Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

In a previous post, I wrote about 10 Reasons NOT to have what you want.  The first reason was it will be too hard.

Running in the background of our subconscious are always beliefs that steer us toward our actions, whether it’s what we want or not.

Let’s play with this belief that it will be too hard and see what happens.

Have you considered that it might be harder NOT to do the things you really want than to begin to take action on them?

How much time and energy do you devote to worrying about not doing what you want?  Do you get anxious thinking about what you wish you had and how you are not doing enough to accomplish it?

Or are you really anxious about what might happen if you succeed?  Like maybe fearing that too much will be expected of you.

If I had a nickel for every minute I spent worry about what might happen instead of just finding out, I’d be really rich.

Have you considered this?  What if it’s EASIER than you think?  You may be making an assumption that it will be too hard but you can be absolutely certain that is true?

Why do you think it will be hard?  What aspects of your goal do you perceive as difficult?  Ok., now how might you make those easier?

Have you considered that it really will be hard.  Ok.  So what.  Do you really want the results?  Would it be worth it?  You could say, “I’ll do it anyway and I look forward to the challenge.”

What else have you done that was hard but you persevered and succeeded?  Did you feel proud of your accomplishment?  What got you through it?; words of encouragement, working with a group, journaling your progress?

Could you have done it with more ease?  Now that you had that experience, you can apply your wisdom to this current goal.

When you think about your goal, dream, or project, does it just seem too big?  You may not be able to accomplish it in a day but you can choose to take small actions every day.

It could be that you don’t know what to do.  That’s ok.  Everyone starts something new  with doubts and questions.  What if your next steps were to start finding answers to your questions, a little each day?

The bottom line is to look at your assumptions and begin to unravel them.  Are they really true?

Working on your mindset and how you think about your challenges will be the easiest way to move toward action.

An Easier Way to Set Goals

As we enter a new year, in our area, the ground is covered with white, sparkling snow like a blank canvas, fresh and full of possibilities.

How are you starting off the new year? It can be exciting and overwhelming.

As you set goals, are you making a giant to do list that would be intimidating for someone running their own country?

Are you vowing to do better than last year? Or are you feeling bad that you haven’t made new promises yet that you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep?

What if one of your main aspirations this year could be to simply enjoy your life more?

“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever his is.” – C.S. Lewis

With a slight change of perspective, it is possible. Think about each area of your life such as relationships, finances, career or business, mind, body, spirit, fun and recreation. Try to write down at least one thing that would make it more enjoyable and more satisfying. How could you make it easier?

The best part is it could be something very simple. Here a just a few possibilities.

• What if you devoted an hour or two a week to a dream or goal you’ve wanted to do for a long time but haven’t found a block of time to accomplish it?

• What if you let go of the pressure of having a certain outcome or deadline?

• What if you were trying to cut down on coffee or sodas and you add a glass of water in between each cup?

• What if you got help from a friend on something you’ve been procrastinating and dreading? My sister and I did this with some of our clutter and it was a huge help!

• What if you gave yourself mini rewards to recognize your efforts?

What if you got in the habit of asking yourself how you could make something more satisfying and easier before doing it? You may come up with some great answers and even better a habit of enjoying life more.

How can you make things a little easier this year?

Have you been disappointed thinking you are not making a difference or that your life isn’t going the way you hoped?

Sometimes we have a vision of how our lives are supposed to go and we end up on a completely different route.  For some, that causes a sense of loss for what might have been.

You’ve probably seen the classic 1946 Frank Capra movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart.  I’ve watched it countless times and it still touches me and makes me cry at the end.

Jimmy Stewart plays a character named George Bailey, who dreams of traveling the world.  Instead, due to several circumstances, he ends up working at his father’s bank and loan Company, gets married, has children, and ends up staying in the small town where he was born.

George doesn’t think that his life is anything special because it’s not what he thought it would be.  He’s depressed because he feels he hasn’t made a difference.   An unlikely guardian angel, Clarence, comes to visit him and shows him what life in Bedford Falls would have been like without him.  He is given a gift by the angel, allowing him to see how many lives he’s touched and what a big difference he made just by being himself.

My point of this story is simply how valuable you are, just being in the world, and being yourself.  You’ve most likely touched more people than you know and made a difference in their lives.

A few years ago, I heard a speaker talk of the gifts we leave behind as a legacy to those around us.  It wasn’t the tangible things she spoke of but the kinds of things we do in every day life, the examples we set, that are our gifts to the people we meet.  It gives you a different perspective of seeing how the little things we take for granted can add up to make a difference.  It’s never too late to have a Wonderful Life.

Special note:  Another example of how things aren’t always what they first appear.  A Wonderful Life was initially considered a box office flop and a major disappointment of Frank Capra’s skills as a director and filmmaker.  It was nominated for 5 Oscars but didn’t win any.  It is now considered a classic, inspirational Christmas film.

P.S. I took this photograph after one of our magical snows that created a winter wonderland.