7 ways to renew your “sense of wonder” on your day of rest.

Written by Rain San Martin -copyright 2009

Our “day of rest”, gives us an opportunity to sharpen our axe and come back with a renewed sense of wonder. The key is to allow a large enough block of time with no scheduled commitments, where your mind can drift into a creative space.

1) Visualize yourself at a serene location. While listening to relaxing music or nature sounds imagine that you are at the beach, a joyful place you have visited or a personal created space.

Painting by Nancy Hotz 2008 -used by permission.

2) Relax with an at-home “spa treatment“. Visit The Body Shop or your local drug store and pick up a fragrant bath gel, luxurious face mask or exfoliate with a homemade mixture of sugar, olive oil and a few drops of 100% essential aromatherapy oil.

3) Create visual goals on index cards. Cut out inspiring photo’s from several magazines and secure onto index cards. Make one or several for each area of your life. Review regularly keeping only the cards which represent your current dreams.

4) Step out into nature. Linger in your backyard or a local park and have quite time with God. "Be still, and know that I am God“ -Psalm 46:10

5) Go on “an artist date” alone, as recommended by Julia Cameron, author of the Artist‘s Way. Sip a latte, casually window shop or attend a festival. Have a note pad or digital recorder on your person to capture idea’s, dreams and words of wisdom.

6) Review your old journal entries, photographs, letters from loved ones and memorabilia. This will help you to "keep true to the dreams of thy youth" and be thankful for the people in your life.

7) Make something just for fun. Assemble a digital scrap book, create your own soap or edit your home videos on the computer. Just make certain that whatever you do in this block of time , it shouldn’t be something you feel you have to do.


You may use this article in your web site or eZine, just be sure to post the credits below:

“About the author: Rain San Martin is a symphonic fantasy music composer and digital artist www.RainSanMartin.com www.FantasyRealmImages.com . Read more motivational articles at www.rainsanmartin.blogspot.com

Using goal setting accountability partners to reach your lifetime dreams

My photographer friend Adele Bonge who shot my debut album cover recently mailed me “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. In the chapter “Build Your Success Team” he explained the benefits of a mastermind group or accountability partners where you share your goals with one another. As the book explains: “Knowing that you’ll be reporting to someone provides the extra motivation to get the job done.” (-Page 313)

1997 - Adele Bonge (Hood), Maria Jones (Marino) and Rain San Martin (Hotz) during a goals club meeting in Thousand Oaks, California

In the mid 1990’s myself and 2 other long time friends, Adele Bonge (Hood), Maria Jones (Marino) formed a motivational club, sharing our TOP 5 goals for the month. The plan was that some of the goals listed would bring us closer to our lifetime dreams by the end of the month. If 4 out of 5 were completed the other partners would send a postcard of congratulations to the achiever. This group was a key element in helping me to complete the steps involved in releasing an album.

I urge you to join a cluster of people whom you can mutually share your goals and dreams with. Set a deadline for those achievements and break very large goals into bite-sized tasks.

“God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:13

Until next month,

Seek the kingdom of God, Live with purposeful passion and take action!

Rain



Rain San Martin is a symphonic fantasy music composer and digital artist.
www.RainSanMartin.com
www.FantasyRealmImages.com