Lamisha Serf-Walls

2014 Planning In Pieces

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Happy New Year my beautiful Dreamers!

I had every intention of writing a post on the first day of January, however I ended up spending some time with family and worked a bit on a workshop I am co-hosting later this month.  I did, however want to share with you how I am implementing my “planning” for the year, but before I get into that, let’s talk a bit about why everyone gets so worked up over resolutions.

It seems logical that a shiny new year is the right time to make changes in life, but the reason so many people fail to keep their resolutions is because they can often be both overzealous and all-or-nothing.  For instance, wanting to get into shape doesn’t necessarily mean you have to run 50 miles a week right off the bat and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to cut out large food groups from your diet.  Other resolutions like wanting to stop smoking or drinking sodas tends to render the same effect.  People want immediate change and while it might last for a few days, it very rarely results in lasting change.

While I haven’t really been a bit resolution maker in the past, I tend to get excited about what a new year may bring.  There seems to be a special appeal about making big changes and goals beginning on the first day of the year.  It’s similar to the feeling I get when I purchase a new notebook or journal.  Crisp pages, with the promise of fresh ideas, creative pieces, and other amazing creations that may appear on the page.  The New Year is like that for many.

In the past two years I have found that I benefit best from planning for the year ahead in pieces.  I don’t get too serious about the big, bold steps in between, and am more concerned with the first one.  Knowing what I want to accomplish is a wonderfully creative process where I get to visualize and imagine the best year yet, while still making room for surprises and other magical moments.  I have also always wanted to try out a creative planning tool for the new year that takes a less “logical” approach to planning and this year I think I have found the one.

I am using Leonie Dawson’s 2014 Create Your Amazing Year planner for business and personal planning and boy is it a beautifully crafted, creative planner!  And while the shiny, New Year was quickly approaching, I thought I would have an opportunity to dig into it before January 1st, but with family etc. I didn’t get as far as I initially wanted and that’s ok, because this year I am planning 2014 in pieces.  January is going to be my month of brainstorming, dreaming, creating, and following my inspiration wherever it may lead.  I already have some things in mind for this year and I am really looking forward to what is left to be revealed throughout the year.  One thing is for sure, this year is going to be incredible.

The “logical” planner might wonder how I can be so sure of what the outcome will be if I don’t have a specific, step-by-step breakdown of how I am going to make this year epic.  My answer? I know it because I not only trust that each step will lead me to the next, but I have also set the expectation that it will be.

And so it is.
photo credit: thomasstache via photopin cc

When OTHER Things Come First…

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I have been working on this post for quite a while now and it seems the more I wait to post it, the more inspiration I have to do so.

In working with a client a few weeks ago, we had a conversation about why our dreams take the backseat to more pressing things.  I realized in that moment I too had been putting off many things that would progress my dreams for one reason or another and then it hit me.

Even when we have the inspiration to dive head first into creating the life of our dreams, LIFE still happens.

There are deadlines, work stuff, family stuff, and in general other stuff that seems so much more important in the moment.  Those things take our attention, focus, and energy and leave little for us to use for the things that truly matter to us.  The things we are meant to do and truly love doing.

It puts us in a quandary of sorts.busy

We make excuses as to why we can’t get started on our book or do research for our business.  We make a laundry list of reasons why we simply don’t have the time or the money to give to that thing that we really want and need to.  Laundry, cleaning the house, fixing the car, going to work, taking the kids to soccer, basketball, and ballet all come first.  We argue with ourselves about how selfish it is to think that we should take time away from our children, our jobs, our spouses, our responsibilities to do what we want to do, but is it really a selfish act?

We have to ask ourselves if following our hearts and making room for the things that bring us joy is selfish.  Is it really?  Maybe in the world we are living in it is and what an unhappy place that is.  A place that makes us feel bad for doing something we enjoy and presses upon us the need to serve others and make other people happy while sacrificing our own.

Before I head down a rabbit hole of how terrible the world can be, let me stop and say that I don’t believe our choice lies between selfish and selfless living.  Nor is it a question of doing one thing over the other.  I suggest a compromise.  A meeting and melding of two worlds that creates a necessary balance between selfish and selfless acts.  A space where needs are met and dreams are lived.

Are you with me?

What I propose is simple.  So simple you may even wonder why you didn’t implement it long ago.  That simple step is this.

Instead of diving into your day checking off items on your to-do list and rushing to and fro, why not set a sacred space for your dream?

Call it the Dream Hour or Selfish Session or something a bit more personal ( and catchy).  It doesn’t matter what you call it, what matters is what you do with that time.

Set a specific amount of time each day at the beginning of your day to give to your dream.  You don’t have to operate using lists and an agenda either.  Simply show up for a set amount of time and commit that time to making progress on your dream.  If it’s writing, then write or read what you have written.  Are you a singer?  Then sing your song or listen to inspiring artists.

Make your dreams, your purpose, your passions a priority in your life, otherwise they will always end up being an afterthought in your long, busy day.  

Your dreams deserve the space to thrive, so what difference does 30-60 minutes a day make when you are creating a life that you love?  If you are like many, you might even spend more time than that on social media sites.

Don’t wait for the New Year to get started either, start today.  I promise you won’t be sorry you did.

This is What I Know…

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I don’t know it all and can’t seem to learn enough, but here are a few things I know about you, me, and the dreams we want to achieve…

  • Everything and I mean EVERYTHING you want to achieve begins with a thought so allow yourself the time and space to daydream, visualize, and use your imagination to craft the most amazing scenarios of what your life can be. That is where the creative process begins, with a simple thought.
  • There is no dream that is too big to achieve.  Seriously, if you would’ve told me 10 years ago that I would eventually start my own business and be working with clients, I would’ve laughed at you.  At that point in my life the dream was too big to even consider, but I now know whatever you want to do, you can. Period.
  • You have a gift and it is meant to be used, given, shared, and highlighted in this life.  Use it, gift it, apply it, but whatever you do, don’t waste it.  Life is too precious to leave your song unsung, your book unwritten, or your dreams undone.  Stop questioning if you are good enough, special enough, or gifted enough to do it.  You absolutely are!
  • You are meant to do great things, thrive, and enjoy life.  It’s what life is all about.  So, stop questioning your worth, let go of the stories you keep telling yourself about why or how or when you will be able to do XYZ and just do it!
  • No matter where you are in your life, there will always be another excuse to wait.  There is no “perfect” time to do anything.  The best time is to start today.
  • Simple steps turn into big hits of inspiration that open doors of opportunities you never knew were possible.  Even the most miniscule act can create enough momentum to provide more progress than you know.
  • Your intuition is your guidance and when you are tapped into it, it will guide you along your path almost effortlessly.  The formula? Do what feels good and right and perfect…for YOU.
  • You don’t have to know the “how”, the “when” or the “why” right now.  Just trust that you will know the steps to take when the time is right and I promise you will be amazed at the resources, time, money, and contacts that arrive exactly when you need them.
  • Magic is real and so is your dream.  Believe in it, trust in it, and have faith that it is coming together even when you can’t see the physical signs.
  • You are supported always, 100% of the time.  There are people, friends, coaches, mentors, and others that will form your tribe to encourage and uplift you when you need it.
  • Taking a leap of faith allows the net to appear for you.  It is amazing what positive expectations can do.  It is true for me and it is true for you.  Try it. Trust it. Do it.
  • Have fun!  If I have learned nothing else on this journey it is to have fun and let loose.  Being playful opens you to receive an abundance of inspiration, opportunities, and energy to accomplish your dreams.  So don’t waste your days sitting in an office trying to make something happen.  Give yourself some doodle space. 🙂

What have you learned about yourself and your dreams this year?  Are you interested in learning more about what coaching is and how it can help you achieve your dreams?  I am offering free 60-minute sessions to any and all new clients to work on any issue, challenge, dream, goal, etc. in December and January and the slots are filling up fast.  If you are interested, contact me here to schedule your session.  I promise you won’t be sorry you did!

‘Tis The Season To Be Grateful

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As everyone in the U.S. is making final preparations for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I too have been MIA on the blog front, however I thought it was important for me to do a post on gratitude.  While I could go on about how gratitude is beneficial in life and in the pursuit of your dreams (and it is), I instead want to focus on the people, blogs, and many inspirations I have had in my life over the last year who have helped me (directly and indirectly) get moving on my dream.

I am grateful for:

  • Kenetha Stanton for inspiring me through her beautiful words to create a blog of my own (for the third time) and for providing the insight into how many of the WP functions work
  • Michelle Ward the When I Grow Up Coach who inspired me through her blog, her story, and the pursuit of her dreams to never let go of mine, and for tweeting a link to a post I wrote about her a few months back-pretty exciting stuff!
  • Jess Lively who also has reminded me through her candid details about her successes and disappointments the importance of ‘just keep going’ in life and in business
  • My amazing readers for following my journey, commenting on my posts, and just being here.  For those of you who follow my blog, you have no idea how grateful I am to you. THANK YOU!
  • My lovely coworker(you know who you are!) who told me to take a leap of faith in creating my business when I thought there were so many other things to do first and who has given me many pep-talks when I needed them.  That initial conversation was a game-changer for my dreams and everything else that followed.
  • Erin McNaughton aka my guinea pig client who took a leap of faith into the wonderful world of coaching with a newbie like myself and who has had amazing results from the 4 months we worked together.  Not only is she incredibly talented, but she is also inspiring, motivated, and the best first client a girl could ask for.
  • My other clients who have also followed suit in working with me.  You all are amazing and YOU are the reason I do the work that I do.
  • For those of you thinking of working with me in the future, thank you for considering me.  I would be honored to be a part of your journey to live the life of your dreams.
  • Last but not least, all of the many blogs that lift me up, make me laugh, cry, and leave me inspired to continue doing this amazing work.  There are too many to list, but know that I am so grateful for you as well.

I hope you all can spend some time reflecting on what you are grateful for this holiday season.  May you enjoy your holiday if you are celebrating and I will be back in full blogging-action next week.

Happy Thanksgiving and as always, thanks for reading. 🙂

 

November Gift #2-Getting Clear For The New Year

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Earlier this month I decided the theme of November would be Gratitude and Giving.  On my personal Facebook page I am doing the 30 days of gratitude and focusing on the many things I have and experience that I am grateful for.  On my blog, I wanted to focus a bit more on the giving aspect of the month.

So if you weren’t here for the post, hop over here and find out how you can sign up for my newsletter and snag your first free gift.

Today, I want to share with you the opportunity for you to receive your second free gift.  This one is a big one too!

But, before I get there let me share with you where I came up with the idea and why I am gifting this to you.

First of all, I know there are many of you who have thought about working with me and you just haven’t pulled the trigger yet.  Maybe you don’t know if it’s the right thing for you right now or you are unclear about what I can help you with.  Maybe it’s a financial thing, a fear thing, or a just plain I’m not ready thing, but I want to offer you a deal you just can’t refuse…for FREE!!

Second, I have made quite a few changes to my site (with more to come in the near future) and as a thank you for hanging in there with me while I make some much-needed changes and adding a lots of new information, I wanted to offer you something as a token of my appreciation.

We all know 2014 is quickly approaching and I want to help you get started on the right foot.  So, for the rest of November 2013 I am offering a full-length 60-minute Getting Clear For The New Year session for anyone who is interested.  In this session we will discuss the top 3 goals/dreams you have for 2014, figure out the sticky stuff that is leaving you stuck (and how to get out of it), and create simple action steps (key word here is simple) you can do now that will open up a world of opportunities for you.  That’s right in 60-minutes we will define your dream, get you unstuck, and create simple steps to get you moving toward your dream.

Not only do you get to see how I work, you can actually make some serious progress toward your dreams absolutely free.  And if you take advantage of this amazing planning power session, you will also get 25% off the price of regular packages if you sign-up to work with me before the end of the year (sessions don’t have to be used this year to qualify).

To sign up all you have to do is contact me and let me know you are interested in your Getting Clear For The New Year session and brief description of what you want to work on.  I will email you back as soon as possible and get you on the schedule.  I can’t wait to get started!  Do you know someone who might be interested?  Feel free to send them a link to this post and share the love.  I want to help as many people as possible get clear on their dreams for 2014!!

Let me help you re-imagine your dreams for 2014 and help you find and follow your inspiration to get you moving in the right direction.  Let me thank you for following me on my journey, by helping you get jump started on yours.  Aren’t you ready to realize your dreams and enjoy every juicy tidbit that comes along the way?  Let’s get started together!