Category: Work Life

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

When you consider new ideas or change, do you feel an immediate response of resistance or fear?
Do you have the negative habit of looking at all the reasons why something might be too difficult or impossible to achieve so you can say no?

When we look at life through the narrow viewpoint of fear, we can miss seeing possibilities when we are focused on problems and obstacles.

Instead become a possibility thinker.

Consider something in your life that you want that seems out of reach or impossible. Notice all the reasons and excuses for why you believe something can’t happen. Have you collected evidence to back up that conclusion? In other words, are you looking at the past with the expectation that past experiences ALWAYS repeat? So, why bother dreaming, right?

What if what you desire as impossible were really possible? Perhaps some part of what you desire is currently out of reach and there are some things within your grasp that you might be dismissing because you are negating the whole picture. Ask yourself, “What about this is possible?”

Create a list of all the things that might make having what you want…. possible. Add everything and anything you can think of even if it seems far out. Here’s your opportunity to dream and open your mind to imagine the best possible options and solutions coming to you. In that way, you shift from constricted and limited thinking into a more expansive viewpoint where there is more room thing to flow into your life.

Tune into your inner wisdom, intuition, and instincts to follow those inner nudges that you become aware of that might be showing you the way to bring solutions and opportunities to have more of what you want and less of what you don’t want.

I have found that taking the first step opens the door to the next. Continuing forward one step at a time will move you closer to your dreams and desires. Remember to invite the Universe to work out the “how” and continue to show up by taking action.

If you’re facing (or anticipating) one change of several changes, these tips will help you navigate through transition and help you land on your feet:

1. Acknowledge what’s happening. Get real about your situation and eliminate denial. Identify what you can control and/or influence to gain perspective in devising a strategy for action.

2. Invite collaboration. Brainstorming is an excellent resource for pooling knowledge by gathering other points of view for creative problem solving.

3. Ramp up self-care. Taking good care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is a critical factor in staying strong and focused. Establishing some daily routines/habits provides consistency and a sense of control.

4. Need to vent and/or have someone just listen? Build a support team of family, friends, colleagues and or professionals who will hear you with objectivity and encouragement. Surround yourself people who will help you regain your emotional and mental perspective to stand strong in clarity, confidence, faith and trust.

5. Interrupt and replace negative self-talk. Fear tends to view situations through a narrow lens with an emphasis on problematic thinking and worse case scenarios. Take charge of your attitude. YOU are the source of your thinking and behavior. The way you view a situation determines your experience. Instead of focusing on the worst, expect the best. For 3 tips on managing negative self-talk, click here

6. Be engaged in pleasurable or stimulating activities. Lighten up and take time to relax with friends and family. Building in opportunities to have fun will help take the edge off emotional stress and tension.

7. Recall a past experience you successfully transitioned. How did you do it? What can you take from your past success to use in future experiences? Drawing from personal history builds confidence and stirs the creative juices.

8. Invite curiosity. Ask yourself, “How does this situation compel me to grow? What can I learn about myself, my life from this change? What opportunities does this change offer me? What can I take from this experience to improve myself/my life?” Use what you discover to move you forward.

9. Practice being present. Focus on where you are today to guide your decisions and actions. Most fear and emotional distress are generated by keeping focus and attention on the future. Worrying about what ifs, worse case scenarios and problems keep anxiety and stress high. Bringing yourself back to the present moment will help you disengage from the dramas and stories you are creating in your mind (that will most likely never occur).

10. See yourself in the future, at the other side of the transition. Create a vivid picture in your mind of how you see your life at a future point. Be sure to add as much emotion to the image you create to help you hold this intention in your mind and heart. Make this picture positive and compelling. Incorporate this image as part of your daily routine (see #3) and use this picture to pull you forward through your transition.

11. Make a plan of action that includes daily and week goals with the vision you created in #10. Completing big and small goals support a feeling of control and sense of accomplishment. When developing your action plan, be sure to tune into your intuition and inner guidance for direction and clarity.

12. Incorporate spiritual practices every day. What connects you to your faith and trust to help you regain your spiritual center?Adding spiritual practices will help you experience greater peace and calm. Responding from a centered space invites inspired and deliberate action.

No matter what is happening in your life, the one power you always retain is how you choose to view yourself and your situation. Realize that every experience offers a learning opportunity. Rather than seeing what’s next as something to fear and avoid, you can choose to run towards the next phase of your life with excitement and enthusiasm as you open to new possibilities.

Are you one of those people who have difficulty with uncertainty? Perhaps you have a fear of the unknown or become influenced by all the fear-based messages that seem to bombard us at every turn.

Imagining worse case scenarios only heighten anxiety and stress when we lack information. Worrying doesn’t bring answers to allay concerns. We only make ourselves more miserable. Putting too much attention on expecting the worst only amplifies the potential to attract more of what you don’t want into your life.

The best response to worry and fear is having trust and faith that you are where you are supposed to regardless of the situation you face. No matter what is happening in your life, the one power you always retain is your attitude.

Fears, worry, negative thinking, beliefs about lack….create constriction rather than expansion. We begin thinking,“Ok, what do I need to do to create more…money, clients, time….?” If we feel a sense of urgency, we can literally feel the stress and tension building up in our bodies and begin problem-solving to manage the situation. Making important decisions from fear rather than calm clarity rarely goes well.

Yes, I know that all sounds great and we are human after all. Slapping a big grin on your face and always being upbeat and happy 24/7 is unrealistic. To me being fully alive is feeling the full scope of emotions.

One of the best ways to navigate through uncertainty and remain in the flow is to focus your attention on the abundance in your life rather than the potential loss of things. Fear and negative thinking creates more constriction and struggle. It’s a decision to remain in faith, trust, and gratitude or tumble into the darkness of fear down to despair. Are you up to standing strong in your faith?

During troubling times we find out the stuff we are made of – courage, resilience, creativities, tenacity…. I remember a period in the early 1980’s when my life seemed to fall apart and I plunged into a depression. I was always the go-to person who held it all together and I was falling apart. While this was one of the most painful times in my life, it represented a life-defining moment. It was the first time in my life I ever really prayed and it was the beginning of a deeper conscious awakening to find out who I really am.

Stop listening to all the doom and gloom messages that suck the hope out of life. Choose to see each experience as a learning and healing opportunity, one that can lead to possibilities beyond your wildest imagination. Things are not always what they appear……Our faith and trust in ourselves, others, and the Universe is POWER.

Focus on all that is rich in your life – friends, colleagues, loved ones, pets, accomplishments, things you have created, nature……. Invite all that is truly meaningful and joyful to take center stage in your heart and mind. Life is full of unpredictability and you can flow with each experience, succumb to the negativity, or fight against it which can create more resistance.

A few reasons why people come to me is because they feel stuck or because they know what they should be doing and they just don’t do it.

They feel frustrated, stressed out, and often angry at themselves which only makes them feel worse.

They think that procrastination is a bad habit so they judge themselves harshly.

Not all procrastination is problematic. In fact, there are reasons why people hesitate to take action that are valid.

A good reason to take it slow is when you need more information or clarity in order to make an informed decision. While it might appear as if you’re dragging your feet, rushing forward impulsively or without the information you really need to say YES can cost you time, money, and energy. And if you’re the type of person who tends to make emotional decisions you often regret, having some boundaries such as waiting 24 hours before saying YES can be empowering.

So what about those times when you’re just not sure why you feel stuck?

Asking three important questions can clarify why you might not be moving forward.

1. Is this the right and best time for that goal, intention or desire to happen? You might have a dream of exponentially growing your business to open your flow of abundance. Timing can be an important element in reaching a desirable result. Market trends, cash flow, adding new target markets, reorganization, the economy….all affect timing. What are the factors you need to consider when implementing action?

Stay alert to fear-based excuses and reasons you might be using to say, “It’s not the right time” when it really is!” One other thing to consider is the Universal Law of Divine Timing. I encourage folks to tune into their spirit and intuition when making choices. When we partner with the Universe, things flow much better than when we don’t!

2. Is this the right goal? Is it something you really want? Or is it something you think you should want or what others want for you? This is a revealing question. So often I see people saying they want something and when they dig deeper, they realize it’s more of a should rather than a passion or deep desire. Anthony Robbins says, “People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals— that is, goals that do not inspire them.” When we are fully on board with a decision to have something we truly desire, we can become unstoppable.

3. Do you have room in your life for … more clients, a relationship, greater business success….? Do you have the time for it? Do you have the systems and structures to handle the extra business? You might want to have a relationship and you have so many demands in your life that you don’t really have the time and energy for someone new. A colleague told me about a woman who desired a new romantic relationship. She redid her bedroom and made room in her home in preparation of meeting someone special (which she did!). Consider what might need to shift to open space for what you say you want and take action!

Marcia Niles is a Christian writer and founder of Entrepreneurial Women’s Digest.

Life can be a wonderful adventure if we learn to truly appreciate what has been entrusted to us for the greater good. Whether it is the business at hand or the families and friends we have been blessed with, this journey called life can be a fulfilling one.
Our attitudes towards the events and circumstances that will inevitably confront us, both good and bad, will determine to a large extent the state of our mindset and disposition on life. If we believe that there is nothing worth aspiring to, we fold our arms and let the years go by, never finding the time to begin, never contributing to or making a difference. We end the chapter of our lives in gloom and despair, and a pile of regrets. On the other hand, if we recognize that there is something in all of us that can be used to benefit and inspire others around us, then we can move forward with joy and enthusiasm. Any obstacle or setback should not be regarded with any permanence, but rather an occasion to assess, revise, and continue the journey, believing that with faith and perseverance we will accomplish our goals.
Our daily lives encompass a myriad of activities, many worthwhile, and others we could forfeit. Leading well-balanced lives is still elusive for many busy entrepreneurs and people in general. Life offers the beautiful gift of time to be used wisely and productively, with moments of serenity to be enjoyed. Yet too often, most of our time is spent over-indulging on tasks, with little time for anything else.
So how does one find the balance? It all begins with self-examination, prioritizing, and appreciation. What are our dreams and goals? How will achieving them help others and ourselves? Having it all at the expense of our health and relationships is not success at all, for the things acquired are no substitute for love and harmony in our existence. Above all, be thankful for life’s lessons, and life itself.
Make the time to celebrate the gift of time. Know when to halt and put things in their right perspective. Let go of those things that are a burden. Exercise prudence and discretion and give yourself space to breathe. Life is a journey, and can be enjoyed, once we learn to embrace and cherish the gift of time.
Marcia Niles is a Christian writer and founder of Entrepreneurial Women’s Digest.