Creating your Vision for your business, career, & life.
By BZ Riger-Hull, Certified Success Coach http://www.in-spiros.com

Many people go through their daily lives feeling overwhelmed. There are so many things to do and there never seems to be enough time or energy to do them all. Is this how you feel about your business, career, or life?

Have you promised yourself that this month you are going to make some serious changes but you just aren’t sure what those changes need to be?

Think about laying out a vision, but make it a big vision. One that encompasses your passion in life and the gifts you have come to share. No matter what the focus of your business or career you have a lot to offer. You are unique and only you can contribute your strengths in your special way. Whether it’s staying at home and raising a family, making the best widget there is, the CEO of a company, a manager in IT… Life is not a dress rehearsal so create your vision of what you really want and then take inspired action steps to attract it to you.

Don’t think of creating a little vision for your life, it’s time to stop thinking small. You will also need to let go of the excuse that you don’t have enough time. When that comes to mind think of this quote from Life’s Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

These are the same steps I take with my clients to help them make the changes in focus and habit that bring them meaningful results. First you must be willing to take action.
Without changing your focus and habits you will never be able to change the results.
Without taking action you will never move forward and reach the results you want. Coaching is about getting results; listening to what the client really wants and working together, setting out the measurable steps to be taken that result in action and success.

You are responsible for the momentum; it will be up to you to take the actions on your own unless you choose to have the support, encouragement, guidance, and accountability that a coach provides.

Without the forward momentum and inspired actions it’s just a good thought. In order for your business to be successful, to be happy and fulfilled in your career, or prosperous and content in your life you need to have one common thread. Vision.

The process of creation starts with a thought, a great idea, a passionate want, or a dream of something magnificent to achieve. These are the intangible sparks that ignite our drive to move forward and turn the intangible into our reality.

Begin by brainstorming on paper, yes you must write it down to bring clarity, to make it real.

The first brainstorming session should be free flowing, don’t edit your thoughts or ideas. If you are working on your personal vision and your work vision to define what you want
and how you want to spend your time, start with the personal vision.
This will give you absolute clarity about what is important to you, what you want, what are the things in your life you are passionate about and that make you feel fulfilled.
Then from there you can create the vision of your ideal business or career and take action to bring want you really want into your life.

Focus on what you really want, be very specific. Don’t just say you want lots of money, a nice home and no stress. Create a picture in your mind of exactly what you want down to the color of the carpet and the list of clients, and then using words draw that picture until your vision is clear.

For example:
I want a profitable and fulfilling holistic health practice.
I want to see clients in three different specialties plus passive income revenue streams.
A full successful practice will have 30-40 clients.
I will work five days a week between noon and six devoting the rest of the day to self-care, gardening, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
I will make 100,000 a year and take 5 weeks vacation throughout the year.
I love to learn so I will spend 3 weeks a year in educational workshops and training programs to advance my career and myself.
I have several tape sets, workbooks, & learning products that fit into my personal and vision statement providing my clients excellent value and tools that help them to get on track with their lives.
These products are very rewarding to me because I can make money without having to be there. Making a contribution and improving people’s lives is very important to me so this is always something I carry out in my business practices and my community involvement.
I have redesigned my home to be bright and airy and laid out the gardens for ease of care, and to provide color and fragrance from my flowers and tastes and aromas from my organic vegetables. I avoid stress by focusing on the positive and focusing my energy on the things that are really important to me and just let the rest go.

You create what you put your energy on. If you concentrate on all the things you don’t want on all the things you don’t have enough of that is what you will create more of. Start creating what you do want.

Start with your vision; clearly lay out your life, career, and business vision and then take the steps to make it your reality. One of the steps might include hiring a coach to make it happen faster for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Why Do Some Affirmations *Work* – and Others Don’t?

 by: Jeff Staniforth

By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again either verbally or mentally-or written down. The words of the affirmation statement – in themselves -when spoken, thought of, or written *without* a pictorial (visualized) or emotional connection- make a very weak affirmation.

Affirmations, when worded correctly — and when emotionally charged – are able to tap into the unlimited creative power of your subconscious mind, and manifest your desires.

Affirmations are not all created equal. Some are, of course, better than others.

When you examine the structure of these power affirmations, you,too, can learn how to create your own powerful affirmations for your specific purposes.

Consider these:

“I am what I choose to be.”

“All my needs are met instantaneously.”

“I love and accept myself exactly as I am.”

“_____________ comes to me easily and effortlessly.” (Fill in the blank with what you desire.)

“I am now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit.”

“I now create my wonderful, ideal life.”

What do the above power affirmations have in common?

1) They’re stated in the present tense.

An affirmation is more effective when stated in the present tense. For example;”I now have a wonderful job.” Avoid affirming something in the future tense, e.g.”I am going to have a wonderful job” or the results will always be waiting to happen.

2) They express a positive statement.

Affirmations need to be stated in the most positive terms possible. Avoid negative statements. Affirm what you do want, rather than what you don’t want. For example:”I am no longer sick.” This is a negative statement. Instead, affirm: :”I am now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit.” This statement is much more powerful as it is positive and reinforces your desired goal and doesn’t confuse your subconscious mind with the mention of the undesirable condition.

3) They’re short and specific.

Short affirmations have a far greater impact at the subconscious level than those which are long and wordy. Keeping them specific and to the point adds power as the idea is uncluttered by extraneous elements.

The mechanics that make affirmations powerful are:

* Repetition

The importance of repetition cannot be overemphasized. It imprints the affirmation into your subconscious mind.

*Emotions

Get involved, be passionate, and use your emotions. Think carefully about the meaning of the words as you repeat them rather than just writing, typing or saying them.

*Persistence

Practicing affirmations with persistence achieves results much sooner than practicing them periodically. Successive sessions will have a compounding effect.

*Belief

You don’t necessarily have to believe your affirmation initially, in order for it to work. Belief will grow with your forthcoming successes. What you do need is the ability to *feel* what it would be like when the desire you’re affirming is fulfilled, or your need met. Every time that you have a need -and that need is met -a certain “feeling” is produced in you. Simply evoke that same feeling when you state your affirmation. That is, you need to feel with every fiber of your being that what you desire has already happened. Without this feeling, your affirmation is powerless.

*Impress Yourself

Personalize your affirmations. They must *resonate* with you feel right for you. The stronger your connection with the affirmation, the deeper the impression it makes on your mind andt the sooner you will experience positive results.

So there you have it – the simple formula for creating affirmations that work. Based on the above, you can easily create your own affirmations to manifest any desire or need you have in life.

TIP: Although the practice of affirmations is easy, some people find it challenging to repeat the affirmations continuously while maintaining the highly charged emotional state necessary in making affirmations work.GOOD NEWS!You can now use your computer to make the affirmation process effortless-and you can automate those challenging aspects (such as maintaining highly charged emotions),thereby manifesting your desires more quickly!

Go to http://datingadvisor.psend.com/affirmations.html to find out how.

(c)Jeff Staniforth – All Rights reserved.

About The Author

Jeff Staniforth is the owner and editor of Affirmations for the Mind newsletter.

ebbonygirl2000@yahoo.com

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Daily life can range from ecstatic to something less than traumatic. It covers all territories in between. Every man, woman, or child will encounter problems, and annoyances, disappointments and pain. No one is given the privilege of not feeling – this in itself would be a major upset. Not to feel is in essence – not to be alive.
Everything life is – all of the components of daily living – join together to form a web that encompasses every living being. No one is immune and yet, this system has survived generations upon generations.

When life proves to be less than perfect, many will turn to placing blame, or passing the buck to someone else. In turn, this kind of action will cause hurt or problems for a person who could have had absolutely nothing to do with our “bad” day. They were just there – kind of in the way – when we were seeking reprieve or solace from daily strife. There is a much better way to handle whatever your day will bring – try it – you will be very pleasantly surprised and energized to face whatever tomorrow will have in store for you.

This is not a magic pill or a wave of a wand – it is allowing yourself to quietly build a fortress in your heart that you can go to, to renew strength and find solace. The gift of nature allows each of us a cooling breeze when problems cause arid in our goals, and relentless storms in our undertakings and ventures. Turning to nature whether in reality or in our heart will guide us through those potentially devastating pitfalls we will have to endure – just because! Here’s how it works -

Whenever the pressure of the day or the thunder of hope fading away enters our private world, go down a path toward a cottage in the woods. Just picture it – you’re tired, defeated and your steps are very heavy. But there sits a cottage in your mind’s eye that has that glow of welcome surrounding it. Your heart is the doorway and inside you are always welcome. But the trip itself to get there is what alleviates the stress and tension. The path is lined with tall, strong pines that give renewed strength to your sagging will. They are proud and stately and have learned to bend just enough with the wind so as not to break. They sway with the breeze but do not give in. Many times their needles will be broken off, but new growth comes. There is a very special “flow” that nature has or “rhythm” that insures continuity and lays the groundwork for the future.

The ground is soft and has the aroma of warm earth. It is very distinctive and reassuring. Earth is very basic and gives life to the majestic trees as well as the velvety flowers that grow in places that you least expect. Their colors are a palette of tints that change with the seasons and melt into each other. They are smooth and soft or brazen and rich. They are sprinkled in crevices and corners that seem remote and impenetrable. These tiny plants soak up the warmth of the sun, and welcome the gentle raindrops. If strong winds and storms arrive, their petals may drop but then they line the ground with beauty under everyone’s feet. They are aromatic and every breath allows their sweet scents to ease the mind and bring relief to stumbling steps.

The radiant blue sky above serves as a canopy of light and shadow that lets imagination run free. The warming sun keeps thought at bay while a heavy heart finds ways to repair and renew itself. There in the fallen leaves that create a soft, warm bed is a tiny, newborn fawn. Its large gentle eyes take in the entire world, yet are unsure and take note of every movement. The ears are standing to insure that not one sound is undetected, but it filters most sounds to listen patiently for the return of its mother. Confidence is in its tiny heart and strength is growing in its long legs. It remains silent but not sleepy. You have the privilege of seeing this new life, but you have provided a lesson in its ever-expanding search for answers. There’s a clear lake to the right that reflects the color the sky and adds a touch of white with each breeze. A family of geese glide cautiously by with their soft, fuzzy goslings. A regal white swan and her new brood swim quietly in the cool water knowing that tomorrow is just over the horizon and a little past the sunset.

Just ahead is the cottage that you have been building since your birth. It is peaceful, serene and so inviting. The door is open and you need not knock. It is furnished with dreams and it glitters with hope. Goals line the walls and spirit brightens each corner. You can rest here until you are ready. Unburden your heart – and place the bundles of hurt or disappointment in the closet. They will be tended to when the time is right but they will not become a part of the cottage.

Once your strength has returned, you may return to your own reality. Before leaving, drink freely of the warm broth of ideas and taste the morsels of endurance. They reach into the closet for your bundles – but to your delight, they have become the sieze they should be – if indeed, they have not totally disappeared.

The trip to this magical place can take just a few moments in a busy day or a while longer at the end of the day. Whenever and for whatever time it takes to visit – you will be glad you did.

ENJOY !

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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___________________________________________________________

TITLE: Speak With a Relaxed Body and Mind
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
CONTACT: sandra@schrift.com

COPYRIGHT: ©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved

___________________________________________________________

Speak With a Relaxed Body and Mind

Fear of public speaking is No.1. Death is No.4. So most
people would rather get a root canal and pay their taxes
than speak in front of an audience!

1. Sure you have catecholamines all speakers do (including
Sir Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and
Reagan). These are the chemicals that make you sweat, make
your heart beat fast, and make your hands shake. Get rid
of those chemical and psychological reactions by becoming
message-centered and audience-centered, not self-centered,

2. Replace fear and negative noise with positive
affirmations. Create new beliefs that nurture you and
support you with new ways of thinking. The New Adult You!
For example, I am well prepared, and the audience wants me
to succeed.

3. Do a quiet meditation, visualization, or exercise
before you speak. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing sends a
message to your brain that you have nothing to fear. It
calms you down.

4. Who cares if you’re nervous? Researchers have found
that most people report noticing little or no anxiety in a
speaker. If you are thoroughly prepared, your internal
nervousness seldom shows. Prepare 150%.]

5. The Coach Sez… Practice in front of your mirror.
Practice in the car. If you can concentrate while driving,
you will be able to pull what you need from your
unconscious when you are in front of the group. Make your
points sound spontaneous and conversational.

6. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk
around while you practice. Use the same physical energy
you plan to use on the day of your presentation.

7. Exercise is antidote to stress. Arrive early and take a
brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or
snowing outside, you can still do some body stretches.

8. Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You
don’t need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit
and use attractive colors. Women, go simple on the
jewelry. Avoid too much black and white.

9. The Coach Sez… Most of all, enjoy yourself and have a
fun. SMILE. After all, aren’t you glad to be there? The
sign of a mature adult is that you are not taking yourself
too seriously

10. For trembling hands, place your hand son the side of
your chair and count to 10 as you try to lift the seat.
This is an isometric exercise that works and nobody will
notice you doing it.

11. Don’t be perfect. Give yourself permission to make
mistakes, No one is perfect in real life. Get the
butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation. That’s
who you convert your stress into speaking power!

12. Reduce your nervousness by taking several deep breaths
immediately before you’re introduced. And for you
chocoholics, eat some chocolate to relax your vocal
chords.

13. If you experience dry mouth, chew your tongue to
increase saliva flow. Singers do this. Close your lips and
bite down on the entire surface. Always have a glass of
tepid(not cold) water nearby.

14. Focus on a friendly face in the audience. Pretend you
are having a conversation, rather than giving a speech.
Just be yourself.

15. Here is a vocal warm-up exercise used at the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Say, PaPaPaPa,
BaBaBaBa, TaTaTaTa, DaDaDaDa, KaKaKaKa, GaGaGaGa. Then do
it backwards. (Courtesy of Robert and Rande Gedaliah)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR