The more you invest in yourself, your growth and evolution the more you find you no longer fit the construct of who some people believe you should be. Your joy becomes their irritation and instead of pursuing their own goals to rise to their next level they'll do whatever they can to bring you down. They may not be obvious or aggressively confrontational, their tactics show up as whispers, questions, and conversations peppered with salty undertones. In this week's Sun-day design I want you to protect your mojo. Deal with your detractors head on. The closer you get to realizing your dreams the more adamant their efforts to undermine your success. Recently I was at an event where a woman who has known me for quite some time questioned the success of my coaching practice and expressed her doubt for my personal ambitions. My first reaction was to cop an attitude and brag about the love I hold for my clients and all their success, but then I quickly remember her questions and her stance about my practices was about her not me. I shifted my mindset to focus on listening with an open heart and mind, and used this conversation as an opportunity for me to learn. In approaching her questions from a place of curiosity and not adversity, I could better understand questions and concerns that people who aren't my clients may have and never verbalize. There's no doubt you will meet haters and naysayers across your path too. Protect your light and approach even difficult conversations as a learning experience. Be sure to:
A wonderful colleague shared some words of wisdom that I have to pass on to you. Some sage advice he learned from his own brother is that you can either be a victim or a victor. It's your choice. This came up in a discussion we were having about dealing with change in the workplace and how people struggle with claiming their power in what's happening to and around them. I want to remind you that no matter how dire the circumstances you have the strength and capacity to shape the impact of that experience on your life. You can see your troubles as a burden or a blessing. As a lesson or your life's legacy. In this week's Sun-day design I want you to declare victory in whatever you're pursuing. Whether it's to lost 20 lb. or gain 20k in this moment claim your win. The biggest step you'll need to take is deciding it's yours. Declaring victory now takes the anxiety out of going after your goals because you know it will happen in a matter of time. Taking this position allows you to be present and focus on the work at hand which inevitably moves you toward your destination. Everyone has an area of life they hope they can transform dramatically. For lots of women it's our body, if we can only fit into size X everything else will fall into place. For some families their bank account is like a money pit where all funds seem to disappear. For many of my clients it's figuring out their career passion, purpose and viability in going from a job they hate to one they love. Even as rich and successful as you are I know there is some dream, some goal that scares the bejeezus out of you. Let me give you an example. In addition to my private coaching practice I work full time and face the same workplace drama many of you do. There are a number of people who are unhappy with our work environment, with their colleagues, and even more so with their boss. I totally agree with the many reasons they and I might gripe about things and at some point in time (usually after 10 minutes) I have to close the door on that conversation because it's like quicksand. If I sit in that state of mind too long, focusing on the negative it will cloud my path and detract from my goal of being a successful coach. So instead I cozy up to people who are realistic about the environment and like me still chose to declare victory in their lives over circumstance. We keep each other motivated, growing in courage, faith, and spiritual prosperity. For us it's a lesson that informs and expands our ability to shape our life's work and legacy. This week I want you to do the same. Where in your life have you been playing the coy victim? Flip that script and decide to be a victor. Create a dream outcome for the situation your in right now and decide it's already done. The GPS destination is set and even if you hit traffic and a few detours trust you'll get there soon. Leave a comment below and share the challenges you're declaring victory in now. One dollar, one pound, one hug is a big win too! You don't need a fortune teller or crystal ball to see into your future. Just listen to your heart, quiet the noise in your mind, and design the the life you secretly seek. I bet you're thinking that's easier said that done! Well it's true, best way to bring into existence the life you want is to write about it, be about it, talk about it, and of course visualize it. A vision board is just the tool to help you do that. They can work some serious magic into your life and catapult your transition from the version of yourself that merely exists to your powerful self you're craving to unleash into the world. A vision board is an excellent way to get you focused on what you need to do and experience to bring what you desire into your life. If you haven't made one for yourself I'll tell you the most important reason you want to create one now and it serves as this week's Sun-day design - the power of attraction. The beauty of the board is that it's working while you're sleep, while you're away, attracting and drawing greater things in your life even bigger than what you initially intend. A vision board energizes and expands your dreams. Commune and play, create and converse. Get clear and see the future you're creating in the here and now. You'll be surprised by the wonderful things and people you attract into your life. Here's an example of how my vision board attracted greater connection in my own life. My board features a picture of a loving couple whom I didn't know but I felt their picture represented love and connection when I was designing my board earlier this year. At the time I had no idea that picture was of restauranteurs "The Neely's" whom own the very restaurant I recently held my mother's birthday brunch in. The power is in that event at the Neely's was that it was a place I honored my mother which in turn fostered an even deeper level in our relationship. In placing that picture on the board I fostered love in connection in so many relationships in my life this year and how awesome is that! Now it's your turn. Once you have your vision board in place you can literally glimpse into your future. It's probably more accurate than any of future telling device you come across and since it's your own inner power reflecting back to you, it's more likely to happen and soon. Remember you're always co-creating your life's experience. Allow the guidance and wisdom to to come to you. Leave a comment below and share what future your vision board beholds. Anaïs Nin: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” A symbol of renewal, transformation and new beginnings, the lotus flower is one of my favorite images. It resonates with where I am in both my personal and professional life, a place of new beginnings on all fronts. Think of the journeys you’ve gone or are going through in your life. Even when things were changing for the better – it can feel exhilarating and at the same time downright frightening! Even during the scariest doubt-filled moments there is still great power to be gained in transformative renewal. The course to transforming your life requires courage, confidence and conviction, and the common denominator is leveraging your power within. No one can just give you courage, confidence or conviction, you have to first choose to generate that power on your own. The people around you can create an environment where you feel supported in the courageous steps you take nonetheless it’s your foot that’s stepping onto new or uncharted territory. The big or small steps you take in transforming your life require courage. As creatures of comfort even when you’re going after something good in your life such as a new job or a new relationship, you'll often convince yourself it’s too difficult to move forward. Or you may be stuck your story of not having enough – money, education, connections – you fill in the blank… to achieve your goals. The truth is those things really don’t matter if you’re not willing to take the risk. The strength you seek is already inside you. You have to be willing harness your power from within and take that step. Embarking on a new path or even the complete unknown also takes confidence. Think of it this way, having the courage to jump off a diving board is one thing, having the confidence and assurance to know you’ll land headfirst is something else. The confidence you need for your own transformative journey begins with building your confidence – and that you can only do with practice. You can practice building your confidence through greater self-awareness, establishing clear dreams, and using life development tools – often gained through coaching – to build your personal leadership, personality strengths, and moderate bad habits and thinking patterns. Using these tools in your daily life will give you the confidence to navigate any journey, the easiest pathway and across difficult terrains. And there will be challenges. Throughout the challenges in particular, it’s important you maintain your conviction and faith in this whole process. Know that there are things happening and moving in your life even if you don’t see or fully understand it. This is the moment of truth, when all the work you’ve been doing in your life and on yourself is tested. You will know conviction is important when you are clear about your intent, the changes you seek and the confidence and self-awareness you’ve created in building your personal strengths - and you still feel like your life has not changed. That’s when you have to believe and trust that ultimately you will reap the reward, coming through renewed and revived. In the Buddhist faith the lotus flower is a symbol of fortune as it grows in muddy water, an environment that gives forth the flower’s meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. This is exactly what Louts Power is all about, transforming your life or some aspect of your life into the light and experiencing the joy in breaking out of the mold or murky waters. Even in reading this blog and sharing your experience you are evolving your life right now. |
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Lessons LearnedThe life we experience is designed to help us grow. My wish is that you learn from me as much as I learn from you. Share your life lessons and let's build together. Archives
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