Sunday, April 29, 2007
Are You Ready For Greatness? (Part 2)
As promised last week, here are the “antidotes” (if you will) to the Top Ten List of why we DO NOT step into our own greatness.
** Limiting beliefs- First it is important to know that everyone has experienced limiting beliefs. So if you are experiencing a few please know that you are not alone and there is definitely not something wrong with you.
A dear friend and colleague of mine once said to me that all beliefs, limiting or otherwise have a pay off. If they didn’t, we would not hold on to them. With that said, I want to encourage you to take a good look at your own limiting beliefs. Picking one, ask yourself, “what is the pay-off for holding on to this belief?” After you have looked at all the pay-offs, I would like to request that you take that limiting belief and turn it into a positive belief. For example, if the limiting belief is “I can never lose weight, because I don’t have any will power.” The positive belief might be, “I can lose weight, because I am a strong and determined.” After creating a more positive belief, think of three things that you would be willing to do to take action in support of your new belief…To set it into motion.
** Nay-sayers - People often respond from their own place of fear, or what I like to call negative filter. What you may be hearing from the nay-sayer is their feelings of lack. Now here is something to consider, a teacher and coaching colleague once said, “It is none of your business what others think of you” and I will add that it is your business what you think of you and what you do. So bear that in mind the next time someone poo-poos you or your desires.
** The past and revisiting of the past - Why relive something that was really hurtful unless you plan on learning from it? When we sit square in the past it is really difficult to be in the here and the now. It is in the here and the now when we are able to see the potentials and opportunities. The present truly is a gift so it is my wish that you leverage the present, sit in it and enjoy the potentials. If you find yourself slipping into the past, give this little gratitude exercise a whirl…take three deep breathes and look around…very quickly, list three things you see that you are grateful for.
** Lack of clarity around who we are or what we want - If you are lacking clarity around who you at your core, please know it is not a terrible thing. Instead, look at it as your opportunity to take some time to do some exploring…exploring you – your likes and dislikes. As a matter of fact, last month I did a blog show which was all about getting to the who of who you are so I would love to invite you to have a listen.
However, if you are lacking clarity around what you want, here is a great exercise that I learned from James Arthur Ray, the author of The Science of Success and a teacher in The Secret. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle of it. On the left side of the paper start listing all the things you don’t you want in your life. Then on the right side of the page, write the absolutely opposite for each item from the left side of the page. For example, if on the left you wrote "debt" on the right you might write "financial abundance".
** Fear - This is another huge one for a lot of people. I am going to throw something out there and let’s see how it lands. Fear does not reside in the present. Fear only resides in the future and in the past. Which means, when you are feeling fearful give the gratitude exercise that I mentioned earlier a whirl and see what happens. Being in an attitude of gratitude prevents the brain from traveling down a path of fear because the brain cannot focus on good and bad at the same time.
Now, I am going to group a few items together…
** Unwillingness to take responsibility for our own actions, Excuses (i.e. no time, not enough money) and, The If Onlys…
It is time to get a new story, my friends. You have more control and responsibility over your own life then you may think. If you are a person that is quick to place blame on external factors or make excuses, my first request is that you go easy…especially on you. When you place blame on others or make excuses, you are really discounting your own self and your own ability to be an amazing creator of your own story. So, with that, when you catch yourself placing blame, making excuses or saying…"If only I was" or "If only I had", stop, take a deep breath and consider why you’re choosing to place blame, make an excuse or if only yourself. Are you feeling fearful? Are you feeling guilty about something? Instead why not try using the particular situation as a learning experience. Stop and ask yourself, what can I learn from this situation? OR How can I re-write this story?
** Lack of focus on self and needs because we fear being viewed as selfish. My friends, I am here to tell you that it is A-OK to take time for you. To recharge your battery, refuel and give to yourself. You are not being selfish by wishing to take care of you in order to be the best you can be. Besides how can you be productive or an amazing resource if you are totally drained? Think about it.
** Inaction – Not taking action towards the things we want, but rather waiting for things to just happen. In order to step into greatness you have to be willing to take action. If there are things you wish to have or wish to make happen in your life, but are not sure what actions to take, why not try putting this simple question out there, “How can I *fill in the blank*?”…How can I create more passion in my life? How can I become financially independent? Then let the question go, but remember to remain present to all the potential insights that may come your way. If that does not work for you, find someone you can trust and share your desires with them. Then brain storm a strategy for action. Be sure to include a date for when you wish to achieve and complete the action. Oh, and very important, for each action accomplished, be sure to celebrate you and all your efforts because you are worth celebrating.
It’s time to step into your greatness Whatcha waiting for?
Until next time, please be well and keep making a difference…
Pam
Posted by Pam at 5:08:54 PM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, April 23, 2007
Are You Ready For Greatness? (Part 1)
I was recently asked how I define greatness…and for me it has always been a feeling or a sense of empowerment and peace. But to put it into words, to me greatness is being who you need to be for you, getting clear on what you want and being willing to take action in order to bring the things you want into your life. (That is where the empowerment and peace comes into play.)
I truly love this topic because it is always really awesome when someone discovers something phenomenal about themselves…something that supports them in gaining clarity around the things they want, excelling them forward and creating the life they desire.
If stepping into greatness is so awesome, why aren’t we all doing it all the time? In response, I have drafted a Top 10 list of reasons why…
1) Limiting beliefs. Those niggling, negative thoughts that often hold us back. The thoughts that we hide behind and that stand in our way of moving forward.
2) Nay-sayers. The people, who, bless their hearts, try and persuade us that our dreams, intentions, who we are, what we want is not good enough, not attainable, or maybe even stupid.
3) The past and revisiting of the past. Re-running those old tapes, messages, and negative images that make us feel really low.
4) Lack of clarity around who we are or what we want. If you think about the process of stepping into your greatness as a map, it is truly difficult to move forward without a clear understanding of your own capabilities or what I like to consider your vehicle and the direction you wish to head in.
5) Fear, fear that we might get all that we desire and not be able to live up to our new found greatness. This one is a biggie, because no one wants to get a taste of greatness and then have it disappear.
6) Unwillingness to take responsibility for our own actions. Placing blame on others or external factors for the things that do not go well in our lives.
7) Lack of focus on self and needs because we fear being viewed as selfish.
8) Excuses (i.e. no time, not enough money)
9) The If Onlys…if only I had..if only I were..
10) Inaction – not taking action towards the things we want, but rather waiting for things to just happen.
So, if you feel that you have not stepped into your greatness just yet, I want you to consider these questions, what is standing in your way? What’s hindering your forward movement towards greatness? What are you willing to do to let your greatness come through? Tune in next week when I will provide the “antidote” to the Top 10 list.
In the meantime, please feel free to share your thoughts! Be well and have a blast stepping into your greatness…
Pam
Posted by Pam at 12:14:46 AM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Senseless Acts of Violence
As people try to get their heads around the tragedy that took place at VA Tech yesterday please take some time today...
...to hug your child/children very close.
...show a loved one just how much you care.
...express gratitude to a friend for being a friend.
...share some kindness with a perfect stranger because the world could certainly use a little kindness.
Please be well and safe.
Posted by Pam at 2:15:29 PM in Pam's Ponderings (32) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
How Do Those Cement Boots Fit?
Sometimes it is all too easy to blame what goes wrong in our lives on past events and people rather than take responsibility as the sole creator of our own reality.
I raise my hand and admit that I used to blame whatever went wrong in my world on my family, the way I was raised, and the experiences I had growing up. As a matter of fact, when something would go wrong I would say something along the lines of, “If only my mom…” or “If only my dad…” It was not until I was hit upside the head by a 2x4 that I realized how much I used the past as a pair of cement boots to hold me back.
That 2x4 looked something like this, “Pam, are you an adult?” “Yes”, was my answer. “Then when are YOU going to start taking responsibility for you and your own actions?”
I was reminded of that 2x4 just this past week when faced with some issues from the past. Rather then put on those cements boots, I took the opportunity to learn. I realized that my past has taught me some very valuable lessons… Lessons that I am grateful for and use as forward moving running shoes rather than a pair of cement boots.
Rather than look for all that was wrong, why not look for the positives?
Rather than complain about what was lacking, why not look at all the things to be grateful for?
Rather than focus on shortcomings of others, why not look for strengths?
Isn’t it time to walk or run unencumbered?
Posted by Pam at 4:08:49 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (4)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Great Minds Think…
…and nope, I am not going to say “alike”, because in this instance I am hoping to gather people together who are creative thinkers, who do not necessarily think alike, but have a willingness to share. If this sounds intriguing please read on, but first a few questions...
Do you have intentions that are just dying to become a reality? Wouldn’t it be great if you had access to a supportive group of creative individuals...a group with whom you could share your intention(s) and gain positive feedback and resources from… a group who would hold you accountable for making your intentions reality? If so, please continue reading on…
I am looking for 6-8 creative, motivated, support offering/seeking, open-minded, action-ready individuals to participate in a monthly mastermind, creative think tank, virtual water cooler, or "fill in the blank" group call.
The Benefit: Group members will be provided with an open, safe, and creative space to pick brains, ask for and render support, have access to contacts and resources, plus be held accountable for intentions set.
The How: Each month (time and day to be decided by the group) we will get together on the phone to share our intentions, our wins, our needs, and our feedback. Together as a group we will make things happen.
Think about it, some of the greatest and most successful minds understood the importance of having team support for turning dreams and intentions into the real deal. (Henry Ford, Napolean Hill, Andrew Carnegie, and Jack Canfield…to name a few.)
Whatcha say? You have more to gain than you do to lose so if you are interested in participating please send me an e-mail (with "I'm Interested" in the subject line) and we will get this intention-reality making machine rolling.
Posted by Pam at 9:37:24 PM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (4)
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Go Big or Go Home Questions: Low Battery
It is so easy to get caught in the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day grind. In doing so we often forget to take time for ourselves, to recharge our battery until it is too late and we hit a wall.
What’s ironic, when we are pushing ourselves over the limit we often think we are getting more done. In reality, not only are we not performing at our best, but most times we are not working as effectively and efficiently. (How can we when we are running on an empty battery?)
So here’s the Go Big, Go Home question…
What are you willing to do, starting today, to recharge your battery?
Remember, self care is critical to not only your well-being, but your success.
Posted by Pam at 1:24:35 PM in Go Big Or Go Home Questions (11) | Permalink | Comments (8)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wrapped in Bows and Shiny Paper
That Eleanor Roosevelt was one smart cookie, I tell ya. While there are loads of amazing quotes from her, that one is one of the best.
Now I will raise my hand and freely admit that I still have to practice being present. There are times when a slip into the past, revisit past situations and relive old feelings. (OUCH!) While that is not always a bad thing, (especially if the past situations revisited are positive), I know that dancing in the moment is pretty important.
The present equates to...
Many amazing possibilities. When we are in the here and now we become more aware of all the good things that surround us. We can see potential opportunities. The "how" to our intentions becomes clearer.
Fear removed. Fear does not reside in the present, just in the future and the past. Think about it.
The present is perfect. Hint: take a look around. I bet there are five things in the here and now that you can be grateful for.
Focus. When we are present our focus on the tasks at hand is clearer. We see the detail and have a better understanding of how to move forward.
If those few reasons did not convince you of the importance of being present, how about trying this one on for size?
Life DOES NOT pass you by. When you are present you get to take advantage of every moment in life. Nothing passes by you...not the silly, not the important, not the lessons to be learned, nor the fun to be had.
So here is the challenge if you choose to accept it. When you find yourself drifting out of the present moment, take some deep breathes, take a good look around, and try to focus on YOU in the here and now.
Until next time, enjoy the gift of today…
Pam
P.S. You are cordially invited to check out the latest addition to Make the Most of U.
Posted by Pam at 4:43:59 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
“Who Are We Not To Be Great?”
I believe it may have been Nelson Mandela who asked that powerful question. Regardless of who asked it, who are we not to be great?
We all deserve to step into our greatness. When we do we are able to celebrate our positives and acknowledge our negatives... only to learn from them. By not stepping into our greatness we give way to settling for less than we deserve. We allow our self-doubters to take over.
Keeping with the theme…
Who are we not to have a voice and share our truths without fear of judgment?
Everyone deserves to have a voice and share what is in their heart; by doing so we become active contributors, educators, and empowered people.
In not sharing we miss out on opportunities for growth and learning. We risk our integrity and make ourselves wrong for having a differing opinion or thought.
Who are we not to believe?
When we believe in ourselves and our abilities we are apt to take action and be active participants in our own lives. When we do not believe, we sit on the sidelines watching life and opportunities pass us by.
So let me ask you, who are YOU not to?
Until next time it is my wish that you be great, speak from your heart, and believe in YOU…
Pam
Posted by Pam at 12:38:59 PM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (10)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
It Takes More than Thought
A dear friend came to me the other day with a concern, one that was spurred by The Secret. Trust me when I say that I am not wishing to beat a dead horse here, but her concern was an important one, one worth addressing.
The concern was two-fold 1) If you have negative/bad thoughts, bad things will happen. and 2) If you don't manifest the things you want, you are not thinking about them in the right way.
It saddens me to think that there could be many people, similar to my friend, who are scared of their own thoughts. Afraid that if they think bad thoughts bad things will happen. Wouldn't that be tantamount to telling the mother who's child was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness that it was because she thought bad thoughts that her child became ill? I shudder at the thought!!
From my own experience (and as someone who has learned some good things from The Secret) just thinking negative thoughts does not create bad things or negative situations. It is the action one may take based on those thoughts which can bring about the negative. In addition..
1) When you focus on the negative, you are not aware of the positive potentials that surround you. Why? Because the negative thoughts and fears overtake positive thoughts and experiences. When we focus on the negative, we see the negative around us.
2) Positive feelings and negative feelings help us to decipher what we want and what we don't want..what's in alignment with who we are. Once we understand the feelings, we often then decide the action we are going to take. (Remember Esther Hick's EGS example in The Secret?)
3) I believe it was James Ray who said something along the lines of...that just because you think about and visualize millions of dollars landing in your lap that does not mean it will. You have to take ACTION.
The operative word is ACTION!
4) Negative feelings/thoughts around something you desire often prevent taking positive action.
So in short, just because you think something, it does not mean that the something will happen. Action must be involved in order to make things happen.
It is my wish that those who have similar concerns to my friend not beat themselves up for their thoughts. Everyone has negative thoughts from time-to-time..it's part of being human. As always, I am open to your thoughts and feelings so please feel free to share.
In the meantime, please be well...
Pam
Posted by Pam at 1:57:38 PM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Friday, March 09, 2007
Successful Secrets...What are Yours?
Many thanks to Lyman from Creating A Better Life for including me in this fun successful habits/secrets exercise. (Which, by the way, was started by Aaron of Today is that Day.)
I am a firm believer that positive habits truly do support us in being the best we can be. With that in mind,(and in the spirit of this exercise) here are just a few of my successful habits/secrets....
1- I practice an attitude of gratitude EVERY DAY, once in the morning and once in the evening. You know what? Starting my day and ending my day writing down or saying at least five things that I am most grateful for helps me to stay positive and full of energy. This in turn allows me to become more aware of great potential opportunities.
2- I exercise 4-5 days a week. Exercising not only helps me to get in shape and stay in shape, but it helps me to focus. Focus on my work, focus on my loved ones, focus on the good stuff.
3- I drink plenty of water. Eight glasses a day. Staying hydrated helps me to think better, not to mention it is great for the skin. :)
4- I get at least eight hours of sleep. Without proper sleep, not only can I become a grouch, but I run out of energy far too early in the day. That is not a good thing!
5- I learn. I am what I would consider a student of life. I try and learn something from every situation...the good, the bad, and the ugly. By looking for the lesson I have been able to create quite an extensive "learning" tool box full of great tools to use over and over.
OK, so Jon, Matthew, Jodee, Steve, and Desiree what are your successful habits/secrets that you practice at least 4-5 days a week?
Posted by Pam at 8:16:13 PM in Pam's Ponderings (32) | Permalink | Comments (8)
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Together WE CAN Make a Difference
I pledged to make a difference. Will you?
Posted by Pam at 1:47:45 AM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Go Big or Go Home Questions: Money Talks
I recently finished an awesome Advanced Coaching Program course at Coach U called Financial Independence (FI). This course helped me to fully understand what true FI is. It also created more awareness around various obstacles that stand in the way for many in creating FI.
The biggest obstacle…limiting beliefs.
I have met many people in my travels that grew up with messages around money. Some messages are supportive and wonderful and others are depleting and disempowering. It is the depleting and disempowering ones that grow into long lasting limiting beliefs, either on a conscious or sub-conscious level.
If you have ever felt that financial independence was pie in the sky or was something that happened for others but could never happen for you, I want you to consider the following question…
If money had a voice and could talk what would it say to you?
(Many thanks to Diane, our great facilitator who asked this powerful question of the class. You made us all think long and hard about our own limiting beliefs.)
I encourage you to explore any beliefs connected to what came up for you. For example, if money said..."I am not evil", what message or limiting belief have you been holding around money being evil? How can you shift that message into something limitless as opposed to limiting?
Have fun with this one!
Posted by Pam at 3:38:27 PM in Go Big Or Go Home Questions (11) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
From Words to Action: Write It Down and Make It Happen
I have to admit that this has to be one of my all time favorites. I have read this book cover to cover three times and am going for a fourth read. Why do I like this book so much?
I have to raise my hand and say that I'm not very good at visualizing. So when I am asked to visualize in order to tap into the feelings the visualization creates, I have real troubles. HOWEVER, when I am asked to write down what I want in full detail, I feel energized and empowered. This book is a wonderful tool to use in getting to the heart of what you want and developing actions to make it happen.
Posted by Pam at 3:57:13 PM in From Words to Actions (4) | Permalink | Comments (4)
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Secret: Truth or Hype?
(Warning: This is just my opinion regarding a topic that is important to me so I apologize in advance if it offends anyone, as that is not the intention.)
There has been a lot of talk lately about The Secret
I will admit that I found The Secret
My dear friends, the bottom line is this...The Law of Attraction
(Positive thoughts + positive feelings/empowering feelings + positive actions = forward movement/results)
With that I will get off my soapbox (before I fall off and break an ankle) and leave you with this to ponder...if there is an area of your life that is not as you would like it to be, what would happen if you focused on the positives embodied in that area rather than the negatives?
Until next time, please be well and keep talking...
Pam
Posted by Pam at 2:14:25 PM in Pam's Ponderings (32) | Permalink | Comments (7)
Saturday, February 24, 2007
From Words to Action: Creating Harmonic Wealth
I am in the process of reading an interesting book by one of the teachers of The Secret
James Ray offers a more tangible spin to the Law of Attraction and goes beyond the material aspect of creating what you want in your life. This book
is worth a read. (It is also available in ebook format.)
Posted by Pam at 1:00:19 PM in From Words to Actions (4) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A Little Thanks Goes A Long Way
Did you know that there are five steps in the law of gratitude? Five simple steps that while sometimes forgotten can make a huge difference in our manifesting great things. Just this morning I learned those five steps in a little ebook called “The Astonishing Power of Gratitude!” written by Wes Hopper. (Courtesy of The Science of Getting Rich NETwork).
Step 1: The Universe is a Friendly and Abundant Place.
You see the Universe wants to give you all the things you desire! And here’s the great thing, there is more than enough to go around. You do not have to worry about competing for what you want. Nor do you have to worry that if you get what you want you will be taking something away from someone else.
Step 2: Don’t Argue with Reality
When something you dislike occurs, resisting against it does nothing but make you feel bad. For example saying, “I can’t believe this happened. It shouldn’t have.” is not going to change the fact that it did. All you are doing is focusing more on the negative. Instead, try looking for the good in the situation and be grateful for that good.
Step 3: The Present is Perfect
Rather than focus on the things that are lacking in your life, why not try focusing on all the good that is in your life? Looking at all the good not only shifts your thoughts, but it also helps to raise your energy.
Step 4: Genuine Forgiveness
It is critical to genuinely forgive anyone or anything that has “wronged” you in the past, including yourself. Holding on to resentment and anger creates a huge block. So instead of harboring anger, try and find at least one thing you are grateful for about the person or the situation.
Step 5: Give
When we give from the heart, we often get back twice as much as we have given. Giving feels good and helps to raise our energy level. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Giving from the heart means to give without any expectation of getting back.)
Until next time enjoy thinking about and practicing these five steps…
Pam
Posted by Pam at 3:43:23 PM in Creating Change (86) | Permalink | Comments (6)
Friday, February 16, 2007
From Words to Action: Law of Attraction Explained
If you are interested in learning more about manifesting the good stuff or if you are a "Law of Attraction" junkie like me, the following book is a must have.
Esther, Jerry, and Abraham Hicks do a fantastic job of explaining how thoughts + feelings = attracting.
Stay tuned...more "From Words to Action" recommendations to come!
Posted by Pam at 1:59:30 PM in From Words to Actions (4) | Permalink | Comments (2)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Why I Blog
I have to thank Steve for the latest “Why do you blog?” tag. This is probably the best tag thus far! (Thank you, Steve!)
I blog because…
- I enjoy establishing connections with others.
- I wish to give back by sharing a little coaching and life experience with the world.
- I learn from sharing.
- I love hearing what others have to say.
Now it is my turn to tag five people, so Phil, Desiree, Glebs, Lyman, and Jodee, tag you are it…Why do you blog?
Posted by Pam at 3:29:42 PM in Pam's Ponderings (32) | Permalink | Comments (6)
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Go Big or Go Home Questions: Life Changes
When I turned 40 my new mantra became “Go Big or Go Home!” meaning that I was going to take good risks, push my own limits, and move forward with my intentions. This new category is dedicated to going big or going home and asking those questions that will not only spur thought and sharing, but spur forward movement.
There is not a person in this world who does not wish to enhance or even change an area of their life (or several areas). Think about your life for a moment and focus on one area that you feel could stand a bit of a facelift or maybe even an overhaul.
Now for that question…
How will your life improve if that area changes? (List out all the ways it will improve if you were to change that one area.)
Over to you. :)
Posted by Pam at 4:04:52 PM in Go Big Or Go Home Questions (11) | Permalink | Comments (0)
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Be, Be, Be and Be Some More
What a yummy quote! It’s so easy to get stuck in the “gotta have more and then I’ll be happy” syndrome. Here’s a new challenge, focus on who you wish/need to be in order to have more of the good stuff and less of the not so good stuff.
For example, if you want to change your outlook your “Be” formula may look something like this…
Be a person who has an attitude of gratitude + Do practice gratitude (i.e. create gratitude journal) = Have a feeling and/or awareness of abundance in your life/positive outlook.
Outcome: Being in a place of gratitude helps us attract more of the same.
OR
If you would like less fear in your life, how about…
Be present + Do take three deep breathes = Have less fear or a calmer state of mind.
Outcome: Less fear and greater presence opens up our awareness to amazing potentials.
Posted by Pam at 7:07:28 PM in Quotes with Impact (30) | Permalink | Comments (6)
