Clearing the way

Who else has the overwhelming urge to start new and clean out the stuff you have been holding for some time?

A new year comes and it is what I want to do most of all. The de-clutter bug attaches to you and you somehow know that it is the first thing to do when you want to start a new project, have a fresh start and begin something new.  The act of letting go of what is of no use to you in the physical and in the emotional sense is a real demonstration you are ready for new possibilities.

I have tried a few ways to de-clutter. Random clear outs to the no emotion attached, so it goes system.  I have just completed the 27 items for 9 days, yes 9 days and don't miss a day, otherwise you have to start again.

Every day for 9 consecutive days, I either toss out, give away or sell and it has to be 27 items.  When you do the maths that is a big 243 items.
It is not only the 27 times of cds, magazines, clothes, pots, well anything that was of no use to you anymore, it was the discipline to keep doing it for 9 days.

It went from fun, to serious to challenging, but I did it! Cupboards are cleared and the bonus was as i was putting together the 27 items each day it was also clearing my thoughts.  It has this dual effect while cleaning out the rooms, I was also thinking abut what is best for me and how to expect better. I was feeling thankful and free and enjoying the great buzz you get when you give away items you know will be of use to someone else.
 
The 27 items for 9 days is a feng shui principle of letting go of old energy for new energy to come into your life.  I found the power was  in the consistency of  9 straight days of letting go and what follows is to trust that something better and more suited to me is coming my way.  I have created space!

When you look at the background of why 27 and why 9 well the number 27 comes up in physiology, astronomy, as well as in myths, legends and religions.  27 is regarded as the premier number and 9 is the point where one cycle ends and another starts. It represents in feng shui fullness and transformation of heaven and earth, the symbol of celestial power & the number 9 never changes, no matter how many times it is multiplied by itself.  If any number is multiplied by 9 the resulting digits always add up to 9.   We have used 9 in the common phrases like a stitch in time saves 9, a cat has 9 lives, cloud 9 is the ultimate happiness.  

& what about the number 27....

• Human skin cells regrow every 27 days
• Human hand contains 27 bones
• The sun rotates on its axis every 27 days
• The moon orbits the earth every 27 days
• According to Incan legend there are 27 roads leading to the lost city of El Dorado
• 27 pieces in a rubiks cube

At some point, you have to let go, let go of the things, the thoughts, the past, the life that no longer is giving you fulfilment.

I loved the challenge of 27 items for 9 days to remove the clutter, to close down what is not working  and create the space to recharge a new beginning.  I will be using this simple feng shui method next time.

Just for Today

Leap from Vision to Goals

 The new magic of a new year can get you all fired up and excited for what you want.  

To clear that path of putting off and have a certainty that this is the time to make things happen.

It is new year and you are keen to make it happen.

BUT....New can happen anytime, you know you can choose to fix your sight on better on any day in any part of the year.  It is best not to rush into it, or you may pick up someone else's dreams.  This time of year you can get caught up in the hype of resolutions and want to "fix" rather than follow your own beat.

Here is what I do when I want decisions to stick and to take that leap from a thought, a wish, a want, a dream and to set the scene of my vision into solid action goals.

1. Build from your WHYs

There are certain priorities we all have in life, some of those priorities shift in their importance depending on the circumstance.  Our health, our finances, our relationships, the work we do and the big question of what do I want for my future.  How do I design my life that is good for me and for others?

The priorities that come to the front, I ask WHY, 50 WHYs for these priorities.  Not one or two, but 50, stretch my thinking and my emotions and when done try for another 50. The strength rises in the meaning and the worth of what I want and the vision of my story is real.  I love this part and it is a list I love to read again and again.

2. Your WHYs set up your stories

My many WHYs energise the feeling to purposely create the mental images I want to see in my life. Visualising every detail of the future gives it reality and will cultivate that certainty of you know that you know and obstacles will not get in your way.

I have set up the blueprint of my reality because of the vision I have created in my mind and the leap from vision to goals is now packed with a lot of energy and determination.

3. Live and practise your story

It is common practise in many fields of sport and business to include visualisation in preparation for coordinating the next big thing.

Imagine the preparation of a long jumper, who is getting ready to take the large leap. Watch how the jumper walks to the line, deep in thought, looks intently at the path ahead, visualising how their steps, their actions get them ready to take the leap, the mental picture of strong strides, leap and land then jump for joy at their success.  It is "as if" it is already done.

The preparation for the jump started long before the event, each leap requires the tuning of mind, body and spirit.  The preparation is essential and the leap naturally follows.

This is not a one-off story that you are creating.  One time is not a great help when you want to take the big leaps from vision to action. You visit this reality many times, practise your moves, what you are doing, who you are with, what is your world like, many details to help your mind and body know what to do and to be your natural way.

4. Goals are created

Your goals now are not plucked out of the air.  You have mapped it out in your mind, you have already lived it. Your words on paper flow with the actions you have set up.  You have prepared yourself for the leap from vision to goals.

What to do when your goals don't happen.

Have you had goals that you started out with such great enthusiasm?   The stats are out there....the greater majority of people put a lot of planning into their goal, and we like to use the new year to start up goals and yet within the first month it is already a fading memory.

You can count me in that group. I have reached goals, nailed them really well and on the flip side I have set up goals that just fizzed out.  I needed to ask myself why do some of my goals get to the end and others barely make it over the starting line?

What is the difference between a goal that is accomplished and the goal that goes nowhere?

They all start out the same.

🌱Enthusiasm for the goal.....check

🌱 Put together well....check

🌱 Heart in the right place....check




They all start out well, and every one of them has the best chance of getting done.

Like so many others,  I can be creatively amazing for leaving a particular goal behind and find many good reasons or excuses for not paying attention to a goal.

Criticism of your actions or lack of action is not a step in the forward direction, so leave that one alone and pay attention to the difference between what is working for you and what is not to improve your moves to achieve your goal.

Let's look at how you can gain a higher success rate for a goal achieved over a goal that fizzles out.

1. Notice the emotion you attach to what you want in your life.

It always starts out as an inside out job when you are designing the goals you want to achieve in your life.  You really, really want to make this happen. You made the decision to want to have better in your life. It is a deep seated feeling that you have. You are determined. You know that you will make it happen.
 If there is just the slightest whisper in your mind that you don't want to put in the effort, pull back and adjust the goal.  Don't let it go!

2. Dream big and start small.

So many benefits to dreaming big. It all becomes possible in your mind and it is the springboard to move you from imagining to reality.  Your thinking, what you believe to be true and your skills and abilities will need to catch up, so start small.
The small successes will create a big impact on your confidence. It will be the daily actions that will make the big difference for goal success. It is your project and you can break it down to many small steps to make it happen.  Small steps prepare you for giant leaps.

3. Look for habits that will serve you.

When it means so much to you, that everyday your goal is in your thoughts, then you will look for ways to create the habits that lead you towards making it happen. This is not the time to second guess if you should or shouldn't, or if it is too hard to do, your attention is not on the excuses that follow the first thought to take action. Your first thought to make it happen is your best thought. As you practise new ways of doing, they become your new habits.  Just do it.

4. Keep your goal close to you.

Worse thing to do is write your goal, put it in a folder or drawer and out of sight.  It is not meant to be kept safe, it is meant to be seen in big letters, in pictures, on stick it notes, notes on the mirror, anywhere you can be reminded about the why for your goal. When you wake up in the morning, what is important for you to do today that will get you closer?  When you go to bed at night, what dreams will you have about your goal? Keep it close.

Last word -  View success as a side effect.

There is a lot of joy available to you, when you focus more on the journey rather than the feeling that your goals are a job to do, tasks to complete, actions to make happen.  
 Ok, this is the secret sauce!
The purpose of goals is to unlock your best future. You are continually developing your amazing and your goals help to shape how you want to be, what you want to attract in your life and how to give back.  The journey you are on to turn the goals you have designed into reality will mean more to you than the goal itself.  It turns out the goals you are designing and the goal that is achieved is just a side effect of living your best life.  

Gift yourself the space to reflect

Christmas is only days away and a real mixed bag of feelings can come to the surface.

 'Tis the season to be jolly and yet it is also the season ripe to think a little deeper about how you see your life.
It may or may not have been a great year or it may have been a real challenging year but it is a year you can learn from and take your new knowledge into a brand new shiny New Year.

This time, right now can work in your favour.  The year can be filled with the busy routine of your life, not much time to indulge in reflection and to have a focus on just you. It is time to give yourself a gift.

Gift yourself the space to reflect on what was and what can be.


This time, you can make the time to dig a little deeper into what will work better for you as a new year approaches.

 So, it is with the end of one year and the beginning of another you can start reflecting on what was, what could have been and what will be.

Caution! There can be a tension between who you are today and who you want to be tomorrow and that tension gap can easily turn into frustration.  To make sure this doesn't happen,  see that gap as a challenge to create more, to learn more, to be open to possibilities that expand your world.





Here are Nine mighty gift tips to help embrace the gap and shake up the jolly season.

• The first step is always to look inside and create your beautiful life.
• Flex your creative imagination to focus on what you want for your future.
• Muse over what is working in your favour, right now.
• Chuckle over the falls and mistakes and know that next time you will do better.
• Think about where do you want to invest your time.  We see time going so quickly, so how can you make it an investment.
• Use "I can" and "I am" more and know your skills and abilities.
• Continue to encourage your thoughts on what you love, what is valuable to you.
• Focus on the loved ones in your life, and the beauty of nature to lift your energy.
• Set up your fresh targets for the new year.

First Aid for Problems

Problems are seen as a negative in our life.
We want  to get rid of the problems and dream of a life without problems.  I would't say I love problems in my life but I know I need to have them. I even create them.
Diamonds and pearls are created because of friction, tension, irritation and pressure. Problems can present the same environment of friction, tension, irritation and pressures. What if you look at the problems as shaping your life, a life as beautiful as diamonds and pearls.


The problem comes because there is the gap between what you have and what you want.
The problem is when you do not like what you have and you want to get away from it.
We all have problems, whether we are in a good place or not, we want to create, get away, progress to something better.

A life without problems is not real.  If you are saying you have no problems, then what are you doing with your life?

How you look at, action, make sense of your problems is the remedy.  It isn't to have a life without problems, it is to have a life where problems provide a catalyst, a learning curve, a change in thought. A problem is an opportunity to shape your life.

I don't buy in to the phrase "there are no problems, only solutions" , I am more into the phrase "every problem has a solution".

Hands up, who has had a tough time or lots of tough times?  That would be everyone, 

so you are not alone.

There is not a lot of comfort in that, because your problems are your private nightmare. You want to know what first aid you can do to help you feel better, be stronger and able to manage through these tough times.

Here are first aid tips to keep you on top of the event or situation.

**Safety is your first priority.

To be able to handle any problem, your first priority is your safety and the safety of others. If this is not an issue then you focus on the problem, learning and remedy.

1. Stand Tall.  

Yes, now is the time to think about posture.  This is a first aid benefit to  make sure you are in a good space to see the problem positively. No head bowed or fingers in the ears.  When you stand tall you breathe better, you see into the distance and you are taking the posture of someone who is in control.

2. Clear the thinking.

If you are having thoughts of blame or feeling like the victim, or someone's fault or some one owes you, then your problem is magnified and you won't see a solution.
You will only get short term sympathy.
Get a reality check on what you are thinking.  You want better, you expect better, You are responsible for your solutions. Practise and reinforce your positive emotions.  Look for gratitude and appreciation.  Those positive emotions create a  trickle down effect to improve the clarity of thought. Thinking clearly is a necessity when you are handling a problem.

3. Look at the problem from all sides.

When you look at your problem from other perspectives, you are expanding your understanding of the situation, pulling it apart and putting it back together and usually in a different way.
It is adapting the 4 NLP perceptual positions and applying to your problem. Start with what is your personal view of the problem, then how does it look from another person's perspective. The next position is to stand back and be objective about the problem, and then in the mirror, look at the big picture and how would you react to yourself.  When you look at the problem from all sides, the problem tends to lose its power over you.

Now, you are getting ideas, seeing things differently and solutions are coming. Remember, solutions don't always come in one size fits all or a one application cure.

It would be very rare if you are a problem pioneer. 

Someone else has had a very similar experience. 

It's ok to say you need advice or talk it through with a valued colleague.  

Help is always very near.

4. The future state.

Problems can come with frayed emotions and stress symptoms. Plus, the past can really hobble how you handle your problems. You know the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expect a different result. Take a trip to the future you.

The future is the place you invent and the place you create to see the problem reaching its best solution. You may not have all the detail, but the future you invent is all the feelings of the situation working out well.  This is going to help you focus in the present to choose what serves you and drop what doesn't. It is going to help you create the best solutions for you.

The problem now has developed into the catalyst for learning and a better future.

Diamonds and pearls are not made perfect overnight.

Unlock your best future

My words are centred in the desire and intention to help people bring about their best and connect to their best future.
http://isucceed.info

Opportunity to be thankful

Thank you! 

Simple words loaded with great power and magic. 

There is always an opportunity to be thankful.

Thank you

Grazie

Takk

Salamat po

Spasibo 

Merci 

Ta 

Do Jeh

 Gracias

Arigato

Toda

The end of the year is approaching, the sales scream out four weeks to Christmas! 

There is a mixture of tension and excitement as you shop.  

The conforming feeling of so much to do and so little time to do it in.   

All around you are the marketing slogans and commercials that can cause you to feel pushed around and pressured.

The Christmas and holiday season hype can wear you down.

Gift yourself some alone time.

This is the opportunity to be thankful.

Gratitude is the elixir for turning dark days around. 

What has been, what is and what will be.

Thankful for what is in my life.

I know life is not random and anything that has happened raises my awareness.

Love what is and allow what is happening.

This is the opportunity to be thankful that my experiences can be of service.

What makes my heart sing?

To even just think about it and then list as many as I can.

Light and joy start to fizz in my cells.

This is an opportunity to be thankful.

I create how I perceive my world and I am thankful.

I am on purpose

I plan my actions

Master my day

Track my changes

Cue my world

See the colours and smells and tastes that bring you pleasure.

Paint your life in the colours that you want.

Always keep looking for the opportunity to be thankful. 

You will find them everywhere and every time. 

Unlock your best future

My words are centred in the desire and intention to help people bring about their best and connect to their best future.
http://isucceed.info

  

Turning Goals into Simple

You do want your goals to work for you, you want them to stick and you want your goals to be completed, why else would you go to the effort, only to leave them behind littered with the "just didn't get it done" excuses .  

You are on purpose when designing your goals. You start out with great intentions, you want the goals to stick and achieve the end result. Sometimes the tools that you use, get in the way of a great plan.
 
I have used a few models to help with setting up my goals and through trial and error when I have goals that happen it is because I used the SiMPLE baseline for my goal design.   I wanted my goals to happen, goals that would stretch, and be a constructive part of my life and I wanted to remove the fuss about how to write a goal and make it simple.

I have put together 6 parts to consider.....

Here is my SiMPLE acronym, a baseline for goal design.

S for Sensory Specific

There is a lot of power when you joyfully expect your goal to happen, there is no doubt in your mind you are on target to achieve your result.  Visualisation is a great tool to use. Imagine your goal as achieved, what are you saying, who are you telling, what are other people saying. Create the expectancy with your senses.  Get all your senses involved in what it will look like, smell like, feel like, be very specific, lots of detail, capture the moment and relive the moment.   Your goal is important to you, so make the most of all your senses to see it as done.

i for Initiated by you

How can you be 100% responsible?  Your future decisions depend on reaching your goal.  Start with small habit changes that will move you towards your goal. I have written a few times about habits being the key to sticking with your goal, it does make the difference between keep going and falling behind.  Your habits help you so much with the daily small things and action to give you momentum without having to always push and remind yourself what you are after.

M is for the Milestone, Mapping and Measure

It is a strategic move to map your course, set your milestones and measure your progress. How do you know if you have achieved if you don't measure?  Your mapping shows you where you are now to where you want to be.  Break down the goals to the near future, what you want to achieve in
1 month, 3 months, 6 months and have your stretch goals mapped out for the future in one or 2, 5 or 10 years.

P is for Positive

You are choosing to be positive. Positively positive you will achieve your outcome! Set yourself up mentally to commit to the path and stick to it.  Use the positive statement, the affirmations to train your mind.  Keep that goal firmly in your sight. Use stick it notes, phone reminders...anything that will keep your focus on your big audacious goal.

L is for Learn

I love this one, because really it is the process, and this ends up being far more significant than the outcome. The people you meet, the learning that comes to you, each day you learn something new.  There are opportunities everywhere. You are putting yourself out there and be prepared to receive far more than you thought possible.

E is for Ecological

When designing your goals make sure what you are after has no negative impact on you or others.  Remember, 100% responsible. You can't design a goal with the expectation that someone else has to change, you can only work on yourself. The environment you create is filled with gratitude, kindness and joy as these are the feelings to energise and propel you to your goal.

Tools and Resources I depend on

The tools and resources I depend on for designing my life..this is not absolutely everything. It is not a  full comprehensive digest, now that would take pages....but what I have here, has made a difference to the quality and design of my life.

I start at the basics and make sure I factor in the tools and resources to strengthen the 4 aspects of health...the physical aspect which is about sleep, fitness, nutrition and meditation; healthy emotions; positive mindset and spiritual nurture.

I figure when I pay attention to these 4 aspects, I stay on focus and feel great.

I start the day with exercise and the exercise needs to be fun and keep me interested. Dancing, Xbox Kinetics, long hikes, surfing...you get the idea - fun is the key for me.  We all need to keep moving and get outside.

The everyday must do essential is Yoga & Meditation (Y&M)  to get the mind and body alert and moving.  An hour of Y&M sets me up for the day and once a week I fit in a half day class of Y&M.

Keeping a journal may not be for everyone and I have no strict system here, my main purpose is to write the thoughts I have for leading my life, the private ramblings are about the why for my goals and my observations on my life's gratitude and appreciation.

For me, journalling is the secret pages on past, present and future.  You just can't keep it all bottled up, swirling around endlessly, get it down on paper, or on audio..any tool to help self expression.  Your words are a powerful tool to direct your thoughts.   The audio tool on smartphone is great to use and the bonus is you can talk on the morning walk.

This leads me to the writers, the bloggers, the book authors, the philosophers, the coaches and mentors who are a source of inspiration, information and knowledge to me. I seek out people who stimulate my mind with concepts that challenge and help me to grow.  The web is everyone's resource and it is also my resource playground and the connections multiply, leading me from one concept to the next as part of my research. I keep a timer, just in case I spend too much time looking at the screen...need those mini breaks.

You just can't get too much of the skills, tools and resources for feeding a positive belief.
Your mindset is your strongest foundation for success & the best way to use any tool or a resource is to learn and "pass it on".  Don't keep it to yourself, when you are encouraged, who can you encourage?  When you receive kindness, pass on the kindness. You get stuck if you just keep learning and gathering and holding on.  The best way to use a resource is make it practical, what does it mean for you....put it into action and pass it on.

The critical friends...everybody needs them. The friends you have to bounce off ideas, learn from each other...no matter how outrageous, your friends will listen to understand and give you the space and honest feedback you need. I depend on hearing a friends's point of view and a perspective from their experiences.

Now to the technical...the process, the systems, the strategy, the plans that bring alive all the basics and inside work.  Putting the plans into action means your resourcefulness now has an opportunity to show off.

Here are 10 tools/resources I use:

1. Set monthly challenges.  I use this to break into some new habits, especially those that are part of my goals. Integrating habits into goals helps the goals to stick.

2. When I want to be really clear on what I want to go for, the easiest thing to do is use a piece of paper with a line in the middle...one side I will list what I don't want and on the other side what do I want instead. the list give you a lot more clarity.

3. I need a whiteboard and sticky notes. This helps me get strategic in my planning, the big picture mind map & the sticky notes I use for keywords that keep me focussed on my purpose.

4. Smartphone reminders. I can use my time in the best way and get the right things done when I set reminders on my phone.

5. 1 x 5 x 5 priorities.  Take 1 goal, then 5 actions for the goal, then 5 steps for each action.  It is the small steps that will make the big difference.

6. I read a book a week. I write a summary so it is then an easy reference.

7. I use pin interest, evernote, bookmarks and reading list for clipping resources and references to reinforce my goals. Don't just be a collector, factor in a 15 minute weekly review of these clippings. Keep what you will use and delete the rest.

8. Subscribe to bloggers and other writers that will benefit your learning.

9. Listen to music that feeds your soul and brings you joy.

10. Practise the art of visualisation for your goals, morning is best for me.

Just a few Blogs and Authors

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/thedesiremap/

http://www.drwaynedyer.com

https://www.goalmappingonline.com

http://www.learnmindpower.com

Many, many more bloggers who offer their creative and intuitive talents through social media.

Authors: William Glasser, Daniel Goleman, Dr Bruce Lipton,  Dr John Kehoe, Simon Sinek, Viktor Frankl, Napoleon Hill, Carl Jung......and so many more. We are very rich to have many wonderful insightful researched writers who help us to design our best life.

Unlock your best future

My words are centred in the desire and intention to help people bring about their best and connect to their best future.
http://isucceed.info

Having trouble with goals? The key is in your habits.

There is one only, 
The most important, 

The most essential to do, when you want that goal,  

When you want to change up your life. 

Look at your habits. 

Create the habits in your life for goal results.

If I was a list person and wrote down every habit that I have, or that I know I have... (there could be every chance there are some hidden ones there, that get past me unnoticed)....so, if I made a list, then what are they telling me about the wonderful, exciting goals I plan for my life?

For all I know, I could be working against myself!




Your life is really about the sum of your habits, the daily routine that is in place.
Your level of fitness is a result of your habits.
How you care for yourself and others is a result of your habits.
When there is trouble sticking to the goal and seeing it through, it is due to your habits.
Habits have the impact to make or break that big audacious goal.
Your goals have a better chance of happening when you integrate them with habits.


You hear the good news stories of wonderful transformations, and miraculous weight loss. The people who against all the odds become marathon winners, or the "overnight" success in business.  The background, the tenacity behind these transformations seems to be the overlooked part in the result.   The every day, get up, take the steps, dismantle and create the habits that you know will take you to your good news story.  The value add is that the habits that have helped you achieve the goal will consistently raise your standard in other areas of your life.

Want habits that stick?

• Start small and  when the action becomes natural to you, tweak it up to the next level.

Example: I pick the new habit of eating healthy. That is a big change and I most probably would do it for a few days and go back to the way it was.  When I start with the small action of a healthy breakfast, then this I know I can do.   It is important to me to be kind to my body. When I have the habit of a healthy breakfast, I can take it to the next level with more healthy food in the pantry. I will want to build on that small habit and look for healthy choices when eating out.  Small steps, small changes to my behaviour help to make the new habit stick. 

• Attach the new habit to something you already do or to a time in the day.

Example: When you factor in a reminder into your routine, the habit has a higher success rate of sticking. Mealtimes are a good place to start, so the healthy breakfast is tagged for me to do everyday.
Use what is already in your life...want a strong core, but you sit a lot?  Tag some sit ups or leg lifts to TV commercials, or when you go to the bathroom. Make it so easy for you to do. Make it fun. Make it so you can't resist doing it.

• Acknowledge and celebrate

Example: The habit sticks better when you focus on the positive of what you are gaining, rather than the negative focus on what you quit, what you lost, what you gave up.   You want to feel good and you want to do things that make you feel good. I value that I have the habit of having a healthy breakfast. Tell yourself how wonderful you are and how pleased you are at having this habit.

• Evidence is in the Certainty 

Example:  Your new habit is now an inside compulsion, your body is wired to the action. For me, I am the type of person who will always have the healthy food option. I started with the small step of a healthy breakfast, it made me feel good.  I focused on the small wins, scheduled them into my life and now I wouldn't do anything else but make healthy food choices.

When you have goals you want to make happen, factor in the habits that will lead you to the results you want....you will love the journey.

Unlock your best future

My words are centred in the desire and intention to help people bring about their best and connect to their best future.
http://isucceed.info