Baby, You're a Firework!

What a splendid day; the last of 2010! Count your blessings and celebrate your success.For those of you who are not sure what to celebrate or what to dream of as a new year comes round, perhaps you need a little motivation. This song, by Katy Perry, is a wonderful reminder of the spark that is in all of us. Let 2011 be the year you let your shine through! Baby, you’re a firework!



For details on Personal Motivation Packages and the workshop, Embrace Your Potential™ coming to St. John’s, contact Lisa Quinton, Professional Motivator through her website.

On a personal note, I’d like to extend thanks to all who check in with my blog and my business, Connections for Success. I look forward to helping you define and execute your vision of success in 2011. To my family and friends, a most sincere debt of gratitude for the support you have shown me. One of the keys to a successful execution is a strong community and I will always be appreciative of those people who believe in my potential and encourage me to shine.

Yours in possibility,

Lisa

Boxing Day - A Sigh of Relief

When you think about how you spend your time leading up to the BIG DAY and then the day itself, much of it seems like a blur. You make your list; you fight the traffic; you shop and shop and shop; you wrap; and then you hope and pray that what you bought will be received and NOT returned or tossed aside. You drag your tired butt to the obligatory family events, go to church, eat turkey. And, just like that, the kids have passed out from too much electronic stimulation and candy canes, and Christmas is OVER!

Is that how it is at your place? How do you feel today now that all the fuss is over?

Most people don’t work on Boxing Day (save the wonderful souls in retail). We can sleep in and do whatever we want without the strict demands of the previous few weeks. With Boxing Day comes a big sigh of relief from those who have to muster up the courage to ‘survive’ another holiday with the family. If you are one of these people, I congratulate you for making it through another year.

My view of Christmas is much like any other festive time... I make it last for as long as I can!!! I am a celebrator by nature and revel in the spirit of giving that makes Christmas such a special time of year. I still love the change in energy that comes with Boxing Day. It is a quiet day that makes me reflect on past Christmases and how, each year, my experience changes because of choices I have made. I am aware, however, that many people get completely mesmerized with the hustle and bustle of this time of year and need a little reminder [from The Grinch]:“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

The day after Christmas has always seemed to capture more of the true meaning of the season than another other. Boxing Day is one to relax, spend quiet time alone, or surround yourself with friends – basically, it is a day that is all about doing what you want to do – in alignment with your vision of success. Today is the breath of fresh air you’ve been awaiting ever since the Christmas frenzy began. Enjoy it! And remember, every day can be like Boxing Day if you choose to create it.

For help creating your vision of success, contact Lisa Quinton, Professional Motivator.

The Spirit of Giving

My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Jeans, passed away last Sunday at the age of 89. The eulogy, delivered by my father, described how her generosity would be remembered and, in fact, has been passed on in her large family. She was a ‘giver’ all of her life and what she has given me and my 37 first cousins to pass along to our children, are the memories of a strong woman who loved life and always shared what she had with others. I described her to my daughter as ‘the original Ms. Independent’. She led a very active and social life up into her early eighties when a stroke took that independence, and her ability to speak, away.

Although we are fast approaching Christmas, the subject has barely crossed the lips of the relatives I have been visiting this week. Despite homes being decorated and cards arriving in the mail, not one person has asked me if I’ve got all my shopping done; no one has asked the children what Santa is bringing. It seems our minds are focused on ‘more important’ things. Ironically, we were actually experiencing the true spirit of Christmas as we shared good times together, reminiscing and making plans to stay in touch.

Last week, I had a similar experience when I was in Montreal to attend the annual convention of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. I was caught in the whirlwind of activities, sessions, presentations, and networking from the time I arrived up until the plane left the tarmac, bound for home. As I overheard strangers on the plane chatting about the holidays, I realized that it hadn’t even come up at the convention. This was remarkable because I had been in the presence of some of the most generous professionals I had ever met. The spirit of giving was ever-present, just as it was this week as we laid my grandmother to rest.

Has the true meaning of Christmas surrounded you at home, at work, at play, and at peace? You may not recognize it if you are looking in the wrong places. The spirit of giving isn’t something that you can find at a store, wrap up and put under a tree. It’s found when you open your heart and give of yourself. Let your light shine through: a kind word, a helping hand or a batch of freshly baked tea buns goes a long way toward creating a legacy of giving – one that can be celebrated all year round. Thank you, Nan Jeans, for the inspiration.

The Search for Authenticity

As I read, I am often inspired by words that provoke reflection on my personal journey in search of my authentic self. Today was no different as I came across the following quote from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach: “The search for authenticity is like living on a fault line; you never know when the earth is going to move beneath your feet.”

Here in Newfoundland & Labrador, an earthquake of sorts was felt amongst all people when Premier Danny Williams announced his retirement after more than a decade in public life. People are shocked and bewildered. Along with well wishes for his future endeavours, there are murmurs of fear... What will become of us now?

These same limiting beliefs haunt all of us who embark on life changing journeys into the unknown. It is imperative that we keep our minds focussed on our vision of success so we may continue to be motivated to move forward and make choice that are in alignment with that vision, even when we are shaken by unexpected events. We must stand firm, proud and determined to succeed. That is the way Danny Williams led the government and people of Newfoundland & Labrador. It is a legacy to be respected and honoured.

Let those words resonate with your soul as you move forward and create a new reality that reflects your personal vision of success. Be proud. Be determined. The search for authenticity can be a bumpy road with unexpected twists and turns, and even major chasms that test your resolve and provide an excuse for you to give up hope. It can also be an opportunity for you to rise to the challenge and be an inspiration to everyone around you. As Marianne Williamson so eloquently reminds us, “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Thank you, Premier Williams, for inspiring the people of our province to follow your lead and step into authenticity. God bless.

Got Ecstasy?

As I write this title, I realize there could be many connotations of this word, ecstasy. Well, now that I have your attention, read on, considering these wonderful words from Emily Dickinson as inspiration to Embrace Your Potential: "The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience."

In her fantastic book, Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach describes the ecstatic experience as “what excites us or moves us to tears, what makes the blood rush to our head, our hearts skip a beat, our knees shaky, and our souls sigh”. When I read this today, I was inspired to share my thoughts and check in with my readers just to see how they are doing on their journey of Living in Possibility.

My life is a busy one filled with different lines of business, volunteer work, family commitments, a wide circle of friends who keep my social life hopping, and serious commitment to myself for me-time. I am a high energy person who is always on the lookout for new and exciting experiences to cultivate and enhance the level of passion and purpose in my life.

On my journey, I have found myself challenged to find others whose lives include, as a major purpose, the search for ecstasy. With this in mind, I decided to take this dilemma to the streets (aka ‘cyberspace’) and ask:

When you think about your life, do you see much expression of ecstasy?

Are you inspired by a purpose that brings you feelings of ecstasy on a regular basis?

Do the mere thoughts of your existence and the possibilities that lie ahead leave you shaking in your boots and wanting to scream and shout?

If you have answered, Yes, please call me! If you have answered, No, call me, too. As a Professional Motivator, I help individuals and organizations define and execute their vision of success. I can help you create ecstasy at home, at work, at play, and at peace. All you have to do is ask. Check in with my through my website: http://embracingpotential.com.

Sing Out Loud!

My beautiful 9-year-old daughter Sydney asked me tonight I was ever in Choir. I was putting her to bed with the four songs I’ve been singing to her over the past 6 years: Hush Little Baby; You are my Sunshine; I Love you, You Love Me; and Twinkle, Twinkle. It’s not much of a repertoire but it has held us in good stead and created a special moment for us each night. It the midst of change, tradition is nice, too.

I asked her why she wanted to know. She said, “Because you are a really good singer, Mom.” Now, those of you who know me really well are probably doing what I was doing: mouth, first agape, turned into a big smile and then I replied, “Well, honey. That is really nice of you to say. In fact, I was in choir once, and I was asked not to sing too loudly because I was off-key.” I went on to explain how difficult it was to hear that message as a child particularly because I loved to sing. I told her that I held on to that judgment of me for the remainder of my days.

My daughter hears me sing all of the time: when I’m getting ready in the morning, as I drive her to school, when I’m making dinner, and when I tuck her in. I have always been a singer – but one with no training and, as I have come to believe, no tune. I realized that when I sing, I sing because I love to sing and that’s it. And that’s what she sees. I’m not doing it for the praise. I gave up on that years ago. I told her the story of elementary music teacher who would call attendance by singing, “Lisa Payne” and I had to repeatedly, with great pains, respond in sing-song, “Here I am!” over and over until she finally moved on someone else who, clearly, sang it much better than I. Recalling this tonight and sharing this story with Sydney was the premise of a great conversation about giving over our power. I reminded her (it was not the first such chat) that, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

For all the Sydneys out there who are just starting out in life and for all the adults out there yearning to Embrace Your Potential, let’s Sing Out Loud!!!

Tonight I am most grateful for Sydney and her brother, Joel, who have always thought I was the best singer (and mother) in the world. They are my inspiration and my greatest teachers.

Get Out There!

“What a wonderful day for a walk,” I declared on my facebook status. It is true. There’s hardly a breath of wind and the sun is beaming down, warming the air to a nice 10 degree Celsius. The trees around the city are starting to change colors and there is a spring in everyone’s step that a beautiful Friday in autumn can guarantee.

I thought this morning about how important it is to “get out there” – both literally and figuratively. Physical exercise in the great outdoors does wonders for the body, mind and spirit. I outta know. After being held hostage by my body for the last several months, I find a pleasure in even the most leisurely stroll in the park because of how it makes me feel. It is amazing how much you miss your ‘freedom’ once it is taken away. Now that my knee has healed fully (ironically, my MRI is scheduled for next week!) and I have recovered from a lung infection, I am enjoying nature’s beauty at every turn. Even on days when the weather is not so inviting, I have enjoyed listening to the sound of the rain as the wind shakes the house and reminds me to be grateful for a warm house.

In order to Embrace your Potential, you really do need to Get out There. It is the message behind the 5 Keys to a Successful Execution of your personal vision of success. It is only in action that you can facilitate change in your life. I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone today. BE different than you were yesterday. DO something that stretches your knowledge, skills and abilities. What you will HAVE, will be in alignment with your vision.

You newfound clarity will cause your confidence to soar and reinforce your commitment. It will make those choices easier next time around. Surround yourself with a community who will support you and celebrate your victories. Soon, you’ll be changing old habits without a second thought. It is amazing how quickly your world can change when you decide to Get out There. Let’s aim to make those changes for the better!

If you have fears about Getting out There, drop me a line through my website: htt://embracingpotential.com. I’d love to motivate you through the 5 Steps to Embrace Your Potential.