Be Who You Are and Be Great At It

Today Chris, Delaney and I went to the local pool with two of our friends.  While we were there we noticed a walker parked at the waters edge.  This is not something that I was expecting to see at the pool.  Granted...it has been YEARS since I went to a public swimming pool during public swim hours.  I spent a moment scanning the water to see who the owner of the walker was.  No one stood out to me.  As I joined my family and friends in the water I found myself floating next to a couple who were obviously in enjoying their time together.  She had her arms wrapped around his neck and they were laughing and enjoying one another's company.  When the buzzer sounded signalling that the waves were about to begin the man scooped the woman up and carried her to the waters edge.  It was only then that the owner of the walker became apparent.  He placed her gently next to the walker and they made their way to the whirlpool.

This reminded me that we are the ones that limit ourselves.  The woman at the pool could have let her obvious physical disability stop her from doing many things in life.  She could spend her days sitting at home feeling sorry for herself but instead...she is at a public pool rocking a bikini and leading a joyful life with a man she adores.  Would you be doing the same if you were here?

What areas in your life are you limiting yourself?  What can you do better?  How could you lead your life rather than just living it?  I need to take some time to answer these questions and then I will be sure to share the answers.

In the meantime...
Lead Life Joyfully

Much Love,
Lisa

The First Of My Five Truths

Today I would like to share with you the first of five truths that guide me along my journey.  My husband - the Saint that he is - affectionately coins them "Lisa-isms".  These truths are very personal to me.  And when you read them...they may not resonate with you as being congruent to your truth.  That is perfectly okay.  The blog post is titled my five truths...not your five truths.  I do however, encourage you to share your truths with me.




Let's Get Started!

Truth #1

You Cannot Change What You Will Not Acknowledge

Dr. Phil McGraw once said "if you are unwilling to acknowledge a thought, circumstance, problem, condition, behavior or emotion - if you won't take ownership of your role in a situation - then you cannot change it".

I do agree with what he has to say to a certain degree.  However, if you will not acknowledge a certain area of your life you are incapable of changing it.  It is not a matter of it you CAN change it....it is a matter of if you WILL change it.

In my life I had to realize that what I was doing was not what I wanted.  I also had to take responsibility for me being in the position I was finding myself in.  This may sound simple enough as you read this blog however, we as humans like to find ways to blame others for our circumstance.

For example:
I am late because of other people driving too slow - even though in reality I may have hit snooze, poured another coffee, stood in the shower too long or watched the morning news for nine minutes longer than I should have.

I'm grouchy because someone was grouchy and rude to me.  That means that I have full rights to be grouchy and rude to each and every individual who crosses my path today.

I pulled into a fast food drive thru window for a myriad of different reasons.  I was running behind, food takes too long to prepare, healthy food costs more to purchase than fast food.

In reality we are the reason we are late, we are the reason we are grouchy.
We could have made different choices BUT - we didn't.

This can all change today!  We can decide to acknowledge what isn't working for us - we can say...
I am ready for something different.  Say it with me...I am ready for something different!
It may take some work and it will take some energy but the benefits that we will reap will be worth it.
That is my promise to you.

Think about the things in your life that you can change if you just exercised a little will power.
We can do this together.

Lead Life Joyfully

Much Love and Many Blessings,
Lisa

Heavy Brain Day

Have you ever had a day that you can describe in no other words than a heavy brain day?  Normally I would be certain to carefully and succinctly choose my words.  However, today is not one of those days.  Today is a day that I know that I am mailing it in.

I have celebrated some successes today, my client passed a test, my accountant and I came to a win/win agreement and another client benefited from a referral.  On the flip side...two clients were faced with a scenario I wish upon no one, not even my greatest enemy.  How is it that we can decide the fate of a loved one or anyone for that matter?  When faced with this scenario...we do so...but only when there is no other option available to us.  One agonizes over such a decision.  We consider the feelings of everyone involved and weigh how our actions will impact the lives of others.

Why is it that we don't do so when we are judging the lives of others?  Sure one instance literally defines life or death....but the other...can crush a dream, redirect a life choice and cause someone to second guess every choice they have made in life.  We judge others without a second thought.  That look, that stare, that sneer, that comment that is only somewhat under our breath, that rumor we perpetuate knowing there is no real substance to it...we are all guilty of this.  We do this under the pretense that no one will suffer from this.  And yet...in truth...we have all been affected by a judgement or a rumor.  Our life courses have been swayed.  Be mindful of how you judge another person.  Wayne Dyer once said "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."

Our words have power - use them to lift someone up.  Change the course of a life for the better.  Encourage someone to pursue their passion.  Compliment them.  Do this each and every day. The more of us who focus on this the bigger the change we see in those around us.

Lead Life Joyfully!

Much Love,

Lisa

Courageous Self Leadership

You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it. - Benjamin Mee - We Bought A Zoo

Have you ever had a moment consisting of 20 seconds of courage?  What did you find came of it?

I find that my life recently is filled with moments such as this.  I believe that everyone who comes across my path has done so for a reason.  I call upon those seconds of bravery every time I attempt to learn said reason.  It is often easier to turn my head and avert my eyes than to actually speak to people.  But I also find that it is also nowhere near as rewarding.  Whenever I am brave and step outside my comfort zone I find that these people teach me something, they touch my life, they present an opportunity for me to touch their life.

I often say to people...live life joyfully.  I would like to amend that statement...lead a joyful life.  Do not let life just happen.  Actively LEAD your life joyfully in a direction that you would like to go.  Practice courageous self leadership.  You can't expect to lead others if you are not actively leading your own life.

I will write more on this topic shortly but for now...Dare to be doing and Do something daring!

Lead a Joyful Life,

Much Love,
Lisa