We all have them.  They sneak up on you almost without warning.  I say, “almost,” because there’s usually a little foreshadowing involved, like, not being able to find your keys when you’re already running late getting out the door for work.

Ah, the “bad day.”  I don’t need to define it for you, but what I can do is give you a few ways to cope when, in hindsight, you wonder if getting out of bed was the best decision.

1. Maintain your perspective.  I’ve somehow managed to trigger a response in my head that when something happens, this little voice says, “This too shall pass.”  It’s one of the advantages of being in your 40’s; you’ve lived enough life to know that this saying is very, very true.  So, in the grand scheme of things, this situation that has you upset right now, is it the end of the world?  No.  I can say with confidence, it’s not going to be the end of the world.  (Okay, if you’re a nuclear engineer and reading this, perhaps we need to talk, but the rest of you can relax.)
2. Take control. Do what you can, and accept that.  The problem might not get resolved today.  Do what you can, and if that’s nothing, it’s nothing.  Let’s face it, sometimes things are just simply out of our control.  Own up to your mistakes, if necessary, apologize, do what you can, but then move on.
3. Take a  nap.  Sometimes, this really will “break the spell.”  Thinking you got up on the wrong side of the bed?  Take a nap and get up on the other one - no kidding!  When there’s nothing you can do, changing your habits, or just doing something differently, will psyche you into believing that things are going to change.  And once you believe that . . .
4. Forget your troubles, come on get happy.  Dance, sing, read a motivational book, go to an amusement park, go shopping for something fun, (NOT grocery shopping), ride your bike, take a yoga class, or anything else that you enjoy doing that will take your mind off of everything that’s going wrong.  The advantage of this invokes the law of attraction.  The more you focus on what’s going wrong, the more things will go wrong.  So stop thinking about it.  But how do you stop thinking about the pink elephant? By imaging a green giraffe.
5. Laugh.  Shift your perspective by finding humor in the situation.  There is usually at least a little chuckle to be ascertained in even the most serious of mishaps and pivoting your perspective to see the humorous side is very healthy, emotionally, and physically.  If you can’t find humor in the situation, find humor somewhere.  Take a break and watch a comedy.  Sometimes we have trouble finding the better perspective because we’re too close to the problem.  Watching George Costanza finagle his way out of another tough spot might be just the push you need to see the light in your own situation.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

Being an entrepreneur is very rewarding.  The challenge of pulling together a mastermind and creating something that benefits the world is life-giving in and of itself whether you accomplish your goal or not.

But sometimes, things happen that are out of your control and you just have to roll with the punches.  Having clearly defined values so that you can make split-second decisions in a crisis is an invaluable tool of extreme importance.

Last night, someone very dear to me called and did not sound good.  He has come down with the flu.  I dropped everything, including writing today’s article, (which was going to be lengthy - so you can thank him later), to take care of him.

I was able to do so and not worry about my commitment to my blog or my readers, because the health and welfare of my family and friends comes first.  Yes, this blog is important to me, but not as important as my personal relationships.

Some will be asking, “But what about your commitment to yourself?  Don’t you always say to take care of yourself first, because if you don’t, you won’t have anything to give anyone else?”

Yes.  I do say that and I still do.  So here’s how this works.  (I’m really grateful for the opportunity to explain this in this way.)

By dropping my schedule and running to his side, I was true to myself because I was true to my values.  I was, in that moment, completely selfish, because I chose my own needs, specifically, the need to be authentic, the desire to be authentic, over the need to keep someone else happy.  Taking care of those I care about is who I am, even more so than being a writer.

The best part is, I was able to come home, watch the series finale of Desperate Housewives, and then write this post, which was just as good as the one I had planned.  So staying true to myself led to an even greater lesson to share with all of you.

How was I able to make a decision so quickly?  Because I’ve identified my values and know them by heart.

If you’re not sure that you could make such a split-second decision and feel good about it, perhaps a review of your values is in order.  Determining Your Values is a post I wrote back in 2007 that will be very helpful to you whether you’re writing your first draft of your values, or simply need a review.  Or perhaps it’s time for you to update your values so that you can make better decisions in every moment.

In any case, be sure to commit your values to memory and make sure they represent you completely, so that making split-second decisions comes naturally and intuitively.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Conscious Creation, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Success

As I am gearing up for my new company, new website, and new products, I’m coming across a lot of interesting material.  Researching weight loss methods to pass on to my readers and followers of How I Lost 25 Pounds in One Month has been very interesting indeed!  I have a full-fledged update article for you coming soon, and will have a book available this fall, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share these 10 methodologies with you.  (Uh-hum, they might not make the final cut of the book, if that tells you anything.) This is just a fun post.

Keep in mind that the way any fad diet works is that it temporarily cuts down on the number of calories you’re consuming. They might use a lot of other marketing hype or even legitimate references to the glycemic index and metabolism, or complicate things by adding exercise and daily metabolic rate calculations, but in the end, it’s all about calories burned versus calories consumed.  (MUCH more on this in an up-coming post.)

Also remember that it’s not about achieving a certain number necessarily, it’s about being happy with who you are, inside and out.  Without further ado . . .

10 Ways to Lose 5 Pounds Fast

1. The Caveman Diet.  Also known as the Paleolithic diet, this gluten-free diet is high in fruits, meat, and nuts, and encourages you to eat locally grown foods.  Removing refined sugar from your diet alone would eliminate 5 pounds for most of us pretty quickly.
2. The Vision Diet.  No one wants to eat something that looks disgusting.  (This would be the fad diet for you, Mark!) The main theory behind this one is that certain colors motivate hunger, while blue diminishes it.  So they sell blue sunglasses that you wear while you’re eating.  You’ll notice, there is no link to said glasses here.  (Wink-wink, nod-nod.)
3. The Chewing Diet.  My dental industry followers will love this one!  Chew your food 32 times before swallowing and lose weight.  The theory is that when you chew your food more thoroughly your appetite shrinks.  Just thinking about it makes my appetite shrink - how ’bout you?
4. The Raw Food Diet.  This one reminds me of the Caveman diet.  Cathy Wong has a good matter-of-fact article about it.  Not only would you lose weight just in the time it takes you to figure out what you can eat, the foods you’d be eating are typically lower in calories as well.  So the forked approached. OOOHHH - bad pun - sorry!
5. The Baby Food Diet.  This one would work well for those of you who like bland food.  I have a friend who had success on this one.  It only works for a little while though because you’ll soon tire of opening all those little jars!  But the idea is you’ll retrain your body to proper portion control.
6. The Master Cleanse.  There are several of these diets around that involve several days of drinking a liquid concoction and not eating solid food for about a week.  You have to be careful about calories, still, but it does work.
7. The Peanut-Butter Diet.  This one worked for me, even when I didn’t need it.  Several years ago I was in lingual orthodontic therapy and could eat nothing but peanut-butter.  I got down to a Size 0.  Later, when I saw the book in a bookstore, I said, “Well I know that diet works.”  The diet is actually a pretty good one and nutritionally sound, just not popular anymore.  But hey, the book is only a buck on Amazon and wouldn’t it be fun to drop a few pounds that way?
8. The Grapefruit Diet.  Eating half a grapefruit before every meal will help you eat less of the meal, or so they say, but the fine print indicates that the meal can only be around 800 calories.  There are several theories around why this works.  My mother tried it and I believe she did lose a few quick pounds, but it’s not sustainable.  Not for most people, anyway.  If you have GI problems or take Nexium or Prilosec, skip this one.
9. The Atkins Diet.  I still like (and use) this one for quick, short-term, fast weight loss.  Again, the way it works is by cutting back on your calories.  Protein packs fewer calories per gram of food eaten than fat or carbohydrates, so you can eat a reasonable amount, consumer fewer calories, and lose weight pretty quickly without feeling hungry.  This one is probably my favorite on this list.
10. The Morning Banana Diet.  On this diet, you are to eat a banana for breakfast with a glass of room-temperature water to boost metabolism, and then eat a normal lunch and dinner.  No snacks or desserts.  That’s it.  Pretty simple.  My problem is, I always have two brown bananas on my kitchen counter and no time to make banana bread!

I’d love to hear from you if you have another method to lose 5 pounds quickly, or if you’ve had success on one of these.  (But - and I say this with complete and total L-O-V-E- please don’t email me just to complain or ask a banal question - and if you think it might be banal, it is!)  To comment on this post, click the title and scroll to the bottom.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

You are what you do.  Did you know that?

Some people don’t like to hear that.  Some will argue, saying, “I am so much more than what I do!”  Really?  How so?

The way I see it, a person who spends time teaching is a teacher.  One who spends time writing is a writer.  One who spends time complaining is a complainer.  (Keeping it nice.)  And one who spends time restoring art, is an art restorer.  (Yes, Anne, this one’s for you!)

We all have struggles and messes and issues and mouths waiting to be fed and bosses who suck and spouses who whine and okay, you get the drift.

But within each and every day, the one thing we have control over, for the most part, is what we choose to do with our time.  Where do you put your focus?  Tell me what you focus on, and I’ll tell you who you are. There are 1,440 minutes in every day.  That means that there are 1,440 decision points in every day. One thousand, four hundred and forty opportunities to be who you want to be.

Yes, planning and preparation are important, as are thinking and reflecting.  But action is the critical, rate-limiting step for reaching your full potential.  Those of you who have been following my blog for several years know that I am an advocate of personal strategic planning.  Well, maybe it’s time for a post about personal strategic execution.  Ah.  Yes.  That sounds nice, doesn’t it?

So I’m off to write another blog post because, well, I’m a blogger.  That’s what I do, and I L-O-V-E it!  Granted, it’s only one thing that I do, but that’s another post.  Stay tuned . . .

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

We all have a need to be creative at times, but often feel stuck when we’re called upon or put on the spot. Here are some exercises that will be fun for you and either get or keep your creative juices flowing. Enjoy!

1. Sit by the pool. No problem, right?! (I told you these were going to be fun.) Seriously though, this one serves a double-whammy in that there is something about being near a body of water that gets our creative juices flowing. Besides that, staring up at the white, fluffy clouds and imagining shapes, faces, and messages will inspire your creative side as well.
2. Get in the pool.  Exercise, even light exercise, is good for the creative mind.  I have 2 theories on the reasoning behind this.  One, just a slight increase in endorphins will spark a creative burst, plus getting in motion will get you active and that also causes creative jolts.
3. Practice pretending.  You did this as a child.  Do it again.  Pretending, imagining, practicing, planning, whatever you want to call it, is creativity.  Start with a small thought, playing pretend about anything, and allow that energy to propel you into something greater.
4. Read fiction.  Another way to call in the energy of creativity is to get in touch with someone else’s.  The easiest way to do that (and least intrusive) is to pick up a book.  Fiction is best because it requires creativity and imagination just to follow along.  The energy used by the writer really does come across the pages (yes - even digital) and may be just the inspiration you need.
5. Play a game.  Finding clever ways to beat your opponent will boost your creative powers.  Try it!  If you’d like to play Words with Friends or Dice with Buddies, my usernames are Red diva 10 and RedDiva10 respectively.
6. People watch.  Sit in a crowded area, like the mall, and make up stories about the people walking by.  Where do they work?  Why are they here? What are they shopping for?
7. Create a persona.  Everyone loves my “Giada at the grocery store” story!  This is also one of my favorites.  It’s just like playing pretend as a child, but as an adult, and in front of other people, but they don’t know it.  Awesome!  Read the article I’ve linked if you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about and it will fill you in.
8. Create worlds.  On a long drive or before bed, challenge your creative brain by trying to imagine a faraway world.  Who lives there?  What do they look like?  What is the atmosphere like?  What’s different?  Even better, make it a game with someone else.
9. Re-write your journal entry.  I’ve been teaching about the benefits of keeping a journal for several years now.  It is still, IMO, the best way to motivate yourself, and you know how healing it can be as well.  Just getting things out of your head and down on paper can be very therapeutic. Take it one step further by re-writing an episode from your life with a different ending.  So instead of telling the story the way it played out, tell the story the way you wish it had turned out.  Try it.  It’s powerful!
10. Star gaze.  I started by the pool, so it’s only fitting that I finish with a night-time analogy, right?  our ancestors made up stories about the stars.  It is our nature to be creative.  So be it!

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

I decided to go for a bike ride this morning; haven’t been on a bike in about 12 years; haven’t owned a bike in  about 20 years.  I’ve been looking for ways to take advantage of my new home’s beautiful surroundings and am finding new ways to do so every day.

Living only a few minutes from the Loveland Bike Trail, I decided to rent a bike.  I’ve been planning to do this for some time, even bought the pants last year and then didn’t get to go - (long story for another post - or not. !)  But for some reason, I felt pulled in that direction this morning.  I just woke up, saw how beautiful the day was going to be, felt grateful to be alive, and wanted to celebrate it in some way.  While I was in the shower, the inspiration struck me - go rent a bike and cruise the bike trail.

No matter how many times this happens to me, I’m still amazed by it every time - whenever I follow my intuition, I’m greatly rewarded.  I was slightly hesitant to indulge my sudden urge this morning thinking that I should really stay in my office and get started on my new company.  But the voice kept saying, “Oh - just go.  Trust me!”  So I did, and even though I spent only one hour on the trail, it was the perfect amount of time to get the inspiration for this post, and a very valuable life lesson.

After getting signed up and giving them my credit card, I walked the bike to my car to ditch my purse.  Then, I mounted the bright pink Electra Townie and took off!

Well, sort of.

Let me explain.

Now, remember, it has been a while since I’ve ridden a bike.  The trail is completely flat and you can park right next to it in Historic Loveland.  (Which I did.)  It was a 7-speed bike set at level 7.  Which was fine - I wanted a workout.  While it is true that you never forget how to ride a bike, there was one major aspect that I didn’t remember, and that was the effort required to get yourself going.  So even though I was in the perfect spot to take off, the resistance of the setting and my (apparent) laziness caused me to struggle a little taking off.

Not to worry.  I adjusted quickly and was on my way in no time, but from where I started there was a stop sign very soon to allow for a highway crossing.  “No problem,” I thought.  “I have breaks.”  Yes, yes I did have breaks.  Only problem was, I had to get started again.  And, of course, there were nice people driving on that road who very graciously stopped for me, both ways, to allow me to cross, so I had an audience this time.  Wonderful!

Again, not to worry.  I probably looked a little silly, but I made it through and continued to get stronger with each stop and start.

As I reflected on the experience while riding, I had a major epiphany: There are many instances where life is like riding a bike.  It takes a lot of momentum to get going, but once you get going, you move faster and faster, and feel better and better.  So it’s worth that extra push in the beginning.

The first example of this that came to mind while I was on the trail was how much effort it took in the beginning to create a new life for myself, but then once I made the effort, my life got better and better until I was soaring.

Starting any project is usually that way as well - getting started is the hardest part, but once you’re moving, you gain momentum.  But you have to push yourself to get started.

A positive attitude is often that way as well, isn’t it?  It takes a little effort to make yourself pivot from a negative thought to a positive thought, but once you start thinking that way, you’ll experience an entire paradigm shift about whatever the subject is.

So I invite you today to learn from my biking lesson.  What is it in your life that you need to put a little extra effort in to in order to get going?

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

My view as I turned around to head back to the rental station:

Posted under Motivation

With authenticity as my focus for this year, I’ll be reading (and writing) a lot about this subject.  Today I’d like to share with you some recent reflections and epiphanies on this subject.

Authenticity from a spiritual perspective means being true to oneself.  No facades.  How often do we say something or behave in a disingenuous manner in order to please someone else, and what toll does that take on our psyche?

How you react, both consciously and sub-consciously, to everything that happens to you and around you affects your self-esteem in some way. Your perception of each stimulus either increases your self-esteem or lowers it.  Therefore, the defense and development of your self-esteem becomes the key to high performance, happiness, and ultimate success.  This is why it is so important to maintain authenticity in your daily interactions.  Every time I make myself be true to myself, my self-esteem soars.  Let me explain.

While many things affect your self-image, one of the most important aspects is the difference between your current self-image, the way you see yourself in the moment, and your self-ideal, the way you would ideally like to be either right now, or sometime in the future.

Whenever you feel your current performance and behavior is consistent with the person that you would like to be, you’re being authentic, and your self-esteem goes up. You feel happier and more exhilarated, you have more energy and enthusiasm, and you are more positive and personable with others. You’re in a good mood.

On the other hand, when your current performance or behavior is inconsistent with the person you would like to be, your self-esteem goes down. You feel anxious and unhappy. You feel self-conscious and embarrassed. You feel frustrated and angry. You feel depressed and in a bad mood.  (Not your authentic self.)

So how do you increase your self-esteem and create a self-image that will propel you forward instead of holding you back?  How do you seize those moments of authenticity and make them play out the way you want?

1. First, develop a clear picture of the person you want to become. The greater clarity you have with regard to your self-ideal – the person you would most like to be – the easier it is for you to tailor your performance and behavior to be consistent with that kind of person. Sometimes it is helpful to read about someone whose personality you admire, and try to adapt his or her behaviors. For example, Shelly Branch and Sue Callaway have written a great book titled, What Would Jackie Do? This book details some of the characteristics of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Men tend to like anything by or about Winston Churchill, like Never Give In!
2. Second, visualize yourself behaving in the manner you desire. We all have some recurring situation that gets the best of us. We never know how to react until it’s too late and the opportunity has passed. However, people with a well-developed self-image rarely have this problem. They have practiced, (I’m not kidding,) saying or doing that which they desire until the opportunity presented itself to behave in a certain way. It’s just like an actor preparing his or her lines until the night comes to perform. Every time you do or say anything that is consistent with the person you want to be, your self-esteem goes up. When your self-esteem goes up, your self-image begins to change. You feel positive and powerful. You feel capable of doing more and better things in that area and in other areas of your life. You become the person you want to be because you are authentic.
3. Third, realize that “reacting” to a situation doesn’t always mean you have to say something. Remember earlier when I said that how you react, both consciously and sub-consciously, to everything that happens to you and around you affects your self-esteem in some way. Sometimes, it’s best to just let the other person say what they want, then silently say to yourself, “That’s not true. I’m a very smart person. I’m organized and thorough. This was just a minor mishap that will never happen again.” As long as your inner mind can influence your self-image, (and it can), there is really no need to start confronting every issue.  Pick your battles. Doing so will give you an amazing sense of control.
4. Fourth, engage in positive self-talk. Start saying nice things to yourself. In his book, Million Dollar Habits,Brian Tracy says one of the ways he increased his self-esteem years ago was by repeating to himself 10 to 50 times a day, “I like myself!” The powerful message behind this phrase is that even when you mess up, and we all do, you can still like yourself. Or at least you should, because that what self-esteem is – liking yourself no matter what.  Authenticity is liking yourself enough to be yourself - no matter what.
5. Fifth, catch yourself being authentic.  This will reinforce the behavior while increasing your self-image at the same time.  (I love 2 for 1 deals!)  When you say No to a new project or speak your mind (in a loving way, of course) take a moment to pat yourself on the back.  Acknowledge the fact that you can be true to yourself and the world will go on.  It’s very freeing!

Everyone, even the most successful person, faces authenticity challenges every day. What matters is how you react to them. Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from attaining the success you deserve. Defend and develop your self-esteem.  Be authentic!

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

As I was signing off on Thursday’s post, I took note of my words for the first time in a while.  “Live Joyfully” has been a mantra of mine and my sign off for a few years now.  I love it. Those two words sum up my philosophy of life.

But since my New Year’s focus is authenticity this year, I want to make sure that I’m doing that - living joyfully.  After all, if it’s my life philosophy, then the true measure of success is that I’m living that philosophy, yes?

Yes. (It really wasn’t meant to be a tough question - !)

I’m happy to report that I am living joyfully right now. Sure, I have my days, my moments, my doubts, fears, and setbacks, but those only serve to help me grow.  At least, if I use them correctly they serve me in that way. (Hmmm, is that another topic for another day?  I believe it is.  Noted!)

So since the purpose of this blog is to help others live their best life and reach their full potential, how can I help you live more joyfully?  (Look out - she’s about to give birth to - ANOTHER LIST!)

Yes, yes, I am.

So here is my Live Joyfully right now list:

1. Make a pitcher of Margaritas and drink it. (That’s what I’m getting ready to do as soon as I finish this list!)
2. Make a list of everything you need to do today, then go to the park.  (It’s having everything down on paper that makes you feel good, not actually doing it!)
3. Clean the house, and then sit down and read Better Homes and Gardens.  (Looking at those beautiful scenes when your house is a mess is just depressing.  Besides, a clean house is pure bliss.)
4. Play with your kids.  I mean, really play with them.  Not with an attitude of obligation or guilt, but just to play.  You can learn a lot about living joyfully from a happy child.
5. Burn some calories.  My favorite way to do this right now is with hot yoga.  (Moksha, to be exact.  And yes, I’m familiar with - and have tried - Bikram, Power, - all the yangs (and yins) and I love them all, I’m just saying that Moksha is my favorite.  Do whatever is your favorite - do not email me about this!)  So run, lift weights, whatever kicks your endorphins.  There are few things as joyful as an awesome workout.
6. Make a list of everything you’re grateful for.  You can do this on paper, computer, or just in your head.  It doesn’t matter if you’re already in a good mood or need to shine your’s up, counting your blessings is joyful.
7. Take charge.  Don’t whine, groan, complain, nag, or fuss about anything.  If you don’t like something, change it!  Being in control is living joyfully.
8. Get out there.  Surround yourself with other people.  I have a lot of friends who seem to get a lot out of Facebook.  If you can’t physically “get out,” at least interact with others, even old friends or long-distance friends, online.  Having great relationships in your life will help you to live joyfully.
9. Laugh.  Not because it’s the best medicine, (it is), but because it keeps your momentum going.  It’s hard to laugh and not experience at least a little joy.  Once you start laughing, it takes little effort to keep going. So look for things to laugh at - even yourself - and you’ll be living joyfully.
10. Share your joy.  The best way to know that you truly have something is to give it away.  Do something to bring joy to someone else.  There is a flow to all things in life.  Is there anything better to share with the world than joy?  Even if you just smile and say, “Hello,” to someone new - that’s sharing joy, and living joyfully.

I’d love to hear how you spend your joyful moments!  (Um, just please remember that this is a family blog!)  Post a comment or send me an email.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

On November 17, 2006, I wrote a post titled, “One Woman Can Make A Difference.”  I wrote about some of the greatest women of our time and their accomplishments.  Among them, Mary Anderson, Marion Donovan, Josephine Cochran, and Bette Graham.

How many of those names do you recognize?  Unless you study women’s history, likely none.  But I’ll bet that you’re very familiar with their inventions.  You can thank these women for disposable diapers, automatic dishwashers, Liquid Paper, and windshield wipers.

In that post I also mention women who had great influence like Rosa Parks and Clara Barton.

I am re-inventing myself this year and find it interesting to go back and read books, even my own posts, that I found motivational years ago, but with a new future in mind.  That post served as the first chapter of my book, which I am currently updating and revising.

I’ve learned a lot in the past 6 years, and you know I’ll be blogging about every single lesson!  The biggest that comes to mind after reflecting on this post is that yes, one woman can make a difference, but she doesn’t do it alone.

And that’s going to be the difference for me this time around.  (But more on that, in a later post!)

I would like to find some modern-day men and women to interview for my next book.  If you or someone you know is trying to make a difference in the lives of others in a big way, would you pass his/her name and contact information along?  I am especially interested in any idea that contributes to personal development.  I can be reached at Debra-at-DebraMoorhead.com.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation

Okay, folks!  The gloves are off and here we go!  I’m getting back to my “old” self more and more and I’m making a commitment to blog about what I know best.  Are you ready?  (Are you sure?)

My favorite topic in the entire universe is motivation.  My second favorite?  Authenticity.  So what a better way to kick of the weekend than with some great ways to motivate yourself.  Whether you’re wanting to get going on some projects at home that you’ve been putting off, or reading this on Monday getting ready for the work week, here are some tips to get you moving on what’s most important to you.

1. Think about it.  If you could accomplish only one thing right this minute, what would it be?  What do you really want to do right now?  Quick!  This is it; you’ve got 30 seconds to decide. Cleaning the house? Cleaning out the garage?  Getting started on that big project?  Take a few seconds to just think about it.
2. Make a plan.  Get your juices flowing toward accomplishment by creating a plan.  What comes first?  Second?  You know how this goes.  But the more you plan, and the quicker you plan, the sooner you’ll get started, and the sooner you’ll be finished.  So plan it out.  Step 1, step 2, step 3, done!
3. Be true to yourself.  What do you really want to do?  Sometimes a day or morning off is really what you need to get motivated.  Rest.  Meditate. Think.  It’s all good!  A good rest will get your spirit soaring and then there will be no stopping you.
4. Simplify.  Are you putting something off because you’ve made it too complicated?  Are there really 16 steps to the process?  What would you really have to do to get yourself going on this project?  It’s probably not as complicated as you’ve made it up to be in your head.  If you could simplify it, how would that look?  Just thinking about it could be enough to get you moving on it.  Try it!
5. Clear the clutter.  Clutter Around You Creates Clutter In Your Brain.  Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know how much this means to me.  I’m not going to re-hash that today, just go back and read that article.  For newbies, well, you should definitely go back and read the article if clutter is an issue for you.  Clutter is stuck energy and it’s hard to get going or motivate yourself when you’re surrounded by stuck energy.  So clear it out and watch your motivation soar!
6. Prime the pump with reading.  One of the most effective motivational tools for me when I want to get going on a project is to read more about the topic.  I LOVE books.  (And shoes - but that’s another post!)  Authors put their heart and soul into their work and that energy comes across when you read their work.  So to get motivated about clearing clutter, read a book on clearing clutter.  To get motivated about making money, read a book about making money in a way that is appealing to you.  Read the supporting documentation for your project at work to get going on it.  Reading helps us sort things out in our mind.  Reading is like clutter-clearing for the mind really.  If you’re focusing on what you’re reading, you’re not thinking about 10 other things.  Focus is powerful.  (More on that in an up-coming post, so stay tuned!)
7. Prime the pump with action.  Sometimes you just need to roll up your sleeves and get started.  Decide what needs to happen first on your project, and jump into it.  Before long, you’ll be motivated to get it finished.
8. Prime the pump with music.  Do I really need to explain this one?  Likely not, but I forget about it sometimes.  A good song with a motivating beat can be just the thing to get you moving, literally or figuratively.
9. Prime the pump with a good movie.  My followers know that my favorite movie is Legally Blonde.  For whatever reason, that movie inspires me every single time I watch it, even though I can mouth all of the lines along with each and every character!  What’s your go-to movie?  If you don’t have one, think a little harder.  Just about everyone has come out of a movie at one time or another feeling motivated, uplifted, and inspired.  When did that happen to you?  Buy that DVD today!
10. Remember.  We have all had times of extreme motivation.  Times when we were unstoppable in success.  Take a moment to just remember those times.  Don’t analyze them at first.  Just remembering could be all the spark you need to get going.  But if that doesn’t work, think about what was different then and what you can do now to re-capture that feeling.  Remembering times when you were clutter-free or quickly getting tasks completed or staying on top of your work will build self-esteem and that’s always motivating.
11. Talk it out. Sometimes talking out a situation with a (truly) helpful friend can be enough to get you going.  Have you ever had an experience where your friends were more excited about something happening for you than you were?  Have you ever been that kind of friend?  Sure!  So, if you need to, call on your friends (you know who is best with particular subjects) and ask for their advice.  They might even be able to help you in some way and having a partner in a project can be very motivating.
12. Visualize it.  You didn’t think I was going to get through a list without talking about visualizing did you?   Whatever the subject is that you want to become motivated about, take a few minutes to visualize the end result.  A clean house.  An organized garage.  A working budget.  A clutter-free file drawer (or cabinet).  An on-time, on-budget project.  A new house.  A new office.  A new career.  Just picture it, and what it will feel like when you have it.
13. Imagine the alternative.  What if you never motivated yourself ever again?  What would that look like?  You’ve stopped having desires.  You’re going through life with a “What-ev’” attitude.  Is that what you want? (Now, here’s today’s million-dollar question - would you have to become motivated at being UN-motivated?  Hmm. Something to think about, eh?  No, don’t think about it, because then you’ll be motivated.  Oh - that was the original purpose, wasn’t it?)
14. Create a role.  Say to yourself, “The project is to __________.  My role is _____________.”  Sometimes realizing that you’re simply playing a role is all you need to get the job done.  We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders when we don’t have to.  Just do your part.  That’s all anyone should every expect of you, including yourself.
15. Adopt a persona.  If you’ve ever heard me speak on motivation you know that this is one of my favorite tricks for getting through the dreaded grocery store - I pretend to be Giada De Laurentiis.  I still do it!  It’s just so much fun!  I gave away this little secret to a local audience once and was later greeted at the local Kroger as “Hi, Giada!”  That’s okay.  Go ahead and laugh.  I’m having a great time!  But pretending to be someone who has a ball doing whatever it is you’re wanting to be more motivated to do will put you in the mood and guess what - that’s motivation!
16. Go for a run. I know what you’re thinking:  “If I were motivated enough to run, I wouldn’t have a problem getting motivated to do anything else!”  But I cannot tell you how many times I have used running (or some other form of exercise) to procrastinate on a project, only to get inspired to work on the project once I was out of the shower.  The endorphins kick in and you’re ready for anything.  Plus, exercising feels great and that alone is motivating!
17. Make a game of it.  Pretend you’re a famous sports coach, (your favorite sport and coach would be appropriate here), and you’re preparing the plays for next week’s game.  Overlay your project, (and maybe it’s just next week that you’re trying to get motivated about), onto a game and feel the difference that perspective makes.  It might also inspire you to enlist the help you need to get going on your project.  Call in experts for certain plays, read more about strategies for particular moves you need to make.  Give this some time and it can be a lot of fun, not to mention effective!
18. Practice makes perfect.  Achieving anything simply requires expectation of it.  How do you goose up your expectation?  Through practice.  A child knows he’s not going to win the talent show he’s entered if he doesn’t practice piano.  When you’re unprepared in a presentation, do you really expect it to go well?  Are you really going to have a clean home if you don’t practice keeping a clean house?  Are you ever going to become a good manager of your time if you don’t practice good time management?
19. Face your fear.  The world’s best-kept secret is that on the other side of your fear is something safe and beneficial waiting for you.  If you can muster the courage to pass through even a thin curtain of fear you will increase the confidence you have in your ability to create your life.  And once you understand that you are the creator of your life experience, you are motivated!
20. Set a time limit.  When you need to start a project, or get something done, give yourself a time limit.  One old trick that I use time and again is that when I’ve put off cleaning up the kitchen, I’ll set the microwave timer for 10 minutes and promise myself to just work until it goes off.  On other tasks I’ll set it for an hour.  Knowing that you’re not committed to the entire day or even until the project is done can be motivating enough to get you started.   And once you’ve started . . .  well, that, again, is another post!
21. Push yourself. Nothing is more motivating than success, unless it is success at something you didn’t believe you could do.  When I started this post, I chose 25 for the number just because I like the number.  When I got to 20, I thought about changing the number in the title, thinking, “They’ll be happy with 20.”  But then I wanted to motivate myself to stick to my original plan so I hit the return key to go on to 21 and voila - it appeared.  I was pushing myself and motivating myself at the same time.  Will I make it all the way to 25?
22. Reward yourself. Everyone has used this trick for self-motivation at some time or another, but it’s worth listing because we do forget it.  Being motivated is a reward in and of itself, but sometimes an extrinsic reward such as a Mt. Dew after hot yoga class is really what’s going to get you into the car!
23. Take a break.  Breaks are necessary and can be very motivating.  I never try to push through a long article like this one without giving myself breaks.  I like to stop in the middle, do something else, and then come back to an unfinished sentence.  Starting in the middle helps me remember and tap into that idea that I had, but I’m refreshed and have a new perspective.  Plus, stopping in the middle of something and looking around at the undone work will motivate you to get it done.
24. Engage active relaxation. This one will be a stretch for some of you, but I bet you can find some way to relate this to your life.  What if you were to take something that you dread doing and simply pivot your thinking around it?  For example, most people dread getting organized.  It’s time consuming, you always have to do it on your own time since it doesn’t really count as work.  On the weekend, you’d rather be outside if it’s pretty or in bed if it’s raining, right?  But if you were to recognize the advantages of being organized and clutter free, and you could just relax into it, you could spend only 20-30 minutes per week getting things in place and feel energized all week long.  Plus, if you’re sensing it from a relaxation standpoint, you’ll be more motivated to do it.
25. Be thankful.  Most people become unmotivated because they feel that they have too much to do.  If you didn’t have anything left to do, you’d be ready to die!  So be thankful for every project, every task, every life-giving chore that still chooses to cross your path.  Gratitude is motivating.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  To those of you who have commented or sent emails, I appreciate you - it’s great to be back!

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Motivation