This week I celebrated my birthday. Now I don't know what you do when your birthday rolls around, but my super awesome storyline includes giving myself a super awesome present; a gift from me to me.  Not necessarily something expensive, but something meaningful that enriches my life. This year, it was getting back into downhill skiing, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Let's face it, the last few weeks before spring arrives can be tough for Canadians.  By now many of us are wishing winter was done and dusted, and we're all ready for a little reprieve.  I decided I needed to change it up a bit and embrace winter, not fight it. So, like Nancy Green, I hit the slopes - and no one was more surprised with the results than me.  Not did I enjoy being outdoors, and getting some exercise, I also realized skiing is a very mindful activity.  Now yes, one's mind can wander whilst you are on the chairlift. However, unless you want to include a hospital visit with your lift ticket, you need to be fully present and focused when you go down that hill. Returning to an activity that I love and that challenges me has turned out to be a great way to celebrate, not dread, the remainder of the season.

As we soldier through the last few weeks of winter I challenge you to embrace winter- not fight it. Step out of your comfort zone and do something fun that lights up your world and makes you smile. To help you get started, here are ten ways to help you create a positive mindset, and celebrate the last few days of winter with a new and improved storyline for your super awesome life.

Best,

Jane

10 Ways to Develop a Positive Mindset

1. Calm your Mind: Take time out to clear your mind of your thoughts and just be, even for 5 minutes. This time will help you gain clarity of thought and help you set your compass for the day.

2. Pre-Pave your Day: Start each day with intention and gratitude. Our intention creates our reality. Recognize that despite life’s challenges, you are in control of how your day will unfold. There is always something to be thankful for, even if it is as simple as you are still breathing today.

3. Recognize Your Accomplishments: Give yourself an Attaboy/girl note every day and tell yourself something really positive; how well you handled a situation, that you got yourself to work on time, that you didn’t tell that snooty, snotty, snippy person where to go and how to get there. Anything that will make you smile!

4. Nurture Your Garden of Thoughts: Our life is what we create, and there is an inner critic inside of everyone called fear trying to keep us small and safe. The downside is this fear also stops us from living a full life. Being a positive thinker, will help you attract more positive into your life.

5. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone: Try something new; it’s an incredible feeling when we realize we have achieved something we didn’t know or think we could do before.

6. Follow Your Passion: You know that thing that gets you so excited but scares you at the same time? The thing you really want to do but have convinced yourself it won’t work. You should go do that!

7. Cultivate Healthy Relationships: Surround yourself with people who love and encourage you. Let them remind you just how amazing you are. If the people around you are not amazing, and do not love and encourage you, consider if you should be sharing time and space with this person or group. Anyone who makes you feel anything less than amazing does not deserve to be a part of your life.

8. Treat Others with Kindness and Respect: We feel better about ourselves when we treat others the way we hope to be treated. That doesn’t mean everybody will always do the same, but you cannot control this. Good deeds will always come back to you.

9. Have Fun and Get Out There: See and do things that light up your world. When we are stressed, we often try to lose ourselves in other activities such as work. Find time to enjoy things and bring balance to your life.

10. You Are What You Dream: Be mindful of what you think, feel and want: You are what you live, and your life will reflect this.

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