Living Life Today – Excuse me, there’s a fly in my soup

“The Living Life Today series provides a platform to think about your Life as it is Now, enjoy what you have, review and create an even better future for tomorrow”….. Short, sharp & easily digestible.

You know, sometimes our days, even our weeks, don’t go to plan. We had all the right intentions however something(s) got in the way……sound familiar?

What causes us to get off track, distracted, confused, out of focus?

Many things.

It will happen. However should you resist the interruptions, ignore this ‘new situation’ and just keep going?

OR should you deal with the ‘fly’, get it out of the way, then move on?…..tricky?

Life Lovers, I’ve had many a good bowl of soup ruined by a pesky fly dropping in unnanounced. I am learning to deal with the distraction (not always effectively, I’ll admit…I’m still learning) and then move back into the flow of Life.

And that’s what it’s about. Your day can at times get interrupted, maybe even your week. Whatever you decide to do, ignore the ‘fly’ or deal with it, the key is to get back into flow as soon as practical…..don’t be distracted forever…..otherwise, excuses will build up & become ‘fact’.

Waiter!…..another bowl of soup please, this one has a fly in it…..thankyou.

Be good to yourselves

David

P.S If you need a Solution for anything that is holding you back in Life, ask me via email, for free!…david@davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away. Why not sign up while you are there?

• Facebook page over there. I would love you to “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

• Linkedin profile

Just saying it as it is…..Part 1

I am a poor “Rule” follower. I don’t like being;

categorised,

placed in a box,

told I need to follow this, follow that,

told how I should think etc,

Sure, there are wider society ‘rules’ that one should abide by…..I’m not talking about social anarchy here.

Even though I am fond of Imagining(you might like to check out my Imagination series from last year) and am getting pretty good at it, I still get the feeling that there is (an expectation) that my thoughts, my actions should follow a defined path…not necessarily narrow however only as wide as what is expected by broader society convention.

Today, I am breaking free of my (perhaps self imposed?) restrictions via “convention” and commencing my own set of “rules”…..

If I imagine it, then I will do it

If it serves my purpose, then I will do it

If it enriches me, then I will do it

…….regardless of what others may think or convention may dictate. I am answerable only to myself (with due respect to our higher Authority).

How about you? Do you feel trapped by conventional thinking, categorising, others’ expectations?

Be good to yourselves

David

P.S If you need a Solution for anything that is holding you back, ask me via email, for free!…david@davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away. Why not sign up while you are there?

• Facebook page over there. I would love you to “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

• Linkedin profile

To Love what you do…..Become your own Guru

Are you happy with Life?

Do you love getting out of bed each day, eager to embrace what lies before you?

OR …Are things just not happening for you?

Then consider this…..become your very own Guru

Go to yourself for the answers to your problems…….a bit radical?…….not at all, please read on

Think about it. We have most of our answers, we really do. In most cases we “know” what to do…….however, we end up running in circles, procrastinating or just plain giving up……..because, we don’t know what to do with what we “know”, by application or …..we don’t know how to unlock our knowing(we get stuck)…..

a lot of this is to do with our mindset…..

Seek out the Guru inside of you. Push aside any laziness,any procrastination and see yourself in a new light, a new framework, a new mindset…….stand tall, become your own Guru.

When you are feeling down……..summon your Guru

When you are feeling unloved…..summon your Guru

When you are feeling lost…….summon your Guru

Now this is not intended as some sort of spiritual pilgrimage to a mountain top. My intent here is for you to alter your mindset to one of accepting that you are you and that you do have so much inner strength & knowledge to tap into. Then allow this “source of knowing” to come out.

Ask(via meditation, prayer, silence, reflection or whatever suits you best) that the answers come to you…..easily. Allowing yourself to be in an accepting state will help unlock much of your hidden answers.

Don’t be afraid to ask…..if the answers or direction to find the answers don’t come, please do not worry…….it may take a little while, be patient with yourself. If you really get stuck, then there’s always a helping hand available, try here

When we get lost for answers we often look to the ‘outside’ for guidance. Self help books, tapes, seminars, social media etc,

Adopting a Guru mindset can set you on a path to locating the answers that are right for you. The answers that you are seeking may come from within or you will be directed to the correct “source”. Start loving your Life more, give it a try…….what do you think?…..let us all know in the comments below.

Be good to yourselves

David

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away

• Facebook page over there & “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

•  Linkedin profile

7 Natural Phenomena that teach us Lessons for Life

Ever wondered what the “Natural world” has in common with us…..”the Human World”?

Plenty!…..”the nature of things”, now wonder where that phrase came from?

I have highlighted in this post, 7 “Natural Phenomena” shared by both the natural & human worlds…..at least my take on them. (what does this have to do with Life Lessons?…read on)

[Growth, perserverance, family, drought, flood, scarcity,  habitat]

Growth…..stagnation doesn’t work. You stagnate, you die, that’s what happens in Nature. The tree needs to spread it’s roots. The young cub needs to grow up strong so he can lead the pack, because only the strong survive. It also happens to us. Stay in the one “spot” for too long, refusing to move, then you “die” inside & get left behind. We as humans need to grow. Spiritually and knowledgeably & with strength of character.

Lesson…..look to grow in all facets of your Life. Only then will you reach the potential that was designed for you.

Perserverance…..keeping strong and keeping going are ideals that lead to success in Nature and in “our world”. Giving up is not an option. Imagine if the seed “thought” that it would be too hard today to break through the ground and grow skywards or the mother lion didn’t bother to hunt for food for her cubs because the weather was too hot. More than likely it is too hot however food needs to be found, even in the most difficult of times.

Lesson…..We can’t afford to give up…..Life is too prescious and better times beckon, do the ‘hard yards’ when necessary and claim your rewards.

Family….. the bonds with and between the animals & plants are incredibly strong. Strong family ties keep animals safe & plants flourish….. they also keep humans safe and comfortable.

Lesson…..maintain strong family ties, cherish your loved ones and always seek to do the right thing.

Drought….. in the animal and plant world, this can mean devastation. No or little food or water. For us, it can have a flow on effect. Plants which need water as their ‘food’ die, many animals depending on plants then are lacking in a food source. We need water to survive and agriculture and many animals supply our food source. This is complimentary co-existence.

Lesson…..when things ‘dry up’ in your Life, bunker in and look for an anchor point. Go to your back up plan. If you haven’t got one, then create one for safe keeping, because ‘things’ won’t always be as good as they are now.

Flood….. devastating for plant life, animal life and humans. Though after such ‘disaster’ it is a time for re building and re generation for all. “Flood” can also mean too much….

Lesson…...it may be time to say ‘No’ to the excesses and review your Life. Rebuild, re generate the areas that have either been neglected or have fallen into dissarray.

Scarcity….. Food, water are the two obvious here. Scarcity has had the benefit of producing new ideas. In times of food shortage, “smarter” ways of sourcing food and maintaining supplies had to be invented. Plants adapted, animals adapted & so did we. The scarcity of various resources in our world has meant that “new” ways have to be invented.

Lesson…..scarcity of thinking will bring us undone. It generates a perpetual ‘lack’ in our own resources when in actual fact we have abundant resources at our disposal. We just need to change our thinking.

Habitat….. Do we create our own habitat or does it “form” us? In nature, certain species are particular to certain habitats where they thrive. Take that habitat away and threat becomes real. Humans tend to create their habitats however often this impacts upon nature…..why do we do this? Our habitat in certain locales, is now coming under threat from nature…..role reversal?

Lesson….. adapt to your habitat. Whether that be macro (external environment) or micro (family, friends, acquaintances, people in general). We first need to get our internal habitat in order. Adapt to change when necessary. Once we have our internal habitat sorted, we can then expand into our circle of influence, where we operate on a day to day basis.

Do you have any other “natural phenomena” that can give us Life lessons? Feel free to share.

be good to yourselves

David

# Find out more about me by visiting my :

• Fabulous “Virtual Coach” page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away

• Facebook page over there & “like” , if you like

•  website @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

•  Linkedin profile
  

15 Life Questions you may need to ask …..when “doubt” sets in (part 1)

Hello fellow Life Lovers,

At different stages of our lives, we question…..

We question ourselves. We question the world around us. We question others.

Questions like…..

What am I doing…..am I doing the right thing

How do I achieve this…..what help may I need

Where has my Life gone…..what am I going to do with the rest of my Life

Am I happy…..is this really what I want…..what do I want

Does anybody love me…..does anybody care about me

Sound familiar?…..We have endless questions. The above is just a very small sample of potential “key” quesions that you may ask of yourself at various stages of your Life.

After one leaves their schooling/education environment, the world opens up. Key Life questions begin to emerge.

They continue throughout Life. At least, they have for me and are continuing.

* Here are fifteen key Life questions that I have asked myself at various stages when ‘doubt’ has crept in. They may be similar to yours?…in no particular order…

Who am I really

What will it take for me to be successful

What type of work do I want to do

Would I make a good father

Will I find love

Who will remember me

Can I meet or exceed my parents hopes for me

What one thing will make or break me, will make a big difference in my Life

Why did I do that

What is the lesson here

How is this going to make a difference

How can I change this

What will inspire my children to look up to me for guidance

What will happen if I let my family down

I am unhappy, what am I going to do about it

I have met many people through my coaching, who have experienced ‘doubt’ and yet have failed to ask the questions necessary, to begin to remove their doubt. Questions give us a reality check. Asking the right questions will begin to unlock some revealing answers.

Do any of these resonate with you?

* In part 2, my next post, I will put forward some answers to these questions for your consideration.

be good to yourselves

David

p.s Feel free to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

check out my Virtual Coach page here

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au  come & visit some time soon

Related articles

• More Self Discovery Questions for Mid Life “Newbies” (personalpower4me.wordpress.com)

What story are you Telling?

Is it one of pain or is it one of gain?

Is it one of sadness or is it one of happiness?

Like it or not, you tell your story to the world via your dialogue and your actions….AND

You also tell your story to yourself, via internal dialogue (self talk) and your thoughts.

So,what story are you telling and is it the real story?

People sometimes create a story line to suit their “audience”. Pure Fiction to create a headline or several or make them feel better about themselves. This storyline after time becomes “fact”, to the story teller(is this you?) and to his/her “readers”.

Fictional stories are a form of escapism. They are a great read. However when it’s your story, escaping from your real truths will likely hurt you in the end.

The opening chapters of your Life may not have been happy reading and….. not every story has a happy ending…….however you can take steps to make it the best ending possible.

Starting Today,You have the ability to rewrite your script,  rewrite the future chapters of your Life based on your new story…….sick of the analogies?….Sorry, just trying to get your attention.

So what will your new story be?…. It will start by facing up to your realities.

One needs to deal with these scenarios firstly;

• Who are you really?…..is this the real you?
• What do you want to get out of Life? …..do you know?
• Do you have a Purpose or are you just going through the motions?
• Are you living in a fairytale or a dreamworld full of falsehoods and are unable to (want) to escape?
• Do you want to be the best real you that you can be?

If you want to answer these questions truthfully, you will be part way there. This will be the beginning of your new story…….the real story.

I am not going to write the ending for your story. The rest is up to you. Good luck.

P.S……If you want your story to change, I’ll be very happy to listen.

be good to yourselves

David

p.s  Feel free to visit & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

check out my new Virtual Coach page here

I also hang out @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

There are many ways to Self destruct….so don’t try this at home

Woops!

You are on the way to achieving your Goal. The end is so tantalisingly near, yet…….you do not make it.

You have a great idea for a new project. The creative juices are flowing, yet…….you do not start.

Your speech is ready. You arrive at the lectern, yet…….the words don’t come out.

You line up your putt. It’s only a four footer for the Championship. It’s straight uphill,with no break. Yet…….you miss it.

Why?

The voices inside your head get gradually louder. They overtake your thought processes. They win.

What am I talking about here?

“The voices”?…Fear?…. Intimidation?…. Lack of Belief?….

All of them!

They all manifest in different ways however their roots can be traced back to your thought processes. Sounds simple but true, I see this often.

• It is fair to say that the missed putt could be due to poor technique, noise in the gallery, a leaf blown within eyeshot just as you were stroking the ball. However I say that none of these would matter if your thoughts were focussed on that ball going in. You would hear no noise, your aim would be true, there would be no distractions. You would be in ‘the zone’. Sound right to you?

• You have researched your speech. Your very first speech. In front of a (seemingly) huge audience. You begin to speak however no words come out. You hear the voice….inside your head….”you are not worthy, you can’t do this” repeating, repeating. Your first speech ends before it started. Your focus wasn’t there. You could have done it if your thoughts were focussed on the ‘end game’ – an audience on it’s feet, applauding.

• A new project. Bigger & better than before. Can’t wait to get started…….the previous “project” was going to be bigger & better too. It didn’t start. What is going to be different this time? Will the fear of stuffing up come in to play again? Remember…….it was 9 months ago. You finished a project. It was your pride & joy. Yet, the critics panned it. You were laughed at, ridiculed. Remember? You haven’t quite recovered from that, have you? Why try again, you are too scared. Your thoughts are focussed on ‘intimidation’ & ‘fear’ rather than on ‘success’.

• Finally, I am near to achieving my goal of (you can fill in the blanks). I have worked pretty hard to get this close. Something is holding me back. The closer I feel that I am getting to this goal, the further I seem to be away from it. It’s like an invisible force holding me back. I always get close…….

Not again! If only I believed that I am worthy of achieving this, that I am deserving, if only…….

Fellow Life Lovers, it all starts with a thought. Nurture the positive ones, discard the thoughts that will do you harm. With the positive ones – Think it, believe it, achieve it…….you can do it!

Don’t self destruct but rather construct, build your great Life & stay true to your (positive) thoughts.

be good to yourselves

David

p.s  Feel free to “like’ my Facebook page over there, if you like

You can also find me @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Related articles

• Is there a Lunatic inside your Head? (personalpower4me.wordpress.com)

Who moved the Goal Posts?

Have you ever been on track with a task or goal and found that just when you thought you were finished, the rules were changed? OR should I say how many times has this happened to you?

Have you been the culprit? You’ve set yourself a Goal & changed the rules for whatever reason…….made it easier, gave up, too hard?

I love to reach goals. The sense of achievement is overwhelming……then something else happens…..I want more! More achievement, more satisfaction. No, that’s not strong enough. I want more exhilaration! However what happens when the Goal Posts are moved?

Firstly, who moved them…….you or some other external influence?

If it is you, then the good news is that you can do something about it. I suggest you sit down & review your intial goal setting & determine whether it was SMART in the first place.

Yes, I know that sometimes there are “detours”...(I often get sidetracked). These are allowable provided that you keep your ‘goal posts’ in sight & don’t wander too far because the overall ‘direction’ stll has to be maintained. You still need to focus to a high degree on the “SMART’s” if you want to achieve meaningful goals.

However, if an ‘external influence/s’ is the cause, deeper introspection is required. Why has this been allowed to happen? What external influences or factors are in play here? Are they other people, lack of support, particular events happening in your life or to those around you?

But more importantly, are they within my control?….If “yes”, reset your path(revisiting the SMART principle would be good) and move forward.

If “no”, reset, learn and move forward anyway. There are more goals to achieve and you need to maintain your momentum. There’s always a lesson to be learned and there are always some things that will be outside your control. Maybe next time you will be more the wiser when faced with an ‘external factor’ trying to move your Goal Posts……and if you are the culprit, then play it SMART.

Be good to yourselves

David

p.s  Feel free to view & “like” my Facebook page over there, if you like

I also hang out @www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Attribution: Photo copyright Rich Tea http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/4180

Another Theory goes Bang….a case of a misspent Life

There are numerous theories  recorded throughout history. We learned about many of them during our schooling.

Then we have our own theories about this and that. Many of these relate to how we navigate our way through Life..….and then there are conspiracy theories, we’ll leave that one alone.

With our own lives, we gather information from varying sources e.g, our parents, our peers, self help books, media, friends and our daily observations. We then tend to “theorise” how things work you know…….. life in general, the Universe, right & wrong, how to become successful & wealthy etc,

A friend of mine, Trevor used to have a great theory. If he worked hard, got noticed by the Boss, worked overtime, didn’t take most of his holidays then he would be promoted.  His employers would look after him. “They like people who put in that extra effort” said Trevor.

He reasoned(theorised) that he would also get numerous pay rises due to his extra diligence, be able to look after his loving wife and children and retire with a nice sum of money………good theory.

For a few years, things were going quite well for Trevor at work, his “theory” was working…….at home it was becoming different. Family life suffered because of Trevor’s “extra diligence” at work, they rarely saw him,……..theory now looking a little shaky.

A few months later, ‘the deal breaker’, Trevor was retrenched…….theory now shot to pieces – BANG.

Trevor now theorises “that life sucks”.

From Trevor’s perspective, life is looking perilous on two fronts 1. lack of employment therefore lack of promotion therefore lack of pay (rise)…….retiring with a nice sum of money looks unlikely 2. Trevor needs to patch up his family life

What would you do in Trevor’s situation?…. Continue to lament that “life sucks”? OR create a new “theory”?……a paradigm shift if you will.

You see, Trevor relied largely on his main theory outlined in this post. So when it went ‘Bang’………..he was lost, Life sucked. I guess we can over theorise on Life. Keeping it simple has it’s benefits.

We get a few ‘bumps’ or ‘bangs’ in our Lives that  should cause us to think about our “theories” on Life………… What really matters. It’s an individual thing however it’s worth considering very carefully. You only have one shot at this Life so why not make it a great one.

Can you relate to Trevor’s story? Does life suck for you or have you turned it around?

Be good to yourselves

David

“They” have a lot to answer for

Who are “they”?…’they” certainly have a lot to answer for in our lives. Apparently “they” determine  our thoughts, our actions, our responses to many situations that we face………but who are “they”?

How many times have you heard….”they say that”, “they say this” , “they reckon(think) this”? Admittedly this is one of my pet grievances. I mean, you can have your own opinion, you can determine your own actions & responses. You do not need to be swayed by “they”……stand up for yourself!

Whenever you are asked a question, say what you think….. not what “they” think.

Are you allowing “they” to rule your world?

P.S Brighter topic next post.

Be good to yourselves

David…… for “cheerier” overtones you can visit me @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au