The 5 Deadly Sins…..How to turn them around

There are things that you need to do and there are things that you should avoid. When speaking with my coaching clients and potential clients, there are 5 ‘problem areas’ that consistently occur and inevitably hold them back from achieving so much more (or indeed, achieving anything)…

Procrastination…..an absolute art form. Why do something when you can put it off “for a better time”…..enough said

Excuses….. there’s got to be some reason not to do this, right?

Lack of Belief…..well I have never done this before, so I guess I probably won’t be able to do this now

No Game Plan/Goals/Vision…..what?

No Direction…..I don’t know where I am actually going, we’ll just see what happens…ok?

You probably get the picture. There’s no time like NOW to repent your “sins” and get the train back on the tracks otherwise it will be ‘trainwreck’ time.

I’m not a great one for rules or regulations however there are certain ‘unwritten’ standards that are worth adhering to. Turn the 5 ‘sins’ above right around and you are very likely to start kicking some goals.

Don’t Procrastinate…..just ‘do’ or wipe it completely…you will feel better either way

No Excuses….. you might want to check this out…always be aware of the subtle ones

Start Believing…..in yourself. Start with some small victories, then build. If you don’t believe in yourself then it’s extremely hard for others to do so…it starts with you

Set some Goals…..as in above, set some small ones to get used to achievement then build…and add some ‘bite’ & ‘meaning’ to them. Create a Vision of how you see your Life in 10, 20 years and start aiming…this will build some purpose.

A sense of Direction…..certainly handy to have. Add some detours for fun but create a journey of excitement. No doubt unexpected detours will occur however they may open up further possibilities…enjoy & take some control of your Life.

Make sense?

Be good to yourselves

David

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

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4 Simple Goal building steps that can be truly Life Changing

I was watching some pidgeons & doves in my backyard this morning scrounging through left over birdseed that I had thrown there. Apart from my usual amusement, it got me thinking ( oh no, not thinking again), about ” searching for crumbs” and scrounging or scraping out an existence, survival if you will.

There are times when we all feel that if we can just survive the day, week , month…..things will turn around. They can, most often with a change in thought process. However one can get stuck in “survival mode” where each day you man up or woman up, at the battlefront.

So, I thought that I would pen down some “survival” type tips that if worked on, will get you off the floor and on the road to “thrival”

Goal Number 1…..Have a Goal that will elevate you above ground. Walking the ground floor or even dwelling in the cellar are not the places to live your Life. It can be a simple goal, in fact the simpler the better. I want you to build some confidence. Just getting a goal established, will give impetus to new thought and new energy and will get you started!

Goal Number 2…..Set a Goal that will build on No 1….a “back to back” goal, a momentum builder. A Goal that will move you up the food chain, little by little if necessary however you must climb. Leave the pain (and comfort) behind. Pain & comfort are strange bed fellows, it’s amazing what hurt people go through to stay comfortable in their own world regardless of how poor a situation it is. So if you attempted Goal No1 and got yourself moving, with a little more effort, Goal No2 can have you elevating yourself even further.

Goal Number 3…..You are now floating above “the crumbs”…..you can see more light, new hope. You are energised and probably in some awe of what you have achieved….. or in shock. You may need a breather and soak in your success, that’s ok, however not for too long, further success awaits. Goal No3 is the goal that will cement your new thought processes. Start to get bold. You have gained some Traction and are stepping forward and building momentum

Whatever goals you selected @ 1&2 go a little bigger. You now have the hang of it, so keep climbing. If you need some support here, contact me & I will help you get there.

Goal Number 4….Develop your sense of direction and Purpose.

What? Where’s Goal No4?…..As a Life Coach, goals are expected to be a large part of what I do. Goals do have a vital part in setting up your Life provided they are established correctly. However I place greater importance on “having a sense of direction and purpose”, so for this post, this is my Goal No 4. This is not to diminish the 3 previous goals. In the situation that I have described for this post, these 3 steps were vital to get you moving from survival up the food chain.

However, be warned, setting and achieving goals may well get you “there” and that’s fine. If later on you find that “there” is not the “there” that you want, then it becomes a bit of a waste. Establish your direction before establishing your goals.

Doing this will then become purposeful, because you know where you are going and it will provide meaning to your Life because you are doing and going to a destination…….rather than “searching for crumbs”.

Does this make some sense? Feel free to comment as always.

Be good to yourselves

David

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

p.p.s I did a video for this & posted on my FB Page if you would to look

# I’d love you to share this post with your Universe

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

# Check out my fabulous Virtual Coach page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away

Related articles

• Do Goals scare you? (personalpower4me.wordpress.com)

Life Goals…..achieving the big ones, after 40

This is a post for the directionless souls out there or the curious amongst us, who are entering or are already in, their ‘mid lives’…..

Often men & women entering their 40′s start to reflect on what they have achieved in life, where their life has “gone” and/or what they are going to do with the rest of their lives.  “Is there something else?”, ”have I done enough?” is a common call from those who are unsure in which direction to head or are feeling “stale” with their current life situations.

The thought that half your Life has gone is scary. The thought that the next half of your Life is around the corner & you have no plans to live it, is even more scarier!

Stuck in a “place” you don’t want to be, spinning your wheels is no fun. You need to gain some traction then plot your path forward.

You are heading in to or are already in, the next phase of your life. Establishing goals for it may seem daunting, especially if you have had no previous exposure to Goal Setting or have resisted it in the past. No doubt, the rest of your Life will want to be filled with meaning. The greater the meaning, the greater the motivation to achieve it. That “meaning” will take whatever form you choose, so choose carefully.

The effort to determine your “meaning” is worth it!….. This is the time to get it right. Getting started is the hardest part however once you have, ‘the flow’ will commence.

Meaning.……

What do you imagine the rest of your Life looking like? What do you want to achieve…..personally, professionally, family wise? Are their tangible ‘shiny’ things that you want? Is it better health, fitness? Is it spiritual? Philanthropic? Educational? Fun (I hope so)?

There’s also  21 Self Discovery Questions here if you would like to consider further choices.

Whatever your ‘big things’ are, they must have this deep meaning for you, to be achievable…..and make them BIG, I mean HUGE, don’t hold back, deep, deep meaningful big things/joys.

Making the time to think about them is a great start, make the time!…..then make the time to put a plan in place.

Age 40 & beyond is a wonderful place to be. It is the time to make your impact, make your own personal mark on the world. This is not a time for regret but it is a time for action. Not action that will wear you down but action that will rejuvenate your soul, make you stand tall & claim your rightful “place”.

Well…..

What’s really important to you now, the next 5,10,20 years? How will you make your mark, claim your place?…..Time will not wait for you, make the most of your time, now…..what are you waiting for?

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

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3 Meaningful steps for taking action that matters

Image via Wikipedia

Warning! This is a Coaching post. It’s brief, there’s no mucking around, it’s straight to the point.

Further warning! Some of this language may offend or even worse, for my International friends, be too Australian(if that’s possible). There is some attempted humour but mostly it’s serious…….

Metaphorically speaking, if you are swimming against the tide, treading water, spinning your wheels, up sh*t creek without a paddle, you obviously need to take some action to get going forward & get out of this predicament.

Before you can start…….

You first need to Gain Traction

then ‘step by step’

build Momentum

Let’s identify what these steps really mean…..

“Traction” = stop the slide, gain some grip, shore up your defences, plug the gaps, review your ‘battle plan’, build a base, initiate thought processes

“Step by Step” = one foot in front of the other, constant movement, thought supported by action, never give up, keep punching, motion with motivation

“Momentum” = success thoughts colliding with action, on a roll, unbeatable, it’s all downhill from here, effortless motion, well oiled machine

These three “steps” may seem simple, in fact they are. I’ve found (and you may have too) that often the simple things, the blindingly obvious, are the ones oft overlooked or not even sighted……they elude our personal radar.

When you find yourself on the slide & you will at some stage, step back & look for some traction. Something that will give you some grip & leverage with which to move forward.

Once again, using the details above…….

When you put your traction in place, you can then start moving step by step, continually motivating yourself to keep going.

This will in turn, build your momentum…….

There’s no stopping you now.

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 for no frills, commonsense ways on how I can help you

hell, I’m even on Linkedin

Related articles

• How is your Motivation?…..Is it time to turn up the “Volume” in your Life (personalpower4me.wordpress.com)

Thought for Today

Persistence is not about knocking on one door until it finally opens……it’s about knocking on all of them.  Keep knocking, don’t give in and more doors will gladly open for you.

Be good to yourselves

David

P.S  This ‘thought’ inspired in part by Notes From the Universe

The Big Picture

Throughout our lives, many situations arise that get us distracted from our goals, whether they be personal or work related. Our focus can then become blurred or lost completely as we deal with these ‘distactions’. The key is to allow this loss of focus to be temporary not permanent.

Keep ‘the Big Picture’ in play at all times whatever the Big Picture means to you. Stay on course and reap your reward. Big Picture thinking requires committment and unwavering faith that ‘your dreams’ will be realised…..stay the course and complete your Big Picture.

Be good to yourselves

David

Setting Life Goals after 40

Often men & women entering their 40′s start to reflect on what they have achieved in  life, where their life has gone & what they are going to do with the rest of their lives.  “Is there something else?” is a common call from those who are stuck in a rut currently and are unsure in which direction to head.

This phenomena of mid-life crisis is felt by many & for varying reasons. The thought that half your Life has gone is scary. The thought that the next half of your Life is around the corner & you have no plans to live it, is even more scarier!

Goal setting may seem “ho-hum” to some however without some definitive plan for your future, “the crisis & the rut” are likely to continue. In the first instance, you need to be motivated to create a more fulfilling life. It doesn’t need to be hard or difficult, you just need to commence thinking along more positive lines- changing your thoughts changes your life. Start to see things differently…..it doesn’t have to be the same as it always has!…..it starts with your thinking.

You are heading in to the next phase of your life. Establishing goals for it may seem daunting, especially if you have had no previous exposure to Goal Setting or have resisted it in the past. The effort is worth it! Getting started is the hardest part however once you have, ‘the flow’ will commence.

I am not going to give you a detailed plan of what to do now, as it is your life and your goals are…your goals, they are what’s important to you. However I have previously posted ” 5 Effective steps to setting Meaningful Goals” . If you would like to view this, it hopefully will give you some hints or visit my website.

Age 40 & beyond is a wonderful place to be. Your views on Life are changing. Your goals in Life no doubt need changing (or at least reviewing) as well.

What’s really important to you now, the next 5,10,20 years? Time will not wait for you. Clarifying the important aspects of your life will help you set Meaningful Goals for now & your future…..Go for it!

Be good to yourselves

David…….

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

# Check out my fabulous Virtual Coach page here where ongoing support and life changing assistance is just a keystroke or two away

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

Is Goal Setting what you need?

A great question and one in which I have biase, being a Life Coach and proclaiming myself as a “Goal Achievement Specialist”. However, it is fair to say that Goal setting may not be for everyone.

People react differently, have different needs. Some (or many) thrive on having challenges, want to achieve more & goal setting provides the ideal vehicle with which to do this. Others, well simply are happy to drift along hoping for the best, some also drift or meander but with some purpose.

Now on the latter. “Drifting” may seem a very relaxed way of life however you can only ‘drift so far from the shore’. Without a ‘goal’ or a ‘direction’ you will be at the mercy of the elements. I mentioned ‘direction’ or ‘intentional meandering’ – is it possible to have no specific goals however have a definite direction for your life and still live the life that you aspire to? Maybe, let’s have a closer look at this.

You see, some see goal setting as setting you up for disappointment. I don’t see it that way but some do. I believe setting goals correctly will help you achieve what you want. Incorrect goal setting methods will likely do the opposite. Now back to ‘direction’ /intentional meandering’- if you have your personal compass set to where you want to go and always keep your compass bearing in mind, goals along the way may only be a distraction to you.

This I suggest may work well for some who show great discipline. However I believe for most people, regular effective Goal Setting will increase your chances for the achievement of meaningful goals and a meaningful life with the added flexibility of establishing as many , or few of them as you desire. You can then keep a close eye on your progress/journey through life and make the necessary adjustments along the way. What do you think?

Be good to yourselves

David…….also @ www.davidstevenslifecoach.com.au

Thought for Today

I have borrowed this one, hope you don’t mind, one of my all time favourites and in line with my philosophies on life.

“The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack vision.” Helen Keller

Be good to yourselves

David

Do you have (a) clear Vision?

Do you have an end goal in Life? Is your inner Compass set in the right direction? or are you just getting by day to day?

Your Personal Vision is what you want to be, do, feel, think, own and associate with and impact by some date in the future. Now that’s just  a summary of what a personal vision can be. The ingredients that make up  your personal vision can be many & varied because we are all different.

If you do not have a vision of/for your future, you will likely be at the mercy of “what the world throws at you”. Now, there will always be obstacles in your way, however without a roadmap you will get lost – your “vision roadmap” can keep you heading in the right direction.

A Vision for your life also creates a spark, a vibrancy, a spring in your step – that’s the way to go! …..So, what are you thinking about know? Is it possible to create a vision all of my own…yes it is!  To start, you just need to clean your personal windscreen a little, that’s blocking your view of the world, add a little attitude (positive preferably), a dose of willpower and light the spark  and you can then start to steer a course that has you in control of your Life.

If you have trouble getting started or encounter a few “roadblocks” along the way, feel free to  get in touch, I will be happy to help.

Be good to yourselves

David