 |
 Are
you going through a period in your life that feels unscripted,
status quo, boring, stuck? Then decide what you want. Acknowledge
your desires. They are a natural part of the human experience.
Ponder big questions. Are you living where you want to be?
And with the people you love? Are your relationships working?
Do you have the right work? What are your gifts? What moves
you? Where do you find joy? According to Richard Leider, author
of Claiming Your Place at the Fire, these are some
of the elements of "the good life."
I know people who have spent months planning a vacation but
no time on the creation of their own life. Yes a vacation
is one fun and important event, but a small slice from the
pie of life. Claiming what you desire for your life can be
scary. It may mean giving up some of the routines you are
used to or some major changes that are uncomfortable. The
reality is that your comfort zone is a place to rest, not
live. Most people’s number-one fear is having lived a
meaningless life. So why not step away from the “doingness”
of our lives that can distract us from what we really want?
Stop all of the “to-do list” and tasks for a brief
moment in the timeline of your life. Take a couple hours or
even a day to reflect on what you really want (family, work,
health, spirituality, friendships, sleep, self-care, giving
back) for your life.
After you decide what you want, clearly visualize it. Better
yet, write it down and describe it in detail. Write your desires
in the present tense as if it has already happened. This will
anchor it to reality. You’ve heard about how Olympic
athletes train to win the metals . . . discipline, applying
thoughts and energy with great determination, preparation,
concentration, joy and visualizations that include every detail-minute
by minute around winning a metal—what it feels like,
the sounds of the crowd, the music, the smells, etc. Have
fun with the visioning process and dream a little. The possibilities
are limitless. Think about all the times your dreams have
come true. Have faith to know that much of what you want for
your life is possible. Put a stake in the ground and claim
it!
Diane A. Testa is a consultant who specializes in guiding
individuals and businesses to develop mission/vision statements
and create implementation plans. She is co-facilitator, with
Dr. Carole Parker, of "Finding My Good Life" workshops,
helping individuals live deliberately and create fulfilling
futures. Diane has more than 25 years experience leading programs
in sales operations, marketing, corporate training and business
development in midsize to large corporations. She holds an
MA in Sociology from DePaul University and can be reached
at dianetesta@findingmygoodlife.com.
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