Disqus - Latest Comments for marissabracke

Re: US fitbit

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:03:41 -0000

I messed around with mine for so long this morning trying to get the app to sync before it occurred to me to check here. I’m having the same issues.

Re: 5 Books From 2014 That I’ve Read More Than Once

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 03:23:49 -0000

Picking just one favorite is impossible (I have a list of favorites too!)... but one book that really stuck with me was Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron. It wasn't an easy book to read because the pain of the author's journey was so palpable -- but that's exactly why I valued the experience of reading it and why I related to so many of its passages. Styron put the experience of dealing with depression into words, a feat unto itself. For an accompanying lighter note, Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh has equally relatable sections on the topic of depression, but instead of being poetically sorrowful, will leave you laughing. Both are highly recommended.

Re: Mom Forces Daughter To Lose Weight, or Pay Up…

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:34:54 -0000

This makes me so sad... I want to give the girl a big hug! I think how much happier both daughter and mother could be if instead of the mother focusing on what's perceived to be wrong with the size of her body, she spent that energy & attention on encouraging something wonderful about her daughter. Perhaps she loves art & could be encouraged to create even more prolifically, perhaps she adores animals & could be encouraged to volunteer some time at an animal shelter, etc. I don't know her at all, but I know that there's so much more to her (and her mother) than the shape of their bodies. I sincerely wish--for both of them!--that they find a place of lovingkindness for themselves. Sending them much love & light & hopes for happier tomorrows.

Re: How to edit & remove products in your Amazon aStore

Marissa Bracke — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:51:04 -0000

If you want specific products, you can add individual products, one at a time... but if you're adding categories of products, I think you're stuck with whatever Amazon deems as being in that category. I don't think you can alter what Amazon puts in categories. You could try adding just a sub-category, which could exclude some products, but you still wouldn't be able to include/exclude on an individual product level without just hand-picking individual products.

Re: In Praise of Questions & Still Learning

Marissa Bracke — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:50:56 -0000

Hi Rick,

Yes, you are welcome to reblog the post. If you do so, please include the following blurb: "Can-Do-Ologist Marissa Bracke helps creative entrepreneurs make their businesses joyful and profitable while keeping the busy-ness at bay. You can find her online at http://marissabracke.com"

I'm so glad you enjoyed the article--and thanks for signing up!

Re: How to edit & remove products in your Amazon aStore

Marissa Bracke — Thu, 26 May 2011 22:57:30 -0000

Hi Jack -

I think that when it displays the top level category ("Musical Instruments") it includes all of the sub-level categories, including those you've opted to not list in the sidebar. And I think that it tries to show the most popular items in that category... so it looks like memory cards are it for musical instruments.

What you might try is displaying only some of the sub-categories that are most pertinent to your audience, rather than displaying the top-level Musical Instruments category, to try to avoid that.

Re: Protected: The launch pad

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:45:21 -0000

Hullo, All!

Choice 1: Suits me fine
Choice 2: Not ideal, but could do.
Choice 3: No good.

Re: The Three Day Rule of Effective Habits

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:10:17 -0000

Oh, fantastic! Hooray for great timing. :) Glad to hear your day so far is going better. I wish you success with this new habit you're creating & much wellness along with it!

Re: The Three Day Rule of Effective Habits

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:56:21 -0000

Thanks, Patty! I'm glad it's useful.

Once I hit the 3-4 day mark, I start telling myself, "Well, I'll just get back into it next week..." which is, of course, a very dangerous game to play since "next week" never really comes. If I only miss a day or two, I'm still motivated to get back into the swing of things. Amazing what a 24-hour difference can do for momentum, really.

Re: The Three Day Rule of Effective Habits

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:54:31 -0000

I'm on board with all of the tricks you mention too. I love Freckle, and I've been enjoying having a whiteboard (though how I use it changes from week to week). I just love having a big space to keep ideas & lists, right on my wall.

And coffee--Yes! That morning cuppa gets my day off to a right start. :)

Re: The Real Reason You’re Not Taking Action On Your Goals

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:49:04 -0000

Fear of failure is definitely a common source of inaction inertia. I think we've all struggled with it a time or two (or a few dozen). ;-) It can get even worse when what it is you're truly aiming for starts getting cloudy--then you're scared of failing without even being clear on what it is you want to succeed with, and it sort of snowballs into a fear/confusion cycle.

Getting clear is always a good first step. If the fear of failure is still weighing heavily after you've gotten clear on what it is you're truly after, that's when it's great to have community (or even just one really good supporter/advisor) to turn to for help, as that's something they've probably dealt with and can offer strategies & support on too.

Re: The Real Reason You’re Not Taking Action On Your Goals

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:43:21 -0000

You're right--there are times when a fear of failing causes some paralysis around taking any significant action. Totally agree.

And I think that sometimes people get fixated on the idea of "succeeding" at whatever they're thinking of doing, so much so that they get attached to that idea of success, over and beyond the original concept. They're no longer motivated by the idea of creating a new book or starting a new business--they're sort of entranced by the idea of what "success" in that endeavor would look like, and anything less than that idealized success won't feel good enough... including taking that first step.

It all gets thrown under the umbrella of fear of failure, but I think it can be the same side of the coin as getting really clear and honest about what it is you want. If it's the Thing you want (the creation of a book, the pursuit of a thriving business, etc.), that's one thing, and if it's the idealized version of success you want, that's another. Sometimes the drive for one gets very separated from the drive for the other, and if that's occurred, filtering out what it is you truly want can be useful again, to get a better grasp of what's motivating you (and what's tripping you up).

All that said... certainly not intended to be an exhaustive exploration of all possibilities for inaction! Sometimes it really is as simple as saying, "Taking action is just too darn scary, because it might not turn out the way I hope."

Re: Aligning Action with Attention: Fixing the Importance Imbalance that keeps us feeling busy

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:09:34 -0000

Woo-hoo & yay! I'm delighted that it was helpful. You touched on a hot point with this: transitions are a definite trigger for splitting our attention & action. Transitions--even really great ones--tend to throw our attention and our action "out of sync," it seems, and it often takes some extra noticing & focus to get them synced back up. (But once they are, look out, world! It's full-tilt boogie!) :)

Wishing you lots of focus power & flow, and many hugs to you too!

Re: Hurry Up And Feel Busy: The connection between hurrying and busy-ness

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:56:41 -0000

I was following Michelle but had not run across Madeleine--but I am following her now.

I so agree with teaching what you need most. I find that true in my life on a daily basis. The teaching and learning are like the inhale and exhale: two parts of the same cycle.

Thanks for the comment & sharing the post!

Re: Hurry Up And Feel Busy: The connection between hurrying and busy-ness

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:49:53 -0000

I'm a recovering Chronic Hurrier. There's no doubt that I do better some days than others. It helped when I finally realized that I really dislike how I feel when I'm hurrying--I guess I put up with it because I thought it was a necessity. Once I realized that it wasn't necessary and I disliked it, the notion to work on trying something different seemed so obvious!

Of course, "obvious" and "easy" are not the same thing... hence why some days are better (and less hurry-filled!) than others. ;)

I'm glad you slowed down to read the post! I wish you an un-hurried day.

Re: Jumpstart Challenge, Day 1: my story and your starting point

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:42:39 -0000

Good golly, I think you're swell. I'm in.

Re: My Mom’s 6 Secrets For Doing Big, Overwhelming, Stuck-Inducing Projects

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:58:28 -0000

Thank you so much, Jess! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post and that it's useful to you. Neat idea, too, to put certain posts in your calendar for future re-reading reminders. I keep things stored in my Google Bookmarks for later re-reading, but I like the idea of putting calendar reminders in place, especially for the ones that really light my inspiration or motivation fires!

Re: My Mom’s 6 Secrets For Doing Big, Overwhelming, Stuck-Inducing Projects

Marissa Bracke — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:55:40 -0000

Gradual is a perfect way to go about it. There's really no point in hurrying it to "done," only to find out that half of the stuff you put away is in a place that doesn't feel right, makes it less usable, throws off how you use your space, etc. That only leads to more shuffling! I'm all in favor of a gradual process that gets you to a space that works for you... rather than a space that's "done," but totally doesn't work for you at all.

Here's to gradual getting-it-done-ness! :)

Re: My Mom’s 6 Secrets For Doing Big, Overwhelming, Stuck-Inducing Projects

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:06:55 -0000

I have a bag of tricks... and now I'm IN a bag of tricks! I love it! I'm glad I can help. :)

I've never used the exact Pomodoro technique, but I have used setting blocks of time to help myself focus. Setting boundaries around my time is huuuuugely effective for me. If I give myself amorphous blobs of time, I always wind up filling them up feeling busy and getting nothing done. If I put boundaries around the time, suddenly I'm all focused and effective. Time boundaries = magic!

Re: My Mom’s 6 Secrets For Doing Big, Overwhelming, Stuck-Inducing Projects

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:57 -0000

She is indeed a smart cookie! I recall Grandma doing the same for her too--being there to help out with kids. Or moving. Or holiday baking. Or... just because. :)

Having Moms with can-do-ology in their blood is absolutely a godsend. You are spot on about that! #Grateful

Re: My Mom’s 6 Secrets For Doing Big, Overwhelming, Stuck-Inducing Projects

Marissa Bracke — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:58:06 -0000

Ha--well, further example that we all teach what we most need, I suppose! Sometimes, no matter how good you are at what you do for others, it's just not possible to turn the mojo on for yourself. And in those times, numerous that they are, I sure am glad to have you in my corner helping me out.

Thanks, Mums. :)

Re: Surviving Your Serengeti: Book Review

Marissa Bracke — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:50:24 -0000

Ha! I can relate on the "grace of a wildebeest" aspect... and that definitely made me chuckle. :)

Re: Doing It My Way: Where Doing It Right, Doing It Wrong and Frank Sinatra Meet

Marissa Bracke — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:56:54 -0000

When I give myself the time each day to meditate and just get quiet, focus on the breath, just BE and be in stillness, I find myself so much more capable of trusting myself--or at least of not actively perpetuating the self-doubt cycle. Allowing space for spirit, reflection or just breath & noticing the current moment is so potent.

Re: Doing It My Way: Where Doing It Right, Doing It Wrong and Frank Sinatra Meet

Marissa Bracke — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:53:57 -0000

The thing is, just by trusting my gut and getting hooked into that golden energetic happy stream, I was already doing a lot of the "best practice" stuff. Yet, once I read it somewhere else and saw new stuff I hadn't thought of yet, I started to second guess myself.

THIS. Yep.

I think I sometimes make my self-doubt worse because when I start to second guess myself, I often start on a binge of articles--which (surprise, surprise) makes the second-guessing worse. Having to gently retrain myself so that when self-doubt creeps up, I don't look to someone else to tell me what to do or how to fix it, but instead turn inward for guidance.

Wouldn't it be dandy if it was as easy to DO as it was to SAY? ;-)

Re: Doing It My Way: Where Doing It Right, Doing It Wrong and Frank Sinatra Meet

Marissa Bracke — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:50:42 -0000

Glad to hear that the conscious Tune Out worked! I think that's a fine solution--some people do digital sabbaticals, others do specific days each week when they don't read blogs or interact on social media... and I think some level of conscious tuning out is at the heart of those choices.

I can tell when I've been consuming too much from other peoples' blogs / ezines / courses / etc., because that's when I start to get really irritable, cynical, and caught in a rut with my wheels spinning. And when it happens, consciously tuning out is often my solution. I never succeed in tuning out for very long, because that curiosity & urge to hear what's happening in my online sphere kicks in again... but I know that over-consumption of content is part of what triggers this pattern for me. Haven't nailed down precisely how to stop that from occurring, but noticing it--and tuning out when needed--is a good first step, I think.