Work and money - they run everything, right?  What part of life is really sucking you in, and what is sucking you down?  Maybe it’s not just about work and money.  You know there is more to it than that.  So how do you manage this…and shift this mindset?    Welcome to Season Three on the Mama Says Namaste Podcast.  In this series, we will focus on how to clear the clutter not just from your home, but also your head and your heart to create that space for clarity and connection. Join me and dive in to "The Minimalist To-Do List!”   Our week - full of awesomeness filming for Ashley’s new “90 Day Road Trip” course. Learn more about the upcoming course and some tips for your own family adventure by going to www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/familyadventure   “Never get so busy living that you forget to make a life.”   What part of life is sucking you in, and what part is sucking you down? Anxiety merely draws your attention to an illusion. Life has a lot of moving parts If I were to break life up into different components, it would go something like what follows.  Yet even in separating this out, you will see that life simply is.   In our unschooling world, we don’t split subjects up into math, English and science; we incorporate it all into life skills that blend them together. Think of this concept as we dive in – here are the areas of our lives again that I brought up last week: • Work • Finances • Family • Spiritual/Emotional • Personal Development • Physical • Social • Life Tasks   Work Let’s cut straight to the chase – this is the big kahuna that seems to dictate our lives.  Work sucks all our energy.  I’m talking about what pays the bills and keeps the lights on.  This area of our lives can dominate everything else, especially when it’s lacking.  When work is sucking the life out of you, and when you are struggling to make ends meet, this can become the focus of everything.   Yikes.  We can’t ignore this and only set aside a tiny bit of energy to work – work needs to go beyond paying the bills and give you some pleasure as well.  My father’s business mission statement is to “release dreams into purposeful and profitable work…in 48 Days” – his whole business is around finding work you truly love, and planning your work around the life you want, not the other way around. The best way to predict your future is to create it. Find work you love -this sounds simplistic, but for something that is the fuel to get your basic needs met, don’t let it suck all the life out of you.  You are your own boss regardless of what job you have – take responsibility for this and make sure this aspect of your life isn’t soul-sucking.  If you need help finding – or creating – the work you love, my other role is within 48Days.com, where my father has written books and created valuable resources and coaching around helping people find work they thrive in. This takes up a large portion of people’s lives – even if you are a stay at home parent, this affects you – it affects your spouse who is working, and it affects the dynamics at home. Work is an exchange of energy.  Is that exchange of energy worth what you are getting out of it? This isn’t the exact commercial Nathan was talking about, but conveys the same message, and is perfect as we prepare for the holidays:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ3ePGr8Q7k Which wolf are you feeding?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__cdpyF5nLk   Bracket your time with work so you can manage and control it.  The goals and ideas aren’t going to just stop and wrap themselves up into a tidy bow.  You have to learn to draw the line.  Time block. Manage and communicate what is important to you.  If you need community to lift you up, check out www.48DaysEagles.com Finances Finances are stressful – add in debt and you can feel like your life is ruled by it.  You become a slave to work simply to keep your head above water.  It’s easy to fall into the mindset of every time you see a dollar sign, it becomes a “can I afford it” scenari