Posts Tagged "Game changers"

Appetite For Distraction?

Posted by LisaYoung in Big Ideas | 0 comments

The title of today’s post comes from something I heard in an audio book by Father Richard Rohr (@RichardRohrOFM) called “The Art of Letting Go“. In it, Richard talked about how we, as a collective society have fared more along the lines of Huxley’s “Brave New World” than we have Orwell’s “1984″. His thoughts circle around how we’ve done ourselves in by our chasing of pleasure, versus being controlled by Orwellian “pain”. Granted, Rohr is a Franciscan, so I expected him to speak to our materialist natures, but this particular part of the audio book hit me hard.

An “appetite for distraction” implies that the more we chase these pleasurable distractions, the less we focus on what really matters – on being our true selves and being able to be present to what life is about in the here and now.

The other morning I was immersed in part of a 40 day & night transformational process I’m developing.  In response to a writing prompt about what I believe about my business, I wrote down the following:

Obsessions

Posted by LisaYoung in Big Ideas, Faith | 3 comments

There’s a haunting in my heart.

I’ve been raised to be dutiful, honest, hard working, and basically a “nice” person.

I’ve worked hard to be that person.

That person isn’t me.

There are people in the world that would love to trade places with me in a heartbeat, and I know that. I’m incredibly grateful for the life I’ve worked so hard at having. It’s very nice.

Nice.

It’s a word that reminds me of Tybalt’s line from Shakespeare. “I hate the word. As I hate hell…”

Loving My Inner Critic

Posted by LisaYoung in Faith, Family | 5 comments

It began at the convergence of three events:

A while back Andrea Patten asked me to proof her “Inner Critic to Inner Ally” program and offer my feedback. I proofed it and offered some suggestions, and left it at that. A couple of weeks ago, she was talking to me about some of the great results her clients were getting, so I asked if I could review the entire program and see if it might be something useful to my subscribers.

I had started working through it, and got stuck on an emotional block for me. It stemmed around describing my Inner Critic, and quite frankly, I had spent many years trying to shut it up. The last thing I wanted to do was spend time putting energy into describing what I believed was the very thing holding me back in life.

Then, my coach posed a question last week that vexed me. “Really, Lisa. What if it REALLY didn’t matter what other people thought?”

Two Truths Of Failure

Posted by LisaYoung in Faith | 6 comments

After a lackluster year in 2011, it would be easy to call myself a failure and wonder what the heck I’m doing in business.

So easy, in fact, that it’s exactly what I did.

After a spectacular 2010, I truly believed I had things “down pat” in my business, and positioned myself in 2011 to have at I thought would be my best year in business. I went into 2011 with very high hopes.

Those hopes were quickly and frantically dashed on the rocks as the mid-point of 2011 approached. I spent the second half of the year cleaning up the debris, trying to keep my sanity and my business together.

Don’t get me wrong. Some VERY good things came out of 2011. Here are a few of the highlights:

Wishes

Posted by LisaYoung in Faith | 2 comments

So my birthday is coming up fast… and for some reason, over the past few years, I didn’t enjoy my birthday like I used to.

It’s not because I’m getting older.

It’s because somewhere along the line, I’d given over my power to someone else.

I’ve been waiting for someone else to “make me happy” on my birthday.

Holding my breath in the days before my birthday to see what my husband was going to do to celebrate.

Waiting with baited breath as I unwrapped a gift hoping it would be something I was wanting.

Instead of taking charge of my own celebration.

See, I had always wished that someone would do up a big ol’ surprise party with balloons, a pretty cake, fun music and lots of smiles. I wished I would open presents galore, be surrounded by family and friends, and generally just feel a whole lotta love in the room.

But for all the wishing, there was no action.

Some years, husband manages to get me a card, sometimes not. Sometimes there’s a gift, sometimes “it’s in the mail.” Last year, I got so excite when my facebook wall was filled with birthday greetings. I spent most of the day replying, saying thanks. Somehow, I felt “loved” because so many people (most likely prompted by facebook’s birthday application) took a minute to give me birthday greetings.

It got me to thinking about where I had given up my power in my own life…

And I’ve been a fool to leave celebrating my life in the hands of others.

This isn’t about trust. It’s about valuing myself enough to ask for what I want and enjoy life my way.

Why in God’s name am I wishing for someone else to do something that I could easily make happen myself?

I can pick up a phone, invite my friends and family to come together and celebrate my birthday. I can select a gift for myself that I really enjoy. I can play wonderful music and I certainly know a friend or two that can craft an exceptional cake.

In my coaching practice, I talk about “the magic bullet” that clients come looking for – that panacea that will cure all their ills – the ruby slippers that make all the pain and effort go away.

In life, we can fall prey to this same concept in insidious ways: giving our power over to other people in our lives – or other people we want in our lives. Instead of taking charge of our own happenings, we “step back” and hope that someone will step in to handle something for us, when we’re completely qualified and capable of doing it ourselves.

“But it’s my birthday… I shouldn’t be in charge of my own party! That’s kind of selfish, isn’t it?”

Well, I’d rather be a little self indulgent and enjoy myself, than be a miserable “martyr” – wouldn’t you?

Plus, I’ve made a commitment to be more intentional about not living in the “shoulds”, thankyouverymuch!

2012 has a lot to live up to. I expect some amazing things to happen – and I plan on making as much of it happen as possible, instead of waiting around for someone else do “handle it” for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still asking for help, making more friends, and doing my utmost to practice self-care. At the same time, I’m stepping back into that person I was years ago when I learned how to record and produce two full-length albums all on my own.

I’m ready to celebrate. What about you?