Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
Published on 30 Jun 2009 at 3:00 pm.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Special Events, Spirituality & Inspiration.
In the late 1980’s I became an addictions counselor and psychotherapist at a Recovery Center. Prior to my joining the Center, I had been working for a few years as an energy healer, spiritual counselor, and hypnotherapist. I worked with men and women who came from violent families, been abused, abandoned emotionally and physically, and been taught to believe that they were fundamentally flawed and unlovable. They felt deep shame at the their core. Many felt they had no right to be alive, that they were a mistake, and they were unlovable just for existing. Others felt shame for things they had done that they judged to unforgiveable or that others seems to condemn. Shame becomes bound in secrets and slowly begins to erode self-esteem, turning self-love to self-contempt and loathing.
Who hasn’t done something they regret or something they want to hide because of fear and certainty that if people found out they would withhold love and/or leave? It takes a huge amount of energy to hide secrets for fear of exposure.
In 1989 I bought the book, “Embracing Our Selves” by Hal Stone, Ph.D. & Sidra Stone, Ph.D. While, this is more of a manual for professionals rather than the lay person, their explanation of disowned selves was fascinating. They view (as I do) everything in life as an energy pattern in one form or another that relates to us on the physical, emotional, mental, and physical level. We come into this life as open, trusting, loving, dependent and vulnerable babies expecting to be unconditionally loved and we find out very quickly that love is very conditional, and often painful.
What are disowned selves?
They say they are “energy patterns that have been partially or totally excluded from our lives”. They can be qualities, talents, strengths such as creativity, intuition, and intelligence. Disowned selves are energy patterns that have been punished or rejected when they emerged and can be detected by the intense and uncharacteristic energy reaction we have to others who mirror something within us we are denying. The more we deny parts of ourselves, the more they begin operating unconsciously, often erupting into our life situations with intense emotion that is often destructive and malevolent such as lashing out at something in a blind rage, or punishing yourself in harmful, destructive ways.
Where can we find disowned selves?
- Think of someone you deeply admire or respect. You might even have thoughts of wishing you were more like that person. The qualities you desire most in another is probably something you have disowned within yourself.
- Think of someone you intensely dislike or a something you judge in others to be reprehensible. What you intensely disdain in others is usually a mirror of something in you that you find unlovable.
Wholeness means embracing all of who we are through the power of love and forgiveness. To live authentically, we must have the courage to see both the truth and lies of who we think we are so that we can become who we are meant to be. That means looking in the shadows of who we are so that we can bring light and healing to the parts within us that are in pain.
In the recovery center there was a saying:“I know I am someone special, cuz God don’t make no junk”.
Is it time to shine some light into your places of darkness so that you can be free to SOAR?
Is it time to become who you are meant to be without the shackles of past pain?
Are you ready to be whole?
This healing journey is one that can greatly be assisted when you have qualified, skillfull, and gifted people to support your process of healing. Working with a trained therapist, healer, coach, mentor or facilitator can help you transform the pain from your past so that you can create a vibrant future.
Acclaimed spiritual teacher Debbie Ford and some of today’s foremost thinkers take viewers on an emotionally-gripping, visually-compelling journey into the human psyche’s mysterious shadow self -the hiding place for our most disliked thoughts, emotions, and impulses– and reveal how people have embraced their worst fears to become their best selves.
Step out of the darkness of your smallest thought into the brilliance of your greatest dream. Watch The Shadow Effect movie available now on DVD or online.
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
www.powerfull-living.biz
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2009/06/30/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are/trackback/
Seven Critical Factors That Support Achieving Transformational Goals
Published on 25 Jun 2009 at 3:44 pm.
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Filed under Business Development, Courage Series, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
For many, traditional goal setting is an external experience to achieve something you want that you don’t already have. Your focus is fixed on a destination and the steps needed to get there - your plan of action. Once accomplished, you create new goals to get something else.
What are transformational goals?
Transformational goals not only have a direction and destination in mind, they create experiences for people to grow and evolve by stepping into a higher version of who they are. Transformational goals invite bigger picture thinking that can bring greater abundance, life fulfillment, and happiness. For example, you might want to make more money you have personal and altruistic reasons: to have peace of mind, financial ease and comfort, AND a desire to share your good fortune with others to enhance their lives
Read my article on Meadering with Purpose
Seven critical factors that support achieving transformational goals:
Passion – What lights you up and brings you joy? What juices you and gives you the most energy? What makes you feel the most vital and alive? Our passions motivate and inspire us to take action. Without passion our life can become mechanical and empty. Deep desire can give us the courage to take life –changing risks with determination and power in the face of fears and uncertainty.
Fulfilling Your Life/Soul Purpose – Having a sense of why we are here and what we are here to do gives meaning to our life. Making choices with a sense of purpose helps us to regain perspective when we feel confused, doubt, and fear. Our purpose reminds us of who we are when we slip into the dramas and details of our life.
Commitment to Go the Distance – Stretching beyond the limits of your comfort zone and walking through the discomfort without running back to where you were is essential. Change can be very uncomfortable and brings up a lot of different feeling and behaviors that many seek to get rid of block rather than to embrace. As you begin to spot the subtle ways you sabotage your dreams and desires and stay and don’t give in to that sabotage, you can feel pretty vulnerable and raw at times. Comfort zones give the illusion of safety; a safe haven where we can hide. If we are not moving forward, we begin moving backwards. Being able to recognize your personal patterns of sabotage empowers you to make choices that will motivate you to keep going.
Solid Support and Accountability – Who keeps you on your toes? How many times have you been excited about doing something, felt ready and committed to your goals and dropped the ball within a few weeks, days or even hours? Surrounding yourself with people who can be objective, uplifting, encouraging, and forthright to cheer you on, challenge you to be great, kick you in the butt when you’re stalling, help you stand strong when facing fear, remind you of who you are when you forget, and hold you accountable to your purpose, passions, and vision makes a huge difference in going the distance and achieving success.
Having accountability keeps you moving steadily forward with your goals/intentions. When we fulfill self-agreements, we feel in integrity with ourselves. When we break promises with ourselves, we can use self-condemnation as a means to beat ourselves up. The fact is that when we deliberately set up accountability such as buddying with someone else for a common purpose, hiring a coach or mentor, or joining a mastermind group, the probability of success goes waaaaaay up.
Over a month ago I decided to focus on making specific changes to commit to a healthier lifestyle. I had tried numerous times to eat healthier, regularly exercise and meditate with limited success and generally take better care of my body. I’d start out gung ho and in a matter of weeks, days, or even hours, I was sabotaging myself by using food to manage my stress or self-soothe.
So, I started working with an accountability buddy who also wanted to be taking better care of her health. We each decided what changes we wanted to implement and we committed to one week as a beginning point. Over 5 weeks later we are going strong. We’re raised the bar for ourselves a few times and we check in twice a day using an accountability form that state 4 intentions. We answer the first two points and email to each other every morning. Every evening we answer 3 & 4. No cutting and pasting answers so we are truly making the commitment each day
1. Today I am accountable for:
2. To accomplish this I have to:
3. At day’s end, how much did I accomplish?
4. Was there anything that prevented me from achieving my outcomes?
To receive the benefits of support, you must ask people for help. If you are usually the one who helps others and have trouble asking for or receiving help you are blocking love. To be a great giver, you must also be a great receiver. It’s a circle. Love is our natural state as spiritual beings. To deny love from others or to yourself is a way to starve your soul.
Have a Strong Self-Care Regime – Think of taking care of your body, mind, and spirit as an important element to your inner foundation. When we feel “fed” we can show up for the people, responsibilities and situations that we most care about with our best SELF. When we are depleted, over-extended, hungry, lonely, or angry, life becomes more burdensome. To check when you might be out of balance or in need of some self-care pronto, here are some common signals: taking things too personally, beating yourself up, irritability, over-reacting, resentment, anger, overwhelm, confusion, distracted, stressed, or tense. Ask yourself, “What do I need right now? What is my body asking for? What have I been ignoring?“ Then DO IT!
Attitude shifting tools – What helps you shift into a better thinking and feeling place? I’m not talking about ways you “get rid” of your thoughts and feelings so you can avoid them. Stuffing thoughts and feelings can weaken our bodies and self-esteem so that we open ourselves to potential illness, psychological problems, depression, and unhappiness. I believe it’s important to have your thoughts and feelings without “building four walls, a roof and setting up permanent residence”. Having tools to shift out of negative self-talk, fearfull thinking, ruminating about the past, worrying, anticipating problems and challenges in the future costs you a whole lot of energy and peace of mind.
My attitude shifters include:
1. Adopting an attitude of gratitude
2. Bringing my attention back to the present moment
3. Appreciating all that is right in my life including people, my cats, gifts and blessings
4. Meditation helps me get centered and connected to Source
5. Keeping my self-care strong to include fun! Am I being too serious and do I need to lighten up?
6. Doing something to help another
7. Remembering who I am, what I am here to do and experience. Asking, “What is mine to do today? How can I be of service? What gives me faith? In what do I totally trust” are questions that help to shift from feeling fearfull and out of control to a more peacefull, connected space.
Taking Inspired Action – Listening to and following your gut instinct and intuition to guide your choices and actions can bring amazing opportunities into your life. It takes courage to take leaps of faith when we are motivated by fear. Inspiration comes from within; from our Divine “inner knowing” urging us to step into the unknown with faith and trust, often without a safety net. Our mind is an instrument with the ability to reason and assess situations that support us in making logical, sound choices that can motivate us to action when things makes sense.
The key is bringing inspired guidance and logic together so that we are following our heart and making sound choices that support our dreams and desires. When we stretch out of our comfort zone and our ego freaks out, we can easily disconnect from our spiritual core if we do not use our tools, resources, attitude shifters, supports… to come back to our SELF.
Be realistic and take one step at a time. Be a loving partner with yourself by bringing compassion and patience into your journey. And remember to celebrate each step of success along the way. Small steps lead to big leaps!
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
www.powerfull-living.biz
Walk On - An Inspiring Video Fulfilling A Dream
Published on 24 Jun 2009 at 10:46 am.
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Filed under Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration, Videos.
Enjoy this inspiring story about DJ, a 30-year old man who was born with Cerebral Palsy whose parents were told he would never walk. His parents refused to accept that. This inspiring video describes his passion for golf and the courage to fulfill a life-long dream - to walk 900 miles, every hole of the PGA tour. Something that had never been done. He left his footsteps across an entire sport.
What are you willing to do to fulfill your life dreams?
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow
Compelling Conversation With Dr. Bernie Siegel
Published on 23 Jun 2009 at 10:36 am.
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Filed under Compelling Conversations for Powerfull Living, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Special Events, Spirituality & Inspiration.
Join me for another special Compelling Conversation for Powerfull Living with Dr. Bernie Siegel as we talk about the wisdom and principles in his newest book, “Faith, Hope & Healing.” We’ll be talking about how to get through difficult times, our common strengths and humanity, and how to live an authentic, fulfilling life.
When: June 25, noon EST/9am PST
Where: Online or by phone
Cost: FREE
Recorded? - Yes, as long as you register here to receive the private call in number and access to the replay.
I look forward to your joining us!
Lorraine
Transform Your Environment With Sacred Spaces
Published on 23 Jun 2009 at 6:31 am.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
by Asha Praver
Transform Your Environment with Sacred Spaces
We don’t create the holiness of life. We remember it. Just behind the mundane, the divine, is always hovering. How much of that divinity we experience is a matter of where we put our attention. All of spiritual practice is learning to stay focused on the deeper reality behind the everyday events of life.
A simple way to help you remember is to create within your home or work environment sacred spaces. They don’t have to be large, elaborate, or expensive. You don’t have to shock your co-workers or add a room to your house. In fact many small spaces are often better than one large one. With several, wherever you are, you will be reminded.
Sacred spaces, however, should not be shrines to the things of this world you already love. Photos of loved ones, mementos of places you’ve been, pictures of things you’d like to acquire should be kept elsewhere in your environment.
Sacred spaces are to help you attune to the transcendent reality behind these cherished loves, experiences, and desires. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Here are three simple guidelines for setting up your sacred spaces.
1. Put your sacred spaces wherever you spend the most time. You want to see them when you enter and leave the house, wash the dishes, work at the computer, talk on the phone, or first wake up in the morning. Put them near, but not in the actual workflow. A wall or a window ledge, for example, is usually better than your nightstand, desk, or the kitchen counter, where everyday clutter can easily encroach on them.
2. Keep them simple. Your sacred spaces should have an immediate spiritual impact on you. Choose things of inherent power that have personal meaning. Sacred symbols like the cross, Star of David, or AUM, or items from Nature work well. Images of gurus or saints, especially if the consciousness in the eyes is clearly visible, are ideal. Make the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Paramhansa Yogananda, or Jesus Christ your everyday companion. Word messages are also good, especially if you can get the meaning at a glance. “Hope.” “Faith.” “God Loves You.” Everyone needs to be reminded.
3. Keep it fresh. Don’t let dust, dead flowers, or burned out candles accumulate on your sacred spaces! If you are neglecting the sacred spaces in your outer environment it probably means you need to give more attention to your inner self as well. If what you have placed there no longer inspires you, then start over. Keep trying until you find those images that resonate with your soul and have an enduring capacity to lift your consciousness. Making a sacred space is a spiritual journey in itself.
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About the Author: Asha Praver is a lecturer, teacher, counselor, Spiritual Co-Director of the Ananda Palo Alto Community, and author of Swami Kriyananda as We Have Known Him. Asha has been trained in yoga, meditation, and spiritual living by Swami Kriyananda, who was a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. Since 1969 Asha has been a disciple, a meditator, and an intentional community member. Classes on love and relationships by Asha Praver, can be found in the “Talks/Newsletters: CD purchase” section of www.anandapaloalto.org.
Have a great day 
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
www.powerfull-living.biz
How Forgiving Are You?
Published on 20 Jun 2009 at 5:22 pm.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
This morning I had the opportunity to work with a new friend and colleague Lori Leyden who has done some amazing healing work with her Grace Process, a spiritual practice based on the principle that your deepest healing is possible when you activate your heart resonance to connect with the energy of Grace. The practice focuses on clearing the mental, emotional, and spiritual blockages that are generated by your ego, and that interfere with your ability to receive Grace.
Lori blessed me with a session to experience her process and to be on the receiving end of some powerfull healing. Even though I have many skills and talents for healing and transformation, allowing others to guide me through my own healing at different times of my journey has brought amazing shifts, like today.
She says two major blocks to feeling more gratitude, joy and wonder in our life are self-judgments and self-forgiveness. For my session, my intention was to receive healing for some financial choices I had made in the past that I regretted so I could come to a place of peaceful resolution. I also wanted to deepen my faith and trust that I was always supported by the Divine for those times when fears came up, especially when I was stepping up in bigger ways. To receive the full healing benefits from our work together meant I had to be willing to be vulnerable and look more deeply within myself for the truth beneath any judgments, anger, or lack of forgiveness that I was holding onto.
As we worked on the situation I wanted to heal, she asked me several questions:
- What judgments was I holding against myself for what I had created?
- What if the financial choices I made that I thought were divinely inspired were really motivated by my ego? Would I be willing to forgive myself?
- What if the situation that I created as a result of some of my choices was for the sole purpose of reconnecting me to God? WOW - I’ve often asked a similar question to my clients and when she asked me that question, I could feel something click. I used to joke and say if the Universe wants to get my attention quickly, the two ways to do that would be something with money or something with my cats/loved one that would cause me worry and upset. How brilliant, really.
- If I knew with unshakable certainty that my needs would always be met, how would I feel?
- What would I be thinking and saying to myself? (That might be more loving and compassionate?)
At the end of the session, I felt so much lighter and at peace. Thank you Lori!
To receive the full benefits of healing, you must have the courage to feel what you are afraid to feel and the curiosity to uncover the real truth which can be very different from what you believe to be true. You also have to be willing for transformation to occur without knowing how or when. Willingness opens the door for healing to be possible.
If you wonder if you might be in need of releasing some judgments or need to do some forgiveness healing, take a look at your life. How’s it going for you?
Pay attention to your language and self-talk. How often do you beat yourself up? How often do you find fault with who you are being or what you are doing? When you think or speak, how many times do you use words like, “I should, shouldn’t, should have, shouldn’t have..” that cast you in a negative light to yourself and others?
- What in your life is causing you to feel unhappiness, anger or fear?
- What if any situation you are dealing with (addictions, illness, relationships, or money…) that is causing you pain was created to bring you closer to God and your Divinity? And the situations were designed to take the forms that would best get your attention so you might choose to “wake up” and remember who you are?
When we feel in despair, fear, or pain, it is common to pray to God for help. We reach out for assistance, opening our arms and hearts for relief and release of the burden we are carrying. In times of extreme pain, if we are willing to soften our hearts, let some of our protective guard down, and be willing to be vulnerable, many miracles can happen. I believe all prayers are always answered although they don’t always match the picture of what we expect.
- Would you be willing and open to forgive yourself for any judgments you might be holding?
- Would your attitude change towards yourself? Others? Your life?
- What might you do differently?
- How would you feel and think differently?
- Would you feel less constricted inside and more expansive?
Each of us at one time or another has strayed from our path, ignored our heart, betrayed another, been unloving, acted unwisely, given in to an addiction, desire, or temptation we might regret. There is a need for forgiveness when there is blame that often results in a misunderstanding or taking things personally.
The Blame Game - finger pointing, accusations, buck passing, using excuses, defending, and explaining are all ways people deny taking 100% responsibility for what they create in their life. 99.99% (really 100%) of the anger and upset we place in blaming others and our life situations for our happiness, is really how we feel towards ourselves. As long as we have someone or something to blame for our situation, we never have to look at our role in what happened. The fact is that we are powerfull creators and we are consciously and unconsciously manifesting all the time.
- Is there anything you or anyone else has ever done that is unforgivable?
- If you blame anyone or anything for your life circumstances, who would you become if you gave up being a victim and embraced for-give- ness?
- What is something you blamed yourself for or regretted that didn’t turn out the way you wanted was really Divinely inspired?
- If you hold onto your judgments or self-condemnation, how can you ever come to peace?
- Is anything you have ever done or experienced from another worth the price of giving up your happiness? Your self-esteem? Your peace of mind? Love?
Forgiveness allows us to heal and let go so that our hearts can open to self-love and compassion.
Grief and sadness lies beneath anger. As long as we remain judgmental and unforgiving, we are unable to release the pain and come to a place of resolution and inner peace. When we can view each experience as a healing and growth opportunity that brings us closer to our Divinity, we can release the pain through forgiveness and open our heart to feel gratitude and joy. Joy connects us to love, which is our true nature and the essence of God. Celebrate all that is right with you and your world. Appreciate all the richness you have in your life rather than focusing on what is missing.
Approaching life with wonder, like we did as innocent children, invites us to see and attract options and possibilities that can resolve challenges and bring Grace. In wonder we delight in the blessings, gifts, and wonderfull surprises The Divine has for us. Remember to look for all the ways the Universe conspires in your favor to make you smile.
For a special healing session using The Grace Process, click here
Take advantage of scheduling ThetaHealing™ with me to uncover subconscious beliefs, themes, and patterns that can be blocking what you desire to attract and manifest.
Blessings,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
www.powerfull-living.biz
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2009/06/20/how-forgiving-are-you/trackback/
45 Life Lessons
Published on 15 Jun 2009 at 9:30 pm.
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Filed under Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
This is something we should all read at least once a week!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25 No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27 Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.isayyesnow.com
www.powerfull-living.biz
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2009/06/15/45-life-lessons/trackback/
Taking Responsibility for Your Own Actions
Published on 12 Jun 2009 at 10:37 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
by Christine Kloser
re-spon-si-ble
Definition: answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management
What do you think of when you contemplate the word responsible? I want you to be honest with yourself here. Do you secretly wish you weren’t responsible for as much as you are? Are you trying to get out of responsibilities because they’re just “too much”? Have you been unrealistic about how much you can commit to and still uphold your responsibilities? Do you find yourself blaming others for things that don’t go your way?
I believe for entrepreneurs, responsibility can be a very loaded term. Let’s face it, we all want to feel responsible for our successes when they occur, but it’s no fun taking responsibility for your failures, too. But, alas, this is part of the conscious entrepreneur’s journey; being awake and aware to both sides of the coin when it comes to responsibility.
The truth is responsibility isn’t a very “hot” or “sexy” topic. Responsibility brings you face to face with the more challenging aspects of being an entrepreneur. I learned this the hard way by having gone through a few failures in my past, both with my Los Angeles based yoga studio and my Network for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs. Both of these businesses had a certain level of success, but not enough to be sustainable over the long run and I had to shut them down. It was painful to look at the truth that I was responsible for what happened with those businesses.
Granted, if I had them both to do over again today, I would change many things and I see exactly how I’d set those businesses up for long-term success. But, I have no intention of starting these business over again at this point, but I do feel I can share some thoughts that may help you feel fantastic about being responsible for your own success.
Here are three key considerations for loving your responsibilities… and owning them fully:
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
This is one of the most pressing issues I see with entrepreneurs. It’s so easy for us to get excited about many, many things. Often entrepreneurs will bite off more than they can chew. The reason many business owners do this is because they don’t realize how much effort will go into a particular project. They make their timelines too short, their goals too aggressive and then get overwhelmed and discouraged when a project takes a long time and doesn’t reach it’s goals.
If you read my article last week, you noticed that I’m taking my own advice into consideration and releasing a few projects that I just don’t have the time, or energy to do right now. I had bitten off more than I could chew. The important thing here is to try not do to this in the first place, but if you do you’ve got to take steps to recognize you’ve committed to too much, and make some adjustments so you feel you don’t have too much on your plate.
Hear What People Are Saying To You
Another mistake entrepreneurs make is a totally unconscious response of not hearing what people are telling you. This is easy to do when you’re excited about something and you want to live in the “honeymoon” of your idea. This is an intoxicating state of bliss, and it’s challenging to get grounded into some of the input you’re getting on your project.
This happened to me with my women’s networking group. I kept hearing from the women at the meetings that it was something very special, and I better prepare myself for rapid growth. I didn’t listen. I didn’t want to complicate things. I didn’t want the responsibility of running yet another business when the one I already had was struggling. So, I embarked on a “stop gap” approach to that business, rather than hearing what everyone told me in the beginning. Had I only “heard” what they said, I’m sure that business would be thriving today. So, if you notice you’re doing this in your business… letting important input go in one ear and out the other like you never even heard it… listen up! This is the Universe speaking to you through the people you’ve placed in your life. It’s worth paying full attention to what they’re saying, because their input may be guiding you toward taking on your responsibility with a lot more ease, grace and fun!
Notice if You’re Placing Blame on Others
This one is a big tell-tale sign that you don’t want to take responsibility for your own success. This one isn’t particularly fun to look at, but it is extraordinarily valuable to do this self-evaluation. Simply notice… is there something in your business or your life that isn’t working right now. Identify what that is, and see if you are placing blame on someone else for the situation you are in.
Believe me, I understand that sometimes things happen to you, but even then, how you respond (versus react) is your responsibility. How you learn from a situation and use it to discover more about yourself and your relationship to responsibility can make a huge impact on your success. Everything that occurs in your business is a learning oppor^tunity… remember every single thing that happens is happening for one purpose and one purpose only; because the Universe is conspiring for your highest and best at all times. Even those situations where you want to blame; chances are those are the places you have the greatest gifts waiting for you.
When you take these three concepts into consideration in your business, you’ll find it much easier be fully engaged and happy in your commitments. You’ll also feel confident that you can be (and WANT to be) responsible for your own success. This is one of the most exciting aspects of being a conscious entrepreneur; there’s nobody that can create your success, but you. Yes, of course, you have coaches, consultants and mentors to help you along the way, but ultimately your success is up to you.
© 2009 Christine Kloser
Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to thrive in your purpose-driven, profitable business (while enjoying a soul-satisfying life), send for my special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know… Before Writing a Word, both of which you get (at no charge) when you request my Conscious Business Success Kit at www.LoveYourLife.com.
