Are You Motivated?

Dear Friend,

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice!

~Wayne Dyer

This week is the first in a two part series on motivation. This week we will focus on self-motivation - what it takes to get us amped up. Next week we will turn to motivating staff and those around us and we'll explore the question, "How can you be a Motivator!"

To begin we must answer the question, What in the world is motivation? Motivation is the drive - the fire that gets us inspired and pumped up to charge after a specific goal. However, what specifically motivates us is quite personal. Ultimately, motivation means different things to each of us. Motivation plays an important role in our life because it helps us to:

• Achieve Goals
• Gain a Positive Perspective
• Create Power to Change
• Build Self-Esteem
• Manage Our Development

When we are motivated, we work harder are more productive and achieve results more rapidly.

Make It Happen

Do you have a large goal that you want to get excited about pursuing? If yes, then it sounds like you could benefit from some motivation! Because we are each unique individuals there is no single motivating factor for everyone. Therefore a great way to uncover what specifically motivates you is to examine what has worked in the past.

• Think back to a large goal that you accomplished in the past...something that you were extremely proud of.
• What was it, really, that motivated you to achieve this goal?

Now that you've seen what has worked for you in the past, take some time to explore this large goal of yours and what motivating factors you need - internal and external to achieve the goal. Make time this week to uncover the answers to the following questions. These six questions will kick-start YOU into tapping into YOUR unique motivating factors to achieve YOUR goals!

1. Why is this goal really, really important to me - right now?
2. What do I need to do to achieve this goal?
3. What am I willing to do to achieve this goal?
4. What support structure do I have in place to reach this goal?
5. What is my plan? (Take time to build out a detailed plan.)
6. How will I know I've achieved this goal?

Blessings to you as you look inside for motivation and inspiration to achieve your goals!

Are You Ready For Growth?

Dear Friend,

Do you want my one-word secret of happiness -

It's growth - mental, financial, you name it. ~Harold Geneen

Welcome to Spring a season of growth! Last week I asked you to look at your life and do a little "Spring Cleaning." How did that go? Was it hard , easy or a dead end? I really urge you to embrace this change in season and examine where you need to prune your life. Pruning our life is like pruning a plant. Essentially, pruning is the act of removing old materials to enable the plant's new growth to bloom and flourish. Consider that we are like a plant and we like most plants benefits from regular pruning and maintenance. Because when we prune we enable growth. Gardeners around the world delight in seeing how they can help their plants grow into lush mature plants. They enjoy the process of pruning because they know it adds to the health of the plant and increases the beauty of the plant. According to writer and gardener Gary Davis as it relates to plants, "the idea is to identify branches or stems that are dead or have slowed down in their functioning ... and then it is time to remove them by cutting them off." The result is that the root system can more efficiently and effectively feed what is left of the plant. This is exactly how we work. We must identify what is slowing us down and prune it. That is what the process of "Spring Cleaning" entails. Sometimes we are reluctant to totally give up some area of our life because we fear that new will bring different and we are creatures of habit and are comfortable in our old routines. Be patient with yourself and take the steps you need to bloom bigger and more beautifully! Life will be better and you will grow and emerge into your BEST self. Grow, thrive and flourish!

Make It Happen

This week review your "Spring Cleaning" from last week and give it another go.When we truly prune we are able to delight in the growth that comes. Examine what you need to remove from your life. Items to prune may be quite small - that is okay with the excess removed you will have more room for growth! Good luck and Blessings as we embark on this new Season in our life!

4 Secrets to Personal Growth - Free Teleclass Tonight!!!

4 Secrets to Personal Growth

Monday, 3/16 @ 6PM CT/7PM ET

Join Tammy Potosky and Margaret Pundmann for a FREE teleclass to discuss these topics:

- What keeps us from raising our standard of living?

- Who would you be if you were living from the present versus living from the past?

- What would your day look like if you incorporated 10 nourishing daily habits?

- What would you have time to do if you simplified your life dramatically?

Join us on Monday by calling: 1-712-580-8025 the password is 480721#

Or if you cannot make it tonight...

Join us tomorrow - Tuesday, 3/17 @ 11AM CT/12PM ET 

Join us on Tuesday by calling: 1-785-686-2400 the password is 480721# 

Are You Ready For Spring Cleaning?

Dear Friend, "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~Carl Bard     In the Northern Hemisphere Spring officially begins March 20th. Spring suggests rebirth, a renewing, and a recommitting. With this new season we welcome new relationships, new opportunities and new possibilities into our life. But before we can welcome the new we must do a little 'Spring Cleaning' and let go of what is not serving us.    As we let go we get a fresh start - a clean slate if you will. We create room in our lives for new possibilities. What new possibility do you want to usher into your life - personally or professionally?   Perhaps you want to find a job, a home, a mate, a routine or maybe you want a renewed spiritual life, renewed physical activity, a renewed social life - all of which are within your grasp. It is easy to get discouraged by big goals and dreams, but you must never underestimate how close you are and how much fun you are going to have once you reach this goal. Remember that while the next step you desire may feel new and different, you bring you to this challenge your wealth of wisdom, brilliance and magnificence.   Right now, I'm asking you to revisit your goals - do a little 'Spring Cleaning' - physically, mentally and emotionally. Toss what is now irrelevant! Take 30 seconds to find two things that you are going to let go of because you realize, whatever the reason, this 'clutter' isn't serving you!   How good does that feel to let go of "shoulds" and "coulds?" Excellent, right? Because when you let go and do a little 'Spring Cleaning' you find that you have more space - physically, mentally and emotionally!   Make It Happen     Take the next week to examine and reexamine your goals and your life. Do a little 'Spring Cleaning' of your own. Don't be afraid to go beyond the surface and dig deep so that you clean it for good, rather than for just a season. Release goals, pursuits, relationships and things that don't fulfill you and feel the freedom of more space - physically, mentally and emotionally!

10 Ways To Be Fearless

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/spirit/knowyourself/pkgempoweryourself/slideshow1_ss_wellbeing_fearless/1

compliments of Oprah!

Are You Soaring?

"The spirit that does not soar is destined to grovel." Benjamin Disraeli

Can you believe we are already ten weeks into the year? Before the beginning of 2009 we took time to examine our lives and articulate what dreams we had for 2009. We set personal and professional goals for ourselves. How are you doing in relation to the goals you set for 2009? Are you soaring? If you have stumbled - remember your path towards soaring can follow the path of a kite - often the kite stumbles as it begins. Let's take some time this week to either celebrate your success or refocus your goals so that you can get the wind beneath your wings to soar. Remember as a kite becomes airborne it doesn't go up in a straight line. Rather it sways doing loops and flips as it strives to soar. Our path towards achieving our goals can often look and feel like this. Once a kite is flying high and soaring it relies on the wind to support it. However without warning the wind can disappear causing the kite to fall to the ground. We too, can be on a promising path and can have unexpected events remove the wind from our wings thus causing us to falter. It can be extremely frustrating and discouraging. Flying a kite can be a metaphor for your desire to fulfill your true potential or to, as Oprah has coined the phrase, "live your best life." It can be frustrating when all of the other kites around you seem to effortlessly glide through the air and yet you continue to hit rough patch after rough patch.

Make It Happen

This week let's step back and take an honest look at your kite. Is your kite soaring? Do you feel the wind beneath your wings?If yes - step back and celebrate your success!!!If no - take an honest look at why this might be. Here are five questions to kick-start this process. 1) Are you goals to much of a stretch?2) Do you need to refocus? If yes, what is the first step to refocus?3) Are your priorities in the best order for you? And are you a priority?4) Have you lost momentum? If yes, what nudge do you need to get back on track?5) Why is this goal an absolute must for you to accomplish? Andl finally - DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP... MOVE FORWARD and CREATE YOUR FUTURE!

What Can Coaches Do for You?

Harvard Business Review

IdeaCast

"What Can Coaches Do for You?"

FREE 1-Hour Teleclass

Free Teleclass – “4 Secrets to Personal Growth” Join us for a FREE 1-hour teleclass to discuss these topics: • What keeps us from raising our standard of living? • Who would you be if you were living from the present versus living from the past? • What would your day look like if you incorporated 10 nourishing daily habits? • What would you have time to do if you simplified your life dramatically? Join us on either Monday, 3/16 @ 7PM ET or Tuesday, 3/17 @ 12PM ET Join us on Monday by calling: 1-712-580-8025 the password is 480721# Join us on Tuesday by calling: 1-785-686-2400 the password is 480721 For more information, visit http://www.margaretpundmann.com/ or call 314.266.1532

Why Must We Worry?

Dear Friend, Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble When you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy~Bobby McFerrin

And This, Too, Shall Pass. Life is about embracing change.

The phrase "And This, Too, Shall Pass" has numerous said origins. Some say it was engraved on a ring created by a subject of King Solomon for the King to wear to bring him out of depression. Another take says a minister revealed the phrase to an Indian Prince for the same reason. Even President Lincoln called upon the phrase. Eckhart Tolle suggests to us in A New Earth the deeper meaning of the words is that everything in life is transient - fleeting.

So, too, I suggest to you that whatever you are dealing with right now - in your professional life, in your personal life or in your social life - remember "And This, Too, Shall Pass." It is easy to get caught up in the drama of the moment. It is easy to fall victim to the unending negativity. Today it is about the economy, yesterday it was about _______________ tomorrow we shall find another mishap over which to lament.

And yet, where will this worry get us? That is just it. It uses up our energy, wastes our time, and depletes our sanity! When we fall prey to worry we relinquish our power. Did you know that over 85% of the population is worried about something? Worrying keeps us from enjoying life. Most of worrying is just wasted energy. A study in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy found that 85 percent of the things we worry about never occur!

Make It Happen

This week I'm asking you to:

• Take a longer perspective - look long range.
• Evaluate each "big worry" and ask yourself, "Can I impact this situation?"
• If yes, take action! Consider what one or two actions you can take this week to ease your worry and put you in a proactive role.
• If not, contemplate the Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

• Allow the phrase, "And This, Too, Shall Pass" to provide some comfort to you - that indeed the hard times will abate.

How Do We Acknowledge?

Dear Friend,

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

The impact of a "Thank You," honors the intention of the donor and the gratitude of the recipient. "Thank You" acknowledges that we've been helped through the kindness and grace of another. When we show our appreciation we honor the brilliance of another and in so doing unlock some of our own brilliance. Famed professor, researcher, and father of positive psychology Dr. Martin Seligman, who I mentioned last week (last week's article), asks his students to perform the following exercise: Students are asked to think of one person whom they have never properly thanked for the impact they had on their life. Next students are asked to write a short and powerful 300-word letter to this person. This essay is to be well crafted and poignant. Once the letter is in final form, students are to call and schedule some time to visit this person. At this visit the essay is to be read aloud directly to the person. Resoundingly researchers found that the students were happier people for having performed this exercise. Dr. Seligman and his students represent one way that we can acknowledge those who have had significant impact on our lives. Other ways we can acknowledge those who have helped us: Write a Letter with Specific Details - thanking this person specifically for what they've done in your life.

• Make a Donation of time or money in their honor to a charity near and dear to their heart
• Record a video on your computer - thanking them for what they've done for you and e-mail it to them. You could even post it to their social networking site (LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace.)
• Throw a small party in their honor - have everyone write a short note to the honoree
• Give them a plant to grow at their desk or in their yard
• Send them a small gift that you know they would appreciate
• Or simply give a heartfelt face-to-face "Thank You"

Make It Happen

This week use your list from last week to select one person whom you desire to thank. Consider what they've done for you and include the specifics in your thank you. Remember in honoring others we honor ourselves. In thanking others we create an atmosphere of appreciation, gratitude, and abundance. In fact, if you are feeling ambitious this week why don't you select two people to honor?! Blessings to You! Blessings to you, Margaret.

P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author The Emerging Woman.

Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

Who Do You Need to Acknowledge?

Dear Friend,

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought,

and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

~ G.K. Chesterton

This week we are going to focus on whom we need to acknowledge. Next week we will discuss various ways to acknowledge those who have made a difference in our lives. We have all been blessed by people in our lives personally and professionally. These are people who have guided us, supported us, nurtured us, comforted us ... People who have helped make our lives what they are today. When we celebrate the role that people have played in our life we show our gratitude and acknowledge that we are the result of others. Dr. Martin Seligman, considered one of the fathers of Positive Psychology, studies happiness. He was written several books, created a master's program in positive psychology, given countless lectures, and led the way for changing how psychology evaluates and examines people. Over the years, he and his team have developed many techniques to help enhance one's happiness. One very significant way is to express our gratitude to people who we have never properly thanked. Next week I'm going to share with you the exercises he has created for his students.

Make It Happen

Take a few moments each day this week and reflect on those to whom you are indebted. Maybe it was your 3rd grade soccer coach or maybe it was your piano teacher or your first boss. This week take time to stroll down memory lane and revisit your life. Ask yourself, "Who has enriched my life?" Search your life for people who have impacted you. Break your life in five year segments start with the last five years. You can begin this process by noting these people in your gratitude journal. Here are some figures that many of us have had in our lives. Use this list as a point of departure.

• Teacher
• Parent
• Friend
• Mentor
• Boss
• Colleague
• Sibling
• Spouse
• Children
• Dog

Blessings to you!

How Do Your Rituals Serve You?

Dear Friend,

"When you always do what you've always done, You always get what you've always gotten."

~Tony Robbins

Our rituals are a reflection of how we live our lives. They reflect what we do day-in and day-out. Our rituals build the fabric of our lives and contribute to the results that we desire. Last week I asked you to reexamine five to 10 rituals in your life and see if they were adding to your life in positive ways. I suggested that you consider replacing those rituals that were not positive. For example, if the ritual of getting to your office every morning, going down to the cafeteria, getting a hearty breakfast and chatting with colleagues is not working - how might you replace it? Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Get to work early to prepare for your day
• Change what you eat at breakfast (not who or when you eat)
• Workout at the company gym with your colleagues rather than eating breakfast
• Schedule a professional development breakfast once each week with different colleagues throughout the company
• Spend your morning working from home rather than wasting precious time in highway traffic
• Have breakfast with clients or potential clients once each week

The reason I list these examples is because I think you need to know what problem you are solving in order to get the right answer. In other words what do you want to change in your life? Without knowing what you want to change it is difficult to reconfigure your rituals in order to bolster your life. So this week let's return to our goals since they represent where we desire to be in 2009 and let's match these goals against our rituals.

Ask yourself three questions:

• How does this ritual serve my goals?
• Is this ritual the best way for me to achieve my goals?
• Is this ritual sustainable?

Make It Happen

Use these three questions to examine each of your rituals in the context of your goals. Remember that this process takes time so it may take some adjustment to find the best sustainable ritual to achieve your goal. Identify and lock in accountability to help to sustain the ritual. Research shows that it can take 21 days to form a habit - so be patient, be diligent, and persevere! Remember we want to make 2009 Your Best Year and that takes appropriate planning and diligence - stay strong! Blessings to you!

What Are Your Rituals?

Dear Friend,

"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." ~Tony Robbins

A ritual defined by Merriam Webster's is a something that is done in accordance with a "social custom or normal protocol." When we think of rituals it is easy to be drawn towards the cultural or religious rituals of particular groups such as the Maori, the Native Americans, the Aborigines, or the Celts. In each of these cultures rituals serve to define and unite the culture. There are other rituals that reflect what Webster's defines as "normal protocol." In other words a ritual can also be a habit that is fully adopted into our lives - a process or series of actions we do almost without conscious thought. Of course, at some point we thought about them, but today they flow into our lives seamlessly. Reflect back to when you were little; your parents likely helped you build many rituals such as brushing your teeth before bed, taking a bath, doing homework and so on. As adults we've built rituals into our lives. Consider your morning routine - is it pretty much the same day to day, week to week? I bet it is and that is because we are creatures of habit. Once we figure out a way of being - a ritual - that works, we stick to it. Notice I said a ritual that works versus a ritual that nourishes or fulfills. That is because often we don't take time to consciously choose our actions and habits. We build our lives through little rituals from getting up and working out or getting up and drinking coffee ... and on and on. If we reexamine our rituals and accept the ones that work for us and write down the ones that don't work for us we can take the first step to transform our life.

Make It Happen

This week make a list of five to 10 rituals in your life. (They can be as simple as waking up in the morning, how you follow up with a potential client, or attending weekly worship services.) Examine each of these rituals and consider if they support you in getting the results you desire. A couple of weeks ago I asked you to create your vision for 2009 - will your current rituals sustain the results you desire? Do you need to rethink any of your rituals? Examine your rituals with a creative eye - explore them as if this is the first time and uncover unique ways to replace negative rituals with positive, nourishing rituals that propel you forward to creating Your Best Year!

Blessings to you!

Are You Making Excuses?

Dear Friend,

"Some favorite expressions of small children: "It's not my fault...They made me do it...I forgot."

Some favorite expressions of adults: "It's not my job. . . No one told me. . . It couldn't be helped." True freedom begins and ends with personal accountability." -Dan Zadra

Do any of the following sound familiar? • If I didn't have a work dinner on Thursday then I could start my diet on Monday. • If I had more money then I would be happy. • If I had more time in the day I would be able to get my projects completed • If my boss gave me more praise then I would be satisfied. • If there wasn't so much traffic then I would be on time. • If my spouse didn't travel as much then I would be able to exercise. • If I had more than one hour I could... -Clean the closet, -Write the proposal, -Organize the garage, -Take down the holiday decorations...and on and on the list goes. If any these sound familiar, then you (like me) suffer from what I call the "if only" syndrome. It is the voice in your head that says, "if only" something were different then I would be able to do what I need to do. It is easy to make excuses, to blame others, or even to shirk responsibility in the name of a loved one or even traffic! However, when we make excuses we release ourselves from accountability. We create a story of why we are justified in not doing what we know we need to do. When we stop making excuses and hold ourselves accountable for creating our own dreams, we begin to transform our lives. We transform our lives by actually achieving what we set out to do and not using others as an excuse or placing blame on them rather than ourselves.

Consider this hilarious children's poem, All My Great Excuses, by Kenn Nesbitt. Perhaps there is a lesson for us adults?

I started on my homework but my pen ran out of ink. My hamster ate my homework. My computer's on the blink. I accidentally dropped it in the soup my mom was cooking. My brother flushed it down the toilet when I wasn't looking. My mother ran my homework through the washer and the dryer. An airplane crashed into our house. My homework caught on fire. Tornadoes blew my notes away. Volcanoes struck our town. My notes were taken hostage by an evil killer clown. Some aliens abducted me. I had a shark attack. A pirate swiped my homework and refused to give it back. I worked on these excuses so darned long my teacher said, "I think you'll find it's easier to do the work instead."

Make it Happen

This week I ask that you consider how you can make your life excuse-free. Examine how you can accept accountability for getting exactly what you desire...and don't let your boss, spouse, child, or friend be the excuse for you not accomplishing a particular goal! Blessings to you, Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author The Emerging Woman. Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com.

Accountability - 5 Questions to Answer

Dear Friend,

We (live) in a culture where accountability, learning to accept responsibility, admitting mistakes and learning is critical to us.

~Anthony Zinni

So far this year we've reviewed our lessons from 2008, built a vision for 2009, created a plan to support our vision, cleaned our slate so that we have room in our lives for our 2009 dreams and goals. This week I want to ensure we have accountability to reach our goals. As much as we need to be diligent and persevere there will be times when we lose focus of our vision. In these times we need to have appropriate accountability to support us in regaining focus. In fact according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who attend meetings lose three times more weight than those who go at it alone! What this means is that when we have support we are more likely to achieve our goals. This week I want to ask you to consider what accountability you can build into your life that will support you in attaining your goals.

5 Questions to Consider

Who in my life will support my vision?

Friends Family Loved Ones Coach Colleagues Trainer Mentor

What activities will serve as accountability?

If your goal is Business Growth Activities that may hold you accountable: initiating a specific number of sales calls each day, attending valuable networking events each week or month, following-up with potential clients If your goal is Volunteer Work/Cleaning-Up Tasks Activities that may hold you accountable: scheduling the dates/times of your work-hours every four weeks, finding inspiring activites, scheduling a party, cleaning up to your favorite music or a book on tape If your goal is Weight Loss Activities that may hold you accountable: hiring a personal trainer, attending group meetings, creating a food journal, exercising with a friend or in a group If your goal is Balance Activities that may hold you accountable: creating a schedule of when you will work and when you will spend time with family, setting reminders on your calendar, before you say 'Yes' to a new project take 24 hours to consider if this is consistent with all of your goals

When will I have accomplished my goal?

We need specific measurable results to know we've reached our end pointThis means a desired revenue number, a desired weight, a goal of how many hours we will have volunteered, a specific plan for what areas of our home, office, or car must be de-cluttered Consider some goals may need an end date to aim for as a target Why is this goal important to me - what is my underlying motivation for achieving this goal?

Consider writing a letter to yourself about why each of your goals are significant to you and what each of them mean to you For each goal know what your larger motivation is and create a reminder of your motivation - with a picture, with writing, or even little notes around your home

How will I celebrate once I've achieve my goal?

Celebration locks in our success and can act as a "carrot" so to speak encouraging us to persevere Create a plan of what your celebration will be. If you have a larger goal - allow yourself to have mini-celebrations along the way

Make It Happen

This week take some time to review each of your goals in the context of the five questions above. The fundamental question is, "who or what will provide accountability to keep me on track to reach my goals"! Think creatively to establish the appropriate accountability in your life so that you may accomplish your goals and make 2009 Your Best Year! Blessings to you, Margaret.

How Can You Create A Clean Slate?

Dear Friend,

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ~Lao Tsu   This is the second full week of the New Year. Many of us view this year as an opportunity to have a tabula rasa, Latin for "scraped tablet" or in other words a clean slate. This clean slate enables us to forge ahead and create new things in our life. However, a clean slate doesn't come just because it is a new year. We can be available for fresh starts, at many points in our life irrespective of the calendar. Yet, often we must get-rid-of in order to be ready for a fresh start and to have a clean slate.   This week I'd like you to think about what you need in your life in order to have a clean slate for 2009. Having a fresh start will allow you the space mentally, the space physically and the space emotionally to accomplish the goals you've created for the coming year.   In the last three weeks I've asked you to reflect on 2008 - celebrate what worked and identify what you want to change, I asked you to identify six goals for 2009and last week I asked you to create a plan to achieve your goals. Together we have visited the past to gather lessons, we've gone into the future to contemplate what you want to accomplish in 2009, and we've focused on what steps you need to take to accomplish your goals.   This week, I'm asking you to step into the present. Consider what in your life needs to change or what space you need to open up in order to follow through with your plans and ultimately realize your goals for 2009.   Consider what type of space you need - mentally, physically and emotionally and how might you achieve this space? If you need mental space perhaps you make some quiet time each day on your drive to and from work, savor meditation, or enjoy a yoga class. If you need physical space perhaps you take ten minutes each day this week to de-clutter the surface of your desk, organize your mail, or file 2008 papers. If you need emotional space, perhaps laughter with some friends, service to those in need, prayer, a romantic comedy, or a good run in the cold crisp air will give you breathing room. You may even need an entire day of rest. Consider taking a sabbatical-day or a sabbatical-afternoon so that you have the space and rest to clean your slate mentally, physically and emotionally in the best way for you.   Make It Happen Make a conscious effort to examine what type of space you need in your life. Take this week and search your soul for your truth, what you need to make 2009 Your Best Year! Only you know exactly what you need right now. Blessings to you as you create your tabula rasa.

Blessings to you, Margaret.

2009 - Events & Classes

January Events

Your Personal Growth Teleclass

Join us for this 5 week personal growth course that begins in January. During this 5 week journey we will cover the following topics:

Getting Started - Raising awareness of ourselves

Energy Drains - Identifying things that drain our energy and we tolerate, how to eliminate that which holds us back

Moving Forward from Your Past - Addressing unresolved matteres such as bad habits, an incomplete project, etc

Establishing Daily Habits - Creating daily routines that keep us focused and motivated

Simplify Dramatically - Examining your life and seeing where you are just doing too much, eliminating the excess

Dates:

Wednesday's, January: 14, 21, 28

Wednesday's, February: 4,18

Times: 12pm to 1 pm central or 7pm to 8pm centralInvestment: $65

Register for Your Personal Growth Teleclass Your Best Year Yet Workshop at The Center For Mind, Body, Spirit January 26th 10am to 1pm (St. Louis, MO) Investment: $45 Register for Your Best Year Yet Workshop

Book Signing & Talk January 8, 6pm - 9pm Location Davis Kidd Bookstore Perkins Road Extended Memphis, Tennessee February Events More Magnificent You Teleclass based upon The Emerging WomanJoin us for this 6 week personal growth course that begins in January. During this 6 week journey we will cover the following topics: Finding New Beginnings Developing Your Authentic Self Tapping into Simplicity and Abundance Learning Harmony Embracing Joy Seeing the Beauty Recognizing Life's Riches Dates:

Wednesday's, February: 4,18, 25 Wednesday, March: 4, 11, 18

Times:

10am to 11am central or 5pm to 6pm centralInvestment: $75 Register for More Magnificent You Teleclass

2009 - Your Best Year Yet!

Dear Friend,

A goal is a dream that has an ending. ~ Duke Ellington

I hope you are having a joyous Holiday Season! Last week I asked you to reflect on 2008 - the truth of your year - both what worked and what didn't work. (Click here if you missed these questions.) Now that you've honestly answered these questions you can begin to ponder what you want your life to look like this time next year. This week let's create a vision of where we want to go into 2009. Once we paint this picture into our consciousness - we can break the vision into pieces.

When we develop ideas of what we want to accomplish, we need to ensure that our goals are complimentary. In other words we want to ensure our goals don't negate each other, but work together. For example, if one of your goals is to triple your business revenue and another goal is to coach little league for all three of your children - these goals might not realistically go together. Or they might. What I am asking you to do is to get real now - so that you don't create unreasonable expectations for yourself and then play the blame-guilt game with yourself next year.

First things first - close your eyes and begin with your vision. Ask yourself the question - what would you like to accomplish in 2009? Consider the following areas of your life -

• Love and Relationships,
• Health Life,
• Physical Environment,
• Work Life,
• Financial Life,
• Spiritual Life.

Over the next week I ask that you think of your vision and write down at least one goal for each area of your life. Once you have your list of at least six things that you want to accomplish in 2009 - see if they are symbiotic - do your goals go against each other or work together? Next week I'm going to ask you to put some planning around each of your goals so that once the proverbial ball drops and you've finished your champagne you can get focused and get to work on your goals for 2009.

Make It Happen

This week consider six things that you want to accomplish in 2009. Over this next week continue to celebreate all of the things that went right in 2008. Enjoy and savor the abundant blessings in your life. As you think about what you want to accomplish in 2009 - be real with yourself. Set challenging, inspiring, and yet reasonable goals for yourself. For each goal ask yourself the question, Who do I need to be to accomplish this goal?

Blessings to You for Your Best Year Yet!

Let's Review 2008

Dear Friend,

I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you're never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants. Zig Ziglar

Can you believe we are less than two weeks away from the New Year and the Holidays are upon us? Where does time go! This week I want us to review 2008 - the truth - the things that worked and the things that didn't. By reflecting we can find the things that worked and continue to do them in 2009. Additionally, we can adjust what didn't work so that we get different results in 2009. What were your goals in 2008? Before we leave 2008 and begin to think about 2009 here are 10 questions to consider: 1) Is what you are doing in your life - personally and professionally - working? 2) Are you getting the results you desire? 3) Are you fulfilled? 4) Are you enjoying your life? 5) Are your relationships nourishing and flourishing? 6) Do you take time to relax? 7) Are you growing as an individual? 8) Are you getting spiritual nourishment? 9) Do you make yourself a priority? (See article on self care.) 10) What is really important to me? (See article on blessings.) Once you have taken time to reflect upon these ten questions consider the following: If you could change one thing in your life what would it be and how might you make that change?

Make It Happen

This week I hope that you have a joyous Holiday with your loved ones. Keep your focus on the blessings in your life. Treasure each family member and celebrate what they bring to the table of your life. Try to find a few quiet moments before and after the fun to consider the questions above. We will use your answers to these questions as a basis for planning your 2009.

Regardless if 2008 was your best year yet or if it left a lot to be desired keep your eyes on the bountiful blessings in your life.

Next week we will focus on creating your vision for 2009!

Blessings to you for a warm and joyous Holiday!

By Giving, We Receive

Dear Friend,

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill

When we give we also receive. There is something about giving that we all yearn to do because when we give we share a piece of our heart and a piece of our soul. And, when our giving is monetary it requires a sacrifice. When we give, we share with the world - adding meaning and value to the lives around us and to our own life, as well. Think back to last week's article on the blessings in our life. I suspect many of us had some material items on our list. When we give some - even just a little - we share our abundance with the people around us. Dr. Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, considered one of the fathers of positive psychology and author of Authentic Happiness, has created an experiment for his students. Students are broken into two groups. One group was told to do something fun, the other group was told to serve others. Guess which group of students came back as the happier group? You are correct if you guessed the one that served others. When we simply serve our own needs we can experience pleasure, but research shows that once the "fun" activity ends our pleasure ends as well. Rather, if we want to experience sustainable pleasure - we must think beyond our own needs and desires and consider those around us.

Consider several phrases from the poem Giving by Kahlil Gibran:

Then said a rich man, 'Speak to us of Giving.' And he answered: You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

... There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome. And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

... It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

... Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'. You often say, 'I would give, but only to the deserving.' The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

... See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving. For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

Make It Happen

This week I'm going to ask that you perform a random act of service. Perhaps at the grocery store you help someone unload their groceries or perhaps you offer to pay for their groceries. Do whatever feels right to you. Find one significant way to serve someone around you either with your time, money, or resources. Another act of service might be to select an amount of money that you are willing to part with - cash (no tax benefits here, only emotional ones!) and find someone in need and give it to them anonymously. Another suggestion is to drive someone to work who typically relies on public transportation. My request is that you find at least one way serve those around you this week. Once you do jot down in your journal or even on your calendar what you did and how it made you feel. By giving, we chart the path of our life!