Lamisha Serf-Walls

It’s All Working Out…

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My Dear Dreamers,

I wanted to take this moment to let you know that you are on your way to the most amazing future you could ever imagine.  It may not be obvious right now, but believe me when I say all the pieces are fitting together perfectly and your journey is unfolding in the best way possible.

Can you feel that spark of inspiration?  It will be undeniable and you will be whisked away in a flurry of inspired action as you move along to the very next step of your dream.  When you find yourself falling into the dungeon of doubt, remember the last surge of inspiration you had.  Do you remember how it felt to jump into action as if your soul was on fire?  Do you remember all the amazing ideas that came to you at that time?  Do you remember how sure of yourself you were and how confident you were in creating the life of your dreams? No one could tell you otherwise.

Remember that time.  Feel it.  Embrace it and allow it to take you into other moments just like it where you know without a shadow of a doubt that you will see your dream meet reality and far sooner than you believe.

Trust that while you may not have all the pieces right now that they will come in exactly the time you need them.  The contacts you need, the time, the money, the lessons, all of it will appear at exactly the right moment.  Just know that to be true and enjoy each and every step of the process.

Your dream life is so much more that the manifested reality you are creating now.  It is the goodness, the positive experiences, the lessons, the joy, and the amazing journey you experience on your way to your dream life.  That is what it’s all about because just as soon as your dream is complete, another one takes it’s place and you will once again meander your way through a path of awesome unknowns to a place of incredible insight.

So what is your inspiration telling you now?  What do you just have to do right this minute?  Whatever it is, don’t waste anymore time reading this post, go do it!

🙂

What To Do With In-Between Time

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When you set out on your journey to create the life of your dreams, it isn’t abnormal to feel a slow withdraw from the reality you have been living.  Everyday responsibilities and commitments may not feel the same as they once did and though you are working on your dream in your spare time, it can seem like it just isn’t enough.  It can get to a point where you feel like you are in limbo, teetering between two worlds, yet not fully engaged in either.

I get it, in fact I more than just “get” it.  I’m living it, this very moment.

If you are like me, you might be used to fully engaging in whatever activity you have set forth to accomplish and it can feel unnatural to withdraw your energy.  If you aren’t quite sure how the future is going to unfold (and let’s be honest we don’t always know what lies ahead), it can make this in-between time feel even more unstable and often scary.  Not being fully aware of what is next on your path can easily create doubt, worry, and a loss of faith in your dreams.

So, what do you do?  If you aren’t here or there and are struggling to find your footing between worlds, what can you possibly do???

The answer is very simple and is one I have heard over and over again (and I am sure you have too.)

Be here now.

Image from bepresentproject.com
Image from bepresentproject.com

As humans we are very good at reflecting on the past and planning for the future, but most of us generally stink at being IN the moment.  We are so busy planning our next moment and reflecting on past mistakes and misgivings, that our entire lives are focused on planning on what is to come while not making the same mistakes and we miss this moment.

I am no Eckhart Tolle or Ram Dass, but I know that being in the moment is an incredible lesson to be learned and is one of my own personal quests in this life.  In fact, it is one I think I am just beginning to get a handle on.

If you are like me you are probably thinking “Yeah, I get it, focus on the present, but what can I DO to do that??”

The specific steps may be a little different for everyone, but I have outlined a few of the things that work for me.  Try them out and see if they help you too.

  • Meditate- Meditation is the act of being present.  For constant planners and doers, this can be challenging at first, but with consistent practice it gets much easier.  This practice is by far one of the best ways for me to focus on the moment and has a very powerful effect on my mindfulness throughout the rest of the day.
  • Stop Multi-tasking– Say what?? Multi-tasking is a way of life for many, but while we are trying to 10 things at once, we are robbing ourselves (and our work, family, health etc.) of operating on all cylinders.  Splitting your energy and focus can result in mistakes, frustration, anxiety, and worry.  So the next time you find yourself doing one thing, thinking about another, and planning your next steps, stop and take a deep breath.  Move into the next moment with a singular focus and take it one thing at a time.
  • Practice Gratitude-This has been another paramount practice for me during my time of transition.  Instead of focusing on the things that haven’t yet happened or worrying about what the future may bring, take a step back.  Look around you and become aware of the beautiful blessings that surround you daily.  On your drive to work how many times have you been aware of the flaming sunrise before you?  What about the crisp fall air that reminds you, you are alive?  There are always amazing things going on around you and if you can settle into the present and become mindful of them, the future will not only be incredible, but you will be able to enjoy the beauty when you encounter it.
  • Trust- While worry can creep in during moments of overwhelm, it is important to trust the process and unfolding.  Things are working out for you just as they did when you began your dream journey.  The pieces fall into your path at exactly the right moment and while you are moving toward your ultimate dream, remember to trust in the process.  You might find it helpful to create a mantra or two that remind you that all is well and everything is working out.

While the above practices appear to be much less doing and more being, it is important to continue to follow your inspiration along the way.  What is interesting is that the more you become aware of the present moment, the more you are able to recognize those inspirational nuggets.  You might enjoy a nice conversation with a stranger in line at the coffee shop or become aware of the beautiful surroundings when you hear about an incredible connection that will help you on your journey.

Life is full of those little miracles that will lead you down your beautiful path of your dreams.  You just have to be mindful of them.

My wish for you today is to enjoy the start of your week by slowing down, becoming mindful, and being fully present in the moment.

Less Than Motivated…

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It happens to us all right?  You have those days where you know you “should” be getting busy and marking things off your to-do list, but you have zero motivation.  The inspiration to act just isn’t there and to be honest you would just as much like to take a nap and try again later…or not.

I am having one of those days today.  My list of things to be done is ever-growing and even after a mid-day nap I can’t fight this “meh” feeling I am having.

What is a coach to do???

Well first thing to do is admit that we are human and we have those days.  Days when things seem a little less go-go-go and a lot more..zzzzzz.

And while I may not be able to put my finger on exactly what is going on, I’m not sure it matters.  What matters is accepting that it happens to us all and it will pass.

So what do you do in the meantime?  You can’t just sleep all day and not tend to your responsibilities right?

I guess that would depend on what your responsibilities are.  I know I have a lot of things I have set a loose deadline for in my business building and freelance writing.  I have very few things that absolutely have to be done today, so while there is a part of me that knows I really should do X, Y, Z…I’m taking the easy way out and meandering my way back to motivation.

I find that if I am less than motivated to act on something, forcing myself to do it makes it so much worse.  Not only is the end result lackluster and boring, but it feels miserable to do.  So, if I can avoid it, I don’t do it.  Luckily enough this feeling only comes during days when I have my day job that is already pretty lackluster and clearly not my passion.

So, I do what I can to pass the time in hopes that this “meh” feeling passes quickly.  The good news is that typically it will move along and I am back to my bubbly, go-getter, inspired self in no time.  I’m just not there yet.

So why am I sharing my less than motivated moment with you?

Because I want you to know that even professionals feel the same way you do.  We are not super-human, always happy, always successful, never-failing people.  Nope, we are just regular passionate, inspired, and mostly motivated individuals that like you, have one of those days.

And this is mine.

The next time you are feeling less than motivated, don’t fight the feeling.  Just go with it and ask yourself honestly, “What do I feel like doing right this moment?”  Should you get an answer, go with it and see if your mood turns around.

Writing this post was the first thing that came to mind for me.

Visualize, Be Inspired, Take Small Steps, Repeat

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Last week I posted about being open to the many possibilities regarding how money can flow into our lives and there by opening opportunities to living the life you want to live.  For many, money is the limiting factor before they even get started.  It’s a roadblock they throw up as they begin thinking about what their dream life might look like.  They tend to not get very far in their vision because the pesky idea that they must have the money first, causes them to stop dead in their tracks.bliss quote

I have heard many times over the years that when you do what you love the money just follows.  I always surmised that in order for me to do what I love, I had to have the money first.  In my linear way of thinking that is all I could come up with and so I worked backwards.  If I needed the money before I could do what I loved, then I would have to find a way for me to get the money and most often it meant doing something that I didn’t like doing to get it.  I was stuck.

I realize now what all that talk about doing what you love and allowing the money to follow was about.  It’s not about you doing something to make money as much as it is doing something because it brings you joy.  Isn’t that worth more anyways?  I know there are bills to pay and responsibilities to take care of, but who says right this very moment you have to quit your job and take a flying leap into the land of who knows what?  That’s not what I am saying at all.

What I mean is that when you take a step (no matter how small it might be) to follow your heart, things just seem to line up and opportunities fall into place, many times from resources you didn’t even think about.  Life is full of these situations and I am sure you have had something like this happen once or twice before.

I have had it happen a lot and each time I smile, laugh a little, and feel the amazing feeling of pieces falling into place.  I remind myself even in times when things are lackluster and feeling stagnant, that these moments happen all the time, and as long as I am doing what I love and following my heart, the pieces will fall into place.  For me those pieces are often money, resources, contacts, opportunities, and amazing gifts that I had never thought about.

Still not convinced it can happen for you?

I have a little exercise for you to try.  Think about your ultimate dream.  Maybe it is starting a business, writing a book, traveling the world, or writing and producing an amazing film that will change the world.  Whatever it may be, think about it.  Visualize it.  Feel it and allow your imagination to run wild for a moment.  Don’t think about the steps to get there.  Don’t think about whether it is realistic or not, just envision it.  See all the details and feel the excitement you will have once it is real.  Smile and be inspired. Got the image?

inspirationNow, I want you to take one step toward that vision.  Something that feels easy to do.  If you are writing a book, think about the title or the main characters name.  Write it down.  If you are wanting to start a business, do an internet search for others like it.  The key here is to do something that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but is a step in the right direction.  Take note of what you find or what you write and when your inspiration fades, let it go.

For the next week take note of the things that happen around you.  For instance, you might hear your main character’s name while you are out shopping and it leads you to think about a specific storyline for your book.  Or you might hear a song that would be perfect for your film you want to create.  Make note of all those seemingly simple, yet incredibly inspiring moments.  Allow them to feed off of the other and follow your inspiration to the next thing.

Visualize.  Be inspired.  Take small steps. Read the signs. Be Inspired. Repeat.

Try it and see where your path leads you.  I would love the opportunity to share your story with other readers so if you are up for the challenge, try it out and email me with your results.

This is going to be fun!

Lessons Learned In: Unplugging & Balance

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Well friends, the weekend is coming to an end and as I end this (partial) unplugged weekend, I learned some very valuable lessons that I want to share with you.

Lesson: Unplugging from technology may be difficult, but it is well worth the time and effort for the amount of peace and serenity it provides.

I have to say that when I set the intention to spend the weekend “unplugged” I hadn’t put much thought behind it.  I knew I needed some time away from the constant feed of emails, constant Facebook feeds, and the endless supply of information simply because I spend so much time through the week connected for my day job, my business, and my side gigs, I often am left feeling depleted and frazzled.  I thought it would be easy to leave the phone behind and not scramble to check my emails every time I had a new notification.  I was wrong.  It was much more difficult than I thought.  Though on Friday, just after making my declaration in my last post, I took a book outside and sat in the mild South Carolina weather and read for about 20 minutes and I couldn’t help but feel free.  I felt the tension ease in my shoulders and a growing sense of peace fall over me as I collapsed into the nothingness that became my Friday evening.

As the weekend wore on, I had an on/off relationship with peace.  While the frazzled feeling never returned, I checked my email a few times as well as my Facebook page, though not nearly as often as I would have.  I was making progress.  Today, was by far the best since I was able to disconnect almost completely and only picked up the computer now to write this post.  What I found about this semi-unplugged time was that it is far more a habit than I realized and it is something I could stand to give up every once in a while.  In fact, I intend to be more mindful of my email/Facebook checking even throughout the week as it can end up being a drain of not only my energy, but also my time.

Another thing I realized about this time is that I was far less focused on measurements of various things such as website statistics and Facebook likes.  Things that when you think about it are nothing but numbers.  It can be far too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that certain numbers (or lack there of) mean one’s success or failure.  Taking time away from those measurements has definitely allowed me to relax about business related things as well.  All-in-all, this intention taught me that it is not only healthy, but necessary to take time away from things every once in a while to allow you to reconnect with nature, family, and friends.  It’s nice to let go of our online lives for a bit so we don’t miss what life is all about.

Lesson:  Work/life balance is even more important when you own your own business.

Since I have been juggling many responsibilities for the past few months, I have begun to feel a drain on my energy and my capacity to focus on certain things.  Not only have I placed more focus on my business and put more effort into ways to market myself and get new clients, but I have also increased my freelance writing work as well.  In the process of all this work I began to lose my sense of ease and flow.  I was so focused on doing the next thing and figuring out how to move forward that I forgot to just relax, breathe, and flow with life.  Sounds kinda airy-fairy, I know but I realized even in the early stages of my business how crucial it is for me to maintain a good work/life balance.

So, as I embraced the idea of being “unplugged” this weekend, I was eager to get out and do something just for fun with no thought to what I “should” be doing.  In fact, I didn’t do any work all weekend long which is a first for me at least recently.  I am teaching myself to get into the practice of not only taking time away from technology every now and then, but also to do things for fun.  Life is meant to be enjoyed right?

How was your weekend?  Did you unplug and enjoy time with friends and family?