Lamisha Serf-Walls

Do something that scares you…

by

photo credit: The Ukelele Warrior via photopin (license)
photo credit: The Ukelele Warrior via photopin (license)

About a year ago I decided to take a leap of faith before I was entirely ready.

In September 2014 I submitted an article to the Huffington Post. To my surprise they liked my article and I became a regular blogger for their site.

(My latest article titled: 11 (More) Universal Truths that Will Change Your Life for the Better is here.  Feel free to read and share it with those you think need to see it.)

The second article that I submitted got raving reviews and is still a HUGE hit on the site.   A few weeks later it was such a big hit, they translated it to be published on Huffington Post Spain.

Talk about shocked!

Women from all over the world were reaching out to me after that article because they wanted my help. My words resonated deep within them and they wanted to create change in their lives.

I was in awe.

Amazed.

Humbled.

My words created a stir within so many souls and since then I’ve been writing, sharing, and creating programs from the heart to serve and inspire women like YOU.

Yesterday the sequel to the first article was published and I’m celebrating this huge moment by sharing the article with you in hopes that it inspires you to take a leap of faith of your own.

Your leap may look different than mine.

Maybe you decide to go back to school, start writing your novel, or reach out to a coach you’ve been wanting to work with.

Maybe it’s auditioning for a large (or small) role in a play or starting your own Etsy shop, or submitting your latest poems to be used on a greeting card.

Whatever it is…do it.

The truth is you may never feel 100% ready to take the leap.  When I wrote the first article, I know I didn’t feel ‘ready’.  I was inspired to do it and saw it as a challenge.  Looking back it was exactly what I needed to do to continue to grow and evolve and I’m so glad I took the risk.

Today I want YOU to take your own risk.  Don’t think about it, just do it.

Then let it go…

The truth is you are never truly ‘ready’ to do the big things, but when you feel it in your heart…you just know you HAVE to take the leap.

If you are looking for some inspiration and support for your very own leap, I’d love to chat with you.  If you are READY to kick the doubts, fears, and other BS to the curb and make magic happen in your life & you are ready to invest in YOU.  Schedule your FREE 30-Minute Consultation to chat with me about how I can help you make that happen.

0001-2087289

Always A Writer

by

photo credit: Lívia Cristina via photopin cc
photo credit: Lívia Cristina via photopin cc

For as long as I can remember, I have always felt the pull to write.  Keeping a journal of my feelings was my way of processing life and everything that happened in it.  Relationships, friendships, new love, you name it, I wrote about it.  I even took some time in college to try my hand at writing fiction in a creative writing class that I loved.  Starting a blog seemed like the next logical step.  So, when Tamsin Young contacted me to be a part of the Blog Hop, I was so excited to share a bit about my writing and my writing process.  In return, I have asked a few of my favorite bloggers to join in the journey to share information about their writing process.

What am I working on/writing?

Life Once Dreamt began as an inspirational blog to encourage and enlighten women to follow their dreams.  I started it during a time when I was trying to figure out the ‘how’ behind doing what I really wanted to do which was to coach other women to greatness.  It was my way of tapping into my creativity, doing something I love, while figuring out my path.  As it turns out within about 6 months of writing and sharing my words of wisdom and inspiration, I realized I had the ‘how’ all along. All I had to do was begin, in the same way I did with this blog.

I use this space now to share my lessons, insights, and tips on creating an amazing life.  The life you were meant to live doing amazing things and sharing your gifts with the world.  That is my message and this blog is just another way for me to share my journey, my expertise, and my passion with the gorgeous souls that choose to read it.

How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?

My work is an expression of my soul and my journey.  While many of the themes may not be ground-breaking or new, my experience and therefore my words appeal to those that are in similar places in their lives.  I consider myself a bridge of sorts between worlds.  Being in the process of creating the life of my dreams, I remember what it is like to dream big while waiting for the ‘how’ to show up.  I am forever learning and I am not afraid to share my lessons with my tribe.  I am nothing if not authentic and am happy to let my readers know that they are not alone in this world.  We all have dreams, goals, and aspirations that at times feel as though they are just outside our reach.  But I also know that it is possible to reach outside of your comfort zone, to believe you can, and prove it to yourself.  The Universe is here to support us and give us what we want.  I like to think of my writing and coaching methods as a mixture of magic, imagination, with a dose of practicality.

Why do I write what I do?

That’s an interesting question.  I suppose I write what I do because it’s part of me.  Inspiration, uplifting quotes, messages, and affirmations have been a part of my life for years.  (Fun Fact: I even turned some of my poetry into greeting cards that have been published in the last few years to uplift and enlighten people with my words.)

I see magic where others see demise.  I see miracles and possibilities where others see blockages and I write about it.  I share my message in that way because I want everyone to know that no matter what has happened in their past or present, they have the ability to create an amazing and bright future.  The dreams they hold dear are meant to be part of their experience and if my words can help them find the hope, faith, and possibility where there was once doubt, then I am happy to continue to write.

How does my writing process work?

Another interesting question.  I suppose it depends on what I am writing.  When I am working on a blog post or a newsletter for my business, I usually have a title come to mind or a specific experience I want to share.  I don’t do well with outlines and structuring what I want to write before hand and I don’t really have a ritual to get me in the flow.  There are times when I need to write something under a deadline that I will meditate before in order to clear my mind and create the mental space for the words to flow.

When I am writing poetry or more inspiring posts, I write from the heart.  With love, emotion, inspiration, and lots of feelings.  I often find when I write in that way, I am not entirely aware of what I am saying as much as I feel like the message is passing through me.  It sounds a bit odd, but there are many times that I have looked back at pieces I have written and thought to myself: “Wait are those my words? Hey that’s some good stuff!” Those are some of my favorite moments.  I have written for so long that I have come to realize, I may not be able to get the entire piece out in one sitting.  Sometimes my mind is a bit too jumbled to write anything of value and if I can take a step back, it makes things easier when I come back to it later.  Like many of the things I do in life, my writing is best when it is guided by my inspiration.

Now for 2 blogs you don’t want to miss:

 

JenniferseitzerJennifer Seitzer is the creator behind Transition to Glow.  I have had the honor of working with Jennifer and watching her passion for life and healing transform into this amazing journey where she shares her knowledge with recovering addicts.  Recipes, health information, inspiration, and support in one amazing blog!

 

 

 

 

SusanSusan Sontra is the mastermind behind The Creating Room.  As a writer, creativity coach, and crafter she knows a ton about the creative muse and following your heart to create at will.  Check out her blog to find out more about what she is doing in the writing world.

 

 

 

 

P.S. There is still time to sign up for the Epic Birthday Giveaway. Hop on over to see what is up for grabs and sign up for your chance to win 1 of 13 amazing gifts.  Winners will be announced August 13th! 🙂

Acting On Inspired Thoughts

by

Recently I have been thinking about my list of dreams and wondering if I should actively be working toward them, or if I should be following my inspiration and see where it takes me.  I have often wondered which is better.  In the business/goal-oriented world, it seems setting a game plan is the best way to move forward while in the art world, leading through inspiration is best.  But what about a person like myself who is a blend of both?

I am learning that if I act on my inspired thoughts, the action feels good.  For instance, as a choreographer I found I did my best work when I was strongly inspired by the music.  I didn’t have to think too much about what I was going to do because I was so inspired, my dances created themselves.  The same thing goes for my writing.  When I feel like I am forcing myself to write about a particular topic, it doesn’t flow very well and I find myself struggling a bit.  This is exactly why I have yet to begin my children’s book.

When I initially had the thought to write a children’s series, I was so inspired and should have taken that time to write down all my ideas and words that were flowing.  And while I told myself I was going to set a date to start writing, it didn’t really work out that way.  I really want to start writing, but am not feeling the passion and fire at the moment, so I suppose it is best for me to wait and allow the fire to come back.

While I tend to believe less in a world of extremes and believe it is best to take a more balanced approach to life, I am beginning to think that acting on inspired thoughts is the way to go.  Sure, I could set a writing schedule in order to get my book written or I could allow the inspiration to flow and act on it when the feeling is right.  Does that make me a lazy procrastinating writer?  I don’t think so, I think it means I am an inspiration driven writer amongst other things.

I have tried to make my vision of being a life coach come to fruition in various ways.  I tried setting a plan to get certain funds in place, to find the right program, etc., but those options haven’t really worked out thus far.  So, I am taking a step back a bit.  I am trusting that if I keep my vision clear about what I want, follow my intuition and inspiration, the pieces will fall into place the way they should.  Instead of working to make things happen, I am flowing with inspired thoughts.  Is it the right thing to do in all areas of my life?  Maybe not.  But, as for where I am right now, it is the right move.

What is the right move for you?  Do you set a plan and execute it accordingly or do you fly by the seat of your pants a bit?  Let me know what works for you!

Playing Catch Up: A Little Update

by

I know it has been several days since my last post and I thought I would provide a bit of an update before I get back to “real” posts (whatever that means).  Last week I had a lot of great surprises and some realizations that I wanted to put together into one post to share and then life happened, so consider this your update.

I wanted to mention my gratitude for a few realizations last week because I wanted to remember the positive aspects of last week especially since this week has been a bit of a whirlwind.  With that said the two things I was really and truly grateful for last week were surprises and riches.

Last week I received a variety of surprises and while many times those can be thought of as dreaded inconveniences, there are also those delightful surprises that come out of the blue and those are the kind I am referring to.  Not only did I receive notification of another greeting card being accepted for review, but my partner received a promotion she was looking forward to and my work schedule changed.  The change was something I certainly wasn’t expecting, but appreciate because it provides more time and connection with my family throughout the week.

The other thing I was grateful for was the idea of riches.  I am not talking riches in the form of money, but in the many other forms it can take.  When I began thinking of all of the wonderful aspects of my life that are not tangible and monetary, I realized I have so much to be grateful for on a daily basis and it has nothing to do with the amount of money in the bank.  Friends, family, love, creativity, spirituality, and gratitude are all part of my riches that I am so grateful for in my day-to-day life.  And while I may often forget it, I wanted to bring my attention to it for the moment and for future moments when I am feeling a little down and need a reminder.

So those were my gratitude moments from last week.  Now for an update on the children’s book start date…

Unfortunately the day I set to begin writing my children’s book (yesterday) did not go as planned.  We have had a few days of chaos with a sick little one at home and that has changed plans, schedules, and routines a bit causing us to move things around to make room for what is important in the moment.  (Wasn’t I just grateful for surprises??)  So, I have not yet begun my children’s book since we have been playing catch up with work, house stuff, and life in general, but I will be getting back to it.  More on that later.

And for my last update, I am proud to say in the midst of chaos, surprises, and the amazing riches I have in my life I have maintained my meditation practice.  Not only have I been able to maintain my practice, but on some days I have even been able to do two 15 minute meditation sessions per day.  One in the morning and one in the evening which has been wonderful for my patience and sanity.

So there you have it, a summary post catching you up on some of the latest and greatest in my world.  I promise to have more “real” posts for you in the coming days, but until then I am off to play catch-up on some tasks for work and home.

Have a wonderful day!

A Lesson In Working Smarter, Not Harder

by

Life has a way of getting pretty busy.  When you have a full-time work, freelance work, and a family to care for losing one hour like we did this weekend can seem like a disaster waiting to happen.  My full-time work is picking up (not by my choice) and my freelance work is also increasing (to my delight), as well as a recent increase in home-improvement tasks for our home is making for a somewhat hectic schedule…until now.

I have always been a list maker and great and delegating tasks, but when it comes to my own work, I can sometimes find myself flailing to keep up.  But I have since decided it is time for me to work smarter and not harder.  The biggest issue I have found recently was trying to figure out what to do with my 8 hrs of “free” time in the mornings each week.  I tried balancing it between home responsibilities and freelance work, however the home responsibilities usually won out.  The writing work would get done on lunch breaks and a few hours before bed making for a very long day and less sleep.  Two things I don’t enjoy all that much.  And since I will be adding other personal writing to my schedule (writing my first children’s book series, in addition to starting a life coaching business down the road, I figured it is best if I learn to manage my time a bit more effectively now, rather than later.

What I did?

I decided what items I needed to keep in my schedule.  One was my lunch break.  I have been having “working” lunches far too much and have missed out on several opportunities to get outside to take a walk which is causing some issue with my exercise routine (because now it is non-existent).  So I am taking my lunch breaks back.  I also found that at night-time after getting the little one to bed, the last thing I want to do is work for an additional 2 hours.  So I am taking that time back as well and allowing myself some added reading time in addition to potentially getting to bed earlier.  So when will I be doing my writing work?  In the morning.

I haven’t always been a morning person, but since my full-time job schedule has changed I have 2 days a week where I don’t begin work until 11 am providing me with an added 3 hours to do other things.  The “other things” have mostly been house related, but I am thinking that time might better be used with writing work especially when I have several projects to finish.  So, I am dedicating my mornings to whatever writing work I have and making it a point not to work on writing projects at night.

Family time, house projects, and other home related tasks will be set for the weekends.  While we do get some family time in the evenings, it isn’t nearly as much as we would like so we try to make the most of it on our weekends.  And since it isn’t fun to work 6-7 days a week, I am using the weekend as a break from writing.  Family is important to me and spending as much time with my partner and our son is something I don’t get to do nearly enough and I am not going to sacrifice that precious time for my work.

So, my new schedule begins this week.  I will provide an update next week to let you know the differences I have found not only in my efficiency, but also my stress levels.  I am optimistic to say the least.  I think this new plan will work out great and I will not only be more focused, but more relaxed and more healthy overall.

What do you do to keep a balanced home/work life?