Your life is your CHOICE

Your life is your choice.

How often have we felt helpless in the face of everything that seems to hold us back? The past, the present, money, relationships, weight, appearance, self-esteem, education, connections – we can come up with so many reasons for why we aren’t successful.

The power to transcend all of that and become who you were meant to be lies within you and the choices you make. Ultimately, you assign meaning to your circumstances; they don’t assign meaning to you. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve been through, you can start today and make your life an expression of possibility, fulfillment, success, and love.

Preparation is a demonstration of faith because true faith is revealed through action. We’ve heard about the countless visualization techniques out there, but the most revealing demonstration of faith is whether you’re prepared to receive what you say you want. What do you believe to be true about your life? Is there tangible evidence of that belief? Let’s say you ordered a sofa today and it was scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. How would you prepare? You’d move the old sofa out, right? You’d clear out the tables and lamps so that the movers could bring the sofa straight through the door and into the space you had set aside for it. You’d want to be sure you were home so the movers could get in to make the delivery. You would be ready. Are you ready for what you want to receive in your life? Your blessings are on the way, but are you ready? Are you in the right place to receive your blessings? Your destiny is racing towards you just as quickly as you’re racing towards it! Have you done the preparation for your blessings to come flowing easily and quickly into your life? Remember that we don’t get what we want; we get what we prepare for.

Keep your inspiration close. What really inspires you? What makes you feel completely alive? What makes your spirit sing? Even the most successful people will tell you that they’ve had tough days or even tough years. We’ve all been through seasons that tested the very essence of our spirit and left us wondering whether we were on the right path. But you’re here, and you’re still moving forward. Discover what inspires and awakens you and keep it close. When you feel sad, drained, angry, or frustrated, turn to those things, people, places, and ideas to keep you focused and positive.

Take consistent action. Now is the time. Think about it: Everything that happened yesterday is in the past. It’s over and done with and can’t be reclaimed. And the future isn’t here yet – it hasn’t happened so your only power over it is limited to a present intention. That means that all you truly have is NOW. And what are you doing with your now? Memories are better than regrets – memories are nothing more than a series of really great “now”s – invest your mental and emotional energy into the now and begin to see now as the greatest gift to be, do, and have the abundance life has to offer. When you catch yourself worrying, ask yourself, "What am I avoiding now by using up this moment with worry?" Then take specific action.
Your life is your choice; choose wisely.

So...you've got options...now what?

This week, a member of the Inspired Girls team sent me an interesting question. As a life strategist, I get questions almost every day relating to life strategies, success, business and more. She asked such a fantastic question that I decided to answer it in this week’s e-zine.

The question was about decision-making. She’s been presented with several situations in her life that require that she make decisions…and of course, she wants to make smart decisions that benefit her in the short and long run.

So today, I’m offering simple, powerful methods for making smart choices when you’re faced with options. Even though we generally consider options to be a good thing, there is a such thing as too much of a good thing, right?

Here we go:

1. Define your values. Everyone in the Inspired Living Community hears me talk about VALUES all the time because they’re so essential to getting the clarity necessary to make smart, specific choices that you don’t regret later. If I ask you what your top 5 values are, you should be able to quickly rattle off a list because those things should be so present and evident and you should be living them every day. How do you define your values? There are many ways. Having a heart-centered conversation with a friend can be helpful. Enlisting the help of a coach is also a great way to discover your values. When new members come into the Inspired Living Community, they receive a list of over 200 values and we whittle it down to 6. I know it sounds crazy and overwhelming, but this kind of work is why they get such powerful results.
2. Put it on paper. What are the pros and cons of each option? What are the current AND future implications of your choices? It’s easy to focus on what each options will produce now and in the near future, but remember to take a look at the wide shot. What does the 5 year forecast of this decision look like? Use these answers in your process.
3. Do a 360 analysis. You guys know that I’m always using my business terms in life because I think a life that works is much like a business that works. So, examine the choice from 360 degrees – who will be affected by your choice? Which areas of your life will be impacted and how? What will you need to change in order to accommodate each option? Does the decision move you closer to or further from your stated goals? These questions can illuminate areas you may have overlooked in the process of making your decision.

The skill of making great decisions is essential to living the Inspired Life. Clarity helps us discern opportunities from distractions. Be clear about your goals and always use your goals and values as your compass for moving along your path to your destiny.

Inspired Journaling Prompt: What are your values? Think about the things you spend money and time on – these are the true indicators of what you value.

Inspired Action: What important decisions are on the horizon for you? Thoughtfully considering decisions before you’re forced to make them puts you in a position of power. Think it through and make the decision that best reflects your Inspired Life!