Lamisha Serf-Walls

A Lesson in Leaning Back

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photo credit: symphony of love via photopin cc
photo credit: symphony of love via photopin cc

I’ll be the first to admit when I want something, I can become hyper-focused on it. (Ok maybe a little obsessed.)

I think about it.  I visualize it. I analyze it. I talk about it.

I often jump into action mode quickly and can sometimes forget to listen to my heart.

When it comes to my business and my goals, I often lunge forward when what I truly need to do is lean back and trust.

Today I was reminded of the importance of leaning back.

I’ve been working a bit on expansion in my life and in my business and part of that means reaching outside my comfort zone.

I’m taking risks and stepping into the spotlight so much more than I have before.  It’s exciting, exhilarating, and honestly it feels so right. 

But, in the midst of taking inspired action and clearing my own BS, I sometimes come to a point when I get too focused on the outcome.

I want results and I want them…last week.

The result?

Lots of resistance, disappointment, feelings of lack, and taking forced action as opposed to inspired. (It’s not pretty.)

But, lucky for me I have an amazing support system including my own business coach who reminds me when it’s time to just lean back.

So, what is leaning back really?

To put it simply, it’s trusting the process and staying the course.  It’s detaching from the results and knowing that everything is working out perfectly.  It also means that you know that whatever it is you are trying to manifest or achieve is already done.

It’s happening now.  The money, relationship, career, and clients you want are on the way.  When you stay the course and know it is all coming to you now, you don’t have to worry. You can just enjoy the ride.

I’ll give you another example of what happens when you lean back.

A friend of mine was having a few slow weeks in her business.  She was doing the work and trying hard to figure things out.  She was in action all the time, until one day when she decided she needed a break.  Both her mind & body needed a reprieve from all the action so she took a few days off. She lounged around in her comfy clothes and allowed herself some time to just rest.  In the middle of her second day of rest, she gets a call from a new client.

Leaning back allows the energy you have put into motion to do the work for you. 

No more pushing, prodding, or forcing things to happen.

So if you find yourself feeling anxious and are being busy for the sake of being busy.  Try a different approach.

Just lean back. Let go. Let it flow, and remember you have the power to create & enjoy the life of your dreams.  Sometimes that means letting go of the reins so the powers of the Universe can work for you.

Do you feel like you are forcing a particular area of your life right now?  If so, what is it? Share in the comments below and commit to leaning back for a few days.

P.S.  Have you signed up for my VIP list?  If not you can do so here.  I have some fun giveaways & exclusive offers that I am working on for the next few months that are only accessible to my VIP List so get signed up so you don’t miss out. 

Mindset, Keeping Score, & How to Make Them Work for You!

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Just recently I decided to jump-start my fitness routine again in an attempt to get healthy and create a bit of structure for my workday.  I have to say it’s been pretty great…for the most part.

Growing up I was fairly active.  I danced from 8th grade through high school and into college so I never really had to worry about getting to the gym and making time to work out.  It just happened.  I took dance classes and loved it so it hardly ever felt like ‘work’.  Just a couple of hours a week doing something I love.

This time is a bit different.

I get up every morning and do the ‘work’.  Despite how much it burns in my abs or in my quads, I know that I will feel better having done it.  I just have to get through the 30 minutes.  The work out I am doing is a Beachbody program and it uses 1 minute increments for each exercise and I can’t tell you how many times I have looked at the time left and wished I hadn’t.  Just when I think I am close to being finished, I look up only to realize I am only half way there.  For some reason it makes the second half of the minute seem so much longer!

Well last week I decided to try something a little different.  I decided that instead of looking at the clock or counting the number of squats or mindsetcrunches I am able to complete,  I would just focus on a spot on the wall in front of me through the entire minute.  Funny enough, it seemed like the minute passed by so much faster AND it didn’t feel so hard.

This is a perfect example of how holding your vision while not ‘keeping score’ can help your mindset.

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to my goals or intentions, I am a score-taker.  I like to monitor where I am and how far I am from my goal and while that doesn’t seem like a bad thing, I find it to be discouraging at times.  It can often make it feel like I’m just never going to make it...there.

It’s like saying I want to go to California and all along the way being discouraged that I’m not there yet.  Or wanting to work with 100 clients in 2014 (a true goal of mine for this year) and feeling discouraged when I count I have only worked with 40.

It is ALL about mindset.

If you instead celebrate the progression from where you started to where you want to be AND keep your focus on your vision, something magical happens.  Things feel better, run more smoothly, and you get there much faster.

The same works for whether you are working out, wanting to lose weight, or make a certain dollar figure during the year.

3 Key Steps:

  • Know where you started
  • Celebrate your progression (no matter how small)
  • Keep your ultimate goal/vision alive through focus

startnowAs long as you are consistently taking inspired action and keeping your mindset positive, you will get there.  It just takes a bit of patience, focus, and sometimes accountability.  And if you are finding yourself struggling with getting started or need help to keep going, think about getting yourself a coach.  I have opened 5 individual spots for the month of August for my 1-Month Jump Start program and while I had previously decided not to run this program again until November, I changed my mind because I know how much can happen in 1 month.  I would love to help support you as you envision and create the life & business of your dreams so if this is something you are interested in you can schedule your 30-min. consultation here.  We have 5 months left in 2014 what haven’t you started that you wanted to do this year?  It’s not too late to get started, I promise working with me for 1 month can make all the difference in you creating the life of your dreams.  Are you ready?

End of Year: Weeding Out The Old

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If you have been following my end of year posts, then you know we first began with a bit of reflection on the amazing things we learned and accomplished in 2013.  The next step for me is weeding out the old.

I am a very literal person when it comes to clearing and purging things, so I tend to get a bit overzealous at letting go of material items.  I am terrible at keeping receipts, manuals, and other things that I see as clutter that I might need in the future.  That typically makes this process a lot easier for me each year since I am not hanging onto a ton of stuff I might need in the future.

photo from getridofcluttertoday.com
photo from getridofcluttertoday.com

While I am not sure where this need to clear originated from, I know that it is extremely important for me to start the year with a clean slate.  Both figuratively and literally.  I like my house to be clean, my laundry to be done, new bedding on the bed, and papers, clutter, and old stuff donated and tossed out.  There is something about seeing a clean desk top or a new notebook that gets me all excited to create, write, and imagine new beginnings.

So, with that said, as I write this post a few days early, I am going to be spending much of my days getting rid of old stuff.  You might consider doing the same.  You know that closet that needs to be cleaned out and organized?  The old pictures that need to be put in the album that has been collecting dust all year?  Why not throw on some music, open the shades, and get that stuff done!  There really is no better time than the moment to get those little things that have been sitting around waiting for you to tackle them.  Just dig in and do it now!

What I love about this process more than the actual organization that takes place, is the after effects.  The peace, the ideas, the inspired moments that occur when I am sitting in my newly organized space.  There is something that happens when you clear out a room and let the fresh air and light in.  It makes room for some really great creative energy to take over.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Clear out a closet or two that you have been meaning to get to all year-long
  • Take one box and intend to get rid of 10 items from each room in your house to donate
  • Go through your closet and get rid of old shoes and clothes that were replaced during the holidays
  • If you have children, fill a box with old toys to donate to a shelter
  • Dig into the catch-all room (we all have one) and organize those clothes, books, and the maybe-we will-use-it-one-day-items
  • Go through your filing cabinets and shred old documents you no longer need

This is by no means meant to be an overwhelming task and you don’t have to do everything on the list, but I think you will find that once you get started you will enjoy the feeling you get once you have accomplished a new task.  Have fun with it and just imagine the amazing new energy and creative ideas that will come flooding in once you make the space for it.

Enjoy!