Crystal Rocks & Feathers

First time I have checked the mail in a few days and I'm happy to see a few things I ordered on etsy!  

Anyone buy themselves Christmas presents this year? Guess I kind of did. 🙈 

But I've learned when you find something on Etsy you get it because it won't always be available!  

So I ordered a few things .....

• These Peruvian jade feather earrings.  

• A raw black tourmaline yoga bracelet.  

• And I bought this feather bookmark at Barnes & Noble the other day. 

Guess you could say I like symbols. Or you could say I'm a hippie.  😉 But I do like crystal rocks and feathers!

Crystal Rocks have so many healing agencies...

and...

And I feel these have arrived at the perfect time for me.  ☺ #NoCoincidences 

What did you get for Christmas?  
Did you buy yourself anything?

Taking the FIRST STEP

My alarm clock went off at 5 am. 

From then on I was wide awake. 

At 10 am I got out of bed. 

Yep- - It took me five hours of praying and playing mental games with myself to build up enough courage to face the day and take my first step out of bed. 

First thing I did on my feet today? Run. I went for a run around my neighborhood and while I ran I couldn't help but think of how this morning is so representative of my life. 

I spent 29 years THINKING about living my life, but doing nothing. 29 years spent on autopilot. 29 years spent doing a whole lotta nothing. 29 years praying and praying for the courage to ACT. 

I'm well aware that a good percentage of my day was just spent in bed. And I could focus on those less than productive hours spent in bed. Just like I could focus on the 29 years I did a whole lotta nothing. I mean, if I live to 87 that IS a THIRD of my life spent living beneath my potential. 

I could dwell on those statistics for another five hours or 29 years. OR I could focus on the step I took FORWARD. 

Cuz I DID get out of bed this morning. And for that I am proud of myself. I took a step, and then another. And then I ran a mile. A slow mile, but a mile nonetheless. 

I just wanted to share because I know some people think it's too late to make changes. They think because they have always done things a certain way, that's the way it will always be. 

Maybe you've been thinking about making changes for quite some time, but you haven't taken that first step. 

Don't worry, I can relate. It took me 29 years to take my first step forward. 

I may be having a hard time right now. And right now I may need a few hours to psych myself up enough to take a step in the morning. But I STILL did take a step. 

And you can too. One step forward. And then another step. And then another. 

And when you're ready.... Run. 

And just know I'm here for you. If you're building up that courage to take a step just let me know and we can lock arms together and support one another. 

You, me, together- we can do this.

CREATE THE FEELING YOU WANT

I have a long history of depression. The kind of depression that engulfs every moment of every day, for years and years and years .... to the point where the only relief you see is in dying. 

I've been off anti depressant medication for 5 years now. But make no mistake about it- in the last 5 years there have been many times I have felt {what I call} STRONG TRIGGERS pulling me back to that old familiar state of depression. 

This would be one of those times. 

Here's the thing- I have learned in all my personal development and seminars and therapy that it doesn't work for me to ask myself what I FEEL like doing and act on THAT. 

What works for me is to ask myself what I WANT to feel, and then focus on taking actions steps to CREATE that feeling. 

But quite honestly, I haven't even DESIRED to be happy these last few days. Call it mommy guilt, call it a lifetime history of depressive habits, call it post trauma, but right now I just want to be sad and not have anyone tell me how I SHOULD be feeling. I want to curl up in a ball and fill buckets of tears. I want to yell and scream and throw a fit. I want to be mad and angry and frustrated. Both with myself, and with God. And there's the part of me that feels this is what I DESERVE to feel too. 

Creating happiness and peace? The last thing on my mind. 

Yesterday, as I drove away from the hospital with Mack & Andi, I cried. I thought it was okay with the kids behind me - there was no way they could see my face from where they were sitting in the car. So I quietly sobbed. My daughter is in so much pain because of me!! I cut off my daughters finger with my skate!! I can't even explain how it feels facing that reality. 

As I gained a little composure, I turned to look at Mack & Andi while waiting at a stoplight. Mack was crying. 

But there's no way he had seen or heard ME crying. And yet I knew his crying was related to mine. I just knew in my heart Mack could FEEL the energy I was dwelling in, and he was absorbing it. 

That's when it hit me. 

*I* may not even WANT to be happy right now. But I have three little kids. And they are going to absorb my energy, whether I like it or not. 

If I let the negative emotions take over, dwell in the sadness- it WILL affect my kids. But if I can use the tools I have acquired over the last couple years and CREATE peace and happiness---- my kids will focus on that and this won't be AS traumatizing for THEM. 

I found my motivation. 

So 5 am wake up call- check. A morning workout- check. Now I will shower and get ready. Do my personal development. Read my scriptures and pray. Find an early morning church so I can partake of the sacrament. Then switch places with Jayson so he can attend church with the kids. I will eat clean. Focus on what I am grateful for. ~~> That is my to-do list. 

I'm going to CREATE the feeling of happiness and peace. 

Because my kids deserve that feeling in our home.

I'M NOT A QUITTER

There's nothing cute or fun about crying after a flight lesson.  

Really, it's quite embarrassing that my instructor had to give me ten minutes to pull myself together in a break room and gain my composure.  

It's extremely frustrating. And it's more than just new information coming my way, I feel there's a disconnect between me and my instructor. My instructor has a very specific style of teaching, and it is so NOT in line with my style of learning.  

When I ask clarifying questions, or I THINK I'm doing what he's asking {but apparently I'm not} - I keep hearing "Stop being argumentative Brigitte. Stop fighting with me."  

It bugs me to be told I'm being argumentative when in MY mind, I'm just asking questions to learn how to fly this darn plane.  

After today's lesson my instructor expected me to quit. "I don't know if you want to continue on or what...." 
 

Well to be honest with you guys, I was so done. All I could think is "I want to quit! This guy is such a jerk! I want to yell at my instructor, I want to swear, I want to walk out of this building and never look back!"

But instead, I said a little prayer. I asked God for strength and composure. I prayed for the ability to face my instructor and continue on. And somewhere deep within I felt this small little voice speaking up ..... 

"I am not a quitter."

"I am not a quitter. I am not a quitter." Over and over again I repeated that phrase to myself, each time with more conviction. I snapped a photo to remember this moment, wiped the tears away, took some deep breaths, and walked back into the office. I surprised my instructor by telling him I'd like to continue on and finish the lesson planned for today.  

This is no doubt, the HARDEST thing I have EVER done. It's apparent to me after seven lessons now that my instructor is who he is. I can't change him, I can only change me. So somehow I'm going to have to learn how to change my wording, change my questions, change my approach as a student. Right now I'm clueless on how to do that. But if I'm going to learn how to fly from this instructor it's up to ME to adjust.  

Even if I'm documenting it with a less than flattering photo, this is me declaring to the world-----> I AM NOT A QUITTER!!!!! I WILL learn how to fly.  

{Sorry for the novel. Just a moment I needed to document for myself.}

HAMMER & CHISEL

I ordered Hammer & Chisel as my next fitness program to complete but........ I haven't started it yet. 🙈

I know it's silly, but I want a legit before and after photo with this program! I just knew with Christmas and all the traveling we are taking to see my family and Jayson's family- it would be unrealistic for me to take a bench and weights with me in the car so I can keep doing this program while we are gone. So January 4th is my start date for that program! I've got a challenge group forming now for anyone else who wants to join me after the holidays! 

But until then, I have been taking advantage of the Beachbody On Demand workouts. Did you know there are 12 full programs on here? Plus workouts Sagi, Tony Horton and Autumn Calabrese have released JUST for Beachbody On Demand? And did you know there's even maternity workouts? 

You didn't know all that? Did you know you can try these out for FREE for thirty days? And a subscription to all these workouts is less than 40 dollars for three months. Crazy right?!! 

Consider this your lesson of the day.  wink emoticon

I'm excited for Hammer & Chisel come January 4th. But until then, these Beachbody On Demand exclusives are pretty fun to check out.  ✌🏼

MY FIRST AVIATION HEADSET | DAVID CLARKS

My first pair of David Clarks! 

Yep- I have my own Aviation Headset now. I got tired or swapping spit with the rental headsets.  😉🙈😂

I am so excited!! New headset AND I'm feeling more and more confident with each lesson. 

Today was really cool because I did my first stalls today! Yep- stalls.  😳 My instructor showed me how to pitch the plane up in such a way where there's not enough air flowing over the wings to generate lift. At which point your plane is now falling out of the sky. 

Scary huh??!!! It's such a weird sensation and the plane vibrates hard when it's happening. But he showed me how to create a stall, how to turn side to side when it's stalling and falling down, and how to recover. Then it was my turn. 

And I nailed it!!  👊🏼👊🏼

I feel like I did so good today! My take off and landing was better, my turns are better, I'm doing better holding altitude and speed and leveling the plane. And I'm EVEN doing pretty good on the radio communicating with the tower. 

Yeah, patting myself on the back today. Hehe. 😎 Feeling like a million bucks!!!!! Booyah!!!!!!

BE YOUR BEST>>>TODAY

Yesterday to do “my best” meant waking up at 5 am to do my workout before a flight lesson at 7:30. 

Today “my best” looks like getting the kids off to school and doing my workout then with my husband. 

I know I’m in competition without no one else but ME. But I use to take that to mean every single day I need to be better than the day before. In every.single.aspect. of the day. That’s kind of hard you know? 

That perfectionist mentality lead to a lot of self shaming. If I EVER slept in….. Well the day before I got up super early- so shame shame shame. If I EVER had a cheat meal, well the day before I was great on nutrition! So shame shame shame. 

Self shaming doesn’t motivate one to be better! It motivates one to not even try. Wanna hear how I phrase things now in my mind?

“How can I be my best TODAY? With today’s circumstances, influences, and events, how can I make the most of this moment moving forward?”

I may have done better with my alarm clock yesterday. I stayed up too late, and got up in the middle of the night as one of my kids woke up crying from a nightmare. So I choose to sleep in. Should I shame myself and get down on myself? No. I can still do my best today with today’s set of influences and events. And tomorrow I’ll do my best with the influences and events tomorrow will bring. 

• To me, that is doing “my best”.  

• To me, that is the epitome of KEEPMOVINGFORWARD. 

Still focus on doing your best! But know your “best” will change day to day. 

‪#‎challengeoldwaysofthinking‬‪#‎aperfectionistmindsetjustdoesntwork‬

‪#‎giftsofimperfection‬

PS- Jayson doesn’t just look like he’s in pain, he is. Haha. Tough workout today!!

2-BITE RULE

Have you ever heard of the “2 bite rule”??

It’s the rule that keeps me from falling off the wagon come holiday season. 🎃🍂🎄

Studies have shown that when you’re eating the most SATISFYING bite is the first bite, and the last. 

So ditch the bites in between! 💡 When you see something you REALLY want and you’re going to feel deprived if you avoid it- take two bites. Enjoy it. And you’re good.  👊🏼

Tonight I had 15 young girls from church at my house to make Christmas cookies.  ‪#‎ActivityDays‬ We made these candy pretzels that I love!! Carmel, chocolate, and pretzels? Perfection.  👌🏼

So two bites it is. Luckily I can stuff in one per bite. Ha!  😉‪#‎sneakysneaky‬

Whatever works right?!! 

Anyone else use the 2 bite rule when it comes to treats and desserts? Think it would work for you?

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Did you know there’s a lot similarities between getting the most out of each day and learning how to fly??? ✈

True story. 

I made a quick 4 minute video sharing 3 tips for success as I get ready for today’s flight lesson. 

Whether you’re building a home business or you want to have a successful day today, these tips will apply for you. 

So if you’re don’t mind my lopsided bun and lack of makeup 😉 - watch this quick video!

ADD VALUE

My life coach gave me a challenge today on our call. 

>>>> Get out of my personal development books and have an AHA moment watching and engaging in the world around me. >>>> ADD VALUE to someone else’s life as I’m out and about today. >>>> And reflect on what I see around me & experience, and the metaphors I can draw from what happens. 

If you know me, you know I’m not one to turn down a challenge. 😉

I’m a girl on a mission! Headed to the mall to do some Christmas shopping. But instead of staying in my own little world, I’ll be focused on who I can meet, and what interactions I see around me. 

Ready to learn. Ready to uplift.

PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR

Gahhhhhhhh!!! Bubbling over with excitement right now for my team of coaches. {insert 50 smiley faces}

I just spent the last 4.5 hours in one on one calls with some coaches, identifying their goals for 2016 and creating strategies on how to make those goals a reality. 

I freaking love my team!!! This is what excites me! Those one on one connections! Some people might feel overwhelmed by a bunch of coach calls, me——- I feel PUMPED UP.  👊👊 I feel excited about the future! I feel reassured that the coaches on my team are suppose to be there. No doubt the people drawn to my team are the coolest people I know.  👯

We are changing the world!!! Living with intention! Focusing on personal growth! Ditching excuses and limiting beliefs. 

I can’t WAIT to see what 2016 has in store for me and my year! Best year coming up that’s for sure!!!!!!

IT'S HARD BUT KEEP ON GOING

Last night as I was reading through my flight book I felt like giving up. 

Floating carburetors. The fuselage verses the empennage. The difference between a monocoque structure and a semi-monocoque structure. Remembering what the rudder is, the throttle, ailerons, stabilator, trim tab, yoke, flaps, and how I control it all….

It’s a lot. 

“I’m just not cut out for flying! I don’t have the mind for this. This is not common sense to me. I don’t get it.”

Just a few of the thoughts flooding my mind last night. So much self doubt. So much fear. Some tears of self pity. 

Learning to fly is HARD. 

But I got up today and said a prayer asking for strength and courage; came to my flight lesson this morning and logged in another full hour up in the air. Me- flying. That landing I did today? All me. 👊

And guess what? I still don’t get it all- but I did better than Tuesday.  ‪#‎progress‬

This is NOT easy for me, I’ll tell you that. But I’m not giving up. 

I WILL master this.

WINTER IN ARIZONA

What’s the view like where you live? Do you have a lot of snow? 

This is my view today! 🍂😍

I have a couple hours of one on one calls today with personally sponsored coaches. Determined to help my team prepare NOW for 2016!! 

But today I’m taking my office OUTDOORS. 

Why sit at a desk when I can get in a few miles of walking, and see THIS kind of Arizona winter beauty??

Not the winter wonderland I grew up with – but the air is still crisp, and sound of crunchy leaves makes me happy. 

🌲🍂🌿🍁🌳

If you lived in a place with no snow, would you miss it?

HOW TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO YOUR TEAM

I curled my hair today. And since it’s not Sunday or date night that can only mean ONE thing…...

Training videos being made for my team!!  

Just making a video sharing my TOP THREE TIPS for how to attract coaches to your Beachbody business through social media. 

I think this would work for anyone building a business on social media though – not just coaches. 

Trying to decide if this one should be a private or public video? Comment below if you’d be interested in watching so I can decide! TIA!

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

It’s just dawned on me…... With Phoebe going to kindergarten next year, today was the LAST time I’ll be making gingerbread houses during preschool with one of my kids. 

I remember doing this two years in a row with Mack. I remember doing this twice with Andi too. And two years now with Phoebe. 

{Sigh} I can’t help but reflect on how much has changed since I first became a mom. 

I went from not working at all, to supporting my family financially. Yet, I’ve never had to miss a day of making gingerbread houses at preschool with my kids. 

It may sound silly to some, but I’m just really grateful. 

~ Grateful to be a mom. 

~ Grateful to have found something I LOVE doing for work that CAN support my family. 

~ And grateful I don’t have to choose between the two.

BECOMING A PILOT

Today was my first day of school. 

Flight school that is.  😉😲🙈

Yep! After my introductory flight the other day I officially enrolled in classes, got paired up with an instructor, and early this morning I logged in my first couple hours. 

Kind of geeking out that I own a pilot logbook. 

Never in a million years did I think I would ACTUALLY learn how to fly!! Even when I put it on my dream board/bucket list, I kind of figured it would never REALLY happen. But I’ve surprised myself. 

My grandma use to tell me as a kid, “Brigitte, you can do hard things.” My grandma had an “I-can-do-hard-things” club. And she always encouraged me to be a member of that club. 

Well, I think my grandma would be proud of me. Because this ISN’T easy for me. I feel fear every time I think about going up in that plane! 

But I choose to face the things I’m afraid of and move FORWARD. 

Guess I belong in my grandma’s club after all ——> Because I CAN do hard things. {{and psst…. So can you. 😉}}

‪#‎futurepilot‬ ‪#‎firstlogbookentry‬ ‪#‎bucketlist‬ ‪#‎facethefear‬ ‪#‎WEcandohardthings‬‪#‎watchmeFLY‬

BEST JOB EVER!

Beachbody coaches be like “BEST JOB EVER!!!” 

WHY haven’t you joined me yet?

THIS IS MY FIGHT SONG

My life coach said something this past week that really stood out to me.  

He said “A lot of times when people see success they let fear take over because now they have something to lose. They start to self sabotage, and then they give that self sabotage meaning.”

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

One might think at the level of success I’ve had in Beachbody that I have no fear. I’m a 15 star! I’m earning a significant income doing something I love from home! That must mean I have ZERO fear, right?! Wrong. I have mounds of fear, probably more than I did at the beginning. Because now, now I have something to lose.  

Well, if the norm is for successful people to self sabotage – I’m fighting that norm. Consider this my public declaration, the announcement of my fight song. 🔊

I won’t let the fear take over and line the decisions I make! I’m fighting & challenging the limiting beliefs within. I refuse to self sabotage.  

I will hold strong to the commitment I made to God on my 29th birthday….. I will KEEP MOVING FORWARD, no matter what.  👊🏼

#SelfSabotageStepAside #iwillconquerME#alwayslearningandgrowing

IT'S SURREAL

Today has been so surreal! 

I’ve been watching Mindy‘s kids today while Chris & Mindy unpack into their new house. 

I still can’t believe some of my best friends have just moved to Arizona! 

Tonight, as we gathered at my house for dinner I had a little flashback. 

The very first time I EVER met Chris & Mindy they were at our house in Idaho Falls, sitting at our kitchen table, asking us how this business REALLY works. 

We met one another through mutual friends on Facebook and had a few conversations online. One weekend they happened to be driving through Idaho Falls so we decided to met in person to talk about Beachbody. After that Mindy became one of my first business building coaches! She was my first personally sponsored diamond coach. My first star diamond coach. 

WHO WOULD THOUGHT just over 3 years later we would both be living in Arizona! Both full time Beachbody coaches with our husbands retired. Choosing where we want to live. 

I’m so so grateful I did the scary thing and signed up as a coach. And I’m so so grateful Mindy was willing to trust me and join my team.

If we had only known then we would be HERE and NOW one day…. I wonder what we would have thought. 

Here we are- just two moms willing to share our journeys and help other people, and work hard to create a better future for our families. Crazy to think how much has changed since then.  👯

‪#‎KitchenTableMeetingsMakeHistory‬ ‪#‎ArizonaAdventures‬

BEACHBODY COACH

Hi!  👋

My name is Brigitte Linford and YEP- I’m a Beachbody coach.  

Being a coach doesn’t mean I’m perfect.  

Being a coach doesn’t mean I eat perfect every single day of my life.  

And it doesn’t mean I walk around happy go lucky every moment of my life. 

Being a coach means I’m willing to share my journey and what has worked for me to overcome obstacles! It means I’m willing to be a listening ear when someone is struggling to reach their goals. It means I’m committed to growth and being the best I can be. And I’m committed to assisting other people on THEIR journey to a healthier more fulfilling life.  

I use to shy away from claiming “I’m a coach”. But it was limiting beliefs associated with that word, and a slew of insecurities that held me back.  

So today ~~~~> I boldly claim it.  

>> I AM A COACH. <<

If you are looking to grow a business at home, start your health and fitness journey, or you’re looking for a community of like minded individuals who are focused on growth and service and setting goals and crushing them——— I got your back. 😎

Sincerely, 
A Beachbody coach.