Nine months ago I introduced my new FREE course, Living a Thriving Life
The course is all about finding “real” balance in our life. Feel that you could use a bit of that right now? If you havent’ taken it yet, sign up! It’s FREE! And awesome!
Living a Thriving Life isn’t an arrival, but a way of living that involves constant nourishment, pruning, grace, and self care.
I’m excited this year to begin featuring delightful and short interviews with amazing people who are incorporating these principles into their life and invite them to share their own stories.
Each interview features the same four questions:
1. What is your sustaining nourishment?
2. What have you recently pruned out of your life that has helped you grow?
3. Grace. We can’t do this alone. Who or what helps you make up the difference in what you can’t accomplish all by yourself?
4. What is your favorite simple luxury that brings you happiness?
I’m really excited to learn from the Shared Experience of so many wonderful people in the upcoming year.
I thought to start things off I would interview MYSELF! If I’m hoping others will open up to me and share their insights to these questions, I must be willing to do the same.
Living a Thriving Life
What is your sustaining nourishment?
Uplifting Solitude.
My nourishing lifeline to a happy day all starts with my morning ritual. I journal in a gratitude journal, read scripture, pray, and journal at least ten minutes of free thought writing.
There are times in my life where I have been super consistent about this practice and amazing things have happened.
And then there are other times that I miss out on this vital time (sometimes for days or weeks at a time!). If my life is feeling particularly blah or challenging or uninspired, it’s nearly always linked to missing this important practice in my life.
When I am diligent in this practice I feel nourished, problems and decisions are more easily solved, I’m happier, I’m grateful, and I have great hope for the future.
What have you recently pruned out of your life that has helped you grow?
I deleted the Facebook app from my phone!
What a life I gained back in return! ha ha! I do still use facebook, but my access is limited to the desk top computer in my upstairs office, so I automatically have streamlined my social media time dramatically. I am not nearly as distracted with my phone or in my head. I also feel more positive and useful with my time.
On a serious note…
I chose to no longer have an active professional photography business. This was a hard decision, but when it came right down to it, I just wasn’t happy using my photography as a business model. I loved photographing for fun or education, but the business side of portraiture took the joy out of it for me. Pruning that part of my life allowed me to focus on my bigger love of teaching and have more time with my family. It has proven to be an incredible decision and the right one for me at this time of my life.
Grace. We can’t do this alone. Who or what helps you make up the difference in what you can’t accomplish all by yourself?
So many people are Grace to me.
I have a nanny that comes a few times a week and that frees me up to work during normal hours without interruption.
My husband is amazing. He does all the grocery shopping and cooks most of the meals (including hot breakfasts daily!) I know. I’m super super super lucky.
God. Ultimately, He always makes up the difference in my own weaknesses. My faith plays a foundational role in every area of my life. One of my favorite scriptures is Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” I think of that often.
What is your favorite simple luxury that brings you happiness?
Good food.
I grew up in a house that ate amazing food and I can’t live without the high quality. I have often said while eating a good meal,
“I could have had the most lousy day or life, but in this moment of eating this meal together all my troubles vanish away and I feel incredible.”
My attachment to food isn’t an unhealthy comfort dependency, but rather an acknowledgement that real, clean, pure, nourishing food experiences shared with people you love not only nourishes your physical body but your spirit. We spend extra money on beautiful natural or organic foods, fresh herbs and spices, and cook nearly everything from scratch.
Three times a day I feel like all is right in the world 🙂
Oh yeah, and we never get sick. Worth the investment in every sense of the word.
Do you have someone you admire for their quality living that you’d like to nominate for this series? Email me at brooke@brookesnow.com.
Brooke Snow is a photographic artist and delights in the pursuit of a meaningful life. Sign up for her FREE e course “Living A Thriving Life” to learn more about how to find true balance in your life. Brooke lives in Northern Utah with her calm husband and adventurous 4 year old son.
