Wild Sister BEST YEAR EVER edition.

ISSN: 1839-2318

5 STEPS FOR SETTING RESOLUTIONS YOGA FOR CRAFTING YOUR BEST YEAR

BACK YOURSELF IN 2014

January 2014

#31

BEST YEAR EVER 1

WHAT’S INSIDE 3

Editor’s Note

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Letter to the Editor

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What You Thought Last Month

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Let us Know What You Think!

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5 Steps for Setting Resolutions

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Contributors

Cover image: Jessica Swift www.jessicaswift.com

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Affirmation of the Month

Reawaken to the Essence of You

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Make the Shift into a Passionate 2014

Yoga for Crafting Your Best New Year

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The Best Year of My Life

Wild Sister of the Month: Autumne Capri

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How to Make 2014 Your Best Year Yet

Making the Best of My Year

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How to Let Go of Last Year to Fully Step into Glorious 2014

Back Yourself into 2014

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Create the Year of Your Dreams 2014

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Quotes of the Month

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4 Steps to Prepare Yourself for HeartCentred New Years Intentions

5 Steps to Goal Setting Success in 2014

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Brush Your Way to Health

A Year of Joy-Filled Living

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Road Maps

Birthing A New Year

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Latest on the Blog 59

Contribute

Connect with us

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January Love

EDITOR’S NOTE Happy New Year, Wild Sister!, Are you as buzzing with excitement as I am?

I hope you’re ready to rock 2014, because this edition is all about making this year your BEST YEAR EVER!

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This edition is overflowing with inspiring articles, how-tos and tips to help you create a wild, happy and blissful year— and life!

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And if you’re a member of the Wild Sisterhood, remember to grab your free 2014 Vision Pack! It’s filled with colourful prints, affirmations and quotes for your vision board! But it’s only available during January, so be quick!

Here’s to all the happiness, joy and wildness that awaits us in the year ahead!

Jen.

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1. Enjoying the summer sun.

2. Photobooth fun + silliness.

3. Celebrating the year that was.

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WILDsisters

{JANUARY 2014}

Editor Assistant Editor

Creative Director Jen Saunders Wild Sister

Dani DiPirro Positively Present

Danielle Tate-Stratton danitatestratton

Writers

Jess Carlson

Donna Morin

Ina Sahaja

Cinda Stevens Lonsway

Nikki Hassett

Shai Smith

Anne-Sophie Reinhardt

Sonya Forrest

image: Bryan Wesel

Dani DiPirro

Karina Ladet

Paula Jones

Guest Writers Shan Watts

Leonie Dawson

Keri Krieger

Barbara McNally

Jennifer Covington

Want to join this amazning group of women by contributing to WILDsister? Click here to find out how.

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Jasmine Brawn

Letter

to THE

EDITOR I want to know what you think of this edition!

Has a story inspired you? Want to share your thoughts on this issue? Or you just want to say hi and be featured in the next edition?

To share your feedback on this issue, email us with your name, city and country at yoursay@ wildsister.com.

You can also connect with us at facebook.com/ wildsistermag or tweet us at @wildsistermag.

To get exclusive updates from the editor, sign up to the Wild Sister newsletter here.

For subscription options go to wildsister.com/ sisterhood.

(Letters chosen for publication may be edited for length.)

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What you thought of last month’s Peace edition @ @ @ @ @ Drucilla Pettibone @faeriecology Loving the latest edition of @wildsistermag #imawildsister

Jess K @SocialHotPixel Finding peace with @wildsistermag #imawildsister

Andrea Belarruti @belarruti #MentionSomeoneYoureThankfulFor everyone in the sisterhood of @wildsistermag and @jen__saunders for pulling it off

Shantini Suntharajah @ShantiniRajah Reading: PEACE edition of @wildsistermag

Carla Blumenthal @carlablumenthal @Moni_Ville @wildsistermag This is perfect. Thank you for this :)

Carolyn Franzke @mountbeautymama I just completed Week One of the @wildsistermag Create Your eMag in 4 Weeks eCourse! I rule! #CYM4W #wildsister http://tinyurl.com/ lb6y5rt

MonivilleDesigns @Moni_Ville “Remind yourself that you are exactly where you need to be in order to learn YOUR lessons.” via @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/ n89hqkdg 6

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LET US KNOW

WHAT YOU THINK...

instantly

Take a photo of you reading this issue, post it on instagram + tag it with #wildsister.

I’ll re-post it and give you a shout-out on our Facebook page!

Tweet it!

Here are a few tweetables you can send out right now {I’ll re-tweet it!}: Creating my BEST YEAR EVER with @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo #imawildsister {clicktotweetthis} Reading: BEST YEAR EVER edition of @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo {clicktotweetthis} Loving the latest edition of @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo #imawildsister {clicktotweetthis}

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Steps FOR

by Dani DiPirro

SETTING

Resolutions

Many

of us will be creating New Year’s resolutions this year. Often we think we know what they are, but I’ve found that it benefits us to think about them a bit before launching our intentions out into the world. Here are five steps for setting a resolution.

Step 1: Set a reasonable resolution.

Many of us have grand, lofty goals of what we want to have/be/do in life, but if you set unreasonably high goals you’ll never feel like you’re achieving anything. For example, I used to always say to myself, “I want to be happy.” Well, that’s a great goal, but it’s way too broad and undefined. I had to figure out a way to break it down.

One of the reasons I picked writing a novel as my happiness goal is because writing makes me so happy and I love the thought of someday having an actual book that showcases my hard work. When setting a resolution, it’s important to pick something tangible, something you can work toward in a physical sense.

Grand goals like “lose weight” or “be more social” don’t work as well as more specific goals like “don’t eat out more than once 8

a week” or “volunteer at a local charity.”

Setting a concrete, specific goal is the first step in sticking to a resolution.

Step 2: Divide and conquer mini-goals.

Whatever your resolution is, it’s important to divide it into manageable goals, which will then be easier to conquer. When you conquer a goal (and, yes, crossing something off of your To Do list is conquering), you feel good about yourself.

There is almost always a way to work on your resolution every single day.

{clicktotweetthis}

Breaking down your overall goal into smaller mini-goals will allow you to make progress bit-by-bit, which will encourage you to keep moving forward and tackling even more.

For example, if your goal is to write a novel, you might feel overwhelmed by the thought of creating all the chapters and characters and concepts. But if you break it down into the following: Outline, Character Development, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc., it feels a lot more manageable. No matter what your goal, see if you can divide it into smaller bits.

where you can meet monthly and share your resolution progress. Or, if you don’t feel like starting a group, you can simply ask your friends, family, coworkers, or online pals for help. Tell them what you’re working on and ask them to ask you about it. Trust me, when someone is asking you about something all the time, you’re going to want to have a better response than, “Oh, yeah, that...Well...Um...Yeah, I haven’t started yet...” (at least the 2nd or 3rd time you’ve been asked!). I’m pretty sure you can find someone who will check in with you and ask about your goal and it’s a great way to keep yourself on track.

Step 3: Keep reminders everywhere.

Step 5: Do a little bit every day.

One of the best ways to keep your focus on your resolutions, whatever they might be, is to remind yourself. All. The. Time. It’s so easy for things—especially resolutions!— to slip to the bottom of the pile of your To Do’s, but don’t let it happen to you. Avoid this by putting reminders everywhere.

This step ties in with Step 2 but it’s a little more specific. I really believe that incorporating something into your life daily helps to reinforce it so find a way to incorporate whatever your resolution is into your daily life somehow. Even if it’s something abstract, there is almost always a way to work on your resolution every single day.

Use sticky notes (virtual or paper) on your computer monitor and bathroom mirror (or even on the visor in your car!). Send yourself emails as reminders. Ask friends and family members to remind you. Set alarms to keep you motivated. Resolutions are often not necessities so they are easy to forget. Remind yourself constantly!

Step 4: Find a way to be accountable.

Accountability is a great way to stay on track. One way to do this is to start a resolutions group with friends or family,

For example, if your goal is to finish a novel, think about how you can observe the world through a writer’s eyes on a daily basis. Keep an eye out for characters, for scenes, for descriptions. Make writing—or at least brainstorming—a daily practice.

Yes, there will be some days you won’t feel like doing it, but keep in mind that all of the small amounts of time spent on a daily basis add up to the realization of Ws your resolution.

Dani DiPirro is the author of Stay Positive: Daily Reminders from Positively Present and Live Happily Ever After Now: A Guide + Workbook for Living in the Present Moment. She is also the founder of PositivelyPresent.com a site dedicated to helping people live positively in the present moment. To check out Dani’s latest book, and watch the Stay Positive video, visit StayPositive365.com.

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affirmation

THIS WILL BE MY

best year ever {clicktotweetthis}

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Reawaken

To the Essence of You

By Jasmine Brawn

When

I was 19 years old, myself and a friend loaded up three horses in British Columbia, Canada and set out to cross the Rocky Mountains back to my home in Saskatchewan.

I admit it was not the most educated decision at the time. I slept in a tent and filtered water from mountain lakes, carried a shotgun and knew that I was living one of the greatest experiences of my life. Every moment I was engaged and alive. It was real and beautiful and challenging on so many levels.

We made it just over a hundred miles before calling it quits. The packhorse had become lame and we were unable to carry our supplies any further. Nevertheless, I was thrilled with it all. I can still picture the most beautiful sunset out there like it was yesterday. Looking back on that period of my life I can tell that story like a dozen others of a similar nature.

Life was exciting and fresh. I knew who I was and what I stood for. I was a free spirit.

There was definitely a drummer of my own up there somewhere. I didn’t care what other people thought of me or my actions because I was too busy doing things that made me happy. I was filled with passion and lust for life.

“It’s not the meaning of life we seek but our aliveness. Once we have that the meaning of life is obvious.” ~ Anodea Judith 11

But something happened somewhere in my twenties. Life slowed down and became more “normal.” I had a job and an image to live out. I forgot who I was and I feared the drummer in my head because, god forbid, I make notice of being different in any way. I paid attention when people didn’t necessarily understand or agree with my angle. And I started to doubt and question who I was and what I stood for. So while I pondered this I became more conformist, agreeable, nice and boring to feel accepted, alike and liked by others.

But conformist, agreeable, nice and boring was like death for me. When I stopped living the things that were important to me and tried to accept other’s view of life and success it felt empty, cold and meaningless.

That’s where I lived for a time, not understanding why all this success in what others deemed to matter seemed worthless to me.

It’s no wonder we start to lose our connection to spirit—the essence of who we are. Women are told what to want, act, dream, and feel all the time.

I’ve come full circle and here’s what I’ve learned. This is how you can come back to center, rediscover your essence and ultimately live your best year ever.

1. Get clear.

Quiet that drama driven mind. Do what you love. Spend time nourishing your body and

your mind with things you love. Take time to reward yourself with extreme self-care and rest and come back to center. In this space you will create a picture of how you want life to go down. That picture is the beginning of something truly magnificent.

2. Know yourself.

Who are you? What makes you tick? What do you value? Your values define you in a way that is truly unique. They are your measuring stick of success and should drive action. Do a Values Assessment.

They are all over the web. The happiest people are living at least three of their top five values. If you don’t like your values, change them. But, at all cost, please don’t live out someone else’s.

3. Decide.

Thoughts are things. Action from yourself and the universe comes first from the mind. Being clear about what you want and knowing who you are are all great on paper. But deciding to align with who you are and what you want puts the most powerful of forces into motion.

4. Do the work.

“I play every night like it’s my last.”

Although he spent much of his life under the influence, this musician was extremely talented and skilled. I’ve heard that there is a fine line between sheer brilliance and madness. This man lived on that line. It was the end of a long-time gig and I chanced the question, “Are you doing anything special tonight (on stage) seeing as it’s your last night and all?” And I received something slurred and drawled with two eyes barely focusing as only a drunk man can deliver, “Jasmine”, he said, “I play every night like it’s my last.” And that was all that needed to be said. I had just received profound insight into life. It immediately became my motto.

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If you’re going to do something, do it all the way. Others may consider your actions risky or irrational. But you will know when you are on the right track because the work, although arduous, will feel effortless.

You can dig any number of wells trying to find water but if you don’t dig deep enough you will never find it even if you are within inches. Do the work with intensity, passion and love. Learn your craft well. Lay it all out there. Feel the fear and find your way through. Doing the work with love and intensity will pay the dividends you seek, more from the energy behind it than the action it involves.

5. Embrace the good.

Sometimes we are patterned into believing that things don’t work out for us, so when they do we are skeptical, fearful, even rejecting of the possibility. That doesn’t really work as far as communications with the universe go. Expect abundance. Expect magic to happen. Be grateful and at peace with it and know that there is more to come.

Embrace the good that comes your way.

So there you have it, words of wisdom. I wish you all the best year ever. Adventure Ws towards your best life.

Jasmine Brawn is an adventurer, yoga teacher and renegade philanthropist. You can find her at jasminebrawn.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Or join her in April, 2014 for an all-women adventure to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. Contact her at: jasminebrawn@ gmail.com.

Make the Shift Into a Passionate 2014

By Jennifer Covington

Resolutions.

That’s the word of the month, is it not? Some people love resolutions, others hate them.

The love comes from getting to start fresh, having a blank slate to create whatever you want. The hate comes from February 1st, you know, the day that all of your hopes and dreams go out the window and you’re stuck in the same old rut from the year before.

You don’t plan for it to happen that way, it just does, right?

I get it, I was the same way, until I made a shift in my life that changed everything. If you make this shift in your life, your 2014 will be the best year ever!

First, let me ask you this: What are examples of resolutions you have made in the past? Were they safe? Did you make them small enough to ensure your success? When February rolled around did you even really care whether or not you made the goal? Sure, it would have been nice to achieve it, but did it really matter?

“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” ― Kenneth H. Blanchard 13

You might be saying, Jennifer, I see what you’re getting at and you’ve got it all wrong.

Why would I pick a resolution that didn’t ultimately matter?

I can give you 100 reasons why, but for the sake of time, I will just give you 10: You don’t risk getting your heart broken when it doesn’t work out the way you planned.

You can always save face by thinking or saying, “It didn’t really matter to me anyway”.

You don’t have to feel like a failure.

You don’t have to let your family, friends, neighbors or colleagues know how big your dreams really are (surely they would judge you if they knew the truth).

You don’t have to answer the call of your heart that has the audacity to want magical things to occur in your life.

You don’t have to ‘fess up that you desire more in your life.

You never have to leave the cozy nest of your comfort zone that has given you a satisfactory life up to this point.

You don’t have to put any skin in.

You don’t ever have to risk feeling stupid,

vulnerable, insecure, unsure or clueless.

You don’t ever have to risk tapping into your true power, strength or confidence.

So you see, you have some really solid reasons for making the resolutions you’ve been making. The only problem is, when you’re not all in, you don’t care enough to follow through!

Why not get Wild this year!? Pick one big bodacious goal that you would be over the moon excited to achieve. By making this one shift in your approach, your life next year will be unrecognizable.

That dream, that mission, that vision that keeps you up at night, go after that!

That is what life is all about. The excitement of the ups and downs, the unpredictability of the outcome, going to bed every night knowing you played full out and waking up everyday excited to have another go at it. If you’re not feeling this way currently, I encourage you to start this year.

I know it’s scary and I’ve got your back!

We’re in this together.

Here are some tools that will help you along your path to having your best year ever!

A Dream

How good does it feel to have accomplished that goal?

What’s that idea, message, mission or dream that lights you up every time you think of it? Where do your daydreams take you? What have you always wanted to experience in your life? Identify what it is and write it down. This is just the beginning.

How impressed are you with your tenacity?

A Vision Board

How surprised at your resourcefulness are you?

Visualization is such an important part of manifesting your dreams. I believe very strongly in vision boards. It does a number on your subconscious in a great way and it’s a powerful reminder for you when the road gets rough.

Picture yourself in December 2014:

How proud are you of your skinned knees and bruised ego?

How does it feel to have set out to do the thing you thought you’d never have the courage to do?

“Life is for the living.” —Langston Hughes

It’s time to decide to make 2014 the best year ever! {clicktotweetthis} 14

A Community Being surrounded by like minded people is essential for your success. We tend to play small for the convenience of others who knew us way back when. That is going to hinder your growth. Not to mention, on the days you don’t have the answers, energy or motivation, your community will be there to lift you up. You can find groups online, or in your actual city, whatever you have to do, don’t try to go it alone.

Your Own Personal Cheerleader/Drill Sergeant/Sage/Mentor/Coach

You need one person who is in your corner and all about your growth. It helps if this person has been where you are and is living a life that you admire. You need them to be 100% dedicated to your vision for those times when you feel discouraged, as they will be the ones to keep you on track.

A coach is great for this type of motivation and accountability.

Compassion Compassion is important because if you’re going for something that is outside of your comfort zone, you’re not going to have all the answers. Your ego is is going to have a melt down and will convince you that you’re doing it all wrong. Have compassion for yourself throughout your process and give yourself credit for even going for your dreams in the first place.

be saddened, satisfied, stoked or surprised. No matter what, it’s in the past and it’s there to teach you lessons.

What I want you to take away from all of this is that 2013 got you where you are today and it’s your jumping off point.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein Where are you going to go from here?

Are you going to approach life like you did in the past or are you ready to make magic happen in your life? It’s time to play a bigger game, it’s time to decide to make 2014 the best year ever!

A Sense of Humor A sense of sumor is crucial during this process. We have one shot at this life and we can either make it a chore or make it fun. Learn to laugh at yourself and have some fun! So you trip, fall and land in the mud, it makes for a good story and you got an impromptu spa treatment to boot. It’s all about perspective. Learn to laugh at the process and have a good time.

Stay Alive We live in a cyber world of “reality” shows, status updates and emoticons. We can submerge ourselves in this virtual reality without ever really feeling alive. Go outside, put your toes in the sand, do something that makes you so nervous your fingertips feel prickly. Don’t just play life, really get out there and live. Your commitment to staying alive will leave you feeling fulfilled and complete at the end of each day (and isn’t that the whole point!).

When you reflect upon 2013, you might 15

Jennifer Covington is a Passion Project Strategist, Action Instigator and Life Coach. She specializes in helping creative entrepreneurs go from vision to implementation in 30 days or less. Join her 30 Day Challenge: From Passion to Action at www.JenniferCovington.com.

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