If the Tiara Fits...

The Princess of Possibility will be appearing at a speaking engagement in her hometown on the day following her 40th birthday. Yes, it will be a magnificent homecoming. She will be dressed in a pink gown, sporting a newly buffed tiara and white satin sash to match her white satin shoes. She will deliver a riveting keynote speech to a captivated audience and then bid them adieu as she enjoys the remainder of the evening in celebration of the beginning of her 5th decade on earth.

The Princess has been getting some very positive encouragement indeed. A new friend of mine recently gave me a gift - a little plaque that I have placed on my desk. The colors are the same as on my website and it says, “If the tiara fits, wear it.” She happened across this little item at a store one day, just after seeing me deliver a keynote as the Princess of Possibility. She was so sweet to buy this for me ‘just because’. I am so grateful to have attracted such a generous soul into my inner circle.

It is a really exciting time in my life, I must say. It is true that my ‘alter ego’ is providing me with the opportunity to deliver my motivational message with a bit of theatrics. It’s fun; it’s funny – but, have no fear, the message is the same. You see, I firmly believe that we all have a princess or prince within who is just waiting for the opportunity to come forth. I didn’t always have the courage to wear the tiara – it didn’t always fit. I’m pleased to say that it fits well now and I am proud to wear it as I Embrace my Potential.

To book the Princess of Possibility for your next event, contact me at http://embracingpotential.com.

Make a Declaration - I Dare You!

In the midst of launching a new career and managing all the related excitement, I have also been transforming my personal life. I have been working through some self-directed course material intended to help me embrace MY potential in an area that has suffered neglect for quite some time.

Yes, some times the motivator needs a motivator, it is true! This course work has allowed me to examine my past – as far back as I can remember – up to the time I started the course. The recent past can seem the most painful to process yet it is often rooted in unresolved issues from childhood. We experience recurring patterns today because of lessons we haven’t yet learned that can go back years. I am doing this work to heal my soul and to allow something new and wonderful to grow within me. It is all part of embracing my potential.

This week I began teaching a four-part workshop and asking the participants to embark on a series of self-discovery exercises. My integrity to this process is demonstrated in my willingness to work through my own issues as, deep down, we are all the same. For four weeks now, I have diligently put pen to paper every day and the results have been incredible. To say that every day has been a rose garden would be to simplify the process. In order to grow, we must accept responsibility for choices that have not served us; we must forgive ourselves and those around us; we must love ourselves above all else. This is not easy but it is well worth the short term discomfort. When you make a commitment to embrace your potential, you learn that the Universe is just waiting to give you what you want. It is your birthright to be happy. And so, I continue the journey…

Earlier this week I was asked to set an intention and give myself a deadline. I had to write it out, share it with someone and then Let Go and Hold On! Now, if you think that is all there is to it, you obviously haven’t done this before. Life is never as easy as that. You had better be clear because, when you DARE to set an intention, the Universe rises up, and tests you to see if you are certain that THIS is what you want! Your ego will respond to this new idea of success that you have conjured and taunt you: “Do you have want it takes to move forward? Isn’t it more comfortable back here? Why do you think you deserve this?” Oh yes, the ego is a great manipulator. It has the power to keep us small. But, as Marianne Williamson reminds us, “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.”

You know what? I do have the courage to move forward! I’ll face my fear of the unknown and walk forward with confidence. I deserve this because I am worthy of success as I define it. I will play small no more! THAT’S what I declare back to you Ms Ego. Look out!

Success, here I come! Oh… I have already arrived. Lesson Learned.

Now that's Progress!

Last night I hosted a public information session entitled, “Who Needs a Professional Motivator Anyway?” It was a great opportunity to tell people who I am, what I do, how I do it and why. It was a great experience for me as a presenter; as an individual, it was AMAZING.

You see, there were people in the audience who knew me from various times in my life. There were also people who were meeting me for the first time. As I shared some of my story about “How I got from THERE to HERE”, it really struck me that I have made significant progress in my own personal and professional development. At the end of the evening and into today, I have received feedback on the session. One person said, “You have come a long way in a short period of time.” This is from someone who has only known me for a couple of years. I thought, “If you only knew me 10 years ago, what would you say?”

I am proud of the progress I have made. It takes a lot of courage to move forward on this journey, especially when you are charting a new course and surrendering control. (For me, that was HUGE!) I have had to trust myself, even when the evidence wasn’t readily available that I was on track. Having a clear vision of success has helped me stay grounded. When I start to get lost in limiting beliefs and question the path I have chosen, I PAUSE.

Pause – I stop to think about where I was just a few months ago and, on a grander scale, what my life looked like 3, 6, and 9 years ago. Then I get clear about the progress I have made.

Accept – I take responsibility for the progress that I have made because it is entirely a result of the choices that I have made. I am proud of most of them.

Understand – I forgive myself for the choices that didn’t serve me and I am grateful for having made them because everything happens for a reason and I am open to the lesson that each ‘mistake’ has taught me. I have grown – another sign of progress.

See – When I acknowledge the progress I have made thus far, I am inspired by what is possible. I look around at others whose progress has inspired me and think, “If he/she can be/do/have it, why not me, too?”

Embrace – When I take time to silence the ego when it rises, get present and walk myself through the process of accepting what is, understanding the lesson, seeing what is possible, THEN I am free to embrace my potential. I choose to live in possibility and that is a wonderful thing.

Now that’s progress! Lesson Learned.

If you’d like to learn more about taking a PAUSE or defining and executing your vision of success, visit my website and register for the upcoming public workshop in St. John’s, NL starting April 20, 2010. http://embracingpotential.com/info.php

Be Ballsy

“You’ve got balls.” Twice in one month I’ve been told this by men who, after carrying around my business cards for month, finally took some time to check out my website and blog. To paraphrase, they went on to say, “I could never put myself out there like that.” These successful men were afraid of what people would think of them if they actually expressed what was really on their minds.

So, yeah, I guess I’ve got balls. It takes a big pair to walk away from a cushy gig – good salary and benefits, working from home, company car, boss in another province – and venture into the wild world of entrepreneurship. It takes courage to express your opinions out loud and in color. It’s the kind of courage that I didn’t have for a very long time. And there are days now, where it takes a lot of effort to call upon that part of me when I am subjected to the judgments – spoken or implied – by ego and everyone else’s.

My lesson learned is that whether God gave you balls or not, you only have one life – a finite amount of time on this planet – make your choices about what YOU want. Speak you truth. Choose to Embrace Your Potential.

If you need a little help and are in the St. John’s area, check out my upcoming workshop at http://www.embracingpotential.com/register.php.

Just to back me up, here’s what another ballsy lady had to say on the matter:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

The Proof is in the Pudding

I’ve been spending a fair bit of time lately in careful consideration of the relationships in my life. I have come to believe with certainty that, as the saying goes, “the proof IS in the pudding”. What I mean is that actions speak louder than words. To put it another way… talk is cheap.

You’ve heard it said that we must walk the talk. I hear that a lot in my new business endeavour. People are very quick to condemn others who give advice but are not willing to take it themselves. But really, we all have a responsibility to do and mean what we say, regardless of our occupation or other life status. This is integrity. And, instead of condemning those who don't, we should take a quick look in the mirror and assess our own contribution to the lives of those around us.

The Golden Rule is one we are all taught as children and one which comes to mind as I write this morning. If you do unto to others as you would have them do unto you, you will be operating from and open heart and with awareness of the implications of your thoughts, words and deeds. Choose wisely, I suggest. Be deliberate.

This week, I have been the fortunate recipient of a number of referrals by friends who are recommending my services to others – speaking, workshops, coaching, consulting… and personal companionship! Yes, it appears as though I have an abundance of people in my life who want me to be successful at home, at work, at play and at peace. I am truly blessed.

What about you? Is there someone in your life to whom you wish ‘all the happiness in the world’? If so, what exactly are you doing to help them create it? If you think that there is nothing you can do, think again. You can be a champion for that person; you can be their biggest fan in thought, word and deed. Think about what you would like someone to do to help you… and do it for someone else. Imagine the impact!

Helping others create and execute their vision of success is my mission as a Professional Motivator. I will commit, in my daily life, to demonstrate this in all that I do. If you aren’t sure what you can do, ask! I’d love to hear of your progress.