As we begin a new month, here’s a moment of appreciation plus 4 questions you can use to move yourself forward powerfully in business and in life. Great for coaching or working with others, too. Enjoy!
Tag: appreciation
3 Quick Tips for Creating A Magnificent Year
Here are three quick tips for creating a magnificent year:
1. Pull forward the good from the past year
Whatever your disappointments may be from the year before – shake them off and pull forward what you’ve learned and what you appreciate –- highlights from your year.
Drawing a blank?
How about asking yourself, if you did know, what would they be?
In fact, take a moment and write 2 or 3 of the “learnings” or “highlights” down right now as they come to you.
Next…
2. Sow daily toward what you want.
Here’s a key question for you:
Are you sowing daily toward what’s important to you, even if it’s only a few minutes a day?
Maybe it’s spending more time with your husband or wife…or your kids…or learning something new.
Rather than getting stuck in “all-or-nothing” land, start asking yourself what steps you could take a few minutes a day to sow in this area that’s important to you.
For me and my family a few years back, I made a decision to start sowing a few minutes a day toward growing a network and a business that was totally new to me, and at a time when I had no “extra” time…so that I wouldn’t be in the same or worse situation (working more and more hours away from the family) a year later…5 years later…10 years later…and that decision, and consistent sowing over time, has totally transformed our lives and allowed me to be home with my family while growing an international business that’s now touching lives in multiple countries around the world.
How about for you?
What’s an area that you want to see changed in the months ahead?
What plan and daily steps can you put in place to start moving in that direction?
Remember, it’s the direction you’re heading that’s more important than where you are right now.
3. Live from possibility rather than from pressure.
As you look forward – rather than feeling pressure – whether it’s pressure because of your finances, your health, or some other area of your life – rather than focusing on what’s still “not there” or how far you have to go – start looking at what’s possible.
What’s possible today?
What’s the next step I could take (in this area) today?
Or as the team at Access Consciousness likes to ask, “What else is possible?”
Play in possibility.
It feels different, doesn’t it.
My wife has a wonderful phrase “we’ll be met”…referring to the mystery, wonder, and power of being met by something beyond what we can fully see and control ourselves.
As long as we take the steps we can take, and keep our heart open, it’s amazing what can come into our experience.
Be open to be amazed.
And keep taking the steps you can take right now toward what you want, trusting that “you’ll be met” and eventually enjoy the fruit – of something that grows beyond just what you can see from your vantage point right now.
Live…and sow…from possibility rather than pressure.
It’s both more enjoyable and more fun!
Here’s to a powerful and transformational year for us all!
Dr. Ben
P.S. To further assist you with step #1 and anchor a state of appreciation and gratitude as we enter a the rest of the year, here’s a wonderful video that was just shared with me by a friend. Enjoy!
Four steps to refocus, re-energize, & move forward now
In the midst of a busy week – ever had one of those? – I quickly jotted down four steps (as a reminder to myself and others) to refocus, re-energize, & move forward now, and here they are:
1) Step back for a moment from what you’re doing – stand up, take a few deep breaths, go for a walk – often simply interrupting your pattern, particularly with movement, can bring fresh energy and a renewed perspective and re-alignment of priorities
2) Focus on what you CAN do. Often we get so overwhelmed by what we’re not doing that a part of us just shuts down…whereas if we simply take the next step we CAN take – the process of simply moving forward feels good and “unlocks” the feeling of being stuck, thus turning into feel-good, forward-moving momentum.
3) Give thanks – find something to appreciate. You’ll immediately feel better and have fresh energy for re-engaging with life.
4) Re-focus with intentional questions – what do you really want? What are three things you can choose to put in place right now to move toward what you want? If you’re feeling badly about something that’s not getting done – or perhaps a relationship or area of your life or business that’s not getting attention right now – rather than continuing to feel badly, simply ask yourself, “is this important to me?” and if so, “what’s a step I can take to start sowing in this area this week?
(For more on this, see The Power of 10 Minutes a Day)
Now to really anchor and apply what you just read, how about choosing one of the four and practicing it for a moment right now?
Here’s to a prosperous and wonderful week!
Dr. Ben
A powerful (yet simple) way to shift your energy and results over the next 30 days
How’d you like to learn a simple process that takes about 5
min’s (or even less) but gives you 6-8 hours worth of results?
Imagine compounding that every day for the next 30 days…
Now this is so simple that you’ve probably heard it (or
something like it) before…but do you realize how powerful it
is…and are you deliberately practicing it on a daily basis?
Here it is:
Choose what you’re thinking about…and what thoughts, feelings,
and images are playing in your mind…just before you fall
asleep.
Many people are letting the news or something distressing
they’ve just watched be the last thing that’s playing in their
mind before going to bed.
Others end the day with frustration or fears and burdens that
are weighing them down.
These thoughts and feelings in a way are continuing to “marinate”
and draw more of that feeling and energy to you throughout the
night.
So instead, how about deliberately practicing thinking about
something that makes you feel good – something or someone you
appreciate…that you’re thankful for…that you love.
It could be a success or a smile or a hug from earlier that day
that’s now gotten pushed out of your mind by other “tasks” and
burdens that have come to you since…or it could be the things
you love – music, biking, a sunset, or something you’re looking
forward to.
Just taking a few moments to deliberately think about something
you love and appreciate – about things that make you feel good –
things you’re thankful for – can immediately shift how you feel.
And doing this right before you fall asleep sets the “path”, in
a way, for what your subconscious will be exploring…or “marinating”
in…while you sleep.
I had a powerful experience with this practice just this weekend.
My wife and I were both a little tired and cranky at the end of a
long day apart, and actually “snapped” at each other just before
going to bed.
So when my head hit the pillow – all of a sudden I felt miserable –
my shoulder ached, I was frustrated, and I didn’t feel like I
could fall asleep.
Then I remembered this practice, and started silently offering thanks
– particularly for my family…and ultimately my wonderful wife…
and within moments, my energy totally shifted…
I had a mini (or perhaps not so “mini”) reconciliation with my wife,
and a wonderful night’s sleep awakening with a “happy feeling” even
before I remembered what I was happy about.
(And my wife was very happy, too…)
And here’s the key – moments before giving thanks, I was on a totally
different “path” headed for a miserable night…and any other option
was not even “Visible” until I actually started giving thanks…
So here’s the trick – knowing this is not enough…what can you do
right now to set an intention…or a reminder…to do this tonight…
and every night for the next 30 days?
Look forward to hearing about your own practice and results in the
comments below!
Dr. Ben