To Infinity [and Beyond]
Posted on 31. Aug, 2010 by Susan in Blog
Guest post by Kim David.
Inspiration can be found in the strangest places and can creep up on us when we least expect it. Take my most recent movie going experience, for example. I was excited to see the final installment in the Toy Story series, mostly because I have been, over the last fifteen years, been watching the story unfold on the big screen with amusement and enthusiasm. The other piece that factored into my excitement for seeing the movie was my love for movie theater popcorn, let’s be honest.
I was blown away. Toy Story 3 was equal parts humor, action-adventure and drama. Dare I say it? It changed my life forever.
I have always been fascinated by stories. I think the reason we engage in movies and books is because they allow us to step out of the time and space of our own lives and live vicariously through another’s shoes. They help us forget about our own lives for awhile; after all, our lives are stressful and often times chock full of chaos and drama. It’s no wonder, then, that we’d want some time off. But what if I told you that having the life you’ve always wanted, or in the very least a life that feels just a little better than the one you have now is right there in front of you and that all you have to do is grab it?
You probably wouldn’t believe me and if you did, you’d be asking the million dollar question: How. How can you, just you, create the life you’ve always wanted? Although what I want may be different from what you want, ultimately I believe the actions to get there are very much the same. What Toy Story 3 laid out right in front of me was a recipe for a more fulfilling life, and I’m almost certain that implementing any of these things into your life on a more frequent basis will allow you reach out and grab what’s yours. I’ve named it The Love Recipe because it’s really about loving yourself when you put these actions into play.
The Love Recipe:
Stick Together
Whether you stick with friends, family, coworkers, it doesn’t matter. Working toward a common goal not only makes you stronger, but will also severely affect your outcome for the better. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Play
Play isn’t just for children. Everyone needs a lot more play in their lives. Find something that feels like play to you and make more time to do it. You will be amazed with the results.
Give, Give, Give
Give your time, expertise, clothes you don’t wear anymore, love or even a smile to someone who really needs it. That one thing that you give could dramatically change someone else’s life. And besides, it feels good.
There’s Always A Way Out
No matter how bad your situation might be, there’s always a way out of it. You might have to think more creatively or do things that are outside of your comfort zone, but that’s okay. Change means growth and growth undoubtedly means happiness.
Living With Ken In The Dream House Doesn’t Necessarily Make You Happy
Rule of thumb: Always go after the feeling state that you want, not material items that
you think will make you happy, because, at the end of the day no one can take that
feeling away from you. If the feeling state led you to Ken, then fantastic! But
don’t assume starting with him will give you everything you want. Even Ken has
issues.
Not only do I hope you’ll begin to implement the The Love Recipe in your own life, I hope you’ll share it with those who could use it. To get you started on your journey, I’m issuing you a challenge for the week.
The Love Recipe Challenge
Pick 1 item from The Love Recipe (the one that spoke to you most) from the list of 5 above. Write it down on a piece of paper, then underneath it, list the days of the week. Next to each day, write down 1 action you will take that day to incorporate the recipe item you’ve chosen. At the end of the week, think back to how each action turned out & what impact it had on you. Results are cumulative, so keep at it! Feel free to post your reflections here.
You’ll be amazed at how what seems like a silly insignificant movie can take you to infinity…and beyond!
Kim David is a Certified Martha Beck Life Coach who helps savvy women create blueprints for more fulfilling lives & businesses that ROCK! Additional items in her Love Recipe include live music, creating art & chocolate chip cookies. She lives in Buffalo, NY with her adorable and sometimes mischievous Jack Russell Terrier, Zaney. To receive a free copy of Kim’s new E-book Experience A Personal Revolution: 7 Steps To Radical Self-Care, please visit www.creativelifediscovery.com & sign up for the newsletter!
Your Fabulousness Translates
Posted on 27. May, 2010 by Susan in Get What You Want, Motivation
“Carrie : Maybe I can’t leave New York. I don’t know how I’d do someplace else.
Samantha : Believe me, your fabulousness would translate.”
I love the characters from Sex and the City. Sandwiched between interesting fashion and hilarious drama, there’s brilliant humanity. Like Carrie, we can find ourselves overwhelmed and afraid to embrace change. We doubt our abilities.
I don’t know how.
I can’t.
It’s too hard.
I should stick to what I know.
I’ve logged thousands of hours coaching amazing people who run away with these thoughts into their own private hell. My criteria for change? If what you are thinking is not kind, does not feel like love, does not serve you, that’s reason enough to change your mind.
The above are statements of you on mind crack. The kinds of thoughts that keep you less than. Stuck. Hiding. You know more than you think you do. You are smarter, deeper, more agile, and less complicated than you suspect.
How to Translate Your Fabulousness:
1. Identify an area where you have done well and felt good about it. Think of all areas of your life: career, relationships, physical fitness, spirituality. What do people ask your advice about? Did you plan an event that was a home run? Make a killer cocktail? Bake an amazing cake? Figure out how to raise money for a worthy cause? It’s there. Take some time using these mind map worksheets to brainstorm ideas.
2. Brainstorm how you did it. How did you approach the venture? What did you do? How’d you pull that off? My client Amanda was convinced that she couldn’t lose weight. She’s tried “everything.” It turns out that she had tried 5 crappy diets, but had never tried approaching weight loss the way that she approaches her superb parenting. She’s seriously a child whisperer.
So, she got to work examining her success with little people, and discovered some key ingredients and techniques that she agreed to translate from parenting over to weight loss. They included: patience, kindness and love, firm boundaries, and did I mention love and compassion?
3. Apply these same fabulous skills and approach to your new goal for fabulous results. When Amanda did, It completely transformed her treatment of herself, how she moved, what she ate, and how she thought. Her result was peaceful weight loss. And she used techniques she already knew to do it.
Doesn’t matter if you are trying to lose 50 pounds, build your very own business, or parent a spirited child. Tame your spirited thoughts, and you’re gold. And fabulous.
Party Like a Rock Star
Posted on 14. May, 2010 by Susan in Blog
I have a theory about why women throw their panties at rock stars. It’s not that they are necessarily all that good looking, or rich, or famous, as widely cited as the reasons. Although, I’ll admit, looking like my boyfriend Johnny doesn’t hurt.
Last week, I had an amazing birthday at a Goo Goo Dolls concert, and a backstage meet and greet, thanks to my husband, and my good friend and colleague Sonja. (Many of you guys emailed and posted on Facebook how “lucky” I was…and I’ll write more about that later. You know I can’t let one that slide.)
Meeting my favorite band was awesome. Really nice guys. Singing and dancing to their music live was a hell of a good time. But what I really loved, was watching and observing the connection that these musicians had as they were in the flow of their brilliance. They were connected to the audience, to their art, to their higher power.
I think that this connection, this peek at brilliance, being able to share in that passion, is what we find so sexy. What’s even sexier is knowing that you have access to all of that yourself: your own connection and brilliance, and learning how to dial that up for yourself.
It’s nice to admire a rock star on stage. Before you sling-shot your favorite panties on stage, just remember that what you admire is within you. You don’t need to get it from an outside source.
What’s your brilliance? Your contribution to the world? When do you feel the most alive? Let’s access your inner Rock Star:
1. Name three people who you admire and love to watch. For me, I have so much fun watching Jamie Oliver rock out his Food Revolution, my new puppy Juliet investigate the world with wild abandon, and Tina Fey create some of the best comedy around.
2. What specifically do you love and admire about them? (And I’m thinking of something more than rock-solid abs here.) Jamie’s passion is infectious, Juliet’s curiosity gives me new eyes, and Tina Fey’s writing inspires me to have more fun.
3. How can you recognize these qualities in yourself and infuse them into what you do?
It’s way more fun to party like a rock star than worship one. Create some of that fabulous goodness in your life. I’ll be there, getting my groove on.
Leave Barking to the Puppies
Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Susan in Blog, Motivation
What would happen, if just for today, you decided to stop:
complaining
whining
stalling
tantruming
crazy towning
bluffing
gossiping
judging
excuse-ifying
the crap.
What if instead of barking your way around the edges of your comfort zone, you reached for something better?
What could you create in the time that you just spent moaning and groaning?
Accept what is. Create what’s next. I’ll be there cheering for you.
My Chat with Danielle LaPorte
Posted on 07. Apr, 2010 by Susan in Entrepreneurs
I had the best fun interviewing author, speaker, and all around bad ass Danielle Laporte about being an entrepreneur, life and fun.
Click here for the evidence and laughter:
Danielle is the creator of WhiteHotTruth.com, which has been called “the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality.” An inspirational speaker and business strategist, and former think tank exec, Danielle’s new digital book, The Fire Starter Sessions, helps entrepreneurs rock their career with integrity, audacity and their truest strengths.
You can find her on Twitter @daniellelaporte
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