Both The Mouth of Chi and your physical mouth are points of entry; both serve as boundaries between “inner” and “outer” worlds. The Mouth of Chi is where energy, people and opportunity enter your home. Your physical mouth takes in food, air, and energy (chi).

If your Mouth of Chi is blocked, cluttered or just plain messy, it can block you from moving forward in life. It can have a negative effect. If it is bright, well lit, cheery and full of positive energy, your life is more likely to flow in a positive way. Good fortune, blessings and opportunities will be yours.

When you fill your physical mouth with unhealthy foods, too much food, or bad air, it will block your energy and have a negative effect on your body. In addition, if you don’t take care of all that is in your mouth (gums, teeth, tongue, et al.), or if your words are peppered with negativity, another type of block will form, and yes – your energy and life flow will be compromised.

Prior to learning about the Mouth of Chi, I confess that I hadn’t give much thought to the importance of ‘point of entry,’ nor had I even considered my physical mouth an entry point or boundary between the ‘inner’ and the ‘outer.’ Now, however, having a different level of awareness, I can’t help but to be mindful and give more thought and meaning to what I put in my mouth and what comes out of it. And you?

Speak right. Eat right. Smile.
Keep your points of entry clean and well lit.

Evolve. Don’t just improve …
Janice

“What’s wrong with perfectionism?” you ask. “PLENTY,” I answer! … which, by the way, makes perfectionism totally imperfect.

Perfection is often linked with achievement, painstaking awareness to detail. Yet, it often produces procrastination (no point in doing something if I can’t do it perfectly), low self-esteem (if I am not perfect, no one will love me), low-productivity and in some cases obsession compulsive disorders, depression, sexual dysfunction, divorce and eating disorders.

Life is full of obstacles, isn’t it? Therefore, life – in it of itself – is imperfect. Trying to be perfect goes against the grain of the natural flow of things, and it results in anxiety and fear of failure.

If perfectionism is interfering with your life, in any way (weigh), shape (pear shaped or apple) or form, I invite you to consider letting go of this potentially dangerous characteristic.

7 Ways to Be Perfectly Imperfect

1. Fake It Till You Make It. It helps to have a willingness, a strong desire to change and a bit of patience as you move through the process. If you are not there yet, that’s okay! You can pretend. Fake it! You will make it!

2. Embrace Fear. Just about everyone says that you have to be FEARLESS. Guess what? Life is scary, fear happens. The trick is to knock it out of your way. When fear rears its ‘interesting’ head (not ugly – don’t want to insult it and make it any bigger), say “Helllooooo fear! Nice to see you. Here’s your hat; what’s your hurry.” In other words, acknowledge it and let it know that you appreciate him/her (in all likelihood ‘fear’ has good intentions), and then (seriously) open a window and door and send him/her out! Do it! Open that door, invite it OUT- empowering feelings will surface, I promise!

3. Practice Imperfection. What things can you do that ‘imperfection’ adds to; that imperfection makes better? How about going to one of those paint your own mug/bowl places. You pick out the ceramic piece, sit at a kid’s table, paint a picture or words, colors, whatever and then they ‘bake’ it for you. Thing is, the paint drips, colors blend. The baking process completely changes the look. You can display it proudly in your home. A symbol of your perfect imperfectness.

4. Try On Excellence. “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing”. ~ Harriet Beryl. We are here to strive for excellence, to grow, to change, to develop, to go forward, to evolve, not just improve.

5. Envision. Imagine your goals and dreams in great detail. See yourself happy and living just how and where you want to be, in all its glorious imperfection. Write it out. Make it real. And then commit to doing one imperfect thing today that will align you with your tomorrow.

6. Let It Go. Let it go. Let it go. Softly and sweetly, just let the idea of perfection float out into the clouds. (Video coming soon with instructions on how to let it go. Woo hoo.) Perfectionism takes up a lot psychic space. Clear your mind, unchain yourself from perfectionism, and realize that you have just created an amazing opening for freedom and creativity.

7. Nourish imperfectionism. Let us nourish the beginning of this new time in our lives. We have showed sweet perfectionism the door and know that seeds of imperfectionism have been planted. Bless these seeds, allow them to sprout and grow, in their own imperfect way.

Please leave a comment and share your seeds of imperfection. How will you add a tablespoon of delicious and satisfying imperfection to your life today?

Evolve … don’t just change.

“Oh … Okay,” I replied.

Believe me, I had no intentions of asking Donna to give up anything. Far be it from me to ‘take away’ her family’s gastronomically driven happiness or strip her of her identity as the fabulously, wonderful mother whose sweet potato pie and potato pancakes are to die for.

For the record, I am not the food police. Nor, I am in the habit of asking people to give up anything; much less cart away the foods that they think/feel make them the happiest.

Au contraire, I take nothing away! I am all about adding to your life; helping to bring out the best in you, supporting you in finding ways to add copious amounts of health and happiness to add to your daily platter.

Once I fully explained my position, Donna settled in and over the course of the conversation, she said, “I am really annoyed at my son. I asked him if he remembers the wonderful holidays that we’ve shared, and the delicious foods that I whipped up over the years, and he couldn’t remember not even one dish.”

With heaps of loving-kindness and sincere compassion, I gently brought Donna’s attention to the contradiction. I asked, “Donna, why do you think is it that your son can’t recall any of the dishes?”

“Because,” she slowly said, “the food isn’t important to him.” Allowing Donna a moment or two of silence to chew over her thoughts, we sat in silence until she was ready to continue. “Oh my, the only one who deeply cares about the food is me.”

And there you have it. The lid had been removed from that pot. Donna realized that she had more or less painted a Norman Rockwell fantasy. She had woven a beautiful story around the foods that she loves, making it all right for her to cook, serve and eat them. She was being her own ‘good mother,’ giving herself what she’d wished for as a child.

Still, whether or not Donna changes her holiday cooking habits is up to her. Again, I take away nothing from no one!

I am here to do the heavy lifting. The lifting of the lids that cover beliefs and stories that are no longer useful or even true.

Evolve. Don’t just improve.

Janice

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
And yes, permission granted by client to use story.