Living Your Heart's Desire

Choose Happiness

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"Our vision controls our perception and our perception becomes our reality." Dewitt Jones 

Everyday we get to choose what lens to see the world with. Even in a world based on fear, scarcity and competition, there is far more right than wrong especially when you look for and celebrate what is right with the world. Celebrating what's right guides us all to that next right answer. There is not just one right answer but many depending on our point of view and perception of the situation. Sometimes you just have to step back and look from a different angle or in another direction all together. DeWitt Jones, former National Geographic photographer, shares an inspiring view of his reality below. Enjoy!

Living Your Heart’s Desire!

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You know how some people live life almost on auto pilot and then reach a point where they realize that they have no idea how they got where they are and they really don't like where they have ended up? Don't live your life by accident. As a "Heart's Desire Coach", I can help.

Hello, I'm Barb Brown and I help people live life fully, in a healthy way, and on purpose by exploring their passions and discovering and living their true heart's desire.

My mission is to inspire others to be fearless in their pursuit of health, happiness, joy, success, fun and their heart’s desire. Life doesn’t have to be hard. I’m here to show you that life can be and should be fun.

I Can help you discover your heart's desire even if you have no idea what that might be. I can help you find the courage to live your heart's desire even if you don't feel strong right now. Living your life on purpose and following your dreams and heart's desire means living a life of wonder, joy and freedom. 

Several years ago, I realized that I was not happy with my life and decided to make some major changes. I was overweight, I had health issues, and I was depressed. My journey since then has led me on a self discovery about my passions, likes & dislikes, and my heart's desire. I have made it my mission to live my heart's desire each and every day and to get back on track as soon as possible when I stray from that path. It is also my mission to help as many people as possible to discover and live their heart's desire too. 

I teach about holistic health, life balance and spirituality because if you are not healthy, not feeling well, or are chronically ill you are not going to be living your heart's desire because your thoughts and energy are on worry and stress about your health. Being anxious, worried, or stressed will also distract you from living fully. I have tools to help you manage all areas of your life to stay balanced, healthy and on track to live your heart's desire!

When one area of life is out of balance we feel it in the other areas of our lives. If we are not feeling well physically, we won't feel well emotionally. Emotional upset also creates physical discomfort and illness. Having some kind of spiritual practice balances out the entire system and provides a centering point to come to in times of crisis, chaos, illness or change. So, the path to happiness and living our heart's desire is a matter of maintaining physical, emotional and spiritual health.  I advocate a holistic path to achieve this goal. This begins a journey into these various areas of our lives and how to care for each area in a holistic way. I hope you visit often to learn about health, happiness and living your heart's desire.

For more information about me, please visit my about page. If you would like to schedule a time to talk about working with me please send me an email at barb@barbloves.me. 

Grief And The Holdays

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You Don't Have to be Happy Just Because it's Christmas!

Life comes in seasons. Some years are wonderful with few worries and plenty of everything. While other years are leaner, more troublesome, and just plain sad. In the good years, the holidays are a lot of fun, but during the sad times, we may not enjoy Christmas all that much, and that’s ok. Really, it's okay. I want to give you permission to feel what you feel, even if it isn't "happy."

There’s a lot of pressure put on us by family members, the media and society alike to put on a smile and be “merry and bright” during the holidays. We’re magically supposed to be in a good mood on Christmas no matter what’s going on in our lives or around us. Of course you don’t want to ruin Christmas for those around you. But let’s face it, sometimes life is difficult and when it happens around Christmas, it’s hard to put on a show of good cheer. 

There’s nothing wrong with being sad around the holidays. If you’re recently lost a loved one and are facing your first Christmas without them, it’s perfectly normal and healthy to be sad. You miss them, and not being able to share such a wonderful time of the year with this special person makes it harder to feel joy and happiness. When something does put a smile on your face, you may even feel guilty. 

Maybe you lost your job recently or are having other financial difficulties and can’t give your kids the gifts they’ve been asking Santa for. Maybe a relationship fell apart and you’re still trying to figure out what your life looks like now. Lots of different things can happen that will take a lot of the joy out of Christmas. And that’s ok. The important thing is to feel your feelings and not stuff them away just because of the time of year. 

Despite the picture TV shows, movies, and Christmas stories paint, our troubles don’t magically go away come Christmas Eve. We are still grieving, broke, and feeling lost. And that’s ok. Life isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it’s messy, complicated, sad, and sometimes depressing – even on Christmas. 

Don’t feel pressured to put yourself in a good mood. Don’t expect to feel better all of sudden. Get through the Holidays the best you can. Do what you need to do for the little ones, and then go and have a good cry. Be mad, be sad, or be angry. Feel what you need to feel to get through this hard period in life. 

But also remember this. Things will look up and there are many happy days and happy Christmases ahead. Remember the good times and know in your heart that better times are yet to come. 

I Wish You a Simple Christmas

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“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” Dr. Seuss,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Case For A Simple Christmas 

Have you thought about simplifying Christmas? What I mean is to have a holiday season without so much stress, without going all out on decorations, events, and gifts. I invite you to consider celebrating a much simpler Christmas this year. By scaling back and focusing on the more spiritual side of this holiday, you just might find more joy this season. As an added bonus, when you keep things simple, you have a lot more time to enjoy everything this special time of the year has to offer. 

Think back on Christmases past. Chances are, the ones that stand out the most were years when your family didn’t have the money for the fanciest decorations, lots of events leading up to Christmas eve and mountains of presents. Instead, if your family is anything like mine, the ones we remember are the years when we had little money yet plenty of time to spend with each other. I remember one very snowy Christmas Eve spent outside together till way after dark. Dinner and presents were waiting for us but we were having so much fun outside in the snow, together.

My mom and her five sisters always spent a weekend together baking candy and cookies, laughing and telling stories about their childhood. The house would be filled with the smell of cinnamon and tables with fudge, divinity, hard candy and cookies galore! It’s those simple Christmases and the special times spent together that stand out in my mind. They are some of my most treasured memories and the same holds true for the rest of my family. 

This year I’m making an effort to keep it simple, and I’d like to invite you to join along. I’m not buying more decorations. Instead, I’m sorting through what I have, picking the things I love and giving away the rest. The house is less cluttered and the decorations that are up stand out. As an added bonus it’s easier to clean and it will be much quicker to put everything away come January. 

My calendar is a lot lighter this year as well. I’ve chosen a handful of activities and events that I know I will enjoy. The rest of the time I will spend doing what I love including curling up with a good book by the fire, creating some new SoulCollage® cards, spending time outside with my dogs, really being present during the 13 Holy Nights and watching some of my favorite holiday movies.

When it comes to presents, my family decided long ago to keep it simple. I find meaningful gifts for my younger nieces and my grandson but for the adults, we find time to spend together that is much more meaningful and memorable. One rule I've always enjoyed if I am to give a gift is to include something that is playful, such as a toy or game that everyone can enjoy. 


However you choose to celebrate, I hope you give a simpler Christmas a try this year and see if you enjoy a calmer and more meaningful holiday season. Merry Christmas!

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”  ― Norman Vincent Peale

If you are looking for a deeper spiritual experience during this season, please join me for the 13 Holy Nights. From sunset on December 24th to sunset on January 6th is a window of time. An incredibly holy period of time where the opportunity for connection with spirit is stronger than any other time of the year. Earthly energies subside as if we have a direct connection with spirit, and spirit can provide a direct imprint letting our personal mind and earthly energies take a rest. You can find more information at www.13holynights.com.

Thriving Through the Holidays

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Reducing Stress During the Holiday Season

Tips For for a Happier Holiday

Stress and The Holidays

Many people look forward to the holidays each year with great expectations for family visits, get togethers with friends, and time to enjoy the season. 

The holidays offer great food, much needed time from work and the opportunity to reconnect with loved-ones. While the holidays can be a delightful time, for many, the season increases stress, anxiety and depression. Worry about finances, difficult family dynamics or other troubles can get heavier at this time and the holidays can be an added burden rather than a joyous time.

One of the most common reasons that the holidays become stressful is the expectation placed on families who are sometimes overextended emotionally and financially. The added burden to provide big meals, provide gifts, pay for travel and overextend the budget feels like a heavy weight.

Despite the Hallmark channel’s insistence that families all love one another and that being together is all that matters, many families are fractured, busy and unable or unwilling to live in harmony.

There are a variety of ways to reduce the holiday stress including setting healthy boundaries, having a plan for spending, and being flexible with expectations.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries is an essential part of having happy holidays. Preparing  and sticking to a budget, deciding whom to share the holidays with and negotiating what activities to participate in will create a sense of calm in a potentially anxious season. The key to making meaningful boundaries is to do it ahead of time. 

Prior to the season, discuss the expectations, finances and opportunities available and make clear decisions about how resources will be used. A clear plan will go a long way to thrive through the season.

What Can Be Done to Prepare for Holiday Stress?

The single best thing that can be done to prepare for holiday stress is to acknowledge that it is part of the season. It is directly tied to the expectations placed on a family that are above the usual expectations of every day living. Just because the holidays are here, does not mean there is an obligation to overextend ourselves.

If you have unresolved chores, bills, family relationships that are strained or projects that are unfinished, do everything you can to manage them before the holidays set in or, if possible, postpone them until the new year.

Clean your home or have a service come in and get things on track. Head to the dump, donate to the thrift store and clear out your clutter. Clean your garage, your gutters and your closets. Pre-write your holiday newsletter, clear out space for the holiday decorations to come down from the attic and make space for what you need. Start picking up baking items or other staples that you know you are going to need now when you have a bit more time. 

Touch base with friends and family now and share that you expect times to get so busy that you want to reach out now so you won’t feel pressured later and they won’t feel neglected. 

Tips to Reduce Stress During the Season

Make certain that self-care is a part of the whole family’s lifestyle. Adequate sleep, forms of exercise and down time are important in a season that is all about hustle. In addition, limit sugar and alcohol, especially now. Eat a simple and nutritious diet throughout the season.

Do not feel obligated to say yes to every invitation you receive, or attend every party or social gathering. Stay involved but choose your activities from the heart rather than from obligation. It is a perfectly acceptable stand to say no to the things that cause more stress than joy.

Stay in the moment. Remember the reason for your season. Whatever your personal reasons are for celebrating the holidays, remember to be present and enjoy everything you can about this year because this year will never be here again. 

The surest way to reduce stress is to freely and willingly give of yourself, your time or your resources for the benefit of others. This is different than giving out of obligation and with resentment. No matter your finances, your family dynamics or your time constraints, you can give in a meaningful way towards something that is bigger than you and will set your soul at ease.

This is a special and significant time each year. Don't get so busy that you miss the special moments. Stop to watch the children laugh, look at the stars in the sky, listen to the music that only comes this time of year and really hold your loved ones close. 

If you are looking for a deeper spiritual experience during this season, please join me for the 13 Holy Nights. From sunset on December 24th to sunset on January 6th is a window of time. An incredibly holy period of time where the opportunity for connection with spirit is stronger than any other time of the year. Earthly energies subside as if we have a direct connection with spirit, and spirit can provide a direct imprint letting our personal mind and earthly energies take a rest. You can find more information at www.13holynights.com.