Fresh Perspective Coach Blog

This subject is one that’s on everyone’s mind for the last long while.  It’s almost like a cliche: “In this economy…”  The great news is that there are people still making money and not worrying about the economy, at least not in the way that the majority of the population seems to be worrying about it.

There is no doubt that changes have occurred in the economy.  So why is it that where some people only see job loss and lack, others continue to see opportunity and abundance? 

Because they have a different way of looking at it…a different mindset.  Those entrepreneurs whose businesses continue to prosper have simply shifted the way they do business, their marketing, or their services in a way that reflects the way the economy has changed.  They also believe that their ability to prosper and succeed does not depend on the state of the economy, the government in office, or the number of layoffs.  They believe and they know that their ability to succeed lies solely within themselves. 

Mindset is one of the 3 most important pillars of any business.  If the owner/entrepreneur doesn’t believe that they can succeed, and I mean really believe down to their core, then they won’t succeed.  At least not as much as they would if they did believe.  Because when you believe like that you talk differently about your business and you project a completely different energy about your business.

That kind of deep belief is possible and easily attained as long as the entrepreneur is willing to let go of all their mental gunk and sludge that’s clouding their beliefs and inner dialogue with negativity and scarcity.  It’s that kind of deep belief that allows successful entrepreneurs to shift whatever and whenever they need so that they guarantee their own success.

Advance confidently in the direction of your own dreams to live the Life that you’ve imagined.

~Dr Wayne Dyer

What are you willing to give up today to build a stronger tomorrow?

This is pretty easy for me to answer. I’ve already been living without some of the things I used to do and have in order to be able to raise my children the way that I want to and to build my business successfully.  One of the things I had to do when I began this career change is put a pause button on all those activities that weren’t absolutely essential to my success and forward movement.  I was going to school, working, and had my family to take care of.  My priorities were, of course, my kids and my family, because even if this career flopped, I would still have them.

So I gave up TV (no big loss), my crafting hobby, tole painting, and also learning to play guitar.  I gave these up for the time being because in order to make sure this career didn’t flop I have to do whatever it takes to succeed.  And these are hobbies that I can pick up again whenever I want to.  I still do things for fun and I enjoy them.  It’s not that I don’t have any fun.  I’ve simply shifted what I do with the time that I have so that I guarantee my own success. 

This career chose me and I know it won’t flop.  It’s my passion and that’s what drives me.  I am building a stronger tomorrow for me and my family by focusing on those things that matter most right now and it’s very fulfilling.

This idea has been coming up a lot lately for me.  Everywhere I look, every conversation I have and every event I experience, I realize that my mindset really dictates everything in my life.  I can choose to be positive or negative and that starts a chain of feelings, of events, of experiences that create my life. 

It’s easy to say, just choose to be happy or just think happy thoughts.  The truth is, it’s not that easy.  If you’re someone who’s used to looking at the world in a certain way then it’s not so easy to just flip to another way of thinking on your own. Of course it’s possible with the right tools.  You can absolutely change your mindset in an instant if you have the right tools.  But without knowing how to do that it can be a frustrating process. 

I remember how frustrating because I was there.  I would read all these books and they’d all say just change your thinking and your life will change.  Now that I know how easy it is to change your thinking I can appreciate that message.  But when I didn’t know the “how” and only had the “what to do” I was frustrated.

This is why as many times as I’ve had to step back and refine my vision and push the reset button on my business, I’ve done it.  I’ve committed to doing whatever it takes to pursue this passion of mine.  Because I want everyone to know how easy it is to shift their mindset and look at and experience the world in an abundant way. I love to witness people having breakthroughs and changing their lives in ways that make them happy.  There is nothing better than that to me. 

I want to inspire people with the simple tools I know about to help themselves change.  It’s not just about thinking positive, it’s about more than that.  And I can’t wait to share it with you!

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.

~Edgar Allan Poe

What is the most powerful thing that an entrepreneur can do to make sure that they succeed?

Stay in a place of positive expectation and take massive action!!

The Power of Contemplation

Kasia recently wrote a fantastic post for me about journaling. This got me thinking about contemplation and how the two are connected.

The word contemplation comes from the Latin root templum (from Greek temnein: to cut or divide). It means separating something from its environment and enclosing it in a sector, i.e. take a single thought or idea and focus on it to the exclusion of everything else.

I like to think of contemplation as different from meditation, in that, meditation’s goal is to be still with no thoughts. Where as contemplation can be used to receive answers to difficult questions.

Contemplation was an important part of the philosophy of Plato; Plato thought that through contemplation the soul may ascend to knowledge of the Form of the Good or other divine Forms. Plotinus as a (neo)Platonic philosopher also expressed contemplation as the most critical of components for one to reach henosis (the union with what is fundamental in reality: the One, the Source or Monad – God).

To Plotinus the highest contemplation was to experience the vision of God, the Monad or the One. Plotinus describes this experience in his works the Enneads. According to his student Porphyry, Plotinus stated that he had this experience of God four times.

On of the easiest way to contemplate is Journaling. By journaling, you’re recording your experience and your feelings about that thought or question. This can be very helpful, because sometimes the answers aren’t immediate. And with contemplation of a past experience the full impact of an experience may not revealed for several years.

Another form of contemplation is connecting with the Spirit or your Higher Source. In this method, you ask yourself a question about whatever it is you’re experiencing, in your life. This begin with I’d suggest a question or situation that has a minimal charge around it, i.e.

“What are 3 things that happened today I’m grateful for?”

Now, keep thinking…contemplating this thoughts and wait for the answer to come from deep within yourself…the answer will come.

At first you’ll be getting conscious answers (from your ego) and as you practice this, your ability to distinguish between your own mind giving you an answer and your Higher Self offering you its wisdom will become more apparent.

I utilize both of these methods to some extent throughout my day. Sometimes, I’m not in a position to journal (like when I’m at work). Other times lend themselves more easily to journaling (like right after my meditation practice).

A third method for contemplation uses both methods in conjunction with each other. Using them together creates a synergy that often unlocks some of the issues you may be really struggling with. When this happens, it can have a profound impact on your life.

Here’s how: Journal about your experience, and the feelings you have about it. Then connect with your Higher Source, and wait for its response. When you receive answers journal about what Higher Source reveals to you.

If you continue to have difficulty with the experience, you can return to this practice multiple times. As I stated before, sometimes, it may take days, weeks, months or even years to fully be able to separate the answers from ego vs. Higher Source…and the wait it worth it!

Step By Step Process

Contemplation can be used to receive guidance for like “How can I…?” and to release a charge associated with a person or situation. For the example below we’ll use releasing a charge around a person.

 Here’s a basic step by step process you can use to begin your contemplation for releasing a charge around a person.

1 – Set your mind to accept answers received within oneself from your Higher Source with in this distinctly internal adventure of contemplation.

2- Recognize a behavior in someone that you strongly dislike. Notice I said a behavior and NOT the person. People are not their behaviors! If you are having trouble with this concept this might be a great subject for contemplation . You can also contemplate on a situation you are experiencing or a abstract idea. For now we’ll use a person.

For instance: “John is mean to me”

Then there are number of ways to contemplate this thoughts and I like to use “The Work” from Byron Katie when it comes to a person or situation.

• Is it true?

 i.e. Is John really mean to me? At first the immediate reaction is yes! Of course it is…he’s done this and that to me.

• Can you absolutely know that it’s true?

To be absolutely true the statement has be true 100% of the time. This is where the deep contemplation comes in. Is this statement true 100% of the time. Better yet…when is this statement NOT true? Like when you’re sleeping or playing with your children.

• How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

This takes some deep “soul searching” and contemplation. We all tend to react instead of respond. Reaction is so unconscious that most of the time we’re not even aware of what we are doing. By contemplating on this thought you are automatically moving from reacting to responding.

• Who would you be without the thought?

This could be the toughest and longest part to the contemplation. When you contemplate this thought around the initial idea you move into a place of change and empowerment.

Then the big one! The Turn Around

After you have investigated your statement with the four questions, you’re ready to turn around the concept you’re questioning.

Each ‘turnaround’ is an opportunity to experience the opposite of your original statement and see it from a different perspective.

A statement can be turned around to the opposite, to the other, and to the self (and sometimes to “my thinking,” when that feels appropriate). Find a minimum of three genuine, specific examples of how each turnaround is true in your life.

For the original statement of “John is mean to me” three examples might be:

• My thinking is mean

• I am mean to myself

• I am mean to John

Now for some fun!

You can take each of the above statements and run them through “The Work” again. What you’ll eventually come to is all your statements and thoughts are neither true all the time, nor false all the time.

This can be very liberating, in that you get to choose the thought. By contemplating and selecting an empowering statement and thought you can move yourself from have no power to creating instant personal empowerment.

“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”

~Emerson

My brother is getting married today and so we have a lot of family from out of town.  It’s such an exciting day for the family because we’ve been waiting for two years for it.  It’s been an amazing journey for me to watch my kid brother grow from a quiet and video game obsessed guy into a man who has passionate conversations about fascinating things, who has a household and responsibilities.  He’s really come out of his shell since meeting his future wife and we’re so excited about that.  

My kids are both in the wedding party and I get to say the blessing.  My husband Bryan is MC at the reception so this is a whole family affair!

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and I just know it will be a perfect day!

Peace doesn’t require two people; it requires only one. It has to be you. The problem begins and ends there.

~Byron Katie