Mid Way Point

Can you believe it?  2014 is half over.  Six months have already slipped away into the past.  Even as you read this more and more time is slipping away.  

So I have a question for you.  How did the first half of 2014 treat you?  Are you on target to achieve your goals?  Do you even remember which direction you were heading in when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2014?  

Each and every year for the past two years I sit down on New Years Eve and I review the year that is coming to an end.  I look at all that I achieved and all that I didn't.  I catalogue my growth in areas and I look to see where improvements can be made.  Then I look at where I want to go in the New Year.  I document the details, toast my husband with Champagne and head to bed dreaming of all the beauty that the new year will bring.  

I keep the goals mostly in mind as I move forward however, I always seem to get off track.  This year I promised myself to spend more time and energy focusing on what it is that I wanted to create.  And as the mid point of the year arrives I get the chance to look over those goals.  To assign myself a report card.  

At the moment I would have to say that I would grade myself a B -.  My inner critic wants to stamp it with a big red F and call it a day.  But the fact of the matter is...I have done some good work.  I have taken some risks and stepped outside of my comfort zone.  I have worked with clients and those clients have achieved some of their desired results.  I have also watched a lot of Netflix and never launched the group programs that I was working on.  I never took the final step.  I let fear create obstacles.  I didn't stand up for myself.  I let doubt creep in.  

One of my most foolish limiting beliefs was brought to light last week when I was running a casual workshop called F*ck the Stuck.  Somehow I got it in my mind that EVERYONE has read the same books as me.  They have received the same takeaways as me and if I was to incorporate those learnings into a class/course/program you would all sit there going "Who does she think she is?  I know this already.  This is not an original thought. FRAUD."  Now as I look back on this I see that it was preposterous notion.  How could anyone see things through my exact same filter?  Answer:  They couldn't.  And it is also highly unlikely that in the last 7 years that I have been on this journey that they read the same 70 + personal development and self help books as me.  

On top of that how many thoughts are original?  Aren't we mostly just recycling that which we have heard and experienced before?  We have to be if statistics are true.  It is said that we have 60,000+ thoughts a day and 95-97% of them are the exact same as they were the day before.   

So what am I doing with this new found knowledge?  Blogging about it.  Simmering on it.  And in the two days that I have been working since I learned that tidbit I have created one and a half programs.  And one of them launches a week from yesterday.  F*ck the Stuck.  My time is now.  2014 is half over.  And even if I perform at the same level as I did at the beginning of the year I am further ahead than I was when the clock ran out on 2013. 

How are you measuring up to your goals set six months ago?  What is getting in your way?

Regardless if you are on track and sailing right along or if you are in the weeds...It is never too late to improve on where you are at.

I wish you all the success you desire in the remaining months of 2014.  

Have a Day as Beautiful as You!

So Much Love,
Lisa

The Main Event

This morning I was doing a little reading.  In fact, it is my favorite way to start the day.  Before my eyes even open I am grateful for the roof over my head, my comfy bed and another day ahead.  I then like to read a book that will inspire and influence me.  Some days I am able to read longer than others. Some days I am lucky to get a page or even a quote read.  But either way it is how I like to start my day.

Now back to my reading.  In John C. Maxwell's "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth" he has a section called the Law of Design.  This chapter talks about the importance of designing a growth plan that will allow you to be consistently extraordinary.  And in order to do so....the plan must be simple.  As you read on you find that simple does not equate to easy.  

Life is not a dress rehearsal.  We all know this.  YOLO - You only life once is a commonly used term these days.  And yet...the majority of us position ourselves to be reactive rather than proactive.  Sure, sure some of us may plan out retirement funds.  But seldom do we plan much further than that.  I am going to work at this job or many until I get to a certain age and then I can quit working and do something that I like.  We spend more time planning holiday time and dinner party menus than we actually spend planning our growth.  It is a wonder we end up doing anything at all with our lives.  

I am not painting all of you with the same brush so don't get your feathers ruffled.  I am merely sharing what I got from the book.  This has shown me that I have a lot more growth opportunities than I even imagined.  And I know why people do not plan things out in greater detail.  It is A LOT of work.  Come on....have you even planned a turkey dinner for 25+ people?  The mere thought of it is exhausting.  And now I am considering planning my personal growth?  Gah!  I'm tired already and I haven't even started yet.  LOL.  But in reality, we only get one time around.  And if you want to get the most from it...you need to put the effort in.

John talks about how his favorite time of year is just after dinner on Christmas day until New Years Day.  He spends this time reviewing his calendar for the entire previous year.  He examines in great detail how he spent every hour.  And then he makes adjusts wherever necessary for his plan for the upcoming year. Wow!  What a great idea.  Now I wish it was December so that I could try that.

My biggest takeaway from the reading this morning was...Ask yourself every morning...What is the main event for today?  Plan your day around that. What steps do you need to take throughout the day to ensure that your energy and focus goes into making the main event a success?  Understand what those steps are going to be and take those steps.

What is your main event for today?  Mine is taking my little girl camping for her very first time. Now if you will excuse me there are some things I must to to make this day a success.  

Much Love,

Lisa

Is Life Coaching For You?

Do you hear the term life coaching and wonder if it could apply to you?  The link posted below is a short video that asks five pertinent questions.  Please take a moment to watch it.  And if you answer yes to one of those questions...go to www.DreamItAchieveIt.ca  and visit my contact page.  Schedule your complimentary 100% confidential coaching session today!

Much Love,

Lisa
Ps:  Don't you love freeze frame faces?  Can I get much sexier?  LOL

Growth is Intentional

A couple of months ago I read the book "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth' by John C. Maxwell. In the book it speaks that growth doesn't just happen - it is intentional.  I am not certain why this seemed like such a profound statement.  Ever since then I have been constantly checking in with myself and seeing if I am setting myself up for growth.

Now when I am talking about growth I mean all kinds.

Physical growth - am I doing the work to become fitter, faster, stronger and more flexible?  Well the answer to that is not a pretty one these days.  I am growing...but it is my waistline.  I am not putting the work in to see the results that I want.  I play football but outside of that I am not doing much else.  My food choices are incongruent with my growth goals.  Now that may be painful to announce to the world but once you are aware of an issue you are able to change it.

Mental growth - Am I learning new things?  Am I reading about things that will bring me closer to my goals and challenge me?  Or am I reading things so that I can disengage my brain?  Same goes for what I am watching on television.  Am I trying to grow or trying to escape?  Am I doing things each day to move me closer to dreams.  Am I thinking the type of thoughts that will set me up for success?  For me I try to guard my thoughts.  I rarely watch the news, scary movies, or read anything that doesn't come from the non-fiction section of the library.  I am enrolled in a course or several.  It is the area of my life where I give it the most focus.

Spiritual growth - This area is always different for everyone.  We all have our own very personal beliefs surrounding spirituality and faith.  When it comes to my spiritual growth I always try to check in and see, am I in touch with something larger than myself?  Do I serve others? Do I spend time in silence?  Do I listen for the wisdom that comes from being in touch with this energy?  Do I carve out time to be consistent with this each day?  The answer to this is that I am not perfect at this.  It ebbs and flows.  Sometimes I am seriously dedicated.  And other times my spiritual focus is taken for granted.  Have you ever had this happen? Or do you remain diligent?

Growth requires our attention and planning.  John C. Maxwell speaks of a growth plan.  Where you  apply the Law of Intentionality to your life.  Where you stop experiencing accidental growth and start intentionally growing yourself.  Which do you think will move you closer to achieving your goals/dreams and living your life's purpose?  Bruce Springsteen said "A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be."

Do you have a growth plan?  Do you grow intentionally? Or accidentally?  If you are needing some assistance with developing a growth plan please feel free to visit my webpage and contact me there.  www.DreamItAchieveIt.ca
For those of you who are already intentionally growing - Keep up the great work.  Intentional growth vs accidental growth is the difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary.

I wish you a day just as beautiful as you are.

Much Love,
Lisa

Lead Life Joyfully