What's it Gonna Take For You To Leave that Job?

This is a tough question. What is it going to take for you to make the move and follow your dreams? Is the fear of not having a paycheck holding you back? It's a pretty scary thought, and one that I've been contemplating for several years now, especially with three little mouths to feed. It was in those little mouths that I found the motivation to let go of the toxic security of that paycheck.

I can't sum everything up in one blog post. But I can say that the thought of my kids growing up watching mommy 'suck it up' and 'tough it out' for that paycheck, all the while knowing that what I really wanted to do was create (art, jewelry, books, you name it...), would be teaching them exactly what I DON'T want them to do when they grow up. The thought of them wasting their life in some go-nowhere job where their true talents aren't merely unrecognized, but stifled completely, made my physically ill. So I made the decision to be the change. It's terrifying, but invigorating all at the same time. The first year is going to be rocky, I've accepted that. But at least I know that I'm living some of my most important values - freedom, creative expression, self-reliance. I've never been a particularly religious person, but someone said to me recently as we discussed my plan, "The Lord rewards those who have faith." This is my leap of faith. Making the decision and of course, telling my lousy boss that I was leaving, felt better than anything had in a long time, and doing so made it even more clear to me that I had made the RIGHT decision.

So, my question to you is, what's it going to take for you to make YOUR move? How are you going to feel at the end of your days when you look back at your life? Will you have lived it the way you wanted? Take some time with this question. It's an incredibly powerful one.

Sounds of Silence

It is only when we silence the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. ~K.T. Jong

Knocking the Dust Off

It's been quite awhile since my last blog post, on this blog anyways, and it feels great to be back. The last year and a half have been quite a wild ride. We welcomed a new baby girl into our family (now of 5) last summer and I finished writing my first children's novel over the winter. It is now being shopped around for representation - fingers crossed. I have rekindled my love of writing via that endeavor and have penned a few short stories that I hope to spin into picture books sometime in the future. I have also taken time to get back into painting and will have some of my work on display at the local coffee shop here in Smyrna - REV. If anyone is in the area please stop in for a visit - they have FANTASTIC coffee. My coaching practice has picked up in the past months as well and I'm looking forward to working with new and existing clients. For today, I will leave you with a bit of creative wisdom that I recently stumbled upon:

"Your ability to create is intimately connected to your intention to matter." ~Eric Maisel

So, the question that I leave you with is: How much do you want to matter?

In Gratitude

As you know, Thanksgiving is a day we set aside to reflect on that which we are grateful for in our lives. It is a moment to slow down, spend time with those who mean the most to us and celebrate all of the wonderful blessings life has bestowed upon us.

Many times however, we focus too much on the details of the day - getting ourselves ready, preparing a perfect meal, making sure that everyone gets along. We end up spending the holiday frazzled and harried instead of relaxed, joyful and thankful.

As you set out this Thanksgiving, I want you to do so from a place of peacefulness and gratitude. If you find yourself facing something unpleasant, take a moment to pause and figure out a way to look at the situation differently. Don't succumb to your emotion and initial reactions, but instead look at the situation from that place of peace and gratitude.

Take some time after your turkey dinner to sit and write down 25 things from the past year that you are thankful for... I'll share a few of mine to give you some inspiration.

1. I am thankful for my two beautiful, vibrant children who give me more joy than I could have ever thought possible.
2. I am thankful for my husband who values us above all else, and always comes back to center just when I need him most.
3. I am thankful for that last breath, and that one...
4. I am thankful for all of the wisdom that I have acquired throughout the years, from the mistakes and successes.
5. I am thankful that my parents allowed me to be free and live my life as I want to...never imposing their own limitations on me or using guilt or manipulation to hinder my progress in life.

Those are just a few from my list this year.... I hope you take the time to make a list of your own. It will give you strength and appreciation for the beauty in your life.

I hope you have a warm, joyful holiday this year!

Four Great Books if You Want to Live the Creative Life

How do you define creativity? As with most anything, you are able to conjure up your own definition of this concept. Perhaps you create ideas, works of art, play an instrument.... I stumbled upon these four fantastic resources for helping you live the creative life. Nearly all of my clients are embarking on a new journey in which they define their lives by a sense of purpose. This purpose involves creating and then taking those creations and using them to help better people's lives. I hope you take a moment to investigate these resources and pause to consider how your life is given purpose at this very moment.

Shifting from Fear to Empowerment

I recently started up my fall group coaching program, which has been centered around the fears that first time entrepreneurs face as they follow their dreams and launch their businesses. One of the things that we've been working on is how to change your outlook of the future from a perspective of fear and concern to one of empowerment.

If you find yourself with a list of reasons why you won't be able to accomplish something or are concerned because you are taking on something you've never done before, perhaps you are in need of a change in perspective. How can you shift your view of the future from something you may not be able to handle, to a view that you are competent and capable enough to handle any issue that comes your way?

1. Pick something you can do every day that makes you feel good about yourself. Perhaps it is something you are fearful of doing or something that makes you anxious. Push yourself to do it, and when you do, congratulate yourself. Acknowledge the courage it took and recognize your own strength.

2. Develop a mantra for yourself. Devise a phrase or way of thinking that affirms your courage and abilities. Make sure your mantra is in the present tense. A great example that one of my clients recently came up with is, 'I face my fears head on and am brave enough and sharp enough to handle everything that comes my way.' Affirmations are a great way to reassure yourself of your amazing abilities. The more you affirm the more you believe!

3. Change how you look at the future. If you hold the belief that the unknown is scary, question it. How do you feel when something amazing and unexpected happens? Surely these types of things happen as often, if not more so, than the unexpected and not-so-amazing events... Be aware of what you are choosing to focus on. You are allowing that focus to shape how you step out into the world. Practice looking at the future as something full of wonderful abundance and pleasant surprises.

These three things will help boost your confidence and kick fear to the curb!

How I Changed Careers

I was recently interviewed and featured in Terry Carter's blog, How I Changed Careers. Terry is the CEO of Travertine Spa and is currently working on authoring a book on how people can break free from a dull, uninspiring career and follow their dreams. You have to check this out - he's a great guy doing great things!