Fear, Life lessons and Living the Dream!

In life we are constantly told to strive, take life by the horns, take that leap of faith as the time is never perfect. You have even heard these words uttered by “ME”! I do truly believe that we hold ourselves back due to fear of the unknown but recently I was forced to look at things a little bit differently. What if it isn’t fear? What if what you need is a few more life lessons to confirm or anchor your commitment to that leap of faith?!

As a diligent “To Do List” task master I am very much the knuckle down and get your project done kind of person. Eat that Frog, take the leap and just get on with it already!  While working on a recent project that I am fully invested in and excited about-- heck it’s about my future so you better believe I am excited and fully invested.  I found myself going from extremely enthusiastic to dragging myself through each task. My heart was checked out, I was digging my heels into every step along the way and mentally I was checking out more and more from the project as a whole. Now it was time for the internal chatter to start…." You are scared! You worried about failing yourself! You are being lazy and not willing to put in the necessary work! Stop looking for excuses!”  Inside I knew I wasn’t looking for excuses there was a piece of the puzzle that was missing.  Thankfully I also knew where to look for that magical puzzle piece….. my upcoming trip!

When this soul searching, living your life, embracing fear began I had a calling to go to Europe and for some reason specifically Paris. At the time I allowed other events and potential opportunity that was seen hovering on the horizon sway me from my tracks. Ironically with ALL of those believed opportunities not ONE of them became anything except the cause of my temporarily closing the window of what I see now as the REAL opportunity which was travelling  Europe.  NOW that window has been re-opened and it is right there….. I know with my heart that I will be returning from this trip with a different mindset and focus and with this NEW found mindset and focus I will be ready to Eat that Frog and take my leap of faith! 

The greatest things in life start with "Change"

 I am kicking off my traditional

 New Year project with just that --Change! 

For the previous 5 years I have kicked off my adventure of the upcoming New Year by creating a list of "Will Do's"! Focusing on my personal, career and financial goals. My "Will Do" lists were an amazing tool to keep me on task and having a direction to steer my ship for years but now.....

My life has taken an amazing turn and is forever evolving with new opportunities and wonderful challenges. Needless to say my carefully crafted "Will Do List" was unable to keep up with the new ideas and inspirations so it was shelved very early into the year. As we entered into the final couple months of this year my mind out of habit began to think about creating my new "Will Do List" but my heart wasn't into it and I knew it was time for something new but WHAT?

Ironically within days of my light bulb moment I received a message from one of my girlfriends letting me know that she would not be participating this upcoming years "Will Do List" but instead she had been introduced to One Word 365. Needless to say having hit my own roadblock and eager to ensure that I did have some sense of direction for the upcoming year I was all over that "google" and checking it out. 

My first instinct was "WHAT!! ONE FREAKING WORD! How is that possible?!" 

The weight and the power of that one word- Oh my! Then the inquisitive introvert in me took over and surprise, surprise if I didn't realize I had already been living my one word "YES".  At the beginning stages of my new journey I was scared and living outside of my comfort zone everyday. I made the commitment to myself that if any opportunity provided itself and it aligned with my ultimate goal my answer would always be "YES"! Whatever hurdle I needed to get over after that was mine to figure out. Who knew that one word and in my case and a very little word could make such a HUGE impact and live up to the weight! 

Insert this upcoming year and the responsibility of picking my new word to match the expectations I have of this upcoming year. I knew needed a big word with lot's of excitement and open to opportunities...... I have mediated and stewed over this word for probably 2 months-- hey this is a big deal I am giving a year of my life to this word! Then the light bulb hit again and I realized my word has been sitting here this whole time just waiting for me to see it......

2015 My Year of Adventure!

 I can not wait for the opportunities that word is going to give me the courage to do and accomplish! 

"Will Do Lists"

   We are getting close to that time of year when everyone starts thinking about their new year's resolution!
I am sure there are lots of others who think the same as me of New Year's resolution- a commitment that if they don't screw it up the first day due to being hungover from the night before it quickly looses its zest within a week or two, if you really stretch it maybe a month. Then its all over until the next year.

  I was inspired 2 years ago not for a New Year's resolution but a "Will Do List" for the entire year. This funny enough coincided with my year long challenges which yes they were part of my 'will do lists'. A 'will do list' is very different than a New Year's resolution. First off New year's resolutions are traditionally unrealistic with no  real plan in place to make them happen. Remember without a plan a goal is only a wish. Besides its hard to make a commitment that is going to last for entire year. Believe me I know! I am about to head into a crazy one in this upcoming year but that is another blog!

 A 'will do list' can contain ideas from all parts of your life: family, career, fitness, health, friends, activities, interests, learning, new hobbies! You name it! Think about what is the most important part of your life or perhaps there is something new you want to introduce into your life. What things if you focused on them for a year could make a huge impact on your life. That's a 'will do list!

Let's have some fun with this- Let's pretend an item on our 'will do list' is to reach out and contact an old friend. Awesome! Now let's take it a step further- remember we have a year. How about contacting one old friend a month. Simple right! Phones work two ways and we always have facebook! In the next year you could reconnect with 12 people that this time next year will be a part of your life. Who doesn't have room for more friends?!  The trick is to commit to it! Get it on paper! Share with your friends. Inspire others to join you!

This last year I wanted to make sure my goals were somewhere that I could see them so I printed them off and placed them in a nice frame-  Trick: place it somewhere that you will see it everyday! Imagine having your 'will do list' framed and in the bathroom so that you get a peek at each and every morning. Now don't tell me that won't help with the focus!

This year I have started on my "Will do List" and decided to create a vision board. It was a fun adventure going through my crazy collection of magazines (yes I have a problem). On top of it all I was inspired by a picture I saw and randomly decided that it needed to be included on my "will do list" . Go ahead, act like a kid again and have fun with pictures and scissors.

( See the crazy woman there; the one ready to do a pull up with one arm)
That is going on my "Will do List' oh yeah baby!!!

   Have fun and create your own "Will do List" and even better share it with me and many others! We all love the inspiration!