Where are your thoughts focused? Are you noticing what’s not working? Do you pay attention to what still needs to be done or what you still don’t have?

These are good places to look because it helps you choose your activities, supporting changes that intentionally move you in the direction of what you want. This is what will make your dreams become real.

The problem is that it’s a one-dimensional approach toward life. You are not just a “human doing” you are a “human being”. When you keep your internal focus zoned in only on the changes needed, you lose sight of what’s present here right now.

Ask yourself these questions to bring fullness to your life today:

• What’s good?
• What’s working”
• What can you celebrate?
• What strengths can you embrace?

As you consider this insight, remember that your life is like a coin. One side is about being in action while the other side is about slowing down to connect to your internal core. Both sides of the coin are essential to allow all of who you are to thrive and flourish at home, work and more.

So, it doesn’t really matter whether you have been on the doing side of the coin or you’ve been resting in the being side. Play with the coin, flip it and decide to embrace what’s here today as you let this present moment inform you of what’s next.

Your thoughts? Post your comments at the blog and share the wisdom.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present.” Joan Rivers

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © angelo.gi

Christmas is over yet there is still one present remaining if you are willing to open it. It’s the gift of reflection time spent during this last week of the year.

There is a slight “catch” with this gift. Someone isn’t going to come to you and hand you extra hours in your day for this reflection. This is one of those presents that you must decide you will get for yourself. Even once you choose this gift, you must be intentional and disciplined to make use of it.

You might be wondering why it’s so import to experience this gift. For me, this time has become non-negotiable and I guard it with intention because:

1. Reflecting back on your year helps you identify your successes and wins achieved during the year. You can celebrate your accomplishments and own the many ways you’ve grown and become more of your true and authentic self.
2. You clear out unnecessary thoughts, paperwork and possessions you no longer need for the coming year. This frees you up to move into the new year without hindrance.
3. You identify what you want for your life and work in the coming year and can make intentional plans with action steps to get you there. This helps you begin your new year in action, being proactive toward what you want to create for 2011. This results in a thriving and fulfilling life rather than reacting to life and just surviving.

I imagine that many of you reading this blog probably still have kids at home who are on break. You’ve probably checked out from reading this post because you see this reflection time as a luxury rather than a necessity. I challenge you to take on a different perspective consider these questions:

• What if you deciding to make this time for yourself is the way you model healthy self-care to your kids?
  
• How might the future of your children be different if you choose to celebrate your year and plan intentionally for the one ahead?

As you choose to open the gift of reflection this week, use this celebration tool to guide you through the process. This is my free gift to you and for those of you that need a little extra encouragement, I’m going to sweeten the deal.  The first 4 of you who send me an e-mail with your answers to the questions will receive a FREE 15-minute laser coaching session from me. To be considered you need to e-mail me by Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 and it’s first come, first served.

As we wind down the year, I want to celebrate each of you by thanking you for being a part of my blog community. It’s been a privilege and joy to support you with wisdom, resources and encouragement this past year and I look forward to partnering with you in 2011.

Here’s to celebrating 2010 for the sake of an extraordinary and abundant new year!

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
Hal Borland

I am currently in a pretty awesome (and scary!) transition place in my life and work. I’ve been here before so I’m keenly aware of a “pattern” that surfaces when I’m called forth to a new level. I notice that I become very “controlling” toward my outer world in an attempt to bring peace to the chaos I feel inside. Can you relate?

I’ve also recognized that the one person in my life who takes the brunt of my “controlling” nature is my daughter as you’ll see by my post below. When I realized this (again), I decided to share the article I wrote 3 years ago on the topic to let you know that “moving forward” toward your inspired life also results in some “moving back” in order to overcome the obstacles that are in your way. It may seem like you’re “stopped” but as the spiral staircase shows, this is actually a coming back around the loop at a slightly higher place all for the purpose of moving upward to your authentic success.

I also want to make the point that when you are going through this “letting go of the old” to “make room for the new” you must practice extreme self-care. For me in this moment, it means sharing something I’ve already written so I don’t have to muster the attention and strength to be creative with a new blog post this week. (by the way, I’m redirecting you to the original article to keep this post length manageable).

As you read the article below, I invite you to ponder the following questions:

1. In what area are you being called forth to a new way of life that is more genuine and authentic?
2. What support do you need to overcome the patterns, beliefs and behaviors that are holding you back in your life and your business?
3. What’s your next step?

I welcome your comments and insight. Feel free to share by posting them at the blog at www.shannonbruce.com. If you like the article and want to receive more tips, wisdom and insight from our team, we invite you to join our community and sign-up for the Inner Wisdom Unleashed Monthly Newsletter.

The Heart of a Mother – The Power of “Yes”

Have you ever noticed that one of the first words out of a toddler’s mouth is “no”?

Hmmm. I wonder why that is?

I have been reflecting on my role as a mother and I realize that I frequently use the word “no” with my nearly 7-year old daughter, Taylor. With our recent struggles, I am aware that my overuse of this word has been a hindrance in our ability to reconnect. It’s draining me and separating us further. This is not who I want to be as her mother, nor is it the relationship I want to have with her.

I recently decided to try a different approach. I started to say “yes” more often.

I am in awe of what I have noticed…Read on here.

Photo from Photoxpress © Lars Christensen

Last night as I was writing in the gratitude journal shared with my daughter, I asked a “coach-like” question about her 3rd grade year. With today being the last official day of school, I thought it would be fun to hear her answer. As I let the question out, I held my breath hoping she would be willing to answer on a deeper level, rather than the usual one word responses I typically receive.

To my surprise, she was eager, willing and ready to fully engage with me. It brought joy to my Mom’s heart and stirred the coach in me to get ready to be curious! So here’s how our conversation went.

I asked, “If you could use one word to describe your 3rd grade year, what would it be?”

She thought for a few seconds and then wondered, “Can it be two words?”

Excited to hear her answer, I said, “Absolutely.”

She shared, “New experiences.”

Wow, I thought! That’s deep and meaningful from a not-quite ten-year old. I wanted to know more so I put on my coach hat and said, “What are some of the new experiences that you’ve had this year?”

Her answers made me smile and become teary-eyed. I asked her permission to share these with you and here’s what she said:

• New friends.
• New math concepts; multiplication and division.
• Language arts; reading and writing.
• Math enrichment.
• Student council.
• P.E. was super duper fun this year; I liked doing all of the new sports, but football, not so much.

By reading this list, I’m sure you can glean a little bit about who my daughter is. She loves to read and write, is a bright girl, is an emerging leader, and loves to be physical and engage in sports. She’s a fan of math and plans to use her intelligence to become a veterinarian some day.

What is more profound than her answers is the fact that she has overcome many hurdles in her short life. In her earlier years, we spent many hours working with specialists to help her with endocrinology issues, sensory integration challenges, gastroenterology problems and some other delays. So who she is today is even more significant with these additional facts.

This conversation with her is very meaningful for me on many levels. The mother in me is proud of her for persevering and I am humbled that I have the privilege of nurturing this young girl’s spirit. The coach in me is inspired by the dreams that are developing within her and passionate about holding her bigger vision as I shepherd her heart and dreams in the coming years.

It’s ironic how all of this points to the integration in my personal and professional life. Not only is today a celebration for my family because of the end of 3rd grade, but it’s also the 4-year birthday of Inner Wisdom Coaching Services and the 1-year birthday of this blog. So, I am also celebrating professionally with this month’s team newsletter with the theme of Dreams & Visions Made Real. If you aren’t already subscribed to this newsletter, be sure to check it out because we are offering a huge discount on our “Making Dreams Real” coaching packages for you and your friends, family and colleagues.

So now I’m curious about you. What are the new experiences you are grateful for? And what are the bigger dreams that are evolving from these new experiences?

I invite you to take time to ponder these questions as you join me in the celebrations of the season. I’d love to read your comments so be sure to share at the blog at www.shannonbruce.com.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

Photo compliments of Photo Express © Nat Ulrich

With Mother’s Day approaching this Sunday, I’ve been contemplating what it means to be a mom and how this is so deeply connected to my role as a Mompreneur. In fact, I encouraged our newsletter community to make a list of all of the “mother” role models that have favorably influenced their lives which had me reflecting on my own personal list of “mom’s”.

Years ago when my daughter was diagnosed with a difficult case of acid reflux, I remember her pediatrician telling me “it takes a tribe to raise these kids.” The statement was so true! Even though she’s beyond reflux, I assert that it really takes a “tribe” to raise a woman, myself included! The truth is we are created to be “interdependent” upon one another, so the idea of growing up and doing it alone is really contrary to the way we as women are designed. (By the way, it’s also boring!)

It’s this reason that I have surrounded myself personally and professionally with what I like to call my “circle of wise women”. These are the women, who have invested in me by giving their time and sharing their heart. Each has used their respective gifts in so many authentic ways including prayer, friendship, professional coaching, collaboration, training, and more depending on who they are and how our paths connect.

They know the role they have played in my life because I regularly let them know how much I appreciate them. So today, I want to acknowledge them publicly as a way of saying thank you for being a “mom” to me and I love you for who you are and who you have called me forth to be:

The BFF’s: Heather, Jennifer A., Barb, Candee, Amy
The WayPoint Community: Kristina, Wendy, Jennifer P., Lisa
Circle of Wise Women: Dawnita, Rhonda, Pam, Michelle T., Marlee, Doris F., Cheryl
Dear Friends, Masterful Coaches and Brilliant Mentors: Teresia, Cynthia
My newlife.kitsap Sisters: Beth, Darlene, Denise, Erina, Kathy, Crystal

I also want to thank my own Mom who has been a steady and constant source of love, guidance, peace and support. This woman is the epitome of what it means to be a sacrificial Mom giving her all to nurturing a solid foundation of authenticity and truth for our family. Mom, I love you and thank you.

My daughter Taylor wonders why “Mom’s” have a special day and kids don’t. I laugh with her by telling her that Mom’s get “one” day when every day is kids day.   Even though I tell her that Mother’s Day is my special day, it really is about her because I am eternally grateful for the gift of this precious child in my life.

As I’ve shared on my website, she is my “awakening” that has called me forth to my extraordinary life, and it’s because of her role in my life that I have found my true self. She has been a catalyst inspiring me to become a coach and now, I have the honor of living my passion and purpose as I call women forth to their inspired lives. I am honored and humbled to be her Mom and cherish the joy of our ever-growing relationship. So Taylor, I love you and thank you for the gift of living authentically.

So what about you? Who are the motherly role models in your life? What impact have they had on you? Share your comments and let’s spread the joy of motherly influence!

By the way, if you’d like to sign up for our monthly newsletter to learn more about how to communicate more effectively in your many roles you play, especially the one as a Mompreneur, please visit www.yourgreaterpurpose.com.

Photo at top:  © Tolchik, www.photoexpress.com

Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise. It wasn’t a question of “if” you would receive anything; instead the question you pondered was actually “what?”

Imagine that you held this same perspective around the “unknown”? What if you took that step out of your comfort zone and instead of fearing the unknown outcome, you had faith that there was a gift awaiting you on the other side. Just as birthdays combine assurance and anticipation so does faith!

In my early morning Facebook posting yesterday, a dialogue on the topic of faith began. Here’s how it went:

Shannon – “Faith is learning to be OK with the unknown. It’s learning to embrace the “I don’t know” and seeing this as the open door to the many possibilities that are beyond what you could ever hope for or imagine.”

Friend #1 – “Living in the unknown also increases your faith…it’s all divine. ”

Friend #2 – “I’m intrigued and interested in learning how to be more faithful in this regard… The “unknown” frightens me and freezes my ability to act freely.”

Can you relate to Friend #2? I know I can, along with every one of my past, present and future clients!

We all have fears and the truth is these never go away completely. On the other hand, you can turn your fears into excitement when you choose to be courageous and act in spite of them. In doing so, your faith grows because you find the gifts that are available as you step into the unknown. This changes your fears to faith as you let your anticipation for these unknown surprises give you courage along the way.

Here’s what Robert G. Allen suggests around fears and faith as you step into the unknown:

Hold up your hand and assign one letter to each finger:

FEARS = Failure, Embarrassment, Abandonment, Rejection and Success.

How do you over come your fears?

With FAITH.

FAITH = Freedom, Abundance, Inspiration, Triumph, and Happiness.

As you read this post, what’s being stirred in you? What fear will you overcome and what’s the action step of faith that you’ll take today, either in your life or your business?

Living courageously is exhilarating and scary at the same time, and it’s not meant to be done alone! Find a mentor, hire a professional coach, or get an accountability partner.

As a first step, I’d like to challenge you to share your fears and your courageous moves of faith with this community of blog readers. Let’s use this blog as a form of accountability for that one step into the unknown where your surprise gift awaits.

So I’ll start….I’m on a mission to grow my community of newsletter and blog readers and yet I haven’t directly asked for your help. Today I’m moving beyond my fear of embarrassment and rejection and asking you to send this post to 5 of your friends as you invite them to sign up for our blog and newsletter.  Why you might ask? I’m looking for 500 new women and Mompreneurs to join our lists as we expand our network and impact with courageous women who are ready to overcome obstacles to discover who they are, as they boldly take action to live their inspired life vision.

Thank you for referring your friends, family and colleagues. Here’s to living courageously, overcoming fears and growing in faith!

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”—Eleanor Roosevelt

I recently had the chance to pause and celebrate my past year and was amazed at all that has happened in 2009. There have been huge milestones like the launch of the new website, blogging and the venture into social media. However, when I looked beyond the obvious I was pleasantly surprised that my year was sprinkled with several small and consistent wins that have made this year a huge success for me, based on what I define as being successful.

So here’s the bottom line. You must make time to celebrate and acknowledge your wins for 2009! Why? Without knowing where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished, both inside and out, who knows where you’ll end up  in 2010. Also, be sure to review your year based on your personal definition of success, not what someone else would consider it to be.

There is a passage from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll which cleverly illustrates why it’s important to know where you are headed in life, especially in this ever changing world we live:

“Cheshire Puss,” she began rather timidly, as she did not know at all whether it would like the name. However, it only grinned a little wider. “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.

“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.

“So long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the cat, “if you only walk long enough, because if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”

So in the coming days, block your time and take 60-minutes to Acknowledge 2009, using this tool as your guide.  Set your course onto the path that will lead you to what you want to create for 2010!  And, if you’re ready to overcome your limitations, discover who you are, and take action toward your inspired life vision, it’s time to schedule your 15-minute complimentary information call to see if partnering with one of our coaches is your next step in the new year!

As your new year blossoms, may the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities, your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be happy with love! Happy New Year!

Do you sense you’re on the verge of a breakthrough, as if something new is about to emerge? Are you overwhelmed by the internal chaos, unable to stay focused? Perhaps external factors, like the demands of your family, expectations of others and financial obstacles are clouding your vision, keeping you from finding your true path?

You might be shocked by what I’m about to say because it’s counter to what you are probably feeling inside and seeing around you. The truth is that the internal chaos and clouding of your vision are good signs that you are evolving to a new level, where more of your authentic life and bigger game live.

Can this be? Really? I know it’s hard to believe especially when you are far from the internal peace you long for and your current impact is less than what you imagined you’d offer to others.  To put this in perspective, think about the natural evolution of the caterpillar who goes through a painful struggle and fight to become the beautiful butterfly it’s meant to be.

This powerful reminder of nature’s breakthrough process is true for you as a human, as long as you make the decision to say “yes”. The only difference between you and the butterfly is the power to choose. The caterpillar automatically goes through the process without question, while you on the other hand have the right to decide.

This point of choice is a crossroads of sorts. You can choose to go back to the comfort zone where you know what to expect out of life even though it may not serve your bigger game, or you can say “yes” to the life you desire and are destined to live.

When you say “yes”, here are three tips that will help you jump into your bigger game:

• Be prepared for the discomfort. As you let go of the behaviors, activities and thoughts that keep you stuck, you will feel unsettled, and perhaps angry or disappointed. This is a normal part of the process of letting go so you can get beyond your comfort zone into what’s coming.  Fear is also a part of the experience so expect it. And to move through it, remind yourself that courage means “acting in spite of the fear.”

• Find a mentor. This is a wild adventure that you don’t want to go on alone. Find others who are committed to living authentically and get support from them. This is the time to find your inner circle and connect with them as they remind you of who you are and what’s possible as you stand firm on the path forward.

• Focus on the “what” rather than the “how”. Begin to dream about what you desire on the other side of the breakthrough. How will your life be different? What will you be experiencing internally? What is happening externally? Keep your thoughts here because as soon as you attempt to figure out “how” to make it happen it will shut down your ability to vision and dream. Connecting with your heart’s desires about what’s on the other side will give you the courage to stay the course and help you persevere.

This is not an easy process and it’s worth the investment. What awaits you on the other side is the freedom, joy and life that comes as you flit and float about as the beautiful butterfly you are meant to be.

Will you say “yes” to becoming a butterfly? Remember Helen Keller’s words, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

Feel free to share how you navigate life when you’re going through this transition phase. Share your comments below or at the blog.

Purpose, mission, destiny….these latest buzz words are used over and again by coaches, motivational speakers, authors, pastors and more. The question of  “What’s your destiny?” may be something you struggle with, just like many others who are seeking the answer to this big question. There’s often angst around the idea of destiny because it’s elusive and not something you can access quickly, or by just reading a book.

There’s a perspective that destiny is the “one thing” you’ll do in your life and once you find it you’re done looking. This is actually misleading and not completely accurate.

According to author Jill Austin, destiny is a progression of cycles and seasons. It happens over time, spanning the decades of your life. Destiny is like a giant tapestry–maybe twelve miles high, twelve miles wide and twelve miles deep. It is multileveled and even more, it is organic and ever changing.

So how do you access your destiny?

• Embrace destiny as the divine journey you are living right now. Shift your perspective from destiny being in the future and something you will do someday when you figure it out. Notice what’s already here and begin to dance in your destiny today.
• Explore your S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality & Experience) to gain insight into your personal destiny and the dreams God wants to fulfill in and through you. Where have you been? What’s the story of your life that is unfolding? Where is this leading you as you use your SHAPE to impact and serve others?
• Refocus your mind to see the bigger dreams that live within you. Don’t let your circumstances distract you, but rather, allow them to  guide you today in the present as it connects with the bigger dreams and desires you have within.

Exploring your destiny is an ongoing process of personal evolution that requires an intentional commitment. If you’re looking to discover your God-inspired destiny, our team invites you to join our team for our free informational calls to learn why understanding your destiny is so important. You will also learn more about our upcoming 8-week Christ-centered journey called The Destiny Project Transformational Journey for Women.

Put your destiny in motion today. Dream. Explore. Engage.

What’s being stirred within you? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below

Photo Credit: www.fotosearch.com

Yes! This blog website is officially being released into the world today. Please join me in celebrating the birth of another facet of the vision that’s within my heart. It’s been a long time coming and finally, the caterpillar has left the cocoon to become the beautiful butterfly ready to fly free. I’m so glad that you are joining me here today and that I have the honor and privilege of partnering with you through this blog to provide you with wisdom, inspiration and calling forth to all that’s possible for you.

It’s been quite an adventure! My plan was to have it launched by the first of June but obviously, just like the caterpillar becoming a butterfly, these things cannot be rushed. It’s been an emotional journey as I’ve been pushed and stretched beyond my comfort zone to grow beyond the borders of my safety net.

As you can tell, butterflies are a powerful symbol to me! They represent the transformational journey that is often painful, yet incredible as something beautiful, true and amazing is released on the other side of the struggle.

You’ll find images of butterflies throughout this blog; the picture above is actually the front of a card I received from my dear friend and colleague Paige Harris who blessed me with the reminder that on the other side of the comfort zone represents the life of freedom that I desire.

When you look at these butterflies today, remember there are many of these within you ready to break free of the cocoon to fly free.

I do hope you’ll sign up to receive this blog in your inbox. It’s my commitment to post at least three times per week and to provide insightful and practical information that will help Entreprenuers and Mompreneurs create thriving lives and profitable businesses. Even if you don’t own a business, you will find value here for your journey as a Woman!

As I close this first “official” post, I’d like to end by sharing the beautiful words that were written in the card Paige sent me. These thoughts speak to the journey of transformation as you boldly and courageously go after your authentic life’s vision.

Excerpt from “He Still Moves” by Max Lucado

“There is a rawness and wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.”

“Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in a hearth, stay inside, and stay warm, dry and safe…”

“Or you can hear the voice of adventure–God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?”

Welcome to the adventure!