Archive for Perspectives
Forget Perfect; Be Excellent Instead!
Posted by: | CommentsThere’s a swirling undercurrent in the river of life that’s attempting to drown life from your heart. It’s subtle and it’s stealth-like, as this thing called “perfectionism” comes in through the back door to thwart you.
Over the past week, a repetitive theme of perfectionism has emerged in the coaching of my clients. When this happens, I assert that there are more of you out there experiencing the same frustration and defeat that comes as a result of this striving for perfection.
Before I make this assumption, let me ask you a few questions.
- Are you exhausted because you can never reach the high bar that’s been set, because it’s continually being raised higher and higher?
- Do you find yourself running ragged trying to manage your household, your business, your relationships and everything on your To-Do List, to the point you feel chaos swirling within and around you?
- Is your life running you?
If you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these questions, I give you full permission to “Forget Perfect”! It doesn’t exist and the more you chase after it, the more elusive it becomes leading you to a life of inner chaos, overwhelm, and defeat.
Michael J. Fox said it so profoundly when he said, “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”
Let that soak in for a minute. Breathe in the truth of that statement as you give yourself permission to reconnect with your humanness!
It’s time to make the bold commitment to “forget perfect”, since after all that’s really God’s business. Let’s all choose a perspective of “excellence” instead!
Here are three tips to assist you in the reach for excellence:
- Define Excellence. If this were a new value that you used as a filter for your life and work, what does it mean to you? Since values have an internal sense of rightness, make the definition personal and use this as an internal barometer for all that you do.
- Be your Best Self. Who are you at your best? What qualities and characteristics show up? Being excellent means bringing forth these attributes consistently and intentionally into your life and work.
- Extend Compassion. Remember you are human; you have strengths and weaknesses. The more you embrace the whole of who you are, the easier it will be for you to stay on the path of excellence. Let your life experiences be your learning tool that keep molding and shaping you into a more “excellent” you.
So what do you think? Let me know by posting your comments below.
Be Present & Enjoy
Posted by: | CommentsAs summer winds down, are you feeling overwhelmed or fragmented because of too many things on your plate?
The next two weeks are often the most difficult for Mompreneurs. Through the transition, there is an overlap of activities for the end of summer and the beginning of fall, all happening at the same time! You’re probably finishing vacations, wrapping up those summer barbeques and trying to shop for supplies as you get your kids back on track for the school year. With this extra flurry of activity, you feel the intensity of juggling added responsibilities it’s hard to be present and enjoy your life.
Instead of being frustrated, exhausted and perhaps “done” with summer, I want you to to experience the priceless opportunity of connection, fun and lasting memories.
So how do you navigate this transition time? What will bring ease and grace so you aren’t robbed of the joy that’s available?
Today Hannah Hollett, my guest author and client has provided some powerful tips on being present so you can fully enjoy.
Reconnect with your body and listen to what it is saying! Learn what it feels like (physically) when you are honoring your values and being present. Do you feel light, flowing and full? Notice what happens when you are not being present. Do you feel tightness in your chest, shallow breathing, and tension when you are ignoring what is important to you? Listen to your body as it will never lie to you. Use your body as a guidance system and make the choices and changes needed to “be present”.
Carry a small object that you can literally wrap your fingers around as a reminder to be in this moment. As an example, keep a smooth stone in your pocket to act as an anchor reminding you to be present!
Trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now. Even when things are challenging there is always a gift to experience. Being present will keep you conscious and aware allowing everything to be your teacher.
What will you do right now to “be present” and “enjoy?” Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Finding Fun: A 3-step Approach
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Are you having fun?
If you’re like most womenpreneurs, you are probably in a struggle when it comes to finding fun. As a business owner and probably a wife and mom, your life is filled with many demands and responsibilities from running a business to managing a household. You’re probably wondering, when exactly am I supposed to schedule my “fun”?
Let me share the definition of “fun” from Webster’s. Fun is playfulness, enjoyment or pleasure. While it can be an activity such as a sport or recreation, fun is actually a state of being and that’s the perspective shift I invite you to make today!
Here’s a three step approach to finding F-U-N in your life:
- “F” stands for “Fully engage”. Look for and commit to finding fun throughout your day. What’s in the mundane that brings enjoyment? Laugh. Smile. Find a song on You Tube and dance like no one is watching.
- “U” stands for “Understand what fun means to you.” There’s a quote that says, “Life won’t bring you what you’re not clear about.” Have an idea of what makes you feel playful, brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure to your life.
- “N” stands for “No more waiting”. Stop getting ready to get ready! If you keep waiting until you have a day off in your calendar to have some fun it might never happen. Say “no” and start today by changing your perspective and enjoying some FUN with a Capital “F”! You deserve it.
So I ask the question again…“Are you having fun?” 
Post your comments below and let us know!
Simplify your Choices
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve noticed a thread of themes emerging in the weekly calls for The Destiny Project Journey for Women. During the check-in of our second call, one of the participants shared how overwhelmed she is by all of the activities going on in her life at the moment.
I’m sure on some level we can all relate; there’s so much to do and so little time. Or at least this is what it often feels like.
We all get caught up in the hamster wheel of life. Before we know it we find ourselves running from one thing to the next not really being conscious to the choices we are making. Yes, even when you feel like your life is running you, you are exercising your power to choose.
I often remind clients that at every given moment they are at choice. Everyday, you make hundreds of conscious and unconscious choices that either move you toward your dreams or away from them.
Bringing this down to the “real world”, you actually have two simple choices at every moment…You either choose something that energizes you as you head toward what you really want, or you choose what drains you and you move further from what you really desire.
Think about a decision that you made today or a thought that passed through your mind. Did it move you in the direction of what you really wanted and did it energize you? Or did you find yourself drained feeling as if the life you really desire is further away?
Imagine that simplifying your choices is like tossing a coin. Heads represents being “closer” and tails means you are “farther”. When you stop to tune in to your thoughts and decisions, you can simplify your choices using these two simple concepts. Remember there are two sides to the coin of choice–what you want and what you don’t.
What do you do if you’re further away from what you want and you find yourself drained or overwhelmed like the client I mentioned above? Turn the coin over and explore a new perspective, come up with a different way of doing the activity, identify a different thought that energizes you, or decide what you need to let go of.
I’d love to hear your thoughts…how will you simplify your choices?
Welcome to My Blogging Adventure
Posted by: | CommentsWhat a wild ride it is to be an Entrepreneur!
Let me just say welcome to the adventure as you join me into this whole new world of blogging. Here I go again stretching and growing. It seems to be the path for all of us on some level because our country and world are going through a powerful shift. And for those of you who are Entrepreneurs you know that ongoing learning is essential if you’re going to create a thriving life and profitable business. Ironically, change is the one thing you can actually count on!
Back in October, I sat in a workshop about blogging and technology and was overwhelmed. I felt like the “deer in headlights” and decided to bury my head in the sand. Eight months later, you might be wondering why I decided to step out of my comfort zone to embark on this path.
As I’ve watched the evolution of technology and the emphasis on social media, I knew I needed to do something different. I didn’t want to “miss the boat” and find myself on the path to insanity which is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.
So I opened my heart and started exploring from a place of curiosity. I did what every wise entrepreneur does and I partnered with others for support because I knew I couldn’t do it alone. And here I am, a month or so shy of giving birth to this next “baby” that I will nurture and support along the way.
One thing about me is that I consider myself a “Mompreneur” because being a Mom is my first priority, second to my passion of transforming the lives of women through the power of coaching. When I first had my daughter back in 2000, she was finally diagnosed with a acid reflux after several months of knowing something was wrong with her. I remember her pediatrician at the time telling me “it takes a tribe to raise these children”.
Little did I know that it would take a tribe to lead this entrepreneurial vision! I am so grateful that you are joining me here and that you will be a part of the tribe that will nurture this “baby” blog as we all grow and stretch while becoming all of who we are to be in this world. There’s so much in store for you here as we build this community and create lives of passion, purpose and prosperity.
So stay tuned and keep checking back because there’s more to come! If you want to know more about me and my work, you can also visit http://www.yourgreaterpurpose.com because that baby is now three years old. When you sign up for our newsletter there you will be assured of receiving the blog birth announcement!
All my best to you,
Shannon
