Lamisha Serf-Walls

Imagine This…

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I have always enjoyed daydreaming and envisioning the life I want to have.  Sometimes I envision the perfect vacation or the ideal job.  Sometimes it’s the ideal day or situation I am dealing with at the moment.  What is interesting is while I am thinking about the best case scenario it is really an expected outcome I am aiming for.  Aren’t we all?

But, what if instead of aiming for the end result, we instead imagined an inspired, happy, and good feeling journey to whatever it is we are looking for?journey2

Take your ultimate dream job for instance.  If you are finding yourself constantly taking score of the fact that you aren’t at your ideal job and you are working really hard to get there, you are probably going to be somewhat frustrated and over time just miserable.  But, if while you imagine your ideal job you take note of the opportunities, situations, people, and other great things that come your way as you move along your journey, you are likely to be much happier and more fulfilled.

What a concept!

To enjoy the journey of life and the inspired actions that lead you to your ultimate dream is really the ideal life right?  If you can not only enjoy the end result of whatever you want to achieve, but also enjoy the journey to that thing, you have it all figured out!

That is what is a little different about how I work.  I don’t just help clients work really hard to get to where they are going.  I help them follow their joy to whatever they are wanting.  There is a difference.

What is pretty amazing about this process is that the more you follow what feels right for you, the more progress you make.  Sound a little “woo-woo”?  Let me give you an example.

Say you want to quit your job and become a full-time world travel writer.  You have no idea how to do it, but your logical mind says you must first save enough money to travel the world and still pay your bills while you meander your way around the world.  You decide to work with me and learn how to let your logical thought process fall away for a moment and instead embrace the idea of following your inspiration.

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You decide to take the first step toward your goal and ask a friend (who is also a writer) what they know about the topic.  While you are discussing your big dream with them over coffee, you see a flyer for a writing class that peaks your interest.  Since you are following your intuition and inspiration, you go to the class to brush up on your writing skills.  In the class you meet several other writers who have big dreams too.  Some want to write fiction, others non-fiction, and to your surprise you find out the teacher has experience writing travel guides for a well-known publisher.  Wanting to get some writing gigs under your belt you speak with your instructor to find out more about that type of work.  You take away some really great info from speaking with your instructor and decide to do a bit of research on your own.  In doing so you find some other writing gigs that really interest you and while they aren’t directly related to travel, you apply.  Fast forward a few months and you have not only managed to lay the foundation to your new writing career, but you have an amazing opportunity to travel outside the country to work alongside another travel writer(incidentally your writing teacher) to help do research on a new travel guide.  Not only that, but you are getting most of your expenses paid and a small stipend during the project.  You are on your way to quitting your job and becoming the next world travel writer and enjoying every single step along the way.

To some this story may seem unrealistic and unbelievable, and I understand, but I promise you if you allow yourself to think beyond just the end result and follow your inspiration along the way, magical things happen.  It is as if the universe is responding to every little step you make and providing another wonderful experience to help you on your journey.

I can see you thinking about your ultimate dream and wondering if this could happen for you and it certainly can.  You have the ability to following the inspirational nuggets along your journey to your ultimate dream.  It doesn’t have to be logical, realistic, and hard.  It can be easy, fun, and fluid.

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I know some of you have been thinking about your dreams more and more every day and each day your passion and excitement is building.  Don’t let your current reality be the thing that stops you from taking the leap.  Maybe you have been thinking of working with me and haven’t taken that step.  Do it now!  Contact me for a free 30 minute session to chat about your dreams.  And remember I am still offering my ‘pay what you can’ special for 2 sessions so you don’t want to miss this! 

Living My Dream

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Wow what a difference a year makes!  Today is officially the one year anniversary for my blog.  It started as a past-time to keep me inspired and engaged while I waited for the pieces to fall into place for my ultimate dream career.  When I began I didn’t think that a year in I would have launched my business and be on my way to helping others follow their hearts to do the same.  It’s been a pretty amazing journey and looking back I can see how creating this blog was the single step that built the momentum for the rest of it to fall into place.

realityWhen I began, I had this preconceived notion of how my dream would take shape.  In my mind the path was logical, realistic, but boy did it feel hard.  I thought that was how it was supposed to be.  You always hear people talking about working hard, never giving up, and making sacrifices to live the life of their dreams, so I thought sure enough I was on the right path.  The only problem was that the more I wrote, the more my desire grew.  I wanted to feel like I was making progress, right now.  I couldn’t figure out how to reconcile my passion with the idea that I had to save a large sum of money, invest 6 months of my time to do something that I have always been doing.  Wasn’t the realistic way the only way?  In April, I realized the realistic way is only one way to make something happen.

It was then that I took a leap of faith.  By simply declaring (to myself) that I was going to create my own coaching model utilizing my experience, Masters in Psychology, and the many tools I have learned along the way, I took the seemingly small step that helped me create what I have today.  Did I know everything at that moment? Of course not.  But I set the intention and the flood gates of ideas opened and the pieces fell into place.  Before I knew it I had created my coaching model and began working with two guinea pig clients who have made some incredible progress!

Am I still learning?  Yes and boy am I learning a lot!  I am learning the ins and outs of business.  I am learning how to better serve my clients and how to grow into this new dream that I held so close to my heart for over a decade.

So what held me back all these years?  I was bound by reality.  Like the caged bird who knows only how to live, breathe, and survive behind bars, I allowed myself to be contained in the logical world.  I thought everyone worked a job they hated just to make ends meet and that only the lucky/rich/free people were able to do the things they wanted to simply because they loved it.  For many years my actions were driven by the need to fulfill my responsibilities in life.  Bills, work, and taking care of my family were all reasons I succumbed to the idea that I couldn’t live with my head in the clouds any longer.

I was wrong.  dream life

Today, one year into this blogging journey and only a few months into my business, I am excited for what the future holds.  I am eager to help clients break free from their perceived limitations in time, money, space, etc. so they too can feel the freedom of living a life of passion while still taking care of all the other stuff too!  You can have it all!  The time, the joy, the family, the money, the career that sets your soul on fire…all of it!  All it takes is one little step forward to get the momentum going.  And I can tell you from where I stand in my own journey, it is an incredible feeling to be living my dream and while I am still growing, evolving, and learning, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Don’t wait another minute to live the life you were meant to live, to use the gifts you have to give to the world, and to do what makes you happy.  Life is too short to put your happiness off for another moment.

I would be honored to help you move along your journey to living the life you once dreamt.  Interested in working with me and taking advantage of the incredible pay what you can deal from yesterday?  Send me an email at lamisha@lifeoncedreamt.com or contact me here to get a free 30 minute coaching session to get started.  I promise you won’t be sorry you did.

Pay What You Can-Limited Offer

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Happy Monday Fellow Dreamers!

I have been making some tweaks and adjustments to the way my website looks so don’t be alarmed if things look a little different this week.  I am very excited about some upcoming offerings and discounts that will be available for some of my coaching packages.  I am also setting up a newsletter for those of you who sign up for my VIP list.  You will be the first to get notifications about new offerings, free stuff, and can be the first to sign up for my upcoming programs.  While all that comes together, I will still be posting a few times a week to share my journey and insights with you.dreamscometrue

I don’t know about you but it seems to me that time is speeding up as the end of the year quickly approaches.  I have some major plans for 2014, but I have decided not to wait to get started and you shouldn’t either.  Now is the time to think about the things you didn’t get to do this year and get started.

What is that one thing you really wanted to do but somehow you couldn’t find the time, money, contacts, etc. to do it? 

That thing that just popped into your mind, I can help with it.  I know some of you aren’t quite sure how this coaching thing works, but I want to give you a little taste of the goodness you can get from working with me.  So, I am offering a FREE 30-minute session to anyone who is interested in discussing, brainstorming, and planning that one thing you want to do for 2014.  In that time we can pinpoint what is holding you back and discuss the next steps.  This session not only gives you an introduction to coaching, but actually gives you some clarity too!  For those of you who have been thinking of working with me, this is your chance to make that happen.  At the end of our call we can discuss whether you want to move forward with coaching.  If you decide to do so, I am also offering a special “Pay What You Can” for 2 sessions for the first 10 people interested.  Signing up is easy, just contact me here and include a note about what you would like to work on.  I will respond within 24 hours and we can get you scheduled!

drseussI hear a lot of people say if they had more time and money they would do that ultimate thing they have always dreamed of.  Some people have some of the resources, but just don’t know where to begin.  The common denominator between these two groups is the “I’ll do it when ____”.  There is always something that is delaying what they ultimately want to do and they don’t realize that in order for the pieces to fall into place you must take that first step.  All it takes is one teeny, tiny, step in the direction of your dreams and some truly amazing things can happen.  Let me show you how.  We can do some pretty amazing things in 2 full sessions so what are you waiting for?

Don’t miss out on this truly amazing offer to pay what you can afford for sessions that would cost about $100 a session with the regular pricing..  Remember this offer is limited to 10 people so don’t wait.  Contact me today!

I look forward to speaking to you about the dreams that will soon become reality!

Lessons Learned In: Planning and Momentum

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After last week where my son spent the week at home with me while I juggled my day job and side gigs, this week was extremely busy playing catch-up and planning for what is to come in October.  After talking to a coach myself I managed to put my worries that were creeping up early in the month at ease and set a loose plan for what is to come.

Lesson:  Loose planning helps maintain focus.lessons

Earlier in the month I found myself getting a little concerned/worried about the future.  In two months my day job will be ending and I have an incredible opportunity to choose what to do next.  I can either find another 9-5 gig or leap fully into my dream life with my business and writing.  The idea was becoming both exciting and scary.  I found myself feeling many of the same feelings my clients do as they think about the ‘realistic’ situations and scenarios.  With the help of my own coach I was able to come up with a loose plan to help me maintain my focus while still being open to the opportunities that may come.  Having an action list has helped me let go of the “what if” scenarios and to stay focused on my ultimate goal.  Needless to say I am feeling less stressed, positive, and far more productive than I was before.

Lesson:  When you take action, momentum begins to build.

I noticed this week (and in weeks prior), that simple actions and thoughts quickly attracted more of the same.  For instance, my worrisome thoughts led to other worries and negativity, while this week my positive and progress-oriented thoughts led to more of the same.  When I began taking steps to implement my loose plan the momentum and motivation to do more, built and surprisingly enough my energy and inspiration increased.  If that weren’t enough I found more opportunities, information, and wins flowing my way too.  I soon realized that I was applying my own coaching philosophy to this particular situation…it just comes so naturally to me.

As I move into the weekend, I plan on continuing the momentum and enjoying a nice weekend.  I hope you do the same and as always, thanks for reading!

Missing Link-Imagination

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I recently took a poll of my Facebook friends to find out what it was exactly that they felt they needed to tackle their ‘ultimate dream’.  I wanted to find out what my potential clients are struggling with so I can create more resources, programs, and content to assist them.  The responses were interesting to say the least because what they were lacking falls into one of three categories: resources (time, money, space), belief in self (courage, confidence), or knowing where to start.  I knew as soon as I read their comments that I was on to something because these were many of the things I struggled with in the last 2 years as I contemplated how I was going to begin my life coaching business.

While all of the responses fell into one of the three categories, most people said the lack of time, money, or space to create their ‘ultimate dream’, was the thing they were missing.  This isn’t all that surprising when you figure how many people are juggling a multitude of responsibilities and are simply trying to keep up with their busy schedules.  From what I gathered, a lot of the people who responded in this way had some idea of how to couragemake their dream a reality, but they only saw one way to make it happen.

Many of the responders also said that they were lacking the courage and confidence to make it happen in addition to the resources.  So before even setting out to achieve their ultimate dream, they were felt like they just couldn’t do it.  It seemed just too big to tackle right now.  Interesting…

The last response came from people not really knowing how to begin.  These are people who know what they want to do, but just haven’t put anything into action to find a way to make it happen.  These may be people who feel like their dream is so far out of reality, they can’t even fathom how to make it happen.  In fact, they may not even allow themselves to think about it too much because it is that far out.

So what do all these people have in common?  They are all using their logic to get them from point A to point B.  They are using their memories, knowledge, current reality, and logical thinking in order to figure out how to make their dreams come true and if they come up against a roadblock, many people tend to give up.  I think I have a better way of doing this.  imagination-11

Instead of looking at the reality of your situation (the responsibilities, bills to pay, kids to care for, schedules to keep up with, the fact that you have never had enough money to travel, or you are too afraid to fail etc.) and using that to find the most realistic way of doing things, I encourage you to use your imagination. Out of the box thinking allows you to be open to other possibilities of how your dream may come to fruition.  Instead of seeing a straight and narrow path to your goal or dream, you see a beautiful web of possibilities with fun stuff all along the way!  It’s there that you begin to feel the magic.

When you tap into your imagination and follow what feels good and right for you, the journey is enjoyable too.  You aren’t constantly taking score of where you are in relationship to where you want to be, but instead are enjoying the little nuggets along the way.  One piece leads to the next and to the next and before you know it you have unlocked your potential to create the ultimate dream regardless of what that entails.

There are an infinite number of possibilities to creating the life of your dreams and by hanging onto the one most likely way (in your mind), you are blocking out all the rest.  The only true limitation in achieving the life of your dreams, is the illusion you can’t do it, don’t have the means, or that it’s just too good for you, because the truth is you can have all you need.

Are you ready?