Happy January! Are you longing for the cozy, slow vacation life of the holidays yet? Now that we are full swing into 2025, and vacation is simply a memory, the idea of living a "faith-fueled, creator-led" life could sound like a happy illusion. I know the to-do list is long, and the time seems short. We’re all a little swamped.

But consider this: What if the secret to creating balance and fulfilling your purpose isn’t about doing more but doing less and expecting more?

You know, I promised that we would learn more about the power of mindfulness this quarter, and leaning into the principles of Creation in this backward law will do just that. In this 9-part series, we’ll explore what I like to call our ‘9C Life.’ Dick Schwartz and his IFS System inspired me. Dr. Schwartz organized nine aspects of the authentic self. They are Calmness, Clarity, Curiosity, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, Connectedness, and Choice. Using these nine principles in the Creator-based® Way, we will bring energy up this winter and accomplish your goals in these long, dark days of snow and ice. Trust me, this stuff is powerful.

The Creator-Based® Way: The Power of Five Principles

Before we dive into the *9Cs*, it’s important to understand the foundation upon which we’ll build this series. The Creator-Based® Way is a holistic approach to living that centers around five core principles that allow us to live with purpose, presence, and power. Remember these? You are the creator of your life experience. You have within you light and truth, all the power you need to grow and progress. Happiness is most likely to be achieved when founded on faith, compassion, mindfulness, and hope. We are different by design. And, of course…Change is a gift.

With these principles in mind, let’s look at the first ‘C’ in our ‘9C Life’ series—Calmness.

How can you be calm when your to-do list feels bottomless? When there are bills to pay? Things to watch or keep up with? Cars to fix and snow to shovel? Ah, my friend, no worries. Pause and enjoy a long, deep breath. Okay, maybe this one is short and in your chest, but try a second deep breath. It's better, right? Okay, now, the third breath is long and deep with a good, long exhale. That calm you just created is a faith-fueled gift!

Calmness allows us to tap into our inner wisdom, think clearly, and make choices aligned with our chosen goals and purpose. At first glance, calmness may seem like the opposite of productivity. After all, don’t we need to hustle, act quickly, and achieve results to be successful? It’s a common falsehood that busyness = productivity. The ‘backward law’ of mindfulness suggests something different: Do less. Expect more.

It’s true. When you slow down and choose to be more present, you accomplish more because you can see all of those little things you would typically skim by. Slowing down makes you more productive. We create more space for clarity, creativity, and meaningful action. It’s in the stillness between our breaths we often find the answers and the solutions we’ve been seeking. We become more focused, intentional, and present- and y’all, it’s wild when you deliberately slow your walk, your hand movement, or your breathing. You make fewer mistakes, leave space for our Creator to Communicate with you, and become substantially more effective in your life.

Besides the truth of a Faith-fueled, Creator-led life, here’s why this works: When we are constantly rushing or running on autopilot, our minds are scattered, and our energy is fragmented. We may appear productive, but it’s all on the surface. Our thoughts lack depth and connection. Conversely, when we slowly and deliberately approach life with calmness and mindfulness, we create space for deeper thinking and clearer decision-making, and remarkably, by slowing down, our productivity increases. It is an act of faith to Do Less and Expect More- and that faith is richly rewarded.

All my love,

:) Beth