Escape from the Need to Escape

"...set up a life you don't need to escape from." ~~ Seth Godin, business and leadership author

This is one of my favorite lines from Godin's book, Tribes. The quote resonates with me because I've noticed how often the word "escape" comes up in our everyday reading, conversation, and the advertising we see and hear.

.

Have you noticed it, too? It seems to be everywhere:

~"Escape from it all with our special getaway vacation packages!"

~"Buy this book for summer escape reading!"

~"These new styles of exotic prints create a getaway in your mind!"

Now, please understand, I'm not advocating a spartan or puritanical existence for any of us. I'm all for vacations, retreats, breaks, and variety in our lives. In fact, I believe they are essential to our health, happiness, and success.

Please ask yourself this question: "Am I running toward something, or away from something?" Your answer will clarify where your motivation is coming from.

This theme dovetails naturally with that of my last post, which was about positive habits. When you give yourself credit for the daily habits you have put in place to move you toward your goals and into your vision, you can live joyfully in the moment.

If you're living happily in the moment of a well-designed life, you'll find that you aren't constantly daydreaming about escaping from the "grind," because you're not experiencing a "grind" to begin with! As I mentioned in my last post, "...you are living a life of grace and style that will make you proud to be who you are!"

If you're still working toward living this way, you've probably noticed people who already are. They generally have tons of enthusiasm and positive energy. They love their work (even if it's volunteer work). And they smile a lot!

I used to meet these people and wonder, "How do they do it??" In the last six years, though, I've been cutting myself a path to the same joyful, playful lifestyle. Now I'm smiling a lot!

Here are seven questions to ask yourself:

~Am I taking great care of myself, physically and emotionally?

~Do I have strong personal boundaries in place? Am I gently but firmly enforcing them with others?

~Am I asking for help when I need it?

~Does my personal environment at home, work, and play serve me or work against me? (Hint: Clear the clutter! I understand...you don't think you have time. I don't feel like I have the time, either. But try it; you'll love the results of having organized spaces to rest, work, and play in. Take it from a recovering clutter bug!)

~What about brain clutter? Well, you probably have some...in the form of negative beliefs that don't serve you anymore. Dump 'em!

~Do I fear change? Again, it's likely that you do, because it's built into our DNA as a protective mechanism. But it often works overtime and to our disadvantage. (Hint: It's usually disguised as feelings of resistance!)

As you can see, while a lack of money or time can be challenging, they don't have to compel you to escape your own daily life! Why wait? I'm a very busy person, and I'm not rolling in money. But I'm happy!

My advice to you: find or make a reason to smile today, right here and now!

My request of you: please leave a comment for my readers and me about how this turns out!

.

"...today, well lived, makes every yesterday

A dream of happiness,

And tomorrow, a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to This Day."

~"Look to This Day!" from the Unitarian-Universalist Hymnal

.

Thank you and bless you,

Susan

.

P.S. 'Need help with making this happen? I offer you an introductory coaching session by phone or in person. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 to set up an appointment. The fee is nominal, and there's no further obligation. Just show up on time, ready to start. High pressure is simply not my style!

.

P.P.S. This blog has an alter-ego! It's my snail-mail newsletter than comes out every two months, called "Susan...Unplugged." Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 to sign up with your regular mailing address. The newsletter is complimentary in the U.S. If you live outside of the U.S., I may ask for some help with the postage. [Unless, of course, you're a monthly international client! :-) ]

.

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

.

***Member of the Tri-County Community Network, a local human services organization at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

.

The Sacred Stewardship of a True Vision

I want to share with you the most inspiring explanation of having a vision that I've ever seen! It was in Jesse Jennings' Q&A column in the latest issue of Science of Mind Magazine.

Jennings explained that when creating a vision, ideally we plan from the outset to work ourselves out of a job. For example, if you start a non-profit organization to help domestic violence victims, your vision would be that of a world where everyone is safe in their own home. That's your ultimate goal...for the organization to become unnecessary!

This doesn't make you unnecessary, of course. In fact, you'd be the perfect person to start another organization with a new vision of another problem that you can see as eradicated!

To me, these kinds of visions are of the highest order, and are true examples of sacred stewardship.

My best to you,
Susan

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

.

Values, Vision, and Vitality Equal Results

Here's one way I propose to look at the manifesting process, using a nautical analogy....

Values
The value that guides your vision will serve as a beacon throughout the process of manifesting that vision. For an example, let's use "helping others to help themselves" as the value. And let's say that where you are now is the shore you're currently on concerning making something happen that will align with that value.

This value gives us the compelling purpose and motivation for developing the vision.


Vision
The vision is the vehicle that will get you to the far shore, which is the manifestation of the vision. An example of a vision guided by the value above might be starting a non-profit organization that extends loans to micro-businesses in third-world countries.

Keeping the vision aligned with the value contributes to the integrity of the project. It also inspires others with the same value to support the vision.

Through the vision, you can articulate your desired results in a way that others can understand, imagine, and get behind. In computer terms, it's like putting your idea and desire into a PDF so everyone can see it easily. Next, we can partner the vision with vitality to assure the feasibility of the project.


Vitality
What resources will it take to make the project work? Vitality is the bridge for the vision to cross. This bridge must be engineered with a firm foundation consisting of self-care, financial responsibility, leadership, patience, trust, flexibility, and sustainable energy.

This foundation will help you maintain your passion and enthusiasm, and it will help you align with the Law of Attraction. Vitality will also contribute to the integrity of the project by allowing you to actually move on it, and not just daydream about it.

In the case of our example above, vitality will assure that the organization can be founded, funds can be secured and managed, and enthusiasm can be sustained.

What? You don't see yourself as a visionary? Let your values give birth to your image, and let vitality carry it to fruition!

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this model!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. to "locals": Details will be available soon about the largest-yet 4th Annual Boyertown Wellness Council Health Fair! It'll take place on Saturday, March 21, 2009, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Boyertown Area Sr. High School.

I'll be facilitating a brief workshop on "Embracing Imperfection," demonstrating Reiki on willing participants, and hosting an exhibit table about coaching and Reiki. Order forms will be available for a special discount on my products. I hope to see you there!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

.

How to Fail Successfully

Greetings Intrepid Creators!

Here's my holistic approach to making the most of our failed attempts at just about anything:

Practical Steps to Take
First, think through the risks involved before you embark on the project. What reserves will you need in order to bounce back if things don't work out as you planned? Money, energy, time, self-confidence, flexibility? What is your Plan B?

Also consider your timing...by this I mean your personal timing and rhythms as much as any external timing factors. Is this the best time to start from both of these perspectives?

If indeed you do need to resort to Plan B, don't put it off. Let go of Plan A, and trust that if it is meant to come back, it will, in its own way and time.

In the meantime, apply whatever you learned from the experience to Plan B. It's possible that what you thought was Plan B was the plan after all, so don't be too quick to shrug it off as a mere consolation prize. Make the necessary course adjustments and lead with your heart.

Also, review my post on transitions from April 12. A failed attempt, properly managed, results in a transition, not a dead end.

Reframe the Failed Attempt for Yourself Emotionally
Put your own vision ahead of worrying about what others will think of your tumble. Give yourself permission to fail without labeling yourself a "failure." It's just trial and error on a larger, more frightening scale.

Also, remind yourself what good company you are in! We often hear stories of successful people who built their successes on the foundations of what they learned from their failures. Edison is perhaps the most frequently mentioned because of the many, many ways he discovered for making a light bulb that didn't work.

Transform Your Failed Attempts Into Service for Others
Use the experience you gained from your mistakes to help others find a smoother path. You can do this through writing, teaching, speaking, mentoring, and other ways. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success."

Coaching can help in all three of these areas. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for a complimentary trial tele-coaching session.

To your success,
Susan

P.S. Last call for Saturday's Dig-In project day via teleconferencing technology, from 8:00am to 10:10am Eastern. To register for this complimentary gathering, email me by noon Eastern this Friday at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Dig-In Days are fun and effective!