The last couple of years have done a number on us. Many people found their focus shift from desires to necessities, from thriving to existing, from career climbing to care giving.
Suddenly, we were learning how to navigate struggle, lack, fear and isolation which led to feelings of being disconnected, overwhelmed, anxious, uncertain and lost.
As the world robustly re-opens, I’ve discovered two very common threads:
1. Having survived, people now want to thrive. Recognizing that life can be too short, people want to live a more purposeful life aligned with their values and desires while using their unique skills and talents, and
2. Even with a strong desire for change, people feel stuck or overwhelmed and don’t know how to start making a meaningful change.
So, if you are in the camp ready to thrive, let’s spend some time making significant shifts by exploring your ideal day.
If I asked you to describe your ideal day to me, would it roll off your lips with ease, delight and enthusiasm? Or would you have to stop and think about it? And after thinking about it, would you have clarity or confusion?
Let’s dig in and do some intentional creating.
First, give yourself permission to explore. You don’t have to know all the answers – start with what you do know.
Second, if you don’t have a clear vision of your desired change, look for the words that describe what you want to experience or how you want to feel.
Then, consider what actions would lead to those desired feelings or experiences.
I first did this exercise 11 years ago when I was struggling navigating a divorce as I was working in my business that I no longer enjoyed and, for the trifecta, I had no meaningful outlets or hobbies. Ouch.
It was way too overwhelming to try to create a new life from that place, but I could chunk it down into what was important and let momentum drive exploration.
On January 1, 2011, I created an outline of my ideal day – I still have the original notes. I knew I wanted a healthy morning routine and decided meditation, exercise and good nutrition were keys to total body, mind and spirit wellness. I wanted to feel abundant with my time rather than trying to squeeze everything in. Importantly, I decided to incorporate creativity into every day.
After I wrote it all out, I started running South Mountain every morning and returned home to meditate and drink healthy smoothies. I enrolled in an art class and fell in love with painting. Time starting to flow with ease and I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished.
Within 4 months of writing out my ideal day, I moved to Napa with a fresh, exciting outlook on life. Little did I know my creativity commitment would lead to me becoming an artist!
While the move and being an artist were not listed on my ideal day, the power of clarity and exploration with commitment to the ideal allowed the aligned outcomes to easily flow into my life.
Now it’s your turn.
Find an inspiring location, enjoy your favorite music, pull out your favorite pens/markers and journal, or your tablet for my e-inclined friends, enjoy a delightful beverage, (a latte, jasmine tea or glass of wine do the trick for me), and reflect on the ideal life you want to breathe life into.
Visualize the day in detail if you know it and if not, connect with how you want to feel or what you want to experience.
Really sit with it and take it all in.
Give yourself permission to explore.
Then, write a thorough description of your ideal day.
Write it in present tense as a current state of doing it. Rather than stating, “I will start the day…” try this instead, “I start the day….”
Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself as you decide what is most important to you. Trade your fear for curiosity and Do Not censor yourself as you answer the following questions:
Click Ideal Day collage to download the Describe Your Ideal Day questions
Once created, keep the description close at hand. Re-visit it regularly. Daily.
Remember – There is power in words and even more power in the declaration of what you want in your life.
The act of describing your ideal day helps your mind understand what’s important which in turn helps you start to better align your life towards the ideal.
There is conscious and unconscious movement towards the ideal.
For added bonus, create a vision board that reflects your ideal, desires, etc., and keep it in front of you!
I’ll leave you with the wisdom of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:
“You are not a powerless speck of dust drifting around in the wind… We are, each of us, like beautiful snowflakes – unique, and born for a specific reason and purpose.”
P.S. If you are ready to learn how to tame your fears, turn obstacles into opportunities and strategically take on change to build a life aligned with your values and purpose, let’s talk. Contacting me by clicking Here
p.p.s. Are you receiving my weekly newsletter?
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I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs upgrade their mindset, eliminate limiting beliefs and reprogram critical, negative self-talk so they can courageously and authentically use their voice, gifts and talents to make a bigger impact.
If you're ready to thrive and develop an unshakeable belief in who you are and what you can achieve, let's talk!
Carpe Diem!
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