Action Steps Start With Intention

Since my coaching revolves around motivating others to action or movement, I thought it might be fitting to talk about intention today. This is where the goal or idea of the goal starts. I think I can speak for most of us when I state that our intention is to follow the action steps until the goal is reached, right?

But, what happens along the way? Why do we start our day with such lofty intention and then somehow the nagging voices of shoulda, woulda and coulda are who we are left with at day end? If we are focused on making healthy choices or scratching to-do items off of our daily list, what is the small grain of salt that capsizes that original intent?

There obviously isn't a universal answer here as each circumstance provides a different mindset and the pattern of moving forward is interrupted. We all have our own story of how we proceed through challenges, talk ourselves into surrender, and just give up. But why?

Each of us has lived through an experience of being unstoppable. All of us have tackled objectives with laser sharp awareness and dis-allowed anything to stop us. What is the difference between that time and this?

Pay attention as you make your way through today's intention and the action steps you have created. When life throws a challenging road block what do you do? Are you sucked in like quicksand and easily give up or do you find another way, a detour? Do you blanket yourself with apathy and burrow your head under the covers or do you stand up for who you are and why you are worth it and throw the covers off? What words do you use to justify stopping the momentum? Where is the self-love and encouragement from within?

It wasn't important anyway.
I'll do it tomorrow.
No one cares.

I care! I know you care, too. Let's make a pact today. Let's walk through Tuesday, July 5th, 2010 with the conviction that we won't allow anything to get in our way. Even the negative self-talk. We will do it anyway. We will honor our intention and be unstoppable. We will see the intention of others, today.

My goal is important.
I am important.
I can do this.
I will do this!

Send me the action steps you will follow today that emphasize your intention!

Coach Be
Motivational Movement

http://www.coachbe.blogspot.com
http://www.meetup.com/walking-in-the-NOW

Action Steps

At one time or another we have talked about goals and the action steps required to meet them. I thought it might be helpful to receive encouragement as you make your way today toward any outcome that you have set for yourself.

You are your word. Your integrity is based on the truth you speak. If you say you are going to do something, do you do it? Can others rely on you? I have often struggled with this, so don't think that I am any different. I too, allow life to get in the way.

The point is to learn to become unstoppable. To do it anyway. No matter what. Get creative.

The act of reaching, is a stretch, right? Visually, think of extending your arm upward and moving your hand to grasp something just out of reach. You might be on your tippy toes, or grab something else to help maneuver the item closer. Sometimes, you make a mess. Then you have to clean it up and start all over again, but at least you've learned what not to do... Ultimately, you find a solution and then success!! You have the object.

Goals are just wishes that reside on the top shelf. It's a stretch to reach them.

What happens in your life that stops you from reaching?

Send me the action steps you are taking today~

Coach Be
Motivational Movement

"Girl, you gotta sweep up your porch!"

I had a conversation with Oprah the other day. Yes, "Oprah!" We were sitting on my porch. After she looked around with eyes following plants needing to be watered and dirt needing to be swept - she crossed her arms underneath her breasts and said in that Tyler Perry/Madea manner, "mmm-hmmmph..."

Her eyes said it all as did the harrumph of dis-satisfaction.

"Girl," she said, "You gotta sweep up your porch!"

This was a pronouncement. An exclamation, A statement. A fact. It encompassed all that I am and all that I am not.

Now you must seriously know that Oprah was not really on my porch. She lives in my head. I have learned to step into the shoes of my mentors and role models. Her wisdom and honesty help me balance the voices in the attic. The upstairs voices of the three old bitties:

Shoulda. Woulda and Coulda.

I play Oprah's voice talking back to me like a bird calling through the window with encouragement and ideas. A melodic chant of straight talk with her eyebrows raised and piercing questions. I always answer her truthfully from a deep prospective of self that I don't always share with others.

The conversation I played in my head was the visit of a wise and good friend who shared with me the importance of stepping into my destiny with strength, cleanliness (apparently important to Oprah) and preparation.

I looked through the eyes of another and saw depression and a sense of giving up. I am on the doorstep of my dreams and I've been sweeping dust under the welcome mat. I have created random acts of sabotage and ignored blatant and blaring facts.

I recently celebrated my fifty-and-a-half mark. I've been working on this list and realize I am starting to fulfill my wishes and my destiny is about to change.

Goals For My Fifties:

Be the Healthiest I've Ever Been
Motivate and Inspire
Do Presentations for Something I Believe in
Introduce Others to Walking
Make Money Having Fun
Earn a Leadership Role
Write
Dance
Move with Intention
Learn to be a Wife

This is all up to me and that is where the distraction and interruption of action steps take place. The lack of integrity in continuing. Following through. The procrastination of realizing our goals and letting the dust settle at our feet. The act of uninvolvement that creates fear, worry and stress.

Stand with me, broom in hand and look around your own porch through the eyes of another. How do you welcome your dreams and desires? What's behind the facade? Remove the welcome mat and shake it out. Sweep behind doubt and under failure. Clear out the cobwebs of indecision and water the plants that give birth to your desires.

"Girl, you gotta sweep up your porch!"

Another day of Gratitude

I think I'm going to start blogging once a week. I hope that by now you have discovered the gratitude in your own life. I encourage you to stay focused on these positive and deliberate reminders and write them down for yourself every day.

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the "Aha" light bulb moment I had last night in allowing my sub-conscious to believe that I am consciously working responsibly and with intention. Isn't that where fear comes from after all? The sub-conscious mind? I take my right hand and pat my left shoulder (NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming) and re-assure myself.

I am grateful for the coaching call I had last night. It's nice to just be...

I am grateful for all the mortgage leads I have that are waiting for my life preserver to rescue them and help them back to solid ground.

I am grateful to have a husband who stands up for what he believes in. He is in the midst of a business situation and I'm really proud of his resourcefulness and courage.

I am grateful to have dreams and aspirations which become goals and then turn into action steps.

I am grateful to have a sense of humor and can laugh easily with others and most often at myself.

I am grateful for the clean house I came home to yesterday. Sarra cleaned the house and fixed us dinner! Thank you, Sarra!

I am grateful to all of you, for allowing me to be part of your day.

I am grateful to have all my limbs, fingers and toes. I take advantage of these extremities without cognizant thought. I can walk, dance, skip, type and tap my feet to the sound of my own rhythm.

I am grateful for appreciating the beauty that surrounds me. The dry brown hills are starting to come to life with a variety of greens in every hue imaginable. Even though I've been walking the same trails for almost 10 years, I almost always discover a new treasure.

What's There to be Grateful for?

What are you grateful for today? Is it the warmth of your home? The security and paycheck that your job provides? How about the family and friends that make you laugh and hold your hand when you cry.

What I'm grateful for today:

I am grateful that even though it's 5:00 in the morning and cold, it's more chilly than freezing cold. I have my socks on, my flannel pajamas and a robe. I'm even wearing gloves. There's no snow outside and it's gonna be another warm SoCal day.

I am grateful for the space heater that is warming my office. It's 35 degrees outside right now! I can see all of you in cold country rolling your eyes at this, but it's what I'm acclimated to.

I am grateful for the walk I took yesterday. We have access to a racetrack that horses no longer run on yet the property owners keep it maintained. This is adjacent to our land, so I can just slip through the barbed wire that separates us and take advantage of a flat surface that's six furloughs in length.

I am grateful to watch the dogs as they run to each hole sniffing for gophers, rabbits and squirrels. I love watching their exuberance as they enjoy the trails we take together.

I am grateful to note that my shingle blister is hardly noticeable. That's especially good news since I will be out and about today among a lot of people with eyes... Yeah, Melaleuca Oil!

I am grateful that I was able to operate in a mortgage software program that I haven't used in almost 10 years. Now if I can only figure out how to e-mail a loan application.

I am grateful that I wasn't as rusty as I thought when calling prospective mortgage leads. All the lingo came flooding back and I can relate and establish rapport so easily with those that I spoke to. I will work diligently to find them a better loan.

I am grateful for the time Dewey and I have had to ourselves while Sarra (my 31 yr old daughter who lives with us) has been visiting a friend.

I am grateful that I have learned to stay out of the drama. When others want to gossip it's best to not have an opinion and change the subject. Do not become engaged.

I am grateful that I am loved. This gives me encouragement and support and propels me forward as I meet challenges.

Being Grateful Anyway...

I've been waking up with these monster headaches. Combined with the sleeplessness I've been experiencing after around 3:00 a.m. sometimes it does feel a little overwhelming. We can all compare battle wounds and decide who has the worst. The reason I share this is not for sympathy but to encourage you that EVEN WHEN life interrupts our pattern with a health issue, a lagging bank balance or a pink slip, we must decide who we want to be and how we are going to get there.

I am honest with you and bare my soul so that we can travel this road together. I know we all have moments in which we want to just give up. The problems we face seem so daunting that it feels impossible to create a solution. Start small. What can I do today? What can I be grateful about? I am breathing...

What I am grateful for today:

I am grateful to live in a rural setting and hear the melodious howls of coyotes. I know for some of you that has no appeal, but I enjoy listening to their chorus of resounding barks that is answered by another pack across the valley.

I am grateful that my own dogs have a keen sense of watchfulness and guard us protectively.

I am grateful for the added companionship of a new puppy in my daughter Laura's household. Her husband Kevin works nights and she is happy to have an 8 week old Husky to nurture.

I am grateful that my week has started well and that I am staying on task with all the duties I am performing in the numerous roles that I am becoming.

I am grateful to a friend who treated me to a movie last night. I haven't been to the movies in ages. It was so great crunching on popcorn and laughing along with the rest of the audience. Thank you, Sherry!

I am really, really grateful that the shingle blister I have on my lip has been kept at bay with Melaleuca oil and topical gel. At this point I'm usually unable to go out in public.

I am grateful for vanilla chai tea! I gave up coffee and caffeine in August with the help of my mentor Jeff. I have been trying different varieties of tea ever since. It's really been an enjoyable part of my morning to sip my tea and write my list of gratitude.

I am grateful to the coaching mastermind group I belong to. I had the privilege of giving a presentation on blogging and it went really well. I haven't had that opportunity for over 2 years and I realized how much I miss it.

I am grateful for the kindness I see in others every day. If you look for the love in human nature you will certainly feel it. Thank you to those that checked in on me yesterday because I wasn't able to send out my blog. Computer issues in the morning prevented me from doing so and then I had to move on to my work schedule.

I am grateful to have awareness of self. Not to say that I don't bury my head in the sand upon occasion. But even when I do, it gives me time to reflect and self-analyze and decide what action steps I want to take to move forward.

Gratitude for all the Hats I Wear

It occurred to me while walking that I would like to acknowledge us all for the many roles we successfully maneuver through in the course of our lives. When I was creating my Twenty-Ten goals I was surprised to realize how many hats from my past are still in style today.

I know for a lot of us, multi-tasking is a necessary resource. We juggle careers, children, family, spouses, finances, and hopefully a healthy lifestyle. If you can still manage to smile and reflect on the importance of what your participation contributes to those you care for, HATS OFF!!

I am grateful for the motherhood hat I wear. It teaches me patience, how to be a role model and gives me a mirrored reflection of who I portray.

I am grateful for the friendship hat I wear. It teaches me honesty, how to be gentle and gives me the ability to vent without prejudice and judgment.

I am grateful for the wife hat I wear. It teaches me to trust, how to communicate (apparently husbands aren't mind-readers) and gives me love and security.

I am grateful for the daughter hat I wear. It teaches me to be compassionate, how to listen and gives me wisdom and advice.

I am grateful for the coaching hat I wear. It teaches me that it's not about me, how to transform someone from pain to pleasure and gives me the ability to hear my own instruction.

I am grateful for the healthy hat I wear. It teaches me that I must live with intention, how to create movement every day and gives me motivation when I take walks.

I am grateful for the sales hat I wear. It teaches me to ask for the business, how to interact with clients and establish rapport and gives me the satisfaction of helping others with a monetary reward.

I am grateful for the administration hat I wear. It teaches me to be organized, how to plan my time and gives me the foundation for success.

I am grateful for the marketing hat I wear. It teaches me to be resourceful, how to gain recognition and gives me the spotlight to share my message.

I am grateful for the creative hat I wear. It teaches me to pay attention, how to combine mixed media and gives me an appreciation for all that is possible.