Lamisha Serf-Walls

2014: Theme of the Year

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Moving along with my end of year planning posts, I wanted to share a bit with you about my theme of this coming year.  If you have been following me for a while now, then you may remember last year my theme for 2013 was to “Be Open”.  I wanted to simply allow myself to be open to the possibilities, opportunities, and ideas that came about for 2013.  I can honestly say that those words were perfect for this year and they led me to create my coaching business from the ground up.

So, as we move into 2014, I had a bit of trouble figuring out what my theme would be.  I had a lot of ideas that came to mind, but none of them really felt just right.  Some of the words that came to mind were “Service” and “Beginnings”, but neither really made my souls say “YES”!

When I allowed myself the space to let the words just come to me, I came up with the perfect theme…Show Up.

What does that mean?tama

It means that no matter what this year, I am making a commitment to myself to show up to the opportunities and changes that I am making even if they scare me.  The inspiration came from a book by Tama Kieves called Inspired & Unstoppable where she reminds lovely creative souls to show up to their work, their craft, and their calling no matter what.  Her words touched my heart and really resonated with me and when the words came to me, I knew they were perfect for 2014.

In a few days of putting this theme to practice, I  have learned that the simple act of “showing up” creates the space for inspiration to occur.  For example when I am intimidated by the blank page, if I commit to just sitting down, then something always comes out.

Simply put, regardless of the insecurities, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and any other reason that might cause me to procrastinate on something that is important to me, I commit to showing up.

I have learned that nine times out of ten the fear and worry are unwarranted and the simple act of showing up allows me to continue to grow and evolve as an individual and as a coach.

Have you thought about setting a theme or a word for the New Year?  If you haven’t ever tried it before, I encourage you to give it a try.  Think about it, write it down, and revisit it throughout the year.  You might be surprised at how your year progresses when using this simple practice.

There are a lot of other bloggers and coaches using this same practice if you want to check them out before you decide on your own word.  Check out Tiffany Han‘s word of the year to see why she chose the word she did.  If you decide you want to choose one of your own, I would love to hear it.  Share in the comments below!

When Is The Perfect Time???

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How many times do you find yourself waiting, planning, scheming, and trying to get everything just right before you move forward with a big goal?  Something like moving or changing jobs can require a bit of planning in order to do it without a lot of unnecessary stress, but when it comes to your dreams, when is the perfect time to get started?

It has been my experience that there isn’t a specific moment when the clouds part, the sun is shining, and you just know that everything is perfect.  Let’s face it, perfect is word that tends to cause us to procrastinate on the things we want most in life because we want it to be just right.  And my perfect may not be the same as yours and I would bet that your perfect may not even be all that realistic right?

What I am really talking about here is how you know when it’s time to move forward and take that leap you have dreaming of.  For me, it took some visualization, excitement, and inspiration I gained by watching others take that big scary leap.  It was then that I realized the perfect time I was waiting for was just a ploy for me to, well keep dreaming.  In the dream phase my goal was beautiful, exciting, but not quite real.  I mean, I wanted it, but it was more of a figment of my imagination than it was something I could accomplish.  When I put the perfection aside and took the leap, I had more inspiration than I knew what to do with and it seemed that things were coming together by my not waiting for the perfect moment.

How could it be?

How could it all come together in the most organic, unplanned, yet almost magical way?medium_10799618335

It came together because I always had the potential to accomplish my dreams and one day I just decided to take that first step.  I didn’t have to know the whole dance, hell I still don’t know the whole dance, but I’m learning more and more each day.  I guarantee you will too.

You see, that perfect time you are waiting for is now. Today. Or Tomorrow.  Or whenever you choose for it to be.  It’s not about getting specific things lined up so you can take that first step.  It’s about taking the first step and trusting that the rest will fall in line.

It’s about believing in yourself and allowing your path to be guided by the magical intuition you have been gifted with because it will always lead the way if you listen.

Do you hear it now?  What is it saying?

Whether you make today, tomorrow, or next week your “perfect time”, you will be right because you get to choose.  The question is why wait?

Things are getting busier with the holidays creeping up, but if you are ready to take the leap into your dreams I am ready to help you get to where you are going.  Send me an email at lamisha@lifeoncedreamt.com to get more info or to sign up for your free session today. 

photo credit: symphony of love via photopin cc

Endings and New Beginnings

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I suppose it is fitting that endings and new beginnings have been on my mind as of late.  As the year quickly comes to a close many people are taking advantage of this time to make plans for the new year while reflecting on what they have accomplished this year.  While I don’t think it’s necessary to stay focused in the past for too long, it is important to reflect on how far you have come, where you are going, and what changes you want to make. medium_4646140669

As my most recent full-time position ended on Friday, I found myself in the most wonderful (and weird) state of peace.  While I have never been laid off from any position, there was something about this position ending during at this time of the year that felt so right.  All along I have felt that this situation just happened perfectly and that in 3, 6, or even 12 months in the future, I will look back on this moment and know that this was the turning point to something bigger.  As I sit here and write this, I have no idea what that might be, but I am so excited to find out.

I wasn’t always this easy about change.  There was once a time in my life when even the most simple changes threw me for a loop.  Something so small as changing my schedule could throw my entire day off.  A flat tire? Bad weather? Anything out of my ordinary expectations would ruin my entire day and we aren’t even talking about money.  Money issues are an entirely different story.  Yet, here I am looking into a future that is far more unknown than is known and I am peaceful, happy even.  I have faith that it will work out.  I will find my next thing and it will be the perfect situation for what I need in that moment.  I’m not worried and for me that is a little bit weird.

How about you?  How well do you deal with change?  With this year coming to a close are there things that you are ready to move on from and other things you want to get started?  I’m sure you may have a laundry list of things that you would like to implement into this new year and maybe even some things that you are ready to close the door on.  Whatever that might be for you, I would love the chance to chat with you about it.  I am still scheduling free-intro sessions for anyone who is interested.  So, if you are looking for someone to help you create some simple, yet inspiring action steps to get you moving into your new beginnings with ease, I’m your girl.  Simply contact me and we can get you well on your way to an amazing start to 2014.  I can’t wait to see what is in store!
photo credit: bjornmeansbear via photopin cc

Inspiration Round-Up

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It has been awhile since my last Inspiration Round-up and I am long overdue especially with so many awesome and inspiring things I have run into recently. So, sit back, relax and enjoy a bit of inspiration on the house!

Articles of Interest:

  • If you want to know what it’s like behind the scenes of a highly successful entrepreneur/life coach, check out Michelle Ward’s post that gives readers the inside scoop on what a typical week looks like for her. It seriously made me re-evaluate how I balance my days between day-job and midnight-hustle.
  • Are you putting a particular project off more and more each day, knowing you really need to get busy on it?  Check out how Jess Lively made her pending project first priority each day.  Such a simple practice that really works. (I even implemented it myself!)
  • Wanna feel better about where you are in your dream journey/business/path to fulfillment?  Rebecca Tracey shares how she got started in her business and how lowering her expectations actually caused an increase in her courage and ability to pursue what was right for her.  It’s incredibly inspiring and if at times you feel like you have no idea what is going on, it will make you feel better I promise. 

Books to blow your mind:

  • I just started reading Inspired & Unstoppable by Tama Kieves and with each new chapter she manages to tap into my heart and soul a little deeper.  Her quotes have me thinking “Yes!!!” and I’m only a few chapters in.  If you are buying yourself a gift this season, do yourself a favor and get this book.  I can already tell this is going to be a life/business/game-changer for me and will be a book I read again (and I NEVER read books more than once). 
  • I am also hoping that Santa will deliver a book that has gotten rave reviews by many business/personal development peeps on the interwebs.  I haven’t received it yet, but I am looking forward to reading The War of Art and Turning Pro.  I sure hope Santa is reading my blog. 🙂

2014 Planning Tools:

  • I personally cannot wait to get my hands on Leonie Dawson’s 2014 Create Your Amazing Year book and planner. I have seen all kinds of rave reviews about her planners in the past and this is the first year it is available for hard copy ordering.  If you are into pretty pages with awesome illustrations to spark your inspiration and creativity I encourage you to pick one up.

I hope you found the above items super inspiring and helpful as you move into planning your new year.  I also want you to know that I am filling my calendar with as many FREE 60-minute coaching sessions as I can in order to do a bit of research on my client base as well as provide a little gift to anyone interested.  With that said if you would like to sign up for a free session to chat about anything and everything you might need help with…i.e. planning for 2014, working on a current challenge, getting out of cubicle hell, a current life transition, please contact me at lamisha@lifeoncedreamt.com .  I am looking to reach out to as many people as possible and am even willing to take this giving season into January.  It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s fabulous so don’t miss out!

Your Dream Is Ready…Are You?

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Many times in coaching, I come across people who might need my help, but they just aren’t ready to take action.  Some of them have absolutely no clue about what they want to achieve and are merely moving from one day to the next trying to survive (and not just financially either).  These people are going through their days doing the things they are “supposed” to do (ya know working, paying bills, taking care of their family etc.) and while they feel like something might be missing, they have done very little to figure out what that is.  They might be fearful of what is waiting on the other side or simply have forgotten what it feels like to dream again.  These are the people who do such a magnificent job living in the moment for what it has to offer, while not thinking too far ahead.

Then there are the dreamers, the visionaries, and the self-development seekers.  These are the people who are always working toward something.  They have an idea of what they want but may not know how to get there.  They are excited for what the future may hold, but they are stuck in fear, anxiety, or lack the confidence to move forward.  These are also people who feel that something is missing and are ready to find out what that is.  They dream, they envision, they imagine, and more often than not they have stars in their eyes for that moment when they finally feel like they are living their purpose and enjoying the journey of growth and evolution.

image from www.searchquotes.com
image from www.searchquotes.com

Both of these groups are stuck in one form or another, but the latter group feels the pull to move forward into the unknown.  They are willing to risk leaving their comfort zone in order to see what else is out there.  They are ready for that first step and many times that first step begins when they reach out to me to find out how this coaching thing works.  Their interest was sparked just enough to make them wonder and imagine what they can accomplish with a little help.

Have you ever thought about what category you fall into?  Both groups have their strengths and regardless of where you may fall, you too have a wealth of potential that you can use in this life.

The question is, when you feel that pull and you wonder what might be missing…are you willing to take the steps to figure it out?

Here is what I have learned since taking the leap of faith into my dreams.

  • If you feel like you were meant to do something more than what you are currently doing…you are probably right.
  • Taking the leap is far more exciting than scary
  • All it takes is a simple, tiny step to get the momentum rolling
  • Once you are on the path, the pull gets stronger and the inspiration that follows will remind you to just keep going

Will you take that step?  Are you ready to drop the excuses, let go of the fear, and dive into your heart’s desire?  If so, I would love to chat with you.  I am still offering a free full-length 60-minute session to get a jump-start on 2014.  Not only is this an amazing opportunity to make progress on your plans for 2014, but it is also a great way for you to see what it is like to work with me with no obligation on your part other than an open mind.  Sign-up by contacting me here and we can get your session scheduled ASAP.  Seriously, what do you have to lose???