and adding it to a journal. Add notes about the When, Where, How, and Why. Don’t forget to include how you felt in that moment.

In the companion journal for the “Be Your Finest Art” book, there are a series of exercises that take you through different ways to observe what is going on around you. One that I remember most asked you to first observe a scene and then explain that scene in words. It’s an interesting exercise to try. I found it hard to watch a beautiful sunrise and then try to describe what I saw in words only, no pictures. I had to get pretty creative and go beneath the surface of generalities in order to find words that could come close to describing that scene, that moment, I had experienced.

How would you describe one of your be still moments?

Share Your Moments

Don’t forget these moments, don’t stop looking for them. And don’t stop sharing them or start sharing them if you haven’t. You never know who you might encourage along the way. Recently I’ve been getting more and more comments from my Facebook family and friends about looking for my daily picture. They enjoy the moments that I find and share.

To know that I can make a positive impact the life of another in my practice of looking for moments, finding and then sharing it, motivates me to keep looking, to keep searching, and to keep sharing. It is a pretty cool opportunity.

Have you had a be still moment lately? Has there been one that has stuck in your head for a while? I’d love to share your moment here on the blog.

Starting this month, I would like to feature at least one readers #bestillmoment to help inspire and encourage others. Would you like to share yours? I hope so! Please click here to find out how.

Be Encouraged and Give Encouragement On the Hard Days (Video + Download)