Welcome to SoulFULLY Living #72...
(Click for HTML Version - www.lifecoachmary.com/issue72.htm) Welcome New Subscribers! You may view ISSUE #1 at www.lifecoachmary.com/issue1.htm. Click HERE for archived issues. Soulfully Living's intention is to deliver inspiring ideas, articles and resources that positively impact the quality of your life.
. . . . . . Happy January to You!!! Can you believe that we're already one month into 2006? Whew! What a month it has been so far. I hope you're enjoying the fresh new energy of 2006, as I am. My intention was to send this edition out earlier, and I've admittedly been consumed with wedding plans (getting married on May 5th!). I've also been catching up after recovering from that nasty bug that wiped out my December, and I'm busily rolling out my new year-long coaching program (see below). All in all, I'm excited about this year!! Hope you are too. This issue is primarily focused on setting up your 2006. Perhaps you've already written your goals and gotten clear about your resolutions for the year. Have you? If not, or if you want to strengthen your goals, I encourage you to use one of the processes below, to get clear or clearer, inspired or more inspired and committed or doubly committed to make YOUR year the most extraordinary year yet.I also want to challenge you to make a true "year-long" resolution. A 365 day goal. A 365 day goal is a year long commitment you make to yourself. See "Soulful Spotlight" below for examples. And, this is a great time to dig into my book, The Power of Inner Choice. If you haven't already purchased your copy, it's the perfect time to do it. The book is made up of 12 rich lessons, designed to do one per week. It's all about making CONSCIOUS CHOICES, expanding upon the 12 "choice points" outlined in the book. You can order you copy at www.powerofinnerchoice.com.
Year Long Support Offering
Would you like to insure that you have the most extraordinary year ever in 2006? Would you like to successfully achieve your goals while simultaneously, raising your consciousness, awareness or sense of inner peace? You may be interested in receiving an invitation to my Success and Inner Peace BootcampTM. In the last two issues, I mentioned that I was offering a year long interactive coaching and life mastery program in 2006. It's focused on mastery in health, relationships, emotions, finances, "inner choice", inquiry, visioning and spirituality. It's about achieving SUCCESS and INNER PEACE. Group size is limited. I won't be offering this through my website, only through private email invitation. The program begins in February 9, 2006. This is an affordable option for a year of accountability, coaching and concentrated growth for those who want to make 2006 spectacular.
If you'd like to receive an invitation, email me at mary@lifecoachmary.com. Write "year-long" in the subject line. I wasn't expecting to announce this in Soulfully Living again, but I've had a lot of positive response, and I didn't want to miss anyone. And, I have room for a few more highly committed individuals who value their "inner peace" as much as their success. You can have both.
FEATURES this week...
Soulful Spotlight - A 365 day goal. A 365 day goal is a year long commitment you make to yourself. It's a REAL RESOLUTION. It could be about committed to some small action every day for a whole year. It could be about giving up something for a whole year. See below for examples. The key...is to REALLY commit.Soulfully Being - New Year Creation - There are numerous ways to prepare yourself for 2006. Goal-setting, visioning, planning and strategizing are popular this time of year. Are you ready to make 2006 your most extraordinary year ever? This week's issue offers FOUR methods to help you crystallize your 2006 vision, depending on your personal style (if you haven't done so already). Are you more visual, auditory or kinesthetic? Use the processes below to engage your senses in your 2006 visions.Here's to a year of success and inner peace in 2006,  Mary Allen, CPCC, MCC SUBSCRIBE/unsubscribe
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A 365 Day Goal. What? A 365 day goal? Yes. A 365 day goal is a year long commitment you make to yourself as a resolution with an ongoing commitment. Every year we set a variety of goals. Some can be achieved in a week, month, or quarter. Some goals take several years to realize. There is another category of goals that can only be achieved through consistent daily (or nearly daily) action. Working out, flossing teeth, meditating or reading books are examples of worthy "daily habits" or "daily rituals" or "365 day goals." The 365 day goal may also be something you decide to give up, much like many Catholics do during lent. Examples could be giving up swearing, alcohol, candy or a favorite unhealthy food. The result of your 365 day goal should deliver a positive effect in your life by its exclusion or inclusion -- and by your year-long commitment. These 365 day type of goals are important for TWO reasons. First, we get the positive "compounding effect" of a simple discipline repeated over the course of a year. Secondly, we get to experience "discipline" for the sake of discipline. Cultivating will-power brings a sense of control and power, while it also tames the ego. Many spiritual practices encourage a simple discipline practice for this reason. It forces you to make deliberate and conscious choices throughout the year about that single discipline. And, the compounding effect delivers more value than otherwise random follow through. So, it's a double win. This year, my 365 day goal is "no French fries." Yep. So far, so good, no fries for Mary. Now, I don't really eat fries THAT often (maybe 2-3x a month), but I do love them -- especially when they're good ones!! And, I know they aren't good for me. And, I'll be stepping into a wedding dress in a few months. And, I love making a 365 day goal. This one seemed like the perfect one for me this year. Another year, I committed to giving up Diet Coke, because I was drinking about three to four a day. After the first two weeks, it was easy. Since then (1992), I've probably only less than a dozen sodas. Some goals become permanent, and others are just a one year commitment. Anything that I start to notice as a pattern in my life, that doesn't serve me, I like to nip because I don't like being controlled by something outside of me. One year, Tony Robbins committed to working out EVERY day...and found himself on the exercise bike at 2am on some days. While he got in great shape that year...he also got the power of discipline. And, a great story to share. You may also quantify your goal differently, to be more achievable, such as committing to working out four or five days a week (on average) for an entire year. The goal ought to stretch you, but still be doable. Here's a list of ideas to get your juices flowing. I'm sure you can add to this list. Don't feel that you must do ALL or ANY of these...the point is to commit to ONE for a whole year -- one that is perfect for YOU. Focusing on too many 365 day goals is counterproductive. Find something that resonates for you...and commit, really commit!! What would be the impact 365 days from now if you...?
- Meditate Daily (a true 365 day goal -- no exceptions) No Chocolate or Candy No TV (or 2 hours per week max...and really hold yourself to it) Average 5 workouts per week Floss Daily Say "I love you" to spouse or loved one No swearing Read 30 Books (I did that one year...and found myself reading 10 books in December!) No alcohol (one friend did this...and loved how he felt, so never started again) Save $_____per month (no matter what) Write down 25 Appreciations each day No French Fries or Fried Food No pasta No breads No Ice Cream Vitamins Daily Walk dog daily (somebody furry will love this one) Make bed daily Wash dishes daily No fast food Yoga or stretching daily An act of kindness daily (you can always visit Denny's a midnight to find people to be kind too) No complaining No gossiping Write in journal daily Express "appreciation" to spouse daily Hug at least one person daily No soda (I know some of you NEED to do this one) No coffee (replace with Green Tea) No cheese or no dairy No red meat Read 10 pages of a good book daily Writing daily (great for writers!) Calling a loved one daily Visualizing a goal daily Sending yourself unconditional love
- Purposefully feeling JOY daily
Have fun with this. I'm missing my French fries, but I have to admit I feel GREAT when I've "just said no." Feel free to share with me your commitment for the year, and maybe you'll inspire other readers by your 365 day goal. Email me mary@lifecoachmary.com. |
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What are you really COMMITTED
to in 2006? |
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NEW YEAR CREATION - Below are four related processes for a clarifying your 2006 vision. Since each of us is wired differently, it's useful to find the most effective visioning strategy for you. Some people LOVE to write goals, others avoid the process. Some love details, while others are bottom-line. Some people LOVE visualizations, and yet others do best in verbalizing their dreams to others. Which style or styles resonate with you? The most important element in crystallizing your vision is finding a medium that allows you to connect "emotionally" to your vision. We often identify goals intellectually, yet find ourselves disassociated and not compelled to achieve them. The juice, inspiration and magic unfolds when we are "emotionally engaged" with our visions. If you've set goals in the past with disappointing results, this may be the missing link. Being able to see, hear, feel and fully associate with what you DESIRE most, is the KEY to magnetizing it to you.If you desire an amazing relationship, how would you FEEL if that partner was already in your life? How would you treat them? What activities would you enjoy together? If you desire a thriving business, what activities would fill up your day? Who would you spend time with? How confident and decisive would you be? If you desire a fit and trim body, can you imagine yourself eating healthy foods and looking forward to visiting the gym? What would it feel like to be 15 pounds lighter?
ENGAGING the SENSES in your VISION
1. Treasure Mapping - Creating a collage is an excellent way to engage the senses. This process involves finding pictures and words that capture your vision or visions. Magazines are great resources since advertising is designed to engage us emotionally. A picture says a thousand words...and at least a dozen emotions. A picture of a man and woman holding hands at the beach may embody feelings of romance, magic, love, connection and fulfillment. What body-type are you striving for? Where would you like to travel? What kind of home would you like to live in? Find the pictures that resonate with you. Look for words to embody that will support you in achieving your goals - in business or personal - such as "integrity", "confidence", "creativity", "value" or one of my favorites "joy". Create your own visuals when necessary with personal photos or Photoshop. In 2004, I created an awesome treasure map, and nearly EVERYTHING on the poster came true. I "made-up" the concept of "Conversations with the Masters" that year...and interviewed three of the authors I had cut out pictures of - Byron Katie, Dr. David Hawkins and Wayne Dyer. I also had a picture of me and a wedding dress (I met my now fiancé in 2004). I also created a mock book cover, and something shifted in me when I saw "by Mary Allen" on the cover. It was August 2004 when all the pieces came together to get my first book published!! I also cut out an Oprah Magazine cover and created a headline and put my picture on it. In August, I was noting all that I was manifesting and thought, "I wonder how this is going to happen (meaning Oprah)." About three days later, I received a call from The Oprah Winfrey Show. I have put them off temporarily, but you can bet I'll be including something on my Treasure Map for 2006. I'm planning on getting together with several girlfriends in a few weeks. (It's never too late to create your Treasure Map for the year.)Use "treasure mapping" as a fun, creative way to expand your vision of what's possible. Doing this with a group is also inspiring. The visual creates an emotional connection that creates magic. 2. The Written Word - From listing out 10 to 100 Goals in bullet format, to describing your vision in a paragraph with lots of juicy details...the written word is highly effective at engaging the senses. Write it down. Don't underestimate the power of taking a passing thought and giving it life on paper. The more you describe your vision in detail the more REAL and associated it becomes in our nervous systems. The secret here is finding the language to elicit the emotions in YOU. I like to challenge my clients to write a "vision paragraph" articulating their most important goals. You may include descriptors of the end result, including how you and others feel. It's also helpful to describe the process in which you achieved the goal. What resources did you access? What steps did you take? Was it easy or difficult? Again, what feelings & emotions are present?Examples from various clients...WRITING VISION
To organize and express my thoughts, feelings and experiences in a way that touches, inspires and empowers others to make new shifts, gain a better understanding of themselves & others, so they ultimately experience more abundance, love, energy, peace, joy and freedom inside themselves. To awaken lives to a higher possibility of themselves through books, articles and courses. To creatively pursue new avenues of expression, such as media, to get the message out to more individuals in an enjoyable, and effective format that touches their hearts.RELATIONSHIP VISION
To deepen my soul connection with my life partner by enjoying, respecting, empowering and loving one another unconditionally. To share in open and honest communication, "seeing" and "being seen", listening intently, while expressing and receiving love. To experience the joys, adventures and challenges in life with ease and resonance. To inspire other couples of whatâ€Ts possible in an intimate partnership. To experience a passionate, sensual, spiritual intimate relationship that exudes ecstasy, love and nourishment at the soul level. To learn, grow and evolve together in a safe, nurturing, forgiving and loving environment, ultimately bringing out the best of each individual. To create a family together that exemplifies our love and provides a nurturing home to our amazing children.HEALTH VISION
To create and live a lifestyle which consistently causes me to be at my physical and emotional best, exemplifying and inspiring high standards of vitality, energy and physical beauty. To create a lean body with beautiful definition. No longer doing things with willpower, doing them with energy and power to burn. Every day in every way fulfilling the ideal of health.3. VISUALIZATIONS - Using the power of your mind to cultivate and embody your vision is another powerful resource. Again, the more detail and emotion you can FEEL and bring to life in your body, the more effective it is in eliciting the inspiration, creativity and action necessary to fulfill your goal or dream. Clarifying and identifying the end result and associated feelings and emotions through any of these exercises is useful preparation, and well worth the initial time investment. Spending even a few minutes each day to expand and FEEL your vision being realized is potent.
4. FINDING A THEME - What is your theme for the New Year 2006? This is not about your resolutions or specific goals with "do by" dates. This is your vision or dream for the upcoming year. What do you feel energy and excitement around? What engages your imagination and feels compelling? The beauty in adopting a theme is it naturally engages the senses unlike traditional "in the head" goal-setting. This does not have to be a linear process. You may use one or more of the ideas that become stimulated from the questions below. Select a theme for 2006. You may want to create an inspiring atmosphere to do this exercise in - i.e. candles, music, nature, by a fire, etc. Have FUN with this process!
- If your vision were a piece of music, what piece would it be? If your vision was from nature what would it be? (Tree, ocean, brook..) What does it taste like? What does it smell like? What other senses can you use to develop your vision? What if your vision was a thousand times bigger? Describe what it would be. Use a metaphor to describe your vision. Are you forcing anything? Where can you ease off? What can you take less seriously? Are there any old rules you are holding on to? What can you eliminate? How would a six-year-old describe your vision? Ask yourself some "what if" questions. What if I ______?
- Add one outrageous or wacky element to your vision.
Which of processes above resonates with you? You may gravitate toward one them, or try them all. Each process engages the senses in a unique way. The first step is taking the time to CLARIFY and REFINE your vision - and FULLY ASSOCIATING EMOTIONALLY with that vision. That alone can be effective at creating unbelievable momentum throughout the year.
Secondly, super-charge your visions by revisiting your treasure maps, written goals and visions, themes or spend time visualizing - CONSISTENTLY. While you may utilize one of more of these processes in creating your vision, I recommend selecting ONE process to revisit on a regular basis. Monthly, weekly or daily. The more often you connect to your vision emotionally, engaging your senses, the more quickly you are likely to experience it reality. Try it. Make 2006 spectacular! |
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| We hope you've enjoyed reading this issue of the Soulfully Living. We LOVE hearing feedback....especially if you've enjoyed this issue. Let us know what you like, so we can give you more of what you want. And, if you've got a suggestion of how we might improve or enhance SoulFULLY Living, please email mary@lifecoachmary.com .
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Creating Fulfillment
One Life at a Time
Issue #72 . <1/30/06>
The Power of Inner Choice:
12 Weeks to Living a Life YOU Love. A guide to cultivating "conscious choices"
as you create
success AND inner peace
in your life.
A MUST listen to CD set for anyone in leadership or anyone coaching executives.
WINNING by Jack Welch
An invaluable guide for bringing heart and soul to the wedding planning process.
Great gift for brides.
Conscious Bride's
Wedding Planner
Speaking Peace: Communicating with others through Non-Violent Communication
by Marshall Rosenberg
EXCELLENT!!
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