Lamisha Serf-Walls

Gratitude: Progress and Motherhood

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gratitude

Too often when we are on this journey called life, we are so focused on the ultimate outcome of various goals that we miss the beautiful progression along the way.  The stepping-stones that lead us up the mountain to our dreams are what keep us going.  They too must be celebrated.

With that said, I am so very grateful for progress.  In just a few conversations this week I have received some much-needed knowledge that is one of the many stepping-stones along my journey.  The information I received came in the natural flow of conversation with a friend and I love how those little inspirational nuggets pop up so organically.  It seems that when you take a breather from trying to figure it all out, you make the most progress and I am so grateful for the wonderful progress I made this week.  I look forward to continuing my journey with more breathes in between to allow more of the details to fill in naturally.  I don’t have to have it all figured out now, and neither do you.  Just be grateful for the wonderful flow and progress of life.  It’s the flow that makes life so sweet.

In addition to being grateful for progress this week, I am also so very grateful for the journey of motherhood.  While Mother’s Day is typically a time for appreciating the mothers in our lives, I find that it is also a time where mothers are grateful for having the incredible opportunity of mothering a child.  I find that it is an incredible blessing that I don’t take for granted.  Time flies when you are having fun and it seems that before you know it little ones are towering over you.  Luckily enough my little one is far from towering over me, but he certainly is growing like a little weed.  Knowing that time doesn’t exactly slow down, I am savoring the wonderful moments we have together now.

I hope you find many things to savor and be grateful for this weekend and a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there!

Imagination vs Reality

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In speaking with a friend today, I was reminded of how many of us live in a world where many of the choices we make in life revolve around what we deem “realistic”.  Many of us are working, living, and simply planning our lives in a way that allows us to get through the next week, month, or year without ever focusing on what it is we want in this life.  We have somehow allowed our lives to be a matter of survival instead of a life of abundance and joy.

The creative thought we once had as a child has been put to sleep while reality has infiltrated our minds, giving us a false sense of security.  We are made to believe that we must follow a path that makes the most sense and stick with it.  After working and living a mediocre, just getting by life, we may be able to retire and then get to the things we always dreamed about.

But isn’t that backwards?

I always thought the sequence of events from High School to College to Adulthood seemed too swift for my liking and nonsensical.  How in the world was I supposed to decide what I wanted to do with my life when I hadn’t ever explored the world?  Shouldn’t I have some knowledge of my choices before I blindly choose a career?  As they say: hindsight is 20/20.

Since I didn’t know any other way, I followed what many of my peers were doing.  I decided on a career that I thought would carry me forward for the rest of my life.  I decided to major in Exercise Science and minor in Dance.  Seemed easy enough right?  The truth is, I didn’t think doing something else was an option.  I didn’t know I could use my imagination to create the life of my dreams.  I thought in order to be successful you had to find a box that you fit in and follow the path like many other boxes before you.  It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I could get out of that box and meander along a new path on my own.  I finally realized, I do have a choice.  You have a choice too.

Consistently focusing on what you or other people think is reasonable or realistic in terms of your career or other life choices is the perfect way to maintain a mediocre life.  If you allow reality (however you define it) to dictate your choices in life, you are bound to feel like there is something missing.

It is only when we allow ourselves to reawaken the imagination that lies dormant in so many of us, that we can finally take a much-needed step outside of our comfort zone.  A comfort zone that has kept us in one place and in some ways has limited our personal and sometimes professional growth.  Sure it can be somewhat scary, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and an amazing ride.

The next time you make a choice, whatever choice that may be…consider if it is coming from a place of “reality” or a place somewhere in your imagination.  I think you will find your creative choices will make life, not only more interesting, but wildly fulfilling.

Use your imagination to create the life of your dreams.  In your imagination anything goes!  And remember thoughts become things so as you ponder the most fulfilling life you ever imagined, you are creating a flow of energy to make those dreams become your future reality.

Anything Is Possible!

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Photo courtesy of daytobeyou.com
Photo courtesy of daytobeyou.com

I can’t tell you how much I love hearing stories about how people achieved the life of their dreams.  People that beat all odds to do miraculous and unique things that make them happy.  There is something about those stories that reminds me that anything is possible no matter how unreal it may seem.

This morning I was watching show about a family run company that takes old junk and refurbishes it to reuse in a new way.  This family has a store, a design business, and a warehouse where they sell these wonderfully unique items.  Sure there are plenty of people who have craft hobbies, but few ever think of turning it into a passionate business that not only satisfies the creative appetite, but also brings in income as well.  I love it!

Another example comes from a book I am reading titled Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye.  After traveling around the world in search of enlightenment in various ways, Timber is now living the life of his dreams.  His dream was to create a life that allowed him to do the things he loved each day.  How did he do it?  He simplified his life.  Instead of working 40+ hours a week to pay for a lifestyle that didn’t mean as much to him as his other interests (hiking, surfing, volunteering, connecting with others), he is now working 20 hours a week.  He cut down his expenses enough so he only has to work half as much while he enjoys his life so much more.  He created the life of his dreams by focusing on what was most important to him.  And do you know where he lives??? Hawaii, one of the most expensive places to live…like I said, anything is possible.

That leads me to my next story about a man named Adam Baker.  Adam is the founder of ManvsDebt and his story is quite remarkable.  He and his wife decided they were done with the mounting debt they had accumulated and decided that they wanted to live the life of their dreams.  How did they do it?  They sold most of their possessions, paid off their debt, and traveled the world.  They vowed to only keep the bare necessities in terms of clothing, books, or other miscellaneous items and sold the rest.  They also simplified their life in order to make room for the life they wanted to live.  A life that inspires others to get out of debt and do the things they love.  They lead by example and their story is incredible.  Another example that anything is possible.

I am convinced that it doesn’t matter how “crazy” your dream may seem, it is possible.  Maybe you want to sell all your crap and build a little shack in the woods or maybe you want to create a business making inspirational bumper stickers.  Whatever your dream is, I know you can do it.  I know it is possible.  Life is a magical journey and even your wildest dreams can come true.  You just have to have a little faith and a lot of passion.  Passion is what drives us to move in the direction of our dreams.

There are so many people in the world living the life of their dreams, so many that I have decided to highlight one person/business/venture/dreamer each week as an ongoing series.  I hope you find their stories inspirational and uplifting, but most of all I hope you realize if they can do it, you can do it too!

Delegating The Dream Details

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I have often mentioned that I am a recovering “do-er”, meaning I far too often attempt to use action to make things happen instead of allowing them to happen naturally.  I guess it stems from the mentality that “if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself”, however time and time again I have learned that isn’t always true.  Sometimes the missing pieces fill in perfectly when I give my project the breathing room it needs.  The missing piece may come in the form of a quiet thought while I am focused on something else, or it comes from someone else entirely.  Either way I am learning that I don’t always have to make things happen and that goes for the details of my dreams as well.

Have you ever woken up from a dream with a knowing of what happened, but the details are fuzzy?  You can feel what happened and in some cases you can see the big picture but can’t quite make out the details.  That’s how it can feel when you are inspired to achieve your life dreams.  Often we find ourselves very aware of the big picture.  We know what we want in the end.  We can see it in our minds and feel the deliciousness in our soul, but the details that lead to that big picture are fuzzy.  Some are even invisible.

I am in that space in regards to my coaching business.  I can visualize the end result and the many services and goodies I want to offer my clients, yet many of the details have yet to fill in.  I even found myself moving into “do-er” mode last night while trying to research some of the details.  Not only was the action not inspired action, but it just felt forced.  I realized I was forcing the details to fill in and based on my previous experience, forcing them is never a good idea.  Sure it might get done, but it won’t be without some unnecessary headaches and frustration.  Remembering that, I stopped in my tracks and let it go.

Or so I thought.

This morning I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be doing something in regards to some of the details.  See, my old thought processes are kicking into gear and becoming impatient with my progress.  The deeper part of me knows that all is well and things are moving along beautifully, however the “do-er” is pulling her hair out.  She would ask a million questions about “how”, “when”, and “who” if I let her, however I have done a pretty good job of keeping those thoughts at bay.  I know my dream is coming together perfectly and that the details will fill in accordingly, but what about the “do-er”?  I had to figure out a way to appease that part of me that wants to make lists and action steps and all that jazz.  So, here’s what I did…

I made a list, but the list was not for me to worry about.  It was a list to the Universe (insert God, Goddess, Energy, whatever tickles your fancy).  On this list are some of the details the “do-er” can’t seem to let go of.  Instead of worrying about them day in and day out, I am letting go of my control over them.  I am accepting and trusting the fact that they will be handled appropriately and only when I am ready to deal with the details (through inspired action and inspirational nuggets), will I take control of them.  Until then, they are out of my hands.

Think of it as delegating tasks.  When the details begin to get overwhelming, delegate.  I am choosing to keep the things on my “list”, that inspire, delight, and motivate me to continually make progress.  The Universe can handle the rest.  And when the time is right, I trust that the details my “do-er” has been stressing about, will fill in beautifully and all will be well.

Far too often we allow the details to overwhelm our excitement and passion for our dreams.  We allow reality as we see it to limit our beliefs and thinking in such a way that it stalls our forward movement.  But, what if instead of worrying about the “how”, we allow it to be revealed to us in perfect timing?  That isn’t to say we get lazy with our dreams, it simply means to keep the vision and motivation alive while not getting bogged down with the idea that we have to figure it all out right this moment.  The truth is we don’t.  All will be revealed in perfect timing.

The vision you hold and the good feelings that stem from your dreams will lead you effortlessly to the “how”.  You just have to have a little faith and delegate the details to the Universe to figure out.